Week 5 Barrett History Watch.

In 1982 things changed for defensive players in the world of football. The NFL began recording sacks as an official stat. Now the greats could point at a number and say “That’s what I did!”

In 1998 Hall of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene became the first and only play to record 10 Sacks in his team’s first 5 games of that year. Shaq Barrett sits at 9, through 4 games!

When Barrett takes to the turf on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints he will be on the brink of history. Through just four games Barrett has recorded 9 sacks, 14 QB hurries, 20 total tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 passes defended and 1 interception. A single sack will put him equal to the record set in 1998 by Greene; more than one and Barrett walks into immortality as the standout player.

Is this hubris? Is a fan getting carried away? Absolutely not!

In 3 games Teddy Bridgewater has been sacked 7 times on 87 dropbacks. Anyone watching the film can see that when the Saints QB is asked to pass, he holds the ball for a long time and the offensive line is barely holding the rush at bay. The Saints offensive line hasn’t faced a pass rush like this Bucs one either.

Don’t bet against Shaq Barrett being a lone figure in the record books after the game against the Saints.