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The idea of the D “getting six” (combination of turnovers, 3-and-outs, and turnovers on downs) is intriguing to me, so I compared how many our defense got vs. how many our offense gave up and the results are quite telling. I left LSU out as I did not want to beat that dead horse again. Here are the results:

ULM
D got 4 (2 turnovers (TO) and 2 3-and-outs (3AO)
O gave 6 (3 TO and 3 3AO)
Net: -2
Result: Loss

DS
D got 7 (2 TO and 5 3AO)
O gave 2 (1 TO and 1 3AO)
Net: +5
Result: Win

UTSA
D got 5 (1 TO, 3 3AO, 1 Turnover on Downs (TOD)
O gave 1 (3AO)
Net: +4
Result: Win

SYR
D got 3 (1 TO, 2 3AO)
O gave 7 (2 TO, 4 3AO, 1 TOD)
Net: -4
Result: Loss

BC
D got 3 (1 TO, 1 3AO, 1TOD)
O gave 5 (1 TO, 4 3AO)
Net: -2
Result: Loss

Troy
D got 5 (1 TO, 2 3AO, 2 TOD)
O gave 9 (4 TO, 2 3AO, 3 TOD)
Net: -4
Result: Loss

A couple of insights from this analysis for me:

1. 3-and-outs are important both for our defense to get and for our offense to avoid. While this may be common sense, thinking of them as important as a turnover was not where my head was at.

2. While this stat started as a defensive stat, it is a different way to think about a ball control offense as well.

3. As our O develops with the new scheme, our D will have to deliver 6+ to keep us in the win column.

Good Post; thank you. The D can generally hold its own as long as the O is competitive in TOP. Offense has got to get rid of the turnovers and the QB and RBs need some help from the O line keeping folks out of the backfield and creating some running lanes.

If the O avoids turnovers and 3-and-outs, they will win the TOP battle.

Very nice comparison. And totally highlights what I know to be true which is the game, at its very core, is about controlling the ball and nothing else.

That is why the under center with the fullback dive, the trap, the qb power, etc is so critical. It limits the number of exchanges and is near impossible to stop. It keeps the offense on track and consistently moves the ball downfield. We start every single play 5 yards deep in this new offense. That by itself will be the death of this whole thing. Then layer in a very erratic passing game and it's a total recipe for disaster.

PD