There has been some talk the last few weeks that we aren't getting a pass rush because teams are throwing quick on us. Well to me vs Bama, Florida and Memphis from what I saw I thought they were actually throwing kind of deep on us. So got home little bit ago and wanted to do some stat digging and such. Maybe I'm interpreting the stats wrong and such so feel free to give your opinion. But here are some stats and what I think they mean.
VS Florida
Will Grier threw 24/29 for 271 the key is that he averaged 9.3 yards per attempt. His passes over 10 yards (do we agree anything over 10 is at least intermediate and not quick?) were 36,77,15, & 12. He had two passes of 9 yards. Now obviously some of those may have been thrown short and ran for the yardage. But the WRs catching those balls also averaged over 7 yards per catch. The 36 one was a TD with no run after catch. The 77 was an 8 to 9 yard catch then run after. The 15 was about a 10 yard catch then run for TD.
VS Memphis
Paxton Lynch threw 39/53 for 384 he averaged 7.2 ypa. You might think he threw the ball quicker or shorter than Grier. Not so, he actually just threw more and had a lesser completion rating. He had 8 passes go over 10 yards; 36,13,21,31,18,13,17 & 11. He also had a 9 yard pass. Now I don't remember many of those being big runs after the catch. Maybe some of them but usually they were catching the ball as the stats say at around 8 yards or so.
Now Vandy and Bama only averaged about 4 & 5 ypa respectively. Obviously that is throwing a lot of underneath stuff and screens and such. They did hit a few long ones but not like Florida and Memphis did.
That isn't throwing short and quick. Not in my opinion. We call 3rd and 6 long third downs. So I don't think we can just say "they are throwing quick to combat our pass rush." A QB with a decent OL should have 3-5 seconds to throw the ball. For a receiver to run a curl or out route to gain about 8-10 yards it takes him about 4 seconds. The faster route would be the quick slant and it comes in at about 2 seconds. But teams haven't run a lot of slants on us. It's been curls, outs and crosses (which take even longer) I could be wrong but I have been doing some research and this is what I have found. So if you have other facts would love to hear them. So if a QB is completing 8 yard passes we should be able to get pressure and maybe even complete some sacks.
Getting pressure isn't just about getting a sack. Great if you do but you don't have to. It's about speeding the clock up in the QB's head. Make him think he has to throw it sooner than he has to. In other words instead of being able to wait on his WR run 12 yards and then break back towards him he is having to throw that ball before the WR is getting into his break. This is why I go back to why aren't we blitzing more? I get that the stats show we get pressure more percentage wise when we rush 4 instead of 5. But I have already talked about where that is a misleading stat because we have only blitzed like 63 times. That isn't even like 10% of the time. So I don't see how you can use that number and use it as a "trend" or tell tell sign. Blitz more and use exotic blitzes. What's it going to hurt? We give up long plays? You mean like the ones described in the Florida and Memphis game? Yes we have for the most part not given up long TDs but also it isn't much better if we can't get off the field on 3rd downs and allow long TD drives.
Blitz more and better coach!
VS Florida
Will Grier threw 24/29 for 271 the key is that he averaged 9.3 yards per attempt. His passes over 10 yards (do we agree anything over 10 is at least intermediate and not quick?) were 36,77,15, & 12. He had two passes of 9 yards. Now obviously some of those may have been thrown short and ran for the yardage. But the WRs catching those balls also averaged over 7 yards per catch. The 36 one was a TD with no run after catch. The 77 was an 8 to 9 yard catch then run after. The 15 was about a 10 yard catch then run for TD.
VS Memphis
Paxton Lynch threw 39/53 for 384 he averaged 7.2 ypa. You might think he threw the ball quicker or shorter than Grier. Not so, he actually just threw more and had a lesser completion rating. He had 8 passes go over 10 yards; 36,13,21,31,18,13,17 & 11. He also had a 9 yard pass. Now I don't remember many of those being big runs after the catch. Maybe some of them but usually they were catching the ball as the stats say at around 8 yards or so.
Now Vandy and Bama only averaged about 4 & 5 ypa respectively. Obviously that is throwing a lot of underneath stuff and screens and such. They did hit a few long ones but not like Florida and Memphis did.
That isn't throwing short and quick. Not in my opinion. We call 3rd and 6 long third downs. So I don't think we can just say "they are throwing quick to combat our pass rush." A QB with a decent OL should have 3-5 seconds to throw the ball. For a receiver to run a curl or out route to gain about 8-10 yards it takes him about 4 seconds. The faster route would be the quick slant and it comes in at about 2 seconds. But teams haven't run a lot of slants on us. It's been curls, outs and crosses (which take even longer) I could be wrong but I have been doing some research and this is what I have found. So if you have other facts would love to hear them. So if a QB is completing 8 yard passes we should be able to get pressure and maybe even complete some sacks.
Getting pressure isn't just about getting a sack. Great if you do but you don't have to. It's about speeding the clock up in the QB's head. Make him think he has to throw it sooner than he has to. In other words instead of being able to wait on his WR run 12 yards and then break back towards him he is having to throw that ball before the WR is getting into his break. This is why I go back to why aren't we blitzing more? I get that the stats show we get pressure more percentage wise when we rush 4 instead of 5. But I have already talked about where that is a misleading stat because we have only blitzed like 63 times. That isn't even like 10% of the time. So I don't see how you can use that number and use it as a "trend" or tell tell sign. Blitz more and use exotic blitzes. What's it going to hurt? We give up long plays? You mean like the ones described in the Florida and Memphis game? Yes we have for the most part not given up long TDs but also it isn't much better if we can't get off the field on 3rd downs and allow long TD drives.
Blitz more and better coach!
