LITTLE ROCK — Annoying from the outset of Monday Night Football, announcer Howard Cossell’s close-minded commitment to time of possession as football’s defining statistic exacerbated his pomposity.
A sports radio broadcaster and stat fanatic/friend grew so tired of Cossell’s commentary that he would mute the volume on the telecast and listen to Jack Buck describe the game on radio. More than once on a roundtrip to Fayetteville, Jim Elder and the driver reveled in rehashing games where the winner on the scoreboard was on the short end of time of possession.
Specifics from those trips are long forgotten, but last year’s Arkansas-Auburn game provides a prime example of the vulnerability of someone who is all-in on time of possession. Leading by 11 at the half, Auburn outscored the Razorbacks 28-7 in the third quarter, but only had the ball 50 seconds more than Arkansas because of a 62-yard touchdown pass on the first play of a possession and a four-play TD drive that consumed 70 yards and 95 seconds.
At the end of 52-20, the Tigers had a 295-yard advantage, but barely two minutes more clock time.
Now that go-fast Chad Morris has succeeded time of possession disciple Bret Bielema as Arkansas’ head coach, it is time to recalculate perusal of the stats in search of a meaningful number. In the box score, time of possession is available quarter-by-quarter, but the number of plays can only be found under total offense.
And, like virtually every other offensive statistic, snapping the ball an inordinate number of times does not guarantee success.
In 2017, Syracuse (1,027), South Florida (1,001) and Arkansas State (975) were the only FBS teams that played only 12 games and ran 975 plays or more. Syracuse was 4-8, South Florida was 10-2 and ASU was 7-6. According to TeamRankings.com, Washington State, Indiana, Duke, Virginia Tech, Texas, Texas Tech and East Carolina were next on the hurry-up list. Three had losing records, two were 7-6, and both Virginia Tech and Washington State won nine.
Although a possible placebo for fans, it is clear that running lots of plays is not a quick fix for a mediocre program.
Talking Razorback football with friends and relatives, the first thing they want to know is what Arkansas’ offense will look like when Morris keeps his promise that “We’ll go fast, we’ll play fast …” A close second on the list is the quarterback competition, including Morris’ decision to start Cole Kelley ahead of Ty Storey, listing three freshmen as co-No. 3, and the message to Kelley that being the starter against Eastern Illinois is not a “lifetime contract.”
Morris has talked about Arkansas averaging more than 80 plays per game. At SMU last year, his offense was No. 23 in the country with an average of 77 plays per game. The Mustangs won seven.
The previous year, they averaged 79.9 and won five.
Whether the Razorbacks average 80 per or not, topping the 69.8 put up last year last is as much a given as an improvement in the defensive numbers under John Chavis.
By the way, it is worth noting that Georgia was No. 112 in the country at 65 plays per game — 21 spots below Arkansas — and played for a national title. The Bulldogs were coordinated by Jim Chaney, the coordinator for Bielema’s first two seasons in Fayetteville.
Cherry picking statistics, a particular offensive approach can appear to be a shortcut to winning consistently, but naysayers can cite teams that employed said scheme and failed as easily as supporters can tick off team turnarounds. That said, the hurry-up does give Arkansas an opportunity to wear down a team with more talent.
Scheme is one thing; talent is something else and Arkansas’ verbal commitments for 2019 do indicate help is on the way.
Although not sexy, defense is the reliable path to consistent success. It is no coincidence that the best defensive units in the SEC last year belonged to national champion Alabama, SEC champion Georgia and SEC West champion Auburn.