Football Outsiders Stat of the Day: Manny Lawson getting some love

by David Fucillo on Jan 24, 2010 7:00 AM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

We'll have a game thread for the Sunday games, but in the meantime, we've got a Football Outside Stat of the Day for you. Today, it's quarterback hits. Manny Lawson finished tied for ~~sixth~~ the sixth highest number of quarterback hits with 11. Here's what FO had to say:

These are plays knocking down the quarterback after a pass, not sacks. The total includes plays canceled by penalty. QB hits are a stat that some official scorers can be shaky about recording, and the FO game charting project tends to add a number of them after the fact through our contacts in the league office, so these totals will differ from the ones you'll see in FOA 2010 in a few months.

The 49ers loaded up on sacks this past season, but Ahmad Brooks and Parys Haralson, among others, will need to work towards getting more pressure on the quarterback in 2010. It's kind of bizarre how this season went down as far as the outside linebackers are concerned. Manny Lawson finished with great numbers, and yet he was benched at one point. With some quality talent on the edge, including a guy like Diyral Briggs, how much does the team invest in OLB talent. I expect draft picks to be invested in offensive tackle and secondary depth. But, as we've discussed before, OLB might be ok for now.

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Most improved area of team?

From where the team started to where it finished, I was most impressed the improvement in the quarterback pressures. Tight end is a close second, but VD came out strong from the start. There is a lot of discussion typically about OL “chemistry” but perhaps the pass rush also needs this when it is not dependent upon one star. At the same time, I don’t recall Parys having a strong year and wonder why after great expectations.

by Vertigo on Jan 24, 2010 8:20 AM PST reply actions

Manny VS Parys and Brooks

Manny probably had his best season yet as a pro but he is still behind Parys and Brooks in the Pass Rushing department. Brooks only really played like half a season and still had close to the same amont of sacks as Lawson. It was kind of a down year for Haralson but he consistently collapsed the pocket which forced QB’s to alter their paths. Manny had a few QB hurries and hits(like the one he gave Favre as he threw for the game winner) but they were few and far between IMO. I like Haralson and Brooks to start next season and at the very least have Brooks maybe coming in for both a little more often. Would like to see what Briggs could do this next season a little more because i remember him being a play maker. As for the Draft i wouldn’t mind Carlos Dunlap from FLorida at DE/OLB dude is huge but very athletic… maybe a Shawn Merriman type. I hope we do though go for Mcclain and the safety from Texas. Or a OT depending on who is available.

by roscoe s on Jan 24, 2010 8:22 AM PST reply actions

Carlos Dunlap

He would play DE in a 3-4 scheme (like Justin Smith and Issac Sopoaga)

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

by SportsChicken on Jan 24, 2010 10:08 AM PST up reply actions

An above average pass rusher

at the OLB position can make this defense dominant.

Youtube Account

by supraman on Jan 24, 2010 9:09 AM PST reply actions

Another CB

wouldn’t hurt.

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

by SportsChicken on Jan 24, 2010 10:09 AM PST up reply actions

really either one would do...

though I’m of a mind to go cornerback. Brooks is a developing talent to pair with Haralson and Lawson; after Spencer at CB we don’t have a young guy at CB that I really trust as a starter—and Spencer isn’t even that young.

Jason Hill is turning the corner!

by grantmp on Jan 24, 2010 7:46 PM PST up reply actions