Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Trueblue25, post: 840294, member: 3410"] Both Minnesota and Syracuse claim that their running games are their strengths! [B][U]Minnesota (Minnesota, BC)[/U][/B] [B]Attempts per game: [/B]45 (13th overall), 40 (53rd overall) [B]Yards per game: [/B]200 (29th overall), 227 (18th overall) [B]Yards per attempt: [/B]4.4 (54th overall), 5.7 (9th overall) [B]Rushing play %: [/B]67% (7th overall), 66% (8th overall) [B]Rushing yards %: [/B]58% (9th overall), 62% (7th overall) *This stat refers to % of total yards gained. [B][U]Syracuse [/U] Attempts per game: [/B]42 (34th overall) [B]Yards per game: [/B]191 (37th overall) [B]Yards per attempt: [/B]4.6 (47th overall) [B]Rushing play %: [/B]56% (39th overall) [B]Rushing yards %: [/B]54% (16th overall) [url]http://www.teamrankings.com/ncf/stats/[/url] Already by looking at Minnesota's stats, they resemble Boston College. Minnesota's rushing game is a less efficient, less powerful version of BC's. I suspect they don't have nearly as strong of an offensive line, and they do not have a heisman back. Let us now look at our defenses against the run! [B][U]Minnesota [/U] Opponents total rushing attempts per game: [/B]34.2 (17th) [B]Opponents rushing yards per game: [/B]162 (58th) [B]Opponents rushing 1st downs per game: [/B]8 (41st) [B]Opponents yards per attempt: [/B]4.7 (89th) [B]Opponents rushing play %: [/B]51% (39th) [B]Opponents rushing yards %: [/B]42% (66th) [B][U]Syracuse [/U] Opponents total rushing attempts per game: [/B]37% (31st) [B]Opponents rushing yards per game: [/B]146 (36th) [B]Opponents rushing 1st downs per game: [/B]9 (56th) [B]Opponents yards per attempts: [/B]4.0 (48th) [B]Opponents rushing play %: [/B]50% (29th) [B]Opponents rushing yards %: [/B]37% (95th) Both teams seem to have solid running games, and pretty decent run defenses. It's clear that teams attack and beat Syracuse over the air. Lets take a look at the passing defenses, because I'm curious. [B][U]Minnesota: [/U] Opponents passing yards per game: [/B]32 (50th) [B]Opponents completions per game: [/B]20 (66th) [B]Opposing completion %: [/B]61% (83rd) [B]Opposing passing YPG: [/B]222 (46th) [B]Opposing passing 1st downs per game: [/B]10 (32nd) [B]Opposing yards per pass attempt: [/B]7 (54th) [B]Opposing yards per completion: [/B]11 (26th) [B]Sack %: [/B]3.81% (114th uh oh I believe we've found a weakness) [B][U]Syracuse: [/U] [B]Opponents passing yards per game:[/B][/B] 34 (77th) [B][B]Opponents completions per game: [/B][/B]21 (89th) [B][B]Opposing completion %: [/B][/B]61% (80th) [B][B]Opposing passing YPG: [/B][/B]248 (85th) [B][B]Opposing passing 1st downs per game: [/B][/B]10 (47th) [B][B]Opposing yards per pass attempt: [/B][/B]7 (70th) [B][B]Opposing yards per completion: [/B][/B]12 (51st) [B]Sack %: [/B]7.39% (20th yeah hardnosed) [B][/B] *many other passing defense stats available, I just picked and chose. [url]http://www.teamrankings.com/ncf/stats/[/url] Passing Offenses [B][U]Minnesota/Syracuse [/U] Passing attempts per game: [/B]20 (118th)[B]/[/B]31 (76th) [B]Completions per game: [/B]10.4 (120th)[B]/[/B]17.7 (81st) [B]Completion %: [/B]51 (115th)[B]/[/B]57% (75th) [B]Passing YPG: [/B]144 (116th)[B]/[/B]165 (110th) [B]QB sack %: [/B]8.2% (106th)[B]/[/B]4.48% (33rd) [B]Yards per attempt: [/B]7 (71st)/5.3 (122nd) [B]Yards per completion: [/B]13.8 (17th), 9.3 (124th) [B]Avg. Passer Rating: [/B]118.5 (90)/100.6 (117th) Turnovers: Minnesota: +.04 Syracuse: -.01 Stats that stood out to me: -Yards per completion- We need to shutdown the Minnesota running game while applying pressure to the QB. Minnesota is a run 1st, run 2nd team...but it seems like they have the ability to burn a team that overly commits to stoping the run. - QB sack %: Minnesota gives up a lot of sacks, which weakens there run game. We do not. -Sack %: We sack QBs a lot, Minnesota does not. Goods news for TH and the run game. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?