Justin Houston, DeMarcus Ware, and Adjusted Sack Rates

by Chase Stuart on May 10, 2015

Justin Houston had 22 sacks last year for the Chiefs, just one sack shy of breaking the modern NFL record. Houston did it while playing a full slate of games for the Chiefs, and Kansas City faced 591 pass attempts last year (including sacks). That means Houston recorded a sack on 3.7% of Kansas City’s opponent dropbacks.

That’s very good, although it’s just the 11th best rate since 1982. But we have to remember that sack rates have been steadily declining over the past few decades. For example, from 1982 to 2014, the average sack rate was 6.87%, but the 2014 rate was just 6.35%. In other words, we would need to increase the sack rate last year by 8.2% in order to adjust for era. So if we adjust for Houston’s 3.7% average by multiplying that average by 108.2%, his adjusted sack rate jumps to 4.03%. And that’s the second best rate since 1982.

Here’s how to read the full table. The top rate belongs to DeMarcus Ware, set when he was playing right outside linebacker for the Cowboys in 2008. That year, Ware played in 16 games, as did the Cowboys. ^[1]For players who did not play a full slate of games, I have pro-rated their team’s number of pass attempts to adjust for the missed time. Ware had 20 sacks that year and the Cowboys faced 567 opponent dropbacks. That means Ware sacked the opponent on 3.5% of pass plays. The league rate in 2008 was 5.9%, which means we need to adjust Ware’s average by 16.4%; that gives Ware an adjusted rate of 4.11%, the best since 1982.

Rk	Name	Tm	Year	Pos	G	Tm G	Sacks	Tm Opp DB	Sk/Tm Att	Lg Sk Rt	Ratio	Rate
1	DeMarcus Ware	DAL	2008	ROLB	16	16	20	567	3.5%	5.9%	116.4%	4.11%
2	Justin Houston	KAN	2014	LOLB	16	16	22	591	3.7%	6.3%	108.2%	4.03%
3	Jared Allen	MIN	2011	RDE	16	16	22	588	3.7%	6.4%	107.5%	4.02%
4	Jared Allen	KAN	2007	RDE	14	16	15.5	499	3.5%	6.1%	113.1%	4.01%
5	Michael Strahan	NYG	2001	LDE	16	16	22.5	567	4%	6.9%	99.8%	3.96%
6	Shawne Merriman	SDG	2006	LOLB/rolb	12	16	17	599	3.8%	6.6%	103.5%	3.92%
7	Reggie White	PHI	1987	LDE	12	15	21	618	4.2%	7.6%	90.6%	3.85%
8	Tim Harris	GNB	1989	ROLB	16	16	19.5	510	3.8%	7.2%	96%	3.67%
9	J.J. Watt	HOU	2012	LDE	16	16	20.5	625	3.3%	6.2%	111.4%	3.65%
10	Michael Strahan	NYG	2003	LDE	16	16	18.5	564	3.3%	6.2%	110.6%	3.63%
11	Chris Doleman	MIN	1989	RDE	16	16	21	559	3.8%	7.2%	96%	3.61%
12	Aldon Smith	SFO	2012	ROLB	16	16	19.5	605	3.2%	6.2%	111.4%	3.59%
13	Bruce Smith	BUF	1990	RDE	16	16	19	498	3.8%	7.3%	93.8%	3.58%
14	DeMarcus Ware	DAL	2011	ROLB	16	16	19.5	587	3.3%	6.4%	107.5%	3.57%
15	Jason Taylor	MIA	2002	RDE	16	16	18.5	567	3.3%	6.4%	107.9%	3.52%
16	Elvis Dumervil	DEN	2009	ROLB	16	16	17	549	3.1%	6.1%	113.1%	3.5%
17	Derrick Thomas	KAN	1990	ROLB	15	16	20	572	3.7%	7.3%	93.8%	3.5%
18	Robert Mathis	IND	2013	ROLB	16	16	19.5	578	3.4%	6.7%	103%	3.48%
19	Joey Porter	MIA	2008	ROLB	16	16	17.5	591	3%	5.9%	116.4%	3.45%
20	Robert Quinn	STL	2013	RDE	16	16	19	574	3.3%	6.7%	103%	3.41%
21	Jason Babin	PHI	2011	LDE	16	16	18	568	3.2%	6.4%	107.5%	3.41%
22	James Harrison	PIT	2008	ROLB	15	16	16	584	2.9%	5.9%	116.4%	3.4%
23	J.J. Watt	HOU	2014	LDE	16	16	20.5	657	3.1%	6.3%	108.2%	3.37%
24	Von Miller	DEN	2012	LILB	16	16	18.5	611	3%	6.2%	111.4%	3.37%
25	Lawrence Taylor	NYG	1988	ROLB	12	16	15.5	618	3.3%	6.8%	100.6%	3.36%
26	Bryce Paup	BUF	1995	LOLB	15	16	17.5	631	3%	6.1%	113.4%	3.36%
27	Leonard Little	STL	2003	LDE	12	16	12.5	552	3%	6.2%	110.6%	3.34%
28	John Abraham	ATL	2008	RDE	16	16	16.5	583	2.8%	5.9%	116.4%	3.29%
29	Pat Swilling	NOR	1991	ROLB	16	16	17	541	3.1%	6.6%	103.4%	3.25%
30	Simeon Rice	TAM	2003	RDE	16	16	15	511	2.9%	6.2%	110.6%	3.25%
31	Mark Gastineau	NYJ	1984	LDE	16	16	22	555	4%	8.4%	81.8%	3.24%
32	Mark Gastineau	NYJ	1983	LDE	16	16	19	511	3.7%	8%	86.3%	3.21%
33	Derrick Burgess	OAK	2005	RDE	16	16	16	522	3.1%	6.7%	102.5%	3.14%
34	Clay Matthews	GNB	2012	ROLB	12	16	13	615	2.8%	6.2%	111.4%	3.14%
35	Doug Martin	MIN	1982	LDE	9	9	11.5	322	3.6%	7.8%	87.8%	3.14%
36	Simeon Rice	ARI	1999	RDE	16	16	16.5	526	3.1%	6.9%	99%	3.11%
37	Keith Millard	MIN	1989	RDT	16	16	18	559	3.2%	7.2%	96%	3.09%
38	William Fuller	PHI	1995	LDE	14	16	13	547	2.7%	6.1%	113.4%	3.08%
39	Leonard Little	STL	2001	lde	13	16	14.5	586	3%	6.9%	99.8%	3.04%
40	Simeon Rice	TAM	2002	RDE	16	16	15.5	553	2.8%	6.4%	107.9%	3.02%
41	Ken Harvey	WAS	1994	LLB	16	16	13.5	524	2.6%	5.9%	117.2%	3.02%
42	DeMarcus Ware	DAL	2010	ROLB	16	16	15.5	575	2.7%	6.1%	111.8%	3.01%
43	Julius Peppers	CAR	2002	LDE	12	16	12	574	2.8%	6.4%	107.9%	3.01%
44	Cornelius Bennett	BUF	1987	LOLB	8	15	8.5	481	3.3%	7.6%	90.6%	3%
45	La'Roi Glover	NOR	2000	RDT	16	16	17	554	3.1%	7%	97.8%	3%
46	Simeon Rice	TAM	2005	RDE	15	16	14	512	2.9%	6.7%	102.5%	2.99%
47	Bruce Smith	BUF	1988	RDE	12	16	11	494	3%	6.8%	100.6%	2.99%
48	Reggie White	PHI	1991	LDE	16	16	15	522	2.9%	6.6%	103.4%	2.97%
49	Jared Allen	MIN	2008	RDE	16	16	14.5	575	2.5%	5.9%	116.4%	2.94%
50	Leslie O'Neal	SDG	1992	RDE	15	16	17	542	3.3%	7.8%	87.6%	2.93%
51	Dennis Harrison	PHI	1982	LDE	9	9	10.5	315	3.3%	7.8%	87.8%	2.93%
52	Reggie White	PHI	1988	LDE	16	16	18	620	2.9%	6.8%	100.6%	2.92%
53	Clyde Simmons	PHI	1992	RDE	16	16	19	572	3.3%	7.8%	87.6%	2.91%
54	Adewale Ogunleye	MIA	2003	LDE	16	16	15	573	2.6%	6.2%	110.6%	2.89%
55	Cameron Wake	MIA	2010	ROLB	16	16	14	541	2.6%	6.1%	111.8%	2.89%
56	Elvis Dumervil	DEN	2007	RDE	16	16	12.5	491	2.5%	6.1%	113.1%	2.88%
57	Aaron Kampman	GNB	2006	LDE	16	16	15.5	561	2.8%	6.6%	103.5%	2.86%
58	Elvis Dumervil	BAL	2014	LOLB	16	16	17	644	2.6%	6.3%	108.2%	2.86%
59	Lawrence Taylor	NYG	1986	ROLB	16	16	20.5	646	3.2%	7.6%	89.8%	2.85%
60	Julius Peppers	CAR	2008	RDE	16	16	14.5	594	2.4%	5.9%	116.4%	2.84%
61	Neil Smith	KAN	1994	LDE	14	16	11.5	543	2.4%	5.9%	117.2%	2.84%
62	Jason Taylor	MIA	2007	RDE	16	16	11	439	2.5%	6.1%	113.1%	2.83%
63	Dexter Manley	WAS	1986	RDE	16	16	18.5	587	3.2%	7.6%	89.8%	2.83%
64	Dwight Freeney	IND	2009	RDE	14	16	13.5	617	2.5%	6.1%	113.1%	2.83%
65	Bruce Smith	BUF	1987	RDE	12	15	12	481	3.1%	7.6%	90.6%	2.83%
66	Kevin Greene	CAR	1998	LOLB	15	16	15	538	3%	7.2%	95%	2.82%
67	Richard Dent	CHI	1984	RDE	16	16	17.5	507	3.5%	8.4%	81.8%	2.82%
68	Shaun Ellis	NYJ	2003	LDE	16	16	12.5	490	2.6%	6.2%	110.6%	2.82%
69	Renaldo Turnbull	NOR	1993	ROLB	15	16	13	495	2.8%	6.8%	100.7%	2.82%
70	Mario Williams	HOU	2008	RDE	16	16	12	496	2.4%	5.9%	116.4%	2.82%
71	Jared Allen	MIN	2009	RDE	16	16	14.5	583	2.5%	6.1%	113.1%	2.81%
72	Eric Hicks	KAN	2000	LDE	13	16	14	600	2.9%	7%	97.8%	2.81%
73	Clay Matthews	GNB	2010	LOLB	15	16	13.5	574	2.5%	6.1%	111.8%	2.8%
74	Hugh Douglas	NYJ	1996	RDE	10	16	8	484	2.6%	6.5%	106%	2.8%
75	Kevin Greene	PIT	1994	LOLB	16	16	14	587	2.4%	5.9%	117.2%	2.8%
76	Robert Mathis	IND	2008	LDE	15	16	11.5	511	2.4%	5.9%	116.4%	2.79%
77	Trace Armstrong	MIA	2000	lde	16	16	16.5	578	2.9%	7%	97.8%	2.79%
78	Jason Pierre-Paul	NYG	2011	RDE	16	16	16.5	637	2.6%	6.4%	107.5%	2.78%
79	Dwight Freeney	IND	2002	RDE	16	16	13	504	2.6%	6.4%	107.9%	2.78%
80	Keith Willis	PIT	1983	lde	14	16	14	497	3.2%	8%	86.3%	2.78%
81	Leonard Little	STL	2006	LDE	16	16	13	485	2.7%	6.6%	103.5%	2.78%
82	Greg Ellis	DAL	2007	LOLB	13	16	12.5	627	2.5%	6.1%	113.1%	2.77%
83	Reggie White	PHI	1986	RDT/lde	16	16	18	585	3.1%	7.6%	89.8%	2.76%
84	Mario Williams	HOU	2007	RDE	16	16	14	577	2.4%	6.1%	113.1%	2.74%
85	Lawrence Taylor	NYG	1989	ROLB	16	16	15	525	2.9%	7.2%	96%	2.74%
86	LaMarr Woodley	PIT	2011	LOLB	10	16	9	565	2.5%	6.4%	107.5%	2.74%
87	Simon Fletcher	DEN	1992	ROLB	16	16	16	512	3.1%	7.8%	87.6%	2.74%
88	Derrick Thomas	KAN	1991	ROLB	16	16	13.5	510	2.6%	6.6%	103.4%	2.74%
89	Dwight Freeney	IND	2003	RDE	15	16	11	476	2.5%	6.2%	110.6%	2.73%
90	Osi Umenyiora	NYG	2011	rde	9	16	9	637	2.5%	6.4%	107.5%	2.7%
91	Mike Rucker	CAR	2003	RDE	14	16	12	562	2.4%	6.2%	110.6%	2.7%
92	Neil Smith	KAN	1993	LDE	16	16	15	560	2.7%	6.8%	100.7%	2.7%
93	Tim Harris	GNB	1988	ROLB	16	16	13.5	504	2.7%	6.8%	100.6%	2.7%
94	Bertrand Berry	ARI	2004	RDE	16	16	14.5	543	2.7%	6.8%	100.8%	2.69%
95	William Fuller	HOU	1991	LDE	16	16	15	577	2.6%	6.6%	103.4%	2.69%
96	Dwight Freeney	IND	2004	RDE	16	16	16	602	2.7%	6.8%	100.8%	2.68%
97	Patrick Kerney	SEA	2007	LDE	16	16	14.5	613	2.4%	6.1%	113.1%	2.67%
98	Chris Long	STL	2011	LDE	16	16	13	523	2.5%	6.4%	107.5%	2.67%
99	Tamba Hali	KAN	2011	ROLB	16	16	12	483	2.5%	6.4%	107.5%	2.67%
100	Charlie Clemons	NOR	2001	MLB	16	16	13.5	505	2.7%	6.9%	99.8%	2.67%

References[+]

References
↑1	For players who did not play a full slate of games, I have pro-rated their team’s number of pass attempts to adjust for the missed time.

Tagged as: DeMarcus Ware, Justin Houston

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