[Long-time posted NEWBrutus posted a great breakdown of the Buckeyes’ run/pass numbers through the first half of the season, so we wanted to make sure it was seen by more eyeballs.]
Here is the Run/Pass Mix through the first half of the regular season. Please note: SACKS are included in the passing totals, as they are passing plays that went awry. Unfortunately there is no easy way to push quarterback scrambles for positive yards to the passing total without hand charting each play. This is all taken from the box scores and play-by-play data.
| Plays | Pct | Yards | YPP | Succ Rate. | |
| 1st Down | |||||
| RUN | 115 | 51.11% | 828 | 7.20 | 57.4% |
| PASS | 110 | 48.89% | 872 | 7.93 | 56.4% |
| Total | 225 | 1700 | 7.56 | 56.9% | |
| 2nd Down | |||||
| RUN | 88 | 57.89% | 542 | 6.16 | 63.6% |
| PASS | 64 | 42.11% | 586 | 9.16 | 50.0% |
| Total | 152 | 1128 | 7.42 | 57.9% | |
| 3rd Down | |||||
| RUN | 27 | 35.06% | 165 | 6.11 | 55.6% |
| PASS | 50 | 64.94% | 401 | 8.02 | 40.0% |
| Total | 77 | 566 | 7.35 | 45.5% | |
| 4th Down | |||||
| RUN | 6 | 54.55% | 15 | 2.50 | 83.3% |
| PASS | 5 | 45.45% | 15 | 3.00 | 40.0% |
| Total | 11 | 30 | 2.73 | 63.6% | |
| OVERALL | |||||
| RUN | 236 | 50.75% | 1550 | 6.57 | 60.6% |
| PASS | 229 | 49.25% | 1874 | 8.18 | 50.7% |
Observations
Balanced Attack
The first thing which stands out to me is how balanced we are in terms of runs vs. pass plays (again sack adjusted). We are pretty much 50/50. More interesting, we are very close to that 50/50 mix on first down.
For comparison’s sake, through six games last year, we were 66.67% run/33.33% pass on First down. Second down we were 60.5% run vs. 39.5% Pass. On third down, we were 56.32% pass vs. 43.68% run. On fourth down we were 91.67% run and 8.33% pass.
This year we have been much more balanced in our play calling. Perhaps it is due to an increased level of confidence in our passing game.
Our success rate on first down is better than it was a year ago — 56.9% vs. 54.8% in 2016. We have had 225 first down plays vs. 210 a year ago (through six games).
We see something similar on second down. Our success rate on second down this season is 57.9%. This is better than the 52.9% success rate on second down last year. Our offense has run 152 second down plays in 2017 vs. 157 over the first six games of 2016.
Not as successful
Third and fourth down are a different story.
Through six games last year, we converted 49.4% of our third-down plays. This year it is 45.5%. Last year we had 87 third down plays vs. 77 this season. what is more intriguing about this stat though is this.
Success on 3rd down running plays 2016: 64.58%
Success on 3rd down running plays 2017: 55.6%
Success on 3rd down passing plays 2016: 30.77%, 39 plays total.
Success on 3rd down passing plays 2017: 40.00%, 50 plays total.
On fourth down, we ran the ball in 2016, converted 9 of 11 rushing plays, 81.81%.
This year, we are throwing it more frequently, and our success rate has gone down to 63.6%.
Passing improvements
Through six games last year and 172 total pass plays, our overall success rate was 46.5%. This year we have thrown the ball more often (56 more attempts), and have had more success 50.4% success rate.
Here are J.T. Barrett’s numbers through the first six games of 2016 and 2017.
| Year | Comp | Att | Yds | TD | INT | YPA | Comp% | Pass Eff | Pass Eff * Success Rate |
| 2016 | 96 | 152 | 1207 | 16 | 4 | 7.94 | 63.16% | 159.3 | 76.52 |
| 2017 | 111 | 174 | 1513 | 16 | 1 | 8.40 | 63.8% | 166.0 | 85.88 |
How “significant” the improvement has been is somewhat subjective, but he has had more attempts, a better yard/attempt, completion percentage, pass efficiency rating, and as also had more successful plays.
I suppose one could make an argument that the first half of 2016’s schedule was more difficult, as we faced Wisconsin in game six. However, the quality of the schedule otherwise could be looked at as being somewhat similar.
Like most everyone else, I am waiting for a stronger offensive performance against the likes of Penn State and Iowa before I get too excited. However, the progressive improvements from game to game are hard to ignore. This gives plenty of reason for optimism as we face progressively tougher challenges.