Crosby on Pass Rush Production Beyond Sacks

Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby knows that good pass rushers don't always have to have high sack numbers.

Good pass rushers come in all shapes and sizes in the NFL.

The Las Vegas Raiders are fortunate enough to have some excellent pass rushers on their team, including two-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby, rookie first-round pick Tyree Wilson and third-year breakout player Malcolm Koonce.

Crosby is consistently in the backfield, while Koonce is developing his pass-rush moves so he can do it consistently as well. Wilson is coming on strong after a slow start to his rookie season.

Crosby has a career-high 13.5 sacks this season, but Koonce and Wilson have combined for just 6.5. However, Crosby wants it to be known that being a good pass rusher goes beyond having high sack numbers.

He spoke about it in the most recent episode of his podcast, The Rush with Maxx Crosby.

“No matter what, people, the media, fans from other fan bases are always going to be like: ‘Well, he has more sacks,’ or: ‘Sacks are more important,’ this and that, but real football people, they know film is the most important thing,” Crosby said. “That’s why I think [Pro Football Focus] is valued so highly now because there are a lot of real NFL guys, execs, former execs, people who really know football and they analyze the game.

Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby knows there's more to being a good pass rusher than just high sack numbers / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

“That’s why the guys that aren’t getting crazy sack numbers are still getting their credit now because pressures matter, tackles matter, TFLs matter, win rate matters, all those things matter. I feel like it’s another evolution of the game, so I think it’s super important. I played in this game vs. the Chargers. I didn’t get a sack, and I was still graded at an elite grade by PFF. I knew I played really well, I was disruptive, I was winning a lot of rushes, I was all over the place, but I just happened to not get a sack, and guys like PFF and real footballers know the film is all that matters.”

Crosby mentioned that it took him some time to produce high sack numbers, although he was winning so many rushes.

Pass rushers can impact the game beyond only sacking the quarterback. Being in the backfield consistently, regardless of whether or not they are finishing the play, can also be valuable.

The entire podcast episode can be found here.

On Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Silver and Black will return to action versus their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs. Don't miss it on Monday, December 25, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.