Where the Bengals Have Already Failed Joe Burrow

[CJD]

(05-07-2020, 01:22 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Great post, that is the thing, why didn't Bama win the Joe Moore award? As you note, way better O-line that was great at 
both run blocking and in pass protection. Agreed on the concern with Burrow maybe not being able to get away with making
NFL defenders look like he did in college. It is an entirely different level. He will have to learn to go down more and take the 
sack instead of trying to make something out of nothing I think, but who knows...

This is just another thing that makes Burrow special, imagine Burrow extending plays for us like the Pig did for all those years
for Pitt? Should be fun, just don't want to see Burrow get hurt in doing so.

Reading the evaluations of each of the finalists (of which Alabama is one), it looks like a huge portion of the evaluation is based on the offense's overall productivity.
https://joemooreaward.com/press-release/2019/12/10/joe-moore-award-announces-2019-finalists

LSU's section they basically don't mention the run game and focus entirely on total offense.

Quote:LSU Tigers (13-0)

• The Tigers lead FBS in total offense (554.3 total ypg).
• LSU is 3rd in FBS, averaging 7.79 yds/play (only trail Oklahoma and Alabama).
• 500+ yards of total offense in 9 of 12 games, including wins over four teams ranked in the AP Top 10 at the time (at Alabama and Texas, and vs Auburn and Florida).
• The Tigers had 481 total yds vs Georgia in SEC CG, 138 more than any other UGA opponent this year.
• LSU’s O-line led the way to the most productive offensive season in school history, establishing school records for points (621), points per game (47.8), total offense (7,207), passing yards (5,209), 50-point games (6), and games with at least 40 points (10).
  

Alabama's qualifications are slightly more attuned to the offensive line, discussing 5+ yard runs and sacks allowed, as well as general rushing efficiency.

Quote:Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2)

• The Alabama offensive line, that has surrendered only 12 sacks in 381 pass attempts this season (just one every 31.8 pass attempts), ranks fifth nationally in fewest sacks allowed (1.0 per game). 
• The offensive front has opened holes and provided time for an Alabama offense, that ranks 2nd nationally in scoring (48.3 ppg), 3rd in passing (343.5 ypg) and 7th in total offense (513.3 ypg). 
• The ground game has also proven efficient with its top two running backs (Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.) accounting for 5.5 yards per rush (1,513 yards and 16 touchdowns), with Harris ranking 31st nationally at 5.9 ypc.
• According to Championship Analytics (CAI), Alabama is one of the nation’s top teams as it relates to five-plus-yard runs, leading the SEC and ranking sixth nationally with 45.4 percent of the team’s rushing attempts resulting in a gain of five or more yards.
  

Oregon's and Ohio State's are much more focused on the run game, which I think most people would agree has a higher correlation to Oline success than the passing game (if the Oline can't open holes, the run game will go nowhere. A passing game can work around a poor Oline with quick passes and skill players making plays in space).

Quote:Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0)

• Ohio State is fifth nationally in rushing and first in the Big Ten Conference at 272.2 yards per game.
• The offensive line has been the foundation of an offense that also ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency and first in scoring at 48.7 points per game.
• Running back J.K. Dobbins is on the cusp of not only breaking Eddie George’s school record of 1,927 rushing yards in a season (J.K. has 1,829 yards and is just 99 yards from Eddie’s record), but he’s also seeking to become the first ever Buckeye to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
• The line has paved the way for Dobbins to rush for these staggering totals against the nation’s top rush defenses this season: 172 yards vs. Michigan State’s No. 4 ranked rush defense; 163 yards vs. Wisconsin’s No. 1 ranked rush defense; 157 yards vs. Penn State’s No. 4 rush defense; 211 yards vs. Michigan’s No. 13 rush defense; and Saturday in the Big Ten title game, 172 yards against Wisconsin’s No. 7 ranked rush defense.
• Ohio State's offensive line unit totaled 339 Knockdowns in 13 games. 
  

Quote:Oregon Ducks (11-2)

• The Ducks lead the nation with 218 combined starts along the offensive line.
• Oregon rushed for 239 yards and three TDs against Utah’s No. 1 rush defense in the Pac-12 Championship game, highlighted by 154 yards in the second half and 117 in the fourth quarter.
• Oregon ranks sixth nationally with 5.73 yards per carry in the fourth quarter and 15th with 710 rushing yards.
• Oregon leads the Pac-12 in total rushing yards (1,368) in the second half.
• Oregon's running backs haven’t been stopped for negative yards over their last 88 carries out of the backfield.
• Seniors Shane Lemieux and Calvin Throckmorton have started 51 consecutive games.
• Oregon is one of eleven FBS teams with 30 passing TDs and 20 rushing TDs.
• Sewell and Throckmorton have played a combined 1,557 snaps at the tackle positions this season without allowing a sack and just three hits on the QB.
  

So, based on their qualifications, LSU would definitely win the award because they were the most productive offense overall in college football.

Seems a little stilted, but hey, whatever. The award doesn't really mean that much in the long term (Read: in the NFL) anyway. The best players will get drafted the highest and will have the most success in the NFL, irrespective of which unit they played with in college.