Odd stat: Iowa's # of plays

O

olivecourt

Well-Known Member
Offensive plays run, by game:

vs. Tennessee Tech: 59
@ Iowa State: 72
vs. Pitt: 81
vs. UL-M: 67
@ Penn State: 64
vs. Northwestern: 50
vs. Indiana: 58

This Iowa team just doesn't run many plays, averaging just over 64/game with a 3 OT affair. Nebraska is averaging over 70; I don't even want to look at how many plays Northwestern is running. If anyone has historical data on how that compares to other years, I'd be fascinated to see it. I just can't remember a team that is so good offensively but barely runs any plays. It's this weird combination of having a ton of big plays, giving up long drives on defense, and having too many 3-and-outs. It's not that we're punting a lot (second-least punts in the league with only 23 through 7 games (!)), it's that we seem to either march right down the field or do nothing. Very little middle ground there.

Here's another key stat: we are last in the league in rushing attempts. There just aren't a ton of carries to go around. And it's not because we're pass-wacky-- we're second in the league in total passing yardage, yes, but only 6th in passing attempts per game.

So I realize fans want to see other RBs, more throws to the TEs, etc., etc. But the reality is that this team just hasn't run very many plays, and until they do, they aren't going to be inclined to go very far beyond their bread and butter (McNutt, Coker, and Davis).
 
"It's this weird combination of having a ton of big plays, giving up long drives on defense, and having too many 3-and-outs."

This is the most likely reason. They are irratic and the defense isn't good. In short Iowa plays like a young team. A good defense keeps their offense on the bench and ours on the field.
 
When was the last time we had a "good" defense that could get itself off the field quickly? 2004? Lets not kid ourselves our defense gives up a lot of yards every year.
 
HawkForce said:
When was the last time we had a "good" defense that could get itself off the field quickly? 2004? Lets not kid ourselves our defense gives up a lot of yards every year.
Click to expand...

Wrong.

2008: 12th in total defense
2009: 10th in total defense
2010: 25th in total defense (this is just to show the comparison, because last year the defense did struggle getting off the field at times)

And the 08/09 defenses both allowed fewer yards than the 2004 unit. We've finished in the top 25 in total defense 6 out of the past 10 years, and most of those were top 15 seasons. Our defense doesn't give away yards as much as people like to believe. We struggle against the teams like NW and Indiana, who take what we give them, and nothing more. Everyone else will try to force a couple deep balls, which usually end up in our hands.
 
JonDMiller said:
I dont know why people are fixated on yards. The games are defined by points
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Jon I know that but a defense that gives up a lot of yards means it is on the field a lot....thus allowing less time for their own offense to score. And fewer possesions/scoring chances.
 
Thats how I view it...the d's number one goal should be get the ball back as quickly as possible without giving up points.
 
HawkForce said:
Jon I know that but a defense that gives up a lot of yards means it is on the field a lot....thus allowing less time for their own offense to score. And fewer possesions/scoring chances.
Click to expand...

But Iowa isn't a team that gives up a lot of yards, so its a non-issue.
 
HawkForce said:
Jon I know that but a defense that gives up a lot of yards means it is on the field a lot....thus allowing less time for their own offense to score. And fewer possesions/scoring chances.
Click to expand...

As you can see, Iowa's number of plays per game so far this year is on par with where they have been for much of the Ferentz era.

However, this year's defense is allowing more points on the board...so the pressure on the offense to be more productive with a similar number of plays is higher.
 
Even the best Iowa defenses, we've used the term 'bend don't break'. Iowa's scheme demands the opponent to be patient and take the underneath stuff and be able to complete those passes consistently...some can do it some of the time between the 20's but you run out of room in the redzone...

Of course, that has been predicated with pressure on the QB with four and stopping the run...this year is a departure from the norm.
 
HawkForce said:
Debateable especially this year
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This year, sure. Most years, no. 6 of the last 10 years we've been in the top 25 in total defense, and we've routinely been in the top 15 in scoring defense. But keep ignoring the facts that were just laid out in front of you. I'm sure that's more fun.
 
HawkForce said:
When was the last time we had a "good" defense that could get itself off the field quickly? 2004? Lets not kid ourselves our defense gives up a lot of yards every year.
Click to expand...

You are suggesting that the defense operates in a vacuum here. It does not.

Iowa's offenses has more often than not been in the lower third in the nation in production during the last decade or so. Their ability to move the chains and give the defense some rest, or lack there of, certainly has an effect on the defense's ability to do this later in games.

Last year was the perfect example.

Through 8 games, Iowa's offense was converting 51% third downs and the defense was allowing just 32% third down conversions. Then last four regular season games, after the offense lost Gettis, MacMillan and Robinson, the offense converted just 31% of its third downs and the defense's third down conversions allowed swelled to 51%.
 
JonDMiller said:
Plays per game:

2010: 62
2009: 65
2008: 64
2007: 67.
2006: 65
2005: 65
2004: 67
2003: 65
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Thanks for digging those up, Jon. Now that I see the continuity with previous years, I'm struck by the fact that Iowa's improved offense isn't correlated at all with the number of plays run. I'd expect that the number of plays would have gone up this year, as we seem to be moving the ball much more effectively (especially through the air), but they haven't. In fact, some of our most explosive games have seen the least number of plays run (obviously Pitt is the outlier there). Second, it's bizarre to me that this offense is relatively mediocre in third down % (44%) and so good in every other category. If we could just get a little bit better on third down, we could be running 70+ plays/game, and I think it would take a lot of pressure of our defense. It wouldn't hurt, that's for sure.
 
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