or to stay off ND, at least?
Here's a pretty depressing article (for the ND fan) from Blue & Gold Illustrated:
October 28, 2003
Offensive Anemia
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Tim Prister
BlueandGold.com Senior Editor
Matt Cashore
When a team rushes for 352 yards in a football game, one would think that would be enough to get them over the 400-yard mark in total offense for the game. The same is true when a team passes for 350 yards.
But not since the Rutgers game last November (478 yards) ? nine games have been played since then ? has a Notre Dame offense cracked the 400-yard mark for a game.
To put that in perspective, recognize that 41 teams in the country average more than 400 yards total offense per game this season.
Even when Notre Dame shocked the nation with a 352-yard rushing outburst against Pittsburgh a few weeks back, they couldn?t crack 400 yards total offense. Quarterback Brady Quinn managed just 33 yards passing.
Against Boston College, Quinn threw for more yards ? 350 ? than any Irish quarterback since Joe Montana in the late 1970s. But the running game accounted for only 47 yards, and the Irish fell short of the magic number by three yards.
This offensive shortfall is not a new problem for the Irish. They haven?t averaged more than 400 yards total offense since 1999 when Jarious Jackson was setting school records for passing attempts (316), completions (184) and yardage (2,753) while coming within two touchdown passes of Ron Powlus? single-season school record of 19.
In the last four seasons, Notre Dame?s highest total offense average has been 345.7 in 2000. To put that in perspective, 79 teams in the country average more than that this year.
The Irish rank 85th in the country in rushing this season, and even that is very deceiving. Take away the 352-yard rushing effort against Pittsburgh and the Irish have averaged an anemic 87.1 yards rushing in their other six games. Only two teams in the country have a lower rushing average per game than that figure.
The Irish currently rank 103rd nationally in total offense (309.29), 89th in passing (184.3 yards per game) and 112th in passing efficiency. Like the overall rushing average, the No. 89 ranking in passing yardage per game is swayed by a single game ? Quinn?s 350 yards against Boston College. In the other six games, the Irish are averaging 156.6 yards passing per game, which would rank 105th in the land.
Looking for the silver lining? It probably won?t come this weekend against Florida State. The Seminoles have allowed just 97 points all season ? fourth in the nation ? while the Irish have scored just 114. Florida State is allowing a mere 280.1 yards total offense per game, which ranks eighth in the country.
Notre Dame?s offensive blood transfusion likely won?t come just yet.
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Here's a pretty depressing article (for the ND fan) from Blue & Gold Illustrated:
October 28, 2003
Offensive Anemia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Prister
BlueandGold.com Senior Editor
Matt Cashore
When a team rushes for 352 yards in a football game, one would think that would be enough to get them over the 400-yard mark in total offense for the game. The same is true when a team passes for 350 yards.
But not since the Rutgers game last November (478 yards) ? nine games have been played since then ? has a Notre Dame offense cracked the 400-yard mark for a game.
To put that in perspective, recognize that 41 teams in the country average more than 400 yards total offense per game this season.
Even when Notre Dame shocked the nation with a 352-yard rushing outburst against Pittsburgh a few weeks back, they couldn?t crack 400 yards total offense. Quarterback Brady Quinn managed just 33 yards passing.
Against Boston College, Quinn threw for more yards ? 350 ? than any Irish quarterback since Joe Montana in the late 1970s. But the running game accounted for only 47 yards, and the Irish fell short of the magic number by three yards.
This offensive shortfall is not a new problem for the Irish. They haven?t averaged more than 400 yards total offense since 1999 when Jarious Jackson was setting school records for passing attempts (316), completions (184) and yardage (2,753) while coming within two touchdown passes of Ron Powlus? single-season school record of 19.
In the last four seasons, Notre Dame?s highest total offense average has been 345.7 in 2000. To put that in perspective, 79 teams in the country average more than that this year.
The Irish rank 85th in the country in rushing this season, and even that is very deceiving. Take away the 352-yard rushing effort against Pittsburgh and the Irish have averaged an anemic 87.1 yards rushing in their other six games. Only two teams in the country have a lower rushing average per game than that figure.
The Irish currently rank 103rd nationally in total offense (309.29), 89th in passing (184.3 yards per game) and 112th in passing efficiency. Like the overall rushing average, the No. 89 ranking in passing yardage per game is swayed by a single game ? Quinn?s 350 yards against Boston College. In the other six games, the Irish are averaging 156.6 yards passing per game, which would rank 105th in the land.
Looking for the silver lining? It probably won?t come this weekend against Florida State. The Seminoles have allowed just 97 points all season ? fourth in the nation ? while the Irish have scored just 114. Florida State is allowing a mere 280.1 yards total offense per game, which ranks eighth in the country.
Notre Dame?s offensive blood transfusion likely won?t come just yet.
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