We are now half way through the season. I'd continue to argue that the competition this year vs. last year remains somewhat comparable: (Washington State and Penn State both years, Norfolk this year/Howard last year, Kansas this year/Tulane last year, Indiana this year/Navy last year, Michigan State this year/Michigan last year). I'd also argue that the more games and data generated, the more useful and telling it becomes.
Offensive Stats:
34.3 points per game vs. 29.5 points a year ago. +4.8 points per game
199.2 rushing yards per game vs. 159.2 a year ago. +40.0 yards per game
249.7 passing yards per game vs. 267.5 a year ago. -17.8 yards per game
448.8 total yards per game vs. 426.7 a year ago. +22.1 yards per game
6.32 yards per play vs. 6.51 yards per play a year ago. -0.19 yards per play
48.7% 3rd down conversion rate (38/78) vs. 42.3% a year ago (33/78). +6.4% higher
60.0% 4rd down conversion rate (6/10) vs. 50.0% a year ago (4/8). +10.0% higher
13 fumbles/5 lost vs. 5 fumbles/2 lost a year ago. 3 more lost fumbles vs. a year ago
6 interceptions vs. 7 interceptions a year ago. 1 less interception vs. a year ago
10 sacks allowed for 91 yards vs. 8 sacks allowed for 66 yards. 2 more sack allowed, 25 more yards
Defensive Stats
29.2 points allowed per game vs. 21.7 points allowed a year ago. +7.5 points allowed per game
447.3 yards allowed per game vs. 396.7 per game a year ago. +50.6 yards allowed per game
126.2 rushing yards per game vs. 135.0 a year ago. -8.8 yards per game
321.2 passing yards per game vs. 261.7 a year ago. +59.5 yards per game
6.58 average yards allowed per play vs. 5.94 yards per play a year ago. +0.64 change in yards/play
6 interceptions vs. 4 interceptions. +2 interceptions.
1 fumble recoveries vs. 3 fumble recoveries a year ago. 2 fewer fumble recoveries
38.5% 3rd downs allowed (30/78) vs. 42.5% a year ago (37/87). 4.1% improvement in 3rd down defense
21.4% 4th down conversion rate (3/14) vs. 28.6% a year ago (2/7). 7.1% improvement on 4th downs
10 sacks for 70 yards vs. 24 sacks for 158 yards a year ago. 14 fewer sacks and 88 fewer yards
Team Stats
Scoring margin of +5.1 points/game vs. +7.8 ppg a year ago. -2.7 ppg from a year ago
32:37 average time of possession vs. 31:21 a year ago. +1:16 of possession this year
-4 turnover margin vs. -2 turnover margin a year ago. -2 turnover margin vs. a year ago
42 penalties/299 yards, 49.8 yards/game vs. 35/333/55.5. +7 penalties, -34 yards, -5.7 yards/game.
QB Facts Through Six Games (Just Laviano vs. Nova...not Rettig or Laviano last year).
Laviano: 115-166 (69.3% completion percentage), 12 tds, 6 interceptions, 1,388 yards (231.3/game), 100 rushing yards (ex-yards lost from sacks)
Nova: 93-150 (62.0% completion percentage), 13 tds, 7 interceptions, 1,601 yards (266.8/game), 87 rushing yards (ex-yards lost from sacks)
Laviano +7.3% completion percentage, 1 fewer touchdowns, 1 fewer interception, 213 few yards, 35.5 fewer yards/game, 13 more positive rushing yards
Conclusions
Offense, overall, is a touch better than last year, but probably well within any margin of error. Areas of improvement are the running game at +40 yards/game, points (+4.8/game) and 3rd/4th down conversions. We have committed two turnovers more than last year and allowed two extra sacks. Red Zone offense has picked up as the team converted 13/20 red zone trips into touchdowns (65%) vs. a 57% conversion rate last year (12/20). Statistically, Laviano is trailing Nova just a touch overall, as his yards/attempt of 8.4 yards trails Nova at 10.7 a year ago, while yards/completion of 12.1 yards trails Nova's 17.2 yards. Laviano has been better taking care of the ball with 6 interceptions vs. 7 for Nova, and his completion percentage of 69.3 yards is 7.3% higher than Nova's completion percentage of 62.0%. Overall, I'd argue the QBs have been a wash, but considering Laviano is a first-time starting sophomore vs. Nova as a four-year starting senior, I'm definitely encouraged.
Not surprisingly, considering no Hamilton and a very young secondary, the troubles this year have been more on the defensive side of the ball. The team is allowing 7.5 more points per game, with the run defense being better than last year, while the passing defense has given up almost 60 yards extra per game. Sacks are way down at 10 vs. 24 a year ago and sack yardage of 70 is 88 yards fewer than a year ago. The only area where the defense has shown improvement is on getting off the field on 3rd and 4th downs, with opponents converting 33 of 92 3rd & 4th down attempts (35.9%) vs. 39 of 94 a year ago (41.5%). Total takeaways are unchanged.
The last problem area (although greatly improved the last two weeks) is penalties. The team has committed 42 penalties for 299 yards through the first half of the season vs. 35 for 333 yards last year.
Offensive Stats:
34.3 points per game vs. 29.5 points a year ago. +4.8 points per game
199.2 rushing yards per game vs. 159.2 a year ago. +40.0 yards per game
249.7 passing yards per game vs. 267.5 a year ago. -17.8 yards per game
448.8 total yards per game vs. 426.7 a year ago. +22.1 yards per game
6.32 yards per play vs. 6.51 yards per play a year ago. -0.19 yards per play
48.7% 3rd down conversion rate (38/78) vs. 42.3% a year ago (33/78). +6.4% higher
60.0% 4rd down conversion rate (6/10) vs. 50.0% a year ago (4/8). +10.0% higher
13 fumbles/5 lost vs. 5 fumbles/2 lost a year ago. 3 more lost fumbles vs. a year ago
6 interceptions vs. 7 interceptions a year ago. 1 less interception vs. a year ago
10 sacks allowed for 91 yards vs. 8 sacks allowed for 66 yards. 2 more sack allowed, 25 more yards
Defensive Stats
29.2 points allowed per game vs. 21.7 points allowed a year ago. +7.5 points allowed per game
447.3 yards allowed per game vs. 396.7 per game a year ago. +50.6 yards allowed per game
126.2 rushing yards per game vs. 135.0 a year ago. -8.8 yards per game
321.2 passing yards per game vs. 261.7 a year ago. +59.5 yards per game
6.58 average yards allowed per play vs. 5.94 yards per play a year ago. +0.64 change in yards/play
6 interceptions vs. 4 interceptions. +2 interceptions.
1 fumble recoveries vs. 3 fumble recoveries a year ago. 2 fewer fumble recoveries
38.5% 3rd downs allowed (30/78) vs. 42.5% a year ago (37/87). 4.1% improvement in 3rd down defense
21.4% 4th down conversion rate (3/14) vs. 28.6% a year ago (2/7). 7.1% improvement on 4th downs
10 sacks for 70 yards vs. 24 sacks for 158 yards a year ago. 14 fewer sacks and 88 fewer yards
Team Stats
Scoring margin of +5.1 points/game vs. +7.8 ppg a year ago. -2.7 ppg from a year ago
32:37 average time of possession vs. 31:21 a year ago. +1:16 of possession this year
-4 turnover margin vs. -2 turnover margin a year ago. -2 turnover margin vs. a year ago
42 penalties/299 yards, 49.8 yards/game vs. 35/333/55.5. +7 penalties, -34 yards, -5.7 yards/game.
QB Facts Through Six Games (Just Laviano vs. Nova...not Rettig or Laviano last year).
Laviano: 115-166 (69.3% completion percentage), 12 tds, 6 interceptions, 1,388 yards (231.3/game), 100 rushing yards (ex-yards lost from sacks)
Nova: 93-150 (62.0% completion percentage), 13 tds, 7 interceptions, 1,601 yards (266.8/game), 87 rushing yards (ex-yards lost from sacks)
Laviano +7.3% completion percentage, 1 fewer touchdowns, 1 fewer interception, 213 few yards, 35.5 fewer yards/game, 13 more positive rushing yards
Conclusions
Offense, overall, is a touch better than last year, but probably well within any margin of error. Areas of improvement are the running game at +40 yards/game, points (+4.8/game) and 3rd/4th down conversions. We have committed two turnovers more than last year and allowed two extra sacks. Red Zone offense has picked up as the team converted 13/20 red zone trips into touchdowns (65%) vs. a 57% conversion rate last year (12/20). Statistically, Laviano is trailing Nova just a touch overall, as his yards/attempt of 8.4 yards trails Nova at 10.7 a year ago, while yards/completion of 12.1 yards trails Nova's 17.2 yards. Laviano has been better taking care of the ball with 6 interceptions vs. 7 for Nova, and his completion percentage of 69.3 yards is 7.3% higher than Nova's completion percentage of 62.0%. Overall, I'd argue the QBs have been a wash, but considering Laviano is a first-time starting sophomore vs. Nova as a four-year starting senior, I'm definitely encouraged.
Not surprisingly, considering no Hamilton and a very young secondary, the troubles this year have been more on the defensive side of the ball. The team is allowing 7.5 more points per game, with the run defense being better than last year, while the passing defense has given up almost 60 yards extra per game. Sacks are way down at 10 vs. 24 a year ago and sack yardage of 70 is 88 yards fewer than a year ago. The only area where the defense has shown improvement is on getting off the field on 3rd and 4th downs, with opponents converting 33 of 92 3rd & 4th down attempts (35.9%) vs. 39 of 94 a year ago (41.5%). Total takeaways are unchanged.
The last problem area (although greatly improved the last two weeks) is penalties. The team has committed 42 penalties for 299 yards through the first half of the season vs. 35 for 333 yards last year.
