Mercer To Hire DREW CRONIC

[Paul C]

So all this gnashing of teeth over Cronic apparently going to Mercer got me thinking about offense in 2017 compared to what we had this year.

Before I even put up the #'s, the dynamics are different. I'd say 2017 had a better and more experienced QB, but 2019 had a better line and some better skill position talent especially at RB. Ok, maybe only at RB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 423.6 410.3
Rush YPG 225.8 265.7
Pass YPG 197.8 144.6
PPG 32.6 33.5
3rd Dn Conv 48.6% 46.0%
1st DnPG 21.3 20.4

[The Jackal]

So all this gnashing of teeth over Cronic apparently going to Mercer got me thinking about offense in 2017 compared to what we had this year.

Before I even put up the #'s, the dynamics are different. I'd say 2017 had a better and more experienced QB, but 2019 had a better line and some better skill position talent especially at RB. Ok, maybe only at RB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 423.6 410.3
Rush YPG 225.8 265.7
Pass YPG 197.8 144.6
PPG 32.6 33.5
3rd Dn Conv 48.6% 46.0%
1st DnPG 21.3 20.4

There are some unique similarities and differences.

I think the 2017 offensive line was a bright spot. Matt Schmidt and Terrell Bush were first team all SoCon, and Schmidt was recognized as the league's top offensive lineman. The rest of the line that year was mostly made up of the same guys that played on the line this year (Kroeber, Layton, Godwin, etc.)

The 2017 team found an absolute diamond in the rough by moving Andy Schumpert to TE. The scheme perfectly fit his skill set and vice versa.

I think the most notable difference is at QB. While the 2017 team probably had less overall talent than the 2019 team, having a veteran senior QB makes a big difference.

[FUBeAR]

So all this gnashing of teeth over Cronic apparently going to Mercer got me thinking about offense in 2017 compared to what we had this year.

Before I even put up the #'s, the dynamics are different. I'd say 2017 had a better and more experienced QB, but 2019 had a better line and some better skill position talent especially at RB. Ok, maybe only at RB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 423.6 410.3
Rush YPG 225.8 265.7
Pass YPG 197.8 144.6
PPG 32.6 33.5
3rd Dn Conv 48.6% 46.0%
1st DnPG 21.3 20.4

just do FCS or just do SoCon if you wanna be more apples2apples & oranges2oranges with those stats. You can’t ‘control’ for Player variances, but you can, with reasonable reliability, for scheduling variances. No Point in 2017 & only 1 FBS game, for example. Stats may shake out the same...dunno.

[gman]

I am surprised, but this is good news for the SoCon. The SoCon has to improve to gain back some respect. It blows my mind that anyone is scared of a new coaching hire. That would be like Clemson fans scared that an ACC opponent hired someone like Saban. Clemson fans know the ACC has to improve to gain national respect. In banking, I loved great competition. It made me a better banker. Most competitors love to be pushed. If not, they will never be successful. Bring it on Cronic and Mercer.

[Paul C]

So all this gnashing of teeth over Cronic apparently going to Mercer got me thinking about offense in 2017 compared to what we had this year.

Before I even put up the #'s, the dynamics are different. I'd say 2017 had a better and more experienced QB, but 2019 had a better line and some better skill position talent especially at RB. Ok, maybe only at RB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 423.6 410.3
Rush YPG 225.8 265.7
Pass YPG 197.8 144.6
PPG 32.6 33.5
3rd Dn Conv 48.6% 46.0%
1st DnPG 21.3 20.4

just do FCS or just do SoCon if you wanna be more apples2apples & oranges2oranges with those stats. You can’t ‘control’ for Player variances, but you can, with reasonable reliability, for scheduling variances. No Point in 2017 & only 1 FBS game, for example. Stats may shake out the same...dunno.

Interesting...the 19 #s get a little better but the 17 #s alot better, but again, most of the delta I'd say attributed to mature experienced QB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 459.2 425.8
Rush YPG 265.1 280.6
Pass YPG 194.1 145.1
PPG 36.8 32.5
3rd Dn Conv 51.4% 47.1%
1st DnPG 23.2 20.4

[soconjohn]

I’ll take George Quarles vs any offensive coordinator in the SoCon...Just sayin’

[gofurman]

I’ll take George Quarles vs any offensive coordinator in the SoCon...Just sayin’

I like him but calling it straight we coulda used the TE more FOR SURE and I think some DCs were pretty happy to face us late in the year. We seemed to get very predictable at times. Almost as if we had a plan coming into the game and if it did not work we just kept going with it regardless that it had not worked for 2.5 quarters ??

He's good (and I admit was hamstrung with passing inconsistency at times) but certainly the TE was an issue.

[El Guapo]

As is the case for every SoCon school, I hope Mercer wins every single game under the new coach except when they play the Paladins.

[FUPlayer74]

So all this gnashing of teeth over Cronic apparently going to Mercer got me thinking about offense in 2017 compared to what we had this year.

Before I even put up the #'s, the dynamics are different. I'd say 2017 had a better and more experienced QB, but 2019 had a better line and some better skill position talent especially at RB. Ok, maybe only at RB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 423.6 410.3
Rush YPG 225.8 265.7
Pass YPG 197.8 144.6
PPG 32.6 33.5
3rd Dn Conv 48.6% 46.0%
1st DnPG 21.3 20.4

just do FCS or just do SoCon if you wanna be more apples2apples & oranges2oranges with those stats. You can’t ‘control’ for Player variances, but you can, with reasonable reliability, for scheduling variances. No Point in 2017 & only 1 FBS game, for example. Stats may shake out the same...dunno.

Interesting...the 19 #s get a little better but the 17 #s alot better, but again, most of the delta I'd say attributed to mature experienced QB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 459.2 425.8
Rush YPG 265.1 280.6
Pass YPG 194.1 145.1
PPG 36.8 32.5
3rd Dn Conv 51.4% 47.1%
1st DnPG 23.2 20.4

I don't think most folks realize how good PJ was.
6th all time career passing efficiency
6th all time career passing td's
4th all time career total offense
6th all time passing yds,
and in 2017 he was 3rd all time in season passing efficiency. He holds other records but these are just a few.
There are some pretty good names on the lists.

[The Jackal]

So all this gnashing of teeth over Cronic apparently going to Mercer got me thinking about offense in 2017 compared to what we had this year.

Before I even put up the #'s, the dynamics are different. I'd say 2017 had a better and more experienced QB, but 2019 had a better line and some better skill position talent especially at RB. Ok, maybe only at RB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 423.6 410.3
Rush YPG 225.8 265.7
Pass YPG 197.8 144.6
PPG 32.6 33.5
3rd Dn Conv 48.6% 46.0%
1st DnPG 21.3 20.4

just do FCS or just do SoCon if you wanna be more apples2apples & oranges2oranges with those stats. You can’t ‘control’ for Player variances, but you can, with reasonable reliability, for scheduling variances. No Point in 2017 & only 1 FBS game, for example. Stats may shake out the same...dunno.

Interesting...the 19 #s get a little better but the 17 #s alot better, but again, most of the delta I'd say attributed to mature experienced QB

2017 2019
TOT YPG 459.2 425.8
Rush YPG 265.1 280.6
Pass YPG 194.1 145.1
PPG 36.8 32.5
3rd Dn Conv 51.4% 47.1%
1st DnPG 23.2 20.4

I don't think most folks realize how good PJ was.
6th all time career passing efficiency
6th all time career passing td's
4th all time career total offense
6th all time passing yds,
and in 2017 he was 3rd all time in season passing efficiency. He holds other records but these are just a few.
There are some pretty good names on the lists.

Noted this on the other thread, but Grainger put up similar numbers as Blazejowski did as a freshman.

[Davemeister]

In our first six games, DG looked like he was going to rewrite the record books. Then something happened.

[sluggo]

In our first six games, DG looked like he was going to rewrite the record books. Then something happened.

I wondered if the starting QBs simply got too many reps in practice and burnt their arms out.
After Sisson started for 2 weeks of practice his passes against Wofford were wobbly.

Just watch the replay here :

[Stumpy]

To quote my grandfather... the grass is always greener ... over the septic tank.

Your grandfather is Erma Bombeck?

[FurmAlum]

In our first six games, DG looked like he was going to rewrite the record books. Then something happened.

What happened was the other teams figured out how to defend the FU offense, combined with more physical opponents, and for whatever reason, we just couldn't overcome it.

What I can't figure out was GA. State and VA. Tech were just as physical as Citadull and Wofart. Weren't they?

[fufanatic]

In our first six games, DG looked like he was going to rewrite the record books. Then something happened.

What happened was the other teams figured out how to defend the FU offense, combined with more physical opponents, and for whatever reason, we just couldn't overcome it.

What I can't figure out was GA. State and VA. Tech were just as physical as Citadull and Wofart. Weren't they?

Georgia State is the true outlier in all of it. Absolutely brilliant QB/offensive play for virtually the entire game.

With Va Tech, we only scored 17 points, but their QB was so god awful that they couldn't do much better.