YoY offensive numbers improved but still far short of where we need to be

#26
#26
DiderotsGhost said:
2020 will be interesting. I don't necessarily expect straight-line improvement on offense given that we're probably losing 3 of our best players (Jennings, Callaway, and Trey Smith).

That said, run game will hopefully improve. Felt like Gray solidified himself as the #1 RB. Losing Trey Smith is going to suck, but still hoping to see some improvement in run blocking. Our line is still very young. And run game issues were a major factor behind our overall red zone woes.

Big questions IMO:

(*) Will we get improved QB play. If not from JG, then from Maurer or Bailey?
(*) Can we improve significantly on run blocking, even w/o Trey Smith?
(*) Will we have enough paymakers at WR step up to at least help fill the void w/ Jennings and Callaway gone?

I expect the defense to continue to improve next season, so all the big question marks are on offense.
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Good post. Additionally, this will be the first time our players return to the same offensive system since 2016 when Mike Debord was the OC. The consistency itself should help player development, especially with the quarterbacks. It'll also be interesting to see if Crouch's role expands on offense.
 
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#27
#27
Vol_from_86 said:
It'll also be interesting to see if Crouch's role expands on offense.
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Crouch is a beast at RB, but I don't think his role will expand significantly. He seems dedicated to playing LB and that seems like a better long-term move for him.

Actually, the interesting question will be if Tee Hodge or Len'Nath Whitehead see some significant playing time. Both of those guys are bigger RBs.

Current backs
Eric Gray is 5'10", 195.
Ty Chandler is 5'11", 200.
Tim Jordan is 5'11, 203.
Carlin Fils-Aime is 5'11, 180.

Hodge is already 6'0", 216
Whitehead is already 6'1", 230

So Hodge and Whitehead immediately become the biggest (full-time) RBs on the roster if they do indeed staying at RB.
 
#29
#29
VolArmy74 said:
The offense does stink, but your numbers from 2018 are off almost across the board, we scored 273 points in 12 games last season, averaged 22.75 not 19. We passed for 196 yards per game, not 193. We averaged 326 ypg not 317, we averaged 129 rushing ypg not 123, we averaged 5.45 yards per play instead of 5.17. You are low on virtually every stat vs actual from 2018 per the stats on UTSports.com. Thus the 15-20 percent improvement is less, and even more concerning since we faced a much easier schedule this season.
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Thanks for the catch; you are absolutely correct...more like 10-12% improvement. I went back and checked the source of those YoY comparisons, MyTeamsBetter - College Football Team Comparison, and noticed they showed us with a 4-7 record in 2018. Dug deeper and saw they didn't have the ETSU game figured in for some reason, so I've gone back and manually adjusted where possible. Deleted some low-importance stats, added TFL allowed and time of possession.
 
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#31
#31
Pleasantly surprised with the increases from 2018. Think what we can do next year with competent Qb play. I’m ready for the 2020 now!
 
#32
#32
DiderotsGhost said:
Crouch is a beast at RB, but I don't think his role will expand significantly. He seems dedicated to playing LB and that seems like a better long-term move for him.

Actually, the interesting question will be if Tee Hodge or Len'Nath Whitehead see some significant playing time. Both of those guys are bigger RBs.

Current backs
Eric Gray is 5'10", 195.
Ty Chandler is 5'11", 200.
Tim Jordan is 5'11, 203.
Carlin Fils-Aime is 5'11, 180.

Hodge is already 6'0", 216
Whitehead is already 6'1", 230

So Hodge and Whitehead immediately become the biggest (full-time) RBs on the roster if they do indeed staying at RB.
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If Banks( 6’2 230) is allowed back we will have a trio of bigger backs. Add Smalls and I like the mix we have.
 
#33
#33
Aside from needing better QB play, we need to be able to run the ball well. I want some Jonathan Taylor numbers bro
 
#34
#34
I agree with the Red Zone production . Offensive plays are limited for an obvious reason. No defensive line depth. You have to control time of possession and keep these guys off the field. Keep in mind that the reps are cumulative down the length of the season. No depth and overused spells bad results in the last handful of games. Running the ball is not the problem in as much as passing the ball. Most teams, most of the time are sitting on the gaps. They are making the QB win the game. When the QB play becomes consistent and defenses are forced to play balanced D and not run first D , the run will open up
 
#36
#36
In today’s college game with video game numbers, our stats look pedestrian. Imagine how much better our defensive stats would look if our offense was decent and could consistently move the chains. Here‘s hoping for next year.

if we can get to 32-35 pts per game we can likely compete with Georgia and Florida. To compete with the best you have to get to 40+. Starts with the QB, then the offensive line and then the play calling.
 
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#37
#37
Two stats stood out to me. First was the sack stats. Seems everyone was screaming about how bad the line blocked last year, yet seemed to think it really stepped up this year. However according to the stats, sack improvement was only 0.3 less sacks per game this year. Another surprising stat was the National ranking of sacks allowed was much better last year than I expected.
Second stat that stood out was how bad the QBs were in the red zone. They seem to pass pretty well on a big field from 20 - 20 yd lines. However when the field shortens up inside the 20, the windows are much smaller and things happen quicker. None of the QBs could handle that part of the offense. Results in a lot of pts missed due to FG attemps.
 
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#42
#42
NATHAN05 said:
Step in the right direction, but I'd love to make a few jumps in the right direction next season. Hopefully we have some of these young players that ball out next year......plus another year learning the Chaney offense? 🤞
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I don’t have the numbers to back this, but it did appear to improve as the season went on. The OLine blocked better, I thought.

I also am not sure our RBs get the yardage out if a play that is there, other than Gray. Chandler and Jordan seem to leave some yardage on the field with bad vision. Lastly, QB play affects a lot of this. A good QB will drastically improve these numbers.
 
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#43
#43
ABINGDON VOL FAN said:
Pleasantly surprised with the increases from 2018. Think what we can do next year with competent Qb play. I’m ready for the 2020 now!
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I like your optimism, but please note Total Offense, Completion Percentage, Rushing TDs, and Red Zone Scoring still aren't in the top 99. Unacceptable. Coaches did what they could, but it's going to take recruiting to fix it. I guess if you want to be optimistic, you think it can only get better.
 
#44
#44
Teeman said:
I like your optimism, but please note Total Offense, Completion Percentage, Rushing TDs, and Red Zone Scoring still aren't in the top 99. Unacceptable. Coaches did what they could, but it's going to take recruiting to fix it. I guess if you want to be optimistic, you think it can only get better.
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Has to get better. We are a young team which will improve and the reason the stats were ranked where they are was because of dysfunctional Qb play.
 
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#45
#45
GAVol said:
Got to figure out how to run the ball.
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We'd better. Next year our receiving group will be pretty good, but not SEC elite like this yr. Our OL, QBs, RB pass blocks, and running game should improve. TE and WR will be less.
So, for us to move forward we'll need to see our run blocking and running needs to make a real jump. Emergence of Gray and return of Banks would be some of it.
 
#46
#46
I like stats....thanks OP and for the cool stat tool! Defense is jumping up every year just like Pruitt has down at every stop. Two more years and we in the Top 20 across the board on D. That plus a a top 30 Offense can get you a long way.
 
#47
#47
Has anyone heard about Kasim Hill that transfered from Maryland? He was a legit 4 star out out high school top 10 pro style QB. I know he took a red shirt. Just wonder if he'll get a look if Harrison Barnes needs time to develop.
 
#48
#48
TAF said:
Tennessee NEEDS to RE-LEARN how to...

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Hard to run when the defense doesn’t have to defend a deep ball. Our OL could definitely improve there but that is another area where an upgrade at QB is going to help.
 
#49
#49
Boston_Vol said:
Has anyone heard about Kasim Hill that transfered from Maryland? He was a legit 4 star out out high school top 10 pro style QB. I know he took a red shirt. Just wonder if he'll get a look if Harrison Barnes needs time to develop.
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He’s had two knee surgeries, so I think anything we get from him is a bonus. Likely just a depth move, but we’ll see.
 
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#50
#50
I'm tired of saying we need a QB or we need better o line we need this we need that. With that said we need someone that can light a fire under their ass
 
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