While CJ has breathed some optimism into the season and we are sitting at 3-1 against one of the easiest non-conference schedules in recent memory, a quick look at our Big 10 statistical standings is alarming given that this is a veteran squad who was expected to contend for a Big 10 West title.
While many want to blame all of our woes on shaky quarterback play, statistics show that the whole team has underachieved thus far. Prior to the season, wouldn't everyone on this board have predicted that our running game, scoring offense, total defense, punt returns, etc. would have been in the top 1/3rd of our relatively weak conference at this point in the season? I sure would have thought we would rise to the top...especially when we have been playing Ball State while others have played against Oregon, Va Tech, LSU, etc. Instead, here is where we currently stack up going into Big 10 play:
Scoring Offense: 13th (four conference peers average TWICE as many points as us per game)
Total Offense: 11th (despite returning starting QB, RBs, all American OL, leading WR)
Punt Returns: 11th (wasnt Martin Manly something like 11th in the entire nation last yr?)
Sacks By Defense: 7th (we have a first round draft pick on the DL, plus Ott and Trinca Passat)
Sacks Given Up: 6th (OL is presumably our strength and our passing game consists of very quick short passes)
Total Defense: 7th (isn't this where we usually shine?)
We are not in the top 25% of the conference in any statistical category other than 4th down conversions and penalties, where we are 3rd in both.
The stats make clear that while we are feeling pretty good about our 3 close wins this year, we still have "a lot of things to clean up." Let's hope that this squad is one of Ferentz's patented slow starters who improves big time by the second half of the season. The way our schedule shakes out, this team can still make some post-season noise.
While many want to blame all of our woes on shaky quarterback play, statistics show that the whole team has underachieved thus far. Prior to the season, wouldn't everyone on this board have predicted that our running game, scoring offense, total defense, punt returns, etc. would have been in the top 1/3rd of our relatively weak conference at this point in the season? I sure would have thought we would rise to the top...especially when we have been playing Ball State while others have played against Oregon, Va Tech, LSU, etc. Instead, here is where we currently stack up going into Big 10 play:
Scoring Offense: 13th (four conference peers average TWICE as many points as us per game)
Total Offense: 11th (despite returning starting QB, RBs, all American OL, leading WR)
Punt Returns: 11th (wasnt Martin Manly something like 11th in the entire nation last yr?)
Sacks By Defense: 7th (we have a first round draft pick on the DL, plus Ott and Trinca Passat)
Sacks Given Up: 6th (OL is presumably our strength and our passing game consists of very quick short passes)
Total Defense: 7th (isn't this where we usually shine?)
We are not in the top 25% of the conference in any statistical category other than 4th down conversions and penalties, where we are 3rd in both.
The stats make clear that while we are feeling pretty good about our 3 close wins this year, we still have "a lot of things to clean up." Let's hope that this squad is one of Ferentz's patented slow starters who improves big time by the second half of the season. The way our schedule shakes out, this team can still make some post-season noise.
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