All Ralph does is win football games

[57stratdawg]

see where the defenses we've played this year compare to last years.

At the end of this year, i'd imagine we're going to look back and say.. Alabama's and Florida's D were better last year. OM's isn't going to be any comparison. Georgia Tech's D was much better than Memphis'. LSU is probably better this year. Even Middle Tenn State was better than whoever we replaced them with.

Point being, the offense is marginally better this year, but the defense we're playing this year aren't nearly as good.

 

[whatever.sixpack]

It's pretty simple really, the difference in our team this year is defense. Our offensive numbers OVERALL are almost exactly the same, although they are significantly down in SEC games only.

We have last year's defense and last year's schedule, we're sitting in the exact same place record wise, and possibly even worse

 

[cps36]

Completion % is low because he misses wide open receivers. Rushing totals are excellent. ONLY 3 INTS IS HUGE.

 

[Hidog78]

The defence is better then last year and it shows in the win column. The offence is adequate this year to win the games we have won. The thing that shows me that we are not improving at is the number of three and outs.The punting game with it's improvements is what is keeping us in many of these games.

 

[Coach34]

If we are going to talk about offense, then let's talk about the offense- we had 4 defensive TD's in SEC games last season we haven't gotten this year. We also scored a garbage TD against Auburn's scrubs in the 4th quarter last year when we were down 42-17- we dont play against scrubs this season.

So, in 2009, without the defensive TD's- we averaged 19 points/game (take out garbage TD vs Aub- it's 18 ppg)
in 2010, our offense is getting 15.8/game

So, scoring is down a little- but not 7 points like you suggest.

Also, because of our improved defense this season, we dont try to score as much as we did last year. We can continue to ball-control, grind their defense, grind the clock...we take less chances and commit less turnovers- thats also part of being a better offense. Having a better offense doesnt always show up in PPG.

 

[AlCoDog]

the entire gameplan. Of course we had more yards and points in those games because we were trying to catch up(thanks Carl) we were forced to throw and open it up more so we picked up more yardage and scored on the 2nd teamers. We have been the one's in control of the tempo in every game. Even LSU alot of the game until about the 4th pick. Securing the ball and controlling the clock is working out much better. To quote MAtt Wyatt's article this morning on BDJ, "stats are like a bikini. they show you alot, but not everything." I think we can open it up if we need to, but we haven't needed to thus far. LSU's defense is very good, and how many passes did we drop in the Auburn game that would have gotten us another 100 yards and more points along with a possible W? I'm guessing there are 2 main stats our coaches are worried about, turnovers and wins. Wre are excelling in both.

Also, besides obviously MAnny and Wilson, the defense is better because the offense keeps them off the field more and turns it over tons less than last year. What is our offensive time of possesion this year compared to last year?

 

[whatever.sixpack]

"We're not trying to score as much as we did last year." Sounds like something you would say to defend your point

You're reaching as usual, trying to take out as many points as you can from last year and defending it somehow. What about the break we got vs UGA having a turnover on downs at our 20 in "garbage time" and us taking it in for a score to make it 24-6, can we take that TD out this year? How bout taking a knee on the Ole Miss 4 yard line last year AND fumbling on their one yard line in another drive, can we add those as two probable TD's? Or not getting in vs LSU on the 1 yard line, can we add that TD? Has this year's team gotten inside the 4 yard line 3 times and come away with 0 points?

We're still averaging 64 yards less per game, and even when you come up with 4 or 5 TD's to take out from last year we averaged more than 3 points better in league games.

You talk about the breaks last years team got to increase its scoring average, but this years team has also had breaks by only losing one fumble in a league game all year compared with losing 5 last year and having a lot less turnovers that killed a lot of drives last year.

 

[markymark.sixpack]

We're not only averaging 7 points less in SEC games, but 64 yards less per game, that's fairly significant (not to mention this is all with a defense that is giving us more opportunities and possessions).
It does help to drop Ga Tech and pick up Memphis, so it's pretty easy to see our OOC schedule was not where it was last year and that could be a reason for the increased stats. With the only games remaining being SEC games, you might could see us drop below last year's overall numbers as well, but it's pretty safe to say we won't be averaging the same yardage and points per game at the end of the year in SEC games only that we did last year.

-51 more yards and 10 more pts vs Auburn last year than this yr
-106 more yards and 19 more points vs LSU last year than this yr (you conveniently left this game out)
-8 more yards vs UF this yr, although their D was a lot better in 09
-168 more yards and 7 more points vs UK last year than this yr (you conveniently left this game out also)
-Also gained more yardage on Vandy in 09 than UGA in 10, had as many scoring drives(4), just settled for 3 FG's

Being 11th in the SEC in conference games only in total offense and scoring offense makes it pretty easy to see why we are where we are, and that's defense. We gave up 29.4 points per game in league games last year, compared to 16.4 this year. If we were giving up 29.4 points per game in league games this year, we'd possibly be 0-5

An OOC schedule of Memphis, Alcorn, Houston (on their 3rd string QB & #1 WR out), & UAB is a helluva lot easier thanJSU, a 10 win MTSU team (with a Manny Diaz D), Houston (with all starters available), and GaTech. But let's ignore those facts to justify Radio's argument.

I just can't believe it's been this hard to convince some people on this board that we have a great teamas opposed to one great player.

 

[markymark.sixpack]

I should have specified any "average" QB or any "running" QB. Not just any QB. Obviously, you're right. My main point was that Radio singling out Relf as the reason we are winning is just typical of what he does. This is a really good team with a great defense and kind of a sub-par offense. I know it's not as good of an offense as I expected to see this year. And if coach was to really think about it, he would have to agree (you know, since he was throwing out 30 TDs by Relf, 30 ppg, 400+ yards, etc before the season started). The fact is our offense has struggled against everyone not named Memphis, Alcorn, or Houston this year. Especially in the SEC. But our coaches and players are still finding ways to win and that's great. Coach just came on here touting Relf for no real reason other than to stroke his own ego. It's no secret he gets under my skin and he did it again last night and I guess I kind of took it out on you. My apologies.

 

[Frances Drebin]

....but jesus christ, can you spell "offense" and "defense" correctly?

 

[FISHDAWG]

no...I don't think you hate anything about it at all .... just how long did you have to lay in-wait for that ambush ?

 

[Hidog78]

Just reread this thread to try understand some of the thoughts that were posted . c34's statement that we are not trying to score as many points because we have a better defence is the dumbest thing I seen posted here. To say that you are not trying to score points during a game is incredible.

 

[whatever.sixpack]

I thought that was a pretty underrated C34 quote myself... "We're not trying to score as much this year"

 

[KennyPowers2]

Just reread this thread to try understand some of the thoughts that were posted . c34's statement that we are not trying to score as many points because we have a better defence is the dumbest thing I seen posted here. To say that you are not trying to score points during a game is incredible.

NO, you not knowing how to spell DEFENSE is thedumbest thing I have ever seen posted.

 

[AssistantCoach43]

Before you keep debating, make sure you have your facts right. You try to come on here all the time and throw facts around, but a lot of the time, your numbers are off. I don't care if it's by one or by 100, know what you're talking about before you debate...otherwise when trying to make others look like idiots, you in fact make yourself look like one.<div>
</div><div>The reason I say that is because I know, without checking stats, that we at least have 2 combined TDs from kickoff returns and pick 6's. Broomfield had the pick 6 against Houston and Berry had the KO return for a TD against Alcorn State. Last year, we didn't have a KO return for a TD against Auburn. We blocked a punt and Robert Elliot returned it for a TD. We returned the kickoff for a TD against GA Tech.</div><div>
</div><div>Also, I'm not sure if it's a joke or not (if it is, I apologize bringing it up), but the name is Sylvester Croom. There's is no "s" after the "m." That is one of my pet peeves, just like when someone calls Starkville "Starksville."</div><div>
</div><div>If you want to say we weren't blowing teams out last year, it's because we played a very tough non-conference schedule, save Jackson State. We played a ranked GA Tech team, a ranked Houston team, and a MTSU team that had their best season in school history. This year, we played a Houston team on their 3rd string QB without their top receiver. Alcorn State was, well...Alcorn State. We barely held on to beat UAB, and Memphis is having their worst season in a LONG time...and that's saying something. I'm not trying to belittle any of our accomplishments this year because I'm as excited as anyone that we're 7-2. But our non-conference schedule is worse than last year's.</div>

 

[KurtRambis4]

*

 

[Coach34]

I apologize for the oversite on the Alcorn KO return, and yes, we did indeed block a punt for a TD and not run a KO back...

Fact remains, which was my main point, that we scored 30 offensive TD's last year, and have scored 30 this season already...


And it is Crooms- its a fact- look it up

 

[bullysleftnut]

but I think both sides have some of it right.

Coach is correct in that:
1) Relf is doing a great job managing our games.
2) We are playing a grind-it-out, running offense because it's what we're good at.
3) #2 is why we aren't scoring as much - running offenses don't score as much as passing ones.

Opposition is correct in that:
1) Our defense is a lot better than last year. Throwing out the LSU aberration our defense has given up very few points this year.
2) We have cut down on turnovers. Again, throwing out the LSU aberration and our offense hasn't turned the ball over much at all this year, and none in several games.

So to reiterate: Relf is playing well, we aren't turning it over, and our defense is playing much better.

Let's all be glad we don't suck.

 

[whatever.sixpack]

Oh so we scored more in conference games last year b/c we were more of a "passing team?"

We are averaging 42 runs and 21 passes per game this year, compared to 45 runs to 21 passes last year.

We were a "grind it out" running team last year too, guess we were just calling run plays for long gains last year and trying to limit our run plays to 5 yards or less this year so the drives will last longer.

Also, due to us having longer drives this year, we're averaging 12 possessions per game compared to 13 per game last year. But even though last year's team had 1 more possession per game, they were forced to punt 4.16 times per game, whereas this years team is punting 4.44 times per game (although that could be misleading since more of our drives last year might've ended b/c of turnovers)

 

[AssistantCoach43]

Read it and weep...<div>
</div><div>http://www.stlouisrams.co...a-4eaa-91b9-047c92f725b3</div>

 

[Requiem For A Dawg]

nm

 

[AssistantCoach43]

I can't quite tell if you're being sarcastic or serious.

 

[Stormrider81]

is due to the improvement in defense? Think about it for just a minute. Last year we knew we had to outscore opponents so we took more chances, threw more passes, that sort of thing. This year we do far less of that. We are more conservative because we know our defense is going to keep opponents within a certain range and if we can run the football, control some clock, and avoid turnovers we can win. The Florida game is a prime example. Last year we were taking risks, this year we shut it down and ran the football because we knew our D had them locked down. Kentucky is another example. Last year we had to outduel UK, whereas this year we only allowed 17 points. Dan is smart enough to know that his defense is good at keeping the other team off the scoreboard and that he has a good running team, thus he is more willing to be conservative on offense. This leads to a drop in points but we still win the game.

 

[bullysleftnut]

Oh so we scored more in conference games last year b/c we were more of a "passing team?"

Well we'd have to throw the ball 24.6 times per game over the next three games to match our passing attempts for last year. So you tell me....do we throw the ball as much this year as we did last year?
2009 Passing: 153-266-17
2010 Passing: 105-192-9

We are averaging 42 runs and 21 passes per game this year, compared to 45 runs to 21 passes last year.

Given current trends in our games and who we are playing I expect those numbers to shift by the end of the season to show more runs and less passes than they do currently.

We were a "grind it out" running team last year too, guess we were just
calling run plays for long gains last year and trying to limit our run
plays to 5 yards or less this year so the drives will last longer.

Not at all. I know Dan would love to put up 50+ points per game. But this offense can't do that. So we run long, grinding drives that hopefully put points on the board and keep the other team's offense off the field. Go back and watch the Florida, Georgia, UAB, and Kentucky games.

Oh yeah - we also miss Dixon.

Also, due to us having longer drives this year, we're averaging 12
possessions per game compared to 13 per game last year. But even though
last year's team had 1 more possession per game, they were forced to
punt 4.16 times per game, whereas this years team is punting 4.44 times
per game (although that could be misleading since more of our drives
last year might've ended b/c of turnovers)

I don't think this is something we're arguing about. We have less drives this year because there's less time on the clock due to us shortening games by running the ball more and taking care of the ball. I think you are absolutely correct about the number of punts being diminished last year because of turnovers.

2009: 17 ints, 13 fumbles, 11 missed 4th down conversions - 41 total.
2010: 9 ints, 3 fumbles, 2 missed 4th down conversion - 14 total.

This is the biggest difference between last year's team and this year's team. So in a sense a lot of it *is* in fact due to Relf's play.

 

[Hidog78]

KP2 if you are trolling the board to correct spelling go back to school to be an English teacher. If you have a comment on the statement make it dick weed.