OK, let's talk about the Offense

[00Burdell]

That's good input, I had not considered that we were doing that well relative to other teams. However, in looking at the last two games....

3rd Down Conversions​

​

vs BG: 2 of 8 (25%)​

vs Miami: 5 of 13 (38%)​

This is another data point that highlights issues we are seeing with the offense.

Take comfort in this: Bowling Green has held 3 opponents to 25% or less 3rd down conversion rates including holding #2 Michigan to 20%. And not a cheap 20%. Michigan had five third down plays against BG - they converted one.

The week before, BG held Eastern IL to 1 for 10 on 3rd down.

 

[coit]

Take comfort in this: Bowling Green has held 3 opponents to 25% or less 3rd down conversion rates including holding #2 Michigan to 20%. And not a cheap 20%. Michigan had five third down plays against BG - they converted one.

The week before, BG held Eastern IL to 1 for 10 on 3rd down.

Not all that comforting, if I’m being honest.

 

[GTLiebs]

And yet they didn’t. 30.7 PPG this year so far, 17.2 PPG last year. Nearly double the output

What would your feelings be if we double the offense output (also are you counting SC St in that?) and wind up with the same record?

 

[swampsting]

Miami defense was really good.

OL is still an issue on our side; we struggle to run the ball and HK usually has to get rid of it quick which limits our ability to attack down the field. We could really use a few bigger WRs on offense. I like the guys we have, but they are all pretty small.

agree on all those points.
Even as good as Miami's D was, we only gave up one sack. But the run game the last few weeks has been a non-factor, or even a detriment.
We only had 176 yards of offense until that last series against the Canes and I thought we were about to get snuffed out on the first play when they dang near ate King's lunch on the first pass.
The offense has had its moments. But its inconsistency is maddening.

 

[gojkts]

When King has a little time, he is very effective, but too often he's scrambling a second after the snap, and the RBs usually can't get through the line of scrimmage. Both of these problems are the OL. The rest of the offense is actually doing a good job.

He was pretty effective on that last scramble Saturday.

 

[interchange]

The two long drives had completions of 30, 34 , and 44 yards. Its like if we can't hit a deep pass, the offense can't do anything.

I think we need to be more willing to throw it down the field. Very often it's stretch and short stuff on the edges when we're having no success. Loosen things up trying to get the ball out 15+ yard chunks at a time and use King's legs when it's not there. Yes there will be sacks but the conservative calls with an overmatched OL are no better.

 

[pickledickle25]

What would your feelings be if we double the offense output (also are you counting SC St in that?) and wind up with the same record?

My original argument was that the output doesn’t matter because we won. Then just pointed out how silly it is to complain about the offense. I think we are agreeing here

 

[pickledickle25]

How many points we score against Bowling Green? Miami? Less than 30 in each.

There is a problem. If you want to choose to ignore it that’s cool, but there’s still a problem.

Didn’t say we were great on offense. But double the production does not call for incessant bitching

 

[GTLiebs]

My original argument was that the output doesn’t matter because we won. Then just pointed out how silly it is to complain about the offense. I think we are agreeing here

Maybe? I'm leaning more toward "who cares if we doubled the offensive production (over a really REALLY bad year of offensive production) if it didn't lead to more wins".

I'd argue somewhat against the "output doesn't matter because we won" in the sense that it is a predictor on likelihood of future wins. More output is generally better than less. Also would say in particular from the mental aspect, we've already once taken a week off against an inferior opponent because we thought we were better. Don't need to toss fuel on that fire again by saying "who cares if something was bad, we won!"; the players need to care about that to win again.

 

[GTLiebs]

Didn’t say we were great on offense. But double the production does not call for incessant bitching

There is a question of expectation. With exactly how bad the production was last year, with returning or adding in via transfer more players than losing, one could argue that doubling from last year is kind of mediocre.

 

[GTLiebs]

Would also argue that what we are really talking about is 27.4 vs 15.5 ppg, which is less than double but probably close enough. There's no point in including FCS data.

 

[GTRules]

Didn’t say we were great on offense. But double the production does not call for incessant bitching

Bro do you even Stingtalk?

 

[Akinji07]

Sometimes we look really good and other times we look inept. Miami has really fast guys on their defense so the offensive struggles are more excusable from this game. But I think this bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. Hopefully we clean it up, get some of our guys rest and time to heal and come back looking polished against BC.

 

[Akinji07]

When HK shows he will take off we become dangerous but most of the time he’s scared to. Understandable, since he spent a good bit of his college career injured. We gotta make sure he knows he’s not made of glass and hopefully don’t break him when he executes.

 

[GTLiebs]

Sometimes we look really good and other times we look inept. Miami has really fast guys on their defense so the offensive struggles are more excusable from this game. But I think this bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. Hopefully we clean it up, get some of our guys rest and time to heal and come back looking polished against BC.

TBH I'm terrified of this bye week with the kind of opponent we have after. Key better spend the whole week talking down on the team.

 

[Akinji07]

TBH I'm terrified of this bye week with the kind of opponent we have after. Key better spend the whole week talking down on the team.

After the Bowling Green debacle I’m hoping the ESPN coverage all weekend for the Miami win doesn’t get to their heads but you’re right.

 

[coit]

When HK shows he will take off we become dangerous but most of the time he’s scared to. Understandable, since he spent a good bit of his college career injured. We gotta make sure he knows he’s not made of glass and hopefully don’t break him when he executes.

I would like to see him rolling out and running more as well. He did that so well in the Louisville game. But as you say he seems reluctant to run. Damn we should've won that Louisville game!

 

[gtg712x]

OL run-blocking leaves a lot to be desired. I do feel like lost in all the insanity of this past game though was how beastly Haynes was on his TD run. He was met head-on at the LOS by a linebacker, and he willed his way the 4-5 yards to the end zone. Reminded me of that Marcus Marshall first down run against UGAg in 2016. Just a man possessed.

Not super relevant to the greater offense conversation, but just wanted to give him a shoutout.

 

[samsgt02]

After the Bowling Green debacle I’m hoping the ESPN coverage all weekend for the Miami win doesn’t get to their heads but you’re right.

What would go to their heads from ESPN? It was all Miami screwing up, and we're just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. No team should ever be taken for granted by a team that got their asses kicked by Bowling Green.

 

[JTS]

We scored 23 points against a Miami D that is only giving up ~14 ppg during a wet, rainy game.

Scoring Offense has improved from 17.2 ppg to 30.2
Yards per play has improved from 4.84 ypp to 6.53 ypp
Yards per pass attempt has improved from 6.05 ypa to 8.34 ypa
Yards per rush attempt has improved from 3.75 ypa to 4.73 ypa

We were 125 out of 131 teams in scoring offense last season. Would love to be better on offense, but there has clearly been significant improvement on offense.

We need to get better on both sides of the ball. We really need the defense to show improvement similar to the offense.