Good post but remember sacks count as QB rushes.
So in 2022, they were very low in sacks allowed, and Richardson was running the ball.
In 2023, instead of Richardson avoiding sacks and/or running, Mertz is going backwards.
You really need to look at the YPC of the players, not the team:
2022 ETN averaged 6.09 a carry, and Johnson averaged 5.43
2023 ETN averaged 5.75 a carry, and Johnson averaged 5.38
Pretty close, and you can probably say at least some of that is the defense not having to account for the QB as a runner.
I've said it all summer and I will continue to say it, this is one of the ~3 best offenses we'll see all year. And not because they have a Top 20 offense or anything, but this schedule is doo-doo cheeks and the gator offense is not bad. Mertz is a pretty decent college QB. He's not going to go Jeff Driskel in 2016 out there in a couple weeks.
So for the people in this thread and others just thinking our defense is going to completely suffocate them and hold them to 10 points or some ****, while I'd love it, I don't think that's a very likely outcome.
They didn't have a single game last year (besides FSU when Mertz was hurt) where they averaged less than 5.21 yards per play. Miami had 4. (Full disclosure, 3 of them were started by Emory or Jacurri and the other was UVA).
My main focus up there will be:
1) How do they replace Pearsall? He was a Round 1 wide receiver in the NFL draft, and by far their main downfield threat. Do they put Wilson in that role, and give the short **** to someone else? Do they let Wilson continue in that role, and give Pearsall's role to Badger? They have players and options
2) Who fills Johnson's shoes? Over the past 2 seasons, ETN and Johnson have combined for 556 carries. Every other RB on the roster has had 86. ETN is in Athens filming Tokyo Drift: **** Your Cousin Part 6, Johnson is hurt. Do they have another back on the roster that can hurt us by getting more than what's blocked?
3) The pass pro. They ran it well last year, as I mentioned. But they couldn't protect Mertz at all, and they mainly played in a phonebooth as a result, with Pearsall the only guy doing anything down the field. Here comes Bain, Mesidor, Alston, Baron, CMC, and the No ******* Around Crew. When it's 3rd and 8, is their front 5 gonna give Mertz a snowball's chance in **** to convert?