I don't think anyone is arguing against your point cloverleaf. What is being said is that not only have spread option up tempo offenses been poorly represented in championship games (not having existed for long) but that the wave of the future is that these new style offenses will change your statistic and that trend. It's showing up in a big way when good defenses are challenged by the hurry-up spread. Why do you think Saban came out against them in support of the proposed 10-second substitution rule that went no place? (He claimed it was to protect players from injuries... what a crock !!)
Guess I'm a little lost on your point there Stew...but I'll play.
Let's stay in the SEC during 2013. Texas A&M averaged 42.5 points per game (6th nationally) and finished 8-5. The dirty little secret is they finished 110th in total defense.
Baylor averaged 51 ppg, finished 11-2 but didn't have a defense for any kind of run toward a championship.
Team...both sides of the ball...win national championships....but defense seems to always be the determining factor.
Let's stay in the SEC during 2013. Texas A&M averaged 42.5 points per game (6th nationally) and finished 8-5. The dirty little secret is they finished 110th in total defense.
Baylor averaged 51 ppg, finished 11-2 but didn't have a defense for any kind of run toward a championship.
Team...both sides of the ball...win national championships....but defense seems to always be the determining factor.
Like I said, you've got to have both if you want to compete at a high level. What is interesting about this new playoff format is historically teams like Bama have done very well against the no huddle spread offenses when given that month to prepare for them. But what happens in the Final Four if Bama gets a team like Oregon on the other side of the bracket and the Ducks win their semi-final game? Instead of a month of prep time they'll get just a week. It's going to make for an great matchup. Whether it's Oregon or somebody else, it will be interesting if it happens. It should answer the long asked question "is it the alignment, or the alignees?"
But same can be said of the Oregon/Stanford games of late. The defenses have won those games. I love a 28-24 game so much more than a 52-48 or a 10-3 game. I can remember the Baylor/UW bowl game 2 years ago.....it was sad to watch......same as a Pitt/whoever and its like watching paint dry with the punting showcase.
Guess I'm an ole timer who always looks to defense first in my capping. My favorite all-time team was the 1961 Alabama team that only gave up 25 points for the entire season. The offense scored 207 points during the 11-0 season. Yeah, I was only 11 years old but can still name you the players on that team. I grew up here in Alabama learning that Bear Bryant won national championships playing team football with emphasis toward a strong defense. He always put his best players on defense and it paid off.
Going back to a previous post with Culturalstew. I apologize Stew if I came across as a bloody know-it-all. You're a new guy here at RX who we welcome.....especially because you seem to fit in with your care for college football.
Welcome Bud....glad to have you!
Going back to a previous post with Culturalstew. I apologize Stew if I came across as a bloody know-it-all. You're a new guy here at RX who we welcome.....especially because you seem to fit in with your care for college football.
Welcome Bud....glad to have you!
i think Florida was done in by untimely TO's. Trying to verify but I believe they were #74 in Turnover margin and they were last in the SEC in Turnovers lost #12, and #11 in the SEC in Turnovers gained. Not a good stat.
My guess is most of this was caused by the players lost due to injuries. Their team was a revolving door. I think they also may have been pretty young in some spots on the roster as well.
Defense yes but there was just some really bad coaching on the part of Helfrich last year and some critical TO's. If Oregon would ever learn that kicking a FG inside the 20 is okay instead of going for it on 4th and 5+ they could have had an additional 1+ win each of the past 4 years. As a former player and a guy who coached kids, take the points when they are presented.
I had this discussion with a very good friend of mine that coaches now and we were both offensive guys in college but he completely disagrees with me on this. I'd rather get up on a team 3-0, instead of missing on a 4th down which is a turnover (IMO) and it gives the defensive team such momentum when they stop you. I've seen it happen way too many times in Oregon games or in USC games when Kiffin was coaching them. Just take the points and be done with it. Put the pressure back on the other team to try an match you. It's great cause you kick the ball off and pin them inside the 25. Make them go the distance to score on your defense, not many teams can do this effectively these days. AND, if you can make them punt, you get the ball back with a 3-0 lead and you are close to mid field. You literally flipped the field around on them. Win-Win IMO.
I agree.....but Stanford manhandled Oregon last year. I think Conan was hinting earlier that now Oregon knows they have to get bigger on the line. The Stanford D shut Oregon down....which is the front 7 as the difference maker. The Ducks were never in that game.
Not meaning to bash on Oregon, but a lot of times it's just flat out the D stops a good O. FSU case and point last year. The offense was good, but that D was what won that team the NC.
