What are are Quarterback Hurries (QB Hurries)
Pro Football Reference defines quarterback hurries as “a situation when the QB is forced to throw the ball earlier than intended or is chased around/out of the pocket as the result of defensive pressure”.
While this seems straightforward, it is not. The elements of the statistic can be quite subjective. Play charters must make a determination as to whether a hurry occurred or not. Compare this to a statistic like Air Yards which is easily identifiable.
Which defensive positions tend to lead in Quarterback Hurries?
Not surprising, those positions which tend to rush the quarterback often lead the league in quarterback hurries: lineman and linebackers, but specifically defensive ends and outside linebackers (depending on whether the defense plays a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme) tend to be team leaders in hurries.
You can look at the tables below and see that for both 2019 and 2020 the top 10 leaders in QB hurries were defensive ends and outside linebackers.
Recent season leaders in QB hurries
Position Key:
ROLB = right outside linebacker
LOLB = left outside linebacker
RDE = right defensive end
LDE = left defensive end
LDT = left defensive tackle
Top 10 Players for QB Hurries in 2020:
| Player Name | Position | Number of QB Hurries |
|---|---|---|
| Shaquil Barrett | ROLB | 24 |
| Chase Winovich | LDE | 24 |
| T.J. Watt | LOLB | 19 |
| Maxx Crosby | RDE | 19 |
| Harold Landry | ROLB | 18 |
| Joey Bosa | LDE | 18 |
| Haason Reddick | LOLB | 16 |
| Brian Burns | LDE | 16 |
| Khalil Mack | LOLB | 16 |
| Chris Jones | LDT | 16 |
Top 10 Players for QB Hurries in 2019:
| Player Name | Position | Number of QB Hurries |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Donald | RDE | 32 |
| Khalil Mack | LOLB | 30 |
| Cameron Jordan | LDE | 27 |
| Joey Bosa | LDE | 25 |
| Nick Bosa | LDE | 24 |
| T.J. Watt | LOLB | 23 |
| Dante Fowler | LOLB | 19 |
| Harold Landry | ROLB | 18 |
| Matthew Ionnidis | RDE | 18 |
| Von Miller | ROLB | 18 |
