Pressure Points: Which Pats defenders have done best job getting after QB in 2012?

Rob Ninkovich

Through seven weeks, the Patriots have 27 quarterback hits and 15 sacks (16th in the league) as a team. Based on gamebooks, here’s a quick look at some pass-rush numbers for the Patriots to this point in the 2012 season:

Quarterback hits
DE Chandler Jones: Eight
DE Rob Ninkovich: Five
DE Jermaine Cunningham: Three
LB Brandon Spikes: Three
LB Dont’a Hightower: Two
DL Vince Wilfork: Two
DE Trevor Scott: One
LB Jerod Mayo: One
DL Brandon Deaderick: One
DL Kyle Love: One

Sacks
Jones: 5 (16 yards)
Ninkovich: 4 (21 yards)
Hightower: 2 (10 yards)
Cunningham: 1.5 (15 yards)
Love: 1.5 (4 yards)
Mayo: 1 (7 yards)

By way of comparison, through seven games last year, the Patriots had 32 quarterback hits, to go along with 15 sacks.