Time of Possession (brace yourself, this is ugly)

[terdferguson]

We rank 123 out of 125 teams in time of possession. The other teams around us down there in the rankings are either teams that suck like Indiana, Hawaii, Wyoming or teams that have high powered hurry up offenses like Oregon, Baylor, and Texas A&M.

Let's take a closer look at the stats from this year and last year. I'm going to only count div 1 opponents.

In 2012, we won the time of possession battle 2 times and lost 9 times. The two games we won were USF and UNC. USF was horrific last year and we won the top battle by about a minute. UNC we won top by 38 seconds, so for all intents and purposes it was really a draw.

Here is what we did against our 3 toughest opponents in 2012:

KState 37:16 UM 22:44
ND 39:08 UM 20:52
FSU 34:34 UM 25:26

This year we have won the time of possession battle 1 time and lost 7 times. Our 1 win was against USF, who, let's be real, is not really a div 1 team this year. We won top against them by about a minute and a half. We even lost top to FAU this year.

Here is what we did against our 3 toughest opponents in 2013:

VT 39:30 UM 20:30
FSU 38:33 UM 21:27
UF 38:20 UM 21:40

So against our 3 toughest opponents both last year and this year we got absolutely smoked in top. How can you expect to win when the other team has the ball double the amount of time that you do? We were able to eek out the game against the gators due to all the turnovers. In the other 5 games, we were blown out. In the last two years, out of 13 acc games, we have won top only 1 time. Out of 19 games against d1 schools we have won top 3 times (2 of those coming against usf).

What does it all mean? TOP isn't the end all be all stat, but there is a correlation between top and winning. We don't need to go out and win top every time or even most of the time. But if you lose top nearly every time out and get smoked in top in every big game, you're going to lose some of those games. Our lopsided top is caused by two things: 1. our bend but dont break, don't care about giving up yardage, can't get off the field on third down defense. This is the problem with donofrios "don't care about giving up yards" philosophy. You get killed in top and two things happen: your defense wears down and you limit possessions for your offense. 2. Our offenses inability to sustain drives. How often do we put together clock eating 12 play drives? Our offense is all or nothing. An 80 yard td or 3 and out. We're hot one quarter then we gain 7 yards the next two quarters. My hope is that next year with williams or olsen we get a qb that is more consistent and can move the chains.

Bottom line is this...if you get crushed as badly as we do in top, it's an indication of major underlying structural problems with the team. You can't lose top as often and as badly as we do and expect to be an upper echelon team, it will never happen.

 

[canes1977]

Got to disagree with people blaming TOP on the offense. People think that the offense is off so quick that by the end of the game the defense is gassed and has nothing left. However, if youve watched the past 3 games, it's the defense getting torched so badly in the first half that the offense is unable to get any rhythm going. You get down 14 in the first quarter of every game and the offense starts trying to do much resulting in constant 3 and outs.

And enough with f*cking deferring to the 2nd half every game. Get the ball first and put the opponent on their heals instead of the other way around.

 

[terdferguson]

Got to disagree with people blaming TOP on the offense. People think that the offense is off so quick that by the end of the game the defense is gassed and has nothing left. However, if youve watched the past 3 games, it's the defense getting torched so badly in the first half that the offense is unable to get any rhythm going. You get down 14 in the first quarter of every game and the offense starts trying to do much resulting in constant 3 and outs.

And enough with f*cking deferring to the 2nd half every game. Get the ball first and put the opponent on their heals instead of the other way around.

We have these two camps it seems, those blaming the defense and those blaming morris and the offense. You're both wrong. It's both the defense and offense. Want proof? You are right about the past three games, but before that the defense had a very good third down percentage up around 30%. They were getting off the field. We still got killed in top because the offense doesn't sustain drives. Like I said, it's either a huge play or nothing with this offense. Rare is the long sustained drive. Waaaayyyyy too many 3 and outs. A lot of the offenses problem is Morris but there are other things too.....too many negative running plays putting us in long yardage situations. Too many drops. Too many mistakes.

 

[Harpdog]

Great post I believe top is both our offense and defense's fault. A bend but dont break defense irritates me to no end. But the offense might be even more to blame. we are 3 and out more times than i can count. I would put most of the blame on Morris. he does not hit the short over the middle passes well. This is the area of the field that is the easiest to complete passes.

 

[ScubaCane]

There isn't a 3rd down that I don't belive our opponents will convert, it is just painful to watch

 

[NVA CANE]

Everyone knows TOP doesn't matter. Neither do yards, or allowing 3rd down conversions, or how many first downs you allow. All of those are insignificant stats because corch Dorito told us the only thing that matters is the scoreboard.

 

[DaU83]

I dont care about yards, but get the eff of the field on 3rd and long.

 

[Dghustla]

The one thing that has not been brought up here is: With such a lopsided time of possession not only does the defense wear down. And it's a thin unit (we basically play 3 safeties). But it leaves no opportunity for the defense to get coached up on sidelines. How can the defense make any adjustments when as soon as they site down they have to get right back on the field. for example they kept running bootlegs and their was confusion on who should take the FB. How can that be sorted out when literally 1 minute later they are calling for the special teams unit.

I know the defense has a lot to fix. But significant lack to TOP is making a bad unit worst on so many levels.

What we saw from Morris against Va Tech is the story of his career. It's feast or famine. And when it's famine...it's ireland potato famine style. It's not all on him. The running game is the same way. But the inability to sustain long drive and allow the defense to rest and get coached up. but to also allow the opposing QB to get cold and antsy on sideline is hurting this unit.

Ppl undervalue the effects of sudden possession change can have on a defense. case in point. We couldn't move the ball on FSU at all. We have 1 decent drive and still got no points. But after both of their turnovers we were able to go 40-45 yards and score relatively easy.

We know the defense isn't good. but they haven't gotten much help from the other units as well. And also vice versa, the defense can't get off the field on 3rd down and get the ball back to the offense quickly before the other defense can adjust to what we are running.

 

[nope44]

I'll blame both sides of the ball equally.

I was looking at the stat and before fsu we weren't that bad. Goes to show you just how bad the last two games have been. Fsu wasn't as dominant before the Clemson game either, but good teams get better as the year goes on.

 

[CaneHammer]

The one thing that has not been brought up here is: With such a lopsided time of possession not only does the defense wear down. And it's a thin unit (we basically play 3 safeties). But it leaves no opportunity for the defense to get coached up on sidelines. How can the defense make any adjustments when as soon as they site down they have to get right back on the field. for example they kept running bootlegs and their was confusion on who should take the FB. How can that be sorted out when literally 1 minute later they are calling for the special teams unit.

I know the defense has a lot to fix. But significant lack to TOP is making a bad unit worst on so many levels.

What we saw from Morris against Va Tech is the story of his career. It's feast or famine. And when it's famine...it's ireland potato famine style. It's not all on him. The running game is the same way. But the inability to sustain long drive and allow the defense to rest and get coached up. but to also allow the opposing QB to get cold and antsy on sideline is hurting this unit.

Ppl undervalue the effects of sudden possession change can have on a defense. case in point. We couldn't move the ball on FSU at all. We have 1 decent drive and still got no points. But after both of their turnovers we were able to go 40-45 yards and score relatively easy.

We know the defense isn't good. but they haven't gotten much help from the other units as well. And also vice versa, the defense can't get off the field on 3rd down and get the ball back to the offense quickly before the other defense can adjust to what we are running.

Special Teams completely anal raped the whole team Saturday. But **** like that is going to happen when you trot freshman out to return kicks. Not giving excuses. Just saying what happened.

 

[Dghustla]

The one thing that has not been brought up here is: With such a lopsided time of possession not only does the defense wear down. And it's a thin unit (we basically play 3 safeties). But it leaves no opportunity for the defense to get coached up on sidelines. How can the defense make any adjustments when as soon as they site down they have to get right back on the field. for example they kept running bootlegs and their was confusion on who should take the FB. How can that be sorted out when literally 1 minute later they are calling for the special teams unit.

I know the defense has a lot to fix. But significant lack to TOP is making a bad unit worst on so many levels.

What we saw from Morris against Va Tech is the story of his career. It's feast or famine. And when it's famine...it's ireland potato famine style. It's not all on him. The running game is the same way. But the inability to sustain long drive and allow the defense to rest and get coached up. but to also allow the opposing QB to get cold and antsy on sideline is hurting this unit.

Ppl undervalue the effects of sudden possession change can have on a defense. case in point. We couldn't move the ball on FSU at all. We have 1 decent drive and still got no points. But after both of their turnovers we were able to go 40-45 yards and score relatively easy.

We know the defense isn't good. but they haven't gotten much help from the other units as well. And also vice versa, the defense can't get off the field on 3rd down and get the ball back to the offense quickly before the other defense can adjust to what we are running.

Special Teams completely anal raped the whole team Saturday. But **** like that is going to happen when you trot freshman out to return kicks. Not giving excuses. Just saying what happened.

I'm with you. And some ppl don't get that. Just think for a moment. Duke goes down we now have 3 freshmen on kickoff. return Phil goes down we now have a freshmen on punt return.

With freshmen you get those type of blunders. To me it's a very telling sign of this team's talent level... there isn't a SR or Jr on this roster who has enough play-making ability to get on the field as a return guy? Burns is tired you send in Corn Elder...when Elder,Burns,Coley and some other guys redshirting (jamal carter comes to mind) are Jr and Sr, do you think you will see 3 true freshmen get a chance to return kicks on a regular basis...NO, you will be lucky to see 1 freshman make that unit as a return guy.

 

[timepiece]

TOP does matter or it might when it comes to this team..
less possessions for the O
the O never getting into a groove
then again, more possessions for the O might mean more turnovers leading to easier points

for the defense
more time on the field for a defense that is thin and below average up front
the D being tired all game

 

[caneaddict]

TOP does matter or it might when it comes to this team..
less possessions for the O
the O never getting into a groove
then again, more possessions for the O might mean more turnovers leading to easier points

for the defense
more time on the field for a defense that is thin and below average up front
the D being tired all game

its amazing how people dont get it, an offense that has little TOP and doesnt score all that much compunded with turnovers by the offense and special teams will kill any defense especially a thin won with one NFL caliber upperclassman

 

[bigmont80]

I have absolutely zero confidence that we can get off the field in any 3rd down situation. Whether it's 3rd and 1 or 3rd and 21. ****, we gave up a TD on a 3rd and 17. 3rd and ******* 17!!! Nick Saban would've stabbed Kirby Freeman in the heart and watch him bleed out at the 50 if Bama did some **** like that.

 

[VinnDogg]

Yet some homers here think that Art Keyblowholio is a good coach too.

 

[NVA CANE]

The TOP stats are the very reason why yards matter. Why stopping a 3rd down conversion matters. Its why allowing teams to march down the field into the red zone thinking they will either make a mistake or you will hopefully stop them there is passive ***** ****. This defense at this point is probably mentally shot physically and mentally. And the reason for that is the bend don't break defense Golden and Dorito employ.

 

[ucrew02]

Yet another reason why I have been so adamantly against the hurry up. We have no rhythm so forcing the issue isn't going to help. To go along with that, it seems like the go to call in our hurry up situation is the stretch which seems to yield a negative play as often as a positive one. Coley has been absolutely awful at getting any kind of rhythm this year. It's not all on him but a good coordinator can do things to help his QB, who has struggled all year, and he hasn't done many of those things. Our game plan and playcalling seems to be a grab bag of 15 different things and it leads to a lack of cohesion and no real identity

 

[OBLIVION]

Got to disagree with people blaming TOP on the offense. People think that the offense is off so quick that by the end of the game the defense is gassed and has nothing left. However, if youve watched the past 3 games, it's the defense getting torched so badly in the first half that the offense is unable to get any rhythm going. You get down 14 in the first quarter of every game and the offense starts trying to do much resulting in constant 3 and outs.

And enough with f*cking deferring to the 2nd half every game. Get the ball first and put the opponent on their heals instead of the other way around.

We have these two camps it seems, those blaming the defense and those blaming morris and the offense. You're both wrong. It's both the defense and offense. Want proof? You are right about the past three games, but before that the defense had a very good third down percentage up around 30%. They were getting off the field. We still got killed in top because the offense doesn't sustain drives. Like I said, it's either a huge play or nothing with this offense. Rare is the long sustained drive. Waaaayyyyy too many 3 and outs. A lot of the offenses problem is Morris but there are other things too.....too many negative running plays putting us in long yardage situations. Too many drops. Too many mistakes.

If anyone believes that it is solely one side or the other. They are just trying to push an agenda. The reason for our struggles this season. Lands on both sides of the ball. One is no better than the other.

Plenty of teams play with horrific defenses, and manage offensively to stay in games, and vice versus. We are not good in either aspect period.

 

[561Cane]

TOP does not win you or cost you games. Turnovers and poor execution does....

 

[terdferguson]

Yet another reason why I have been so adamantly against the hurry up. We have no rhythm so forcing the issue isn't going to help. To go along with that, it seems like the go to call in our hurry up situation is the stretch which seems to yield a negative play as often as a positive one. Coley has been absolutely awful at getting any kind of rhythm this year. It's not all on him but a good coordinator can do things to help his QB, who has struggled all year, and he hasn't done many of those things. Our game plan and playcalling seems to be a grab bag of 15 different things and it leads to a lack of cohesion and no real identity

I agree with you. Whenever we hurry up to the line I cringe because it almost never works. As you pointed out the stretch play for negative yardage is the usual culprit. In the grand scheme of things though I don't think it has any affect on top. The reason being that we don't actually run hurry plays very often. Most of the time we line up quickly, wait and wait for the defense to show us something, then morris gets a call from the sideline, then we reset and run a play. At this point there's usually only a couple seconds left on the playclock.