http://www.salon.com/2016/09/28/theres-no-d-in-acc-fast-paced-offenses-dominating-league/
The continuing evolution of spread and no-huddle offenses in college football is changing the way some coaches measure defensive success.
That’s a good thing for the ACC. Already this season, there have been eight games involving at least one Atlantic Coast Conference team in which the winning team gave up at least 30 points.
Pittsburgh (2-2, 0-1 ACC) has played in three straight games with scores in the 30s and 40s, all against Power Five programs. The Panthers beat Penn State 42-39 , then lost 45-38 at Oklahoma State and 37-36 last weekend at North Carolina. Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi said rule changes have made playing defense more challenging.
“It’s been like that for a couple of years and it continues to roll,” said Narduzzi, a long-time defensive coordinator. “It is what it is. We have to adjust and move with it. … Every team that we’ve faced this year has been no-huddle and moves quickly. … I was happier with what we did defensively (against UNC) compared to last week” against Oklahoma State.
Pitt allowed 640 yards against the Cowboys, but just 471 against the Tar Heels.
One rule change that permits offensive lineman to go further downfield also allows teams to disguise their intentions longer.
“Defense is very difficult anyway, knowing it is reactionary and you have to identify specific cues to determine run or pass,” said Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, who calls the Cavaliers’ defensive signal. He said the longer offenses — especially those with dual-threat quarterbacks — have to make that run or pass decision, the harder they are to stop.
“I don’t think the rule is good for college football, but it is good for entertainment,” Mendenhall said. “If viewership is up, I’m sure the rule will stay the same. If viewership is down, then there will be possibly another rule. But the nature of the offense is based on rule change, and has now made it to where it’s quite difficult.”
Mendenhall is a big believer in using statistics to assess his team’s play, but the numbers he uses have changed.
“Yards and points per play matter a lot because so many teams are going fast. Total defense, not so relevant, and scoring defense,” Mendenhall said, adding that the faster pace of most games naturally inflates total defense numbers.
That’s how Narduzzi, a former defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Michigan State, and coach Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech see it, too.
The continuing evolution of spread and no-huddle offenses in college football is changing the way some coaches measure defensive success.
That’s a good thing for the ACC. Already this season, there have been eight games involving at least one Atlantic Coast Conference team in which the winning team gave up at least 30 points.
Pittsburgh (2-2, 0-1 ACC) has played in three straight games with scores in the 30s and 40s, all against Power Five programs. The Panthers beat Penn State 42-39 , then lost 45-38 at Oklahoma State and 37-36 last weekend at North Carolina. Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi said rule changes have made playing defense more challenging.
“It’s been like that for a couple of years and it continues to roll,” said Narduzzi, a long-time defensive coordinator. “It is what it is. We have to adjust and move with it. … Every team that we’ve faced this year has been no-huddle and moves quickly. … I was happier with what we did defensively (against UNC) compared to last week” against Oklahoma State.
Pitt allowed 640 yards against the Cowboys, but just 471 against the Tar Heels.
One rule change that permits offensive lineman to go further downfield also allows teams to disguise their intentions longer.
“Defense is very difficult anyway, knowing it is reactionary and you have to identify specific cues to determine run or pass,” said Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, who calls the Cavaliers’ defensive signal. He said the longer offenses — especially those with dual-threat quarterbacks — have to make that run or pass decision, the harder they are to stop.
“I don’t think the rule is good for college football, but it is good for entertainment,” Mendenhall said. “If viewership is up, I’m sure the rule will stay the same. If viewership is down, then there will be possibly another rule. But the nature of the offense is based on rule change, and has now made it to where it’s quite difficult.”
Mendenhall is a big believer in using statistics to assess his team’s play, but the numbers he uses have changed.
“Yards and points per play matter a lot because so many teams are going fast. Total defense, not so relevant, and scoring defense,” Mendenhall said, adding that the faster pace of most games naturally inflates total defense numbers.
That’s how Narduzzi, a former defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Michigan State, and coach Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech see it, too.
