What the stats say: Special Teams and Other Areas

[UConnJim]

Let's see how the the special teams and other stats rank and what they tell us about this season. 2015 stats are in ( ). These are the FBS rankings of 128 schools.

Kickoff returns: 117th (108th)
Kickoff return defense: 63rd (66th)
Net punting: 89th (112th)

Penalty yards per game: 1st (31st)

Time of possession: 15th (48th)

Turnover margin: 109th (15th)

Some very interesting stats here. Special teams seem to be about the same as last year. We cover kickoffs OK, but we don't have an explosive KO returner. Punting seems a little better.

I didn't know this, but UConn is the least penalize team in FBS. The team is disciplined.

Turnover margin is what has killed UConn so far this season. Our turnover margin relative to last year is 1.69 turnovers per game! Last year, we gained 0.69 turnovers per game and this year we are losing 1.0 turnovers per game. Think about this, UConn has allowed 3 defensive TDs already this year. Turnover margin has been the biggest reason UConn is not 4-0 right now.

 

[businesslawyer]

Let's see how the the special teams and other stats rank and what they tell us about this season. 2015 stats are in ( ). These are the FBS rankings of 128 schools.

Kickoff returns: 117th (108th)
Kickoff return defense: 63rd (66th)
Net punting: 89th (112th)

Penalty yards per game: 1st (31st)

Time of possession: 15th (48th)

Turnover margin: 109th (15th)

Some very interesting stats here. Special teams seem to be about the same as last year. We cover kickoffs OK, but we don't have an explosive KO returner. Punting seems a little better.

I didn't know this, but UConn is the least penalize team in FBS. The team is disciplined.

Turnover margin is what has killed UConn so far this season. Our turnover margin relative to last year is 1.69 turnovers per game! Last year, we gained 0.69 turnovers per game and this year we are losing 1.0 turnovers per game. Think about this, UConn has allowed 3 defensive TDs already this year. Turnover margin has been the biggest reason UConn is not 4-0 right now.

One million times this. Yes, the defense has given up way too many passing yards, and as frustrated as we are with our offense it is marginally better than last year, but it's the swing in turnovers that explains our season. Forget that last year we won the turnover battle -- which is the only reason we got to 6-6 -- and just look at what we're doing. We are controlling the time of posession and shortening games, which given our kicking is not a terrible strategy. We have to give the staff credit for the discipline of avoiding penalties. Yes, we need more from our OL but we at the same time have to at least recognize the eliminated procedure and holding calls. But that kind of conservative, ball control strategy can't win UNLESS you win the turnover walls. If we were doing even 1 net turnover a game better, we are at least 3-1 if not 4-0.

None of that, by the way, excused the failures of our play. But it does help put some of it into perspective.

 

[uconndogs]

Our offense has given up 3 TDs. Without them Maine is a pretty comfortable win and Navy and Cuse are close Ws. But that's football.

The defense is NOT as good as last year. I said all along there is no reason to believe it would be. We lost an NFL safety, two very good DLman and two decent LBs whom none of this year's replacements good overtake. It's a nice defense, but it's certainly not great and, at least to this point, doesn't generate turnovers.

Folks want to fire everyone and that's fine. Live in whatever fantasy makes you feel better or go more deeply into your misery if that's your thing. We are not a very talented football team, but I see improvement. It will take time for this program and Diaco to improve. Perspective and patience are more rare in college football than speedy WRs.