The Gildong Report
In light of many a fan being bamboozled and ga-ga over Jason Gildong�s 11 sacks last season --- despite only 2 being anywhere near "earned sacks" --- I'm devoting some time this season to monitor the work of the exceptionally average Jason Gildon. Jason has been famous enough with his coverage sacks, flop sacks, the QB-slipped-on-the-wet-turf sacks, the OT totally forgot his blocking assignment sacks, and so on, that the NFL has designated a new statistic, called the "Dong Sack", in honor of Jason Gildong. (Some fantasy football leagues are incorporating this into their point systems.)
Gildon had 1.5 sacks versus the Dirty Birds. The 1st sack was a 3d & 8 play at 8:11 of the 2d quarter. Roye, lined up at left DE, looped to his right, and then literally bowled over the Atlanta LG, sending him on his back. Roye then roared in and grabbed Chandler. Gildon did his one & only move, the Wide Loop Rush, and came in on Chandler a split second after Roye made first contact. The committee ruling for Jason is a half a Dong Sack. Had Roye not blasted his man and created up-the-gut pressure (something we've seen little of since Ray Seals' last healthy season here), Chandler, who took a 7-step drop, would have casually stepped up in the pocket and fired a pass. Roye deserves essentially the entire sack to himself, but apparently, since Gildon arrived soon thereafter, the sack was split 50-50. Gildong's other sack came at 9:45 of the 4th quarter (ironically, this was Gildon's first sack in the 2d half this season). He did his beloved Wide Loop Rush on RT Ephraim Saalam, who got off to a glacially slow start on the snap. Chandler took a full 7-step drop, and was quickly engulfed by Gildon, who looped rather easily around the slowfooted Salaami Boy. This was ruled an earned sack.
Gildon did play the run above average, though it was he who allowed Oxendine to slip away on the 1st and goal 5-yard run, which set up the drama of the goal-line stand.
Season to date totals for Jason:
Earned Sacks: 2
Dong Sacks: 3.5
Strips, Jars, fumbles caused, etc.: 0
The Still Mill