Early, but let's do it now

[AppSt94]

I actually don't think "inexperienced QB" is this automatic death knell some of y'all seem to think it is. The days of grooming a young QB for 3-4 years and hoping he thrives by the time he's a junior are long gone. You see freshman QBs excelling all over the country at every level, from national title contenders to that guy in Conway.

Ryan Burger has been in our program for a year and a half. By all accounts, the coaches love him. Absolutely no reason, if their assessment is correct, that he can't play great THIS year.

If it's Aguilar, well, he will have won the job, and he's a juco. That's the whole reason you bring in a juco - because he's game-ready.

Personally, I'm more concerned about the safeties and offensive tackles than I am about QB.

The issue at safety should be corrected both with personnel and some shifting of roles. As for OT, we have 4 guys there currently. Ramsey and Samuel are out there learning and we have experience in Bucky Williams and Daley that can move outside if needed. You typically need 8-9 guys that you can depend on at some level along the OL. You’ve got 5. It’s time for Lindsay and Seth Williams to step it up. One of those two and a couple between Murphy, Gentry, Scroggs, Ridolph, and Sweatt assert themselves then you have what you need.

[t4pizza]

Ponce making the calls on 3rd-4th and short will be the difference

We were 38% on third down last year.
36% in 2021 with Ponce calling the plays.
51% in 2020 with the guy no one liked.

Maybe the drop off can be attributed to the QB. We shall see.

Those are really scary numbers. Hard to believe that we converted a higher percentage of third downs last year than we did under Ponce.

[hapapp]

Ponce making the calls on 3rd-4th and short will be the difference

We were 38% on third down last year.
36% in 2021 with Ponce calling the plays.
51% in 2020 with the guy no one liked.

Maybe the drop off can be attributed to the QB. We shall see.

Those are really scary numbers. Hard to believe that we converted a higher percentage of third downs last year than we did under Ponce.

Of course, we had 42 more first downs in 2021 than we did in 2022.

[EastHallApp]

Ponce making the calls on 3rd-4th and short will be the difference

We were 38% on third down last year.
36% in 2021 with Ponce calling the plays.
51% in 2020 with the guy no one liked.

Maybe the drop off can be attributed to the QB. We shall see.

Those are really scary numbers. Hard to believe that we converted a higher percentage of third downs last year than we did under Ponce.

Wonder how our yardage on first and second down compared over those three years? Were all those third down rates roughly comparable, or did some years face more third-and-longs than others?

[Yosef84]

We didn't struggle with third down overall as much as we struggled with third and short this past season. We seemed to do better if we had at least 3rd and 5 or more, or that's my recalleciton.

[AppSt94]

Ponce making the calls on 3rd-4th and short will be the difference

We were 38% on third down last year.
36% in 2021 with Ponce calling the plays.
51% in 2020 with the guy no one liked.

Maybe the drop off can be attributed to the QB. We shall see.

Those are really scary numbers. Hard to believe that we converted a higher percentage of third downs last year than we did under Ponce.

Wonder how our yardage on first and second down compared over those three years? Were all those third down rates roughly comparable, or did some years face more third-and-longs than others?

Here is what it looked like in 2021. I’ll dig into 2022 this weekend.

So I spent a few days going through the drive charts. I charted every third down play and the results. Along with the fourth down plays I may have missed a few but the overall data should support what we are asking.

Short Yardage (1-3)
43 attempts (Rushing converted 17-32 53%) (Passing 9-11 82%)
We attempted 11 4th downs (R- 7 of 8: P 1-3) 3 FG, 2 Punts, 1 missed FG

Medium Yardage (4-7)
68 attempts (R 9-16, 31%: P 19-49, 38%).
10 4th Down attempts. (R 3-4; P 2-6) One of those passing conversions resulted in a fumble after making the line to gain.

Long Yardage (>7)
70 attempts. (R 5-31 16%; P 11-39 28%)
9 4th Down attempts. (R 4-5; P 3-4)
Those 9 attempts involved 3 attempts in the short range, 3 in the medium range and 3 in the long range. Interestingly enough, the two failed conversions were a 9 yrd pass and a 1 yard Run.

[Black Saturday]

How could we have avoided the inexperienced QB?

(#*#& )(*&^!^)(_*&^!!

[Saint3333]

Ponce making the calls on 3rd-4th and short will be the difference

Is this the defender of Clark’s calls of 4th down last year? Who hacked you?

[WVAPPeer]

I was a defender of Coach Clark - not a defender of all his calls

[Stonewall]

Dominant the LOS and we will be more than fine.

[The Rock]

Dominant the LOS and we will be more than fine.

defensively, we have added pieces to help that. Offensively, I'm not sure yet

[AppSt94]

How could we have avoided the inexperienced QB?

(#*#& )(*&^!^)(_*&^!!

?

[BambooRdApp]

How could we have avoided the inexperienced QB?

(#*#& )(*&^!^)(_*&^!!

?

Quantum Physics equation

[AppSt94]

How could we have avoided the inexperienced QB?

(#*#& )(*&^!^)(_*&^!!

?

Quantum Physics equation

That makes sense.

[App4that]

Ponce making the calls on 3rd-4th and short will be the difference

We were 38% on third down last year.
36% in 2021 with Ponce calling the plays.
51% in 2020 with the guy no one liked.

Maybe the drop off can be attributed to the QB. We shall see.

Those are really scary numbers. Hard to believe that we converted a higher percentage of third downs last year than we did under Ponce.

To beat the proverbial dead horse, not every down is created equal, or has the same impact on the outcome of the game. The problem with standalone statistics to me is that they cannot capture the overall implication of Mo, timing and setup of previous and future plays, (or in this case) how many 3rd downs didn't need to be played, etc. etc. No matter how much I want them to work that way. I get that this is true for each group of statistics, coaches, players, and schedules to the point that it all mixes together enough to be "comparable". I just break my head every game and on this board thinking "well we SHOULD win this one based on X". Guess that's why we actually play the games and don't just do it on paper.

Let's hope it's a combo of the coach and the QB and that we have the right mix this year to break 50% again!

[Saint3333]

I was a defender of Coach Clark - not a defender of all his calls

Me too buddy.

[AppSt94]

I was a defender of Coach Clark - not a defender of all his calls

Me too buddy.

I just got a chill. Ya’ll agree?

[Black Saturday]

How could we have avoided the inexperienced QB?

(#*#& )(*&^!^)(_*&^!!

?

Quantum Physics equation

That makes sense.

NO, just a poor attempt at cursing about about the QB situation.

[AppSt94]

(#*#& )(*&^!^)(_*&^!!

?

Quantum Physics equation

That makes sense.

NO, just a poor attempt at cursing about about the QB situation.

That works too. I don’t think we are in a bad spot at QB. There will surely be some short term pains but that should lead to some long term gains.

[TurfMonkey]

What's acceptable for this season?
Make me proud, win or lose with class. Give 'em Hell Apps!
Scott