The Silliness Of The “Quarterback Hits” Stat

March 19th, 2018

Bucs dumped a 16-QB-hit guy last year for Vinny Curry, who had 18 QB hits in four more games.

Unfortunately, there are only 16 regular season games, so Bucs fans are stuck spending most of their year scrutinizing insignificant data once they’ve finished watching every game a few times.

It’s hard not to if you care passionately about the successes and failures of your beloved Bucs.

Over the weekend, the Bucs released defensive end Robert Ayers. In January on the Buccaneers official website, there was a story celebrating how Ayers had 16 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles last year in 12 games.

Today, there’s a story there touting how the defensive end who replaced Ayers, big money free agent Vinny Curry, formerly of the Super Bowl champion Eagles. Per the Scott Smith piece, Curry proved he is “adept at getting pressure on the passer” because he had 18 quarterback pressures last year in 16 games played.

That’s less per game than Ayers, who finished with two sacks. Curry had three.

Ayers was a poor pass rusher last year, which is why the Bucs couldn’t even trade him for a seventh-round pick — in a league starved for pass rushers.

He’s still unemployed.

Curry isn’t much of a pass rusher either, if we’re being real. And Joe always is.

Joe likes the swap of Curry for Ayers. Good move. He’s a couple years younger and more durable. But Joe sort of feels like this is swapping a Big Mac for a Whopper. It’s just not in the same league as Michael Bennett or Robert Quinn Five Guys.

40 Responses to “The Silliness Of The “Quarterback Hits” Stat”

  1. SammyRebel Says:

    Rob was washed up, hadn’t been good since ‘15…Curry is better all around, now let’s go get Derwin to shore up that Saftey tandem!!

  2. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    Joe, I’ve posted these stats multiple times now. I’ll post them again just for you.
    Rob Ayers had 2 sacks, 16 QB hits, and 45 Pressures on 587 snaps in 2017.
    Curry had 3 sacks, 17 QB hits and 47 QB pressures on 578 snaps.
    That’s nice, but it’s unclear where your numbers are coming from. –Joe

  3. lokog Says:

    i say we still need suh

  4. DB55 Says:

    Thank you Joseph.

    Let’s add the fact that Vinny is getting 9 mil per year vs 5milnfor Ayers and in no way shape or form is this an upgrade.

  5. lambchop Says:

    Derwin at 7 is a horrible pick with the way hee played after the injury. Too risky. With Nelson, Barkley, or Chubb likely at 7, its not even a close call. Not to mention pass rush and CB play is bigger need than safety.

    Btw, Gruden signed Josh Johnson. He just can’t admit that experiment failed. Same old Gru.

  6. bucs_365 Says:

    ^^ We’re not getting Suh ferkreissake… Wish people would shut up about that. It’s not happening. Besides the massive cash he’d want, he’s not a good locker room guy — not a team guy or a winner.

  7. DB55 Says:

    365

    Suh has taken 2 teams to the playoffs which is 2 more than tutti frutti McIceCream has done.

    But you’re right Suh don’t want nothing to do with Soft serve ice cream. He’d probably choke slam his arse first day of practice.

  8. BuccYa Says:

    Like the addition. Questioning if this is an upgrade.

  9. bucs_365 Says:

    Signing Suh is about as likely as Lee Roy Selmon rising from the grave to line up at RDE for us next year.

  10. lambchop Says:

    With the decline in production and given his age, my bet would be that had he played this season for the Bucs, Ayers would have had an on par or worse season than last. Vinny, we’ll be watching you.

  11. Sneedy16 Says:

    It’s an upgrade as we won’t have to start random guys off the street because he’s always hurt.

  12. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Joe doesn’t think QB hits mean much…..how about asking a QB?

  13. SteveK Says:

    It would be amazing if we could somehow land Suh. Maybe trade GMC to oaklandfor their 2 this year, like he rumor suggested earlier?

    I’m all for adding a mean mofo on the line. Sounds like we are looking for attitude which is refreshing. I hope the attitude adjustment leads to better stats/results.

  14. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    QB hits are a meaningless stat unless you are the “statee”

  15. DB55 Says:

    Oh btw is anyone going to mention Curry’s bum knee?

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/247sports.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/Bolt/Vinny-Curry-on-poor-2016-I-messed-my-MCL-up–52850245/Amp

    Maybe that’s why he only played part-time? Probably irrelevant though right? Lol

  16. Tnew Says:

    You guys are missing some key points here. Watch his tape. Curry was not on the field during likely passing downs. Rarely, at least in the games I saw was he in the game for third downs. He was reading the play then coming to the QB. I would like to see more of this with the Bucs. This guy is very good versus the run and is not a huge pass rush liability on running downs. His film is way more impactful than what younger with Ayers. Hopefully, he, Spence, Gholston and Landry (seen many mocks with him slipping to round 2) can rotate and put some edge pressure on the passer.

  17. Rod Munch Says:

    OMG Joe it’s not even close, the Whopper is soo much better than a Big Mac and without that extra piece of bread in there the Whopper also has a lot less carbs. I don’t see how you can think a Whopper / Big Mac trade is an even comparison.

    Now if you had said a Quarter Pounder, then we’d be talking. A hot fresh quarter pounder with two slices of cheese… vs a hot fresh Whopper right off the grill… yummm….

    I haven’t eaten lunch yet.

  18. Sneedy16 Says:

    It is kind of irrelevant since he had the 3rd most snaps on the defensive line behind Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox in 2017.

  19. AlteredEgo Says:

    Suh may not like it but the market has told him his value is NO WHERE near what he thinks it is….hope he has invested wisely and if signed by a team …his effort and attitude don’t drop proportionally to his salary cut….

  20. Jeebs the Honey Bear Says:

    This IS an upgrade, and a big one. Curry is younger, fresher, healthier, and gets a lot more push than Ayers. He was asked to help more in run support these last two seasons. With the Bucs desperately needing pass rush, and under the tutelage of Buckner, Curry will be let loose on quarterbacks. He will make the rest of the D-line better as well. I predict 6-8 sacks, which as we know, is a big deal for this sack-hungry team.

  21. 813bucboi Says:

    yeah curry for ayers is a lateral move at best……big time FA’s don’t want to play for a team that has a GM, HC, & DC on the hot seat!!!!!…..curry has his ring and now its time to cash out!!!!!!….HELLO BUCS!!!!!…..

    sure feels like licht is building depth for next year…..his successor…..

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….NOPASSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!

  22. DB55 Says:

    9mil vs 5mil and the same damn stats.

    Not an upgrade!

  23. Jeffbuc Says:

    I watched Curry’s highlight and he got after the quarterback. And got out side and contained the running game. He was a big time contributor on a super bowl winning team that had a great defense front. I would say it is big time upgrade. I watched him micd up and he was a great team guy also. On the sidelines walking and slapping hands with all the defensive guys keeping them fired up and motivated. We need someone like that. Not golly gee guys that guard is strong I can’t even get to the quarterback. McCoy is the Lebron James of the nfl. He rolls around hurt every game where they have to stop the game help him off the field. The announcers are talking about how bad that is to see and it looks serious. Only him to come right back in the next play like nothing happened. He is a big softy. He would already be canton bound if he had any kind of nasty in him. He is by blessed with athletic ability but the makeup of a Kleenex with aloe Vera for extra soft comfort. I bet at halftime he takes a bottle of midol so he can play the second half.

  24. Ed Says:

    Joe is correct, stats aren’t all that impressive but he is a SuperBowl winner and isn’t banged up like all of our other defensive linemen. I have to wonder if the strength and conditioning at One Buc Place is very good. Most of our defensive linemen get hurt all of the time and there isn’t anyone I watched last year that rushed the passer with power. Hopefully these new guys will show up stronger than the guys they are replacing.

  25. mog2010 Says:

    How long a qb is being chased should be factored into the equation. If the hurries are happening when aplay is breaking down and the qb is scrambling, that play does not equate to a 5 step drop where immediate pressure is applied. Both are qb hurries but the later is much more valuable.

  26. pick6 Says:

    DB55: “But you’re right Suh don’t want nothing to do with Soft serve ice cream. He’d probably choke slam his arse first day of practice.”

    you are giving Suh more credit for giving a crap than the evidence in Miami suggest. He was on a big name\big dollar d line down there that was never close to special. And he didn’t seem all that worried or vocal about a locker room culture that has amazingly been as bad or worse than the bucs’ over the last 7 or so years.

  27. BucEmUp Says:

    No chance in he’ll this defense does anything

  28. Skoorb43 Says:

    They should’ve said screw the burger and gone to Roy’s. Just saying. Impact player in trade. Nope. Impact free agent. Nope. Unless they sign Suh all they’ve done is gotten younger. Not better

  29. Geno Says:

    Hate Five Guys burgers and fries

  30. LakeLand Says:

    Michael Bennett is making $6 650,000 this season.

  31. Svenson Says:

    To me, signing Curry is better than doing nothing. But the net gain isn’t much when you also cut Ayers. If you keep both, then maybe the group as a whole is getting better. My only guess is the Bucs have information about Ayers’ injury history. I know he was banged up a bunch last year.

  32. unbelievable Says:

    Forget about Five Guys, a whopper or anything else…

    In-N-Out beats them all. Double-double, animal style yessir!

  33. Jeremy Says:

    Who says they don’t still bring Ayers back.

  34. Broy3434 Says:

    Cover the line of scrimmage or Reggie white can’t get to the qb

  35. gotbbucs Says:

    Say whatever you want to say about stats and all the other BS reasons for some of you to cry all day about not signing whoever…..sometimes change is needed just for the sake of change.
    Ayers was a big talker that didn’t produce on the field….bottom line. He had one fluke of a season in NY that got him paid by the Bucs, the rest of his career was and has been a waste.

  36. gotbbucs Says:

    Stats are for losers….unless it fits Joe’s narrative.

  37. SammyRebel Says:

    yea @ lambchop he has a bad year because FSU tried to turn him into that Swiss Army knife type of player like Michigan did to peppers so of course his stats weren’t all that, but Derwin is a true SS, he’s got top coverage and makes tackles, top 3 Safety in the nfl 2 years from now quote me

  38. Buccaneer scotty Says:

    Do you ever stop crying lmao

  39. Mort Says:

    Five guys’ fries still can’t hold a candle to McDonalds.

  40. boxster Says:

    Quarterback hits = missed tackles