ConwayGamecock
10-11-2009, 03:12 PM
We're now at the mid-point of the season, and have played enough quality opponents that we should be able to make substantive comparisons between this season and last as far as our offense is concerned. It goes without saying that our defense has answered the questions and proved itself time and time again over the past 2 seasons. But what about our offense? Here's a few little insights into the direction our O is heading:
RUSHING:
Last season, we had one solitary 100-yard rushing effort by a back, when Davis rushed for 101 yards against NCSU in the opening game of 2008. This season, we already have 2 100-yard performances, both turned in by freshmen backs.
Last season (13 games), we had a total of 10 performances by players of at least 50 rushing yards in games:
Davis: 6 (101, 80, 51, 73, 58, 76)
Garcia: 1 (86)
Baker: 1 (59)
Maddox: 1 (52)
Wallace: 1 (51)
This season (6 games), we have 8 performances:
Miles: 4 (in his last 4 consecutive games) (56, 52, 60, 100)
Giles: 2 (113, 74)
Maddox: 1 (66)
Brown: 1 (50)
Last season, we averaged 94.1 rushing yards per game, and 2.9 yards per carry, with a total of 7 rushing TDs. This season we are averaging 152.5 ypg and 4.4 ypc, and have already scored 8 rushing TDs. Through 6 games in 2008 we were averaging 114.8 ypg and 3.3 ypc, with 4 TDs scored.
RECEIVING:
Last season, we had three solitary 100-yard receiving efforts by a receiver, all achieved by 3 different players. This season, we already have 3 100-yard receiving performances, 2 of which were turned in by freshmen receivers.
Last season (13 games), we had a total of 18 performances by players of at least 50 receiving yards in games:
McKinley: 7 (58, 88, 77, 50, 130, 56, 86)
Cook: 5 (111, 68, 88, 74, 82)
Brown: 2 (130, 67)
Barnes: 2 (76, 88)
Saunders: 1 (58)
Davis: 1 (51)
This season (6 games), we have 8 performances:
Brown: 3 (54, 85, 100)
Gurley: 2 (100, 60)
Saunders: 2 (50, 96)
Jeffery: 1 (138)
Last season, we averaged 222.5 passing yards per game, and 6.4 yards per attempt, with a total of 20 passing TDs. This season we are averaging 217.8 ypg and 7.1 ypa, and have thrown 10 TDs. Through 6 games in 2008 we were averaging 238.0 ypg and 7.0 ypa, with 10 TDs thrown.
PASSING:
Last season (13 games), USC QBs threw 34.8 passes per game, completing 55.1% for 2,892 yards, 20 TDs and 27 INTs. They were sacked a total of 39 times (3.0 sacks per game). Through 6 games in 2008, they threw 34.2 passes per game, completing 61.5% for 1,428 yards, 10 TDs and 12 INTs, and were sacked 20 times. This season (6 games), USC QBs have thrown 30.7 passes per game, completing 61.4% for 915 yards, 10 TDs and only 3 INTs. Our QBs have been sacked 15 times (2.5 spg).
TURNOVERS:
Last season (13 games), USC had 23 fumbles, losing 11 of them. This season (6 games), we have had 10 fumbles, losing 4 of them. Through 6 games last season, we had 7 fumbles, losing 4 of them.....
~~~~~~~~~~~
My Mid-season conclusions? Our rushing game has improved significantly over last season, in regards to ypc and scoring. We have more options to look to than last season. Whether this improvement is the result of improved OL play or RB play? Probably somewhere in the middle....
Our passing game has improved in important areas. We are not passing for more yardage or scoring more, but considering losing both McKinley and Cook from last season, to basically keep our offensive passing numbers steady indicates an improvement, IMO. The most important aspect of our passing game has to do with our QB play more than our receiver play:
Our QB play has drastically improved over last season. We are still maintaining a high sack per game average, but the rate of INTs have dropped like a rock falling off a cliff, and IMO INTs are far more damaging than sacks because we may still be able to erase our mistakes after a sack.
The fumbles lost rate has also remained the same, so this is still a concern. That's a total of 7 offensive turnovers (INTs and fumbles) through 6 games, as opposed to 16 through 6 games last season. That is obvious improvement in the turnovers there. The lowered turnover rate means we are not placing our defense in as many bad situations as we did last season.
As far as sacks, we have played against 3 solid defensive fronts in NCSU, Ole Miss, and UK. Not coincidentally, we have suffered 10 of our 15 sacks against those 3 opponents.
RUSHING:
Last season, we had one solitary 100-yard rushing effort by a back, when Davis rushed for 101 yards against NCSU in the opening game of 2008. This season, we already have 2 100-yard performances, both turned in by freshmen backs.
Last season (13 games), we had a total of 10 performances by players of at least 50 rushing yards in games:
Davis: 6 (101, 80, 51, 73, 58, 76)
Garcia: 1 (86)
Baker: 1 (59)
Maddox: 1 (52)
Wallace: 1 (51)
This season (6 games), we have 8 performances:
Miles: 4 (in his last 4 consecutive games) (56, 52, 60, 100)
Giles: 2 (113, 74)
Maddox: 1 (66)
Brown: 1 (50)
Last season, we averaged 94.1 rushing yards per game, and 2.9 yards per carry, with a total of 7 rushing TDs. This season we are averaging 152.5 ypg and 4.4 ypc, and have already scored 8 rushing TDs. Through 6 games in 2008 we were averaging 114.8 ypg and 3.3 ypc, with 4 TDs scored.
RECEIVING:
Last season, we had three solitary 100-yard receiving efforts by a receiver, all achieved by 3 different players. This season, we already have 3 100-yard receiving performances, 2 of which were turned in by freshmen receivers.
Last season (13 games), we had a total of 18 performances by players of at least 50 receiving yards in games:
McKinley: 7 (58, 88, 77, 50, 130, 56, 86)
Cook: 5 (111, 68, 88, 74, 82)
Brown: 2 (130, 67)
Barnes: 2 (76, 88)
Saunders: 1 (58)
Davis: 1 (51)
This season (6 games), we have 8 performances:
Brown: 3 (54, 85, 100)
Gurley: 2 (100, 60)
Saunders: 2 (50, 96)
Jeffery: 1 (138)
Last season, we averaged 222.5 passing yards per game, and 6.4 yards per attempt, with a total of 20 passing TDs. This season we are averaging 217.8 ypg and 7.1 ypa, and have thrown 10 TDs. Through 6 games in 2008 we were averaging 238.0 ypg and 7.0 ypa, with 10 TDs thrown.
PASSING:
Last season (13 games), USC QBs threw 34.8 passes per game, completing 55.1% for 2,892 yards, 20 TDs and 27 INTs. They were sacked a total of 39 times (3.0 sacks per game). Through 6 games in 2008, they threw 34.2 passes per game, completing 61.5% for 1,428 yards, 10 TDs and 12 INTs, and were sacked 20 times. This season (6 games), USC QBs have thrown 30.7 passes per game, completing 61.4% for 915 yards, 10 TDs and only 3 INTs. Our QBs have been sacked 15 times (2.5 spg).
TURNOVERS:
Last season (13 games), USC had 23 fumbles, losing 11 of them. This season (6 games), we have had 10 fumbles, losing 4 of them. Through 6 games last season, we had 7 fumbles, losing 4 of them.....
~~~~~~~~~~~
My Mid-season conclusions? Our rushing game has improved significantly over last season, in regards to ypc and scoring. We have more options to look to than last season. Whether this improvement is the result of improved OL play or RB play? Probably somewhere in the middle....
Our passing game has improved in important areas. We are not passing for more yardage or scoring more, but considering losing both McKinley and Cook from last season, to basically keep our offensive passing numbers steady indicates an improvement, IMO. The most important aspect of our passing game has to do with our QB play more than our receiver play:
Our QB play has drastically improved over last season. We are still maintaining a high sack per game average, but the rate of INTs have dropped like a rock falling off a cliff, and IMO INTs are far more damaging than sacks because we may still be able to erase our mistakes after a sack.
The fumbles lost rate has also remained the same, so this is still a concern. That's a total of 7 offensive turnovers (INTs and fumbles) through 6 games, as opposed to 16 through 6 games last season. That is obvious improvement in the turnovers there. The lowered turnover rate means we are not placing our defense in as many bad situations as we did last season.
As far as sacks, we have played against 3 solid defensive fronts in NCSU, Ole Miss, and UK. Not coincidentally, we have suffered 10 of our 15 sacks against those 3 opponents.