Field Position ... WTF !!!

[fourthandshort]

So there are many stats that can tell a story about who won or lost ... usually field position roughly evens out over course of entire game ... operative word being usually !!

UNI game: 13 drives, ISU average starting drive of 25, UNI avg starting drive of 40 ... a 15 yard difference on each and every drive; 13 x 15 = 195 yards disadvantage

SDSU game: 15 drives, ISU average starting drive of 19, SDSU avg starting drive of 43 ... a 24 yard difference on each and every drive; 15 x 24 = 360 yards disadvantage

NDSU game: 11 drives, ISU average starting drive of 23, NDSU avg starting drive of 33 ... a 10 yard difference on each and every drive; 11 x 10 = 110 yards disadvantage.

We won field position barely against SIU, dominated it against WIU. We also dominated it against MoST ... but we had horrible 1st half. Played it even against CSU and EIU.

Granted there are many contributing factors to WHY we have gotten obliterated in field position the last 3 games .. all phases of game, but mostly offense and special teams, and far less blame on the defense.

But simple point is this .. you can't play the 3 best teams in MVFC and get obliterated in field position, and expect to win the game. That we only lost by average of 11 points is a small consolation .. we know we played poorly. But our backs were literally against the wall all 3 games.

Hope the coaches are addressing this.

 

[Hamdonger]

Excellent observation and :shock: opening.

 

[fourthandshort]

To put the SDSU game in perspective .. we had the 2 big turnovers, fumbles from WR Schnell at our own 5 and QB Davis (on the snap, so unforced) at our own 19 .. both unusual turnovers, and in their red zone which resulted in 14 easy points, in a game we lost by 10. But remove the field position disadvantage on those 2 plays ... ignore those 2 entirely at 62 yards and 76 yards (assuming our avg of 25 yd line), means a total of 138 yards field position lost on those 2 fumbles ... that means we still had 360 - 138 = 222 yards disadvantage in field position over the remaining 13 drives.

That's how bad that game was from a field position perspective.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

really interesting. That’s some serious in-depth analysis.

 

[bb fan]

Good stuff, fourth.

 

[fourthandshort]

thanks .. it's called the hidden yards for a reason.

So this is how we can play NDSU and SDSU even statistically, and it feels like our guys got destroyed in every phase of game. Run game was not working against SDSU and UNI, so that was definitely a big issue in those. And we just didn't/couldn't use pass game to loosen up their defenses until late both those latter 2 games .. partly a case of winning team playing it safer with prevent type defense in Q4, but also a case of ISU playing with nothing to lose and clock ticking.

I don't have answer .. but we can't expect to beat the 3 best teams in MVFC averaging 220 yards less field position .. particularly with our OL getting overwhelmed.

Note, we saw signs of this 1st half at MoST and 2nd half against WIU. We need OL to settle down, but just as importantly, we need pass game to spread the defense out more earlier in game. Whichever QB can do that best should play.

We're not as bad as we've looked the last 3 weeks .. I truly believe we just got overwhelmed and disillusioned after all the positive chatter early. Young guys do NOT understand the grind at this level ... things are great and then you play NDSU, SDSU, and UNI ... bam, reality check !! This is not excuse making .. it just is what happens when you play a lot of young guys .. they tend to be fair weather. The old Mike Tyson line .. about getting punched in the face ., .well we just got punched in the face 3 straight weeks ... deal with it, learn from it, and get better.

I still love this roster. We still have a shot at being 4th or 5th best team from MVFC .. which means we still have shot at playoffs. Got to close out strong against 2 middle of road teams .. InSU is decent, and YSU just had very stout game against NDSU. We have to show up.

Maybe another stache challenge ??? Or just come with that attitude against an inferior opponent .. show the f up !!