Deflected Passes at the Line of Scrimmage

[RRMarshall]

I don't know if it comes from watching an entire season of Cam Newton but it seems this season I am witnessing many more balls batted down at the line of scrimmage by defensive linemen. Has anyone else noticed that as well? It seems there are 2 to 3 a game which is high to me. Is there more emphasis on defensive linemen getting their hands up, etc? Just curious if anyone else was noticing the same thing...

[rhickok1109]

I don't know if it comes from watching an entire season of Cam Newton but it seems this season I am witnessing many more balls batted down at the line of scrimmage by defensive linemen. Has anyone else noticed that as well? It seems there are 2 to 3 a game which is high to me. Is there more emphasis on defensive linemen getting their hands up, etc? Just curious if anyone else was noticing the same thing...

It's not an official stat, but I wonder if somebody tracks batted passes?

Newton has always had a tendency to throw more or less sidearm instead of over the top (a flaw I've also noted with Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson) and I wonder if that tendency increased after his shoulder surgery.

Another factor is that the Patriots haven't done a very good job of protecting him.

[JWL]

It's not an official stat, but I wonder if somebody tracks batted passes?

Sports Info Solutions does track this. They have five lineman with at least three batted passes.

3 each- Christian Wilkins, Quinnen Williams, Carlos Watkins

4 each- J.J. Watt, Calais Campbell

[rhickok1109]

It's not an official stat, but I wonder if somebody tracks batted passes?

Sports Info Solutions does track this. They have five lineman with at least three batted passes.

3 each- Christian Wilkins, Quinnen Williams, Carlos Watkins

4 each- J.J. Watt, Calais Campbell

Watt had 4 against Winston. He didn't have any others?

[JWL]

They have him with 3 vs New England and 1 vs Baltimore.

[rhickok1109]

They have him with 3 vs New England and 1 vs Baltimore.

I have to question their accuracy then. Watt quite clearly batted down 4 of Newton's passes. In fact, that was the chief top at Newton's post-game press conference.

[JWL]

That's going to make me look at the tape. I am not doubting you. I am curious why SIS has three. Was one of the passes technically deflected as opposed to batted? A deflected pass could go in any direction but I think of a batted pass as going backwards.

[Sonny9]

It's not an official stat, but I wonder if somebody tracks batted passes?

Sports Info Solutions does track this. They have five lineman with at least three batted passes.

3 each- Christian Wilkins, Quinnen Williams, Carlos Watkins

4 each- J.J. Watt, Calais Campbell

I would think the Hogskins Montez Sweat or Chase Young would be on that list too.

edit - "According to PFF, Sweat has batted down five passes this season — second-most among the league’s defensive linemen."
from Dec 10th, before the last game

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/20 ... ating-pro/

[Brian wolf]

Seems like every time I watch Jones of KC, he is batting down at least one pass. The batted, tipped passes, not to mention, interceptions, caused by Ed Too Tall Jones, were amazing ...