Some interesting football stat tidbits
All courtesy Sports Source Analytics on Twitter...
Top five FBS defenses in 2015 that are allowing the fewest yards per play: #BCEagles #KentState #Michigan #Buckeyes and #DukeFootball.
Top 5 FBS defenses in '15 giving up fewest yards per opponent's offensive possessions: #WVA #BostonCollege #Michigan #Clemson #Wisconsin
From '13-'14, @umichfootball's average 3dwn yards to go was 7.5. Under @CoachJim4UM, this number has decreased by 31% to FBS lowest 5.2 ytg
The first 2 stats are perhaps not surprising but present info in a different way. Also, I found the last one to be pretty interesting. What do people think the reasons for that would be?
September 27th, 2015 at 10:16 PM ^
Kent State is going to be good?
September 28th, 2015 at 12:26 AM ^
AND Boston College!
September 27th, 2015 at 10:20 PM ^
Re: the "3rd down yards to go" ... first down production.
That's a function of the offensive line.
2013- 2014 ... our RBs getting hit behind the LOS; now they typically get to it and beyond.
WVA is an intriguing team this year. Let's see how they do full season. But for now, they're on my "hey, let's keep an eye on this team" list.
September 27th, 2015 at 11:12 PM ^
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September 27th, 2015 at 11:14 PM ^
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September 27th, 2015 at 11:25 PM ^
:-)
I've heard more than a few coaches speak of yards gained on first down being a key stat.
It makes sense ... 2nd and short creates a very different set of play-calling options than 2nd and 10. Or worse -- 2nd and 12.
I painfully recall all the 0 or negative yards plays on 1st downs in 2013 and 2014. We seemed to always be facing 2nd and long.
I don't have the same sense this year. I don't have easy access to the stat on yards gained on first down. But I'd be willing to bet it is much improved this year.
September 28th, 2015 at 6:12 AM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 9:17 AM ^
With both team in the same division, using NW is going to avoid confusion.
September 28th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
Reflexive on my part ... my wife went to "UVA" but hails from West Virginia. For the past 25 years with her we've referred to the state of West Virginia as "WVA."
September 27th, 2015 at 10:21 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 10:23 PM ^
As to that last stat, probably the fact that Michigan doesn't attempt too many explosive plays. They're much happier to just run the ball and throw short to intermediate passes.
September 27th, 2015 at 10:31 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 10:49 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 12:17 AM ^
Pretty sure he was pointing out that downfield passes are more often incomplete, thus leading to more third and ten situations.
September 27th, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 10:44 PM ^
Through four weeks of college football, two defenses have held an opponent under 110 yards: Michigan (vs BYU), and Alabama (vs La. Monroe).
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) September 27, 2015September 27th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ^
I've seen MSU fans complaining about UM being ranked, saying that UM is getting a bump because of the name. I think it's hilarious, given that they are currently the most undeserving top 2 team of recent memory.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:25 AM ^
Little Brother is always JEALOUS!
September 28th, 2015 at 7:47 AM ^
user look foolish. Mike Hart went 0-4 against osu. So, fuck him and his big mouth.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:40 AM ^
Undeserving #2 after being 4-0 >>> Preseason #2. USC was #1 in 2012 and finished unranked in AP.
They haven't beaten a currently ranked team (neither has UM), but they were rated highly in preseason and beat a team that is usually pretty good. There's a reason the BCS waited to release rankings and the CFBP committee doesn't really do anything publicly for a while.
Someone has to be #2, deserving or not. I'd say they've earned it by finishing top 5 the last 2 years.
EDIT: I'm not defending the position that UM shouldn't be ranked. Schedule and results are certainly deserving of a ranking 20-25. Coaches' poll is certainly showing its age. What's the point of that thing anymore?
September 28th, 2015 at 6:31 AM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 7:46 AM ^
cause last year's team was really good? Stop drinking and go back to bed.
September 28th, 2015 at 7:28 AM ^
The main difference between us and them is that we wouldn't care if they were ranked if we were ranked #2 in the country. May be some would.
September 27th, 2015 at 10:33 PM ^
Last stats is due to material reduction in TFL
Rather than Derrick Green getting hit behind the LOS for 2 yard loss or Devin running in cute crop circles for a 13 yard sack, our QB this year is barely getting touched and Smith might get you 0 yards on a carry but its not a -2 yard carry.
Also we are FUNK free in 2015.
So I looked it up for kicks
- In 2015, UM averages 3.75 tackles for loss per game (tied 13th) and is losing on average 12 yards a game on those TFLs
- In 2014, UM averaged 5.83 tackles for loss per game (tied for 60th) and lost on average 24.8 yards a game on those TFLs (don't know where it averages but that sucks)
So that is a lot less 2nd and 12s and 3rd and 14s.
September 27th, 2015 at 10:37 PM ^
By the way to put in perspective how "good" 2014 was v 2013
- In 2013, UM averaged 8.77 tackles for loss per game (121st) and lost on average 36.15 yards a game on those TFLs.
That's not good. Especially for a slow as molasses offense Hoke run where you might get 65 plays a game on offense. Losing yards on 9 of them (14% of all plays) is not a way to win at football.
September 27th, 2015 at 10:37 PM ^
Do you track Michigan's production on first down?
I'd be willing to bet that stat is much better this year.
And I'd bet it's getting better game by game this year.
September 27th, 2015 at 10:44 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 11:21 PM ^
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September 27th, 2015 at 10:37 PM ^
I feel like with all the stats flying around I would get tired of seeing them, but that just isn't happening. I love seeing how much we have improved,not only by the eye test, but confirmed and reaffirmed through stats backing up those obervations. It truly is a great feeling.
September 27th, 2015 at 10:55 PM ^
Comparing this year to past years feels apples and oranges. No doubt we have improved substantially, but last year's stats are after a full slate of games.
I think we might do even better as the year progresses, but for now the comparison is inapt.
September 28th, 2015 at 7:30 AM ^
Yes, everyone please refrain from making anymore anylisis or comparisons until the season is completely over. Onlty then will we talk about the season. Or, the person reading the stats cold add a bit of common sense to the chart and say to themselves but this is only comparing four games to a whole season... Good gravy
September 27th, 2015 at 11:09 PM ^
September 28th, 2015 at 4:21 AM ^
what I see is a lot more "quick hitters" meaning laserlike bubble screen thrown to the outside receiver. AND (key point here) the other offensive guy in the area makes his block at the LOS to jam the DB from blowing it up. I saw so many WR blocks whiffed in the last couple of years it was simply wrong and it wasn't worth calling the play. This year its a bread and butter option.
If the defense is playing soft coverage without deep help its an easy 5 yards. It also creates the possibility of a 1v1 matchup depending on where safety help goes.
The QB also has time to throw. Not an infinite amount of time but a nice window to let routes develop a little bit and proceed thru the other options.
September 27th, 2015 at 11:13 PM ^
September 27th, 2015 at 11:23 PM ^
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September 27th, 2015 at 11:41 PM ^
I think you mean #twitter
September 27th, 2015 at 11:34 PM ^
Just think what our numbers would look like if we played OSU's schedule.
September 28th, 2015 at 12:04 AM ^
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September 28th, 2015 at 1:43 AM ^
gained would be a nice stat to compare to last year. Even though it would be a little unfair given this years line is a year older and presumebly has had 9 months of excellent coaching.
It might be as simple as play calling (better) and execution (better).
I just like having 3rd and 3 and knowing we're going to line up all our big guys, tell you where the f'ing play is going, run it and still get the first down. Or fake all that shit and hit the FB out of the backfield the opposite way with a big middle finger to yourshort yardage defense.
September 28th, 2015 at 2:08 AM ^
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September 28th, 2015 at 3:18 AM ^
I welcome the change and by many objective parameters - number of wins, number of shut outs and many subjective factors (the defense just looks better for lack any other way to put it).
But let's also rein in some of the expectations a bit - the key problem is the quality of the opponent and the nature of the OFFENSE are variables that can drastically affect the resutls from year to year. The opponent is obvious. At this point in the season, many teams in the past and present have loaded up on weak opponents and so can produce amazing stats. The offense is a big under appreciated factor. Look over the past 3 wins - the UM offense has held the ball a substantial amount of the time - against BYU basically a 2 to 1 advantage. This dramatically limits the opportunities for the opposing offense to create yardage or scores - to compare, one might have to normalize the results for number of defensive plays.
I think the defense is better - much better but please keep these other factors in mind.
September 28th, 2015 at 4:28 AM ^
I feel like football like many other sports, if you can start fast and mentally "break" your opponent thinking there is no hope, the scoring deficit is sooo big it makes a difference in how the rest of the game is played. A team who is mentally beaten is simply trying to run out the clock; a team who is right there plays with a lot more fire.
So, being deadly effective on those first few drives to put up TDs is a key pointer for a good team.
I enjoyed the BYU win, definitely to be savored for a week since I'm not a player, but I hope its all business against Maryland starting today, for the Team.
September 28th, 2015 at 7:24 AM ^
The total yardage stats don't jive w/my small brain. We play ball control. osu does not. We are ahead of them in total yards given up by one spot but osu isn't even in the total yards per play list? Seems like osu opponents would posess the ball more, hence run more plays than us. And since they are one spot behind us in total yards I don't understand how they're not on the total yards per play list???
No response expected but yea.
September 28th, 2015 at 9:59 AM ^
I love seeing the small improvements like the 3rd down yardage. Couple yards here and there convert into a lot more up on the scoreboard.
September 28th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
of the BYU beatdown until the next kickoff. Damn that was a fine game played by the Wolverines.