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Alabama Football Net Yards per Play in the Saban Era
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:03 am
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:03 am
Below are Saban's teams ranked in order of Net Yards/Play:
**Note: Previous seasons are full season statistics while 2021 is just a partial season.
1. 2011: +3.14
2. 2019: +3.08
3. 2018: +2.87
4. 2012: +2.77
5. 2020: +2.77
6. 2017: +2.60
7. 2016: +2.48
**NOTE: Six of the seven teams at the top played for a National Title, with the only exception being the 2019 team.
8. 2010: +2.32
9. 2013: +2.32
10. 2009: +1.88
11. 2014: +1.79
12. 2021: +1.78 (so far)
13. 2015: +1.59
14. 2008: +1.22
15. 2007: +0.05
Of the bottom 7 teams prior to this season, only 2 of the 7 played for the National Title (both actually won the title), with 5 falling short of making the title game. This year's team currently sits firmly in this group.
It's worth noting that Bama's schedule typically gets more difficult down the stretch, especially in seasons in which they play in the SEC Championship and possibly a semifinal and national title game. It's likely Bama's net yards/play will fall slightly between now and the end of the season as their schedule gets a bit more difficult.
The 2019 team was statistically the second best team under Saban, however it must be noted that that team never played in an SEC Title Game, a semi-final game, or a National Title game.... 3 games that are likely going to bring those statistics down a bit.
These stats obviously don't mean that this Bama team is incapable of winning a Championship (as proved by the 2009 and 2015 teams), however it does appear that statistically speaking, this is one of the "weaker" (obviously that's a relative term) Saban teams. It will be interesting down the stretch to see if this team goes the way of 2009 and 2015 or the way of 2010 or 2014... seasons that obviously turned out with very different outcomes.
**Note: Previous seasons are full season statistics while 2021 is just a partial season.
1. 2011: +3.14
2. 2019: +3.08
3. 2018: +2.87
4. 2012: +2.77
5. 2020: +2.77
6. 2017: +2.60
7. 2016: +2.48
**NOTE: Six of the seven teams at the top played for a National Title, with the only exception being the 2019 team.
8. 2010: +2.32
9. 2013: +2.32
10. 2009: +1.88
11. 2014: +1.79
12. 2021: +1.78 (so far)
13. 2015: +1.59
14. 2008: +1.22
15. 2007: +0.05
Of the bottom 7 teams prior to this season, only 2 of the 7 played for the National Title (both actually won the title), with 5 falling short of making the title game. This year's team currently sits firmly in this group.
It's worth noting that Bama's schedule typically gets more difficult down the stretch, especially in seasons in which they play in the SEC Championship and possibly a semifinal and national title game. It's likely Bama's net yards/play will fall slightly between now and the end of the season as their schedule gets a bit more difficult.
The 2019 team was statistically the second best team under Saban, however it must be noted that that team never played in an SEC Title Game, a semi-final game, or a National Title game.... 3 games that are likely going to bring those statistics down a bit.
These stats obviously don't mean that this Bama team is incapable of winning a Championship (as proved by the 2009 and 2015 teams), however it does appear that statistically speaking, this is one of the "weaker" (obviously that's a relative term) Saban teams. It will be interesting down the stretch to see if this team goes the way of 2009 and 2015 or the way of 2010 or 2014... seasons that obviously turned out with very different outcomes.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:05 am to BHMKyle
TBF, the 2021 team hasn't played LSU yet. That game against us should give them a bump.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:06 am to BHMKyle
Well, I'm sure those numbers would be a lot better if we had played Vandy, USC, and Mizzou.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:07 am to BHMKyle
Yes, it will be interesting to see for sure.
I expect the Arky and AU games to be very tight.
I expect the Arky and AU games to be very tight.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:11 am to BHMKyle
It’s amazing the difference from the start of the 2016 year and on. Must have been a coaching change after the 2015 season.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:12 am to BHMKyle
While I don't think this offense is poor by any means, it is certainly going through some growing pains.
In recent years the lackluster play of the defense has been overshadowed by the dominance of the offense.
This year we needed the opposite to be true in the first part of the season, and it hasn't happened. (In fact, I would venture that the defense has maybe even hurt the offense in some respects. ##)
I say all of this keeping in mind that these units are still pretty darn good—they're just not what we've been used to seeing.
## ETA: To further back this up, the 2011 defense is considered among the best ever at Alabama, and yet the offense from that year is first on this list. I think the effectiveness of the two (in the same year) are very much linked.
In recent years the lackluster play of the defense has been overshadowed by the dominance of the offense.
This year we needed the opposite to be true in the first part of the season, and it hasn't happened. (In fact, I would venture that the defense has maybe even hurt the offense in some respects. ##)
I say all of this keeping in mind that these units are still pretty darn good—they're just not what we've been used to seeing.
## ETA: To further back this up, the 2011 defense is considered among the best ever at Alabama, and yet the offense from that year is first on this list. I think the effectiveness of the two (in the same year) are very much linked.
This post was edited on 10/26/21 at 10:28 am
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:15 am to BHMKyle
quote:
These stats obviously don't mean that this Bama team is incapable of winning a Championship (as proved by the 2009 and 2015 teams), however it does appear that statistically speaking, this is one of the "weaker" (obviously that's a relative term) Saban teams. It will be interesting down the stretch to see if this team goes the way of 2009 and 2015 or the way of 2010 or 2014... seasons that obviously turned out with very different outcomes.
2010 was arguably the most talented Alabama team of the Saban era, and 2014 they still made the playoff.
Saying this is one of the weaker Saban teams probably still means the floor is a CFP appearance.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:21 am to boXerrumble
quote:
2010 was arguably the most talented Alabama team of the Saban era
Agreed, or it was at least relative to that particular era of football.
The fact that they lost three games continues to be one of the strangest things in Saban's tenure, IMO.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:27 am to BHMKyle
Thank you for your interest in our program
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:27 am to BHMKyle
Yep, this team isn't dominant. Their only path to a national title is 2015 type improvement as the year goes on. Jury is definitely still out there.
It is something to note that we are #3 nationally is Net Available Yards (#1 UGA, #2 OSU).
It is something to note that we are #3 nationally is Net Available Yards (#1 UGA, #2 OSU).
This post was edited on 10/26/21 at 10:33 am
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:37 am to SummerOfGeorge
5. 2020: +2.77 averaged 48 ppg
12. 2021: +1.78 (so far) 45 ppg
12. 2021: +1.78 (so far) 45 ppg
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:48 am to skrayper
quote:
Well, I'm sure those numbers would be a lot better if we had played Vandy, USC, and Mizzou.
I remember when this tard OP had his model that tried to prove-up Bama didn't play as many ranked teams, even though those teams sank like a stone after they got wrecked by Bama.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:51 am to BHMKyle
So that is net yards computing offense and defense? Then that's an easy answer. The defense pretty much has sucked so far. Thankfully the offense is good enough to win most games. I like our chances the rest of the season, including the title game.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:51 am to BHMKyle
I'd be interested to see where the 2020 team was this time last season. They'd played 5 games and given up 19, 24, 48, 24, and 17 points. Then a light came on defensively and the final 5 regular season teams scored 0, 3, 13, 17, and 3. Not saying anything like that will happen this season but I suspect the midseason net yards/play last year was similar to what it is now.
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:54 am to BHMKyle
How did they do against UGA?
Posted on 10/26/21 at 10:57 am to BHMKyle
How did all those Alabama teams do against Georgia? Looks like 6-1? Is that correct?
Posted on 10/26/21 at 11:05 am to TideCPA
quote:
I'd be interested to see where the 2020 team was this time last season. They'd played 5 games and given up 19, 24, 48, 24, and 17 points. Then a light came on defensively and the final 5 regular season teams scored 0, 3, 13, 17, and 3. Not saying anything like that will happen this season but I suspect the midseason net yards/play last year was similar to what it is now.
2020 Alabama as of 10/26 was +2.40
vs Power 5 teams our defense to date has been significantly better than 2020 at this point
YPP Allowed through 10/26 vs P5
2020 : 5.79 YPP
2021 : 5.27 YPP
DIFF : -0.51 YPP
On the flip side, the offense is much less explosive
YPP through 10/26 vs P5
2020 : 8.18 YPP
2021 : 6.37 YPP
DIFF : -1.82 YPP
This post was edited on 10/26/21 at 11:09 am
Posted on 10/26/21 at 11:14 am to ronricks
I'll add in that (so far) this year's Alabama's offense is the first since 2017 to be under 500 ypg, and is about 1 yard shorter per play (6.78 ypp compared to 7.81/7.89/7.76).
The Defense (so far) is also the "best" in terms of YPG average, since that same 2017 year (308 vs 352/324/319). But on a yard per play scale, this year's the same as last years, and not as good as 2018 or 2019.
Alabama is somehow 2nd in the conference in total defensive yards, but the gulf between Georgia and Alabama, is the same between Alabama and 11th place LSU (208 yards to 308 yards to 408 yards)
CFBstats
The Defense (so far) is also the "best" in terms of YPG average, since that same 2017 year (308 vs 352/324/319). But on a yard per play scale, this year's the same as last years, and not as good as 2018 or 2019.
Alabama is somehow 2nd in the conference in total defensive yards, but the gulf between Georgia and Alabama, is the same between Alabama and 11th place LSU (208 yards to 308 yards to 408 yards)
CFBstats
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