In 1984, Jeff Fisher played for the Chicago Bears team that set the NFL’s all-time record with 72 sacks in a season. Now Fisher wants to coach the team that breaks that record.
Fisher has been telling the defense that he wants at least 73 sacks this year, according to comments that defensive end Robert Quinn made to Ron Clements of CBS Sports.
Realistically, that’s not going to happen. The Rams, who had 39 sacks last year, may have a better pass rush with Fisher bringing in a new defense and the arrival of several new starters, but they’re not going to nearly double their sack output from a year ago.
For that matter, it’s not going to happen for any other team, either, because the game has changed since the Bears set the sack record in 1984. Offenses make protecting the quarterback a higher priority than ever before, and quarterbacks are getting rid of the ball more quickly than ever before. Last year the Vikings and Eagles needed just 50 sacks to tie for the league lead, and only one team in the last 10 years has had 60 sacks in a season (the 2006 Chargers, with 61). Getting 70 sacks in a season is just about impossible in today’s NFL.
Still, it’s nice that Fisher has big goals.