Slow pace/Lack of plays: Nothing New

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

It’s interesting that a topic we’ve discussed many times since Jim McElwain took over in 2015 all of a sudden became this week’s hot take – the startlingly low number of plays run by the Florida offense this season. It shouldn’t have been all that surprising since it’s been the norm from the outset and really, for the past six seasons for offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

After running just 54 snaps in the numbing one-point setback to LSU last weekend, folks began paying attention to the ole “plays per game,” where the Gators are always dismal and this year to date is no exception – according to teamrankings.com (who smartly factors out games against FCS competition), the Gators stand No. 123 at 63.8 snaps per game.

Turning back through the past few seasons, the numbers don’t vary much. In 2016, Florida stood No. 110 (68.5 plays) and in McElwain’s first season in 2015, it was No. 105 (68.4).

For Nussmeier it’s just been the continuation of dreadful numbers in this department – in 2014 in his one season running Michigan’s offense, the Wolverines ran just 64.8 snaps a game to finish a dismal 123 out of 128 teams. Even in two successful years at Alabama, the Tide didn’t run many plays (or need to) and were No. 116 in the nation in 2013 and No. 114 in 2012.

To recap, for Nussmeier it’s been No. 114, 116, 123, 105, 110 and 123 (halfway through 2017) in terms of national standings for number of plays per game.

And yet, in 2017 this is a bit of a symptom across the entire SEC, save for Texas A&M, Saturday’s opponent in The Swamp. The Aggies are 26th in the nation in average number of plays per game (78.8), the only SEC team in the Top 50.

In fact, more than half the league, eight teams, rank in the bottom 30 nationally, from No. 100 (Kentucky) to No. 130 and dead last, Vanderbilt. In between are Missouri (104), Georgia (105), LSU (118), Tennessee (119), Florida (123) and South Carolina (124).

Following Texas A&M are Auburn (56), Mississippi State (69), Ole Miss (72), Alabama (77) and Arkansas (80).

Slow pace in the SEC, eh? Maybe it’s the humidity.

But to add some perspective, there is no formula that equates increased number of plays with overall team success. The Top 10 in number of plays this season are: South Florida, Duke, Syracuse, Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, Washington State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Indiana. Of the nine undefeated Power 5 teams, only Washington State (7), Clemson (20) and TCU (32) stand in the Top 50.

Slow pace does equate to low total offense numbers however – with five SEC teams standing No. 100 (Florida) or lower. To be more precise, five SEC EAST teams, with South Carolina (104), Kentucky (105), Tennessee (114) and Vanderbilt (127). Only Missouri (79) and Georgia (60) were the outliers . . .

Perhaps playing under the lights at The Swamp might help reverse a difficult trend for the Gators – the lack of offensive production in the first quarter. The Gators have scored only 13 points in the first quarter through five games, a touchdown and two field goals and have led only once after the first 15 minutes – 3-0 against Tennessee. The Gators are No. 119 in the nation (again games with FCS teams aren’t included) in first-quarter scoring and two of the 11 teams coming in lower are Florida State and Tennessee . . .

We won’t continue to belabor the point with the numbers parade, because in the official NCAA statistics, there are a lot of figures Florida would like to just as soon not recognize. To illustrate just how anemic the numbers are team-wise, the only category where the Gators are in the Top 20 nationally is net punting, where they sit at No. 16.

Net punting, ugh.

Nuss/Nord gotta go after the early signing period!


https://florida.247sports.com/Article/Slow-Pace-Lack-of-Plays-Nothing-New-108747951

 

[TheDouglas78]

Butt Nuss blamed the fans and franks for the reason the plays were taking so long during the 2 minute drill..

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

There is a method to this. Less plays run means less plays to grade and critique in the film room. Less work all around.

 

[TheDouglas78]

If we could manage to regularly get a first down, more plays would be run... usually a good offense regularly gets first downs.

 

[gatormandan]

So we need to hurry up and go 3 and out. Got it.

 

[cover2]

There is a method to this. Less plays run means less plays to grade and critique in the film room. Less work all around.

:) So true among the slackers in the old days! I can't imagine what would happen if we didn't have a team of GA's and AV guys to multiply the films after breaking them into group cut-ups, wide/close, etc. Getting 11 guys on the same page every snap takes some work, consistency, and attention to detail. From the outside looking in, it is easy to think that we fall short in those three areas.

 

[BMF]

Honestly, what's the plan here if there's not a head coaching change?

Say Nussmeir gets fired. Okay....that's a good thing. They could hire the OC at Gainesville HS and it would be an upgrade!

Say Nord gets fired. Great!

Now what?

We bring in a proven OC and then what happens? You know McElwain sticks his nose in and handcuffs the new OC, right?

Ed Orgeron hired one of the best OC's in the country in Matt Canada....and it finally came out before our game - after a "come to Jesus" meeting w/ the OC/DC/HC and AD....that Orgeron handcuffed Canada and did not allow him to implement his full offense.

We know Muschamp did it w/ his OC's (and he's apparently letting Roper run the show completely now).

So, do any of us think that Butters isn't going to meddle? He's just going to sit back - you know, as an offensive genius himself - and just let someone else run the show offensively? If that's the case, what does McElwain do?

If you look at Butters coaching history....he was a Special Teams coach for at least 5 seasons. My guess is he and Nord have come up w/ a plan and that's why we never see an attempted blocked kick or punt....it's why our return game stinks....and our kick coverage is horrible....and why our All-American kicker/punter have blunders occasionally. So whoever comes in as ST's coach will surely get their inputs from Butters....and do we think it improves??

 

[MidwestChomp]

This is what Nuss uses

 

[Swamp Donkey]

.

If that's the case, what does McElwain do?

This is exactly my question with Butters for those who claim we must keep him-- fkrnthe good ofnthe program or whatever-- and we've got to hope that an offense of coordinator can straighten him out. If he can't make an offense, he can't make a defense, and he can't recruit what is the point in keeping him?

I say fire Nuss (today perferably) and let Butter run his own offense. If swims great. If he sinks, goodbye.

We are not going to get a good coordinator with a head coach on the hot seat. So why go out sign a three-year contract for a lot of money for a guy who's likely going to be fired in November December
when the whole staff changes?