Interesting data on returning production for SEC teams in the 2024 campaign:
A quick breakdown of highlights. First, QBs:
The thing that stands out to me more than the offensive production is that only 3.6% of attempted passes resulted in a sack for Georgia. Given the larger number of games, the interceptions rate for Beck and Co. is acceptably low. Milroe spent an inordinate amount of time on the ground, in a negative way.
One thing to take away from this is that Georgia’s receiving corps saw a lot of time on the field but the low number of targets is a testament to Bowers et al that just left for the pros but also shows that WR play entails more than just catching passes. Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama had relatively few drops when targeted, but, damn Alabama…the returning receiving talent saw the field a lot, but apparently Milroe couldn’t see them. Considering one of their top targets left, it’s not helping Texas rise to the top of this chart, either. I’ll take our experienced and reliable corps over hype and heavy passing any day.
This isn’t shocking for our team, with our top 2 backs getting drafted…but with only one incompletion on 33 targets, passing to the running back seems like a high percentage option in our game plan with a high number of yards gained, and our returners did see the end zone relatively high considering the lower number of carries. Honestly surprised at Ole Miss with Judson’s leaving but Lane can work the portal, can’t he. Again…Alabama? Whoa.
Ole Miss versus Georgia is a case study in quality, not quantity. Second highest number in games played built with significantly fewer snaps means better offensive efficiency. Texas allowed fewer pressures but were penalized more than the Dawgs. Clearly with fewer sacks and penalties, Kirby and Seattle’s are ensuring forward momentum and not the opposite. While this is returning production, 76 pressures and 50 sacks makes me kick myself even more that Bama got us in the SECCG, but let’s not talk about that, shall we?
If you had South Carolina as one of the top returning groups on your bingo card, congratulations. Color me surprised to see that Venables defense can’t seem to tackle for shit, too. The missed tackle rate for Georgia is what we’ve come to realize as one of Smart’s top talents…though the returning front seven’s capacity in this area dropped off from years’ past and can certainly improve this year.
Granted, this is just returning production, so it stands to reason that some of these squads will outperform and improve upon last season’s groups, but a few items stands out to me:
- Alabama’s got more questions than the MCAT
- Kentucky worries me even more
- Oklahoma is going to have a rude awakening
- Missouri is remarkably overvalued
- Ditto LSU
- Vanderbilt might have the greatest QB room in the conference, but need 10 more guys to play with them
- Florida has some talent, but no line play to build from and isn’t addressing that in recruiting, either
- Texas officially concerns me
What’s your takeaways?
Alabama has a ton of questions, but they also have talent stacked like firewood in the backyard. If DeBoer (or should we call him DeBore) is the Xs and Os guy Josh Pate keeps saying, the Tide isn’t going anywhere.
Texas won some one score games in the Big 12 last year. Something about regression to the mean with a step up in competition. I’m not saying they aren’t a playoff team, but the Bama game last year was before Saban let Milroe be Milroe.
Kentucky? It’s the reverse of basketball. They don’t have the quality depth to stay with us for 60:00 – just as we haven’t had on the court for 40.
Ole Miss could be interesting, but we also could run them all the way to Memphis. Kirby knows Junior’s offense better than anyone.
if i am reading this right…we are top 5 in all of these categories except RB and Secondary…sounds like we are about to go kick some folks ass…with some intensity…hbtmfd!
texas isn’t disciplined in game.
look at the number of penalties.
The conspiracy theory is that the B12 officials had it out for Texas and OU last year.
DawgStats puts out some quality info. Does the RB chart not figure in the transfer of Etienne? Also, returning WR numbers look good, losing two dudes in the first 30-something picks needs to see the returning guys keep it up