read option [Fuller]
I am determined this spring to mine every possible stat for every possible insight. This week I delved into quarterback rushes. Not sacks. I wanted to know which offenses tended to have their quarterbacks take off, or planned runs for them into their game plans.
Baseline: here's Michigan and their opponents last year. Sacks and yardage lost to them are not counted, but I couldn't tell from scrambles and QB sneaks, or stuff like if he took off for 10 yards on 3rd and 15 that defenses are happy to give up:
| Season Avg | | vs Mich |
Opponent | QB Rush | Yards | | QB Rush | Yards |
Central Michigan | 1.8 | 8 | | 5 | 11 |
Notre Dame | 1.5 | 3 | | 0 | 0 |
Akron | 4.6 | 19 | | 3 | 11 |
Connecticut | 2.5 | 3 | | 3 | -4 |
Minnesota | 14.4 | 77 | | 18 | 69 |
Penn State | 2.4 | 4 | | 2 | 0 |
Indiana | 8.9 | 42 | | 10 | 60 |
Michigan State | 4.5 | 17 | | 4 | 1 |
Nebraska | 8.8 | 35 | | 12 | 31 |
Northwestern | 10.8 | 58 | | 24 | 92 |
Iowa | 5.2 | 25 | | 5 | 26 |
Ohio State | 14.7 | 119 | | 14 | 165 |
Kansas State | 19.2 | 97 | | 14 | 76 |
NCAA Avg | 7.5 | 40.0 | | 8.8 | 41.4 |
Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Kansas State ran option games. Minnesota's offense was QB power running (thing it is like: Michigan's 2010 offense when Rodriguez gave up on trying to make Denard into a zone reader). According to the UFR database Minnesota quarterback running plays vs Michigan were as follows: 7 QB powers; 2 draws; 2 zone read keepers; a false zone arc sweep thing, a QB sneak, and 7 scrambles.
The stats can't tell the difference between this kind of offense and a dedicated Richrodigan spread 'n shred. There aren't many teams who run this as their base offense, as simple as it may be, but a lot of teams have a mobile change-of-pace quarterback and a small package built around him. Notable teams who deployed a second guy:
Player (2014 Elig) | Team | % of Snaps | % Will Pass | Rush | Pass |
Austin Boucher (graduated) | Miami(NTM) | 51% | 73% | 80 | 211 |
Austin Gearing (So.) | 35% | 35% | 129 | 70 |
Drew Kummer (Jr.) | 14% | 71% | 22 | 55 |
|
Nate Sudfeld (Jr.) | Indiana | 61% | 94% | 22 | 338 |
Tre Roberson (Jr.) | 38% | 62% | 84 | 139 |
|
C.J. Brown (11th year Sr.) | Maryland | 73% | 72% | 119 | 303 |
Caleb Rowe (Jr.) | 26% | 91% | 14 | 136 |
|
Philip Nelson (transferred) | Minnesota | 59% | 72% | 79 | 200 |
Mitch Leidner (So.) | 38% | 51% | 89 | 91 |
|
Gary Nova (Sr.) | Rutgers | 68% | 93% | 25 | 328 |
Chas Dodd (graduated) | 32% | 87% | 21 | 143 |
|
Tommy Armstrong (So.) | Nebraska | 39% | 68% | 63 | 135 |
Ron Kellogg III (graduated) | 31% | 90% | 16 | 141 |
Taylor Martinez (graduated) | 30% | 77% | 34 | 116 |
|
Trevor Siemian (Sr.) | Northwestern | 63% | 92% | 29 | 315 |
Kain Colter (graduated) | 36% | 50% | 98 | 99 |
|
Braxton Miller (Sr.) | Ohio State | 72% | 65% | 150 | 276 |
Kenny Guiton (graduated) | 25% | 74% | 39 | 110 |
I included Rutgers to show Chas Dodd wasn't a Drew Henson-ian run threat except in comparison to Gary Nova.
[Jump: Okay spread zealots, do teams with running QBs have an advantage?]
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