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Crunching some NFL numbers
By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 6, 2008
A statistical packet roughly the size of Charlie Weis' superiority complex is made available to reporters every Tuesday at the Steelers' South Side practice facility.
Cleverly titled "NFL STATS," it reveals, among other things, that Carolina's Rhys Lloyd has more touchbacks (22) than any kicker in the league and that Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has by far the highest fourth-quarter passer rating (133.8).
Some people are bored with such numbers.
The rest of us can't get enough.
A few days ago, I combed through the blessed, 89-page packet the way Bill Belichick might break down a game tape.
Which is to say, thoroughly.
• Three Things I Couldn't Believe:
1. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has thrown 104 interception-free third-down passes, the only quarterback in the league who hasn't been picked off on third down (and it's not like he's dinking and dunking downfield; he has completed 66.3 percent of his third-down passes for 1,032 yards and nine touchdowns).
2. The Houston Texans gain more yards per first down (6.51) than any team in the NFL (it's all those other downs, apparently, that give the Texans so much trouble).
3. The Detroit Lions are second in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage (66.7 percent). Of course, they've only made 21 trips to the red zone, second-fewest in the league to St. Louis, which has an atrocious, NFL-worst TD percentage of 26.3.
• Three Things That Made a Whole Bunch of Sense:
1. Indianapolis has the best third-down conversion rate (49 percent) in the league (must have something to do with that Manning guy).
2. The Steelers are the only team that surrenders less than 4 yards per first-down play (3.99). They also lead the league in seven of the 12 defensive categories listed.
3. The Baltimore Ravens have the best third-down defense (30.3 percent) and a remarkably efficient fourth-down defense. Opponents have converted just 1 of 12 fourth-down attempts, or 8.3 percent. No other team is close.
• Three Things I Found Mildly Surprising:
1. Tennessee's bulldozer back, Lendale White, has the longest run in the league this season (80 yards).
2. The Cleveland Browns are actually good at something, tied for fifth in the NFL in giveaway/takeaway at plus-5 (obviously, that stat doesn't always equate to winning).
3. Texans rookie Steve Slaton is one of only two runners among the NFL's top 25 averaging 5 yards per carry. Slaton's at 5.0; the Giants' Brandon Jacobs is at 5.1.
• Three Things That Left Me Downright Perplexed:
1. How could Indianapolis' diminutive Dominic Rhodes be 5 for 5 on third-and-1 runs, while the 264-pound Jacobs is a sickly 4 for 9?
2. How is it that AFC punters have only had one punt blocked, compared to nine for NFC punters?
3. How did Clifton Smith not get drafted? The 5-foot-8 former Fresno State running back was rated by some the best kick-return prospect in the draft and has lived up to that billing -- as a free agent in Tampa Bay. Smith leads the league in kick-return average (29.5), is second only to some guy named Reggie Bush in punt-return average (17.6) and has taken one of each to the house.
Think the Steelers could have used him?
Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com.
By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 6, 2008
A statistical packet roughly the size of Charlie Weis' superiority complex is made available to reporters every Tuesday at the Steelers' South Side practice facility.
Cleverly titled "NFL STATS," it reveals, among other things, that Carolina's Rhys Lloyd has more touchbacks (22) than any kicker in the league and that Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has by far the highest fourth-quarter passer rating (133.8).
Some people are bored with such numbers.
The rest of us can't get enough.
A few days ago, I combed through the blessed, 89-page packet the way Bill Belichick might break down a game tape.
Which is to say, thoroughly.
• Three Things I Couldn't Believe:
1. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has thrown 104 interception-free third-down passes, the only quarterback in the league who hasn't been picked off on third down (and it's not like he's dinking and dunking downfield; he has completed 66.3 percent of his third-down passes for 1,032 yards and nine touchdowns).
2. The Houston Texans gain more yards per first down (6.51) than any team in the NFL (it's all those other downs, apparently, that give the Texans so much trouble).
3. The Detroit Lions are second in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage (66.7 percent). Of course, they've only made 21 trips to the red zone, second-fewest in the league to St. Louis, which has an atrocious, NFL-worst TD percentage of 26.3.
• Three Things That Made a Whole Bunch of Sense:
1. Indianapolis has the best third-down conversion rate (49 percent) in the league (must have something to do with that Manning guy).
2. The Steelers are the only team that surrenders less than 4 yards per first-down play (3.99). They also lead the league in seven of the 12 defensive categories listed.
3. The Baltimore Ravens have the best third-down defense (30.3 percent) and a remarkably efficient fourth-down defense. Opponents have converted just 1 of 12 fourth-down attempts, or 8.3 percent. No other team is close.
• Three Things I Found Mildly Surprising:
1. Tennessee's bulldozer back, Lendale White, has the longest run in the league this season (80 yards).
2. The Cleveland Browns are actually good at something, tied for fifth in the NFL in giveaway/takeaway at plus-5 (obviously, that stat doesn't always equate to winning).
3. Texans rookie Steve Slaton is one of only two runners among the NFL's top 25 averaging 5 yards per carry. Slaton's at 5.0; the Giants' Brandon Jacobs is at 5.1.
• Three Things That Left Me Downright Perplexed:
1. How could Indianapolis' diminutive Dominic Rhodes be 5 for 5 on third-and-1 runs, while the 264-pound Jacobs is a sickly 4 for 9?
2. How is it that AFC punters have only had one punt blocked, compared to nine for NFC punters?
3. How did Clifton Smith not get drafted? The 5-foot-8 former Fresno State running back was rated by some the best kick-return prospect in the draft and has lived up to that billing -- as a free agent in Tampa Bay. Smith leads the league in kick-return average (29.5), is second only to some guy named Reggie Bush in punt-return average (17.6) and has taken one of each to the house.
Think the Steelers could have used him?
Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com.