First Quarter numbers

[RUChoppin]

Looking back at the first 3 games, with a focus on the 1st quarter.

We haven't been very good in the first quarter, which obviously needs to change, but I wanted to take a look at what that meant from a productivity standpoint.

The easiest thing to look at is that we've been outscored 59-14 in 1st quarters so far this year. Meanwhile, in the 2nd-4th quarters, we've outscored opponents 89-30. (31-10 in 2nd quarters, 24-14 in 3rd quarters, and 34-6 in 4th quarters).

Overall, that's 66% of our opponents scoring coming in the 1st quarter, and just 14% of our own scoring coming in the 1st quarter.

(An interesting note... Schiano's strongest two quarters were the 1st and 3rd, showing how good he was at pregame scheming and halftime adjustments but not as strong at in-game adjustments. Ash's strongest quarters are the 2nd and 4th, showing a strength at in-game adjustments but not being as strong coming into the game itself.)

Was also looking at yards gained/allowed in the 1st quarters.
Game 1: RU 16 yards, Wash 202 yards
Game 2: RU 10 yards, Howard 102 yards
Game 3: RU 95 yards, NM 188 yards (and 75 of ours came with a single play with 3 seconds left on the clock in the 1st quarter)

Overall, we've gained about 10% of our total yardage in 1st quarters... while our opponents have gained 45% of their overall yardage in 1st quarters. If you artificially move the bomb to Harris just 4 seconds later into the 2nd quarter, it actually works out to just 4% of our total yardage in 1st quarters. The offense has only created 1 first down in 1st quarters so far this year (and picked up another on a defensive penalty).

Don't know how we need to correct this, but the team clearly isn't coming out at their peak for the first snap.

 

[lighty]

I know we may not have a better answer at QB, but I think if you take a look at Laviano's games from last year and the three this year - he's gotten a pass more times than not for having his WORST quarter to start the game. Maybe instead of benching him for a play in the 4th, he needs to be benched sometime to start a game. The first quarters this year AGAINST weak teams are really inexcusable. While the team needs to be better on both sides of the ball, a constant array of three and outs to start the game doesn't help your defense much...