In this continuing
series on why the NFL Total Offense and Total Statistic is wrong and
misleading, by using only the yards gained and Yards allowed statistics to
determine Total Offense and Total Defense rankings, I have discussed Turn Over’s
(Fumbles and Interceptions) in part three. yards gained\allowed in part two, and Points Scored or Points Allowed in part one. This post is
about another statistic that should be used in determining Total Offense and
Total Defense ranking.
Penalties
Penalties are
called “Drive Killers” on offense. What writer or TV commentator has not used
this term? We hear it all the time.
Your team has a nice
drive going; you started on your twenty, picked up a few of first downs. You
are now in your opponent’s side of the field, say on the 47 yard line. It is
first down and your right guard moves early, a flag flies and it is now 1st
and 15. Or it is 3rd and 6
and your tackle gets called for holding and it becomes 3rd and 16.
In either case it is very likely you fail to pick up another first down and are
forced to punt. If this kind of thing happens often your offense will not score
a lot of points, but they may gain a lot of yards!
You are on defense;
the ball is on your opponent’s 35 yard line. It is 3rd and long. The
pass is incomplete. A defensive back that is on the other side of the field
away from the play gets called for holding. This gives the opposing offense a
first down and they go on to score what turns out to be the winning touchdown.
Wow, how many times have we seen that happen?
Penalties are a
very important factor in every game! How can they be ignored in determining
Offensive and Defensive ranking? Once again it is sad to say but the NFL does
not care, the only thing that is important to them is yards gained or allowed! Further
more the sports media doesn’t even question this oversight, they just report
what the NFL tells them?
Pro FootballRanking.com does care! Penalties are just one of the fifteen statistics they
use in their ranking method.
In this series on
the Myth about the NFL Total Offense and Total Defense I have been critical of
sports writers and TV commentators, especially Phil Simms. They are just
reporting it the way the NFL presents it to them. The truth is that there has
not been a website that sets things straight, until now! I think Phil Simms is
one of the best commentators on TV. He has a great understanding of the game
and tells it the way it is, but he needs to check out Pro Football Ranking.com
to get the truth about who has the best offense or defense.
Next up in Part 5 – The Red Zone
Well what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know.
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