Number 23 Addendum

I knew there was one more thing I wanted to say about NDs offense.  Lets compare last years stats to the 2 years they were successful (05-06).

NOTE:  PLEASE READ THE ND PREVIEW FIRST

2008 Clausen:  268/440, 60.9%, 3172 yds, 25-17 TD-INT    (132.5 Rating)

2006 Quinn:     289/467, 61.9%, 3426 yds, 37-7 TD-INT      ( 146.7 Rating)

2005 Quinn:     292/450, 64.9%, 3919 yds, 32-7 TD-INT      (158.4 Rating)

2008 Rushing  436- 1426 yards.....  Allen 585 yards, 11 TDs TOTAL

2006 Rushing  423- 1634 yards.......Walker 1267 yards, 13 TDs TOTAL

2005 Rushing  491 - 1765 yards.......Walker 1196 yards, 21 TDs TOTAL

So there are a few things that stand out there.  1) Quinn never really threw for that many more yards than Clausen in a season.  2) His TD-INT ratio was way, way, way better.  In fact, it was very good for Quinn.  (I only threw in the ratings cause they were there, I dont even want to compare those).  3) The rushing game has deteriorated every year since 2005.  Ironically (maybe?) the year that Quinn threw for the most yards was also the year ND rushed for the most yards.  They also ran for the most TDs that year.  This really isn't ironic and is not a coincidence.  This is what is possible when you dont turn the ball over and run the ball.  

Look at 2005 closer, 1765 yds on 491 carries is a 3.59 yd/carry average.  Is that really higher than a 3.3 yd/carry avg that ND had last year?  Of course not.  I think that ND could figure out a way to average 0.3 more yards per carry this year.  This also led to them having three times as many Touchdowns on the ground.  THREE TIMES AS MANY!!!! That is a lot.  Again, it was also the year that Quinn threw for the most yards, so it isnt as if they would have to sacrifice that much from the passing game.  The key numbers are what?  Quinn's TD-INT ratio (although not as high as 2006, much better than Clausens 2008 number), and it was Quinn's highest completion %.  You complete passes, you move the ball, you keep the clock running, you keep the defense on their toes, you run the ball, no matter how effective, and you dont turn the ball over, you score and you win.  It isn't a complicated formula.

This could all boil down to the question, well......was Darius Walker that much of a better RB than Armando Allen and company?  Short answer could be yes.....long answer could be 'yes, but it shouldn't matter as much as it does.'