Reception totals compared to last season
by Thomas Walker Esq on Oct 20, 2010 3:46 PM CDT
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As we've established, we've had some problems in the passing game this year. I'm not trying to examine the moral or ethical source of said problems, just looking at some data. Like many others here, I was concerned at the beginning of the season with not only replacing Colin Peek, but creating some balance and versatility in the throwing game. With that said, I took a look at reception totals through the first seven games of both this season and last year's.
Thus far this season, Greg McElroy, AJ McCarron, and Marquis Maze (that one was beautiful) have completed 129 passes, 77 to wide receivers, 31 to running backs, and 21 to tight ends. Since everyone loves a chart:
Through 7 games last season, Greg completed 113 passes, 51 to receivers, 38 to backs, and 24 to tight ends. Chart:
Receivers have grabbed 60% of the receptions this season, compared to 45% last year.
Tight ends have account for 16%, compared to 21% last season.
The backs, who had caught almost 34% of the receptions through the Carolilna game last year, have dropped to 24% this season.
The absence of Terry Grant and Roy Upchurch, as well as Colin Peek, could be playing a role here, but from these numbers it appears that we have made a more conscious attempt to get the ball to our playmakers on the outside. What say you, RBR Nation?
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Well Done....I recently saw someone lamenting the loss of Colin Peek....
which made me wonder really, what is the true difference and it’s pretty close, plus it’s overall a nice + in the numbers.
Bama's Pluck and Grit have Writ Her Name in Crimson Flame
Preston Dial has
more thabn adequately replaced Colin Peek from a pass catching viewpoint and his blocking at the point of attack is better than Peek’s – I think. He has been playing well.
While we have thrown the ball more
I think the issue about which many of us have been concerned is the number of vertical/downfield attempts. It’s a well-documented fact that most of our attempts are under ten yards. We do seem to live and die with screens to the backs and wide receivers and safety valve passes. We rarely work the middle of the field and we rarely attempt throws between 10 and 20 yards and 20+ yards. 20+ yard throws are low percentage passes, but they’re valuable because they force defenses to adjust.
We don’t need to go the Lamonica, Coryell, and ‘99 Ram’s route, but I think future success will come down to vertical passing as it did last year against Virginia Tech, Arkansas, LSU, and Florida. Those were our best offensive games in 2009 and it’s not a coincidence that we hit some big vertical throws in each of those games. Even backs like Ingram and Richardson will be hard-pressed to consistently gain yards against loaded fronts and run blitzes.
Colin Peek’s loss is a big one, since a good tight end has a speed advantage over most linebackers and a size advantage over defensive backs. He also can access the middle of the field at 10+ yards, and those crossing and seam routes are easier to complete than vertical throws outside. This is one of the reasons Saban is so adamant about taking away the middle of the field and forcing teams to go vertical. Even if your receiver can beat the defensive back, the quarterback is still forced to make a low percentage throw and a completion is not a given.
I suspect we’ll come back to this as necessary. We brought it back against LSU last year. I think we’ll bring it back against them again this year.
"Open your mouth again and I'll nail it shut." Henriques, COMMANDO (1985).
always appreciate your perspective
wasn’t trying to include yardage (bubble screens and short slants vs. downfield throws), just seeing where our qb’s have been looking this year (made the assumption that receptions have directly related to targets in a loose sense). It does seem like we’re trying to get the ball to outside/downfield to all our receivers as opposed to the tight end slants and wheel routes to back from last year. I’d say that’s due to improved route running and separation-creation™ from our receiving corps. It’s also worth noting that Preston Dial seems to be the first checkdown from Julio when we pass in the red zone.
"Fortune, as they call her, is a drunken and capricious woman and, worse still, blind; and so she doesn’t see what she’s doing, and doesn’t know whom she is casting down or raising up." - Gary Crowton to Les Miles
by Thomas Walker Esq on Oct 20, 2010 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
After watching Saban coach us for a while now
I get the feeling that he’s one of those coaches who’s only going to use as much as he needs. You know what I’m saying? I think he’s always going to hold back as much as possible.
It’s clear he doesn’t care about the score (as long as we’re winning) because he’ll sit on a lead and play so conservatively. It works well so we can’t fault it. But I would expect to see some new stuff in time for LSU and Auburn.
"Open your mouth again and I'll nail it shut." Henriques, COMMANDO (1985).
I would expect to see some new stuff in time for LSU and Auburn
good lord i sure hope that’s true and honestly i have been thinking the same. i wouldn’t say saban/mcelwain have been holding back per se but yes we sat on the big leads in some and had to battle back from the unexpected holes we dug in others. neither of those types of games would appear to be the ones where you would open up the playbook.
"You have to create 6 seconds of hell each play..."
Coach Nick Saban
I have been wondering
if maybe they weren’t holding back some. Although, if that is the case, they have been taking big chances in doing so. Maybe it is a new plan in The Process.
Losing doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder. – Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
by BamaGirlinDallas on Oct 21, 2010 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
The only issue I have with
this idea of ‘holding something back’, is that I would have quit ‘holding’ it and put it on the field during our USC butt whipping. Traditionally, you only hold back things when you are winning the game and don’t need it. If they had a play (or scheme) to try, I can’t think of a better time than in the second half against USC. IMHO.
"I have tried to teach them to show class, to have pride, and to display character. I think football, winning games, takes care of itself if you do that." -Paul W. Bryant
by JokerBama on Oct 21, 2010 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The running game was working at this time last year...
and didn’t have to pass as much. And we had the advantage of a killer D that kept us from having to score a bunch of points quickly via the pass.
I’ll bitch a bunch this Saturday if McElwain decides to get away from the run in the first couple of offensive series. Give the 2 best backs in the country a fighting chance!
"...we have not seen anything what we think they can do when there so menny thing we have not seen out of this team, we will seen a lot more in this game buyt still not all." - RBR forum sage, sburton305.
GMac's arm is getting shorter.
Unity begins with the understanding that everyone is different and to accept them as such. - Confucius
I agree that a few DEEP catches will get D on its heels in no time.
But one player (I cannot recall whom) said that teams have been playing a safety deep/middle, making such a pass risky. CNS won’t allow Mac to take such a gamble. We can wish/hope, but we just don’t have such a QB.
Charles Martel, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Raymond IV the Count of Toulouse, Godfrey of Bouillon, Baldwin of Boulogne, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, St. Joan of Arc and Napoleon Bonaparte -- all of good stock.
by TiderUpNorth on Oct 20, 2010 6:01 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
"a safety"
so like, they’re playing cover 1 against us and Saban wont let GMAC pass into that? dear god i hope that is not the case…
In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem
take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck
by tempebamafan on Oct 20, 2010 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I just want attempts to go vertical
Look just the threat of going deep makes defenses second guess loading the box. Games like USC make me nuts, there is no reason a decent QB can’t find somebody deep after 10 seconds in the pocket. I never thought I would be saying this, but if GMAC won’t do it then we need someone who will at least try to get the ball down field or at least throw the stupid thing in the stands.
Another thing that almost cost me a television is when you run the ball 70 yards downfield on the back of Ingram and then when you’re in the red zone you start throwing the ball. Maybe we should remind McElwain that he has the best running back duo in the country, stop getting away from what got you to the red zone to begin with.
I know I just contradicted myself but its late and I am tired and it makes cents to me.
Nice stuff, TWE
I am beginning to think these numbers will get larger next year. AJ and Philip are gunslingers, so, it only stands to reason that we’ll be more of a vertical threat.
"...because you've got your mind right, and that's the way we like it." Nick Saban
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