I recently picked up Phil Steele and Pick 6 Previews. Both are very computer, analytic centric.
You don’t appreciate how bad the offense was until you see Pick 6’s analytic column laying out the specific categories of the offense.
98 in points per play.
88 in yards per play.
116 in scoring and total offense.
119 in OL-Run Push (this is rush yards attributed to the OL doing its job)
100 in Explosive Rush
Oddly enough, as bad as the passing offense was, it at least ranked in the “yellow” in some categories.
45 in explosive pass is at least something.
Defense was way better, at least in the rushing defense.
32 in yards per carry.
22 in negative play yards.
43 in explosive rush.
The passing defense was worse than I remembered. With every category being in the red.
122 in explosive pass rate and 94 in completion % were daggers last year.
The offense could make huge improvements, and that would still be a bad offense, just because of how bad it was last year. Probably something to keep in mind when judging the offense this year.
Really, the key to the season will be the defense. Assuming the offense does make a reasonable jump, and that still results in a bad offense, the defense at least needs to hold serve. Pick 6 had it at 25th last year when adjusting for competition and pace of play and situations the offense puts it in.
Top 25 defense and a bad offense? Probably enough to go bowling again. Bad offense and bad defense? Probably not.
