Passing game through 4 games, going back to 2000.

I was curious when the last time BYU started a season with only 1 passing TD through 4 games. The sad thing is that so far I have gone through every season since 2000, and haven't found one season where our passing game has started off so abysmally. Even in 2001 with a dual threat QB and a stud, Doak Walker winning RB, we had more passing TD's. Here are my preliminary findings:



Season --- # of passing TD's through 4 games

2013 --- 1

2012 --- 7

2011 --- 3

2010 --- 3

2009 --- 9

2008 --- 15

2007 --- 10

2006 --- 7

2005 --- 8

2004 --- 4

2003 --- 7

2002 --- 7

2001 --- 10

2000 --- 5

2010: BYU threw ONE touchdown pass from games 2 through game 7 (a span of 5 games).



In fact, in 2010, BYU went from 4:23 left in the 3rd quarter of game 1 to 12:34 left in the 4th quarter of game 8 -- a span of nearly 352 minutes.



That's just 8 minutes shy of six full games.



So while our current passing game is pretty poor, it's not like it's been that long since our passing game struggled to put the ball in the endzone through the air.



Of course Taysom barely missed on two TDs last week and another one the week before.

I knew 2010 was going to be pretty poor. It's just sad to see the team struggle so badly inside the 20 yard line, and consistently fail to get the ball in the endzone. One thing I've been meaning to do, but haven't yet is to review Blue Zone efficiency over the past several seasons. It's just been bad this year. :)

What's the rundown for the total number of offensive TDs over the 4 games for the past few years?



BYU's playing a different kind of ball. To their credit, the coaches are moving away from tradition to play to the strengths of their playmakers--the guy who they think gives them the best chance of winning. Bemoaning that passing has fallen while ignoring that rushing TDs have greatly increased seems a bit myopic.

CrimsonCoug wrote:
What's the rundown for the total number of offensive TDs over the 4 games for the past few years?



BYU's playing a different kind of ball. To their credit, the coaches are moving away from tradition to play to the strengths of their playmakers--the guy who they think gives them the best chance of winning. Bemoaning that passing has fallen while ignoring that rushing TDs have greatly increased seems a bit myopic.

Agree. A TD is a TD.



Back in the day, BYU had streaks of at leasy 1 TD passing in every game that crossed several seasons iirc. Some can't accept that a TD is a TD.



But overall production is down lately. SOS and inexperienced QBs are a big factor.



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Blue Zone Stats (I don't have FG numbers)



2013:

4 of 13 for 40 yards 1 TD, 0 INTs 82.00 PER, 28 rushes for 107 yards 6 TDs



2012:

52 of 94 for 444 yards 20 TD, 2 INTs 160.95 PER, 106 rushes for 307 yards 21 TDs



2011:

27 of 57 for 276 yards 16 TD, 1 INTs 177.16 PER, 66 rushes for 210 yards 12 TDs



2010:

19 of 44 for 174 yards 9 TD, 1 INTs 139.35 PER, 98 rushes for 333 yards 22 TDs

Total offensive TD's through 4 games (Doesn't count defensive or special teams):



2013 --- 11

2012 --- 13

2011 --- 4

2010 --- 6

2009 --- 18

2008 --- 22

2007 --- 16

2006 --- 14

2005 --- 13

2004 --- 7

2003 --- 8

2002 --- 17

2001 --- 27

2000 --- 11



At first glance it's not that much different than other years, until you realize who's scoring most of the touchdowns.



I'm not saying that a running TD isn't the same as a passing TD. Just saying that this season, has been extremely unusual as far as the passing game goes.



My primary concern about TD's this season is where they are coming from. Taysom has 6 of BYU's 11 offensive TD's. All of BYU's other backs combined have 4. Receivers, 1. If Taysom were to go down again, who would pick up the slack in offensive production? It's not a good thing when your QB is your leading rusher and scoring leader, and it's not even close. Granted, Williams was out last week, but still. If Taysom goes down to injury, most of BYU's offense, and scoring goes with him. Can others pick up the slack? I don't know. But other players need to start scoring touchdowns. If Taysom has to run all season like he has been so far, I'm afraid he's going to get hurt again. Then where will we be?

Consider that Hoffman has missed two games and injured in the other two. I think he gets a TD tomorrow.

I can only hope that TMangum can see the big picture and doesn't transfer. He had to watch misery the last two years and now sees further deterioration of the passing game at BYU--excuse me, not deterioration, but utilization of the fastest BYU qb ever. I guess there is a difference. But do wonder what top flight WR recruits think. I know we nabbed the good JC transfer; but Tight ends, Olinemen. I hope TM doesn't lose perspective.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Blue Zone Stats (I don't have FG numbers)



2013:

4 of 13 for 40 yards 1 TD, 0 INTs 82.00 PER, 28 rushes for 107 yards 6 TDs



2012:

52 of 94 for 444 yards 20 TD, 2 INTs 160.95 PER, 106 rushes for 307 yards 21 TDs



2011:

27 of 57 for 276 yards 16 TD, 1 INTs 177.16 PER, 66 rushes for 210 yards 12 TDs



2010:

19 of 44 for 174 yards 9 TD, 1 INTs 139.35 PER, 98 rushes for 333 yards 22 TDs

Sad to think that Nelson, who was supposedly the bottom of the barrel, is doubling up Hill's blue zone PER. OUCH!!!

RN was a Sr. Shouldn't we expect that much? But PER in all its greatness is insufficient to compare in this situation.

Cougs_Rule wrote:
RN was a Sr. Shouldn't we expect that much? But PER in all its greatness is insufficient to compare in this situation.

the worst Sr QB to ever play BYU football as some would tell you. I personally admire but don't miss him for his determination and blind stubbornness.



BYU will lose a few more games though if they can't even get back to Nelsonesque Blue Zone numbers with the pass.

If we can't produce through the air in the blue zone, we're going to find that the run isn't going to be there either. It wasn't against Utah.

Ungoy wrote:

My primary concern about TD's this season is where they are coming from. Taysom has 6 of BYU's 11 offensive TD's.

Are you saying this is bad because Taysom has contributed to 63% of BYU's touchdowns (he actually accounts for 7 total with his 1 passing TD), or are you saying this is bad because he is actually running them in instead of passing?



If it is because he accounts for 63% of the td's, than Chuckie Keeton accounts for 73% of USU's TD's (19-26) and he would therefore be a much bigger loss than Hill. (Which I agree with 100%)



If it's because he is running instead of throwing them, I don't think it is that big of deal. People think that Taysom is running a lot, compared to past BYU QB's he is, but he only has 14 more rushing attempts than Keeton on the year.



I know we get worried about injuries because of last year, but Hill got injured on a stupid running play, but Nelson got injured on a passing play. So you just never know.

What I'm saying is that if BYU can't start producing TD's through the air, and Taysom continues to have the bulk of rushing TD's then the offense is going to continue being one dimensional, and we're going to struggle putting points on the board. We've seen this in every game this year. BYU struggles in the blue zone. If they can become a blue zone passing threat, then that helps everything. If opposing defenses only have to focus on shutting down the blue zone run, then the offense will continue to struggle to score points in the blue zone.

BroncoBot wrote:

Blue Zone Stats (I don't have FG numbers)



2013:

4 of 13 for 40 yards 1 TD, 0 INTs 82.00 PER, 28 rushes for 107 yards 6 TDs



2012:

52 of 94 for 444 yards 20 TD, 2 INTs 160.95 PER, 106 rushes for 307 yards 21 TDs



2011:

27 of 57 for 276 yards 16 TD, 1 INTs 177.16 PER, 66 rushes for 210 yards 12 TDs



2010:

19 of 44 for 174 yards 9 TD, 1 INTs 139.35 PER, 98 rushes for 333 yards 22 TDs

Sad to think that Nelson, who was supposedly the bottom of the barrel, is doubling up Hill's blue zone PER. OUCH!!!

True, however, Nelson was a senior... Hill is a sophomore.

A little perspective and reality check with BYU's GFGH offense:



http://1280thezone.com/index.php/audio/listen/dj_pk_david_locke_on_byu_and_utah_football



Locke's analysis of BYU's GFGH offense starts at 3:25... spot on too.

Wolfman wrote:

SpiffCoug wrote:
Blue Zone Stats (I don't have FG numbers)



2013:

4 of 13 for 40 yards 1 TD, 0 INTs 82.00 PER, 28 rushes for 107 yards 6 TDs



2012:

52 of 94 for 444 yards 20 TD, 2 INTs 160.95 PER, 106 rushes for 307 yards 21 TDs



2011:

27 of 57 for 276 yards 16 TD, 1 INTs 177.16 PER, 66 rushes for 210 yards 12 TDs



2010:

19 of 44 for 174 yards 9 TD, 1 INTs 139.35 PER, 98 rushes for 333 yards 22 TDs

Sad to think that Nelson, who was supposedly the bottom of the barrel, is doubling up Hill's blue zone PER. OUCH!!!

True, however, Nelson was a senior... Hill is a sophomore.

True, but I'd hate to see what Max Hall's sophomore numbers would look like compared to TH's.

2009:

46 of 65 for 433 yards, 23 TDs 1 INT 240.42 PER, 83 rushes 267 yards 24 TDs



I don't have Blue Zone stats prior to 2009, at this time.

First of all, you have to attempt blue zone passes in order to get TD's out of them. Second of all, you have to have an offensive line that can block on passing plays to have confidence in the passing game inside the blue zone. It is painfully obvious that Anae has no confidence in throwing the ball inside the 20, IMO, because the offensive line is so bad at pass blocking. Taysom has guys in his face as soon as the snap hits his hands on most occasions. Once the pass blocking gets better, you will see a different throw game.



There is a reason Taysom is our starting QB and people need to be patient while this team develops its offense. BYU has never had a player of his caliber at QB and in a few years people are going to speak of him in the same reverent manner that they currently reference Steve young, Ty Detmer and Jim McMahon.