That yardage question

The latest mantra we are all hearing is that the Huskies are frauds now and that they have been outgained in every Big East game.

Now, I am not going to totally dismiss the total offense stat, but we will look at it critically. Is there a reason why they are winning but getting outgained?

There are reasons to doubt UConn this year and they have been incredibly fortunate and opportunistic and more importantly they have won three games at home. That to me is why the Huskies are nearly a touchdown underdog tomorrow, and they probably should be. Good teams have to win on the road. The onus is still on them to prove they are their record. I am a firm believer that this game will determine how the rest of the nation takes the Huskies. A win here could vault UConn up a couple of notches (if you care about such things).

But, I don't feel the outgained yardage is a reason to knock UConn.

Now, the main reason for being outgained is UConn has had a lot of short fields set up by turnovers, have run back 3 interceptions for touchdowns, and have "lost" three drives because of special teams touchdowns. They have also led by double digits in three of four Big East games. So, the defense hasn't been taking many risks and playing tight.

Now to the individual games.

First off, Pittsburgh.

Difference in total offense:

Pittsburgh 349, UConn 289

The Huskies destroyed the Panthers for three quarters before taking the peddle off. If you remember, all of Bostick's passing yards etc. were done in the fourth quarter when the game was over. Bostick had 200 plus yards passing in the fourth quarter. And, remember, it was 27-7 at the half and 37-7 after Butler's INT. 4th quarter yards for Pitt? 226.

So now Louisville:

Difference in total offense: Louisville 321, UConn 305.

Final drive from Louisville was 36 yards, which put them over on UConn. Also, UConn had the Taylor unfair catch punt return for a TD that negated a drive.

The UConn defense did an excellent job: Brohm's yard per play was 5.6 per pass. Lorenzen's was 7.3. Louisville average gain per play is 4.3 yards.

South Florida

USF 440, UConn 353

Halftime stats, UConn 16-0 -- UConn 249, USF 120.

Third quarter, USF came out to play and had drives of 62, 63, 52, 37 and 50. USF was in desperation mode. UConn was protecting deep not wanting to give up the big play.

UConn outplayed USF this game. It would have been a travesty if they lost.

Rutgers

Rutgers 511, UConn 396

That 511 yards looks awful -- it just does. First off, UConn forced Teel into a short passing game. That was the game plan, make them go the entire field and see if they could finish off drives (they couldn't).

The key stat is the second quarter. 40 plays by Rutgers, UConn 3. They outgained UConn 194-4 in the quarter. Now, what was the score? Uconn took an 18-3 lead after the first quarter and in the second quarter and took a 25-6 lead. They made Teel go the long way.

UConn put the game away in the third with drives of 75, 67 and 75 yards holding Rutgers to THREE points in the second half.

Now, because of the second quarter lead, the Huskies once again played soft and wanted Teel to go short with the ball. Also, let's not look at total yardage, but productivity. Average per play?

Rutgers 5.9, UConn 6.6

Also, last two drives Rutgers had 117 yards of offense which was absolutely meaningless.

The verdict?

Don't look at the total yards. Look at the lack of big plays against the Huskies (that's what bend but don't break is) and look at the average gain per play. Rutgers needed 87 plays for those 511 yards.

Teams aren't taking chunks of yards on the Huskies. They are slowly going down the field, if at all. UConn doesn't allow big plays, and is stingy in the red zone.

Still, UConn can do better. It hasn't been able to get off the field on third down, but I wouldn't worry about the yardage. No one has kicked the defenses tails up and down the field.

Yardage is a funny thing. In one sense it is important, but situation dictates how you play, and UConn defense plays to the scoreboard.

UConn isn't the blackshirt defense. They don't blow up teams and dominate defensively. They play the scoreboard, and they don't give up big plays. I don't have it with me, but I imagine plays of 20 plus yards for the Huskies is unbelievable low for a college football team.

Looking at total offense is just a lazy way to analyze UConn. If you didn't watch the games, you have to go deeper than that.

Fortunate officiating -- absolutely. Some home cooking -- yes. Winning despite being outplayed? ---absolutely not.

The only glaring game they were outplayed in was probably second half against Temple when they went on cruise control.