Unclear Where Analyst is getting stats

The guy says WSU averages 10.1 yards per passing attempt and that ranks WSU near the bottom of the NCAA team rankings. I just did a quick google search and I found Baylor averages 10.9 yards per pass attempt, and they are number 1 in this ranking. Based on the site I looked at WSU’s average is 7.4 and it was good for 47th in the country. I thought maybe the guy was mistaken and meant average yard per play, so I looked that stat up, and WSU average yards per play is 6.1 which is good for 28th. WSU will throw the ball 50-60 times a game, but it is a lot of short yardage plays. His argument about turnovers, may be true but last year’s team never got any turnovers, so it is going back to that 50/50 idea. In addition, he overlooks special teams play. Two of our "close" wins was because of special teams mistakes, which will likely happen in this game, since it is by far the worse unit I have ever watched. Finally, his argument about WSU not playing anyone is somewhat valid. Rutgers isn’t anything special, Arizona hasn’t beaten anyone "good." And Oregon isn’t the Oregon of the past few years. However, in the past 12 years, WSU never won those toss up games, like we have gotten this season. We are better, are we good enough to beat Stanford, I have my doubts, but that is why we play these games.

By gowazzucougs on 10.30.15 3:58pm

Don't forget about OSU at #11

At least Colorado was good enough for a scare against Arizona. OSU was a damn doormat. Placing OSU at any rank other than 12 right now shows you’re not even watching the games.

By ImAWizard on 10.30.15 6:20pm

Mea Culpa

That was a bone-headed mistake by me (re: passing yards/attempt). The stat I was reading from was yards per completion, where WSU makes 10.1 yards/completion and is 115th (of 128) in FBS.

That said, this really doesn’t change the complexion of my overall point. As you correctly pointed out, even in terms of raw stats, WSU’s yards/attempt ranks them 47th in the country (5th in the Pac-12 behind, in order, Stanford, USC, Cal, and Oregon).

This is a far cry from the claim that I was attempting to debunk: that WSU is the best passing offense in the Pac-12. As you can see, it’s actually a quite average passing offense compared to the rest of the Pac.

But then when you adjust for the fact that WSU has played some pretty poor defenses thus far, it gets even worse. For instance, Bill Connelly (director of analytics here at SB Nation) has WSU’s passing offense ranked 89th out of 128 FBS teams and third-worst in the Pac-12 (only ahead of Colorado and Oregon State).

So, yes, WSU isn’t quite as bad as I originally and erroneously conveyed when I said 115th of 128, but it is still pretty bad (89th out of 128) and definitely not the best in the Pac-12.

By Matt Vassar on 10.31.15 10:20pm

Statistics can be very misleading

I could say the Cougs running back committee is better than this dude in the Heisman race.
McCaffrey: 6.23 yards per carry
The trio of WSU backs: 6.29 yards per carry

I’ll go ahead and crush the myth that Stanford is a good running team and pronounce WSU a superior running team by showing that (not counting QBs) Stanford has gained 1488 yards out of 272 carries for an average 5.47ypc, meanwhile WSU has gained 718 yards on 113 carries for an average 6.35ypc.

You can dig up all the statistics you want but I don’t think anyone who has watched games this year will actually agree with you that Stanford is the better passing team, and no one in their right mind would say that WSU is the better running team. Just like McCaffrey is getting a ton of praise for what he has done so far, and excelling in a system that works well for a guy like him, have you watched any of the Cougs games to see what QB Luke Falk has been doing? The guy is playing out of his mind.

By malinowskiski on 10.30.15 7:24pm

Oops

10.1 yards per attempt would be fabulous. Washington State isn’t averaging that; they’re averaging 10.1 yards per completion, because they favor a vertical passing game: lots of bubble screens and variations, where the receiver gets the ball behind the line of scrimmage.

The Cougs have posted above-average yards per attempt numbers against defenses, on average, that are very weak. If you adjust their passing yards for the quality of pass offenses they face, they’re about 50th in the country.

So yes, it’s a myth that this is an explosive passing offense. It’s just an offense that throws a helluva lot of passes—not badly, by any means, but not among the top 30 teams in the country.

By harry.beckwith1 on 10.30.15 10:03pm

Thanks, Harry!

You absolutely nailed this. Apologies for my initial bone-headed error, but you’re absolutely right that my overall point is still proven: that WSU’s passing offense is not, in fact, the best in the Pac.

By Matt Vassar on 10.31.15 10:22pm

Mythbusters

WSU 3 Mythbuster 0

By mariner.rick1 on 10.30.15 10:03pm

I'm amazed this article is still up.

This audio "broadcast" lacked so much journalistic integrity it is unreal.

By IbleedCRIMSONandGRAY09 on 10.31.15 1:41am

Thank you

for bringing this violation of the Journalist Integrity Laws to our attention.

The criminal Vassar has been executed.

Sincerely,

The Ministry of Football Podcasters Journalistic Integrity Tribunal Committee

By Cardinal&Orange on 10.31.15 7:31pm

It was a good life.

I accept my punishment in dignity, and thank the Tribunal for its fair and just ruling. Please tell my family and loved ones not to repeat my same mistakes.

May God have mercy on my soul.

By Matt Vassar on 10.31.15 10:23pm