- 2024 - Offense: 430 ypg/33.1 ppg --- Defense: 294 ypg/16.5 ppg
- 2025 - Offense: 362 ypg/31 ppg --- Defense:326 ypg/20.5 ppg
- 2026 - Offense: 395 ypg/28.9 ppg --- Defense: 297 ypg/19.3 ppg
Interesting to me to see this in black and white, and it shows the defense is less of the problem than I think most of us thought. They are actually quite close to the 2024 defense in averages, though I understand that the 2024 team had a much tougher schedule including the CFP. The main point is the offense, specifically the PPG. That has been our killer this year, 100% We simply failed to put more points on the board, despite having what seems to be a better offense between the 20's than last year. It's killed us.
I'd say the coaching staff has done a pretty good job, as I believe we have less talent on the roster than last year but are seeing better results... especially the defense. The DL sinks, but they have shown good improvement. Just imagine if we can get a couple good lineman, that would be huge.
As for the offense, more ypg than last year but less points. Again, we stall in the redzone. We need to fix that, perhaps another year to solidify the OL would help considerably.
Those are averages. In Tennis you can win more points and lose the match. Last year IU won a very high percentage of the big points against big teams. JF DID NOT win big points against big teams so the 2024-25 Stats are 'padded'. IU was great at winning the big points Cael Sanderson's team is great at winning the big points.
But you have a point.
Football is different than many sports in that it is about big plays and the teamwork matters more. In any given football battle (play) there are people who can take the play off but the biggest plays come from lots of little things. A good fake by several people, receiver blocking etc. One half-assed block by the receiver on the one good Hanson run and it is a TD. That can be the difference between 7, three and zero.
The shoe is lost for the want of a nail, the horse is lost for want of a shoe, the battle lost for the want of a horse, the kingdom lost for the want of a ...nail. The A's coach said something about small ball keeps everyone engaged as opposed to waiting for the pitcher to strike everyone out and the home run hitter to strike. Point is little things matter but everyone celebrates the big play and the player that made it.
The difference was not Hansen...it was the team. Predominantly line play and the opposition.
We had 2 stud RB’s last year but like you’ve said Roam, it’s probably not having any depth on the DL and it bites us in the second half. That 2024 team was stacked and imo Rocco would’ve been the perfect fit for that team.
@southern-psu-fan However; after a "Here we go again!" 3rd quarter, the D got their shit together a bit better for the 4th.
Maybe The Soup needs to stop feeding the team warm milk and cookies at halftime.
@been-there-ii They did settle down as the offense did to and ended the game on our terms.