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The SEC and the so called GAP
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:02 pm
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:02 pm
I Continue to hear different analysts talk about the GAP between the SEC and other conferences closing. And we don't have your typical SEC defenses anymore. I believe the conference as a whole is stronger than ever, but we might not have that one team that is superior. If we canibalize each other like everyone is saying do you think we will look weaker?
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Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:03 pm to justausedcarguy
Not if everyone continues beating OOC teams.
Missouri.
Missouri.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:05 pm to justausedcarguy
Is an unfair comparison. Even Bama fans myself included draw the conclusion that if a defense doesn't perform to the level of 2011 then that defense is not that good. Truth is there has been a culture change of offense in the sec and it will take a few years for defenses to adjust.
This post was edited on 9/23/14 at 11:06 pm
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:07 pm to CNB
quote:
Missouri.
We will right the ship this weekend.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:11 pm to labamafan
That was a bad beat Mizzou. If every SEC team has two or more losses. We might still have the "gap" due to balance but most will not recognize it.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:14 pm to justausedcarguy
Bama taking it on the chin in the Sugar Bowl and Auburn letting it slip away didn't help. Top to bottom the SEC has the best overall conference. The B1G is a complete joke. The Big 12 only has OU, Baylor and maybe WVU. The ACC has FSU and ND. The Pac seems to be deep, but with UCLA struggling with Memphis and Va. I'm just not that convinced.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:30 pm to MontyFranklyn
Agreed
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:48 pm to justausedcarguy
As stated before, it's less an issue of the SEC defenses collapsing, and more a change in offensive identity within the league mixed a continued determination by analysts and fans to put way too much emphasis on total yardage.
Go back to the times before Petrino arrived at Arkansas and you essentially have an entire league running nothing but power running offenses -- offenses that slow down the game, reduce plays and reduce drives. Back then it gave the SEC too much credit defensively and not enough offensively, now it's the opposite.
Stat lines don't ever take numbers into account on a per drive or per play basis, and since now you have most games with more possessions and more plays stat lines look a lot worse.
For example, 350 yards and ~24 points allowed on 12 drives now turns into 420 yards and ~28 points on 14 drives. Same performance, 20% increase in yardage given up.
Conference power is always fluid as programs have good and bad years. The difference though is the gulf in resources, exposure, and support that the SEC has. That general trend isn't going to change any time soon even if it doesn't lead to SEC dominance every single year.
Go back to the times before Petrino arrived at Arkansas and you essentially have an entire league running nothing but power running offenses -- offenses that slow down the game, reduce plays and reduce drives. Back then it gave the SEC too much credit defensively and not enough offensively, now it's the opposite.
Stat lines don't ever take numbers into account on a per drive or per play basis, and since now you have most games with more possessions and more plays stat lines look a lot worse.
For example, 350 yards and ~24 points allowed on 12 drives now turns into 420 yards and ~28 points on 14 drives. Same performance, 20% increase in yardage given up.
Conference power is always fluid as programs have good and bad years. The difference though is the gulf in resources, exposure, and support that the SEC has. That general trend isn't going to change any time soon even if it doesn't lead to SEC dominance every single year.
Posted on 9/23/14 at 11:50 pm to justausedcarguy
With did you capitalize the word gap?
Posted on 9/24/14 at 1:22 am to justausedcarguy
We are weaker this year
Posted on 9/24/14 at 1:23 am to Weagle25
How so?
Posted on 9/24/14 at 1:26 am to MontyFranklyn
quote:
The ACC has FSU and ND.
You sure about that?
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:50 am to Weagle25
quote:
We are weaker this year
I agree but SEC is stronger as a whole.
Posted on 9/24/14 at 7:35 am to CNB
quote:
Not if everyone continues beating OOC teams.
Missouri.
Posted on 9/24/14 at 7:38 am to Fuzzy
I agree with your assessment. I think the stat that tells you more is yards per play instead of whatever the total yardage is.
Posted on 9/24/14 at 7:52 am to Mizzou to my Lou
Rules changes and an obvious, conscious decision to not call holding are more responsible for the surge in offensive numbers than any philosophical changes.
Posted on 9/24/14 at 8:23 am to SwaggerCopter
quote:Well FSU and ND have to play. I expect FSU to win that, but lose to Florida. ND will lose to Stanford if Shaw is competent enough to win it. ND should beat USC though.
You sure about that?
Posted on 9/24/14 at 8:38 am to justausedcarguy
I see no gap between the SECe and other conferences. the SECw gap is enormous. When will an SECe team beat an SECw team this season?
next game is LSU @ Florida week7
week8 has Georgia@Arky UT@OleMiss and KU@LSU
Georgia over Arkansas is the obvious call but that is by no means a lock.
The first East win over a West team may be so far into the season that the playoff picture has already been whittled down to ~8 teams
next game is LSU @ Florida week7
week8 has Georgia@Arky UT@OleMiss and KU@LSU
Georgia over Arkansas is the obvious call but that is by no means a lock.
The first East win over a West team may be so far into the season that the playoff picture has already been whittled down to ~8 teams
Posted on 9/24/14 at 8:46 am to STUPIDFACE
Agreed, rule changes directly assist the offense but also the response of teams to the rule changes further emphasizes the offense.
This is very intentional in regards to player safety but also "excitement." People are more likely to watch high scoring games.
This is very intentional in regards to player safety but also "excitement." People are more likely to watch high scoring games.
Posted on 9/24/14 at 9:19 am to BearBait09
SC @ Auburn will be the first
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