Conference red zone TD%. We play 9 conference games this year, and there's no reason to lose to CSU or ISU in the OOC, so what the offense does in the red zone in 2016 will go a long way to getting to a bowl game.
Conference Red Zone Trips
2014: 36
2015: 33
Conference Red Zone Scores
2014: 31
2015: 24
Conference Red Zone TD%
2014: 61.1%
2015: 48.5%
Conference Red Zone FG%
2014: 25%
2015: 24.2%
If the red zone offense had stayed the exact same as it was in 2014, the offense would have put up 42 more points (6 more red zone TDs). Based on the points for and points against in 2015, we could have been expected to win 5.5 games (.435 win%, actual was .308). If you add in those 42 extra points, the expected wins would rise to 6.5 wins. Obviously not perfect because game situations could change with a better red zone offense and the D could give up more for instance, but when you think about the close losses against Arizona, UCLA, USC, and Utah...plus games like Oregon where they were in it the whole game, it's makes sense that 1 or 2 of those would have been wins. It should be noted that teams that underperform their expected wins typically improve record wise the following year.
With an improved WR core (healthy Fields, Winfree, Ross, and potentially the freshman), we should see a more explosive offense that can create more red zone chances for the rest of the offense, and a healthy Sefo who showed is a load when carrying the ball and an effective runner, we should see more red zone opportunities and more red zone touchdowns via better play calling and better skill position players.
There are some questions on the OL and LB, but the D should improve from last year and the offense should be more in the 2014 form. Add those in plus an upperclassmen team is going to lead to a bowl game in 2016.
Conference Red Zone Trips
2014: 36
2015: 33
Conference Red Zone Scores
2014: 31
2015: 24
Conference Red Zone TD%
2014: 61.1%
2015: 48.5%
Conference Red Zone FG%
2014: 25%
2015: 24.2%
If the red zone offense had stayed the exact same as it was in 2014, the offense would have put up 42 more points (6 more red zone TDs). Based on the points for and points against in 2015, we could have been expected to win 5.5 games (.435 win%, actual was .308). If you add in those 42 extra points, the expected wins would rise to 6.5 wins. Obviously not perfect because game situations could change with a better red zone offense and the D could give up more for instance, but when you think about the close losses against Arizona, UCLA, USC, and Utah...plus games like Oregon where they were in it the whole game, it's makes sense that 1 or 2 of those would have been wins. It should be noted that teams that underperform their expected wins typically improve record wise the following year.
With an improved WR core (healthy Fields, Winfree, Ross, and potentially the freshman), we should see a more explosive offense that can create more red zone chances for the rest of the offense, and a healthy Sefo who showed is a load when carrying the ball and an effective runner, we should see more red zone opportunities and more red zone touchdowns via better play calling and better skill position players.
There are some questions on the OL and LB, but the D should improve from last year and the offense should be more in the 2014 form. Add those in plus an upperclassmen team is going to lead to a bowl game in 2016.
