Who's got balance in the Big East?
November, 19, 2009
11/19/09
4:00
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Coaches talk all the time about wanting to have balance in their offense. They're don't usually mean a distinct 50-50 differential between the run and the pass, but at least enough equality between the two to keep defenses guessing.
So I thought I'd take a look at which Big East offenses have been the most balanced so far this season.
Cincinnati
Total plays: 642. Run: 47.5 percent. Pass: 52.5 percent
Total yardage: 4,780. Run: 34.2 percent. Pass: 65.8 percent
Connecticut
Total plays: 638. Run: 56.6 percent. Pass: 43.4 percent
Total yardage: 3,680. Run: 41.2 percent. Pass: 58.8 percent.
Louisville
Total plays: 668. Run: 55.8 percent. Pass: 44.2 percent
Total yardage: 3,394. Run: 40.5 percent. Pass: 59.5 percent
Pitt
Total plays: 622. Run: 57.7 percent. Pass: 42.3 percent
Total yardage: 4,105. Run: 45.7 percent. Pass: 54.3 percent.
Rutgers
Total plays: 577. Run: 59.3 percent. Pass: 40.7 percent.
Total yardage: 3,112. Run: 42.8 percent. Pass: 57.2 percent.
South Florida
Total plays: 545. Run: 62.4 percent. Pass: 37.6 percent.
Total yardage: 3,236. Run: 44.8 percent. Pass: 55.2 percent.
Syracuse
Total plays: 625. Run: 53.4 percent. Pass: 46.6 percent.
Total yardage: 3,052. Run: 38.6 percent. Pass: 61.4 percent.
West Virginia
Total plays: 659. Run: 58.1 percent. Pass: 41.9 percent
Total offense: 3,932. Run: 46.7 percent. Pass: 53.3 percent.
A couple of thoughts:
The most balanced team in the league, in terms of run/pass play calling anyway, is Cincinnati. It's a little surprising since the Bearcats have such a pass-intensive system, but not surprising when you consider they have the league's best offense. And Cincinnati is the only Big East team that has thrown it more than run it.
I would not have pegged South Florida as the team that has run the ball the most often, percentage-wise, in the Big East -- and by a fairly wide margin. It does make sense, though, if you consider all the times B.J. Daniels has taken off and run on what might have been designed pass plays.
UConn has far more balance this year with the increased emphasis on its passing game. West Virginia, despite incorporating a lot more passing, is still heavily run-based as the stats show. While Syracuse has been balanced in its playcalling, its production has been pretty bad, especially in the run game. The best bang for the buck in the running game appears to be Pitt, which is getting very good balance, production-wise, from both aspects while leaning heavily on Dion Lewis and the run game.
So I thought I'd take a look at which Big East offenses have been the most balanced so far this season.
Cincinnati
Total plays: 642. Run: 47.5 percent. Pass: 52.5 percent
Total yardage: 4,780. Run: 34.2 percent. Pass: 65.8 percent
Connecticut
Total plays: 638. Run: 56.6 percent. Pass: 43.4 percent
Total yardage: 3,680. Run: 41.2 percent. Pass: 58.8 percent.
Louisville
Total plays: 668. Run: 55.8 percent. Pass: 44.2 percent
Total yardage: 3,394. Run: 40.5 percent. Pass: 59.5 percent
Pitt
Total plays: 622. Run: 57.7 percent. Pass: 42.3 percent
Total yardage: 4,105. Run: 45.7 percent. Pass: 54.3 percent.
Rutgers
Total plays: 577. Run: 59.3 percent. Pass: 40.7 percent.
Total yardage: 3,112. Run: 42.8 percent. Pass: 57.2 percent.
South Florida
Total plays: 545. Run: 62.4 percent. Pass: 37.6 percent.
Total yardage: 3,236. Run: 44.8 percent. Pass: 55.2 percent.
Syracuse
Total plays: 625. Run: 53.4 percent. Pass: 46.6 percent.
Total yardage: 3,052. Run: 38.6 percent. Pass: 61.4 percent.
West Virginia
Total plays: 659. Run: 58.1 percent. Pass: 41.9 percent
Total offense: 3,932. Run: 46.7 percent. Pass: 53.3 percent.
A couple of thoughts:
The most balanced team in the league, in terms of run/pass play calling anyway, is Cincinnati. It's a little surprising since the Bearcats have such a pass-intensive system, but not surprising when you consider they have the league's best offense. And Cincinnati is the only Big East team that has thrown it more than run it.
I would not have pegged South Florida as the team that has run the ball the most often, percentage-wise, in the Big East -- and by a fairly wide margin. It does make sense, though, if you consider all the times B.J. Daniels has taken off and run on what might have been designed pass plays.
UConn has far more balance this year with the increased emphasis on its passing game. West Virginia, despite incorporating a lot more passing, is still heavily run-based as the stats show. While Syracuse has been balanced in its playcalling, its production has been pretty bad, especially in the run game. The best bang for the buck in the running game appears to be Pitt, which is getting very good balance, production-wise, from both aspects while leaning heavily on Dion Lewis and the run game.
Brian Bennett | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for The Courier-Journal
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
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