Key Stats - 6 Games In

[Ringneck]

Punting average really doesn't capture the whole story. Maybe like a lot of stats.

They need a stat like: # of punts inside the 20/10/5

They sure do ... but nobody seems to do that. Been really frustrating. The only stat that comes close in the NCAA database is the “Punt Return Defense,” which tells you how many punts the opposition has returned against you … and for how many yards. Unfortunately, as of this moment, the NCAA has only updated that stat through five games (Sept 28). But, near as I can tell looking at the Davis game stats, in six games, opponents have attempted to return just TWO punts against the Griz, for a total of 12 yards.

With his five-game NCAA stats, Wilson was #24 in the yards-per-punt ranking. The guy with the best average (through 4 games) has had 11 punts returned for 78 yards. I give the nod in "value to the team" to Wilson. Hopefully, the NCAA will get their act together and post the numbers through Oct 5 pretty soon.

That is almost unbelievable. Bobby is sure leaving a mark on special teams this year. Wow.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Punting average really doesn't capture the whole story. Maybe like a lot of stats.

They need a stat like: # of punts inside the 20/10/5

They sure do ... but nobody seems to do that. Been really frustrating. The only stat that comes close in the NCAA database is the “Punt Return Defense,” which tells you how many punts the opposition has returned against you … and for how many yards. Unfortunately, as of this moment, the NCAA has only updated that stat through five games (Sept 28). But, near as I can tell looking at the Davis game stats, in six games, opponents have attempted to return just TWO punts against the Griz, for a total of 12 yards.

With his five-game NCAA stats, Wilson was #24 in the yards-per-punt ranking. The guy with the best average (through 4 games) has had 11 punts returned for 78 yards. I give the nod in "value to the team" to Wilson. Hopefully, the NCAA will get their act together and post the numbers through Oct 5 pretty soon.

That is almost unbelievable. Bobby is sure leaving a mark on special teams this year. Wow.

Well, that was a bit over-stated, for which I blame ESPN game stats. I posted that before the NCAA updated their page. The NCAA showed just one return in five games and ESPN showed only one for the ISU game ... hence 2 total. The updated stats actually show a total of 4 return attempts against the Griz in six games this year. It's still damned impressive ... as I showed on a post earlier today, based on stats for the top punters (by distance):

• Bucknell has had to defend 12 of their guy’s 31 punts (39%).
• Davis defended 11 of 26 (42%)
• UM had to defend 4 of 24 (17%)

I did a small spot-check for the better punters on that list. The percentage of returned punts seems to be about 40% as a good overall stat. So our “eye test” of Wilson’s punts -- they seldom get returned -- is supported by the numbers.

To top that percentage, those 4 returns have gained the opponents just 22 yards.

 

[CrunchGriz]

They need a stat like: # of punts inside the 20/10/5

They sure do ... but nobody seems to do that. Been really frustrating. The only stat that comes close in the NCAA database is the “Punt Return Defense,” which tells you how many punts the opposition has returned against you … and for how many yards. Unfortunately, as of this moment, the NCAA has only updated that stat through five games (Sept 28). But, near as I can tell looking at the Davis game stats, in six games, opponents have attempted to return just TWO punts against the Griz, for a total of 12 yards.

With his five-game NCAA stats, Wilson was #24 in the yards-per-punt ranking. The guy with the best average (through 4 games) has had 11 punts returned for 78 yards. I give the nod in "value to the team" to Wilson. Hopefully, the NCAA will get their act together and post the numbers through Oct 5 pretty soon.

That is almost unbelievable. Bobby is sure leaving a mark on special teams this year. Wow.

Well, that was a bit over-stated, for which I blame ESPN game stats. I posted that before the NCAA updated their page. The NCAA showed just one return in five games and ESPN showed only one for the ISU game ... hence 2 total. The updated stats actually show a total of 4 return attempts against the Griz in six games this year. It's still damned impressive ... as I showed on a post earlier today, based on stats for the top punters (by distance):

• Bucknell has had to defend 12 of their guy’s 31 punts (39%).
• Davis defended 11 of 26 (42%)
• UM had to defend 4 of 24 (17%)

I did a small spot-check for the better punters on that list. The percentage of returned punts seems to be about 40% as a good overall stat. So our “eye test” of Wilson’s punts -- they seldom get returned -- is supported by the numbers.

To top that percentage, those 4 returns have gained the opponents just 22 yards.

...and on the flip side, we have...

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!

 

[grizpaws]

The NCAA has finally updated their stats to include games through Oct 5. That allows for some current National comparisons. One we've looked at has been punting.

Adam Wilson is “only” #24 nationally in average punting distance, at 42.6 ypp through six games, based on 24 punts. A Bucknell guy still leads at 49.5 ypp through five games, based on 31 punts. The UC-Davis punter is second at 48.3 through six games, based on 26 punts.

Recall that the NCAA keeps the “Punt Return Defense” stat, which measures how many punts were returned against them … no out-of-bounds or fair catch. That stat is sorted by yards per return, so there’s no way to match it exactly against the punter’s distance ranking. But that table does provide numbers for each team:
• Bucknell, as a team, has had to defend 12 returns, allowing 79 yards.
• Davis has defended 11 returns, giving up 119 yards.
• The Griz have defended just 4 returns, and allowed only 22 yards.

Obviously, the total return yardage depends upon how good the punt coverage is, along with the number of returns attempted. But just on that raw number, the Griz look pretty good.

However, I think you can safely assume that a team has used just one punter so far, especially if their guy is high on the punting distance list. So …
• Bucknell has had to defend 12 of their guy’s 31 punts (39%).
• Davis defended 11 of 26 (42%)
• UM had to defend 4 of 24 (17%)


That's really interesting. I mean when we're deep in our own territory, he boots the hell out of it...high and deep. And, when we're close to mid-field he puts it high and inside the 20 (and most often the 10). He's had some touchbacks, but not many. I'd be really surprised if he isn't drafted next year or at least signed as a free agent. He's good.

I did a small spot-check for the better punters on that list. The percentage of returned punts seems to be about 40% as a good overall stat. So our “eye test” of Wilson’s punts -- they seldom get returned -- is supported by the numbers.

 

[IdaGriz01]

... To top that percentage, those 4 returns have gained the opponents just 22 yards.

...and on the flip side, we have...

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!

Who is third in the country in punt return average at 20.0 yards per return. And his 180 yards is fourth in the country in total punt return yards.