Defense and time of possession

[HooahVol]

According to the following website: College Football Stats - College FB Team Average Time of Possession (Excluding OT) | TeamRankings.com Tennessee ranked 130 out of 131 in time of possession averaging 24:58 a game. While that is an impressive number from an explosive offense perspective it does mean our defense was on the field a lot. For comparison, Georgia's time of possession is 33:19. Almost 10 more minutes per game for the defense to rest. Do you guys think this is an issues with Heupel's high tempo offense? Is it something we can fix just with depth on the defensive side of the ball?

 

[LouderVol]

Here we go again.

Its not just the offense. If the D got more stops our time of possession would go up too. Even with the obvious exceptions included our D did not give up a lot of points.

In this case the ToP probably resembles yards per game pretty closely. I wouldnt feel any better about our team if we held the ball for 30 minutes but gave up the same out of points.

Points wins games. I am pretty sure how many points per game we give up vs the opponent ToP is a pretty good ratio.

 

[morristown vol]

I think more depth would help.There not going to get to rest long so we need to keep rotating players.Getting off the field on 3rd down would help more than any thing.

 

[sechamp2012]

Also USCe went straight down field on its first possession. Nothing to do with TOP. Totally rested D. Then they did it 9 out of 10 times rest of game. Just aided one drive by the unforced fumble on Hookers ACL injury. That was a short field TO that led to a touchdown.

 

[Doberman]

Both the offense not controlling the ball more, and a crap defense matter.

The crap defense mattered more this year.

 

[Boone&Crockett]

This is something I think is fascinating about Heupels gameplan, our fast pace offense defies the rules of football, we hardly ever have the ball the longest yet we score the most points, I think the defense does get tired to a degree but in most games we played this year the second stringers were playing by the third quarter because we were so far ahead, it may even its self out in some way, also Heupel slows down the tempo when he feels the defense is getting tired.

 

[volroadwarrior]

According to the following website: College Football Stats - College FB Team Average Time of Possession (Excluding OT) | TeamRankings.com Tennessee ranked 130 out of 131 in time of possession averaging 24:58 a game. While that is an impressive number from an explosive offense perspective it does mean our defense was on the field a lot. For comparison, Georgia's time of possession is 33:19. Almost 10 more minutes per game for the defense to rest. Do you guys think this is an issues with Heupel's high tempo offense? Is it something we can fix just with depth on the defensive side of the ball?

It is up to the defense to get up off the field. Give up fewer first downs. It is not the fault of a high tempo offense. Just get more 3 and outs. Pretty simple to understand. I can't understand why fans don't comprehend this.

 

[HooahVol]

Good points.

Just a fun, scary thought. What if our defense does start getting 3 and outs and our offense stays high octane? We will be scoring 70 or 80 points a game!

 

[Southeastern VFL]

Get more stops in the secondary it's not hard to understand BUT it is extremely for our secondary to do.

 

[Ovol]

Good points.

Just a fun, scary thought. What if our defense does start getting 3 and outs and our offense stays high octane? We will be scoring 70 or 80 points a game!

Yep, several more possessions per game = several more tds per game. Plus better field position.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

The defense can force as many 3 & outs as they are capable of. All of which depends on recruiting and talent development.


Not time of possession.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

Get more stops in the secondary it's not hard to understand BUT it is extremely for our secondary to do.

Pass rush comes first....

 

[TN1111]

Here we go again.

Its not just the offense. If the D got more stops our time of possession would go up too. Even with the obvious exceptions included our D did not give up a lot of points.

In this case the ToP probably resembles yards per game pretty closely. I wouldnt feel any better about our team if we held the ball for 30 minutes but gave up the same out of points.

Points wins games. I am pretty sure how many points per game we give up vs the opponent ToP is a pretty good ratio.

This. Get occasional stops on 3rd down and you get to rest. This in turn leads to more possessions and time of possession for the offense. These lack of 3rd down stops don’t just occur late in games. It’s been been consistent throughout the entirety of 4 quarters far too often.

 

[GTBATV]

We also had a 9 minute drive against LSU this year. We can go slow when we want to. Like others have said, defense needs to get off the field on their own.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Until the game is changed to award points for each minute you possess the ball, Time of Possession will remain a useless stat.

There was a time (many of us weren't alive then) when time of possession mattered. I mean, truly mattered. Games ended with scores like 7-3 and 10-7. Scoring points was a rarity; you might only get to do it once or twice in the entire match. Because holding the ball longer meant you had a better chance at one of those rare scoring opportunities, the key was to hold the ball. Just find a way to stay on offense. Do that long enough, and you would win. Maybe 3-0, but you could win!

Those days are gone.

Stop worrying about time of possession as a stat. Today, the game is all about scoring regularly and "breaking serve."

Now as a concept, ToP is worth being aware of, if only because yes, we have to recruit and develop defenders who can play 35-40 minutes a game. And still be effective on the final play.

That's all ToP tells us. That's all it will ever tell us. Having it, or giving it up, has zero other effect on the game. You can safely ignore it, because our coaches are on the case.

Go Vols!

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Here we go again.

Its not just the offense. If the D got more stops our time of possession would go up too. Even with the obvious exceptions included our D did not give up a lot of points.

In this case the ToP probably resembles yards per game pretty closely. I wouldnt feel any better about our team if we held the ball for 30 minutes but gave up the same out of points.

Points wins games. I am pretty sure how many points per game we give up vs the opponent ToP is a pretty good ratio.

Exactly! Get some 3rd/4th down stops and get the hell off the field.

 

[Caculator]

That is why I don't mind all the fake injuries to slow our offense down. It gives our D more time to rest.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

According to the following website: College Football Stats - College FB Team Average Time of Possession (Excluding OT) | TeamRankings.com Tennessee ranked 130 out of 131 in time of possession averaging 24:58 a game. While that is an impressive number from an explosive offense perspective it does mean our defense was on the field a lot. For comparison, Georgia's time of possession is 33:19. Almost 10 more minutes per game for the defense to rest. Do you guys think this is an issues with Heupel's high tempo offense? Is it something we can fix just with depth on the defensive side of the ball?

If Georgia could score TDs in 2 minutes, I am sure they would. One would like to be able to score on every offensive play if possible. If defenses can quickly get the other guy's offense off the field, time of possession means nothing.

 

[Rocky Top T]

Like Rodney Garner said, you want to rest get off the field on 3rd down!!! Our offense has nothing with the defense being terrible!

 

[VolPack22]

Time of possession is least useful stat in football.

 

[jaguinn5]

According to the following website: College Football Stats - College FB Team Average Time of Possession (Excluding OT) | TeamRankings.com Tennessee ranked 130 out of 131 in time of possession averaging 24:58 a game. While that is an impressive number from an explosive offense perspective it does mean our defense was on the field a lot. For comparison, Georgia's time of possession is 33:19. Almost 10 more minutes per game for the defense to rest. Do you guys think this is an issues with Heupel's high tempo offense? Is it something we can fix just with depth on the defensive side of the ball?

If our defense was as good as Georgia's, we would've averaged 70 a game and our ToP would've mattered even less than it did this year.

ToP doesn't matter if our defense is getting stops and our offense is scoring. Only one of those two things happened this year and we still almost made the playoffs.

 

[BIGORANGEBUBBA]

W-L is the only stat that counts

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Until the game is changed to award points for each minute you possess the ball, Time of Possession will remain a useless stat.

There was a time (many of us weren't alive then) when time of possession mattered. I mean, truly mattered. Games ended with scores like 7-3 and 10-7. Scoring points was a rarity; you might only get to do it once or twice in the entire match. Because holding the ball longer meant you had a better chance at one of those rare scoring opportunities, the key was to hold the ball. Just find a way to stay on offense. Do that long enough, and you would win. Maybe 3-0, but you could win!

Those days are gone.

Stop worrying about time of possession as a stat. Today, the game is all about scoring regularly and "breaking serve."

Now as a concept, ToP is worth being aware of, if only because yes, we have to recruit and develop defenders who can play 35-40 minutes a game. And still be effective on the final play.

That's all ToP tells us. That's all it will ever tell us. Having it, or giving it up, has zero other effect on the game. You can safely ignore it, because our coaches are on the case.

Go Vols!

I'd call an "overrated" stat more than a useless one. If a team can control the ball AND score points it's pretty devastating, especially late in a game. Shortening the game is a good plan if you take advantage of your offensive opportunities.

 

[37620VOL]

TOP does not matter. Points per possession is the only stat that matters.

 

[VolPack22]

I'd call an "overrated" stat more than a useless one. If a team can control the ball AND score points it's pretty devastating, especially late in a game. Shortening the game is a good plan if you take advantage of your offensive opportunities.

Tennessee had the ball for less than 14 minutes and scored 45 points against Kentucky in 2021. Meanwhile, Kentucky had it for 46 minutes and scored 42 points. TOP is useless.