How Good Is Jared Allen's Shot At The Single-Season Sack Record?
by Christopher Gates on Dec 12, 2011 4:47 PM CST
in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season
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According to the NFL's numbers, Minnesota Vikings' defensive end Jared Allen added three more sacks to his total yesterday, giving him 17.5 for the season (already a career-high with three games remaining), and 100.5 for his career. Before we get into the last three games of the season, let's check out this tweet from Jon Ekstrom of the Minnesota Vikings' PR department to see what kind of rarified air the game's best pass rusher finds himself in.
@JonEkstrom
Jon Ekstrom Through 8 seasons, only 1 player has more sacks than Jared Allen (100.5) and that is Reggie White (124.0). Derrick Thomas is 3rd with 98.0.
FavoriteRetweet
Yep, only one player in NFL history has reached the 100-sack plateau faster than Jared Allen, and it's the guy that is considered by a lot of people to be the best pass rusher the NFL has ever seen. That's fairly elite company right there, ladies and gentlemen.
Former New York Giant Michael Strahan holds the record for the most sacks in one season with 22.5* (and you know damn well what that * is for). That means he needs 5 over the final three games of the season in order to tie Strahan's record, and 5.5 to break it. How good are his chances of getting that done? Well, let's take a look.
Our next game is a home date at the Metrodome against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints, in terms of yardage, are the best passing offense in the NFL, and Drew Brees has one of the quickest releases in the NFL. Also working against Allen and the Vikings in this case is the fact that only six teams have allowed fewer sacks this season than the Saints' 23. So, on average, teams aren't even getting to Brees twice a game. I would like to think that Jared Allen could get a sack or two in this one, but one might be the extent of it, if even that.
The final two games of the season, however, could be where he makes some serious hay. The final road game of the season is a trip to Washington, D.C. to take on the Redskins on Christmas Eve. The Redskins have allowed the ninth-most sacks in the league, with 35 allowed through their first 13 games. We also need to take into consideration the fact that the Redskins just lost their starting left tackle, Trent Williams, to a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, so Jared will be facing a backup left tackle in that one. The Redskins are in the top half of the league in passing yardage, but their quarterback. . .well, their quarterback is still Rex Grossman. Interpret that however you wish.
In the finale, the Vikings will host a Chicago Bears team that may or may not have Jay Cutler behind center, and may or may not have Matt Forte behind him. The status of both of those players might depend on how Chicago fares in the wild card chase from here on out. If they've somehow fallen out of it in the next two weeks, I don't know if they would risk Cutler and Forte in what will have become a meaningless game. Allen did manage a sack of Cutler in the first meeting between these two teams, but I think we can all agree that, in terms of sack potential, he would rather see Caleb Hanie back there than Cutler. And just between you, me, and your desk, Caleb Hanie. . .well, he's kind of terrible. Not only has he thrown six interceptions to only two touchdown passes, but he's taken at least four sacks in each of his three starts, and has been sacked a total of 15 times in those three starts. (By contrast, Cutler took 23 sacks in the ten games he's started for Chicago this season.)
Jared Allen has had at least half a sack in 11 of Minnesota's 13 games this season, and has had multiple sacks in five games. With the Vikings' last three opponents being who they are, how many sacks do you think #69 will finish the 2011 season with?
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I'd love for him to set the record.
It’ll be tough to do, though, even with the Skins and Bears in the final two weeks. He needs to average two sacks a game to get there, so getting at least one against the Saints is crucial.
one against the Saints is very crucial
Week 15: vs Saints This week he faces a good tackle. Saint’s J.Bushrod has made many a defensive end a non-factor and with Brees getting rid of the ball quickly to Sproles a lot there might not be many chances for sacks. Prediction: 0-1
Week 16: @Washington Backup, Sean Locklear, now starts at left tackle for Washington, replacing Trent Williams, who is suspended for the rest of the season after violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. Should be his best opportunity for sacks. Prediction: 2-3
Week 17: vs Chicago Bears left tackle J’Marcus Webb has had issues before but held Jared Allen to only one sack earlier in the year. Still Mike Martz offense means there will be opportunity for sacks and Calib Hanie is not that good. Prediction: 2
by WIPurplePride on Dec 13, 2011 7:56 PM CST up reply actions
So true.
But we tend to fail as a team but not with single players.
by PurplePrideforLife! on Dec 12, 2011 5:12 PM CST up reply actions
I’m flagging you for this violent assault on Vikings fans.
(not really)
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Dec 12, 2011 6:30 PM CST up reply actions
Anybody Watch...
How i Met your Mother? There was a Vikings Episode on the other day and Anderson was mentioned
I do
Was this the new one from yesterday? I taped it, but haven’t watched it yet. I was out buying the gf presents for Christmas. He was mentioned in an older episode, I know that, so it might be a re-run that you were watching.
Yeah but...
…to truly play to the Vikings’ script, Allen would actually get sack number 23, but then amidst all the rejoicing, in would fly a late flag for a penalty that only occurred in the imagination of the referee.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Or a facemask penalty. To make up for the one they didn’t call this past week.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Dec 13, 2011 9:07 AM CST up reply actions
Yup, this^
The penalty will be for having 12 men on the field. Subsequent video replays will show that the Vikes actually only had 10 men on the field.
The first law of being a Vikings fan is to expect that which is most unlikely to go wrong will in fact go wrong : )
This team leads the NFL in freakish plays and dubious record breaking performances.
by CanadianViking on Dec 13, 2011 5:40 PM CST up reply actions
Damn straight.
And you didn’t even mention freakish infrastructure issues and game-cancelling snow storms. Until the Vikings came along, who’d ever heard of a Tuesday night game?
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
I’m going to predict that he breaks the record this Sunday and the Vikings upset the Saints big time 44-7
That may happen if
the everyone in the secondary becomes Deion Sanders but thats a tall order.
"Winning isn't everything but losing is nothing" - Ace Bricka coach of the Galaxy Aces
Kind of reminds me of the Cowboys-Vikings game in the 2009 playoffs
The Cowboys beat up the Saints at the end of the regular season and had me scared when they came to town. Then we beat them silly. It was so absolutely wonderfully great that I still get goosebumps.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Sounds like something...
…a Packers fan would say. A nice sentiment perhaps, but no basis in reality.
Favre
Basically fell down in front of him to give him the record. He could have thrown it away or likely avoided the sack but chose to give it to him.
And you can bet that no QB
will be laying down to give Allen the record. It sure would be nice to have a legitimate sack record once again.
No doubt, he'll get it.
The record is about the only thing we can cheer about on these final 3 games.
4
he missed a clean shot at Qb when 69 went dwn the line turned up field& qb went by him by 2ft
SKOL! Dawgs
Mabye
Brees will get knocked out and they’ll bring in Farve mid-game and he’ll take 51/2 dives to the turf. One can dream.
"Winning isn't everything but losing is nothing" - Ace Bricka coach of the Galaxy Aces
Yeah, then if he gets the sack record
we can trade him for 4 1st round picks, AJ Green, Revis, Newton, and Von Miller.
/happy troll’d
White Horn Gold Pants
by DM_Purp on Dec 12, 2011 7:35 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
I don't think he will..
5.5 sacks in 3 games is a tall order. Maybe against the Redskins he’ll pick up 2, but the Bears did shut him out last time, I believe.
Of course, that was against Cutler. Maybe he’ll have better luck sacking Hanie. So it could happen!
he got sack and force fumble and fumble recovery
against the Bears last game, all in one sequence.
Joe Mauer grounded out to second
Bill Smith - Buy high, Hold high, Sell for a bag of chips
Oh yeah, that's right
Well he’s unstoppable then. Time to 69 ’em
by REVENGE4KLUWE on Dec 13, 2011 9:24 AM CST up reply actions
he will
get the longest none scoring sack record in the history of the NFL……
Just so we will have to hear it every time he plays
Try to learn from others mistakes because there just is not enough time in this world to make them all your self
by montana vikes fan on Dec 13, 2011 12:25 AM CST reply actions
Jared Allen - you are ridiculous!
I think he has a great shot at the record, but even if he doesn’t get it, it’s extremely encouraging that he’s having his best season at age 29. I think this bodes very well for his future and being able to play at a high level into his thirties. I don’t want to hear any more talk about trading him because this team struggled for more than a decade to find a dominant edge pass rusher and now we have the best in the league – who plays all out every play and every game, so let’s enjoy him while we can – and fill in around him to get back to the SB. It’s scary to think how much worse our secondary would look without him getting consistent pressure on the QB.
We should trade him.
:D
The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.
as for the secondary...
If Allen does in fact break the record it should make everyone appreciate it all the more because he’s been able to do it in spite of an abysmal secondary that cannot cover anyone. It’s amazing to me how Allen has already amassed 17.5 sacks with one of the leagues worst coverage secondaries, not to mention team’s game planning quick dump off passes to take away any kind of a chance at sacks most the time. Plus he’s had to face constant double teams with TE’s chipping him off the snap. In the words of Youtube user demetryjames86, “Put the team on you’re back…” Jared Allen! http://youtu.be/1P0yfq2wDvU?t=50s
by WIPurplePride on Dec 13, 2011 8:19 PM CST up reply actions
What the deal with the "*" again?
It’s a foggy memory but did the QB trip and fall down for the final sack? I can’t really remember. Do tell.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Favre ran a naked bootleg to Strahan’s side then fell to the ground.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Dec 13, 2011 9:08 AM CST up reply actions
Even worse than I remembered it.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Did you guys see
That Jared Allen’s facebook page has a link to this story? I think that’s awesome!! Go JA69!! SKOL!!!
by chaoswarriorxiii on Dec 13, 2011 9:53 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Now that is pretty damn cool.
I like seeing dailynorseman stories linked from SI.
The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.
This record
is PM the only consistent thing I cheer for each game. Can we get him punching Ray Edwards in the weiner to count as a sack? I think it should.
261 Daily Norseman readers and counting say I am a genius... the masses have spoke!
...and those who voted 'moron' were secretly Packer trolls.
Follow @KJSegall
That counts as two sacks...
…AND a weiner.
"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
by kcskol on Dec 13, 2011 12:49 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Sack Record
It’s definitely in reach and I hope the coaches will do everything in their power to try and get Allen in line for good situations to get sacks. I know there’s not much they can do moving him around. “You don’t try to do it outside the scheme of winning football games,” Allen said of his sacks. “It just happens.” That being said, they should do some things with blitzes and stunts that should have him in good positions to get one. What else do they have to play for at this point?
I agree the season is toast let the man pin his ears back and make history.
Hell if he gets it he might beat Chris Carter into the Hall…
The Vikes aren't in a remodeling or reconstruction they are in a burn the place down and start praying they don't mimic the Lions rebuilding process.
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