Patriots hope to bag their share of sacks

September 30, 2008|Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff

FOXBOROUGH - Give Richard Seymour credit for being honest. When the Patriots defensive end was asked yesterday if he had any memories of the brief stint on the Patriots practice squad that current San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan enjoyed in 2006, Seymour responded with a simple, "No."

"Hopefully, we'll be reacquainted," Seymour said with a mischievous smile.

A reunion with O'Sullivan in the 49ers' backfield Sunday at Candlestick Park would suit Seymour and his defensive teammates just fine. San Francisco, which has given up a league-high 19 sacks in its first four games, might be just the prescription for a Patriots pass rush that after a four-sack performance in the season opener has mustered just two sacks in its last two games and ranks tied for 22d in the NFL with six. That's a far cry from the potent pass rush of last season, when the Patriots collected 47 sacks to lead the AFC and finish second in the NFL to the Giants.

While Patriots coach Bill Belichick waxes poetic about the offensive brilliance of the schemes of Mike Martz, who is now the 49ers offensive coordinator, all of Martz's creativity in the passing game not only puts pressure on opposing defenses, but on his offensive line.

O'Sullivan was sacked six times Sunday in a 31-17 loss to the Saints. San Francisco's surfeit of sacks isn't a surprise considering what Martz's offenses did the last two seasons, when he was in Detroit as offensive coordinator of the Lions.

Last year, Detroit quarterbacks were sacked 54 times, ranking third in the league, behind only the 49ers and the Chiefs, who each gave up 55.

In 2006, Detroit surrendered 63 sacks, second-most in the league, including five in a 28-21 Patriots win at Gillette Stadium.

"They throw a lot of downfield routes. They throw deep in-cuts [and] deep comebacks. Sometimes they have a lot of receivers out, so occasionally their protection breaks down on that," said Belichick. "But they attack the defense at all three levels - the short, intermediate, and deep level. They do it every week on a consistent basis, so you have to be ready to defend it. Sometimes you get to [the quarterback] before they get it off, but a lot of times you don't, and they hit a lot of 20-, 25-, 30-yard completions, a lot more than most teams do. That's the way they have been historically.

"It takes a little longer for those plays to develop. I think overall their pass protection has been good. I think the line has done a good job. Overall, their pass protection hasn't been bad. Like any line it has broken down from time to time, but they have done a good job."