Evaluating Front Seven Size vs. Offensive Production in 2010

"If you torture the data long enough, it will confess." - Ronald Coase

As many of you know, I'm a huge proponent of Front 7 size and offensive production against.  A great way is to look at the yards per play (not necessarily the scoreboard as you have varying factors such as turnovers, special team plays and others).

Here's a look at the Defensive Front 7 that GSU faced in 2010

Sizes Of The Front Sevens Georgia State Faced in 2010
	SU	LU	JSU	CU	MSU	SSU	NCC	ODU	USA	LAM	ALA
DL	230	245	237	252	229	230	260	250	205	250	306
DL	240	270	285	278	274	281	294	285	290	250	279
DL	260	275	275	280	250	250	272	295	275	255	310
DL/LB	210	305	260	285	238	259	240	220	215	215	231
LB	185	215	235	225	189	184	230	225	230	190	263
LB	220	220	245	225	208	216	244	225	215	205	258
LB	240	215	255	225	203	217	210	225	200	210	238
Total	1585	1745	1792	1770	1591	1637	1750	1725	1630	1575	1885

Teams that had 1700 or less combined pounds (Shorter, Morehead State, Savannah State, South Alabama and Lamar) we averaged 4.6 yards per rush and 7.1 yards per pass.  In the other 6 ball games vs. heavier defensive fronts we averaged 3.4 yards per rush and 6.2 yards per pass. 

It's absolutely imperative that our offensive line gain a minimum of 5lbs per man (with the exception of LaDeven Kirkland as he will probably be in the lose 5lbs category of the eating line).  This added strength would have our projected starting O Line at 1482lbs.  I think this is very conservative and considering starting RG Harrison Clottey was basically playing with 1 good arm for the last 5 games of the year, this would be a tremendous gain.

What does all this mean?  As I've heard said many times by a former coach of mine, "The Off Season is when the Average become Good and the Good become Great."