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On the most important item, this was the most prolific scoring team in team history, and that obviously includes the last two seasons. We scored 44.3 points per game, up 11 from last year and 4 from the last UM season.

What happened can be tracked to the two areas of improvement from last year's team: improving the turnover ratio and red zone efficiency.

In both cases, those were accomplished, and the scoring followed, as you would expect.

In 2002 we were +9 in turnovers. Last season, we were -6. Well, we swung back with a vengence this year, with a +15 rating. That's a 21 turnover swing, or darn near two per game. That's going to help the team score.

Most of the difference came from the offense, actually. Our turnovers went from 28 to 10--fewer fumbles, and only 4 interceptions as opposed to 13 the year before. Defensive turnovers stayed pretty consistent.

The other area of concern was in the red zone. I don't like to use red zone percentage, because it counts FG's and TD's the same. Good teams get in the end zone in the red zone. UM's 2002 team had an absolutely sick 5.38 points per red zone trip (out of six, I don't count the XP). As an aside, I saw on the Fiesta Bowl that his Utah team has a similiar record this year as well.

Last year, we fell a little. Our overall percentage was only 73.% and we averged 3.86 points per trip. That bounced back in 2004, to 83.3% and 4.58 points per red zone trip, which is probably pretty good (I'll have to check the numbers), but certainly improved. Also, red zone trips went from 49 to 72, so combined with the greater efficiency, there's your point increase right there.

This was the least running team we have had recently. We ran the ball about 47.8% of the time, which is below 50% for the first time in the Meyer/Brandon era. Our rushing yardage was done 38 yards a game, and attempts were down 5.6 per game.

The reason for this is simple and easy to see. We lost Josh Harris, who was a running threat, and put in Omar Jacobs, who is less of a running threat. Harris carried 15 times per game in 2003, while Omar carried 8 times per game. Add those carries back, and we're the same running team. The average per rush (4.7) was identical to the year before.

Total offense was up, on average, about ten yards per game. Our per play average was up from 6.3 to 6.7 yards per play. Our average on a pass catch is 13 yards a play, and everytime we drop back to pass, we average almost 9 yards.

Third down conversions continued to be a strength. We moved up from 50% last season to 51.9% this year. That's strong. We were 9 of 11 on fourth down.

We protected Omar well....he was sacked only 13 times, as opposed to 21 for Josh the year before.

If you are interested in MAC Comparisons, here they are:

Scoring offense (1st)
Yards Per Game Passing (1st)
Turnover Margin (1st) (Next highest was +8)
Yards Per game running (3rd)
Total offense (1st)
Pass Efficiency (1st)
First Downs (1st)
4th Down conversions (1st)
Red Zone % (3rd)
3rd Down conversions (1st)
Sacks against (1st)
Time of possession (8th)

What can we do more to score next year? Its hard to tell. This was a pretty well performing team. Keeping a +15 TO radio will be hard, but taking care of the ball. Will Omar get better? If he does...man.

orangeandbrown wrote:On the most important item, this was the most prolific scoring team in team history,

Heck, it was the most prolific scoring team in league history.

Boise State is going to be another barn burner. Fine team, but they aren't known for their defense.

I think Omar can and will get better -- Sure he was absolutely awesome this year, but people who watched every game this year know he still has room to improve which is a scary thought for wisky and smurf U. The main thing I think he needs to work on is decision-making. Although I love his pass first mentality, I think he becomes more dangerous when he realizes the times when it is appropriate to break the pocket and level some safeties. Multiple times this year on third and medium (I remember one play in the Toeldo game quite well) when He was just waiting for someone to throw to while there was about 20 yards of open field in front of him. Where at times I thought J5 was a bit too willing to leave the pocket, Omar errs a bit on the other side. I believe that as he matures as a quarterback, he could be REALLY scary. Add this and take away a few questionable throws like the end of the half against marshall, and we have a legitimate top 5 NFL pick on our hands.

I recall Urban Meyer saying that Josh Harris became a great qjuarterback when he learned to wait just a bit longer to look for his secondary receivers and not run too soon. What impresses me the most about Omar is his decision making in seldom forcing a ball into coverage. How else to explain only 4 interceptions in over 400 attempts. He is not the runner Josh is but he is more than adequate in what scouts call "escapability". Rothlisberger has that ability and it is one of the main thing pro scouts look for.

orangeandbrown wrote: What can we do more to score next year? Its hard to tell. This was a pretty well performing team. Keeping a +15 TO radio will be hard, but taking care of the ball. Will Omar get better? If he does...man.

Well Louisville and Boise averaged 50 points a game. Though I think we could have averaged closeto that had some of the game not been over at halftime. BTW nice job compiling that info.

Jacobs4Heisman wrote: Add this and take away a few questionable throws like the end of the half against marshall

Every QB no matter how good will make a mistake from time to time. Sometimes they get lucky and it not intercepted sometimes they are not so lucky. I think the area Jacobs needs to improve on is his release. Most of his incomplete passes this season were due to releasing the ball late. ...And I'm not really complaining here.

kdog27 wrote:

Jacobs4Heisman wrote: Add this and take away a few questionable throws like the end of the half against marshall

Every QB no matter how good will make a mistake from time to time. Sometimes they get lucky and it not intercepted sometimes they are not so lucky. I think the area Jacobs needs to improve on is his release. Most of his incomplete passes this season were due to releasing the ball late. ...And I'm not really complaining here.

Yeah, I don't think anyone is complaining. We can sit here and make some suggestions as to where Omar might be able to improve, but the truth of the matter is, any kind of improvement is just gravy. And, if he does improve in the areas that we are talking about, Omar should be taking home some pretty heavy hardware next December if you catch my drift...

Sometimes you just can't ignore great numbers.

exactly -- we were all (admit it) a bit nervous about replacing J5. So if we were to complain about the golden dreadlocked god that was dropped into our lap, we would deserve a good peckerslapping. If he happens to clean up the few places he could actually improve on this level, he will make it to the heisman final table. It's still my position that no non-BCS player will ever win the heisman, but as my name implies I'm still holding out hope for change. I don't think we should mess with his release. I've seen too many instances of coaches messing with releases and quarterbacks getting all screwed up in the head. Throughout all of philip rivers' senior year, everybody said he had to change his release or his draft stock would drop. Well it did.....all the way to number 4 in the draft. I don't care if he flips the ball over his head with his heels to get in the hands of our wideouts. I don't think his accuracy should be messed with.

Jacobs4Heisman wrote: So if we were to complain about the golden dreadlocked god that was dropped into our lap

I think he looks like the predator

I think so too, but that nickname will always be my moniker for Patton. I would call Omar Predator 2 but sequels usually suck. Omar's too good for that.

O & B,

Great job on the stats....truly scary numbers. IF we can get out D back to 2001 level, NOBODY will come close to beating this team in the MAC.

I think one of the most important stats was the turnover ratio....we took care of the ball VERY well in '04.

And as far as Omarvelous and his particulars..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Less than 8 months til the opener...Soaring higher in '05!!

GO FALCONS!