USU vs. Wyoming: By the Numbers

194 – Total yards by Utah State

Last season in college football, teams which went for less than 194 total yards in a game went 1-57. It’s rare that a team can have such a poor offensive showing, but that number also reflects just how good the Aggie defense was on Saturday afternoon. On one hand, it’s certainly discouraging that Utah State could only muster up 53 passing yards and 194 total yards, regardless of how good the defense they are facing is. On the other hand, this is a game that nearly every Aggie team in the past 50 years loses. Coming into the game, Utah State averaged 280 passing yards and 478 total yards per game. In this game, they went for 53 passing yards and 194 total yards. When a team can play that far below its potential it raises concern as to how that happened, but also shows a ton of promise that they still found a way to win.

1 – Total catches between USU’s three leading receivers

Okay, this one might not be entirely fair because Dax Raymond didn’t even play so of course he didn’t have a catch. But it also points to how important it is for the Aggies to get him back quickly. But Raymond aside, Utah State’s leading and second leading receivers, Ron’quavion Tarver and Jalen Greene, had one combined catch, a 7-yard grab by Tarver. The Aggies’ leading receiver in the game was Aaren Vaughns, who had a whopping 14 yards on two receptions. They also didn’t have a single pass of ten yards or more. Now, again, Wyoming has a sound defense and every team/offense/quarterback just has an off day every now and then, so let’s delay the panic for now. But if the Aggies struggle to pass the ball again this weekend against the 113th ranked New Mexico pass defense there may be reason to worry.

4.3 – Yards per rushing attempt

At Monday’s press conference, Matt Wells said that he felt the only offensive position which played well all-around against Wyoming was running back. It’s tough to disagree. While Utah States 141 rushing yards may have been a bit below their season’s average, against a tough rush defense like Wyoming, this was a great showing. On average, the Cowboys hold their opponents to 3.7 yards per carry. Utah State’s 4.3 yards per rush was the third-best by a team against Wyoming this season, yet the Aggies only ran the ball 33 times, their third-fewest carries of any game this season. I get that rushing is a team thing, and obviously good blocking helps and everything. But it was clear that a lot of these yards came because of pure will and because Darwin Thompson and Gerold Bright are monsters who can carry defenders with them.

42.9 – Average yards per punt

Yep, it was that kind of day. I’m bringing punting stats into this. I guess this is an attempt at pointing out another positive for the Aggies on a day that there weren’t a ton, but also, punters never get enough love so let’s hear it for Mr. Hintze! I think everyone was at least a bit nervous when they heard Aaron Dalton was going to miss the entire season since punting is a pretty enormous part of the field position part of the game, but Hintze has filled in seamlessly. Before Saturday, the Aggies had only needed Hintze’s services 3.3 times per game, but he put in work against the Cowboys, punting nine times. Again, this is something which often goes unnoticed, especially in a season where the offense has been as potent and has needed to punt as few times as it has this year. But consider this: Wyoming had four drives which stalled out between the 50-yard line and the USU 35-yard line. With a few shorter punts, those could have easily resulted in at least field goal attempts for the Cowboys, and we’re likely looking at a different game.