DiderotsGhost
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In spite of our struggles on O-line and a defense that lacks depth, we've seen significant improvement on both sides of the ball this season. Here are 2018 efficiency stats versus 2017 stats.
Offensive Efficiency
2017: 34.8 (#99 in CFB, #13 in SEC)
2018: 46.2 (#76 in CFB, #13 in SEC)
Defensive Efficiency
2017: 47.1 (#71 in CFB, #9 in SEC)
2018: 59.2 (#50 in CFB, #11 in SEC)
Why Does It Not Show?
The biggest problem is that the rest of the SEC also improved. The SEC is actually tougher this season than last. In spite of our defensive efficiency improving from 47.1 to 59.2, we actually fell from 9th to 11th in the SEC. Similar deal with offensive efficiency where we improved from 34.8 to 46.2, but we're still #13 in the SEC.
In other words, if this year's team had played last year's schedule, they probably would be a 7-5 or 8-4 team. Against this year's schedule, Florida and Kentucky saw huge jumps on both sides of the ball. Missouri's defense is much better this season than last, as well. South Carolina is about the same on defense, but has played better on offense.
We have an uphill climb to a bowl game, but the idea that the new coaching staff has not improved things significantly is off-base. It's just Year 1, folks. It's rare to turn a program around in 1 year. What matters is that we continue to see improvement in Year 2 and Year 3, and that the coaching staff continues to recruit well.
Offensive Efficiency
2017: 34.8 (#99 in CFB, #13 in SEC)
2018: 46.2 (#76 in CFB, #13 in SEC)
Defensive Efficiency
2017: 47.1 (#71 in CFB, #9 in SEC)
2018: 59.2 (#50 in CFB, #11 in SEC)
Why Does It Not Show?
The biggest problem is that the rest of the SEC also improved. The SEC is actually tougher this season than last. In spite of our defensive efficiency improving from 47.1 to 59.2, we actually fell from 9th to 11th in the SEC. Similar deal with offensive efficiency where we improved from 34.8 to 46.2, but we're still #13 in the SEC.
In other words, if this year's team had played last year's schedule, they probably would be a 7-5 or 8-4 team. Against this year's schedule, Florida and Kentucky saw huge jumps on both sides of the ball. Missouri's defense is much better this season than last, as well. South Carolina is about the same on defense, but has played better on offense.
We have an uphill climb to a bowl game, but the idea that the new coaching staff has not improved things significantly is off-base. It's just Year 1, folks. It's rare to turn a program around in 1 year. What matters is that we continue to see improvement in Year 2 and Year 3, and that the coaching staff continues to recruit well.
