Spiff's Spots of Observation and Other Statistical Nonsense

[SpiffCoug]

It's been a few weeks, but now that the regular season is over, here are some statistical thoughts from the final few games and a season as a whole.

• BYU allowed 29 points in its final four regular season games. For comparison, last year BYU gave up 74 in its final four games. The previous five years to that yielded totals of 65, 86, 64, 72 and 41 respectively.
• The Cougars lost just 6 fumbles in 2016. That's the fewest since losing just 4 in 2006. The 17 total giveaways are the fewest since 2006's 13 as well.
• The Defense force 29 turnovers, which are the most since forcing 34 in 2001. The 19 Cougar defensive interceptions is also the most since notching 21 in 2001.
• BYU ran 2,396 yards, which is currently the 3rd most since 1995. That total is 212 yards behind the 2nd most (1996), so eclipsing that season is not entirely out of the question with one game still to play.
• The 4.7 yards per rushing attempt is only bested by the 5.2 ypc set in 2013.
• The Cougars also averaged 8.5 points per game off of opponent turnovers. That is the most since a 9.9 points per game average in 2009.
• BYU also dominated in time of possession. The offense held the ball for 33:19 minutes on average, which is the most TOP on my tracker. It is also almost 4:30 more than last season.
• They won the TOP battle in 9 of 12 games, that is one more than the last two seasons combined.
• The offense was also improved at avoiding 3-&-outs. In 2016, they averaged one 3-&-out every 4.9 drives. The last two years that number was one every 3.6 drives.
• But everything was not good with the offense in 2016. The 14 touchdown passes were the fewest since throwing just 13 in 2003.
• BYU has not had 100 yard receiver in any game in 2016. Last year BYU had 8 such games. There were 8 such games in 2014 and 6 in 2013 and 9 in 2012 and 5 in 2011.
• BYU covered the spread in 9 of 12 games.
• Against Utah St, 7 of BYU's 26 1st Downs came via Utah St penalty. That's the most first downs by penalty since BYU gained 8 such penalties against Mississippi St all the way back in 2000.
• The Cougar defense was also quite stout. They held all 12 opponents below their season rushing averages and 10 of 12 teams below their scoring, total offense and passing efficiency offense.

Final Receiver Efficiency Rating
Balderee, TE, 199.89
Brown, RB, 166.11
Hall, RB, 165.03
Pearson, WR, 149.24
El-Bakri, RB, 148.46
Juergens, G, WR, 147.49
Trinnaman, WR, 140.63
Kurtz, WR, 129.11
Laulu-Pututau, WR, 124.87
Williams, RB, 120.10
Shumway, WR, 118.60
Marshall, TE, 115.37
Juergens, M, WR, 113.92
Hifo, WR, 69.84
Canada, RB, 59.80
Ficklin, TE, 58.40
Sampson, WR, 200.80 (1 target)
Tanner, WR, 142.00 (1 target)

RB, 130.17
WR, 127.58
TE, 154.32

[TulaneVandyRiceCoug]

Love it. I wonder if the bowl game does give the best rushing season above the 1996 season. The other stat that sticks out are the defensive turnovers. That has been amazing this year. I hope Kai gets another INT in the bowl.

[frdbtr]

It's been a few weeks, but now that the regular season is over, here are some statistical thoughts from the final few games and a season as a whole.

• BYU allowed 29 points in its final four regular season games. For comparison, last year BYU gave up 74 in its final four games. The previous five years to that yielded totals of 65, 86, 64, 72 and 41 respectively.
• The Cougars lost just 6 fumbles in 2016. That's the fewest since losing just 4 in 2006. The 17 total giveaways are the fewest since 2006's 13 as well.
• The Defense force 29 turnovers, which are the most since forcing 34 in 2001. The 19 Cougar defensive interceptions is also the most since notching 21 in 2001.
• BYU ran 2,396 yards, which is currently the 3rd most since 1995. That total is 212 yards behind the 2nd most (1996), so eclipsing that season is not entirely out of the question with one game still to play.
• The 4.7 yards per rushing attempt is only bested by the 5.2 ypc set in 2013.
• The Cougars also averaged 8.5 points per game off of opponent turnovers. That is the most since a 9.9 points per game average in 2009.
• BYU also dominated in time of possession. The offense held the ball for 33:19 minutes on average, which is the most TOP on my tracker. It is also almost 4:30 more than last season.
• They won the TOP battle in 9 of 12 games, that is one more than the last two seasons combined.
• The offense was also improved at avoiding 3-&-outs. In 2016, they averaged one 3-&-out every 4.9 drives. The last two years that number was one every 3.6 drives.
• But everything was not good with the offense in 2016. The 14 touchdown passes were the fewest since throwing just 13 in 2003.
• BYU has not had 100 yard receiver in any game in 2016. Last year BYU had 8 such games. There were 8 such games in 2014 and 6 in 2013 and 9 in 2012 and 5 in 2011.
• BYU covered the spread in 9 of 12 games.
• Against Utah St, 7 of BYU's 26 1st Downs came via Utah St penalty. That's the most first downs by penalty since BYU gained 8 such penalties against Mississippi St all the way back in 2000.
• The Cougar defense was also quite stout. They held all 12 opponents below their season rushing averages and 10 of 12 teams below their scoring, total offense and passing efficiency offense.

Final Receiver Efficiency Rating
Balderee, TE, 199.89
Brown, RB, 166.11
Hall, RB, 165.03
Pearson, WR, 149.24
El-Bakri, RB, 148.46
Juergens, G, WR, 147.49
Trinnaman, WR, 140.63
Kurtz, WR, 129.11
Laulu-Pututau, WR, 124.87
Williams, RB, 120.10
Shumway, WR, 118.60
Marshall, TE, 115.37
Juergens, M, WR, 113.92
Hifo, WR, 69.84
Canada, RB, 59.80
Ficklin, TE, 58.40
Sampson, WR, 200.80 (1 target)
Tanner, WR, 142.00 (1 target)

RB, 130.17
WR, 127.58
TE, 154.32

What I bolded and underlined is a very telling stat and is going to have to change next year or we are in serious trouble without Taysom's and Jamaal's legs to make up for poor receiver play.

[hawkwing]

One stat I've been thinking about and considering putting together, but haven't is points scored by the opponent on the opening drive vs all other drives.

I am not certain, but I believe BYU allowed points on 10 or 11 opening drives by opponents this year. But then got much more stingy.

[Brayden Green]

It's been a few weeks, but now that the regular season is over, here are some statistical thoughts from the final few games and a season as a whole.

• BYU allowed 29 points in its final four regular season games. For comparison, last year BYU gave up 74 in its final four games. The previous five years to that yielded totals of 65, 86, 64, 72 and 41 respectively.
• The Cougars lost just 6 fumbles in 2016. That's the fewest since losing just 4 in 2006. The 17 total giveaways are the fewest since 2006's 13 as well.
• The Defense force 29 turnovers, which are the most since forcing 34 in 2001. The 19 Cougar defensive interceptions is also the most since notching 21 in 2001.
• BYU ran 2,396 yards, which is currently the 3rd most since 1995. That total is 212 yards behind the 2nd most (1996), so eclipsing that season is not entirely out of the question with one game still to play.
• The 4.7 yards per rushing attempt is only bested by the 5.2 ypc set in 2013.
• The Cougars also averaged 8.5 points per game off of opponent turnovers. That is the most since a 9.9 points per game average in 2009.
• BYU also dominated in time of possession. The offense held the ball for 33:19 minutes on average, which is the most TOP on my tracker. It is also almost 4:30 more than last season.
• They won the TOP battle in 9 of 12 games, that is one more than the last two seasons combined.
• The offense was also improved at avoiding 3-&-outs. In 2016, they averaged one 3-&-out every 4.9 drives. The last two years that number was one every 3.6 drives.
• But everything was not good with the offense in 2016. The 14 touchdown passes were the fewest since throwing just 13 in 2003.
• BYU has not had 100 yard receiver in any game in 2016. Last year BYU had 8 such games. There were 8 such games in 2014 and 6 in 2013 and 9 in 2012 and 5 in 2011.
• BYU covered the spread in 9 of 12 games.
• Against Utah St, 7 of BYU's 26 1st Downs came via Utah St penalty. That's the most first downs by penalty since BYU gained 8 such penalties against Mississippi St all the way back in 2000.
• The Cougar defense was also quite stout. They held all 12 opponents below their season rushing averages and 10 of 12 teams below their scoring, total offense and passing efficiency offense.

Final Receiver Efficiency Rating
Balderee, TE, 199.89
Brown, RB, 166.11
Hall, RB, 165.03
Pearson, WR, 149.24
El-Bakri, RB, 148.46
Juergens, G, WR, 147.49
Trinnaman, WR, 140.63
Kurtz, WR, 129.11
Laulu-Pututau, WR, 124.87
Williams, RB, 120.10
Shumway, WR, 118.60
Marshall, TE, 115.37
Juergens, M, WR, 113.92
Hifo, WR, 69.84
Canada, RB, 59.80
Ficklin, TE, 58.40
Sampson, WR, 200.80 (1 target)
Tanner, WR, 142.00 (1 target)

RB, 130.17
WR, 127.58
TE, 154.32

What I bolded and underlined is a very telling stat and is going to have to change next year or we are in serious trouble without Taysom's and Jamaal's legs to make up for poor receiver play.

When we have a quarterback that hits receivers right when they make their breaks in stride, I think that number will change dramatically. We didn't have that this year. Taysom was making up for his poor throwing and poor oline play as much as "poor receiver play."

[frdbtr]

It's been a few weeks, but now that the regular season is over, here are some statistical thoughts from the final few games and a season as a whole.

• BYU allowed 29 points in its final four regular season games. For comparison, last year BYU gave up 74 in its final four games. The previous five years to that yielded totals of 65, 86, 64, 72 and 41 respectively.
• The Cougars lost just 6 fumbles in 2016. That's the fewest since losing just 4 in 2006. The 17 total giveaways are the fewest since 2006's 13 as well.
• The Defense force 29 turnovers, which are the most since forcing 34 in 2001. The 19 Cougar defensive interceptions is also the most since notching 21 in 2001.
• BYU ran 2,396 yards, which is currently the 3rd most since 1995. That total is 212 yards behind the 2nd most (1996), so eclipsing that season is not entirely out of the question with one game still to play.
• The 4.7 yards per rushing attempt is only bested by the 5.2 ypc set in 2013.
• The Cougars also averaged 8.5 points per game off of opponent turnovers. That is the most since a 9.9 points per game average in 2009.
• BYU also dominated in time of possession. The offense held the ball for 33:19 minutes on average, which is the most TOP on my tracker. It is also almost 4:30 more than last season.
• They won the TOP battle in 9 of 12 games, that is one more than the last two seasons combined.
• The offense was also improved at avoiding 3-&-outs. In 2016, they averaged one 3-&-out every 4.9 drives. The last two years that number was one every 3.6 drives.
• But everything was not good with the offense in 2016. The 14 touchdown passes were the fewest since throwing just 13 in 2003.
• BYU has not had 100 yard receiver in any game in 2016. Last year BYU had 8 such games. There were 8 such games in 2014 and 6 in 2013 and 9 in 2012 and 5 in 2011.
• BYU covered the spread in 9 of 12 games.
• Against Utah St, 7 of BYU's 26 1st Downs came via Utah St penalty. That's the most first downs by penalty since BYU gained 8 such penalties against Mississippi St all the way back in 2000.
• The Cougar defense was also quite stout. They held all 12 opponents below their season rushing averages and 10 of 12 teams below their scoring, total offense and passing efficiency offense.

Final Receiver Efficiency Rating
Balderee, TE, 199.89
Brown, RB, 166.11
Hall, RB, 165.03
Pearson, WR, 149.24
El-Bakri, RB, 148.46
Juergens, G, WR, 147.49
Trinnaman, WR, 140.63
Kurtz, WR, 129.11
Laulu-Pututau, WR, 124.87
Williams, RB, 120.10
Shumway, WR, 118.60
Marshall, TE, 115.37
Juergens, M, WR, 113.92
Hifo, WR, 69.84
Canada, RB, 59.80
Ficklin, TE, 58.40
Sampson, WR, 200.80 (1 target)
Tanner, WR, 142.00 (1 target)

RB, 130.17
WR, 127.58
TE, 154.32

What I bolded and underlined is a very telling stat and is going to have to change next year or we are in serious trouble without Taysom's and Jamaal's legs to make up for poor receiver play.

When we have a quarterback that hits receivers right when they make their breaks in stride, I think that number will change dramatically. We didn't have that this year. Taysom was making up for his poor throwing and poor oline play as much as "poor receiver play."

We are going to see in the bowl game how much it was bad receiver play. There were a bunch of throws this year that bounced off receivers hands. If we still had Matthews, Houk, and Blackmon this year I can guarantee you we would have had a couple 100 yard receiving games. This years receivers were shockingly soft. Watch any other college football team and the receiver play will make ours look horrible. There were a lot of bad throws by Tanner last year that were retrieved by better receiver play. (remember when Matthews took a ball out of a db's hands that was a yard underthrown on a touchdown catch? I think it was USU last year. There were also a bunch of back shoulder throws that were 50/50 balls where one of those 3 won the jump)

[SpiffCoug]

One stat I've been thinking about and considering putting together, but haven't is points scored by the opponent on the opening drive vs all other drives.

I am not certain, but I believe BYU allowed points on 10 or 11 opening drives by opponents this year. But then got much more stingy.

By my count BYU gave up 233 point this year. Six opponents scored 34 points on opening drives. That leaves 199 points scored on the remaining 126 non-opening drives.

So that's BYU giving up 2.8 points on opening drives and 1.6 points per remaining drive.

[hawkwing]

One stat I've been thinking about and considering putting together, but haven't is points scored by the opponent on the opening drive vs all other drives.

I am not certain, but I believe BYU allowed points on 10 or 11 opening drives by opponents this year. But then got much more stingy.

By my count BYU gave up 233 point this year. Six opponents scored 34 points on opening drives. That leaves 199 points scored on the remaining 126 non-opening drives.

So that's BYU giving up 2.8 points on opening drives and 1.6 points per remaining drive.

Interesting.