425-285= Superbowl

[Avenging Hayseed]

Thats what the numbers look like to me. After factoring in what I believe our offensive players will contribute this season, I can easily see us putting up around 425 as an offense.
Tricky part is gonna be getting those defensive numbers down to allowing around 285 points on the season. VERY hopeful we can achieve those numbers for several reasons. First of all by running the ball around 28 times a game, those runs are going to have a positive impact on every aspect of the team.

1....The all important field position game within a game. Field position is HUGE. If you can force the other team to have long drives while you yourself are having to drive a shorter distance only good things can come of it.

2...Controlling the clock....Been saying this the last 2 years. Clock management is the one thing we have REALLY been missing. Have to get that T O P up to around 32/33 minutes a game. Keeps our defense fresh and wears the other teams defense down. A STRONG run game tends to have a cumulative effect on an opposing defense. Remember the 90's? You pound a defense enuff, ANY defense, by the time the 4th comes around they are ready to roll over and cry uncle. This also gives us the ability to hit the big play against a tired defense thats had the ball rammed down their throats all day. GOTTA LOVE that playaction stuff!

3...Running the ball more should also mean LESS turnovers.

4...Which................Helps our special teams, back to that whole field position thing again...LOL


I believe, heck....anyone with a brain would have to believe that special teams were one of our biggest problems last season. The coverage units were putrid. CONSTANTLY allowing the opposing offense to play on a short field and putting our defense in a huge hole. This is a big reason why im a huge fan of the draft we had, the new S.T coach and emphisis on better special teams, and the new kick off specialist.

28 runs per game with a T O P around 32 minutes or so. THAT right there will be the difference. Over the coarse of a season it will become THEE difference. We do THAT and we end up with around 425 points scored and 285 points allowed which should equal the goal we all have.......Getting back the trophy that is RIGHTFULLY OURS!

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

To say nothing of the fact that the players are now in year 3 of the Phillips 34. That experience, plus the fact that I believe our defensive backfield has been greatly improved should push our defense to greater heights this season. I also believe we will be seeing more and more of Wades version of the 46 this year. Last year we were using it more and more as the season wore on with great success.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Thats what the numbers look like to me. After factoring in what I believe our offensive players will contribute this season, I can easily see us putting up around 425 as an offense.
Tricky part is gonna be getting those defensive numbers down to allowing around 285 points on the season. VERY hopeful we can achieve those numbers for several reasons. First of all by running the ball around 28 times a game, those runs are going to have a positive impact on every aspect of the team.

1....The all important field position game within a game. Field position is HUGE. If you can force the other team to have long drives while you yourself are having to drive a shorter distance only good things can come of it.

2...Controlling the clock....Been saying this the last 2 years. Clock management is the one thing we have REALLY been missing. Have to get that T O P up to around 32/33 minutes a game. Keeps our defense fresh and wears the other teams defense down. A STRONG run game tends to have a cumulative effect on an opposing defense. Remember the 90's? You pound a defense enuff, ANY defense, by the time the 4th comes around they are ready to roll over and cry uncle. This also gives us the ability to hit the big play against a tired defense thats had the ball rammed down their throats all day. GOTTA LOVE that playaction stuff!

3...Running the ball more should also mean LESS turnovers.

4...Which................Helps our special teams, back to that whole field position thing again...LOL


I believe, heck....anyone with a brain would have to believe that special teams were one of our biggest problems last season. The coverage units were putrid. CONSTANTLY allowing the opposing offense to play on a short field and putting our defense in a huge hole. This is a big reason why im a huge fan of the draft we had, the new S.T coach and emphisis on better special teams, and the new kick off specialist.

28 runs per game with a T O P around 32 minutes or so. THAT right there will be the difference. Over the coarse of a season it will become THEE difference. We do THAT and we end up with around 425 points scored and 285 points allowed which should equal the goal we all have.......Getting back the trophy that is RIGHTFULLY OURS!

Great post and I agree with pretty much all of the analysis. TOP is indeed important, but as long as you're scoring points, I dont care too much.

The thing with me is turnovers. If we can be more efficient and not turn the ball over that will help our defense more than anything.

But overall you nailed it.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

I believe we are now only TWO players away from having every position filled and being a COMPLETE TEAM. Luckily one of those guys is a rotation guy,"backup nosetackle", and the other guy is a bench player "backup center". Both should be fairly easy to pick up with the priority IMO being the backup nose tackle. Think i'd go ahead and look for a plugger type, one of those 6-3 325 pound guys that at the VERY least can come in and plug the run. Doesnt have to be a star player, no need for that, someone we could pickup for a 4th or more likely a fifth round draft pick would be just fine. TUFFGUY TYPE that knows his role. As far as backup center goes think I would just go ahead and look for a VET, aging vet type that gets cut in training camp. A veteran that KNOWS whats going on. Bring someone like that in to AT LEAST compete with Proctor. May the best man win. Next season we draft a center, Have to. 3rd rounder will do.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I believe we are now only TWO players away from having every position filled and being a COMPLETE TEAM. Luckily one of those guys is a rotation guy,"backup nosetackle", and the other guy is a bench player "backup center". Both should be fairly easy to pick up with the priority IMO being the backup nose tackle. Think i'd go ahead and look for a plugger type, one of those 6-3 325 pound guys that at the VERY least can come in and plug the run. Doesnt have to be a star player, no need for that, someone we could pickup for a 4th or more likely a fifth round draft pick would be just fine. TUFFGUY TYPE that knows his role. As far as backup center goes think I would just go ahead and look for a VET, aging vet type that gets cut in training camp. A veteran that KNOWS whats going on. Bring someone like that in to AT LEAST compete with Proctor. May the best man win. Next season we draft a center, Have to. 3rd rounder will do.

I know its "progress stoppers" but I'm all for the vet approach. They know the game, others can learn from them, and they dont make mental mistakes.

It's worked for Belichick and gotten him multiple rings. I say follow his lead.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

I know its "progress stoppers" but I'm all for the vet approach. They know the game, others can learn from them, and they dont make mental mistakes.

It's worked for Belichick and gotten him multiple rings. I say follow his lead.

Yep! Right on. Thing is....If we were to bring in the nose tackle and center were not really stopping any progress anyway. Right now we have basically NOTHING behind Ratliff at nose tackle besides a guy who hasnt even played in a couple years. And when he did play he didnt do anything...LOL CANT let that go unaddressed. At backup center I think Proctor is actually a very good technician. Think he's plenty smart too. He just doesnt have the functional strength to hold up is all. Everyone is different, sometimes it doesnt matter how much you put into it you are only gonna get just so strong. I believe thats Proctors problem. Shame too, because like I say, I believe he plays a fairly smart game and knows how to use his leverage. Just not quite strong enuff down in his base is all.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

Actually, if I remember right, Proctor normally graded out fairly high whenever he played. He KNEW what to do and when to do it. Just doesnt have enuff strength to be all that effective at it.

 

[jazzcat22]

I still would hope for a little bit better scoring defense than 285. At 17.8 points a game, I feel that needs to be a few points lower. Because if you want a grind it out offense, consume time. Then you will be sacrificing points. So 26.5 points per game may be a little high. That is only a 2 score difference, for a late end of game rally.

That is my thought off the top of my head, without really thinking too hard about it [on lunch time]. Are there any stats out there [which really only mean what you want to interpret them as to sway people a certain way] that correlates time of possession to points scored, offense and defense.

Anyway , good post and can bring out all the stats oriented posters.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Getting back the trophy that is RIGHTFULLY OURS!

I won't disagree with that.