Sacked & sacks: How the SEC stacks up after Week 8
The quarterback sack is one of the most exciting plays in football, and it can often make or break the outcome of a drive.
Because it is such an important piece of the puzzle for SEC programs, we are tracking how each team is performing throughout the season.
We will take a look at both how good each team’s defense is at creating sacks, as well as how well each offensive line is at preventing them.
We’ll also take a look at some of the league’s top producers of sacks and tackles for loss.
Here is how things stack up after Week 8:
SACKS: RANKING EACH SEC DEFENSE
Alabama has widened its lead at the top of this list, which will serve Crimson Tide well in its hope to remain the league leader through its Week 9 bye.
Florida fell behind Missouri during a Week 8 bye, as the Tigers jump both the Gators and Texas A&M in this week’s rankings.
Missouri continues to hold the top spot in the league in tackles for loss as the Tigers enter a Week 9 bye, with a healthy lead on Texas A&M and Ole Miss, which serve as the closest competition.
TEAM | SACKS | SACK YARDS | TACKLES FOR LOSS |
---|---|---|---|
1. Alabama | 27 | 161 | 53 |
2. Missouri | 22 | 134 | 72 |
T3. Florida | 21 | 174 | 55 |
T3. Texas A&M | 21 | 117 | 66 |
5. Mississippi State | 20 | 147 | 63 |
6. LSU | 18 | 122 | 43 |
7. Vanderbilt | 15 | 93 | 43 |
8. Tennessee | 14 | 79 | 39 |
T9. Ole Miss | 13 | 92 | 64 |
T9. South Carolina | 13 | 88 | 37 |
T9. Georgia | 13 | 78 | 45 |
12. Kentucky | 12 | 80 | 27 |
13. Auburn | 11 | 71 | 32 |
14. Arkansas | 7 | 54 | 44 |
SACKED: ANALYZING HOW WELL EACH TEAM AVOIDS THE SACK
Arkansas continues its reign at the top of this list. The big, physical Razorbacks offensive line is paying dividends, but is also aided by an experienced quarterback in Brandon Allen, who knows when to get rid of the football and avoid a negative play.
One of the most alarming numbers on this chart is Alabama’s 64 tackles for loss allowed, which is by far the worst in the league.
TEAM | SACKS ALLOWED | SACK YARDS ALLOWED | TACKLES FOR LOSS ALLOWED |
---|---|---|---|
1. Arkansas | 6 | 38 | 24 |
T2. Georgia | 8 | 48 | 25 |
T2. LSU | 8 | 67 | 36 |
4. Mississippi State | 10 | 69 | 34 |
5. Auburn | 11 | 82 | 37 |
T6. South Carolina | 12 | 76 | 32 |
T6. Vanderbilt | 12 | 78 | 39 |
8. Alabama | 13 | 95 | 64 |
9. Ole Miss | 14 | 111 | 49 |
10. Tennessee | 16 | 127 | 49 |
T11. Florida | 20 | 104 | 45 |
T11. Missouri | 20 | 125 | 57 |
T11. Kentucky | 20 | 139 | 50 |
14. Texas A&M | 21 | 135 | 46 |
TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS
Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett continues his reign at the top of the SEC sack leaderboard, though both he and LSU’s Lewis Neal went without a sack in Week 8.
NAME | TEAM | POSITION | SACKS |
---|---|---|---|
1. Myles Garrett | Texas A&M | DL | 8.5 |
2. Lewis Neal | LSU | DL | 7.0 |
T3. Walter Brady | Missouri | DL | 6.0 |
T3. Jonathan Allen | Alabama | DL | 6.0 |
T3. Charles Harris | Missouri | DL | 6.0 |
On the tackles for loss side of things, Missouri’s Charles Harris continues to pace the league. He had three tackles for loss in a 10-3 loss to Vanderbilt in Week 8.
NAME | TEAM | POSITION | TACKLES FOR LOSS |
---|---|---|---|
1. Charles Harris | Missouri | DL | 15.5 |
2. Myles Garrett | Texas A&M | DL | 13.5 |
3. A.J. Jefferson | Mississippi State | DL | 11.5 |
4. Jalen Reeves-Maybin | Tennessee | LB | 10.5 |
5. Jonathan Bullard | Florida | DL | 10.0 |