PonyExpress
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2006
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There's always talk about how players measure up statistically, but what about Coordinators? Here's one possible way: scoring efficiency. By scoring efficiency is meant an offense's yardage ranking vs. points ranking. A clever offensive coordinator, no matter how many yards his team gains, maximizes those yards by producing more points per yard. A lesser skilled O-coordinator does the opposite, producing fewer points per yard compared with his peers.
Take Charlie Weis. In 2001, the Pats ranked 19th in the league in total yards gained, but #6 in points scored. In 2002 the Pats ranked 22nd in yards but 10th in points scored. In '03 18th in yards, 12th in points; in '04, 7th in yards, 4th in points. As we can see, Weis managed the offense so that it consistently produced points at a higher rate than its total yardage ranking would imply. Some would say that turnover differential by the defense aided this producing short fields for the offense, thereby skewing the stats. However there is ample evidence to suggest that is not a rule. For example, Weis was at his best in '02, when the Pats produced few turnovers with their poor defensive performance. Also, the Colts in 2002, despite maybe the best defense of the Dungy era (7/8 in rankings) were at their most inefficient under Manning. Since 2002, Manning's offense has always been ranked higher in points than yardage, as has Pittsburgh's. Whether these offense are dynamic or not, in the Steeler's case, they are efficient.
I have criticized McDaniels a bit; There is no denying he has improved the Pats red zone efiiciency since becoming the OC, and deserves credit for that. And he DEFINITELY deserves more time, as the sample is too small to make definitive judgments. However, I am keeping an eye on the following trend: Last year, the Pats ranked 9th in yards but 10th in points, the first time that negative flip-flop has existed since Brady took the throne. This year so far, it is 6/17, a very poor ratio. Just something to keep an eye on going forward.
A side note: since 1988 BB has had a head coaching or D-coordinator job. Only once in that time has a BB coached team's defense ever ranked worse in points allowed than yards allowed, an indication of the efficiency of his method. So if he says 3-4, the players should shut the hell up and stop griping about the 4-3.
Take Charlie Weis. In 2001, the Pats ranked 19th in the league in total yards gained, but #6 in points scored. In 2002 the Pats ranked 22nd in yards but 10th in points scored. In '03 18th in yards, 12th in points; in '04, 7th in yards, 4th in points. As we can see, Weis managed the offense so that it consistently produced points at a higher rate than its total yardage ranking would imply. Some would say that turnover differential by the defense aided this producing short fields for the offense, thereby skewing the stats. However there is ample evidence to suggest that is not a rule. For example, Weis was at his best in '02, when the Pats produced few turnovers with their poor defensive performance. Also, the Colts in 2002, despite maybe the best defense of the Dungy era (7/8 in rankings) were at their most inefficient under Manning. Since 2002, Manning's offense has always been ranked higher in points than yardage, as has Pittsburgh's. Whether these offense are dynamic or not, in the Steeler's case, they are efficient.
I have criticized McDaniels a bit; There is no denying he has improved the Pats red zone efiiciency since becoming the OC, and deserves credit for that. And he DEFINITELY deserves more time, as the sample is too small to make definitive judgments. However, I am keeping an eye on the following trend: Last year, the Pats ranked 9th in yards but 10th in points, the first time that negative flip-flop has existed since Brady took the throne. This year so far, it is 6/17, a very poor ratio. Just something to keep an eye on going forward.
A side note: since 1988 BB has had a head coaching or D-coordinator job. Only once in that time has a BB coached team's defense ever ranked worse in points allowed than yards allowed, an indication of the efficiency of his method. So if he says 3-4, the players should shut the hell up and stop griping about the 4-3.
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