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Temple's early start on offense is good news for AU
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26 July 2012
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Scot Loeffler Temple Owls Auburn Offense
Over the past 20 seasons Auburn’s offense has averaged 12.7 possessions per game. Those 12.7 possessions netted an average of 29.5 yards per possession. The statistical goal is to obtain an average of 30-yards per possession, which gives you an opportunity to flip field position even if you don’t score.
Knowing you will have 12-13 possessions per game, a quick start will certainly increase your chances of victory. From 1981-2011, Auburn has compiled a 211-21-3 record, when leading at halftime.
The first 4 offensive possessions become critical in establishing the tone and direction of the game. During the 2011 season, Auburn averaged 27.1 yards per possession during their first 4 possessions of the game. During those 52 possessions, Auburn averaged 5.61 yards per play, scoring on 34.6 percent of those early possessions. This included a TD percentage of 28.8 percent.
Auburn’s 2011 offensive production during their first 4 possessions was far from the production the 2010 offense established. The 2010 Auburn offense averaged 41.2 yards per possession on 7.67 yards per play. The Tigers scored on 55.6 percent of their early possessions, including a TD percentage of 46.4 percent.
What advantage does early production provide?
Since 1981, Auburn is 104-11-0, when the Tigers score at least 10 points during the first period. This includes a record of 77-5-0, when scoring at least 14 points during the first quarter. When Auburn produced at least 17 points by halftime, Auburn is 130-11-0. On the flipside, Auburn has a combined record of 55-61-2 since 1981, when they fail to score during the first period.
Last season Alabama led the country with nearly 95 percent of their offensive snaps occurring, when they were tied or leading on the scoreboard. This defines “playing downhill” on offense. In contrast, Auburn’s offense executed only 57.1 percent of their offensive snaps when not trailing on the scoreboard. The conference average for 2011 was 65.9 percent. Auburn’s offensive struggles early on during games decreased their opportunity to win.
Temple’s early start under Scot Loeffler:
The 2011 Temple Owls offense was extremely productive early on during their first 4 possessions of the game. From 1992-2011 only 2 Auburn offenses averaged more than 40-yards per possession during their first 4 possessions of the game. That was the 2004 and 2010 Auburn offenses. Loeffler's offense nearly equaled the record setting Auburn offenses from 2004 and 2010 in terms of production early on.
Under Scot Loeffler, Temple averaged 40.4 yards per possession on 6.24 yards per play during their first 4 possessions of the game. The Owls scored on 55.8 percent of their possessions, including a TD percentage of 48.1 percent. Temple’s early starts allowed their offense to play “downhill” the majority of the game. During 2011, 80.9 percent of their offensive snaps occurred when Temple was tied or leading on the scoreboard.
The year before Loeffler arrived the Temple offense averaged 33.4 yards per possession on 6.15 yards per play during their first 4 possessions of the game. The Owls scored on 43.8 percent of their possessions including a TD percentage of 33.3 percent. This resulted in Temple snapping the ball 60.4 percent of the time, not trailing on the scoreboard.
Creating Separation:
Though defense and special teams can influence whether or not the offense plays “downhill” during a game, it’s up to the offense to establish the initial separation for the most part. This is why the early start on offense becomes so critical and why Auburn fans should find comfort in Loeffler’s early success at Temple.
Terry Bowden once referred to offensive possessions as “being at bat”. You go into each game knowing you will likely have 11-13 “at bats” during the game. As the game progresses, you have fewer opportunities to work with, which places additional pressure on the offense if they struggle early on. On the reverse side, if you are successful early on, you have the luxury of maintaining offensive balance as the opponent now becomes more pass-oriented playing in a “catch up” mode.
The success early on (first 4 possessions) is a strong indicator of a great game plan properly executed. Temple’s great start on offense is an indicator Coach Loeffler had his offense properly prepared in the majority of their games. This comes from reviewing game film of the opponent to establish his point of attack early on. Hopefully this trend will carry over in 2012 as Loeffler puts his first Auburn offense on the field.
Knowing you will have 12-13 possessions per game, a quick start will certainly increase your chances of victory. From 1981-2011, Auburn has compiled a 211-21-3 record, when leading at halftime.
The first 4 offensive possessions become critical in establishing the tone and direction of the game. During the 2011 season, Auburn averaged 27.1 yards per possession during their first 4 possessions of the game. During those 52 possessions, Auburn averaged 5.61 yards per play, scoring on 34.6 percent of those early possessions. This included a TD percentage of 28.8 percent.
Auburn’s 2011 offensive production during their first 4 possessions was far from the production the 2010 offense established. The 2010 Auburn offense averaged 41.2 yards per possession on 7.67 yards per play. The Tigers scored on 55.6 percent of their early possessions, including a TD percentage of 46.4 percent.
What advantage does early production provide?
Since 1981, Auburn is 104-11-0, when the Tigers score at least 10 points during the first period. This includes a record of 77-5-0, when scoring at least 14 points during the first quarter. When Auburn produced at least 17 points by halftime, Auburn is 130-11-0. On the flipside, Auburn has a combined record of 55-61-2 since 1981, when they fail to score during the first period.
Last season Alabama led the country with nearly 95 percent of their offensive snaps occurring, when they were tied or leading on the scoreboard. This defines “playing downhill” on offense. In contrast, Auburn’s offense executed only 57.1 percent of their offensive snaps when not trailing on the scoreboard. The conference average for 2011 was 65.9 percent. Auburn’s offensive struggles early on during games decreased their opportunity to win.
Temple’s early start under Scot Loeffler:
The 2011 Temple Owls offense was extremely productive early on during their first 4 possessions of the game. From 1992-2011 only 2 Auburn offenses averaged more than 40-yards per possession during their first 4 possessions of the game. That was the 2004 and 2010 Auburn offenses. Loeffler's offense nearly equaled the record setting Auburn offenses from 2004 and 2010 in terms of production early on.
Under Scot Loeffler, Temple averaged 40.4 yards per possession on 6.24 yards per play during their first 4 possessions of the game. The Owls scored on 55.8 percent of their possessions, including a TD percentage of 48.1 percent. Temple’s early starts allowed their offense to play “downhill” the majority of the game. During 2011, 80.9 percent of their offensive snaps occurred when Temple was tied or leading on the scoreboard.
The year before Loeffler arrived the Temple offense averaged 33.4 yards per possession on 6.15 yards per play during their first 4 possessions of the game. The Owls scored on 43.8 percent of their possessions including a TD percentage of 33.3 percent. This resulted in Temple snapping the ball 60.4 percent of the time, not trailing on the scoreboard.
Creating Separation:
Though defense and special teams can influence whether or not the offense plays “downhill” during a game, it’s up to the offense to establish the initial separation for the most part. This is why the early start on offense becomes so critical and why Auburn fans should find comfort in Loeffler’s early success at Temple.
Terry Bowden once referred to offensive possessions as “being at bat”. You go into each game knowing you will likely have 11-13 “at bats” during the game. As the game progresses, you have fewer opportunities to work with, which places additional pressure on the offense if they struggle early on. On the reverse side, if you are successful early on, you have the luxury of maintaining offensive balance as the opponent now becomes more pass-oriented playing in a “catch up” mode.
The success early on (first 4 possessions) is a strong indicator of a great game plan properly executed. Temple’s great start on offense is an indicator Coach Loeffler had his offense properly prepared in the majority of their games. This comes from reviewing game film of the opponent to establish his point of attack early on. Hopefully this trend will carry over in 2012 as Loeffler puts his first Auburn offense on the field.
