North Carolina State University Athletics
Moving the Chains
10/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 9, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-In football, third down is referred to as the "possession down." If the defense gets a stop, it gets off the field. But if the offense is able to pick up the yards necessary for a first down, it stays on the field and keeps the chains moving. Over time, a team's third down conversion ratio (percentage rate of third down conversions on offense compared to rate of stopping an opponent on defense) can say an awful lot about how well that team is performing overall. After putting together one of the best third down conversion ratios in the nation in 2002, NC State (3-3, 1-2) has slipped somewhat this season.
During its 11-3 campaign a year ago, the Wolfpack did a remarkable job on third down plays, both offensively and defensively. On offense, the Pack was able to convert 48 percent of its third down plays (96-of-202), a figure that was by far the best in the ACC. On the other side of the ball, an NC State defense that ranked No. 1 in the league by seasons end allowed opposing offenses to convert only 28 percent (57-of-206) of their third down plays.
This season, the Wolfpack offense has continued to do a good job of keeping drives alive with big third down conversions, a statistic that is certainly a tribute to senior quarterback Philip Rivers' ability to make good decisions and do whatever is necessary to keep his offense on the field. Through six games, the Pack is again on top of the ACC with a 46.5 percent conversion rate on third downs.
Defensively, however, it's been a different story. Pack opponents right now are converting 40 percent of their third down plays (36-of-90), which ranks 7th in the league.
In Saturday's loss to Georgia Tech, NC State allowed the Yellow Jackets to move the chains on 8-of-17 third down plays. Five of those conversions went for seven yards or more as freshman quarterback Reggie Ball played his best game of the season.
"It seems to me that every team we play, their stats don't show that they're that good, but then they play their 'A' game," said Wolfpack linebacker Oliver Hoyte. "I guess the other teams in the conference are stepping their games up and we're not."
Obviously, big third down conversions, especially those that are in third and long situations, can have a demoralizing affect on the defense, which is trying to get off the field as soon as possible. And as far as NC State is concerned, the best way to defend Rivers and the high-powered Wolfpack offense is to keep them on the sidelines. Every time NC State opponents get a new set of downs by converting third down plays, they reduce the number of chances Rivers has to get the ball in his hands.
"You would like to play keep away from [Rivers]," Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said before Saturday's game. "You have to play keep away in certain respects, but if you think you're going to run three yards and a cloud of dust and keep the clock running to keep them at bay, you can't do that because they put eight men in the box and dare you to make big plays because they want to get the ball back fast."
On Saturday, Tech tested NC State's man-to-man coverage with slants, fades and crossing routes on early downs and came back with big pass plays against zone coverages on third and long. The bottom line is that Ball made some very accurate throws against a variety of coverage schemes.
"Give credit to the other people for making plays," Amato said afterwards. "They weren't as productive on third down conversions coming into the game, but they certainly were today."
