Calling BP nerds: Season trends by the numbers

[hm101]

The attached PDF contains passing and rushing stats from all games this season except the scrimmage against UTC.

I’m not sure what I was trying to dig up. I suppose just general trends in defensive/offensive efficiency. Here are the main conclusions:

Our rushing defense seems to be just fine

1. Opponents’ rushing yards per attempt has been slightly trending downward, though still above the symbolic 3.3

2. On the other hand, rushing attempts per TD also appears to be trending down, though less convincingly (conceptually, opponents score more with less rush attempts)

3. We are about even with our opponents, if not improving, as evidenced by the # of yards they gain per attempt vs our yards/att

Our passing defense has gotten significantly worse as the season goes on

1. Passing attempts / TD has dropped significantly, from about 40 to about 12. Meaning every 12 passing attempts generates a TD. Ouch.

2. Passing yards per ATTEMPT has gone UP. Just a passing attempt in the UL game averaged over 10 yards, or a FIRST DOWN PER ATTEMPT (it’s 7.5ish over the season)

3. Their passing yards vs attempts is increasing versus ours.

Switching to offense, our rushing game is consistent, but passing efficiency is getting worse

1. Rush yds/Attempt is about flat, where as Pass yds/attempt has noticeably dropped.

2. It’s really just the last 3 games (FSU, Tem, UL) where our opponents have better pass yds/attempt than we do. In the first 3, that figure was negative, meaning we were out-passing them per attempt

Again, just trying to dissect what’s going on. Looks like our rushing defense and offense is acceptable, but our ability to defend the pass has gone from bad to worse, and we are losing the ability to move the ball in the passing game.

KEYS TO THE SEASON:

1. FIX THE SECONDARY.

2. UP OUR YDS/ATT. This means land passes in the 5-10 yard range and let our speed extend the play

data season.pdf

[TyBull]

Ouch............ headache

does all those squiggley lines equal a 5 game losing streak?

Will that losing streak come to an end aganist a team (Syracuse) that we are 6-1 against?

So many questions................

Ty

[hm101]

figures the GT guy would be the first to comment in the "calling all nerds" post

The thick purple line and dotted red lines look to be the reasons we are losing. Doesn't appear to have to do with the rushing game on either side of the ball.

[Bull94]

our passing yards per attempt would go up if we passed less often and threw it further down the field.

those dumb -3 yard routes that nearly got Hopkins killed in the last game are high risk;low reward.

personally i think the only way to slow down opponents passing game at this point is to pressure the QB. if you have to bring 6 then do that. giving them less time to sit back there and pick apart secondary is vital. we do not have lock down corners that can cover for 6 seconds and the middle of the D has been awful. give the QB 2 seconds to make a decision. not 6.

[Bull Martin]

I really don't think the bulk of the pass defense problem has been on the secondary.

The front sevens complete lack of ability to generate pressure on a QB has killed us there. Despite the uptick in pass yrds/attempt against Louisville, the defense was able to generate some pressure. Teddy Bridgewater is just a good mobile QB who did a good job eluding it.

[Rocky Style]