In-the-Red Woes

Pat’s Weekly Stat (you likely won’t see anywhere else)--Twitter @PGarbin

Sitting in the press box looking over the final statistics following Georgia’s disheartening loss to Tech, I first noticed both teams’ red zone conversions, which was followed by something Radi said in his “postgame observations, questions and impressions” that night: “Georgia's red zone trouble is two fold. The Dawgs have to score touchdowns next year. More importantly though, the defense has to make a stop.”

Since holding an opponent to a field goal when it reaches inside a team’s 20-yard line is often considered an accomplishment, instead of “red zone conversions,” I prefer to look at “red zone conversions—but only those converted into touchdowns, not field goals.”

Defensively, Georgia has been horrific this season by allowing the opposition to score a touchdown 29 of the 37 times it has reached the red zone, or 78.4 percent, which ranks 125th in the FBS, or fourth from last. Offensively, the Bulldogs have struggled in the red zone, as well, converting just 22 of 41 trips into touchdowns, or 53.7 percent, which ranks 107th in the FBS. Ironically, the team which ranks No. 1 in red zone offense (touchdowns scored) is where Georgia’s Jim Chaney was calling the plays just a year ago, Pittsburgh (82.7 percent).

Georgia began releasing annual red zone statistics in 1993. Beginning then and through 2015, the Bulldogs converted 58.2 percent of their total red-zone trips into touchdowns. Although this season’s offensive mark of 53.7 percent currently ranks in the lower 20th percentile in the FBS, at Georgia, it would rank 17th (a tad better) of the 24 seasons from 1993 to 2016.

When comparing this year’s edition to previous Georgia defenses and how frequent they allowed touchdowns in the red zone, this season has pretty much been an outlier—and, a bad one at that. From 1993 through 2015, the Bulldogs allowed the opposition to convert 55.0 percent of their total red-zone trips into touchdowns. If this season’s defensive mark of 78.4 percent was included, it would rank 24th at Georgia, or dead last—and by more than seven percent—of the 24 seasons.

I then spotted something I deemed noteworthy: four of Georgia’s top five offensive red-zone conversion rates resulted under the same offensive coordinator, and four of the Bulldogs’ top five defensive red-zone conversion rates resulted under the same defensive coordinator, as well.

Offensively, I divided Georgia’s red-zone touchdown conversion figures by offensive coordinator/play-caller and the seasons in which they primarily called the plays. Note: Only three of Wayne McDuffie’s five seasons as offensive coordinator are included (he also served the position in 1991 and 1992). “Since OC Bobo” includes Brian Schottenheimer in 2015 and Jim Chaney this season.

Defensively, I did something similar to the above, dividing Georgia’s red-zone touchdown conversion figures by defensive coordinator; however, I included only those who served as the Bulldogs’ DC for at least two seasons. Therefore, conversion figures for 1993-1994, 1999-2000, and 2016 are omitted.