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Sark is balanced. Except when he's not

Yesterday on Dawgman Yale raised one of my favorite subjects, is Sark balanced in his play calling? This caused me to go back and look at each game from last year closely.

Yes, if you just look at raw numbers we were balanced. 466 runs, 438 passes. But “runs” include sacks, QB scrambles, and kneel downs. When just look at passes vs handoffs to running backs, and when you look at the specifics of each game, you get the true picture:

San Diego State: 35 throws, 25 handoffs, and five of those handoffs were on the last drive when we were trying to kill the clock. 58% pass.

LSU: 36 throws, 19 handoffs, four of those on the final drive. 15 of the first 18 plays were passes.

Portland State: 46 handoffs, but 25 of those were in the second half after we were up 52-0. 12 of the first 20 plays were passes.

Stanford: 37 throws, 25 handoffs. 60% pass.

Oregon: 31 throws, 39 handoffs, but 16 of the handoffs were in the 4th quarter when the game was over. 13 of the first 20 plays were passes. We were not balanced when the game was still close.

USC: 28 throws, 17 handoffs. 61% pass.

Arizona: 52 throws, 22 handoffs. 15 of the first 20 plays were passes. The ugliest, least balanced game of the year.

But then it all changed. In our last 6 games we were virtually 50/50 pass vs handoff, and truly were balanced most of the time. (14 of the first 20 plays in the Apple Cup were passes, but overall we were pretty balanced that day.)

Clearly Sark changed his approach and got back to running the ball in the second half of the season, just as he did with Polk the year before.

We can’t afford long stretches where Sark gets away from the balanced approach he says he believes in. Hopefully this is a lesson he has fully and finally learned.

Comments

  • TierbsHsotBoobsTierbsHsotBoobs Member Posts: 39,680
    edited August 2013
    Welcome to two weeks ago when we discussed the hell out of this, or to last week when we discussed whether or not Sark would be disciplined enough to maintain balance with an up tempo offense.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 11,453
    How about just win the game. Not sure how some have this idea that UW doesn't run the football.


    Maybe the next time somebody posts it they should be required to look at the stats over the past few years before they're allowed to post again ;-)


    Then someone followed that up by posting UW's ranks nationally and in conference rushing rankings. Let's just say his silence spoke volumes.
  • RancidRancid Member Posts: 75


    We can’t afford long stretches where Sark gets away from the balanced approach he says he believes in. Hopefully this is a lesson he has fully and finally learned.

    It'll be good if he's done learning on the job in year 5.

    Also, do you really think there will be more balance in Sark's version of the hurry-up offense?
  • greenbloodgreenblood Member Posts: 14,435
    I could give two shits if UW passed 80% of the time if they had Marquise Lee and an O-line that could pass block.
  • dtddtd Member Posts: 4,822 Standard Supporter
    You should write an open letter to Sark.
  • puppylove_sugarsteelpuppylove_sugarsteel Member Posts: 9,133

    Welcome to two weeks ago when we discussed the hell out of this, or to last week when we discussed whether or not Sark would be disciplined enough to maintain balance with an up tempo offense.

    Don't think Auburn was here two weeks ago dummy!
  • YouKnowItYouKnowIt Member Posts: 543

    Welcome to two weeks ago when we discussed the hell out of this, or to last week when we discussed whether or not Sark would be disciplined enough to maintain balance with an up tempo offense.

    Don't think Auburn was here two weeks ago dummy!
    what does that have to do with the SEC?
  • TierbsHsotBoobsTierbsHsotBoobs Member Posts: 39,680

    Welcome to two weeks ago when we discussed the hell out of this, or to last week when we discussed whether or not Sark would be disciplined enough to maintain balance with an up tempo offense.

    Don't think Auburn was here two weeks ago dummy!
    A Message to Newcomers
    DerekJohnson
    December 2012 edited December 2012 in Forum Rules & Announcements
    First off, welcome to our message boards. You're about to enter lively forums centered around Husky Football. We're looking to create a place where people can relax and say what's on their mind. The majority of posters are very passionate about Husky Football and that will show itself in the types of dialogue featured here. The best advice might be to lurk awhile and get acclimated to the environment before posting. Given a little time, you'll "get it" and really come to enjoy this place. Before you know it, you might become a regular too.

    If you have any questions or concerns at all, feel free to send me or the mods a personal message.

    Thanks,
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    http://forum.hardcorehusky.com/discussion/41/a-message-to-newcomers
  • SwayeSwaye Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 41,499 Founders Club
    In every version of HHB I have joined (V1-3), I have taken the time to go read most of what was on there to prevent "pulling an Auburn," and not look like a total re-re. This approach was clearly too complicated for Auburn, who instead took the "I'm a special snowflake and can do what I want" approach that has left him looking like a star on the Doogman Special Olympics Squad.

    image
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