Spread offense

[irishog77]

ND put up 500+ yards FIVE times this season. That's tied for the single season record with 1968 and 1970. So Kelly's offense accomplished something that the Irish haven't managed to do in over 40 years.

Yeah, but if they wore leather helmets and went back to the option, drop kicks, 2-way players, flat tops, poodle skirts, Edsels, and even outlawing alcohol across the country...those numbers could've been even better.

 

[Rocket89]

Pretty sure kmoose was being sarcastic, Eric. But I appreciated the YPC comparison all the same.

Damn, I was gonna say!

 

[BeauBenken]

Pretty sure kmoose was being sarcastic, Eric. But I appreciated the YPC comparison all the same.

You know his name? lol At first glance, I was like, "Who the hell is Eric? Nobody on this board goes by 'Eric'."

 

[phork]

Here, for what they are worth, are a few statistical facts:

A). USF gave opponents 351 yds per game; ND=508.
B). Michigan opponents 317 ypg; ND=513.
C). MSU opponents 272 ypg; ND= 275.
D). Pittsburgh opponents 354 ypg; ND= 398.
E). Purdue opponents 388 ypg; ND = 551.
F). Air Force opponents 390 ypg; ND = 560.
G). USC opponents 374 ypg; ND = 267 [our worst O game].
H). Navy opponents 382 ypg; ND = 442.
I). Wake Forest opponents 399 ypg; ND = 341.
J). Maryland opponents 457 ypg; ND= 508.
K). Boston College opponents 394 ypg; ND= 417.
L). Stanford opponents 331 ypg; ND = 309.

People will choose to read those numbers how they wish. One simple fact is that we out-performed the typical opponent 9 out of twelve times. Something as rudimentary as that should at least eliminate extremist commentary about whether Coach Kelly's offense works or not.

One could say that we had difficult times against the three defensive studs that we played [USC, MSU, and Stanford], which is in theory supposed to happen vs studs, and one off game vs Wake Forest, which also happens to almost anyone in a long season. Elsewise this offense, despite all the continually pointed out imperfections, actually rolled. I call that pretty good for a coach in his second year of totally new system and not perfect fits yet for all the player positions.

All hail the Coach and the systemic advantage!!

And yet here we are in the Champs Sports bowl. Stats are for losers.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Statistics just like any other true facts are for generating meaningful discussion among colleagues who are interested in substantive and civil exchanges. There are things that "are for losers", it is true. Attempts at collegial information-based discussion are not among them.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

You know his name? lol At first glance, I was like, "Who the hell is Eric? Nobody on this board goes by 'Eric'."

Rocket89 is Eric Murtaugh, who co-manages the excellent ND football blog One Foot Down.

I wish he posted here more frequently.

 

[kmoose]

Pretty sure kmoose was being sarcastic, Eric. But I appreciated the YPC comparison all the same.

Actually, I wasn't............

Man you set a high bar.

YPC AVERAGE SINCE 1970 (MIN. 100 ATTEMPTS)

YEAR---PLAYER---ATTEMPTS---YARDS---AVERAGE---TD

1992---Brooks---167---1,343---8.0---13
2011---Gray---114---791---6.9---12
1989---Watters---118---791---6.7----10
1993---Becton---164---1,044---6.4---6

Brooks' 8.04 mark is second all-time in school history behind the immortal Gipp who gained 827 yards on 102 carries (8.11) in 1920.

Marchy Schwartz is listed as third in school history with 7.5 YPC in 1930.

Point being, Gray just had a historically amazing season and is somewhere in the top 5 or 6 in YPC for anyone to get 100 carries in a season while donning blue and gold.

Gray also tied for 3rd among BCS runners in the entire country in YPC for those who carried the ball at least 100 times. Only Josey (Missouri) and James (Oregon) were more productive.

I don't know what you consider phenomenal, but it's damn close. I certainly wouldn't be as condescending as to say it was "hardly" phenomenal.

1. While your comparison to previous ND backs is admirable, it's also kind of immaterial. The more proper comparison for whether or not he is having a phenomenal season, is to compare to what other backs are doing, today.

2. YPC is only one stat. And I acknowledged that his YPC this year were excellent. But that doesn't mask the fact that he only gained less than 800 yards. When I look at running backs, I usually look at three stats: yards gained, yards per carry, and TDs. Phenomenal is a pretty strong word, for a season where only 1 of the 3 "main" stats was excellent.

3. It's not like I said he was having a bad year, or even an average year. It's just not phenomenal. Montee Ball's season is phenomenal: he's first in yards, first in TDs, and has an excellent YPC avg(6.4). Is Jonas' season a great feel good story of redemption? Absolutely!! Is it a great season, after years of underperforming? An overwhelming YES!! Does it rank amongst the best seasons that a tailback in D-IA is having, this year? Not really. It's a great year, and a huge moment of redemption for him, personally. But it's just not phenomenal.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Actually, I wasn't............

That'll teach me to stick my neck out for you.

1. While your comparison to previous ND backs is admirable, it's also kind of immaterial. The more proper comparison for whether or not he is having a phenomenal season, is to compare to what other backs are doing, today.

Let's have a look at what other RBs are doing this season then, shall we? Here's a ranking of all Division I rushers. The only player with more attempts, TDs, and a higher YPC is LaMichael James, a strong Heisman candidate. That strikes me as pretty phenomenal.

2. YPC is only one stat. And I acknowledged that his YPC this year were excellent. But that doesn't mask the fact that he only gained less than 800 yards. When I look at running backs, I usually look at three stats: yards gained, yards per carry, and TDs. Phenomenal is a pretty strong word, for a season where only 1 of the 3 "main" stats was excellent.

YPC is the stat. A RB has no direct control over how many carries his coach chooses to give him, or how often his number is called in the red zone. The stat over which he has the most control is YPC, which is why it's the most cited.

Scat backs often rack up tons of yards and gaudy YPC, but they give way to power rushers in the red zone, lowering their TDs. Some backs play with other very good backs, so-- like Gray and Wood this year-- they end up sharing carries, thereby lowering their total yardage numbers. Penalizing a RB for either of those things is stupid.

3. It's not like I said he was having a bad year, or even an average year. It's just not phenomenal. Montee Ball's season is phenomenal: he's first in yards, first in TDs, and has an excellent YPC avg(6.4). Is Jonas' season a great feel good story of redemption? Absolutely!! Is it a great season, after years of underperforming? An overwhelming YES!! Does it rank amongst the best seasons that a tailback in D-IA is having, this year? Not really. It's a great year, and a huge moment of redemption for him, personally. But it's just not phenomenal.

I respectfully disagree. Your definition of "phenomenal" is absurd. You're correct that Montee Ball (and LaMichael James) have had statistically better seasons than Jonas; it's no surprise that both are dark horse Heisman contenders. They also play in different systems than ND's, and Montee Ball in particular has played against a far weaker schedule.

Jonas' stats are phenomenal. You don't have to be top 3 RB or a Heisman candidate to have a phenomenal season.

 

[kmoose]

That'll teach me to stick my neck out for you.



Let's have a look at what other RBs are doing this season then, shall we? Here's a ranking of all Division I rushers. The only player with more attempts, TDs, and a higher YPC is LaMichael James, a strong Heisman candidate. That strikes me as pretty phenomenal.



YPC is the stat. A RB has no direct control over how many carries his coach chooses to give him, or how often his number is called in the red zone. The stat over which he has the most control is YPC, which is why it's the most cited.

Scat backs often rack up tons of yards and gaudy YPC, but they give way to power rushers in the red zone, lowering their TDs. Some backs play with other very good backs, so-- like Gray and Wood this year-- they end up sharing carries, thereby lowering their total yardage numbers. Penalizing a RB for either of those things is stupid.



I respectfully disagree. Your definition of "phenomenal" is absurd. You're correct that Montee Ball (and LaMichael James) have had statistically better seasons than Jonas; it's no surprise that both are dark horse Heisman contenders. They also play in different systems than ND's, and Montee Ball in particular has played against a far weaker schedule.

Jonas' stats are phenomenal. You don't have to be top 3 RB or a Heisman candidate to have a phenomenal season.

1. Sorry to saw off that limb you were out on. It wasn't intentional.

2. Jonas' YPC is excellent. His <800 yards is certainly NOT phenomenal. His 12 TDs is solid, but as you pointed out: as the larger back, he should have better TD numbers.

 

[Irish To The Core]

I saw the offense this year as one which had progressed significantly from year 1. However, as much as I admire Tommy Rees, his skill set is only sufficient when we are facing a relatively weak defense. His lack of mobility, his lack of pocket awareness (how many fumbles occurred b/c he failed to secure the ball when the pocket collapsed?) and his inconsistency on long balls and fades cost us games. He is an 8-4 qb and he showed precious little growth over the course of the season. He would have to carve up Florida like the last of the leftover Christmas turkey to change my mind.

As many have said before, next year with Hendrix and/or Golsen is really year 1 of the spread...the real deal. After the season next year, you can tell me whether you like the spread.