The NFL through week two: What the stats say (part two)

Philadelphia Eagles’ running back LeSean McCoy had only 200 carries in his injured-shortened 12 game season last year, an average of 16.6 carries per game. This caused many Eagles fans and fantasy owners to spit poison at Head Coach Andy Reid, feeling that such a talented runner warranted more extensive utilisation in the offence.

New boy Chip Kelly has fixed that problem. McCoy is averaging 21 rushing attempts in Kelly’s new no-huddle offence, the fifth most in the NFL. The runner’s yards per game have also increased from 70.0 to 118.5, as has his yards per attempt, which has gone from 4.2 to 5.6. It’s good news for Eagles fans.

The story isn’t so pleasant elsewhere in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens double punch, Bernard Pierce and Ray Rice, have both had horrible starts to the season. Taking all running backs with at least twenty carries or more, they rank third and fourth last in yards per attempt with 2.8 and 2.9 respectively. Combined, they have only 151 yards on 53 attempts. The top eight runners in the league all have more rushing yards than that on their own, with fewer or the same number of carries.

Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park on September 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)

However, neither one of the Ravens rushers have been quite as bad as Frank Gore. The San Francisco 49ers feature back has carried the ball 30 times this season only 60 yards (2.0 yards per carry). Even more alarmingly, only 10% of his carries (three) have gone for first downs. By comparison, last year over 25% of his runs moved the chains. If San Francisco are going to retain their NFC West title this season, they will need far more production out of Gore than that.

Surprisingly, Gore won’t even be the most inefficient starting running back in week three. On Tuesday, Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith ruled out Steven Jackson for their week three match-up against the Miami Dolphins. This is bad news for Atlanta fans, as Jackson’s replacement, Jacquizz Rogers, is one of the most statistically terrible players in the league so far.

With 16 yards rushing on 13 carries, Rogers’ 1.2 yard per carry average is the worst of anyone with double digit rushing attempts. Discounting his season long run of 7 yards, which is underwhelming in itself, the Falcons’ back has averaged only 0.75 yards on 12 carries. To put things into perspective, Joe Flacco (Ravens) and Andy Dalton (Bengals) have been more efficient and productive runners so far this season.

Washington Leaks

New Orleans Saints had the statistically worst defence in NFL history last season, giving up 7042 yards (440.1 per game). Washington Redskins has already given up 1023 yards in just two games, which works out at 511.5 per game. Granted, Mike Shanahan’s team had to face the previously unseen Chip Kelly offence in their season opener, and then go into Lambeau against a wounded 0-1 Green Bay Packers side. That’s a tough ask for anyone.

Things should get easier for the Redskins soon, but as long as they’re leaking 500 yards per game we’ll keep a close eye on that record.

Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on before taking on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 12, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Getty Images)

No clowns in this circus

It’s easy (and correct) to criticise the circus surrounding the New York Jets offence. They can’t run the ball and they can’t catch. However, there is hope for this team on other side of the ball. Rex Ryan has his defence playing as well as any unit in the league right now, bar none, and it might win them their fair share of games.

So far this season, the Jets have faced running backs Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Steven Ridley (Patriots), who were the fifth and seventh best rushers in the league in 2012. They have faced Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers), who had the fifth most receiving yards in 2012. And they have faced Tom Brady (Patriots), who regardless of the weapons at his disposal is still Tom Brady.

Facing those threats, the Jets have emerged through week two as the second best defence in the NFL. Only Seattle Seahawks have surrendered fewer yards per game this season. Only Seattle and Kansas City have conceded fewer points.

Kudos Rex Ryan.