On Tuesdays during the season, we generally take a look at the statistical trends for the Vols and the impact the latest game has had on them. Heading in to the the 2016 season, I thought we'd take a quick look at the year-to-year trends since 2011.
The charts are below, but here are a few observations:
Defense
Overall, the defense was pretty good last year, but they have a lot of room to grow this year as well. It will be hard to get much better at third down, but everything else can be squeezed a bit.
Interceptions and 4th downs are the only glaring problems, and the 2014 numbers (which were very good) seem to suggest that these two categories are either high-variance by nature or at least can be improved dramatically in the course of one season. Can't wait to see what a Shoop defense can do.
Offense
The offense was also good overall. It was both safe and good, but there is also room for improvement, most notably in the passing game. Whether that's, as most people think, on Dobbs or, as I think, on the facts that the slot receivers vanished right at the beginning of last season and Marquez North never really lived up to expectations, I think it can and will be improved this year.
The Tackles for Loss Allowed stat is a bit mystifying. In my mind, for some reason, it had improved, but the stat rankings say otherwise. How many yards might we average on the ground if this stat improves?
Penalties
This is one of those things I worry about. When you're trying to fix something, don't break something else. Yes, let's tweak the passing game and the aggression on defense, but let's not become penalty happy. That could undo in a hurry any other gains.
Special Teams
Woo.
Turnovers
Shoop! Is it there?
Here are the charts. What jumps out to y'all?
Category | Stat | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Defense | 3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense | 57 | 50 | 91 | 14 | 4 |
Defense | Red Zone Defense | 47 | 115 | 11 | 124 | 24 |
Defense | Scoring Defense | 36 | 104 | 78 | 35 | 26 |
Defense | First Downs Defense | 18 | 86 | 45 | 33 | 30 |
Defense | Team Passing Efficiency Defense | 58 | 24 | 35 | ||
Defense | Total Defense | 28 | 107 | 83 | 36 | 46 |
Defense | Rushing Defense | 69 | 85 | 100 | 65 | 49 |
Defense | Team Sacks | 100 | 98 | 99 | 29 | 56 |
Defense | Passing Yards Allowed | 12 | 111 | 27 | 22 | 57 |
Defense | Team Tackles for Loss | 67 | 48 | 90 | 21 | 80 |
Defense | Passes Intercepted | 86 | 56 | 40 | 15 | 93 |
Defense | 4th Down Conversion Pct Defense | 48 | 86 | 117 | 26 | 123 |
Category | Stat | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Offense | 4th Down Conversion Pct | 91 | 80 | 76 | 34 | 6 |
Offense | Passes Had Intercepted | 63 | 83 | 107 | 84 | 7 |
Offense | 3rd Down Conversion Pct | 56 | 81 | 92 | 78 | 20 |
Offense | Rushing Offense | 116 | 61 | 44 | 89 | 21 |
Offense | Scoring Offense | 106 | 22 | 94 | 62 | 36 |
Offense | First Downs Offense | 98 | 20 | 101 | 54 | 37 |
Offense | Total Offense | 104 | 18 | 102 | 90 | 50 |
Offense | Sacks Allowed | 40 | 5 | 21 | 117 | 51 |
Offense | Team Passing Efficiency | 69 | 31 | 111 | 70 | 57 |
Offense | Completion Percentage | 32 | 58 | |||
Offense | Red Zone Offense | 58 | 29 | 100 | 5 | 82 |
Offense | Passing Yards per Completion | 115 | 116 | 87 | ||
Offense | Passing Offense | 50 | 15 | 109 | 70 | 93 |
Offense | Tackles for Loss Allowed | 38 | 9 | 37 | 122 | 107 |
Category | Stat | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Penalties | Fewest Penalty Yards | 9 | 6 | |||
Penalties | Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game | 51 | 67 | 21 | 6 | 6 |
Penalties | Fewest Penalties Per Game | 56 | 92 | 26 | 7 | 16 |
Penalties | Fewest Penalties | 13 | 17 |
Category | Stat | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Special Teams | Kickoff Returns | 41 | 80 | 20 | 14 | 1 |
Special Teams | Punt Returns | 61 | 22 | 51 | 37 | 2 |
Special Teams | Kickoff Return Defense | 7 | 47 | 118 | 23 | 15 |
Special Teams | Blocked Kicks Allowed | 1 | 28 | |||
Special Teams | Net Punting | 104 | 52 | 28 | 36 | 30 |
Special Teams | Blocked Kicks | 70 | 41 | |||
Special Teams | Blocked Punts Allowed | 1 | 64 | |||
Special Teams | Punt Return Defense | 85 | 67 | 92 | 11 | 102 |
Special Teams | Blocked Punts |
Category | Stat | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Turnovers | Turnovers Lost | 20 | 58 | 87 | 61 | 13 |
Turnovers | Fumbles Lost | 6 | 28 | 24 | 37 | 46 |
Turnovers | Turnover Margin | 59 | 88 | 54 | 53 | 50 |
Turnovers | Fumbles Recovered | 71 | 113 | 29 | 78 | 81 |
Turnovers | Turnovers Gained | 91 | 95 | 35 | 34 | 99 |