How Important Was Cliff Avril's Extension?

[kidhawk]

I heard these numbers today from the Super Bowl:

Before Avril left with a concussion Brady was 15/23 for 106 yards and 2 Interceptions.

After Avril had to leave the game Brady was 22/27 for 214 yards and 4 TD.

I was happy when we got him extended, but after watching him for 2 years and hearing these above numbers, I'm even happier now.

 

[Hyak]

Those numbers cannot be entirely correct as he was hurt on Wagner's INT in the 3rd quarter and NE already had 14 points on 2 TD passes.

That said, after he left Brady's numbers were a lot better (2 TD/0 INT) as it forced Bennett to move outside whereas Brady then had minimal pass rush from inside and was able to step up (key on a few 3rd down conversions in the 4th quarter TD drives).

No question Avril's loss was a key factor.

 

[DannyMcGwire]

I agree. I think we were starting to see the defense take over that game and that changed with Avril out. Bennett wasn't as effective after that.

 

[HawkFan72]

It was all downhill once Avril went out. Glad he's going to be back, and I'm glad going out with a concussion won't be the last time we see him as a Seahawk.

 

[kidhawk]

I agree. I think we were starting to see the defense take over that game and that changed with Avril out. Bennett wasn't as effective after that.

Our best pass rush comes often when Bennett and Avril line up together and Bennett keeps the linemen busy giving Avril a much easier line to the qb. These two work so well together that either piece without the other makes a dramatic difference.

 

[kidhawk]

Those numbers cannot be entirely correct as he was hurt on Wagner's INT in the 3rd quarter and NE already had 14 points on 2 TD passes.

That said, after he left Brady's numbers were a lot better (2 TD/0 INT) as it forced Bennett to move outside whereas Brady then had minimal pass rush from inside and was able to step up (key on a few 3rd down conversions in the 4th quarter TD drives).

No question Avril's loss was a key factor.

You very well could be right. The radio guy said he heard them on twitter from an NFL writer. I didn't go back to double check. I still haven't brought myself to go back and re-watch the game, although I will eventually.

 

[Hyak]

Here are the actual numbers:

Before Avril injury:

6 NE drives: 2 TD (33%), 2 TO (33%), 2 punts (33%)

Brady: 22/31 (70.0%), 187 yards (6.03 YPA), 2 TD, 2 INT, QB rating 81.0

After Avril injury:

4 NE drives: 2 TD (50%), 2 punts (50%)

Brady: 15/19 (78.9%), 141 yards (7.42 YPA), 2 TD, 0 INT, QB rating 132.7

 

[hawknation2015]

Here are the actual numbers:

Before Avril injury:

6 NE drives: 2 TD (33%), 2 TO (33%), 2 punts (33%)

Brady: 22/31 (70.0%), 187 yards (6.03 YPA), 2 TD, 2 INT, QB rating 81.0

After Avril injury:

4 NE drives: 2 TD (50%), 2 punts (50%)

Brady: 15/19 (78.9%), 141 yards (7.42 YPA), 2 TD, 0 INT, QB rating 132.7

Losing Avril to a concussion was huge. Schofield was a terrible matchup against Vollmer, who simply overpowered him for the most part.

 

[kidhawk]

Here are the actual numbers:

Before Avril injury:

6 NE drives: 2 TD (33%), 2 TO (33%), 2 punts (33%)

Brady: 22/31 (70.0%), 187 yards (6.03 YPA), 2 TD, 2 INT, QB rating 81.0

After Avril injury:

4 NE drives: 2 TD (50%), 2 punts (50%)

Brady: 15/19 (78.9%), 141 yards (7.42 YPA), 2 TD, 0 INT, QB rating 132.7

Thanks for the leg work (keyboard legs anyway). I am just really glad we have most of this line locked up. I was worried early in the season that it would be Avril's last with us, but with him and Bennett our pass rush should be fine and when the rest of the line gets healthy, they should be in good shape to push for another year at the top of the heap defensively.

 

[Hyak]

Further to this about Avril on the field regardless of when he was injury and those are what you referenced.

Brady with Avril on field: 15-23 passing, 106 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT, 24.8 QBR, 39.4 passer rating. No Avril: 22-27, 214 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT, 97.7 QBR, 139.3 passer rating. Coincidence?

 

[hawknation2015]

Further to this about Avril on the field regardless of when he was injury and those are what you referenced.

Brady with Avril on field: 15-23 passing, 106 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT, 24.8 QBR. No Avril: 22-27, 214 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT, 97.7 QBR. Coincidence?

So the stats in the OP are correct?

 

[sutz]

As so often happens, problems on the DL allowed the QB to exploit the weakness in the DBs (Lane out). Both injuries hurt by themselves. Together, it pretty much sealed the deal. With those two in, unlikely they score twice in the fourth quarter.

Oh well, Wilson almost pulled it off anyway. Life sucks. :229031_shrug:

 

[brimsalabim]

How is he? He looked ok walking to the locker room but when the announcers said he was being escorted by the league underwriter I figured he was done.

For comparisons sake could any one furnish Julian Eddlemans numbers before and after his concusion? It would have been big if he had gone to the locker room as well. I guess the underwriter was too busy to check him out though.

 

[kidhawk]

Further to this about Avril on the field regardless of when he was injury and those are what you referenced.

Brady with Avril on field: 15-23 passing, 106 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT, 24.8 QBR. No Avril: 22-27, 214 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT, 97.7 QBR. Coincidence?

That sounds like what was read on the radio this morning. Different than what you came up with.

Either way though, both stats and the eye test show that Avril had a big impact in that game (and many others) and is integral in our pass rush moving forward.

 

[Hyak]

Further to this about Avril on the field regardless of when he was injury and those are what you referenced.

Brady with Avril on field: 15-23 passing, 106 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT, 24.8 QBR. No Avril: 22-27, 214 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT, 97.7 QBR. Coincidence?

So the stats in the OP are correct?

Yes although it was Avril on the field versus off the field, which included before he was concussed.

 

[Hyak]

The other thing this points out is the big need for another edge pass rusher in the mix. Maybe it's Marsh but they need another Clemons type to really get back to the 2013 havoc that they can create.

 

[SomersetHawk]

Avril - Vital, KJ - Not so much.

Extending Cliff lessens our need to hit on a pass rusher in the draft. It would be nice to get one, but it's not as imperative any more.

 

[gulliver]

I disagree that we will be "fine" with pass rush when we get Avril and Bennett back. In the regular season we were:

*20th in league at sacks
*18th (T) in INTs (often caused by pass rush... see Brady in SB XLIX. And all of last year for us)
*21st in team takeaways
*No Seattle players was Top 20 for QB hurries

Bennett and Avril would be a devastating combo IF we had someone in the middle who could consistently get penetration and disrupt RB and QB timing, at which point our ends can get to the QB or the RB.

As it is, we all watched our guys helpless to do anything as Rogers etc. took 6, 7 and 8 seconds in the pocket.

 

[theascension]

We'll still target the draft for a couple d-linemen but I don't see it as important as figuring out WR or TE spots (depending on if miller comes back). We had 6 guys on I.R at the line this year, marsh was starting to come along. Probably draft one in the 4th and one in the 6th.

I'd expect us to be aggressive in free agency however, go after some veterans again.

 

[Hyak]

I can make a compelling argument that finding another edge pass rusher is one of our biggest needs. If we had Clemons this year, I think we demolish both GB and NE even when Avril went out.

Irvin and Schofield flash but they are limited pass rushers IMO.