Getting stuffed
Much has been made of the fact the Houston Texans offensive line, beset by injuries in 2002, permitted rookie quarterback David Carr to be sacked a league-record 76 times. But the often-makeshift unit was nearly as bad blocking in the running game.
According to numbers compiled by Stats, Inc., the Texans lost yardage on 64 of their 424 rushing plays, the fourth-worst negative rushing percentage in the league. Here are the poorest teams in terms of percentage of rushing plays that netted negative yardage:
Team ----------- Losses/Rushes ---- Pct.
Dallas ---------- 66 of 423 ----------- 15.6
Carolina --------70 of 452 ----------- 15.5
St. Louis ------- 52 of 343 ----------- 15.2
Houston ------- 64 of 424 ----------- 15.1
Indianapolis--- 63 of 434 - ----------14.5
Buffalo --------- 55 of 388 ----------- 14.2
Tampa Bay ---- 54 of 414 ----------- 13.0
New Orleans ---55 of 426 ----------- 12.9
Pittsburgh ----- 66 of 512 ----------- 12.9
Cleveland ----- 52 of 406 ----------- 12.8
Seattle --------- 55 of 430 ----------- 12.8
Much has been made of the fact the Houston Texans offensive line, beset by injuries in 2002, permitted rookie quarterback David Carr to be sacked a league-record 76 times. But the often-makeshift unit was nearly as bad blocking in the running game.
According to numbers compiled by Stats, Inc., the Texans lost yardage on 64 of their 424 rushing plays, the fourth-worst negative rushing percentage in the league. Here are the poorest teams in terms of percentage of rushing plays that netted negative yardage:
Team ----------- Losses/Rushes ---- Pct.
Dallas ---------- 66 of 423 ----------- 15.6
Carolina --------70 of 452 ----------- 15.5
St. Louis ------- 52 of 343 ----------- 15.2
Houston ------- 64 of 424 ----------- 15.1
Indianapolis--- 63 of 434 - ----------14.5
Buffalo --------- 55 of 388 ----------- 14.2
Tampa Bay ---- 54 of 414 ----------- 13.0
New Orleans ---55 of 426 ----------- 12.9
Pittsburgh ----- 66 of 512 ----------- 12.9
Cleveland ----- 52 of 406 ----------- 12.8
Seattle --------- 55 of 430 ----------- 12.8
