On Sunday afternoon, Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack showed us how a pass rusher can completely take over a ball game. With five sacks during the second half of an upset win over the Denver Broncos, the Raiders' rising star used power at the point of attack and speed off the ball to consistently collapse the edge of the pocket.
Mack, who now leads the NFL with 14 sacks, has arrived. He's legit. And the numbers mesh with the tape. But where does the second-year pro rank in the discussion of the top pass rushers in the NFL?
With Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn on the shelf for the season with injuries, let's break down the most feared pass rushers that are currently playing in today's game, while also taking a look at their signature moves. From J.J. Watt to Aaron Donald, here are the 10 players who consistently impact protection schemes and put the quarterback on the ground.
1. DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans: 13.5 sacks
At 6-foot-5, 289 pounds, Watt is the most dominant defensive player in the game; a guy who commands double- and even triple-team blocks in protection. The Texans' 3-4 defensive end is the perfect example of a pass rusher who can convert speed to power at the point of attack and he brings a variety of counter moves to the stadium. With strong hands, explosive power on contact and the natural speed to turn the corner, Watt can whip opposing offensive tackles (or guards when he slides inside) using technique and his upper-tier athleticism. Plus, he never stops playing. The effort level? It's awesome. Hey, you want to leave a tackle in a true one-on-one situation versus Watt? No chance. You are just asking for your quarterback to get lit up. Watt is too big, too physical and too fast for that stuff.
Signature Move: It's the "rip." A classic technique taught at all levels with Watt engaging the blocker, leaning and using the "rip" move to create an edge.
2. OLB Von Miller, Denver Broncos: 10.0 sacks
In terms of true edge rushers, Miller might have the best first step in the game. The Broncos' outside linebacker explodes off the ball from a two-point stance, dips his shoulders and closes with ridiculous speed. That allows him to come back downhill and eat up quarterbacks when they climb the pocket. But he's not a one-trick pony: Miller is aggressive with his hands on contact and has the power to run through blockers when they fail to set a strong base. He must be accounted for in every passing situation.
Signature Move: It's the speed rush with ability to dip on the edge. He brings back some memories of the great Lawrence Taylor with his ability to cut the corner against offensive tackles.
3. OLB Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders: 14.0 sacks
Mack's five sacks from Sunday should be put on an offseason teaching tape because of his pad-level, explosive power and the finishing ability to straight bull-rush offensive tackles. He walked the Broncos' offensive tackles right back in the pocket and used his inside arm to bench-out (or create separation). That's total control. On the tape, the 6-foot-3, 250 pound edge linebacker often showcases his power when he engages with blockers, but he also has the quick hands to slap down and attack the edge to create a path to the quarterback. Plus, Mack doesn't lack the acceleration needed to win on the outside. He has a sudden burst that's noticeable on the film. A complete player this early in his career? Man, that's impressive.
Signature Move: Bend, power and arm extension. Mack is going to get low and press against opposing offensive tackles.
4. OLB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs: 7.5 sacks
At 6-foot-3, 258 pounds, Houston gets the job done with a rare blend of speed, power and flexibility. Houston has heavy hands on contact and he will shoot inside when offensive tackles over-set to create an open door. This gives Houston a two-way go with the finishing power to also run through tackles that set too high in their stance. For a defense in Kansas City that features multiple pass rushers, Houston is the guy I would have to game plan for specifically each week to keep my quarterback off the ground. He's got the size, acceleration and technique to beat you up on the edge.
Signature Move: The "dip and rip." This is when Houston gains the edge, drops the pads and rips through the blocker to get home.
5. DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams: 11.0 sacks
The quick moves off the ball, the hands on contact and the sudden acceleration to get up the field, that's Donald on the interior of the Rams' defensive line in Gregg Williams' system. At 6-foot-1, 285 pounds, the Pitt product is considered "undersized" and that most likely impacted his overall draft grade. But how many teams are kicking themselves for passing up Donald in the first round of the 2014 draft? He has top-five talent, but slipped to No. 13 overall. With the ability to beat offensive guards off the ball, Donald can shoot gaps while using his fast hands to get home. If Miller has the best first step on the edge, then give the crown to Donald on the inside. That burst puts an enormous amount of pressure on opposing offensive guards to set and play with technique. Kick-back slow versus Donald? Forget about it. He is already in the face of the quarterback and adding another sack to his total of 11. That's a big number for a defensive tackle.
Signature Move: The "arm-over." That's when Donald jumps off the ball and slips the guard to accelerate up the field on a short path to the quarterback.
6. DE Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets: 12.0 sacks
Like Watt, the Jets' DE can apply pressure as a edge rusher or from the 5-technique position (aligned directly over the tackle) in the 3-4 front. Listed at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, Wilkerson has the athletic ability to get home (and close to the quarterback) on stunts with the counter moves to win isolation matchups. Plus, he plays with high-level awareness, and explodes through open creases in the protection scheme to put the quarterback on the ground. The big man can really move on, and is nasty at the point of attack with the technique to produce.
Signature Move: The quick "swim." Not the old-school version here. Think of Wilkerson engaging, knocking the blocker's hands down and then using the "swim" to win the matchup.
7. DT Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals: 8.0 sacks
At 6-foot-1, 300 pounds, Atkins has the burst off the ball to split gaps like Donald, but it's the power that really stands out on tape. Atkins gets low, drives blockers back and wins with his core strength. That's why we see Atkins put guys on skates as he collapses the pocket from the interior of the defensive front. That takes away lanes for the quarterback to step up and also creates sack opportunities for Bengals teammate Carlos Dunlap on the edge. Finding interior pass rushers isn't easy (as we will see this offseason in the draft process) and Atkins is one of the best.
Signature Move: It's the bull rush. Get low, drive the legs and walk guys right into the lap of the quarterback before disengaging to finish the sack.
8. DE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints: 8.0 sacks
At 6-foot-4, 287 pounds, Jordan plays a little high at times, but it's amazing to me how he overpowers blockers on contact. That's really where he wins by exploding into the blocker, forcing him back and then ripping through to get home. There is some closing speed on the tape off stunts up front, and Jordan can track down quarterbacks when they are flushed from the pocket. But the way I see it, Jordan brings "grown man" strength to the Saints' defensive line, with the versatility to rush off the edge or bump down inside in the sub-package fronts.
Signature Move: Collision and shed. Shock the blocker with the initial contact and disengage to attack the outside edge of the man.
9. DE Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit Lions: 13.5 sacks
Ansah's numbers should put him up higher on the list, but I still see a guy who is learning the techniques of the pro game. While he's still raw in a sense, the overall skill pops off the screen when studying the Lions' defensive end. Ansah is a long-strider, and that can sometimes mask speed on the film, but he has a legit burst off the ball that creates panic in opposing offensive tackles. And Ansah is starting to build a pretty deep tool box of counter moves. The key here? Ansah is still developing. At 6-foot-5, 278 pounds, he has the ability to become a super freak off the edge for a long time in the NFL.
Signature Move: Dip and bend. Ansah has a long frame to cut the corner, dip and get under offensive tackles.
10. DE Cliff Avril, Seattle Seahawks: 7.5 sacks
Avril must have one of the best 10-yard splits in the league based on his get-off. Like Miller, Avril can often blow past offensive tackles before they really even get into a pass set. At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, Avril has the frame and athletic ability of a prototypical 4-3 rush end with the violent hands on contact to slap down and create a positive angle. That's why we see him attack the edge of blockers so often. Plus, he is a perfect fit for Seattle's defense, which wins with speed. You want to shut down Avril? Find an offensive tackle who can get back off the ball and a running back who isn't afraid to chip on the edge.
Signature Move: The speed rush. Blockers know it's coming. And they still can't stop it.