A dramatic decrease in run-game production
If not for Trey Watts (a three-game total of 220 yards), the Hurricane run game would be a complete no-show. Until the passing game functions at a level far beyond a completion rate of 52 percent, TU's run game is going to remain less productive than it should be. Until basic pass plays are consistently executed, opponents will continue to crowd defenders near the line of scrimmage. The drop in run-game success has been dramatic. Last season, Tulsa averaged 245.7 yards per game and 5.0 per attempt. This season's averages: 120.3 yards per game and 3.6 per attempt. Last season, TU scored 41 rushing touchdowns. Through three games this season, there have been two rushing TDs. On 33 rush attempts, Ja'Terian Douglas has netted only 85 yards. On quarterback keepers, Cody Green averages only 2.5 per carry.
Morale restoration starts now
Players and coaches seemed extremely deflated following the 51-20 defeat at Oklahoma - a setback that dropped TU to 1-2 - but the Hurricane program has a history of bouncing back from rocky starts. In 2003, there was a 1-2 start and an 8-5 finish. In 2005, there was a 1-2 start and a 9-4, Conference USA-title finish. In 2010, there was a 1-2 start and a 10-3 finish. In 2011, there was a 1-2 start and an 8-5 finish.
In addition to addressing several problems involving execution and personnel, the Hurricane coaches are charged with resuscitating the morale of the players.
Inability to generate pressure a glaring flaw for defense
Among the 2012 team's more impressive statistical achievements was a 14-game sack total of 53. TU didn't just break the program record for sacks.
TU obliterated the old record of 38, set in 2008. Last season, the Hurricane got half of its sacks from linemen and most of the rest from linebackers.
Whether it came from a conventional 4-3 front, from the Cobra speed package that has four ends on the field or from a blitzing linebacker, Tulsa consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks. In 2013, the Hurricane pass rush has produced only four sacks.
TU coaches believed that their new pass-rush personnel would be more athletic than their predecessors, but so far the results have been significantly less than expected.
TU STATISTICS
|
TU |
OPP |
| Scoring |
57 |
112 |
| Per game |
19.0 |
37.3 |
| First downs |
54 |
59 |
| by rushing |
16 |
30 |
| by passing |
33 |
27 |
| by penalty |
5 |
2 |
| Rushing yards |
361 |
599 |
| Avg. per game |
120.3 |
199.7 |
| Passing yards |
660 |
684 |
| Avg. per game |
220.0 |
228.0 |
| Offensive plays |
212 |
227 |
| Total yards |
1021 |
1283 |
| Avg. per play |
4.8 |
5.7 |
| Avg. per game |
340.3 |
427.7 |
| Kick returns-Yds |
13-269 |
5-114 |
| Punt returns-Yds |
10-121 |
8-149 |
| Interceptions-Yds |
3-20 |
2-31 |
| Fumbles-Lost |
6-4 |
1-1 |
| Penalties-Yds |
12-80 |
18-158 |
| Punts-Avg. |
20-36.2 |
17-39.9 |
| 3rd downs |
16-49 |
19-46 |
| 4th downs |
3-7 |
1-1 |
| Sacks by-Yds |
4-24 |
3-12 |
Individual leaders
Y/A=Yards/attempt; Y/G=Yards/game
| RUSHING |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
Lg |
| T. Watts |
40 |
220 |
5.5 |
73.3 |
1 |
| J. Douglas |
33 |
85 |
2.6 |
28.3 |
1 |
| C. Green |
17 |
42 |
2.5 |
14.0 |
0 |
| PASSING |
C-A |
Yds |
Int |
TD |
| C. Green |
55-106-2 |
610 |
203.3 |
3 |
| D. Evans |
3-7-0 |
50 |
50.0 |
1 |
| RECEIVING |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
Lg |
| T. Watts |
18 |
156 |
8.7 |
52.0 |
0 |
| J. James |
12 |
198 |
16.5 |
66.0 |
1 |
| D. Patterson |
7 |
109 |
15.6 |
36.3 |
2 |
| K. Garrett |
7 |
68 |
9.7 |
34.0 |
0 |
| PUNT RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| T. Watts |
9 |
114 |
12.7 |
0 |
| KICK RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| T. Watts |
5 |
110 |
22.0 |
0 |
| K. Lucas |
4 |
87 |
21.8 |
0 |
| KICKING |
FG-A |
Long |
PAT |
| C. Salazar |
5-7 |
34 |
6-6 |
| TACKLES |
Solo |
Ast. |
Total |
TFL |
Sacks |
| M. Mudoh |
35 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| S. Jackson |
25 |
4.5 |
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
| M. Osborne |
22 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
| B. White |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| T. Martin |
18 |
4.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Dobbins |
17 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| D. Walker |
16 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Luetjen |
12 |
2.5 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
| B. Todd |
11 |
0.5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| J. Sizelove |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Alexander |
5 |
0.5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| C. Hummingbird |
5 |
2.5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| H. Carman |
4 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. Brubaker |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Jennings |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| A. McDaniel |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| C. Buehner |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| C. Rahmings |
2 |
0.5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
TU SCHEDULE
Tickets: tulsaworld.com/tusports
Aug. 29: at Bowling Green L, 34-7
Sept. 7: Colorado St. W, 30-27
Sept. 14: at Oklahoma L,51-20
Sept. 26: Iowa State, FSN-27 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 5: Rice, CBSSN-249 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 12: at UTEP, FSN-27 TBD
Oct. 26: at Tulane 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 2: Texas-San Antonio 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: at East Carolina, FSN-27 TBD
Nov. 14: Marshall, FSN-27 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 23: at La. Tech, CBSSN-249 6 p.m.
Nov. 30: North Texas, FSN-27 TBD
UP NEXT
Iowa State (0-2) at Tulsa (1-2)
6:30 p.m. Sept. 26
TV: FSN-27
Radio: KRMG am740, fm102.3
TU
Logan McCracken led the University of Tulsa men's team to a fifth-place finish Tuesday in the Columbia Regional Preview at The Club of Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Mo.
