What Northern Illinois calls on every down, distance and part of the field, and how often each call works.
Every play is counted, so these tables line up with a box score. "Close-game plays only" leaves out snaps after a game is decided, when teams stop calling plays the way they normally do.
Northern Illinois's plays work 40% of the time (102 of 252). All teams: 44%. That is worse than most. A play "works" when it stays on schedule: half the distance on first down, 70% on second, all of it on third or fourth.
Northern Illinois's plays work only 21% of the time on passing downs (second and 8 or more, third and 5 or more), against 30% for all teams. That ranks 134th of 138.
Northern Illinois scores 1.09 points per drive, against 2.07 for all teams. That ranks 134th of 138.
T. Dickens to G. Dimopoulos works 75% of the time (6 of 8 throws, 7 caught, 11.0 yards a throw). Everything else through the air works 37%. He gets 6% of the targets.
T. Dickens has been sacked on 8% of dropbacks (12 of 147), against 5% for all teams.
On 1st & 7+ they run 42% of the time, but runs work 39% (17 of 44) and passes work 60% (37 of 62).
On 2nd & 7+ they throw 63% of the time, but passes work 17% (5 of 29) and runs work 35% (6 of 17).
T. Dickens has completed 86 of 124 passes (69%), and 46% of his throws keep the offense on schedule.
D. Rogers: 37 catches on 48 targets, 6.9 yards a target, and 46% of throws his way work.
L. Bryant: 14 catches on 25 targets, 6.8 yards a target, and 44% of throws his way work.
C. Thompson: 9 catches on 15 targets, 7.7 yards a target, and 40% of throws his way work.
T. Johnson Jr.: 58 carries, 4.7 yards a carry, and 43% of his runs work.
E. Porter: 18 carries, 4.4 yards a carry, and 33% of his runs work.
Passing on 1st and long (7 or more) works 60% of the time, against 48% for all teams (37 of 62 plays).
Passing on 2nd and long (7 or more) works 17% of the time, against 38% for all teams (5 of 29 plays).
Passing in the red zone works 20% of the time, against 38% for all teams (3 of 15 plays).
Passing on 3rd and medium (4-6) works 25% of the time, against 42% for all teams (3 of 12 plays).
From 5 games through week 6, garbage time left out. Every line compares this team with all FBS teams in the same spot and shows the count behind it. "Small sample" means fewer than 15 plays, so treat it as a lead, not a fact. Copy puts the line on your clipboard, ready to paste.
The rank is among FBS teams, with 1st the best for an offense, and the bar fills toward the best. Garbage time is left out. These are plain rates, not adjusted for opponent. A drive's points count the touchdown with its extra point or a field goal.
303 plays across 5 games. Run rate 42%. The quarterback has 26 of 126 runs, and the feed cannot tell a designed keeper from a scramble.
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st & 1-3 * | 3 | 100% | 86% | 67% of 3 | - | - |
| 1st & 4-6 * | 1 | 0% | 72% | - | - | 0% of 1 |
| 1st & 7+ | 124 | 43% | 56% | 32% of 40 | 46% of 13 | 55% of 71 |
| 2nd & 1-3 * | 9 | 67% | 66% | 75% of 4 | 50% of 2 | 67% of 3 |
| 2nd & 4-6 | 26 | 73% | 58% | 42% of 19 | - | 43% of 7 |
| 2nd & 7+ | 59 | 37% | 45% | 26% of 19 | 33% of 3 | 19% of 37 |
| 3rd & 1-3 | 14 | 71% | 71% | 88% of 8 | 0% of 2 | 25% of 4 |
| 3rd & 4-6 | 18 | 28% | 30% | 33% of 3 | 0% of 2 | 23% of 13 |
| 3rd & 7+ | 36 | 8% | 24% | - | 0% of 3 | 27% of 33 |
| 4th & 1-3 * | 8 | 50% | 65% | 50% of 4 | - | 25% of 4 |
| 4th & 4-6 * | 2 | 50% | 16% | - | 100% of 1 | 100% of 1 |
| 4th & 7+ * | 3 | 0% | 13% | - | - | 33% of 3 |
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backed up (own 1-19) | 21 | 38% | 54% | 33% of 6 | 0% of 2 | 46% of 13 |
| Own side (own 20-49) | 144 | 40% | 48% | 33% of 48 | 33% of 9 | 44% of 87 |
| Opponent side (50 to the 21) | 100 | 38% | 50% | 54% of 28 | 50% of 10 | 32% of 62 |
| Red zone (20 and in) | 38 | 60% | 62% | 44% of 18 | 20% of 5 | 20% of 15 |
| Situation | Plays | Run | All teams run | Handoffs | QB runs | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trailing by 9+ | 169 | 38% | 44% | 33% of 46 | 32% of 19 | 34% of 104 |
| Within one score | 133 | 46% | 51% | 48% of 54 | 43% of 7 | 43% of 72 |
| Leading by 9+ * | 1 | 0% | 59% | - | - | 100% of 1 |
Handoffs, QB runs, and Passes show how often the play worked and how many there were. Run includes QB runs. * means fewer than 10 plays, so treat it as noise. Data from CollegeFootballData.com.