Which SEC teams threw the most, best on first down in 2015?
You do it. I do it. We sit in front of the big screen, put on our imaginary offensive coordinator’s cap and open up the playbook.
Literally.
We throw on first down. Usually deep. If it were up to us, we’d open up every game with a four-wide go route. It works — on Xbox more often than the SEC.
In real life, outside of Oxford, of course, the play-calling is a bit more reserved, but 10 SEC teams aired it out more often early in the count than on other downs. Just two, Auburn and Tennessee, threw their fewest amount of passes on first down.
Here’s a look at how often — and how well — each SEC threw the ball on first down last season:
Threw most of their passes on first down
Alabama
On first down: 133-for-187 (71.1), 1,719 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs
Overall: 301-for-446 (67.5), 3,407 yards, 22 TDs, 10 INTs
Of note: More than half of Alabama’s passing yards came on first down.
Florida
On first down: 100-for-167 (59.9), 1,311 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs
Overall: 229-for-405 (56.5), 2,899 yards, 20 TDs, 10 INTs
Of note: Florida was at its best on first down, completing more passes for more yards and more touchdowns.
Georgia
On first down: 84-for-121 (69.4), 1,071 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs
Overall: 199-for-327 (60.9), 2,406 yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs
Of note: Georgia completed fewer than 48 percent of its passes on third down last season, and just one touchdown pass.
Kentucky
On first down: 84-for-150 (56.0), 960 yards, 6 TDs, 7 INTs
Overall: 218-for-397 (54.9), 2,512 yards, 10 TDs, 16 INTs
Of note: Wildcats had more success across the board throwing on first down than any other.
LSU
On first down: 60-for-107 (56.1), 772 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Overall: 148-for-277 (53.4), 2,158 yards, 13 TDs, 6 INTs
Of note: Play-action fake, anybody? LSU ranked last in the league in completions and touchdown passes on first down.
Mississippi State
On first down: 159-for-233 (68.2), 1,918 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs
Overall: 331-for-500 (66.2), 4,113 yards, 33 TDs, 5 INTs
Of note: The Bulldogs finished second in the SEC in passing yards on first down.
Ole Miss
On first down: 143-for-214 (66.8), 1,974 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs
Overall: 318-for-489 (65.0), 4,351 yards, 35 TDs, 14 INTs
Of note: The Rebels led the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns on first down.
South Carolina
On first down: 73-for-128 (57.0), 952 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs
Overall: 191-for-351 (54.4), 2,490 yards, 17 TDs, 12 INTs
Of note: Everything about the Gamecocks’ passing game was better on first down than any other, including a quarterback rating of 131.85.
Texas A&M
On first down: 112-for-190 (58.9), 1,414 yards, 9 TDs, 8 INTs
Overall: 273-for-482 (56.6), 3,323, 25 TDs, 15 INTs
Of note: More than half of the Aggies’ interceptions came on first down. Better ball security will be an emphasis under new OC Noel Mazzone.
Vanderbilt
On first down: 83-for-150 (55.3), 794 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs
Overall: 192-for-376 (51.1), 2,062 yards, 11 TDs, 16 INTs
Of note: Vanderbilt’s offensive issues happened later in each set of downs. The Commodores’ completion percentage dropped and interceptions rose on second and third down.
Threw fewest of their passes on first down
Auburn
(Threw most often on second down)
On first down: 65-for-90 (72.2), 716 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs
Overall: 179-for-306 (58.5), 2,258 yards, 11 TDs, 12 INTs
Of note: Auburn threw for more yards and more TDs on first down than other downs.
Tennessee
(Threw most often on second down)
On first down: 68-for-114 (59.6), 707 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
Overall: 220-for-371 (59.3), 2,582 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs
Of note: Only two SEC teams threw less on first down, and nobody had fewer passing yards. That’s a key area the Vols hope to improve on in 2016.
Others
Arkansas
(Threw most often on second down, but threw for the most yards, touchdowns on first down)
On first down: 89-for-129 (69.0), 1,384 yards, 11 TDs, 0 INTs
Overall: 246-for-374 (65.8), 3,486 yards, 31 TDs, 8 INTs
Of note: Arkansas finished second in the SEC with 11 touchdown passes on first down.
Missouri
(Threw most often on second down)
On first down: 75-for-125 (60.0), 818 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
Overall: 186-for-373 (49.9), 1,986 yards, 10 TDs, 12 INTs
Of note: Missouri’s quarterback rating of 118.1 was at least 20 points better than on second or third down.
Chris Wright is Executive Editor at SaturdayDownSouth.com. Email him at cwright@saturdaydownsouth.com.