Plays |
Total Yds |
Yds/Play |
Yds/Carry* |
Yds/PassAtt |
|
NCSU |
76 |
515 |
6.8 | 6.4 |
9.3 |
CITADEL |
48 |
226 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
3.9 |
(Yds/carry stats are calculated after removing sacks from the equation.)
Yeah, that looks pretty much exactly like what I was expecting. Limiting The Citadel to just 3.9 yards per pass attempt was particularly impressive since a triple option team like that usually connects on a gotcha throw or two. Even including the stats from this game, the Bulldogs are averaging 10.9 yards per attempt. But State was never fooled into giving up a big pass play, and the only one that came close to working ended with the ball in David Amerson's hands.
State's defense also got The Citadel behind schedule and put the Bulldogs in more obvious passing situations, which helped as well. But it didn't seem like The Citadel's staff was very creative in this game. They attempted just two passes on first down and none of their attempts came with fewer than five yards to go for a first down. So perhaps their situational timing could have been improved a bit.
The Bulldogs finished 2-9 on third down and 0-2 on fourth, and that certainly contributed to their low play total. Their punter was good, though.