Assessing Quarterback Hits ATS

The long season of the NFL has its impact in several ways amongst individual players.  A consistent regimen of practice, travel, and regular season games takes its toll over the long haul of an NFL season.

To protect from injury quarterbacks need to be able to depend on their offensive line.  Throughout the NFL this season there have been an alarming amount of quarterbacks taking an heavy amount of hits.

The end stat of focus usually centers on sacks on a quarterback.  The additional measurement of quarterbacks hits, hurries, and pressures also needs to be taken into account on a weekly basis.

A strong correlation is noticeable in teams with offensive line protection issues and the ability to cover spreads.

Last night in the Seahawks vs. 49ers matchup both Russ Wilson and Colin Kaepernick were sacked five or more times. In fact, Russ Wilson leads the league in amount of hits. He has been hit a whopping fifty four times.  All of the blame cannot go on a choppy offensive line but the majority of the fault should.

It should come as no coincidence that the Seahawks have managed to stumble in so many fourth quarters.  If your quarterback is unsettled behind an offensive line stagnant stretches of offensive football are bound to happen.

As we head into weekend action, lets focus on other teams that are having issues protecting their quarterbacks.  As these hits continue to pile up expect an increase of turnovers, stagnant offensive drives, and injuries for quarterbacks on these teams.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have yet to get the running game going with Melvin Gordon.  Thus, quarterback Philip Rivers has had to rely on his arm to keep the Chargers in games.  Last week he threw the football over sixty times.  With a chance to tie against the Packers, the Chargers failed to convert four tries from the Packers three-yard line.  On the season Philip Rivers has been hit forty five times to tie the Browns quarterbacks for second in the NFL.  Even though Rivers has been able to side step injuries you have to wonder what toll more hits will take on his body in the 2015 campaign.

Detroit Lions

Just like the Chargers, the Lions have built their offense solely around the play of their quarterback.  Matthew Stafford has performed admirably in three of the past four weeks, which culminated in an overtime win for the Lions against the Bears.  Still, Stafford has already endured a rib injury this season and has yet to get solid run game contribution that he did a season ago.  He has already been hit 41 times on the season and likely will continue to take a beating each and every Sunday.

Indianapolis Colts

While Andrew Luck was out the Colts actually did a better job in protecting backup Matt Hasselbeck.  I believe there is room for the Colts offense to grow and mesh together even with a poor offensive line.  Often times it takes an injury to a team's quarterback for proper adjustments to be made.  With Indianapolis having side stepped Luck's shoulder injury they'll make necessary improvements to limit the current pace of hits on Luck.