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Sacks matter.
No matter how much people have begun to love the term “pressures”, sacks are still and will always be king.
See, a sack is a play with an ending for the defense.
A pressure can result in a net positive for the offense, but you won that rep as a defensive player so be happy.
No, sacks may come in cheap conditions every once in a while, you may get a clean up sack, or an effort sack, but one thing remains... They end plays.
That’s why when Pro Football Focus was talking about Jones’ production and pass rushing grade last season, it didn’t seem to jive, at least too me.
Chandler Jones has been a great pass rusher throughout his whole career but had his 2nd lowest pass rush grade of his career at 68.2. Based on his careers grades, we should expect that grade to go back up next year. How many sacks do you think Chandler Jones will have in 2019? pic.twitter.com/UcHUndY1W7
— PFF ARZ Cardinals (@PFF_Cardinals) July 12, 2019
Jones finished with 13 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback hits as really a one man pass rush team.
It was the third time in three seasons he finished with a combined 30+ quarterback sacks and hits.
In fact since 2016 only one player has over 40 sacks... Chandler Jones.
Only five players have over 30 sacks and 70 quarterback hits since 2016:
Chandler Jones
Aaron Donald
Von Miller
Calais Campbell
Cameron Jordan
Jones has been not just a great pass rusher, he has been elite. One of the top five in the game at actually getting to the quarterback.
So maybe the PFF grades come out a little low.
I don’t think Chandler or the Cardinals mind.