Review of Season stats

Before the ink dries on the contracts for the new coaches and NSD comes around, I thought it would be a worthwhile endeavor to look at the season ending stats, and from an “inside the numbers” and recap specific categories.

Rushing
Much was made early in the season that Bobo wasn’t going to the ground often and early enough. That appeared to get corrected as the season went along. On the year, The Dawgs averaged 161 yards per game, and had an average of 4.7 per attempt. While not outstanding, those statistics are more than enough to create space for AJ Green & Co. In the end the trio/ quad group of RB’s came through.
On the other side, despite opponents rushing for 33 MORE times, than UGA, they gained 553 yards LESS, and only had a 3.4 per attempt average or approximately a buck and quarter per game. The scoring stinginess of the ground D was felt too, only yielding 12 TD all year. In addition, the ground D had TOL totaling 369 yards (~ 20 yd/ gm doing mental math). Finally fumbles, while opponents ran, we created 18 of them, but failed to recover 16 times. More scrum techniques need to be taught? Pinch and Pull method emphasized? – and I’m not talking about the leather ball either. (I wonder how the numbers look without Tenn Tech game? But on second thought, I guess the GT game evens out that indicator??) It will be interesting to see if UGA keeps those goods numbers switching schemes and taking a man off the point of attack. Although historically 3-4’s have done well against the run.

Passing
Cox & Gray had a season QB rating of 81.98. They had a 55% completion percentage; however, the 17 going to the wrong jersey is woefully. When considering the long droughts of ineffectiveness that the offense suffered from (Tenn game. Last ½ of Okie St., LSU for the 1st 3+ Qtrs, the WLOCP) much of that rest squarely on how well the QB is performing.
With pass D, first for the superlative. As much of a question mark that pass rush was coming into the season, the Dawgs managed to get 30 sacks, most of that coming later in the season, but developing nevertheless. Per pass attempt, Yards per completion, Pass yardage and most importantly TD’s, were virtually equal to UGA’s output. You ask “Well if UGA passing attack stunk, why didn’t UGA pass D play “well” considering both had the same output and held the opposing QB’s under 90 for  a QB rating (89.41)?” The key statistic is interceptions and UGA’s pass D inability to “cover” their own offense. The Dawgs had only 10 picks all year long. Breaking it down to per 100 pass attempts, UGA D had 2.5, but we turned it over with twice the frequency (4.9). Picks, not getting more and throwing them twice the rate, arguably cost the Dawgs in all “L’s”; Not getting ‘em – LSU, Too many – Vols & Gators, Preventing comebacks - Kent & Okie St.
Scott Lakatos, we need your "A" game.

Miscellaneous
Time of Possession. By the seasons end, TOP came out to a virtual wash, within 32 seconds of being equal. Note to self: should have kept up with W/L TOP variance. Thru the 1st half of the year there was a chasm that existed with TOP for W, being positive and TOP being negative for L. I doubt that it changed, but still would like to know for certain.
Kickoff returns. While the per average rerurn variance looks miniscule 22.1 to 25.7 yards per return, The Dawgs GAVE UP 113 More yards than opponents allowed, despite having 4 more return advantage. That’s gotta be worth 1 or 2 scores on a cumulative basis. IF you take out “The Brand of Bros” long returns, it highlights two issues. One we need to be consistently good at our own returns and not to belabor the point, but Kickoff coverage has got to get revamped.
Red Zone. Scoring TD, the Dawgs hit pay dirt on 62% of their opportunities. They settled for FG 11 more times to give them an overall rate of 94%. The overall rate is impressive; however, the TD rate is mediocre, but an improvement for CMR historical struggles.
On the other side the D held opponents to only 56% scoring TD; however, the D allowed 5 more trips, and thus opponents scored 1 more TD than UGA scored. Overall, opponents scored only 87%. (Thanks ASU, who had a hurt kicker.)
3rd Down conversion. It certainly doesn’t seem that UGA was slightly better (2%) converting 3rd down attempts.

Overall
29 points per game is ‘good enuf’. Allowing 26 points per game is too many. ---Bottom Line.