Most Fascinating Stat for 2013

[Rifleman]

Maybe this is the most disappointing season I can remember in that we wasted a great season running the football.

How good were we? Looking at yards per carry, this is the 5th best season since 1950:

1. 1993 - 5.9 ypc
2. 1951 - 5.8
3. 1956 - 5.0
4. 1998 - 4.91
5. 2013 - 4.90

We may very well finish up the year with better ypc than 1998! Still, the large number of turnovers, general ineffectiveness in the passing game, and a defense that does not have SEC depth ensures that we won't even see a bowl game.

In retrospect, Worley's injury probably did us in. We just needed a few more plays in the passing game in order get to 6-6.

If we can continue to run the football at this level, does anyone doubt we will have better days ahead?


Update post-KY: 4th best season since 1950 in yards per carry:

1. 1993 - 5.9 ypc
2. 1951 - 5.8
3. 1956 - 5.0
4. 2013 - 4.92
5. 1998 - 4.91

 

[Jaytrain5]

Stats can be misleading. This group was nothing special on the ground, and far from "great."

 

[Orangedogsrule]

Interesting stat.

Another one is last year our offense put up the 3rd most points per game in VOLS history.

Shows how an ineffective defense can ruin what would otherwise be two good years.

"As Dan McCullers (the defense) goes, so goes the VOLS." (or some such)

Defensive play makers are what is needed more than anything, and I do mean anything.

 

[a330m]

did anybody forget how many ranked teams we played...the top two teams in the west again and 7 ranked teams in a 8 week period...don't u think that has a factor in our record

 

[all_volz]

did anybody forget how many ranked teams we played...the top two teams in the west again and 7 ranked teams in a 8 week period...don't u think that has a factor in our record

Makes those rushing stats look more impressive.

 

[Orangedogsrule]

I'm not forgetting anything. Ranked teams or not. There are a few bad apples in the defensive barrel that really don't leave it all on the field. Based on the last couple years of seriously down defensive play under many different coaches; who all had coached successful D's before, and that they never ever got the 3-4 and can't/won't play a successful 4-3 either. They are 'un-coachable' for whatever reason. I hope they are all seniors because they affect the whole defense and so the whole team.

Contrary to what some on here say, even the best defensive DC, line and position coaches in CFB couldn't "coach 'em up and put a fire in their belly on game day".

We seriously need for them to be gone and replaced with new blood.

I just hope that today, they have enough pride at least in them selves to not become the first Volunteer defense to lose 8 games in a season.

 

[Orangedogsrule]

Poll needs other options. "Ambivalent" , "Don't know" , "Can't tell based on Defensive play" , "Can't tell based on how a good passing game would have helped the run", etc.

 

[fade route]

Sad that we still can't move the ball effectively

 

[DERELICK_MY_VOLS]

Interesting stat.

Another one is last year our offense put up the 3rd most points per game in VOLS history.
Shows how an ineffective defense can ruin what would otherwise be two good years.

"As Dan McCullers (the defense) goes, so goes the VOLS." (or some such)

Defensive play makers are what is needed more than anything, and I do mean anything.

With all that offensive fire power gone from the passing game it is pretty simple to see why we have struggled this season. Can't replace NFL caliber players like CP, JH, and Rivera...Da'Rick Rogers would've been a senior...along with Tyler Bray with freshman and expect the same results. Simple logical fact yet so many don't want to admit it....or see it :whistling:

 

[VolFanInHawaii]

Maybe this is the most disappointing season I can remember in that we wasted a great season running the football.

How good were we? Looking at yards per carry, this is the 5th best season since 1950:

1. 1993 - 5.9 ypc
2. 1951 - 5.8
3. 1956 - 5.0
4. 1998 - 4.91
5. 2013 - 4.90

We may very well finish up the year with better ypc than 1998! Still, the large number of turnovers, general ineffectiveness in the passing game, and a defense that does not have SEC depth ensures that we won't even see a bowl game.

In retrospect, Worley's injury probably did us in. We just needed a few more plays in the passing game in order get to 6-6.

If we can continue to run the football at this level, does anyone doubt we will have better days ahead?

The running was good at the start of the year, not so much now.

 

[DERELICK_MY_VOLS]

Stats can be misleading. This group was nothing special on the ground, and far from "great."

Can you imagine this running game with CP and JH...mixing in North and Pig....now you can't tell me honestly Butch Jones would not have a WAY BETTER RECORD if he simply had those 2 here for their senior year.

 

[44DivePlay]

The running was good at the start of the year, not so much now.

We had over 200 yards vs Auburn and first team to break 100 or have a player break 100 against Alabama (something like that)...

Edit: we have had nothing but a run game for a while now

 

[jason3713]

McCluers just just doesn't have that high motor and mean streak that let's a defensive lineman be great. His best game was against SC and he was pushing people into the backfield and wreaking havoc. After the game he said they made him mad. This shows he has the ability but not the will to do it all the time. He needed a strong leader on the field that would get in his face when he wasn't giving max effort. We just don't have those guys right now. I think with an Al Wilson type on the field with him he would be one of the best.

 

[volfanbill]

I am so tired of the tough schedule argument. Yeah, we played a tough schedule, but minus two of those ranked teams, we played like a AA High School against those ranked teams. It's not that we played a bad schedule, it's that we had no fight for so many of those tough games.

 

[TennesseeOrange]

Pretty impressive considering we weren't a threat to throw it.

 

[volfanbill]

Pretty impressive considering we weren't a threat to throw it.

What is impressive about being the 10th best rushing team in the conference?

 

[Easttnken]

McCluers just just doesn't have that high motor and mean streak that let's a defensive lineman be great. His best game was against SC and he was pushing people into the backfield and wreaking havoc. After the game he said they made him mad. This shows he has the ability but not the will to do it all the time. He needed a strong leader on the field that would get in his face when he wasn't giving max effort. We just don't have those guys right now. I think with an Al Wilson type on the field with him he would be one of the best.

IMO, losing Maggitt, Saulsbery, and Mo Couch can't be emphasized enough. Then, you have freshman and walk ons filling your db and safety slots.

Early on, the defense seemed much improved. Teams had difficulty running on us. We weren't being burned on deep passes nearly as often. We were creating turnovers, and pick six's...etc.

Jones made the statement that lack of depth was becoming an issue, as player like AJ and others were forced to play 80+ plays per game. Combine this issue with a steady stream of highly ranked teams, and it appears to be a perfect storm to completely wear down a potentially talented defense.

Hopefully incoming players( juco's, freshman recruits...as many being EE's as possible) can lend enough help to not only show improvement, but allow them to continue play well throughout the season.

But then again I'm a homer, so just...Go Vols!

 

[TennesseeOrange]

What is impressive about being the 10th best rushing team in the conference?

Averaging 4.9 against our schedule, when our passing game was a joke. I think we are 7th in yards per carry in the SEC and 37th overall. Is it really that bad to think it's pretty impressive?

 

[Spartacavolus]

Should've run the ball 90% of the time all year, then throw it deep to North 5-6 times a game. Would've won 7-8.

 

[WesternKyVol]

Should've run the ball 90% of the time all year, then throw it deep to North 5-6 times a game. Would've won 7-8.

I-Formation with O-Line firing off the snap and North, Lane & Howard getting a majority of the touches would've helped considerably, IMO.

 

[Cyclopskiller]

I am so tired of the tough schedule argument. Yeah, we played a tough schedule, but minus two of those ranked teams, we played like a AA High School against those ranked teams. It's not that we played a bad schedule, it's that we had no fight for so many of those tough games.

Exactly

 

[Spartacavolus]

I-Formation with O-Line firing off the snap and North, Lane & Howard getting a majority of the touches would've helped considerably, IMO.

You can't play I form with one gimpy te that can't block and walkon fb. Spread or pistol is fine. Run lane 25 times. Neal 15. Dobbs 10. Pig with touches and PA deep to North.

 

[TennesseeOrange]

Should've run the ball 90% of the time all year, then throw it deep to North 5-6 times a game. Would've won 7-8.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but I honestly feel that way. Felt like many times we'd run it down their throat with Neal/Lane, then get to the opponents 30-35 and throw it 3 straights times.

 

[Spartacavolus]

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but I honestly feel that way. Felt like many times we'd run it down their throat with Neal/Lane, then get to the opponents 30-35 and throw it 3 straights times.

Not sarcastic this time. Should've pounded and pounded. Our d was playing well too.

 

[Dragon18]

Stats can be misleading. This group was nothing special on the ground, and far from "great."

This group was/is good on the ground. Don't let the deficiencies in other areas of the game take away from the fact that we've gone over 2,000 and 4.8 ypc in our ground game. No matter how you try to dissect that, it is a good year on the ground.

Other areas.... not so much.