Fwd: [Husker] Oklahoma's Fast Tempo Offense (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Paul Dalen]

http://www.huskermax.com/vbbs/showthread.php?11483-A-closer-look-at-OU-s-no-huddle-offense-and-passing-game

<http://www.huskermax.com/vbbs/showthread.php?11483-A-closer-look-at-OU-s-no-huddle-offense-and-passing-game>I
addressed this on HM tonight.  Text is below.  Link above has pretty
pictures.

________________________

Digging into OU’s run and gun offense.

In all of its games, OU has averaged 88 plays per game, 92 plays per game in
away/neutral site games, and 85 plays per game versus ranked opponents. NU
opponents have run an average of 65 plays per game. For the season, *OU is
averaging 35% more plays per game than NU is allowing.* Clearly, something
has to give.

How is OU compressing so many plays into a game?

OU’s time of possession average is not exceptional. For the season, they are
averaging just over 30 minutes in time of possession. OU simply takes less
time between plays. For the season, NU’s opponents ran one play every 26
seconds. For the season, OU runs a play every 21 seconds. While this may not
seem like a lot, it actually explains a lot about OU’s number of plays. *OU
is able to compress 25% more plays into the same amount of possession time
that NU’s opponents have done this year.*

Another explanation for OU’s number of plays per game is their pass/run
combination. For the season, OU has passed on 52% of plays. In contrast,
NU’s opponents have passed on only 40% of plays. More pass plays typically
equal longer games and more stopped clock time, resulting in more plays.

How will this play out on Saturday?

There is evidence that NU’s secondary has forced opponents to adjust their
game planning. For the season, NU’s opponents ran an average of 1.7 more
rush plays and an average of 7.6 pass plays against NU than they did in the
rest of their games. In other words, teams were able to run fewer plays
against NU than they did against other teams, but still had more average
rushes against NU. The big impact was on passing…*other teams coped with
NU’s secondary by not throwing the ball*.

There’s also evidence that Taylor Martinez’ injury forced a change in the
offense that may affect the OU game in a very positive way. While NU allowed
its opponents to run an average of six plays per game fewer than they
averaged the rest of the season, *in the ISU, KU, A&M, and CU games NU held
its opponents to an astounding 14.5 average plays per game fewer than they
averaged for the rest of the season.* It’s not unreasonable, if NU can
sustain drives, to expect NU to hold OU to significantly fewer plays than
they have averaged.

Finally, against AP ranked opponents, OU has relied even more on the pass
than they did over the course of the season. Their pass/rush combination
shifts to 63% passing. If OU attempts to throw the ball 63% of the time
against NU, they will almost certainly pay the price. NU is intercepting
5.7% of opponent pass attempts. *If OU attempts 53 passes against NU, expect
NU to intercept three of those passes.*

I think most here have the feeling that OU’s team strength (passing) plays
right into NU’s defensive strength. I believe the statistics bear this out
as well.

GBR!


On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 8:31 PM, Andrew Smith <arossman at earthlink.net> wrote:

> I'm not saying OU's tempo isn't an issue, but I think some other factors
> much more important.  As you point out "if we fail to mount long drives,
> taking time off the clock and eventually getting points, we hand the ball
>
> back to them and the pace of the game becomes theirs".
>
> The stats suggest that OU's defensive line and linebackers are NOT
> impressive, at least against the run.  They are #63 in rush defense and
> against the 3 best run teams they faced they gave up 5.3 yard/rush or more:
>  Air Force 5.6
>  Baylor 6.2
>  Oklahoma St. 5.3
> Statistically, Nebraska is the best rushing offense OU has faced while OU
> is one of the weaker rushing defenses Nebraska has faced.
>
> While Nebraska can't get too one-dimensional, OU's pass efficiency defense
> is comparable to Missouri's and Texas A&M's so Nebraska will need to be
> careful when passing.
>
> IMHO, Nebraska's keys are:
> * Establish a successful running game.
> * Shut down OU's running game so Nebraska can focus on pass defense.
>
> Go Big Red!
>
>
> On 12/1/2010 9:27 AM, Nick Chevance wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 8:57 PM, Andrew Smith<arossman at earthlink.net>
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> If Nebraska has problems with Oklahoma, I don't think it will be due to
>>> the
>>> tempo.
>>>
>>> Nebraska is going to rush more than 23 times!  If Nebraska is in this
>>> game,
>>> they will take time off the clock and Oklahoma will not have 18
>>> possessions.
>>>
>> I don't know about you but those numbers are a big concern to me.
>> Nebraska, in the first half against Okie State, had some difficulty
>> getting the right players on the field on defense, and Okie State's
>> tempo while quick, seems a walk in the park next to the Sooners pace
>> in the Bedlam game.  I'd say the scoring drives that Okie State had
>> against us in the second half were related to penalties, pace, and a
>> tired defense.  Luckily we were able to outscore them with more ease
>> than what they could do to us.
>>
>> I think most folks will say that a cure to the quick pace is several
>> three and outs.  That simply stops the pace of the game and takes it
>> out of their hands.  However, if we fail to mount long drives, taking
>> time off the clock and eventually getting points, we hand the ball
>> back to them and the pace of the game becomes theirs.  And I have some
>> doubts how successful we might be simply running the ball.  Their
>> defensive line is impressive, and the linebackers run to the ball very
>> well.  I think we'll really have to mix it up with a lot of runs, play
>> action, and options to keep the Sooners on their heels.  And this may
>> be a game where the number of three and outs (or number of first
>> downs) dictates the outcome.
>>
>> Can't wait.  But my fingers are crossed (which makes it really tough to
>> type!)
>>
>> Nick
>>
>
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