We are 4 weeks deep in season 3 and things are starting to shape up. The Outlaws and Hawks have a 2 game lead in their Conferences and the Liberty and Legion have to play catch up. We have seen 8 different offenses do their best to score points on the ground and through the air. Tonight we will focus on each team's ground game and attempt to make sense of some of these backfields. We will Primarily look only at team totals this week, visiting individual players in the coming weeks. We will be ranking, sorting and judging.. go get a drink and let's begin by ranking each backfield in various statistical categories. At the end of the article you'll find BOLTY'S TOP 4 RUSHING OFFENSES (through 4 weeks) We heard there was a need for articles written by clueless n00bs and we are here to deliver exactly that for you. Here are numbers:
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]YARDS[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OUTLAWS: 559 Yards
2) YETI: 421 Yards
3) HAWKS: 414 Yards
4) WRAITHS: 359 Yards
5) SABERCATS: 357 Yards
6) LIBERTY: 320 Yards
7) LEGION: 270 Yards
8) OTTERS: 220 Yards[/div]
Now, looking at this list it becomes clear who if running their offense through their backfield, and who is using their backs simply to compliment their air attack. Yards alone don't win games though, let's take a look at how teams are doing scoring points on the ground after 4 weeks.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OTTERS: 7
2) LIBERTY: 4
3) WRAITHS: 3
T-4) OUTLAWS: 2
T-4) HAWKS: 2
T-6) YETI: 1
T-6) SABERCATS: 1
T-6) LEGION: 1[/div]
Now, no two lists better demonstrate how teams utilize their backs as much as these two lists above. Even though the OUTLAWS have 2.5 times the ground yards that the OTTERS do, the OTTERS have outscored the OUTLAWS 42-12 on the ground. That is an interesting difference that leads us to wonder how teams compare in POINTS PER RUSH.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]POINTS PER RUSH ATTEMPT[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OTTERS: .61 ppra
2) LIBERTY: .24 ppra
3) WRAITHS: .17 ppra
4) HAWKS: .09 ppra
5) OUTLAWS: .08 ppra
6) LEGION: .07 ppra
7) YETI: .05 ppra
8) SABERCATS: .04 ppra[/div]
Unfortunately, not much stands out here. After 4 weeks this list is very similar to the POINTS SCORED list. The only item that deserves attention here is the OTTERS ridiculous .61 points per rush attempt figure. It is very unlikely the OTTERS are able to continue that efficiency throughout the season. Speaking of efficiency, lets see how the teams stack up in Yards per attempt.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]YARDS PER ATTEMPT[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"] T-1) OUTLAWS: 3.6 ypa
T-1) YETI: 3.6 ypa
3) WRAITHS: 3.5 ypa
T-4) HAWKS: 3.2 ypa
T-4) OTTERS: 3.2 ypa
T-6) LIBERTY: 3.1 ypa
T-6) LEGION: 3.1 ypa
8) SABERCATS: 2.6 ypa[/div]
This pretty much confirms what we already know, the OUTLAWS are great at moving the ball on the ground. This list makes a ton of sense when compared to the TOTAL YARDS list and once again it is the OTTERS standing out. While the OTTERS have the lowest YARDS total, they are tied for 4th in YPC. How would you rank the backfields as a whole?
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]BOLTY'S TOP 4 GROUND GAME RANKS (after wk 4)[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OUTLAWS:[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"] This one is a no brainer. The Outlaws have slayed on the ground with a league leading yards per carry. They lean on Mackworthy to move the ball early and often. Mackworthy has 408 of his teams 559 rushing yards at a 3.4 average. With 155 attempts as a team, it is clear the Outlaws have made their ground game a focus. Id like to see more scoring on the ground but with 7 tds through the air (T-3), they don't seem to need to lean on their run game in the red zone. Tuck is pulling his weight as well with a league leading 5 yards per carry (min. 20 attempts).[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]2) WRAITHS: [/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Coming in at number 2 are the Wraiths. They rank 4th in rushing yardage and are tied for 3rd in yards per attempt. Their 104 attempts ranks 5th, suggesting the Wraiths have found balance in their offense. Nuck is their workhorse and its evident looking at the numbers as QB Orosz has more rushing yards than backup RB Kennedy. The Wraiths have been able to turn rushes into points with their 3 Rushing TDs, tied for 3rd in the league. The Wraiths have room to move up this list and the talent to do it.[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]3) OTTERS:[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]7 td's. That is a hard stat to ignore. It is even more impressive when you consider the Otters have another 7 td's through the air. Burnsman and Jenkins are pacing the league with 4 and 3 td's respectively, good for 1st and 2nd in the league. Burnsman's 4.1 yards per carry is good for second in the league (minimum 20 attempts). While the Otters may currently trail the league in attempts and total yards, they get the job done when their numbers are called. The only thing holding this ground game back from a statistical standpoint is lack of opportunity between the 20's, the absense of which is partially made up for in the passing game, which sees Jenkins leading all rbs in yards through the air.[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]4) YETI: [/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]In 4th place lie the Yeti. They are second in yards and yards per attempt while their feature back Tweed is also second in yards and second in rush attempts. Tweed's average of 3.7 yards per attempt puts him in 3rd place among RBs with at least 20 attempts. It's not all good though as backup newman has been a non-factor and the team has only managed 1 touchdown on the ground. We need to see the latter improve if the Yeti are to improve this rank.[/div]
Did Bolty get it right or would you rank em differently? Let us know in the comment section below.
(1010 words)
GRADED
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]YARDS[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OUTLAWS: 559 Yards
2) YETI: 421 Yards
3) HAWKS: 414 Yards
4) WRAITHS: 359 Yards
5) SABERCATS: 357 Yards
6) LIBERTY: 320 Yards
7) LEGION: 270 Yards
8) OTTERS: 220 Yards[/div]
Now, looking at this list it becomes clear who if running their offense through their backfield, and who is using their backs simply to compliment their air attack. Yards alone don't win games though, let's take a look at how teams are doing scoring points on the ground after 4 weeks.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OTTERS: 7
2) LIBERTY: 4
3) WRAITHS: 3
T-4) OUTLAWS: 2
T-4) HAWKS: 2
T-6) YETI: 1
T-6) SABERCATS: 1
T-6) LEGION: 1[/div]
Now, no two lists better demonstrate how teams utilize their backs as much as these two lists above. Even though the OUTLAWS have 2.5 times the ground yards that the OTTERS do, the OTTERS have outscored the OUTLAWS 42-12 on the ground. That is an interesting difference that leads us to wonder how teams compare in POINTS PER RUSH.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]POINTS PER RUSH ATTEMPT[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OTTERS: .61 ppra
2) LIBERTY: .24 ppra
3) WRAITHS: .17 ppra
4) HAWKS: .09 ppra
5) OUTLAWS: .08 ppra
6) LEGION: .07 ppra
7) YETI: .05 ppra
8) SABERCATS: .04 ppra[/div]
Unfortunately, not much stands out here. After 4 weeks this list is very similar to the POINTS SCORED list. The only item that deserves attention here is the OTTERS ridiculous .61 points per rush attempt figure. It is very unlikely the OTTERS are able to continue that efficiency throughout the season. Speaking of efficiency, lets see how the teams stack up in Yards per attempt.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]YARDS PER ATTEMPT[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"] T-1) OUTLAWS: 3.6 ypa
T-1) YETI: 3.6 ypa
3) WRAITHS: 3.5 ypa
T-4) HAWKS: 3.2 ypa
T-4) OTTERS: 3.2 ypa
T-6) LIBERTY: 3.1 ypa
T-6) LEGION: 3.1 ypa
8) SABERCATS: 2.6 ypa[/div]
This pretty much confirms what we already know, the OUTLAWS are great at moving the ball on the ground. This list makes a ton of sense when compared to the TOTAL YARDS list and once again it is the OTTERS standing out. While the OTTERS have the lowest YARDS total, they are tied for 4th in YPC. How would you rank the backfields as a whole?
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]BOLTY'S TOP 4 GROUND GAME RANKS (after wk 4)[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]1) OUTLAWS:[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"] This one is a no brainer. The Outlaws have slayed on the ground with a league leading yards per carry. They lean on Mackworthy to move the ball early and often. Mackworthy has 408 of his teams 559 rushing yards at a 3.4 average. With 155 attempts as a team, it is clear the Outlaws have made their ground game a focus. Id like to see more scoring on the ground but with 7 tds through the air (T-3), they don't seem to need to lean on their run game in the red zone. Tuck is pulling his weight as well with a league leading 5 yards per carry (min. 20 attempts).[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]2) WRAITHS: [/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Coming in at number 2 are the Wraiths. They rank 4th in rushing yardage and are tied for 3rd in yards per attempt. Their 104 attempts ranks 5th, suggesting the Wraiths have found balance in their offense. Nuck is their workhorse and its evident looking at the numbers as QB Orosz has more rushing yards than backup RB Kennedy. The Wraiths have been able to turn rushes into points with their 3 Rushing TDs, tied for 3rd in the league. The Wraiths have room to move up this list and the talent to do it.[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]3) OTTERS:[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]7 td's. That is a hard stat to ignore. It is even more impressive when you consider the Otters have another 7 td's through the air. Burnsman and Jenkins are pacing the league with 4 and 3 td's respectively, good for 1st and 2nd in the league. Burnsman's 4.1 yards per carry is good for second in the league (minimum 20 attempts). While the Otters may currently trail the league in attempts and total yards, they get the job done when their numbers are called. The only thing holding this ground game back from a statistical standpoint is lack of opportunity between the 20's, the absense of which is partially made up for in the passing game, which sees Jenkins leading all rbs in yards through the air.[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]4) YETI: [/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]In 4th place lie the Yeti. They are second in yards and yards per attempt while their feature back Tweed is also second in yards and second in rush attempts. Tweed's average of 3.7 yards per attempt puts him in 3rd place among RBs with at least 20 attempts. It's not all good though as backup newman has been a non-factor and the team has only managed 1 touchdown on the ground. We need to see the latter improve if the Yeti are to improve this rank.[/div]
Did Bolty get it right or would you rank em differently? Let us know in the comment section below.
(1010 words)
GRADED