2005 Season By the Numbers

[ohiostate=life]

Per The Ozone:
http://theozone.net/football/2005/btnfinal.htm

This page has some pretty good stuff on it I'm sure you all will find interesting. I think there are a few things that stick out to me regarding these statistics and next year. Obviously I think we are all in agreement that Beanie will hopefully have an impact on our offense next year. If all goes to plan we hope to have two 1,000 yard rushers by season's end. But with the stats we put up this year I think some things may have to change.

First if you notice we ran out of shotgun 57%. This is mainly because of Troy's amazing ability to run almost anything out of it. He runs the option extremely well and that fake option-step back-throw back (see Mich St. and Ginn vs. ND) whatever you want to call it works well. I'm thinking Beanie will be more the bruiser between the tackles and Pittman will run more spread/Iso plays. If we want to get Beanie the ball I think the number of plays out of shotgun and out of 1 or 2 back formations will even out next year. I would like to see something of a wishbone formation where you have them both in the backfield at the same time. This would give the defense a lot more to think about. On that fourth and 2 play in the NC this year, One-Pete took some heat for not having the Heisman trophy winner in the backfield even as a distraction. Everyone and their brother knew who was getting the ball. I hope we can avoid that situation.

Second Troy ran the ball 21% of the time this year. He will still get the ball in his hands a lot next year but I see that number coming down slightly as well. What I think is going to happen is Pittman and Beanie are going to be such an amazing one-two punch inside AND out, that when Troy does keep the ball it will be slightly less predictable as it was this year. That in turn will make it more effective.

Third and probably most exciting is the fact that all this running will open up the pass like you would not believe. Everyone knows if you run the ball well the pass will follow. The stats seem to go with reason where you have more running plays for less YPC where as less pass plays tend to go for more yards and more YPR. The powerful running game will make this pop out even more next year. The running plays will go up for much more yards and the passes will be fewer but much more potent. We will pound with the run and when they fill the box, Ginn and Gonzo are streaking down the hash.

Finally one thing that BETTER change. In the red zone we scored 22 touchdowns and 16 FGs. Not good. (Damn it Texas) Hopefully Pretorius doesn't even have to see the field but for extra points and kick-offs next year. I'm hanging my hat on Beanie pounding it in.

Anyone have comments/things to add? Stats you find interesting?

 

[mcclellanatosu]

Nice find...its kind of weird knowing that we got more yardage with one back than with two in the backfield...Is it just weird and should be the other way around or is it just me?

 

[Yertle]

1. First of all, I freaking love football!
2. I'm not nearly as optimistic regarding Beanie's immediate impact as you are. Granted, I'd love to be wrong, but there's MoWells and Haw there too. Besides, it's not like Pittman wore out as the year went on. I really doubt if Beanie is used in anything beyond redzone situations and mop-up time.
3. I'd like to see the Bucks get back to less shot gun next year for a couple reasons: I actually thought Troy seemed more comfortable under center, I'd like to see Pittman/Haw/Wells pound the ball behind Johnson, and it seems to lend itself a little better to the option.
4. Pete Carrol is a putz.
5. I really hope Dukes and Hall step up next year. One of my biggest fears is that Santonio will be sorely missed. Ginn just isn't enough of a pure receiver yet.
6. Mmmmmm....hash....
7. I assume you're exaggerating about not kicking FG's, right? Although I agree that our TD to FG ratio needed to improve, the Bucks need a solid kicker. Think UCLA in 2001....

 

[Dryden]

Anyone have comments/things to add? Stats you find interesting?

3rd Down Conversion Offense: 77/156 49.4% (5th NCAA, 2nd Big Ten)
3rd Down Conversion Defense: 54/175 30.9% (12th NCAA, 1st Big Ten)

These two statistics win ball games. Period. Not converting 3rd downs, or giving up 3rd downs, as we saw in early 2004, is the difference between 8-4 and 10-2. Considering where the offense was about 18 months ago, JT should get a helmet sticker for this.

 

[jwinslow]

2. I'm not nearly as optimistic regarding Beanie's immediate impact as you are. Granted, I'd love to be wrong, but there's MoWells and Haw there too. Besides, it's not like Pittman wore out as the year went on. I really doubt if Beanie is used in anything beyond redzone situations and mop-up time.

actually, he visibly wore down most games. He soldiered through it, but there were often times where he had to come out of the game to get some rest.

 

[seed702]

CWells already has the D1 body, something neither Pittman or MWells had coming in last year. Pittman had to work hard in the weight room to add a few pounds and therefore became much more durable. Having Chris Wells come in will DEFINITELY make the other backs work harder in the summer to make sure they are in the best shape they can be in. The backfield is going to be terrifying in 06.

 

[Saw31]

actually, he visibly wore down most games. He soldiered through it, but there were often times where he had to come out of the game to get some rest.

I don't agree with this. At least my impression (not having looked back at the games recently) was that he got better as the game went on, exactly what you want from a RB...I can't remember offhand any games where we had someone else in there when the game was on the line at the end. You think he wore down?....interesting....Either way, it will be certainly beneficial to have the Wells'es ready for some PT..."Pair and a spare" as they say...

 

[ohiostate=life]

3rd Down Conversion Offense: 77/156 49.4% (5th NCAA, 2nd Big Ten)
3rd Down Conversion Defense: 54/175 30.9% (12th NCAA, 1st Big Ten)

These two statistics win ball games. Period. Not converting 3rd downs, or giving up 3rd downs, as we saw in early 2004, is the difference between 8-4 and 10-2. Considering where the offense was about 18 months ago, JT should get a helmet sticker for this.

Couldn't agree more Dryden. I was hoping they would have a stat on time of possession because that's another area where Tressel wins ball games. Also field position. Where we started compared to where other teams started. Those two stats would really put things into perspective. God I love Tressel.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

3rd Down Conversion Offense: 77/156 49.4% (5th NCAA, 2nd Big Ten)
3rd Down Conversion Defense: 54/175 30.9% (12th NCAA, 1st Big Ten)

These two statistics win ball games. Period. Not converting 3rd downs, or giving up 3rd downs, as we saw in early 2004, is the difference between 8-4 and 10-2. Considering where the offense was about 18 months ago, JT should get a helmet sticker for this.

Good post Dryden.

This made me wonder what would happen if you ranked the NCAA IA teams on the difference between their 3rd down offense and their 3rd down defense. Here are the top 31...

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 142pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=188 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 92pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4461" width=122><COL style="WIDTH: 50pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2413" width=66><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 92pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=122 height=18>Team</TD><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 50pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=66>Difference</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Texas</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.19210982658959536">19.21%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Southern California</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.18572966426697168">18.57%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Ohio St.</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.18501831501831506">18.50%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Notre Dame</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.1376152832674572">13.76%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Auburn</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.1365815294734477">13.66%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Fresno St.</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.12370397963618307">12.37%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Nevada</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.12255136168179642">12.26%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Boise St.</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.12157373632100049">12.16%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Louisville</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.11766076421248833">11.77%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>LSU</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.10848126232741617">10.85%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Virginia Tech</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="0.10094876660341556">10.09%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Penn St.</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="9.6763867062452658E-2">9.68%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Tulsa</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="9.6248098698664852E-2">9.62%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Connecticut</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="9.3126618604325584E-2">9.31%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Boston College</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="9.2590966306606959E-2">9.26%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>South Fla.</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="9.2249121436938697E-2">9.22%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Minnesota</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="9.0983606557377084E-2">9.10%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Alabama</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="8.8452169333069985E-2">8.85%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>West Virginia</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="8.5307904706864446E-2">8.53%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Toledo</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="7.5112932030675539E-2">7.51%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Georgia Tech</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="7.2036150983519398E-2">7.20%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Arizona St.</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="6.5116279069767413E-2">6.51%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Missouri</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="6.3809523809523816E-2">6.38%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Purdue</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="6.1350982246034247E-2">6.14%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Oregon</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="5.8192429834348969E-2">5.82%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Michigan</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="5.7750759878419433E-2">5.78%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>UTEP</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="5.6022972002871541E-2">5.60%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Florida St.</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="5.4385054488842788E-2">5.44%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Vanderbilt</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="5.2880184331797253E-2">5.29%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Arizona</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="5.2274769255901354E-2">5.23%</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Wisconsin</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right x:num="5.1321243523316074E-2">5.13%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Note the huge gap after the top 3. This tells me what I already knew. There were 3 truly elite teams in the country this year. No disrespect intended to PSU. This is just my opinion.

 

[ohiostate=life]

Sounds about right to me DBB.

 

[BB73]

Great stuff, DBB. Even the Domers will like that ranking.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Interesting numbers. Like any football stats though its very SOS dependednt. Teams like VT and ND look good on paper in this type of stuff after beating on cream puffs. IMO PSU would wax everyone on that list ahead of them untill you got up to OSU and company.

They belong in any conversation about the elite teams this year imo.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

They belong in any conversation about the elite teams this year imo.

Fair enough...

They're in the conversation because of their record and the fact that they beat one of the Elite.

We had a tougher schedule though when you get right down to it. Their conference schedule was tougher by a slice, but our OOC schedule was so much tougher than theirs it's not even funny. Add to that the fact that our head-head was in Happy Valley in a game that may have displayed the biggest home field advantage I've ever seen.

Yes, they're in the conversation. But my contribution to the conversation is that PSU was better than OSU by the margin of one turnover in Happy Valley. OSU was better than PSU on most other weeks of the season.


Yeah I know. Woulda coulda shoulda. If that's what you hear, then you're missing my point by a thousand miles. The simple truth is, that the team that wins the game is the better team ON THAT DAY UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. The more general question of "Who is the better team?" is a heck of a lot more complicated than that. And IMHO, the discussion ends with Texas, USC and OSU as being in a class by themselves; with PSU, LSU and Auburn (again, no disrespect intended to WVU, Georgia, Wisconsin et al) being just outside looking in.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Fair enough...

They're in the conversation because of their record and the fact that they beat one of the Elite.

We had a tougher schedule though when you get right down to it. Their conference schedule was tougher by a slice, but our OOC schedule was so much tougher than theirs it's not even funny. Add to that the fact that our head-head was in Happy Valley in a game that may have displayed the biggest home field advantage I've ever seen.

Yes, they're in the conversation. But my contribution to the conversation is that PSU was better than OSU by the margin of one turnover in Happy Valley. OSU was better than PSU on most other weeks of the season.


Yeah I know. Woulda coulda shoulda. If that's what you hear, then you're missing my point by a thousand miles. The simple truth is, that the team that wins the game is the better team ON THAT DAY UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. The more general question of "Who is the better team?" is a heck of a lot more complicated than that. And IMHO, the discussion ends with Texas, USC and OSU as being in a class by themselves; with PSU, LSU and Auburn (again, no disrespect intended to WVU, Georgia, Wisconsin et al) being just outside looking in.

At the end of the year, with the way we were playing I agree 100%. I like our chances in a neutral field game with anyone.

Also agree about that being the best/worst home field game I've ever seen.

 

[Dryden]

Great stuff DBB. Some observations by matching the W/L records to those results:

The 6 - 7% mark sees a few 7-5 teams; below that a real jumble of results. There are exactly 20 teams above 7.5% though and -- UConn aside -- the results are fairly consistent. At that 7.5% and above mark, 16 of those 20 teams won at least 9 games, 8 of them won 10 games or more, 8 of them won or shared their conference title, while at least 6 to 8 more were within one game of their conference title or conference's championship game.

Sticking with that 7.5% mark, you can also spin it this way:

Above 7.5% 3rd down differential, 16 of 20 teams won 9 games or more. 80%
Below 7.5% 3rd down differential, 7 of 97 teams won 9 games or more. 7%

Two anomalies in the list:

1. UConn, which finished 5-6, ranks 14th for 3rd down differential. UConn is actually #1 overall in NCAA D1A football in 3rd down defense. The problem was absolutely zero offense -- near the bottom in the NCAA.

2. The 7 teams that won 9 or more games without cracking the 7.5% mark: Florida, Miami, Texas Tech, UCLA, Oregon, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Each of them excelled in some other facet of the game to offset the 3rd down conversion %. The last four of those 7 teams actually even managed 10 wins. Many of these teams are near the top of the list in the nation for turnover margin, passing efficiency, or both.