When John Scott Jr. was coaching for the New York Jets, the team’s defensive coaching staff did a study of college defensive tackles trying to determine their pass-rushing ability.
“We looked at how many times a game out of a 65-70 play game would a d-tackle actually get to rush the passer, and it was like five or six times for the whole entire game,” Scott Jr. said. “When you get that time it’s critical that you do something with it, but it has changed your pass rush.”
Changes in offenses, chiefly run-pass option plays and quicker throws that leave little time for defenders to get to the quarterback with the ball in his hand, are making sacks more difficult to come by, and few teams are feeling that pain acutely than South Carolina.