Friday, October 07, 2016

25 Questions...Here Kitty, kitty, kitty

What is their body of work?

I'm no one to judge
OU is a consistently strong MAC team that seems to get a key injury every November and lose the East, lately to BG.  They are 2-2 this year.  On the plus side is a win @Kansas, There was also a competitive loss to Tennessee and a 3-OT lost to Texas State, surely the game they would want to get back if they could. I'd say they are the East favorites at this point.

How many seniors and juniors on the two-deep?

They have 29, which is hardly a pretty veteran team.

Who are their statistical leaders?

Louie Zervos is #1 in FG/game.
Blake Banham is #15 in Kickoff returns
Austin Barnes is #7 in punting
Ian Eriksen is #17 in rushing TDs

What is their turnover ratio?

They are +7 for the year, which is really good.

Offense:


 How is their QB play?

They had some uncertainty about QB, with Vick graduating and Ed Sprague leaving the program during Fall camp.  Their QB is Greg Windham, a SR from Tampa.  OU has never been a team that comples only 54% at 10.8 yards per recepetion, neither of which is great.  He has 7 TDs over 2 INT, which is much better.
1906 OU Football Team.
has relied on a true DB passing QB, and he is consistent with the tradition.  He is #8 in the MAC in passing efficiency but is their leading rusher.  He

What is their scoring and yards per play?

They are 6th in the MAC in scoring and 9th in yards per play--all those turnovers are a great way to maximize your yardage.  Not a great offensive team but almost doubling BG's per game output for the season.

Can they run the ball?

They are 5th in yards per game, but they run a lot.  Yards per carry, they are 7th...and actually a tick less than EMU, who ran the ball on BG.

Do they pass the ball?

As noted, they are in low aveage in the MAC in pass efficiency.  They have two strong WRs, one of whom--Sebastia Smith--averages 16 yards per reception.

How is their run/pass balance?

They run on 54% of their plays, which is a little above average.

Do they convert on 3rd Down?

They are at 37%, which is in the middle of the MAC.

Do they score in the red zone?

They are very poor in the red zone, which is why Zervos leads the nation in FGs.  They get only 4.3 yards per trip, which is 13 TDs in 30 red zone trips.

1968 Peden Stadium...Hocking over its banks
Did they protect the quarterback?

Very much.  Probably mostly protected due to play selection, but they allow sacks on only 3% of their passing attempts.


Defense:

Topline: Scoring and yards per play.

They are a much better defensive team and very dangerous on this front.  They are 4th in points allowed and tied for 3rd in yards per play allowed.

Do they defend the run effectively?

They are very, very good.  They are first in the MAC in yards per carry allowed.  EMU had a good run defense as well, and BG ran on them and they will need to Saturday.

Can they be passed on?

This is their weaker link.  They are 9th in passing defense efficiency.  They allow 66% completions (same as BG, last in the MAC), at 11 yards per catch.  They are tied for the MAC lead with 6 INT.

Do they get off the field on 3rd down?

They are 6th in the MAC, so pretty average.

Do they defend in the red zone?

They do not, they are at 5.9 points per trip.

Do they pressure the QB?

Yes.   Yes they do.  They get a sack on 11% of their passing attempts, which is just sick.  BG is going to have that line tuned up big time.  It is an issue on its own, plus you don't want your FR QB getting hit.
Respect
Special Teams:

Punting?


They are good--4th in the MAC in net punting.  They have allowed -5 return yards.

Punt Return?

They are 10th, about 3 yards per return.

Placekicking?

He's 14 of 17, with 12 of 14 inside 40 and 2 of 3 outside 40.  Long of 46.

Kickoff?

Opponents start on the 29, which is not good.

Kickoff Return?

They start on the 25, which is pretty average.

Miscellaneous: Overall atmospherics and intangibles.

Not great, Bob.  BG has won 17 straight East games.  It is looking like they're going to need to run the table again to get anything done and I'd say it isn't looking like there's a very good chance of that happening. A big question isn't stats...where is BG's head?  Are the Falcons still grinding, or are they starting to question things.  Is there dissension on the team?  Meanwhile, OU has to be feeling like they're usually one step short.  I'm worried they come out and are ready to go.

They aren't a great offensive team, which works in our favor, since we are not a great defensive team.  They key will be the offense, as it has been all year.  BG's only shot to win is to get first downs and score some points...avoiding sacks and picks, which they specialize in.  If BG's defense is left to save it as they were against EMU, they might hold out for a while but they can't do it for a whole game.

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