Tackling a quarterback in the backfield is not always a sack.
This is Coach Tran. I happen to be a football stats guru and have broken down and tagged game film to compile official stats at almost every coaching stop in my career.
Tackling a quarterback in the backfield is not always a sack. This is a common misunderstanding to believe that every time a quarterback is tackled in the backfield that it is a sack.
It is a sack if a quarterback intends to throw or if the quarterback’s intentions are unknown.
If the play is clearly a designed run play based on the movement of the offensive linemen and wide receivers and based on the intentions of the quarterback, tackling a quarterback in the backfield counts as a tackle for loss.
I have seen some players over the years who are unaware of the definitions of the statistics become disappointed when they do not get credit for a sack, but for a tackle for loss instead.
In my world, sacks and tackles for losses are of equal importance. They both result in the opponent moving backward. That is what we want on defense, and on offense as well.
Let’s give tackles for losses the same amount of praise and accolades as sacks.
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I am Phil Tran saying so long. I will see y’all next time.
