Pass Efficiency / Rush Efficiency – Run the ball, stop the run, win turnovers

The old axium of run the ball, stop the run, and win the turnover battle to win consistently still holds true in the NFL but even more so in college. The reasons may not be as straight forward as they seem at first glance.
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The pass is the most efficient way to move the ball down the field…IF…
The run game is the best way to control the clock…IF…
Turnovers (take aways) increase for the defense…When…
Turnovers (give aways) increase for the offence…When…
What one player is involved in more turnovers than any other position on the field?
What factors influence the frequency of those turnovers the most?
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In the college game, most teams do not have an experienced and efficient QB. Experience with capability and processing speed dramatically impact the efficiency and turnover rate of the QB. QB efficiency is a requirement tat they pay big money for in the NFL.
Keeping the QB clean in the pocket also dramatically improves the efficiency of that QB. It allows him to pay more attention to what the WR’s and Db’s are doing rather than keeping an eye down on who might be about to knock him into the training room.
Keeping the QB clean is why NFL teams also pay big money to OL players. Those players get better in the 3 year and after, as they learn more about what they have to defend and defeat. Most colleges do not have 4 or even 5 elite level OL players. This adds to the loss of efficiency in the pass game and in turnovers.
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Having a QB with the tools and the mind to achieve efficiency and having the OL to keep him clean are two of the 3 big IF’s for moving the ball down field in the most efficient way. The 3rd IF is having a coaching staff to enable you to teach and execute a multiple passing game. Multi-level passing routes, options routes, hot routes, RPO. Most of those high end coaches end up at the NFL level rather than in college or elevate to the NFL because of their success in college. The coaches also don’t have 3 plus years to get all of the parts of that efficient passing game working together due to player turnover.
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An efficient running game is the best way to control the clock and the pace of the game…IF… Efficient rushing (yards per rush attempt) is how you define rush efficiency and not the number of rushes vs the total number of plays. 3 YPA gets you lots of punts. Close area rushing (redzone and short yardage) reduces your efficiency when both teams expect you to run. You can only Man-up with a power rushing game when the line is well drilled and practiced on power running. You just can’t flip the switch when you need it most of the time. An efficient run game kills the efficiency of the defense in stopping the pass. They can’t lay their ears back to come after the QB and the secondary can’t cheat up if you are able to RPO or play action efficiently.
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What one player is involved in more turnovers than any other position on the field? The QB! An efficient running game protect the QB and team from an increase in turnovers.
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Take aways increase for the defense when the run game is killed and there are more bodies on the backend to defend.
Give aways increase for the offence when the QB has to throw more and the DL can lay their ears back to come after him.
Run the ball to control the game. Stop the run to take control away from the other team. Stopping the run increases your turnover efficiency.
Being able to efficiently run when you choose and to run and being able to stop the run efficiently is still the foundation of consistent winning football.