We're already a third of the way through the regular season; it hurts to even say that.
The short version: on a play-to-play basis, we're a top-five team on both sides of the ball. The longer version has some context worth hearing, and a few things that should bother you.
(Four games isn't a big sample, so we included the FCS game)
The rest of it:
- 3rd in scoring at 51.8 points per game
- 3rd in yards per pass attempt at 10.9
- 4th with 29 plays of 20-plus yards
- 7th on third down at 55.56 percent
- 8th with 10 tackles for loss
- 10th in yards per carry at 6.32 (FAMU helped that one)
- 13th in sacks allowed
"We're probably on pace to have another number one offense if we can figure out the interior line and run the ball a little bit more," Ahmmon said. "I mean, sky's the limit, really."
Ahmmon had heard enough of that argument.
"Do y'all want us to play Thanos or the Avengers? Wake Forest is a ACC team that scores a lot of points," Ahmmon said. "How is that not considered a good win?"
With Wake it's about context. We were up 31-7 late in the third quarter and got upset about two garbage-time touchdowns. That was with both starting corners out, Fletcher banged up, Malachi Toney banged up, and an offensive line still being figured out.
Let's go further on Wake. They just beat Louisville on the road, and Louisville was going score for score with Ole Miss. Carlos Hernandez is one of the best receivers in the country and nobody can guard him. Gio Lopez is a legitimate quarterback. Jake ****ert is going to have a lot of options when he hits the coaching market.
Here's the honest ledger: One legitimate win (Stanford, probably doesn't make a bowl game) and two bad teams, which is what a lot of teams have played.
The schedule is back-loaded this year: Pitt, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.
Some of them will be ranked by the time we play them if they keep winning, on top of ND being a top-5 team.
- 4th in yards per carry at 1.86
- 4th in scoring defense at 9.4 points per game
- 5th in yards per play at 3.99
- 8th in yards per pass at 5.3
Then the numbers that raise an eyebrow:
Third down is 24th at 29.09 percent, and when you take out FAMU it drops a lot. We've allowed eight plays of 20-plus yards, and that gets tested this week against a Clemson team with explosive receivers. And we're 32nd in sacks and we're 84th in tackles for loss with 19
We had a great defense last year with disruptive players and still weren't a great TFL team. I wouldn't read much into it.
One more stat people will throw at you: we're 42nd in passing yards allowed per game. However, we're eighth in yards per pass, that gap exists because teams can't run on us, fall behind, and have to throw a lot.
By the numbers the coaches actually value, we're top five in production right now. The question is whether we can sustain it.
Look at Tennessee and Texas. Colin Simmons piled up sacks because Tennessee kept giving him one-on-ones. No moving the pocket, no chips. In the ACC, a guy like that is getting doubled or tripled.
On third down, he gives some grace because blowouts create more passing downs. But his fix is specific: tighten up the zone principles.
On third-and-5 we're leaving the middle of the field or the hooks wide open and letting teams dink and dunk to the sticks.
Add penalties, roughing the passer, face masks, jumping offsides, and it adds up.
Damon Wilson II is starting to heat up and get comfortable, Marquise Lightfoot keeps getting more consistent and more physical, and Justin Scott flashed against Central Michigan with some TFLs.
The defense is still raw and still growing, which is exactly what you want in September.
But listen to how Mario Cristobal talked about Lightfoot on Joe Rose this morning. Rose tried to praise Lightfoot, and Cristobal basically said the standard is Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor.
Are you the best in the nation? Are you unblockable against playoff teams? We had two of those guys last year.
There are tiers to this, and that's the top tier. Lightfoot is on his way. Cristobal is going to keep pushing until he gets there.
Touchback percentage is 18th at 85.29, and I expect it to climb because Jake Weinberg led the nation last year at Florida State.
Four games in, we're first in yards per play on offense and top five on defense. Clemson is the first chance to prove it against a name people respect.
Watch the full breakdown below, and like and subscribe so you don't miss it.
The short version: on a play-to-play basis, we're a top-five team on both sides of the ball. The longer version has some context worth hearing, and a few things that should bother you.
(Four games isn't a big sample, so we included the FCS game)
The offense
Yards per play is the stat, and we're first in the country at 8.53. Remember, we led the nation in that stat with Cam Ward, too.The rest of it:
- 3rd in scoring at 51.8 points per game
- 3rd in yards per pass attempt at 10.9
- 4th with 29 plays of 20-plus yards
- 7th on third down at 55.56 percent
- 8th with 10 tackles for loss
- 10th in yards per carry at 6.32 (FAMU helped that one)
- 13th in sacks allowed
"We're probably on pace to have another number one offense if we can figure out the interior line and run the ball a little bit more," Ahmmon said. "I mean, sky's the limit, really."
"Who do people want us to play?"
Yes, we haven't played anybody. But other teams played FCS teams and MAC teams too, and in the past Miami didn't blow those teams out like this.Ahmmon had heard enough of that argument.
"Do y'all want us to play Thanos or the Avengers? Wake Forest is a ACC team that scores a lot of points," Ahmmon said. "How is that not considered a good win?"
With Wake it's about context. We were up 31-7 late in the third quarter and got upset about two garbage-time touchdowns. That was with both starting corners out, Fletcher banged up, Malachi Toney banged up, and an offensive line still being figured out.
Let's go further on Wake. They just beat Louisville on the road, and Louisville was going score for score with Ole Miss. Carlos Hernandez is one of the best receivers in the country and nobody can guard him. Gio Lopez is a legitimate quarterback. Jake ****ert is going to have a lot of options when he hits the coaching market.
Here's the honest ledger: One legitimate win (Stanford, probably doesn't make a bowl game) and two bad teams, which is what a lot of teams have played.
The schedule is back-loaded this year: Pitt, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame.
Some of them will be ranked by the time we play them if they keep winning, on top of ND being a top-5 team.
The defense
- 1st in total rushing yards allowed- 4th in yards per carry at 1.86
- 4th in scoring defense at 9.4 points per game
- 5th in yards per play at 3.99
- 8th in yards per pass at 5.3
Then the numbers that raise an eyebrow:
Third down is 24th at 29.09 percent, and when you take out FAMU it drops a lot. We've allowed eight plays of 20-plus yards, and that gets tested this week against a Clemson team with explosive receivers. And we're 32nd in sacks and we're 84th in tackles for loss with 19
We had a great defense last year with disruptive players and still weren't a great TFL team. I wouldn't read much into it.
One more stat people will throw at you: we're 42nd in passing yards allowed per game. However, we're eighth in yards per pass, that gap exists because teams can't run on us, fall behind, and have to throw a lot.
By the numbers the coaches actually value, we're top five in production right now. The question is whether we can sustain it.
The sack number is a scheme story
Ahmmon's case: ACC teams scheme you way better than the SEC does.Look at Tennessee and Texas. Colin Simmons piled up sacks because Tennessee kept giving him one-on-ones. No moving the pocket, no chips. In the ACC, a guy like that is getting doubled or tripled.
On third down, he gives some grace because blowouts create more passing downs. But his fix is specific: tighten up the zone principles.
On third-and-5 we're leaving the middle of the field or the hooks wide open and letting teams dink and dunk to the sticks.
Add penalties, roughing the passer, face masks, jumping offsides, and it adds up.
Damon Wilson II is starting to heat up and get comfortable, Marquise Lightfoot keeps getting more consistent and more physical, and Justin Scott flashed against Central Michigan with some TFLs.
The defense is still raw and still growing, which is exactly what you want in September.
But listen to how Mario Cristobal talked about Lightfoot on Joe Rose this morning. Rose tried to praise Lightfoot, and Cristobal basically said the standard is Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor.
Are you the best in the nation? Are you unblockable against playoff teams? We had two of those guys last year.
There are tiers to this, and that's the top tier. Lightfoot is on his way. Cristobal is going to keep pushing until he gets there.
Other numbers
Some other numbers: penalty yards are 79th at 59.3 a game, and that was fine until Central Michigan where we had 13 for 107 yards.Touchback percentage is 18th at 85.29, and I expect it to climb because Jake Weinberg led the nation last year at Florida State.
What it means for Clemson
The numbers say this defense is elite, but Saturday at 7:30 is the chance to prove that: go to Death Valley and do what LSU did, make Clemson one-dimensional, and take it from there.Four games in, we're first in yards per play on offense and top five on defense. Clemson is the first chance to prove it against a name people respect.
Watch the full breakdown below, and like and subscribe so you don't miss it.
