SOCON WEEK 5

[gofurman]

STILL - when you get called for TEN penalties we can argue some but maybe 8 were decent calls - we usually run at about 6 penalties or something ... I know we are youthful but still maybe 7/8 ? Honestly shocked a stacked senior team of William and Mary had 10 penalties also. 20 penalties total - ugh

Since Hendrix took over, it doesn’t look like we’ve ever averaged over 50 yards per game. Going back to 2012, we have been between 30-49 penalty yards per game for the most part. This year, we’re almost at 90. If you look at the cumulative stats over those years, we’ve averaged around 4-5 penalties per game. We’re averaging 9 this year. Given the amount of data we have since Hendrix took over, I’m hoping for a regression back towards the mean over the rest of the season. Maybe this will just be a statistical outlier year though.

To me, it’s not even the number of penalties, it’s that they’ve come at the worst times. This stuff balances out in the long run (usually), but the ones we’ve had have been especially tough.

Hendrix mentioned that this has probably been the most penalized team he’s had since he’s been here (or something to that effect), which is a bit of an understatement based on the previously mentioned stats. It’s unlikely the coaches aren’t stressing this stuff to the players. At some point the players have to do what they’ve been coached to do. Given Hendrix’s track record with lower penalties than most teams and run offense/defense, I really do feel like we’ll be a lot better by the end of the year. It just depends on when it comes together as to whether or not we have a winning record.

To the point of this thread…the SoCon is going to be tough for everyone this year. Mercer might be better overall, but for the most part the top teams from last year have come back some and the bottom teams have improved. Most teams probably have a chance to win any game (outside of VMI).

FUWolfpacker, TOTALLY AGREE.

And a big thank you for the data dive !!!

Thanks, I Didn’t want to look at each year but I knew from perusing game notes throughout the years that we “roughly” lead the SoCon or at least are top three in least penalties almost every year. And often are the least penalized team I think. There is often a section that says exactly that in our past game notes I think. And it’s a constant.

As you say, it’s the same coaches. Just different players. Now - same as with my slight allowance for turnovers - I get a freshman QB maybe a few extra false starts etc. Cadence. Practice. But some are defensive PI. Roughing the passer (Stetson game). Still I would hope by game 5 or 6 etc that would at least get somewhat closer to the CCH mean. Which has been AWESOME throughout the years. Awesome. We are one of the least penalized teams annually. You can’t always beat the other dude. Maybe he’s just better physically. Sure . But you can always keep from jumping offsides etc. Or at least don’t do it much. Play SMART.

MY gut wasn’t too far off. I mentioned can’t we get down to 7/8 penalties? IE. I’m allowing an extra penalty or two for youth. Anything over that is just far too many. I would hope we could get down to 6 per game as the year goes on. We might be 2–2 if that were the case already.

The reason I prioritized penalties over turnovers in a prior post was we obviously have a true FR QB where the defense is trying to confuse him and create a turnover. As opposed to penalties that are many times more self-inflicted. The other team doesn’t make us have a penalty in most instances. Most Because certainly turnovers are generally much worse than penalties. Absolutely. But I’m trying to be patient with a few interceptions. . Still. Quit fumbling!

[gofurman]

STILL - when you get called for TEN penalties we can argue some but maybe 8 were decent calls - we usually run at about 6 penalties or something ... I know we are youthful but still maybe 7/8 ? Honestly shocked a stacked senior team of William and Mary had 10 penalties also. 20 penalties total - ugh

Since Hendrix took over, it doesn’t look like we’ve ever averaged over 50 yards per game. Going back to 2012, we have been between 30-49 penalty yards per game for the most part. This year, we’re almost at 90. If you look at the cumulative stats over those years, we’ve averaged around 4-5 penalties per game. We’re averaging 9 this year. Given the amount of data we have since Hendrix took over, I’m hoping for a regression back towards the mean over the rest of the season. Maybe this will just be a statistical outlier year though.

To me, it’s not even the number of penalties, it’s that they’ve come at the worst times. This stuff balances out in the long run (usually), but the ones we’ve had have been especially tough.

Hendrix mentioned that this has probably been the most penalized team he’s had since he’s been here (or something to that effect), which is a bit of an understatement based on the previously mentioned stats. It’s unlikely the coaches aren’t stressing this stuff to the players. At some point the players have to do what they’ve been coached to do. Given Hendrix’s track record with lower penalties than most teams and run offense/defense, I really do feel like we’ll be a lot better by the end of the year. It just depends on when it comes together as to whether or not we have a winning record.

To the point of this thread…the SoCon is going to be tough for everyone this year. Mercer might be better overall, but for the most part the top teams from last year have come back some and the bottom teams have improved. Most teams probably have a chance to win any game (outside of VMI).

FUWolfpacker, TOTALLY AGREE.

And a big thank you for the data dive !!!

Thanks, I Didn’t want to look at each year but I knew from perusing game notes throughout the years that we “roughly” lead the SoCon or at least are top three in least penalties almost every year. And often are the least penalized team I think. There is often a section that says exactly that in our past game notes I think. And it’s a constant.

As you say, it’s the same coaches. Just different players. Now - same as with my slight allowance for turnovers - I get a freshman QB maybe a few extra false starts etc. Cadence. Practice. But some are defensive PI. Roughing the passer (Stetson game). Still I would hope by game 5 or 6 etc that would at least get somewhat closer to the CCH mean. Which has been AWESOME throughout the years. Awesome. We are one of the least penalized teams annually. You can’t always beat the other dude. Maybe he’s just better physically. Sure . But you can always keep from jumping offsides etc. Or at least don’t do it much. Play SMART.

MY gut wasn’t too far off. I mentioned can’t we get down to 7/8 penalties? IE. I’m allowing an extra penalty or two for youth. Anything over that is just far too many. I would hope we could get down to 6 per game as the year goes on. We might be 2–2 if that were the case already.

The reason I prioritized penalties over turnovers in a prior post was we obviously have a true FR QB where the defense is trying to confuse him and create a turnover. As opposed to penalties that are many times more self-inflicted. The other team doesn’t make us have a penalty in most instances. Most Because certainly turnovers are generally much worse than penalties. Absolutely. But I’m trying to be patient with a few interceptions. . Still. Quit fumbling!

If my weak math is right. If we average 40 yards MORE in penalties (90 this year vs 50 in most years) throughout a twelve game season that’s basically an EXTRA FIVE HUNDRED YARDS LOST. FIVE HUNDRED ! (12 x 40 = 480 so close to 500). Plus there have been years we kept the penalty yardage in the 30s which results in much more of a discrepancy

I just don’t see how we can many games forfeiting that many yards

[FUwolfpacker]

If it continues then you’re probably right. Again, given the amount of data we have, the hope is we move closer to our historical averages as the season goes forward. If it doesn’t and this is a huge outlier of a year, then yeah, probably going to be a slog of a conference schedule.

Given the penalties and turnovers, it’s honestly impressive we were only a few plays away from being 3-1 (not that it makes it more comforting). Most teams that have those penalties and turnovers usually lose by more than 2 TDs.

[apaladin]

If it continues then you’re probably right. Again, given the amount of data we have, the hope is we move closer to our historical averages as the season goes forward. If it doesn’t and this is a huge outlier of a year, then yeah, probably going to be a slog of a conference schedule.

Given the penalties and turnovers, it’s honestly impressive we were only a few plays away from being 3-1 (not that it makes it more comforting). Most teams that have those penalties and turnovers usually lose by more than 2 TDs.

So what you are saying is we are losers but not really bad losers.

[The Jackal]

The turnovers Saturday did not trouble me terribly much. You'd rather not have them than have them, of course.

At the same time, when you play a freshman QB, you're gonna endure some turnovers. That's part of the tradeoff.

[gofurman]

The turnovers Saturday did not trouble me terribly much. You'd rather not have them than have them, of course.

At the same time, when you play a freshman QB, you're gonna endure some turnovers. That's part of the tradeoff.

Yep. It’s tough for me to say but that’s what I was getting at. Interceptions are going to be forced by 5he D. trying to confuse a new QB. so I hate turnovers - about the most statistical correlation with winning. But if we are gonna run a Fr qb I probably have to accept some. The other team is clearly trying to confuse our young QB. Is the guy com8ng or backing out etc.

That’s why after
RUN
STOP THE RUN
I HIT - penalties. Some of the penalties are on our D etc. And it’s such a variance from the other CCH years. Have to get these down. At least to 7 or less

[gofurman]

Interwebs are struggling (I’m sure there is a lot traffic). Stumpys nice all-text site still works .

Is Mercer still playing Wofford. I can’t imagine they are unless they left Maconga pre-storm. Surely Macon got hit worse than our stuff. And to drive with risk of trees etc?

Any others cancelled?

Would be a little weird if Mercer is playing at Spartanburg and we aren’t.