Tip to BBS, PFP does a nice write up on 98
No pass rusher got more pressure around the outside than Mathis in 2009. He recorded 42 total pressures (9 sacks, 7 hits, 26 pressures) from the outside last season, six ahead of second-place Trent Cole (6 sacks, 12 hits, 18 pressures) and 14 clear of Freeney (7 sacks, 5 hits, 16 pressures). Mathis was also well clear of the field in terms of his pressure per snap, beating a blocker outside to record pressure once every 9.74 pass rushes, more frequent than the likes of Freeney (once every 14.04 pass rushes) and Cole (once every 15.14 pass rushes).
Mathis clearly benefits from both scheme and the presence of Freeney on the other side but his role was increased in 2009 and his level of play picked up accordingly. His pressure frequency picked up from once every 10.61 pass rushes in ’08 to once every 7.05 snaps in ’09 as he stepped up into his amplified role.
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