I have a QB who was sacked 65 times in the regular and postseason:

https://moguls.myfootballnow.com/player/6128

I know he's slow - will he never be able to avoid pass rush, no matter how good my offensive line is?

Looking for advice on judging o linemen, specifically tackles - do you just look at speed/strength ratings, or is high pass/run blocking more important even if they're slower or weak? Didn't know if I should be trading for better linemen or if that's a lost cause with this QB. Thanks in advance for any help.

Do you attempt a lot of long passes? Those often cause sacks.

Mostly medium and long. Those plays have more shotgun in my coach's playbook, which I assumed would protect a slower QB behind a below average o line. Are more short dump off passes the way to go?

https://tri-state-league.myfootballnow.com/community/3/6759?page=2#41758

Thanks for the info. Definitely need to dig into seth's data - can't just call FL hitch 35 times a game.

I think I read somewhere the QB doesn't throw until a receiver finishes his route - would short passes ensure the ball is released quickly so the WR does more of the work than the QB?

I have a league where we ran all medium and long passes and we were sacked at half the rate you were. Maybe it the plays as the primary has to get through his route and maybe yours are not and maybe it’s his speed at 19 but mines only 44 and he’s real young. Also the lowest pass blocking rating we have in s 93 while you got some 60s

4.5 code the version your playing on has a low amount of sacks in general but it how the sacks happen Is what broke. For example a LDE playing head up on your RT in the 46 under you will get beat at an extremely high rate if the DE is underweight and fast. Looking back at your game vs Chicago they ran with a small fast dline .... not necessarily the 46 but small pass rushers have an advantage over even elite oline in any scenario

So like I said maybe it’s your long / medium plays selection but I bet it’s the talent your facing or how that talent is being applied. As Chicago guys were no so talented (pass rush) but they were getting an acceleration boost due to there size.

Taking a quick look at my worst sacks allowed game this season, most of the DEs had 75-80 speed and 75-85 acceleration. It's a fast defense league with experienced owners, so they know the best defensive players to target and play. Admittedly, a slow QB will be easy pickings for defenders like that.

Would smaller o linemen with at least decent acceleration counter the defender's speed? Playing a bunch of centers who are fast, even if they get pushed around a little because they're smaller than guards and tackles? Or should I look for tackles with 80-90 pass blocking, even if their speed is only 40-50 but they're strong? Going into the first week of free agency, so I'm trying to figure out who to target before they get snapped up. Thanks.

That’s tough... I tried it and the results were mixed. Under 4.5 FBs at Tackle did work... 243 pounds facing 237 pound LBs at DE. But it’s an actual bug... hence all the rules to prevent punt blocks. That was 191 pounds shooting off the end (7 to 9 technique) and almost always beating who ever was lined up. Even 217 pound RBs couldn’t get in place even for the pass blocking rating to be in use.

It’s a mix of where the defenders line up who has to block them then their weight in pounds. In beta testing both algorithms were tweaked to slow the speed rushers but now bigger guys blow over the smaller blockers. That code is in 4.5 but it not so prevalent. You lose run blocking strength as well but it’s more noticeable in beta tests than version 4.5.

I would look at better oline men. But no matter the speed acceleration a certain weight in pounds is doesn’t matter. I never tried all centers.... actually I like bigger linemen in both versions but it does come down to strategy applied.... as they can vary because the plays you can pick. Some plays are just worse.

For me under 4.5 I really only value the pass blocking rating then strength then acceleration then maybe speed for my RG who I pull a lot on run plays. I rely play selection and a lot of weapons. One league I have a fast qb but a poor line and we still get double digit wins every year with a low amount of sacks.

One thing to note on the long passes are s how the passing algorithms work as maybe your QB is not acknowledging the deep guys as being open (weaker arm) and not checking down quick enough. I like 99 arm strength QBs and long passes that have good dump off options. Like if your TE is getting jammed (b&r , route, speed acceleration) but he’s your primary running a deep out and there no back for an outlet your QB has no chance cause they don’t run in the 4.5 version. This is that thing about guys finishing routes. As in beta QBs run more but a play like this almost results in a sack every time there cause pass rushing is juiced.

Those spread sets are great but long passing is nerfed some both in 4.5 and beta and without that big arm to make that deep throw (or even far and out to the side line) and decent coverage make for too many cover sacks. Don’t get me wrong oline matters get a great one but in allocations I have completely omitted drafting them until the later 30 rounds and still hang with the better teams. Without rules, scouting or changing game plans ...just getting a fast and talented roster.

You got some weapons on that team so I think it’s the play selections ( maybe what down they are called on) or low pass blocking combined with the slower QB. Sometimes I use low FOV QBs to force passes in to talent but I am just throwing stuff out there as it a lot of sacks your taking on. Some more elite owners might disagree here as I see plenty of them using oline with lower pass block but ..

Interesting. I never considered putting a FB at a tackle position. I'd guess a faster 257 pound TE with say 85+ pass blocking could hold his own against a 276 pound DE at tackle and slow the pass rush too.

I think you're probably correct that I just have pretty lousy o linemen. I drafted an elite RB first and started looking for big linemen with good run blocking skills only, then traded for this slow QB who needs extra pass protection - poor roster construction on my part. I'll still look for "real" tackles and guards with 90+ pass blocking and maybe mix in more short passes to speed up release. The guy still passed for 4000+ yards with 20+ TDs so he's not a ***, but losing 500 yards a season in sacks allowed is just brutal.

Counter-intuitively, heavier OL appear to be better at pass blocking than run blocking. Purely anecdotal, but I play most of my OL at RT anymore.