Looking from 2010 to 2011, what are we bringing back? What kind of production are we returning? What is it that’s making everyone so freaking fired up for this season? (besides the fact that LNIII will finally step on the field and DESTROY ALL) Well, part of it is the many happy returns of…almost everything, at least on the offensive side of the ball, which we’ll explore today.
QB
ND put up 3,290 passing yards in 2010, led by Dayne Crist at 2,033 (62% of total production) followed by Tommy Rees at 1,106 (good for 34%). Overall we return 96.4% of our passing offense from last year. While only one of the 2 guys that accounted for almost all that production can play, I like this much better than last year where we returned almost 0%. (Note that our passing total is slightly higher than 62%+34% because Goodman tossed that one pass over the middle for 32 yards after making the wrong read. Still counts!)
Rushing
The running game is where we were hit the hardest in the off-season, with the departure of Allen and Hughes. That said, with the return of Wood (603 yards) and Gray (100), ND returns just over 50% of total production from last year. While we’re really thin back there, Wood gained important experience last year due to Allen’s injury, and should be primed to be an all-down back in 2011. But across all of these stats, this is where I’m most worried. We were RB-by-committee last year and we’ll really be leaning heavily on Wood to make things happen this year. Let’s hope he’s ready.
Receiving
Pending Floyd’s return, which I’m assuming at this point, Receiving appears to be in good shape. And Floyd is the important cog here, as he accounted for over 1,000 yards of our ~3,300 last year, good for 31%. With Riddick’s 414 and Eifert’s 352, along with a few other guys contributing, ND is returning over 80% of its receiving production. With the experience at QB, all this returning firepower at WR, and a thin backfield, it should be lights out crazy at ND this year.
Interesting note: Eifert outgained Rudolph last year overall by about 30 yards. Good work, TE!
Points
ND put up 334 points in 2010, and we’re returning over 80% of that production in 2011. Ruffer led overall with 91 points, followed by Floyd with 72. We will have some pretty big holes to fill in 2012 if these distributions don’t even out a bit next Fall. But for 2011, we’re sitting pretty. We lost a few contributors, but the bulk of our point-scoring returns to do battle in ’11.
Kicking
100% returning. Ruffer style. See: Points.
Kickoff Returns
Another 100% category. Bennett Jackson dominated the stats last year, accounting for 645 of our 1,038 kickoff return yards. Riddick accounted for another 300, so those guys will lead the pack here again pending Coach BK’s decisions on who will be back there. But, we are good here in terms of experience. I’d like to see a few more breakout runs, though…
Punt Returns
Bleh. That’s about all I can say here. Yeah, we’re only returning ~27% of those yards (all Goodman) but man we sucked in this area so bad that that’s bad on top of bad.
Overall
Overall, ND is returning an average of 76% of its offensive firepower from 2010. Now that’s a pretty meaningless statistic that’s mixing yards and points and kicking and passing and rushing, but it’s a pretty good number. The overall takeaway? ND is bringing back the vast majority of their 2010 production. With another year of experience, another season of training, and another year in the system, ND’s 2011 Offense should be poised for a solid, solid year.
Don't take me, yourself, or life so seriously. This is supposed to be fun.
Biscuit co-founded HerLoyalSons in partnership with his ND roommate (Dillon Hall baby!), MQ, in 2006 and has been ranting about ND Football and everything Notre Dame since. He strongly believes in the mission of ND and its football program. Biscuit expects logic and data in arguments and will absolutely crush you if you come to a debate missing one or the other. He despises everything Michigan, and his favorite pastime is mocking Purdue.
- (Re)Introducing: DANCING LEPRECHAUNS - August 29, 2019
- Ticket Auction: ND vs USC - August 22, 2019
- No Respect! - December 14, 2018
No matter what the numbers say Biscuit, I have faith that this will be the year. I haven’t felt this much pre-season electricity since ’88. Maybe I’m crazy.
Goodman was the exact opposite of Zibby in punt return, but he was reliable and protected the ball in a fragile first year for BK. I get that, but let’s hope BK lets go the reins this year. Those are game changing yards that ND gave up last year.
Theytalked about that being a conscious choice. Less risk, less reward.
I’d like to know what the net was on all the punts Goodman fair caught. My bet would be most weren’t for very much yardage, 40 or less. There were some that left you shaking your head I agree. Wasn’t Goodman back there because others were letting those shorter punts hit the ground, thus allowing the ball to roll for more yards?
In defense of Goodman, he did not have many that he could return. He had bad protection.
Goodman also got robbed near the end of the MSU game where he had a crucial return to the 50 yard line on ND’s last possession. But Lo Wood was called for blocking in the back with replay showing he actually didn’t.
That would have helped Goodman’s confidence and also might have given ND a shot at a field goal to win the game in regulation.
I’m hoping that Gray surprises. Really want the kid to succeed. He’s my Robert Hughes pick this year.
I had not noticed that TE spells out as T-yler E-ifert! Things are lining up into a sort of happy syzygy (a special alignment of celestial bodies). Hmmm.
Its not everyday you see syzygy used. Thats my go to hangman word.
I was really impressed with the way Eifert seamlessly stepped in for Rudolph last year. He had some huge games for us, and made some great catches (Army comes to mind, I think).
I know that BK is well-known for player development and a “next man in” mentality, but I believe a lot this year hinges on staying healthy at RB and DB. We can absorb some injuries in other areas as long as his initials aren’t M.T., but this offense won’t click as well without Wood, (or key guys like Riddick and Floyd), and we definitely don’t want to play the whole year with just 2 safeties again. Blanton and Gary Gray are essential as well.
Your analysis of our offense this year is really unacceptable. Do you realize we have an offensive line without whom the running and passing might be rather difficult? Come on – complete your analysis by looking at the line.
This post was about production. The oline doesnt run the ball, pass the ball, catch the ball or score points. So it’s irrelevant for this analysis. This isn’t a comprehensive analysis of every facet of the team. I chose an area and did the work through that lens. Just because I talk about one area doesn’t mean another doesn’t matter. But it also doesn’t mean I have to talk about everything.
Your analysis of this post is really unacceptable. Do you realize that it isn’t an analysis of the offense, but of yards/points? Come on–actually read the post.
Is LNIII’s means of destruction more in the “River from ‘Serenity'” vein, where he wades into an ocean of opponents and defeats each one in rapid one-on-one combat, or is more of the “Ark of the Covenant from ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark'” vein, where his general awesomeness just destroys all opponents before him?
I go with the “I’m the Juggernaut, Bitch” approach, where he just mauls all in his path while mocking them.
+1
Oh, the heady early days of YouTube…. That and “Godzilla vs Lando”
I’ll go with the giant rock from “Temple of Doom.” You do NOT want to get in his way, lest you be crushed.
He’s like the Kraken, from clash of the titans
I like to picture him more like the Vogons from Hitchhiker’s Guide…except he can destroy an entire planet without such silliness as space ships.
On no account should you let LNIII read poetry to you.
How about our D? You touched base on our Offense and Special teams. What production do you expect with the defensive returning players, new players, and voids from departed players?
Thats part 2. Comin up soon.
LNIII is like Superman, except he has no weaknesses known to man.
Jacked up about this season. The D will be stingy. Hendrix, yes I said Hendrix, will become a superstar before our very eyes. BCS bound!
Damn I’m ready for some football!