Oakland Raiders star Khalil Mack recently told Peter King that he wants to record 30 sacks for the 2017 season. While the goal certainly is lofty, it’s something that Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller sees as realistic.
“I think it is,” Miller said, per Nick Kosmider, of The Denver Post. “You’ve got to come out and get 10 in that first month, which is doable. You get two-and-a-half and then get two-and-a-half the next game and two-and-a-half the game after that. You might miss a game and then you get two-and-a-half again and you have 10 in five games. Then you get three, two, three. It’s definitely doable.”
When you think of it that way, it seems possible.
Still, it has to be pointed out that Mack has never recorded more than 15 sacks in a season. Miller’s career high, meanwhile, if 18.5. Those are great numbers, but a far cry from 30. In fact, nobody in NFL history has come remotely close to 30. Michael Strahan’s single-season record is 22.5.
With that said, longstanding single-season records are often handily beaten when they finally drop. Roger Maris’ single-season home run record of 61 stood for 37 years. When Mark McGwire finally broke it, he hit 70. Three years later, Barry Bonds hit 73.
Sticking to football, Dan Marino’s threw for a then record 5,084 yards in 1984. That record stood for nearly three decades. But in 2011, Drew Brees not only broke it, but eclipsed Marino’s total with a full week to go. Brees eventually finished with 5,476, a record that’s since been eclipsed by Peyton Manning (5,477 in 2013).
It’s crazy to think about a pass rusher recording 30 sacks. But as the game becomes more passing oriented, that will give the edge rushers more opportunities. More opportunities will also give them a better chance to perfect their timing, making them even better at getting to the quarterback.
The smart money says that 30 will not happy in 2017, or any time soon. But the idea is not as crazy as it initially sounds.