We tend to think of mobile quarterbacks being harder to sack. You get a quick quarterback like Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck or Tyrod Taylor, and it’s tough to catch them and get them on the ground. But is this really the case?
Looking at the numbers, it’s almost the opposite of what you might expect. The less-mobile quarterbacks tend to get sacked the least. The athletes/runners tend to get sacked way more often.
Here are the numbers from last year, and this chart is a mixture of fact and opinion. If a quarterback is “mobile” (a subjective term) I have him in bold. If he’s a relatively immobile quarterback – a guy you might call a “pocket passer” – I have him tagged with a black dot.
It’s my belief that mobility is an asset. But these guys who aren’t particularly nimble know they have to get rid of the ball, so they’re less likely to dink around, trying to buy more time.
| PERCENTAGE OF SACKS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | Sack | Plays | Pct |
| 1. | • Ryan Mallett, Hou.-Balt. | 6 | 250 | 2.4% |
| 2. | Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ | 19 | 581 | 3.3% |
| 3. | • Joe Flacco, Balt. | 16 | 429 | 3.7% |
| 4. | • Nick Foles, St.L. | 14 | 351 | 4.0% |
| 5. | • Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt. | 20 | 489 | 4.1% |
| 6. | • Eli Manning, NYG | 27 | 645 | 4.2% |
| 7. | • Carson Palmer, Ariz. | 25 | 562 | 4.4% |
| 8. | • Kirk Cousins, Wash. | 26 | 569 | 4.6% |
| 9. | • Peyton Manning, Den. | 16 | 347 | 4.6% |
| 10. | • Matt Ryan, Atl. | 30 | 644 | 4.7% |
| 11. | • Drew Brees, N.O. | 31 | 658 | 4.7% |
| 12. | Jameis Winston, T.B. | 27 | 562 | 4.8% |
| 13. | Andrew Luck, Ind. | 15 | 308 | 4.9% |
| 14. | Andy Dalton, Cin. | 20 | 406 | 4.9% |
| 15. | • Sam Bradford, Phil. | 28 | 560 | 5.0% |
| 16. | Derek Carr, Oak. | 31 | 604 | 5.1% |
| 17. | Jay Cutler, Chi. | 29 | 512 | 5.7% |
| 18. | • Philip Rivers, S.D. | 40 | 701 | 5.7% |
| 19. | Tom Brady, N.E. | 38 | 662 | 5.7% |
| 20. | • Matt Hasselbeck, Ind. | 16 | 272 | 5.9% |
| 21. | Cam Newton, Car. | 33 | 529 | 6.2% |
| 22. | • Brian Hoyer, Hou. | 25 | 394 | 6.3% |
| 23. | Matt Cassel, Dall. | 14 | 219 | 6.4% |
| 24. | Matthew Stafford, Det. | 44 | 636 | 6.9% |
| 25. | Ryan Tannehill, Mia. | 45 | 631 | 7.1% |
| 26. | Josh McCown, Clev. | 23 | 315 | 7.3% |
| 27. | Aaron Rodgers, G.B. | 46 | 618 | 7.4% |
| 28. | Brock Osweiler, Den. | 23 | 298 | 7.7% |
| 29. | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 51 | 657 | 7.8% |
| 30. | Johnny Manziel, Clev. | 19 | 242 | 7.9% |
| 31. | Blaine Gabbert, Sea. | 25 | 307 | 8.1% |
| 32. | Russell Wilson, S.F. | 45 | 528 | 8.5% |
| 33. | Tyrod Taylor, Buff. | 36 | 416 | 8.7% |
| 34. | Alex Smith, K.C. | 45 | 515 | 8.7% |
| 35. | Teddy Bridgewater, Minn. | 44 | 491 | 9.0% |
| 36. | Marcus Mariota, Tenn. | 38 | 408 | 9.3% |
| 37. | Colin Kaepernick, Sea. | 28 | 272 | 10.3% |
—Ian Allan