TU Talking Points
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
9/25/12 at 5:41 AM
Can the Golden Hurricane win a title with a 48.8 percent passing game?
Accuracy is a nagging issue for Hurricane quarterback Cody Green. During the second, third and fourth quarters of the loss at Iowa State, he was 13-of-36 passing. During last week's victory over Fresno State, he was 13-of-37 with three interceptions (two of which were returned for Bulldog touchdowns).
Through four games, Green has completed 48.8 percent of his passes for seven TDs against five interceptions. If the season ended today, Green's completion percentage would be the lowest by a Tulsa quarterback since Troy DeGar's .443 in 1996.
Can TU win the Conference USA title with a 48.8 percent passing game? During each of the previous seven seasons, TU quarterbacks completed at least 60 percent. Priority No. 1 for coach Bill Blankenship and offensive coordinator Greg Peterson - making Green more comfortable and successful in the offense.
Road success becoming common for TU
Among the many examples of TU's football revival is the program's ability to record road victories. In 1997-2001, the Golden Hurricane road record was 5-22. In 2007-11, TU had a road mark of 18-13. Partly because of that recent history of road success, Tulsa was favored in this season's opener at Iowa State. TU surged to a 16-7 lead before falling 38-23.
Five of TU's eight remaining games are played away from home. This week, Tulsa plays at UAB. On Oct. 6, Tulsa plays at Marshall. The Hurricane has a combined record of 6-0 against those teams, and Tulsa will be a road favorite for each contest.
Playing smart football always is important away from home. Last season, TU averaged only 35.8 penalty yards per game. This season, the average is down to 33.2.
Kicks and punts - no drama thus far
TU entered the season with a freshman kicker (Daniel Schwarz), a walk-on freshman long snapper (Rey Higuera) and a new holder on extra-point kicks and field goals (6-foot-8 Cole Way). Schwarz did have one of his point-after attempts blocked and he misfired on one of his five field goal tries, but the failed kicks were not the result of a flawed snap or hold.
Ask Fresno State's coaches about the importance of the kicking game. In a 27-26 loss at Tulsa, the Bulldogs missed an extra-point kick, had an extra-point try blocked and missed on a 33-yard field goal attempt.
Hurricane coaches would like to see Way add two or three yards to his 39-yard punting average, but the sophomore from Union has been very effective. Ten of his 26 punts were downed inside of the opponents' 20-yard line, and three punts sailed at least 50 yards.
BY THE NUMBERS
215: Through three games, UAB has allowed 215 rushing yards per game. Opponents have averaged 5.7 yards per attempt.
245.8: The Tulsa run game produces 245.8 yards per game. Hurricane backs average 5.6 yards per attempt.
9: Injured TU wide receiver Bryan Burnham sustained a season-ending injury during the third period of the opener at Iowa State. With nine catches, he still ranks fourth among Hurricane pass-catchers.
2: In 13 games last season, the Tulsa defense had 17 interceptions. Through four games this season, there have been only two interceptions - one each by safeties Dexter McCoil and Marco Nelson.
41: Through four games, the Tulsa offense has converted on 41 percent of its third-down plays. Last year, TU was successful on 42 percent of its third-down plays.
STATISTICS
|
TU |
OPP |
| Scoring |
161 |
90 |
| Per game |
40.2 |
22.5 |
| First downs |
88 |
69 |
| by rushing |
41 |
28 |
| by passing |
39 |
33 |
| by penalty |
8 |
8 |
| Rushing yards |
983 |
522 |
| Avg. per game |
245.8 |
130.5 |
| Passing yards |
946 |
830 |
| Avg. per game |
236.5 |
207.5 |
| Offensive plays |
330 |
296 |
| Total yards |
1929 |
1352 |
| Avg. per play |
5.8 |
4.6 |
| Avg. per game |
482.2 |
338.0 |
| Kick returns-Yds |
12-289 |
14-267 |
| Punt returns-Yds |
8-81 |
4-15 |
| Interceptions-Yds |
2-43 |
6-105 |
| Fumbles-Lost |
6-2 |
4-4 |
| Penalties-Yds |
15-133 |
23-225 |
| Punts-Avg. |
26-39.0 |
35-43.0 |
| 3rd downs |
30-73 |
24-71 |
| 4th downs |
5-8 |
1-4 |
| Sacks by-Yds |
19-133 |
3-23 |
Individual leaders
Y/A=Yards/attempt; Y/G=Yards/game
| RUSHING |
No. |
Yds |
Y/A |
Y/G |
TD |
| J. Douglas |
40 |
355 |
8.9 |
88.8 |
4 |
| T. Watts |
36 |
270 |
7.5 |
67.5 |
1 |
| A. Singleton |
46 |
184 |
4.0 |
46.0 |
5 |
| Z. Langer |
19 |
83 |
4.4 |
20.8 |
2 |
| K. Henderson |
10 |
66 |
6.6 |
33.0 |
1 |
| PASSING |
C-A-Int |
Yds |
Y/G |
TD |
| C. Green |
62-127-5 |
804 |
201.0 |
7 |
| K. Henderson |
7-21-1 |
68 |
34.0 |
0 |
| J. Calcagni |
3-4-0 |
48 |
24.0 |
0 |
| RECEIVING |
No. |
Yds |
Y/A |
Y/G |
TD |
| K. Garrett |
14 |
204 |
14.6 |
51.0 |
3 |
| J. James |
12 |
182 |
15.2 |
45.5 |
1 |
| T. Watts |
10 |
95 |
9.5 |
23.8 |
0 |
| B. Burnham |
9 |
90 |
10.0 |
90.0 |
0 |
| T. Roberson |
8 |
174 |
21.8 |
43.5 |
3 |
| W. Carter |
8 |
83 |
10.4 |
20.8 |
1 |
| PUNT RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| T. Watts |
5 |
34 |
6.8 |
0 |
| D. Nelson |
3 |
47 |
15.7 |
0 |
| KICK RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| T. Watts |
7 |
202 |
28.9 |
0 |
| J. Douglas |
3 |
56 |
18.7 |
0 |
| PUNTING |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
I20 |
| C. Way |
26 |
1015 |
39.0 |
10 |
| KICKING |
FG-A |
Long |
PAT |
| D. Schwarz |
4-5 |
45 |
19-20 |
| DEFENSE |
Tackles |
TFL |
Sacks |
INT |
FR |
| D. Brown |
37 |
6.5 |
4.0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Nelson |
26 |
3.5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| D. McCoil |
25 |
1.5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| L. Rose |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| T. Martin |
19 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Bufford |
16 |
3.5 |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Jennings |
16 |
5.0 |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Jackson |
13 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. St. John |
12 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
0 |
1 |
| J. Flanders |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| S. Jackson |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| C. Dorris |
11 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Luetjen |
8 |
4.0 |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
| D. Hawkins |
7 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
| J. Sizelove |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
TU Schedule
Schedule
Tickets: tulsaworld.com/tusports
Sept. 1: at Iowa State L, 38-22
Sept. 8: vs. Tulane W, 45-10
Sept. 15: vs. Nicholls State W, 66-16
Sept. 22: vs. Fresno State W, 27-26
Sept. 29: at UAB 2 p.m.
Oct. 6: at Marshall (CBSSN-249) 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 11: vs. UTEP (FSOK-27) 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: vs. Rice (FSOK-27) 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 3: at Arkansas TBD
Nov. 10: at Houston (CBSSN-249) 4 p.m.
Nov. 17: vs. UCF (FSOK-27) TBD
Nov. 24: at SMU (FSOK-27) TBD
Associated Images:
TU quarterback Cody Green has completed just 48.8 percent of his passes this season. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World
Daniel Schwarz kicks out of the hold by Cole Way during TU's win over Nicholls State on Sept. 15 at Chapman Stadium. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World
|
