Football
By the Numbers - The Other Side
By Jeff AmeyWith the By the Numbers article each week, we always have some kind of idea what the Ohio State offense does. What about the other team? After being dominated by the Ohio State defense, how does an opposing team's offense shake out in the same breakdown I subject the Ohio State offense? This week, you're in luck. Since this is (post) Michigan week, and we have to break out new wrinkles, I thought it would be fun to do a breakdown of the Michigan offense.
When you take a look at these numbers, you'll be doubly glad you're not a Michigan fan.
Run/Pass Breakdown
59 Total Plays--91 yards--1.5 ypp
37 pass (63%)--12/37 for 77 yards
22 runs (37%) for 14 yards--0.6 ypc
15 Offensive Possessions
ave. of 3.9 plays--6.1 yards
ave. start--Michigan 31
First Down--21 plays (36%) for 28 yards
9 pass (43%)--3/9 for 21 yards
12 runs (57%) for 7 yards--0.6 ypc
ave. gain of 1.3 yards
Second Down--20 plays (34%) for 52 yards
13 pass (65%)--6/13 for 43 yards
7 runs (35%) for 9 yards--1.3 ypc
ave. of 10.2 yards to go
ave. gain of 2.6 yards
Third Down--17 plays (29%) for 11 yards
14 pass (82%)--3/14 for 13 yards
3 runs (18%) for -2 yards--(-0.7) ypc
ave. of 9.5 yards to go
ave. gain of 0.6 yards
conversions--2/17 (12%)
Fourth Down--1 play (2%) for 0 yards
1 pass (100%)--0/1 for 0 yards
ave. of 10.0 yards to go
ave. gain of 0.0 yards
conversions--0/1 (0%)
Playaction Passing
2/4 for 13 yards
First Downs--8
3 by run
3 by pass
2 by penalty
FORMATION BREAKDOWN
Two back formations--17 plays (29%)
3 pass (18%)--2/3 for 13 yards
14 runs (82%) for 23 yards--1.6 ypc
Shotgun formations--24 plays (41%)
21 pass (88%)--4/21 for 27 yards
3 runs (12%) for -9 yards--(-3.0) ypc
One back formations--18 plays (31%)
13 pass (72%)--6/13 for 37 yards
5 runs (28%) for 0 yards--0.0 ypc
RUN TYPE BREAKDOWN--22 attempts
Stretch--10 (45%) for 31 yards--3.1 ypc
QB run/scramble--5 (23%) for -26 yards--(-5.2) ypc
Base/Iso--4 (18%) for 4 yards--1.0 ypc
Draw--2 (9%) for 6 yards--3.0 ypc
End Around--1 (5%) for -1 yard--(-1.0) ypc
Other Stats of Note
* 2 offensive penalties for the game
* Michigan started on the Ohio State side of the 50 twice--0 points
* 1/1 in the Red Zone--(1 FG)
* 5 sacks and 0 turnovers
* 14/59 plays took place on Ohio State side of 50--(24%)
* 39/59 plays went for no gain or loss--(66%)
* Number of plays of 10 yards or more--2
* 1st half offensive production--31 plays for 77 yards--5 first downs
* 2nd half offensive production--28 plays for 14 yards--3 first downs (2 by penalty)
There you have it, in all of its glory. There are some pretty ugly (or beautiful, depending on what side you're on) statistics in there to take note of.
First and foremost, 39 of their 59 plays went for no gain or loss. That's 66%, or nearly two thirds of all of their plays gained nothing or lost yards. To put this in perspective, Ohio State's worst percentage in that category this season was against Illinois, at 36% going for no gain or loss. Even in the loss to Florida in the National Championship game last season, it was only 49%.
Second, if you look at third down passing, you'll see that Michigan only completed three of their fourteen attempts, and converted only two of their seventeen third downs for the game. It didn't help that they were having to gain an average of 9.5 yards every time they lined up on third down. Lack of first and second down production doomed Michigan in this game.
Lastly, if you look at their production in the Shotgun, it is almost shockingly bad. Four completions out of 21 passes. Three rushing attempts (all sacks) for negative nine yards. That's 24 plays for a grand total of 18 yards. It was clear that when Michigan lined up in a shotgun, they were going to pass (they didn't attempt any halfback runs from it), and the Ohio State defense teed off accordingly. There was pressure on Henne on nearly every one of those plays.
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