In yesterday's Tuesday press conference thoughts and observations, we pointed out some comparisons between Kevin Steele and his predecessor, Vic Koenning.
Koenning's zone-based scheme was designed to limit big plays. He gave up an average of 3.28 runs of 10-plus yards per game compared to Steele's average of 5.78, and 1.96 pass plays of 20 yards or more per game compared to Steele's 2.52.
He was also better at limiting red-zone touchdowns. Opposing offenses scored touchdowns on 46.6 percent of their trips inside Clemson's 20, compared to 65.3 percent under Steele.
But those stats don't tell the entire story. After further research, here's a more comprehensive comparison of various statistics compiled under Koenning (50 games) and Steele (19 games).
SACKS
Koenning: 2.2 per game for 14.6 lost yards per game
Steele: 2.63 per game for 16.6 lost yards per game
FUMBLES
Koenning: 1.8 caused per game; .84 recovered per game
Steele: 2.3 caused per game; .57 recovered per game
INTERCEPTIONS
Koenning: 1.24 per game
Steele: 1.47 per game
TURNOVERS PER GAME
Koenning: 2.08
Steele: 2.05
OPPONENT THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
Koenning: 36.1 percent
Steele: 38.5 percent
FIRST DOWNS PER GAME
Koenning: 16.6
Steele: 17.8
TOTAL YARDS PER GAME
Koenning: 299.7
Steele: 336.7
YARDS PER PLAY
Koenning: 4.47
Steele: 4.85
RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
Koenning: 117.4
Steele: 157.3
RUSHING YARDS PER CARRY
Koenning: 3.37
Steele: 3.7
COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Koenning: 56.6
Steele: 51.6
YARDS PER COMPLETION
Koenning: 10.2
Steele: 12.5
The numbers that fall in Steele's favor: More sacks, more caused fumbles, more interceptions, lower completion percentage (gotta start getting on those fumbles, though; just 11 recovered fumbles in 45 opportunities under Steele).
The numbers that fall in Koenning's favor: Far fewer total yards per game, far fewer rushing yards per game, far fewer yards per play.
These numbers would appear to be a natural reflection of the contrasting philosophies: Koenning's scheme with lower risk and fewer big plays; Steele's scheme with higher risk and more big plays, but also more disruption in the form of sacks, forced fumbles and interceptions.
A few questions to ponder:
-- Did Koenning benefit from facing bad offenses? The ACC drastically improved last season in overall offensive numbers.
-- Is Steele blessed with better talent than Koenning? He's had a bunch of studs up front and in the secondary.
-- Has Steele benefited from better special-teams play? It was often abysmal during Koenning's tenure; the Tigers had a staggering nine punts blocked from 2005-08.
-- Were Steele's 2009 numbers hurt by the quick-strike nature of Clemson's offense? C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford had a bunch of explosive plays on offense, and they had six returns for touchdowns.
On to some Wednesday linkage...
With four road trips over the next five weeks, Maryland made good use of its bye week.
Turnovers and explosive plays have spurred the Terrapins (4-1, 1-0 ACC) to a fast start, but Friedgen acknowledges that the margin for error is slim as his team prepares for a challenging game on Saturday at Clemson (2-3, 0-2).
Granted, big plays have led to quick scores and attractive highlights - the Terrapins have 12 plays of 50 yards or longer this season after collecting just eight plays of that length last season. But the bad news is that the Terrapins have struggled to sustain drives. They have converted just 24.6 percent of third-down opportunities, which ranks last in the ACC.
As a result, the defense has been on the field too long and Maryland has had fewer possessions. It also ranks last in the ACC in time of possession (26 minutes 41 seconds).
"If we can stay on the field longer [on offense] then we give players more opportunities to make plays," Friedgen said. "That's one of the things we really tried to work on during the off week - not having the dead plays on offense."
And this quote from Friedgen won't make any Clemson fans feel better about last year's inexplicable loss to the Terps:
Maryland is trying to beat Clemson for the third consecutive time, but Friedgen knows his team did its best to hand the Tigers a victory last season. Late in the fourth quarter, Maryland failed to convert on fourth down from its 29 and later fumbled the ball back to Clemson. But the Tigers missed two field goals to preserve Maryland's 24-21 victory.
"We really tried to give away that game last year," Friedgen said. "It was really an act of God that we won. I've thanked him for it quite a bit."
Looks like the Terps will play two quarterbacks Saturday at Death Valley.
With a crappy schedule in the rear-view mirror, the Terps know they need some validation.
Doc Saturday examines Florida State and says it's finally safe to fall for the Seminoles again.
Watched the first half of the FSU-Miami game last night, and the Seminoles' front four completely dominated the Hurricanes' offensive line.
That's what I expected to see Clemson do. Didn't happen, of course.
Speaking of Koenning, nice work in last week's pasting of Penn State in Happy Valley.
Here's a midseason review of Georgia Tech.
Biggest difference from last season? Turnover margin.
Tech has 20 fumbles with eight lost this season, and Nesbitt has thrown two interceptions. The defense has forced 10 fumbles, recovering five and has made two interceptions. Tech had a plus-8 margin last season. This season, it's minus-3. "It's going to be a big stat down the stretch," Johnson said.
And at Washington State, a business venture by two football players went up in smoke.
Pullman police arrested two members of the Washington State football team early Sunday morning after finding 38 marijuana plants growing in a house they rented with two other people.
Jamal Atofau, a redshirt freshman backup linebacker from Bellevue High, and Andre Barrington, a redshirt freshman from Federal Way High who is academically ineligible this semester, were arrested along with Bailey Woods and Zachary Uttech, according to the police report.
LW
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