Plays Per Game

[Scooch]

As BK mentioned in his piece on the game, I was encouraged that Marrone and Hackett stuck to their guns and played uptempo. I was worried that we'd turtle.

Amazing that we ran 87 plays vs. USC after running 95 vs. Northwestern. Last season we topped out at 79 plays vs. USF, and averaged a paltry 68 per-game overall. Running 20+ more plays a game vs. last year gives such a larger margin of error, it should really help us win an extra game or two IMHO.

2011 Pass Rush Total
WF 28 30 58
URI 37 25 62
USC 38 21 59
Toledo 25 41 66
Rutgers 32 32 64
Tulane 34 40 74
WVU 33 41 74
L'Ville 36 24 60
UConn 39 34 73
USF 46 33 79
Cincy 38 40 78
Pitt 32 35 67
AVG 35 33 68

 

[Chip]

As BK mentioned in his piece on the game, I was encouraged that Marrone and Hackett stuck to their guns and played uptempo. I was worried that we'd turtle.

Amazing that we ran 87 plays vs. USC after running 95 vs. Northwestern. Last season we topped out at 79 plays vs. USF, and averaged a paltry 68 per-game overall. Running 20+ more plays a game vs. last year gives such a larger margin of error, it should really help us win an extra game or two IMHO.

2011 Pass Rush Total
WF 28 30 58
URI 37 25 62
USC 38 21 59
Toledo 25 41 66
Rutgers 32 32 64
Tulane 34 40 74
WVU 33 41 74
L'Ville 36 24 60
UConn 39 34 73
USF 46 33 79
Cincy 38 40 78
Pitt 32 35 67
AVG 35 33 68

I don't have all the stats to back this up, but I feel like even though we're going no huddle, we're often running the play clock down. But to me, it seems like the biggest reason we keep running so many plays is that we're converting so many more 3rd downs.

Ultimately I think Marrone would like to run less total plays, and have more big plays. We're not quite there yet.

Our performance on 3rd down is what has been most impressive to me. From the OL pass blocking, to the RB/TE/WR route running, to Nassib's passing. I was thinking during the game the other day on 3rd downs how I expected us to convert them once we were lined up. In years past, I've felt absolutely no confidence in converting any 3rd downs, any distance. This year, distance doesn't matter, I always think we're getting them.

 

[Scooch]

I don't have all the stats to back this up, but I feel like even though we're going no huddle, we're often running the play clock down. But to me, it seems like the biggest reason we keep running so many plays is that we're converting so many more 3rd downs.

Ultimately I think Marrone would like to run less total plays, and have more big plays. We're not quite there yet.

Our performance on 3rd down is what has been most impressive to me. From the OL pass blocking, to the RB/TE/WR route running, to Nassib's passing. I was thinking during the game the other day on 3rd downs how I expected us to convert them once we were lined up. In years past, I've felt absolutely no confidence in converting any 3rd downs, any distance. This year, distance doesn't matter, I always think we're getting them.

I've been keeping an eye on the play clock, and it seems like we're snapping the ball a lot when there's 10-15 seconds left on it. Would be great to see some data on that, but I'm not sure it exists anywhere.

Agree about 3rd downs though, big improvement there.

 

[DPCuse]

I think the team is better conditioned this year but I wonder if they will get worn down and be prone to more injuries by running so many more plays. At this clip, it will be like playing 3+ more games than last year based on the number of plays. But our depth is better. Execution should improve with more reps. Whatever the case, it's certainly more entertaining.

 

[Chip]

I've been keeping an eye on the play clock, and it seems like we're snapping the ball a lot when there's 10-15 seconds left on it. Would be great to see some data on that, but I'm not sure it exists anywhere.

Agree about 3rd downs though, big improvement there.

I should say, I know we're clearly playing faster, and I love it. There have been some times where we were dangerously close to Delay of game (would have had one to start the 4th Q, but Sales jumped when the clock was at 1). So you are probably right overall, I mean 95 plays is 95 plays.

I do think it will start to come down, because I think as we continue to work to get bigger plays, and get better at what we're doing, they will start happening. The players are in place to deliver. More shots will be taken down the field when teams cheat up to take away the Broyld/WR screens. Can't wait until we send Broyld deep, that's the kind of thing that will drive opposing DCs crazy when trying to gameplan.

The one thing that hopefully stays consistent no matter what, the 500 plus yards per game part.

 

[CU44SE]

I'm not saying in any way that we are Oregon's offense but it looks like thats the style were running but with more passing obviously. Oregon's goal is to run as many plays as possible. There thinking is that they tire the defense out, and thats how they score all there points in the second half. So far this season both 2nd half's have been big scoring half's for us. Hopefully it continues.

 

[Chip]

I'm not saying in any way that we are Oregon's offense but it looks like thats the style were running but with more passing obviously. Oregon's goal is to run as many plays as possible. There thinking is that they tire the defense out, and thats how they score all there points in the second half. So far this season both 2nd half's have been big scoring half's for us. Hopefully it continues.

How are Oregon's #'s when it comes to # of plays? We're having a lot of 10+ play scoring drives. When I watch Oregon, I think 2 play scoring drive. Always seems to be some lighting fast RB, running through one of the many lanes that their spread out offense provides, and no one can get there fast enough, so he runs for 75 yards.

 

[Scooch]

How are Oregon's #'s when it comes to # of plays? We're having a lot of 10+ play scoring drives. When I watch Oregon, I think 2 play scoring drive. Always seems to be some lighting fast RB, running through one of the many lanes that their spread out offense provides, and no one can get there fast enough, so he runs for 75 yards.

Not sure about player per game, but I do recall noting t some point that Oregon typically loses the time of possession stat. I'm sure because they score so damn fast.

God, I love Oregon.

 

[Millhouse]

As BK mentioned in his piece on the game, I was encouraged that Marrone and Hackett stuck to their guns and played uptempo. I was worried that we'd turtle.

Amazing that we ran 87 plays vs. USC after running 95 vs. Northwestern. Last season we topped out at 79 plays vs. USF, and averaged a paltry 68 per-game overall. Running 20+ more plays a game vs. last year gives such a larger margin of error, it should really help us win an extra game or two IMHO.

2011 Pass Rush Total
WF 28 30 58
URI 37 25 62
USC 38 21 59
Toledo 25 41 66
Rutgers 32 32 64
Tulane 34 40 74
WVU 33 41 74
L'Ville 36 24 60
UConn 39 34 73
USF 46 33 79
Cincy 38 40 78
Pitt 32 35 67
AVG 35 33 68

marrone must feel good about our chances in the big east. he thinks we'll be better in yards per play and wants to amplify it. you gotta make that decision for the whole season on net because you don't have time to run multiple offenses.

prior years he thought we'd be worse in yards per play so he tried to reduce number of plays.

counting on 9 for 110 from sales makes so much difference

 

[bevosu]

I don't know if anybody has given him a posted shout out, but OttoinGrotto was beating the drum for speeding up the offense all summer.

He was adamant that more plays, no huddle were going to help put some zip into the offense.

He wasn't alone, but he was the loudest. He deserves credit for saying what he said and so far looking like he was correct.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't know if anybody has given him a posted shout out, but OttoinGrotto was beating the drum for speeding up the offense all summer.

He was adamant that more plays, no huddle were going to help put some zip into the offense.

He wasn't alone, but he was the loudest. He deserves credit for saying what he said and so far looking like he was correct.

Thanks, Bevo.

 

[CU44SE]

How are Oregon's #'s when it comes to # of plays? We're having a lot of 10+ play scoring drives. When I watch Oregon, I think 2 play scoring drive. Always seems to be some lighting fast RB, running through one of the many lanes that their spread out offense provides, and no one can get there fast enough, so he runs for 75 yards.

103 vs Arkansas state, 95 vs Fresno state, and for comparison last year against USC 98. ESPN also did a segment on them last year on there practices, and how they try to run plays as fast as they can to wear down the defense.

 

[PhatOrange]

When Marrone was first hired I seem to remember him talking about wanting to run 90+ plays per game. Anyone else recall this?

 

[Millhouse]

our yards per play is lower than our opponents this year so far.

barely, but still, that is very surprising.

for all the things that went right saturday, big advantage for USC per play. we need some big plays. like the one where kobena was open in the endzone.

we need to be careful to get too excited about yard differentials - i know, coming from me, that's rich... but the short fields for NW and USC really limit how many total yards they can possibly get - USC was great in yards per play, NW not so much

 

[Cadillac]

When Marrone was first hired I seem to remember him talking about wanting to run 90+ plays per game. Anyone else recall this?

I swear he threw out the number 90 or 95 at his first press conference.

 

[Scooch]

When Marrone was first hired I seem to remember him talking about wanting to run 90+ plays per game. Anyone else recall this?

He did, and I believe the # was 90.

It was why I've been so crestfallen for 3 years.

Feeling better now.

 

[upperdeck]

i have a feeling that when you have 3-4 big plays in game and an 80 yd run you will probably have decent yard per play stats. hard to think that we were two simple drops away from probably running more plays vs USC than vs NW..

 

['72 Orange]

I've been keeping an eye on the play clock, and it seems like we're snapping the ball a lot when there's 10-15 seconds left on it. Would be great to see some data on that, but I'm not sure it exists anywhere.

Agree about 3rd downs though, big improvement there.

I thought that we were milking the clock and not snapping it early enough so I watched the game again and made note of the play clock at the snap.

In total we ran 5 plays where there was 1-5 secs left; 4 plays at 6-10 secs; 29 plays at 11-15 secs; 24 plays at 16-20 secs; 24 plays at 21-25 secs; and 2 plays at 26-30 secs (both 2nd down plays). The average for the 1st qtr was 14 secs. 2nd qtr was 18 secs. 3rd qtr was 18 secs. 4th qtr was 17 secs.

By down the averages were: 1st Down at 17 secs; 2nd Down at 19 secs; 3rd Down at 13 secs; 4th Down at 19 secs. The average for all plays in the game was 17 secs.

The one interesting trend I noticed was that we let the clock run almost to zero (2.3 sec ave) in the 1st qtr for the three 3rd down plays we ran. In the 2nd qtr the five 3rd down plays averaged 13 secs left on the clock. In the 3rd qtr the four 3rd down plays averaged 19 secs left on the clock; and in the 4th qtr there were 14 secs left on the clock for seven 3rd down plays.

Just looking at these times it appears we were more cautious in the first quarter in getting plays off - especially at critical times. After the 1st qtr jitters were over we settled down and were more efficient in getting plays off quicker.

I didnt save the NW game. I was too p****d at the outcome so I cant do the same analysis for that game.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I thought that we were milking the clock and not snapping it early enough so I watched the game again and made note of the play clock at the snap.

In total we ran 5 plays where there was 1-5 secs left; 4 plays at 6-10 secs; 29 plays at 11-15 secs; 24 plays at 16-20 secs; 24 plays at 21-25 secs; and 2 plays at 26-30 secs (both 2nd down plays). The average for the 1st qtr was 14 secs. 2nd qtr was 18 secs. 3rd qtr was 18 secs. 4th qtr was 17 secs.

By down the averages were: 1st Down at 17 secs; 2nd Down at 19 secs; 3rd Down at 13 secs; 4th Down at 19 secs. The average for all plays in the game was 17 secs.

The one interesting trend I noticed was that we let the clock run almost to zero (2.3 sec ave) in the 1st qtr for the three 3rd down plays we ran. In the 2nd qtr the five 3rd down plays averaged 13 secs left on the clock. In the 3rd qtr the four 3rd down plays averaged 19 secs left on the clock; and in the 4th qtr there were 14 secs left on the clock for seven 3rd down plays.

Just looking at these times it appears we were more cautious in the first quarter in getting plays off - especially at critical times. After the 1st qtr jitters were over we settled down and were more efficient in getting plays off quicker.

I didnt save the NW game. I was too p****d at the outcome so I cant do the same analysis for that game.

Thanks for that man, really interesting stuff.

The beauty of running 90 plays a game is that you can both run and throw a lot. Even if you split it evenly 45/45 you're almost 3/4 of the way to the total number of offensive snaps we averaged per game last season on just running or passing.

 

[javadoc]

Amazing that we ran 87 plays vs. USC after running 95 vs. Northwestern. Last season we topped out at 79 plays vs. USF, and averaged a paltry 68 per-game overall. Running 20+ more plays a game vs. last year gives such a larger margin of error, it should really help us win an extra game or two IMHO.

Not just margin of error. Every snap is a rep for the young/new guys on the line, the WR's, etc. It's film to be evaluated for technique and execution. It's all good. By mid-season the offense will have played (compared to last year) one more game's worth of plays.

 

[Millhouse]

Thanks for that man, really interesting stuff.

The beauty of running 90 plays a game is that you can both run and throw a lot. Even if you split it evenly 45/45 you're almost 3/4 of the way to the total number of offensive snaps we averaged per game last season on just running or passing.

Its great for recruiting too. More throws runs catches and tackles for everyone

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

 

[Chip]

103 vs Arkansas state, 95 vs Fresno state, and for comparison last year against USC 98. ESPN also did a segment on them last year on there practices, and how they try to run plays as fast as they can to wear down the defense.

Interesting. I know Oregon plays at speed of light tempo. I just always think of them averaging about 10 yards per play, which means 100 plays would be 1,000 yards per game. Seems like they get that sometimes.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Its great for recruiting too. More throws runs catches and tackles for everyone

Pretty much.

 

[Scooch]

By the way, I'd like to take this opportunity to mock those who spent the past couple years suggesting that having a good offense meant our defense would have to be worse. As if we had to choose one or the other.

I hope you are all feeling the appropriate level of shame and embarssment.