re: Biggest Difference between 2017 & 2018

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There were a ton of reasons we weren't as good last year as in '17 but I don't think I'd put lack of FB use anywhere near the top.

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Well, offensively we had 6529 yards in 2017 and 6508 yards in 2018.

We had 66 TD in 2017 and 64 in 2018. (just from rushing and passing)

There were areas (Goal Line) where we definitely struggled offensively, and we were not as consistent in 2018 as we were in 2017, but I think we tend to overstate problems. The passing game was more wide open in 2018 and numbers went up there, so the numbers went down rushing a bit, but I tend to chalk that up to Fromm's improvement and trying to show some (a) recruit we could and would throw the ball more.

But, no, I don't think the lack of use of a FB hindered our offense. In fact having the extra receiver instead of a FB on the field could be another reason the passing game opened up a bit more.

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We'll either have Mathis or a TFr which is kinda scary, especially with tuscaloosa on the schedule.

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A transfer is very possible.

Same here, Eason will probably have a huge pro career, maybe better than Fromms. But we needed a quick release guy to run lardasses offense and Eason being a statue was not going to work early in Kirby's tenure. Might today.

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Didn't we average more yards per carry in 2018? Did Payne really break open that many long runs...

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Actually, we did.

2017-5.8
2018-5.9

Pretty much the same, but it did go up. This kind of surprises me. It kind of indicates to me that our rushing had better success play in and play out. With Chubb and Michel they would break a long run which would bring the averages up. If we had fewer long runs, that would mean we did a better job of imposing our will on the other team. It would be interesting to see the breakdown in long runs to be sure, though.

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The takes that Eason is trash are hilarious to me. He’s played one year and a couple series his sophomore year.

I hope he shows out at UW this season.

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I'd bet he does. he had the talent, he just needed a bit more time to get his head wrapped around the college game. It is a huge jump from high school to college for a QB. The year he had to sit out might have been exactly what he needed.....IF he spent the time in the film room and with coaches. If he took the year off, then he will struggle.

I'd bet he got in the film room, though, because he has something to prove.

I have to disagree with the Eason hot take. The kid had all the talent in the world, but he look like the same player he was in year 1 to year 2 even if it was just a few series. He couldn't make those progression reads, and was quick to bail out of the pocket. When he got hurt and Fromm came in, look how much the offense improved, moving down the field quickly against Appalachian State.

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It would be interesting to see the breakdown in long runs to be sure, though.

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Funny you should ask.
In 2018:
10yds+ 20yds+ 30yds+ 40yds+ Over50
109.........37.........15.........7.........13
In 2017:
119.........28.........13.........8.........9

I think we ran more reverse plays in 2018, and I think Swift and Holyfield broke more distance runs in 2018 than Chubb and Michel in 2017.