Team Improvement

[Gtswifty81]

I think we all agree there are plenty of areas for improvement, but where have we seen the most improvement since 2019? I try not to think much about 2019 but we’ve definitely improved. I feared for James Graham when he dropped back to pass in 2019, and even though the OL isn’t a strength I believe the pass blocking has improved.

2019 2020 2021
Offense
Total Yards 286.5 389.9 402.7
Rushing yards 152.6 190.1 169.0
Passing yards 133.9 199.8 233.7
Points 16.7 23.9 28.5

Defense
Total Yards 423.3 459.3 382.5
Rushing Yards 215.6 189.2 154.2
Passing Yards 207.7 270.1 228.3
Points 32.4 36.8 25.7

 

[brian22]

Exactly! Improvement all over the place.

 

[AlabamaBuzz]

Those are definitely good to review, and I assume the 2019 and 2020 are end of year. Did you look at these same numbers through 6 games for all 3 seasons?

Unfortunately, for 2021, we still have most of the toughest teams still on the schedule. I hope we can maintain these improvements and maybe build on them, but I will be surprised. Also, we had some pansies (NIU and KennyState and Duke) on our early schedule, and Clem's Son's O this year is not good.

 

[MidtownJacket]

Where we are better:

Special teams, route running by WR, theoretical “athlete” ability of players based on recruiting services.

 

[Backstreetbuzz]

We are better, but we certainly have a ways to go.

 

[UgaBlows]

It seems like we much worse running the ball now than ‘19 and ‘20, i don’t get that. We have more beef on our OL now but inside runs get stuffed every damned time, i’ve never seen Jordon Mason struggle for yards like this season, what has happened?

 

[forensicbuzz]

It seems like we much worse running the ball now than ‘19 and ‘20, i don’t get that. We have more beef on our OL now but inside runs get stuffed every damned time, i’ve never seen Jordon Mason struggle for yards like this season, what has happened?

I think a big part of that is how defenses are playing us now. I see a lot of run-blitz stunts being used now. That clogs the middle pretty effectively. Just one pseudo-informed opinion.

 

[THWG16]

I haven’t seen much improvement

 

[smokey_wasp]

I haven’t seen much improvement

That's subjective, but the numbers say otherwise. Even if you only look at W-L. You can say that it doesn't feel like enough improvement for you, but you can't say it isn't there

 

[AugustaSwarm]

Agreed. I think opposing defenses would rather take their chances with our passing game instead of allowing us to gash them with the running game. We have turned the ball over a lot the past few seasons and the vast majority of those are from the passing game or the QB fumbling.

If we see more plays like the final drive vs dook, opposing defenses will likely start to respect the deep ball a little more and allow more space for the run game.

 

[danny daniel]

Our running game seems to be based on spreading out the D sideline to sideline and run blocking mostly with our 5 Olinemen. I would hope for a change to do more double teaming with the Oline at the point of attack and using a TE or Mason to lead the way on a LB or hybrid DB. We need quick hitters when we run up the middle mixed in with more misdirection, draws., traps, screens, reverses....you know... football stuff. When we do have a success with a play we usually do not see it again? I believe Mason's future is in the NFL as a blocking FB and short yardage runner. Let's put him in the game a lot, even if it's to primarily block. He is an unused weapon as is D Smith. Coach P needs to be more creative, especially with his playmakers.

 

[UgaBlows]

I haven’t seen much improvement

If you watched this team in ‘19 and don’t see improvement btwn then and now then i just don’t know What to say to you

 

[SteamWhistle]

The stats are there to prove we have gotten bette every year under Collins. I think the fact that we won yesterday’s game speaks to the talent difference as well. We literally just made more plays then them, that’s all, we didn’t out scheme them.

 

[Pointer]

That's subjective, but the numbers say otherwise. Even if you only look at W-L. You can say that it doesn't feel like enough improvement for you, but you can't say it isn't there

I think looks wise, there have been plenty of flashes of improvement. We unfortunately still have lots of relapses into bad tendencies and unfortunate injuries (I know every team deals with injuries, but it feels like we have had more then most the past decade). The flashes of good play give skeptics like me (I admit I'm skeptical about this staff) hope for a bright future. But it's these relapses that make the numbers on paper diminish the potential you can see with the eyeball test.

I'm in the wait until the end of next season and see where we are heading corner (barring a complete and utter meltdown the rest of the way this season, which I don't think will happen).

 

[BonafideJacket]

I think we all agree there are plenty of areas for improvement, but where have we seen the most improvement since 2019? I try not to think much about 2019 but we’ve definitely improved. I feared for James Graham when he dropped back to pass in 2019, and even though the OL isn’t a strength I believe the pass blocking has improved.

2019 2020 2021
Offense
Total Yards 286.5 389.9 402.7
Rushing yards 152.6 190.1 169.0
Passing yards 133.9 199.8 233.7
Points 16.7 23.9 28.5

Defense
Total Yards 423.3 459.3 382.5
Rushing Yards 215.6 189.2 154.2
Passing Yards 207.7 270.1 228.3
Points 32.4 36.8 25.7

While I agree that there has been improvement, total yards and points is a terrible to measure it, like pitcher wins or batting average in baseball. Other metrics like PPD, FEI, or even offensive and defensive efficiency would be more useful.

I'm not quite the stathead like some on here are so I don't have any idea the best place to find all of those, but I can start with FEI from Football Outsiders - 2019 (-.43), 2020 (-.44), 2021 (-.06). So after a couple of flat years, we've seen improvement this year, but time will tell if that holds up or is a soft schedule mirage.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

I’ll wait until the end of the season and compare the number of wins.

 

[ChristoGT]

Those are definitely good to review, and I assume the 2019 and 2020 are end of year. Did you look at these same numbers through 6 games for all 3 seasons?

Unfortunately, for 2021, we still have most of the toughest teams still on the schedule. I hope we can maintain these improvements and maybe build on them, but I will be surprised. Also, we had some pansies (NIU and KennyState and Duke) on our early schedule, and Clem's Son's O this year is not good.

Thru 6 games:

2019: Clemson/USF/Citadel/Temple/UNC/Duke
Offense: 162 rush/147 pass
Defense: 238 rush/183 pass

2020: FSU/USF/Syracuse/Louisville/Clemson/BC
Offense: 181 rush/216 pass
Defense: 172 rush/281 pass

2021: NIU/KSU/Clemson/UNC/Pitt/Duke
Offense: 169/234
Defense: 154/228

 

[Jmonty71]

I think we all agree there are plenty of areas for improvement, but where have we seen the most improvement since 2019? I try not to think much about 2019 but we’ve definitely improved. I feared for James Graham when he dropped back to pass in 2019, and even though the OL isn’t a strength I believe the pass blocking has improved.

2019 2020 2021
Offense
Total Yards 286.5 389.9 402.7
Rushing yards 152.6 190.1 169.0
Passing yards 133.9 199.8 233.7
Points 16.7 23.9 28.5

Defense
Total Yards 423.3 459.3 382.5
Rushing Yards 215.6 189.2 154.2
Passing Yards 207.7 270.1 228.3
Points 32.4 36.8 25.7

I will agree we've improved in a good many areas. Things will still need to improve in.. Careless turnovers, blocking schemes on the offense, better gap control from the D line and lastly the ability to take what the defense is giving. I think we have enough talent to win the games that we should win, but not enough to win against top tier teams. With that said... It does not mean will won't lost to lesser talented teams (see NIU) and/or beat teams with more talent (see UNC). It means that overall, we have work to do. I think coaching needs to improve more than players need to improve.

 

[iceeater1969]

the previous coaches made big bets on defenders 1,2,3.

the new coaches agreed and put them high in preseason projections.

1,2,3 are not meeting expectaions.

it is good to see that the coaches are letting others (ATL) get PT and at position changes (3 to nickel).

i would love to see these guys finish year STRONG on an aggressive defense.