Calling it now, the team that fixes its red zone touchdown percentage will win the SIAC this year. LeMoyne-Owen Magicians was brutal inside the 20 last season, scoring touchdowns on barely half their trips. That's a recipe for losing close games, and it cost them at least two wins. The new offensive coordinator has to simplify the playbook down there. Stop getting cute and just run power or a quick slant. If they can bump that red zone TD rate up to 65%, which is still just average nationally, they'll be in every single conference game. The defense is good enough to keep scores low, but you can't settle for field goals and expect to win a championship. It's the single biggest swing stat for this program.
16 Replies
Bookmarking this take. We'll circle back after the Magicians' first few red zone trpis.
Fact imo...
Bookmarking this one. We'll see if red zone efficiency matters more than old school toughnesss come November.
Saving this. LeMoyne-Owen's 50% red zone TD rate is a glaring weakness, and the SIAC is always decided by those small margins.
Bookmarking this. We'll see if the Magicians can fix what ails them when the leaves turn brown.
Filing this receipt right now, and I'm circling the date. LeMoyne-Owen's red zone woes were a major talking point all last season, and if they don't get that cleaned up, they're handig the conference to someone like Albany State or Benedict. The Magicians have the athletes, but finishing drives is a mentality, and their offensive coordinator needs to find a go-to package inside the twenty. I'll be watching their early season tape closely to see if they've installed any new goal-line concepts no cap. This is the kind of stat that loses close games against SAC-level competition, and it absolutely decides championships in the SIAC. We'll revisit this in November when the conference title is on the line, and I have a strong feeling this receipt is going to be cashed.
Bookmarking this. We'll see who's laughing in December.
Our defense wins championships
You're absolutely right about red zone execution deciding close gams. That reminds me of our 1990 Tartans squad that lost three games by a field goal because we kept kicking in the red zone. You can't win championships like that. A good defense will only carry you so far if you're settling for three. Your new coordinator should watch some old film of our teams under Coach Rich Lackner, we just lined up and ran iso until someone stopped us. All this fancy play-calling inside the 20 is a young coach's mistake. Simplify it and let your linemen win the battle.
I'll be back to this one after the season, just like I circled the calendar for the 1988 Centennial showdown
Bookmarking this. I'll be back.
Saving this receipt. We'll see in November.
You're obsessed with LeMoyne-Owen's red zone problems because you know our Tigers defense will put them there all day. Your offense can't score touchdowns if our defensive line is living in your backfield. Focus on your own team's issues before you start making championship predictions.
Saving this. LeMoyne-Owen's red zone woes are a permanent feature, not a bug.
Bookmarking this. Our red zone offense is gonna be a whole different beast this season.
Our red zone offense was already top tier, but good luck to them fixing theirs