Daily Blog • July 19, 2010	Blog Archives

Today’s blog will start a series, which will analyze the most/least improved units over the last 20 years. Each day this week I will have a new offensive or defensive statistical category to examine and today I will start with offensive rush yards.

There are many factors that contribute to a significant change in rush yards. First, a new coach may come in and prefer a more run-oriented attack than the previous coach. Naturally a lot more rushing carries will usually equal a lot more yards. Similarly you may see a significant drop in rush yards if the new coach features a pass-happy offense than the previous coach.

Another factor team which could contribute to a large gain in rush yards may be that the team is starting a young quarterback and they will want to focus on the running game more to take the pressure off the inexperienced signal caller. Similarly, a large drop off in rush yards may occur when the team has an experienced quarterback, but has to replace their star RB from the year before. Also a team may feature an experienced Heisman-caliber running back and in that case they will give him many more carries thus increasing the rush output. Finally, a team that returns most of their offensive lineman who are multiple-year starters will usually see an increase in rush yards.

Whatever the case may be here are all the teams that improved by at least 100 yards rushing compared to the prior season. Quick note for many of the smaller schools in the WAC, MAC and Sun Belt: my data only goes back to 1995 for those teams so it would include the last 15 years instead of the last 20.

Most Improved Rush YPG L/20 Years

Rk	Year	School	YPG Improved
1	1995	Navy	178
2	2008	Army	153
3	1998	Buffalo	144
4	2004	Michigan St	142
5	2001	Nevada	138
6	1993	Colorado	135
6	1998	TCU	135
8	1998	Bowling Green	128
9	2009	Mississippi St	126
10	2003	Louisville	121
11	1996	Wisconsion	120
11	1991	Purdue	120
11	1993	Georgia Tech	120
14	1999	Toledo	119
15	2008	Baylor	118
15	2000	UNLV	118
17	2000	Northwestern	114
18	1994	Iowa	113
18	2004	Virginia	113
20	2004	Army	112
20	2006	Kent St	112
22	1999	Wake Forest	110
23	2002	Penn St	109
23	2001	BYU	109
23	2007	Tulane	109
26	1995	Georgia Tech	107
26	2001	C Michigan	107
28	1998	Indiana	105
29	2001	Kent St	104
30	1997	Nebraska	103
30	2002	W Virginia	103
30	1991	Hawaii	103
33	2005	Iowa	102
34	1991	Mississippi St	101
34	2005	Louisiana	101

The 1995 Navy Midshipmen have the most improved rush attack in the last 20 years avg an amazing 234 ypg which was 178 ypg more than the meager 56 ypg they averaged in 1994. Probably the biggest reason for this large gain was the hiring of Utah St coach Charlie Weatherbie who instituted a run-heavy offense.

There were several factors going in Army’s favor in 2008. First I have pointed out in my magazine several times that service academies usually graduate a good portion of their starting OL, however Army’s ’08 group had five back with starting experience. Also Army was shifting back to the option offense and returned their top four rushers. Add all of these factors up and you get the 2nd most improved rush attack of the last 20 years.

At #3 is Buffalo who went from avg just 80 ypg in 1997 to 224 ypg in 1998. In 2003, the Michigan St Spartans had their weakest rush attack in at least 50 years when they averaged just 97 ypg (3.2). Much of this had to do with their reliance on senior QB Jeff Smoker who left as MSU’s leader in passing yards and total offense. In 2004, the Spartans tried several QBs but finally settled on Drew Stanton who was a running threat. With this added dimension and the emergence of RB Javon Ringer, the Spartan rush attack improved to avg 239 ypg.

Now here is a look at all of the teams who averaged at least 100 rush ypg less than the prior year. Keep in mind again that my data only goes back to 1995 for some of the smaller schools.

Least Improved Rush YPG L/20 Years

Rk	Year	School	YPG Weaker
1	2008	Arkansas	-173
2	2006	Memphis	-156
3	1998	Nebraska	-153
3	2001	TCU	-153
5	2002	Indiana	-152
6	1997	Oregon St	-147
7	1997	Iowa St	-145
8	2003	Colorado	-139
8	2000	Houston	-139
10	1999	Temple	-137
11	1998	Iowa	-136
12	2006	USC	-132
13	2008	SMU	-129
13	1996	Toledo	-129
15	2009	Louisiana	-127
16	1993	Georgia	-125
17	2008	Texas A&M	-123
18	2000	Army	-122
18	2008	UCF	-122
20	1994	Georgia Tech	-120
21	2006	Minnesota	-119
21	1996	Nebraska	-119
23	2009	Tulsa	-117
24	1995	Wisconsion	-116
24	2009	Kent St	-116
26	1999	Tulane	-114
26	1997	E Carolina	-114
26	2000	Navy	-114
29	2006	Texas	-112
30	2005	Kent St	-108
30	2009	New Mexico	-108
32	2003	Penn St	-107
32	2000	Maryland	-107
32	1996	UNLV	-107
35	1991	Oklahoma St	-106
35	1997	TexasTech	-106
35	1995	Vanderbilt	-106
38	1996	Rutgers	-105
38	1992	Air Force	-105
40	2008	Washington	-104
41	2006	Rice	-103
41	2008	Westen Kentucky	-103
43	2001	Washington	-101
43	1997	Air Force	-101
45	2004	Iowa	-100
45	1995	Colorado	-100
45	2005	Virginia	-100

After my numbers and data were crunched, the #1 least improved rush attack of the last 20 years came at no surprise. The 2008 Arkansas rush attack had several factors going against it. First, new head coach Bobby Petrino was hired and was implementing a more pass-oriented attack. Second, while they had 7 of their top 10 OL back, they were switching schemes, which led to the unit being down a few notches. Finally and most importantly, the Hogs lost the best trio of RB’s the NCAA had seen in some time as Darren McFadden (1,830 yds), Felix Jones (1,162 yds) and Peyton Hillis (347 yds) all left and took their talents to the NFL. Add these factors up and the Razorbacks avg 173 rush ypg less in 2008.

Thanks to the graduation of star RB DeAngelo Williams (1,964 rush yds), the 2006 Memphis Tigers come in at #2 with a 156 ypg drop-off. Tied at #3 is the 1998 Nebraska Cornhuskers and the 2001 TCU Horned Frogs who avg 153 rush ypg less than the previous year. The ‘98 Huskers were coming off the national title in Tom Osborne’s final season and they had to replace four starters on their OL. Most importantly they also lost RB Ahman Green and QB Scott Frost who combined to rush for 3,238 yards and 46 TDs in ’97 and while their replacements were talented, they were much less experienced. Similarly the 2001 Horned Frogs lost their star player in 2001 in Ladainian Tomlinson who rushed for 2,276 yards in 2000.

I will be back tomorrow with a look at the most/least improved pass attacks from the last 20 years.

Please check out the PhilSteele.com homepage and take at look at my Top 25 FCS Countdown which continues with #2 Appalachian St today. Click on the link to get the entire full magazine page layout on the Mountaineers but remember the page will be available for only 24 hours to download.

Also Josh Buchanan of JBScouting.com does a great job of scouting FCS players and teams and he also helps me with some of the team write-ups in my FCS magazine. In the July 14th blog, I gave you his top 5 players at each offensive position and here are his top 5 players at each position on the defensive side. Also each Monday between now and the draft next April he will hold a question and answer session where he will sit down and answer your questions each week. If you have a question about a player, the draft process, or anything related to small school football you can ask him a question by CLICKING HERE! Make sure to leave your email address if you want the answer sent directly to you as well and regardless if you want a private answer as well please leave your name and where you are from to be published in the blog.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

1. Christian Anthony, Grambling State, Sr.
2. Christian Clark, Sacramento State, Sr.
3. Markell Carter, Central Arkansas, Sr.
4. Malcolm Taylor, Alcorn State, Sr.
5. Jabari Fletcher, Appalachian State, Sr.
   

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

1. Martin Parker, Richmond, Sr.
2. Kenrick Ellis, Hampton, Sr.
3. Renard Williams, Eastern Washington, Jr.
4. Brent Russell, Georgia Southern, Soph.
5. Dan Ogden, Montana State, Sr.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

1. J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington, Sr.
2. D.J. Smith, Appalachian State, Sr.
3. Eric McBride, Richmond, Sr.
4. Marty Patterson, Gardner-Webb, Sr.
5. Derek Domino, South Dakota State, Sr.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

1. Jabara Williams, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.
2. Bryce Smith, Samford, Sr.
3. Jake Trantin, William & Mary, Jr.
4. Kadarron Anderson, Furman, Jr.
5. Joshua Jones, Elon, Jr.

CORNERBACKS

1. Korey Lindsey-Woods, Southern Illinois, Sr.
2. Trumaine Johnson, Montana, Jr.
3. Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina, Jr.
4. Justin Rogers, Richmond, Sr.
5. Jeremy Caldwell, Eastern Kentucky, Jr.

FREE SAFETIES

1. Mike McElroy, Southern Illinois, Sr.
2. Jason House, Southern, Sr.
3. Matt Estrada, Northern Arizona, Sr.
4. Max Hewitt, Northern Colorado, Sr.
5. Collin Zych, Harvard, Sr.

STRONG SAFETIES

1. Mark LeGree, Appalachian State, Sr.
2. Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State, Sr.
3. Conrad Kjerstad, South Dakota State, Sr.
4. James Vercammen, Dayton, Sr.
5. Tommy Connors, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr.

Only 45 Days Until the First College Football Game!!