Posted this earlier as a reply earlier but wanted to invite more discussion. I was just looking at some rushing stats, both offensive and defensive.
This season we gained 4.06 rushing yards per attempt (YPA) on offense. On defense, we gave up 3.71 YPA to opposing offenses.
This season was the first season since 2016 that our YPA gained was within 1 yard of our YPA allowed.
To compare against the Natty seasons:
2021: 5.26 YPA gained, 2.56 YPA allowed.
2022: 5.53 YPA gained, 2.88 YPA allowed.
I definitely don't think our defense was anywhere as good as it was in 2021/22, but I would also argue that our inability to keep our defense off the field contributed to them giving up a relatively high (for Kirby) YPA. You could see last night that they were worn down at the end of the game, and that wasn't the first time (Ole Miss).
The more I think about it the more I think the lack of a running game is what ultimately doomed this season. Not being able to run the ball makes everything harder. Gotta get some help up front.
This season we gained 4.06 rushing yards per attempt (YPA) on offense. On defense, we gave up 3.71 YPA to opposing offenses.
This season was the first season since 2016 that our YPA gained was within 1 yard of our YPA allowed.
To compare against the Natty seasons:
2021: 5.26 YPA gained, 2.56 YPA allowed.
2022: 5.53 YPA gained, 2.88 YPA allowed.
I definitely don't think our defense was anywhere as good as it was in 2021/22, but I would also argue that our inability to keep our defense off the field contributed to them giving up a relatively high (for Kirby) YPA. You could see last night that they were worn down at the end of the game, and that wasn't the first time (Ole Miss).
The more I think about it the more I think the lack of a running game is what ultimately doomed this season. Not being able to run the ball makes everything harder. Gotta get some help up front.
