With 6 Sacks in the Last Three Weeks, Odds Favor Jamal Adams Breaking Sacks Record for DB

• Jamal Adams coming off a three-sack game for the NY Jets
• The safety recorded just 2.0 and 3.5 sacks the past two years
• The latest NFL prop gives Adams -140 odds to break the record for sacks by a DB in a season 

Jamal Adams had zero sacks through seven games but was still a key member of the New York Jets defense. He then recorded his first sack in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins and followed that up with a two-sack game against the New York Giants and a three-sack game against the Washington Redskins.

Now sitting on six sacks for the season, he is in the running to set a new record for sacks by a defensive back (8.0 by Arizona’s Adrian Wilson in 2015).

Odds Jamal Adams Sets Record for Sacks by a DB

Odds taken Nov. 20.

Do Safeties Get Sacks in Gregg Williams’ System?

To determine if Jamal Adams has a shot at breaking the record, you need to look back at what past safeties have done in Gregg Williams’ defenses.

In 2017 and 2018, when he was the defensive coordinator and interim head coach for the Cleveland Browns, his safeties recorded zero and one sacks total. In 2017, the majority of Cleveland’s sacks came from his aggressive 4-3 defensive scheme that used a lot of linebacker blitzes and freed-up defensive lineman to go after the quarterback. He was most known in Cleveland for putting Jabrill Peppers about 20-30 yards deep to avoid any deep passes.

Yet, when he was the New Orleans Saints DC in 2009-2011, his safeties were more involved, especially late in his tenure. They contributed to three sacks in 2009 and 5.5 sacks in 2010; then, in 2011, he started to use Roman Harper more often as a blitzing safety, similar to what he has done with Jamal Adams. That season, Harper led the Saints in sacks with 7.5.

Williams has gone back and forth between blitzing safeties and keeping them deep; it just depends on what the player’s skill set is. Adams has the skill set to blitz in and get after the quarterback.

Can Adams Break The Record?

Jamal Adams has nine QB hits this year along with his six sacks. He has been in the backfield a lot. But getting three more sacks to break the record will be tough.

Next week, the Jets play the Oakland Raiders who have only allowed 15 sacks and have done a good job protecting the quarterback. He’s likely to be shutout this coming Sunday.

Most sacks in a season by a safety:

– Adrian Wilson 8 (2005)
– Roman Harper 7.5 (2011)
– Dave Duerson 7 (1986)
– LeRoy Butler 6.5 (1996)#Jets S Jamal Adams has SIX sacks in his last 3 game. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/N44S3q1ptc

— #MTCPODCAST (@_MTCPodcast) November 19, 2019

But, in the next game, they play the Cincinnati Bengals who have given up an atrocious 36 sacks this season, so Adams should have a shot getting at least one sack. They follow that up with Miam (42 sacks allowed), whom Adams already has a sack against.

New York then plays the Baltimore Ravens who have a solid offensive line and extremely mobile QB. That’s another likely zero. In the final two weeks, he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills, who both have good offensive lines and have been hard to record sacks against.

The reality is that Adams only faces two truly vulnerable QB the rest of the way. Yes, I still see value on the yes. The Jets have won back to back games during which Adams has five sacks and six more QB hits. Their aggressive defensive strategy is paying dividends, and there’s no reason for Williams to go away from it right now.

Pick: Yes (-140)