[Husker] Some 2004 numbers

[Steve Curry]

Do 2004 Husker football game statistics confirm our notions regarding what happened on the field?  Let's look at some numbers from 10 games that do not include Western Illinois.

Offensive Plays:
A number of comments have appeared on various boards and lists regarding how many more offensive plays were run by opposition teams.  The Huskers out-rushed opponents on average by 2 plays and 43 yds per game.  However they were out passed by nearly 12 plays and 88 yds each average outing.  So, opponents had approximately 10 more offensive plays per game.  

Production:  
Of additional interest are the facts that in wins the big red had about 7 more rushes than opponents for 89 yds and 26 fewer passes for 78 fewer yards, while in losses they had short of 2 fewer rushing plays with 13 fewer yds and a similar number fewer passing plays but with 95 fewer yds.  In other words in losses the huskers ran only 3 fewer plays for 82 fewer yards while in wins they had 19 fewer plays but actually outgained the opponents on average by 11 yds.  No doubt it's easier to be more productive against softer competition, so perhaps the additional yards per play isn't surprising.  It did seem interesting however that the number of plays run was so much closer to even in losses.

Misfires:
Turnovers seem to have been pretty much what one might expect.  In losses NU had on average 2.5 more per game that the other side, and in wins they had 1 fewer.  That's a spread of 3.5 turnovers between wins and losses.  Big red won every game in which they had the edge in the turnover battle.  So, was it turnovers that determined wins and losses or was is team quality that created turnovers along with wins and losses?

Specifics:
The So. Miss. game is one where statistics probably support the frustration that many fans had.  NU led in first downs by 15, total offensive plays by 27, total yards by 237, both rushes & yards and passes & yards, fewer penalties by 3 for 34 yards, and time of possession by about 11 minutes.  Why did they lose?  Two things really stand out.  The husks had 4 more turnovers that did So. Miss.  In addition So. Miss. scored 4 more times for 18 more points from outside of the red zone than did N.U..  Turnovers and big plays seem to have had an effect.

Against Missouri the huskers lost battles of first downs by 11, total plays by 32 for 93 yards, penalties by 1 for 23 yards, and time of possession by about 3 minutes.  How did N.U. win?  They had 2 fewer turnovers and 2 more scores from outside the red zone for 14 points.

Without looking at the stats it seems big red won more turnover battles in 2003 and of course they won more games.  Could something similar happen this season?  A defense that produces turnovers and stops big plays would seem to be important.  Perhaps this years offense will be less prone to turnovers and more apt at big plays?  Hope is alive!

Fire at will,
Steve Curry