LTP offers a deluge of fun facts to equip you for your tailgate debate!Tyrell Sutton 2008 - Rushing Stats
- Syracuse - 21 carries, 144 yds, O TD
- Duke - 16 carries, 66 yds, 2 TDs
- SIU - 17 carries, 101 yds, 3 TDs
- Ohio - 9 carries, 76 yds, O TD note: INJ - DNP 2nd half
- Iowa - 24 carries, 77 yds O TD
YTD Ave: 15.4 carries, 92.8 ypg, 1 TD, 6.0 yards per carry
Javon Ringer 2008 Rushing Stats
- Cal - 27 carries, 81 yds, 2 TDs
- Eastern Michigan - 35 carries, 135 yds, 5 TDs
- Florida Atlantic - 43 carries, 282 yds, 2 TDs
- Notre Dame - 39 carries, 201 yds, 2 TDs
- Indiana - 44 carries, 198 yds, 1 TD
- Iowa - 25 carries, 91 yds, 0 TD
YTD Ave: 35.3 carries, 164.7 ypg, 2 TDs, 4.7 yards per carry
Analysis:
Javon Ringer's stats speak for themselves. He has amassed 988 yards already, but he's doing it with an epic workload. Ringer is averaging 20 more carries per game than Tyrell and thus it is not surprising he is the #2 rusher in the nation netting about 72 yards per game more than Tyrell. A Northwestern fan would be quick to extrapolate Tyrell's numbers "if he doubled his carries, he'd be averaging more than Ringer!" but this is flawed. Tyrell's ability to be a receiving threat is a crucial part of the spread success. Personally, I'd love to see Tyrell averaging at least 20-25 carries per game, but you've got to exploit what the defense gives you. Iowa was determined to shut down the run and did so, but Sutton's 6 receptions and 72 receiving yards are a prime example of the dual threat of Sutton making the spread fly.
The bottom-line is Michigan State is much more reliant on run success for overall team success and thus, the Cats are hopefully working on corner recognition of play-action. Sparty will hammer you to sleep and then, and you know it is a matter of when, and not if, go play action to one of their big play receivers Cunningham or Dell. Let's take a look at the 2-dimensional component of Sutton vs Ringer.
Tyrell Sutton - Receiving 2008
- Syracuse - 4 rec, 41 yds, 1 TD
- Duke - 0 rec, 0 yds, 0 TD
- SIU - 5 rec, 16 yds, 0 TD
- Ohio - 3 rec, 27 yds 0 TD
- Iowa - 6 rec, 72 yds 0 TD
Sutton REC YTD: 18 rec, 156 yds, 1 TD
Javon Ringer - Receiving 2008
- Cal - 1 rec, 17 yds 0 TD
- Eastern Michigan - 1 rec, 12 yds, 0 TD
- Florida Atlantic - 1 rec 8 yds, 0 TD
- Notre Dame - 1 rec, 0 yds, 0 TD
- Indiana - 2 rec, 20 yds, 0 TD
- Iowa - 1 rec, 3 yds, 0 TD
Ringer REC YTD: 7 rec, 60 yds 0 TD
Clearly Tyrell Sutton is more versatile as a receiver than Ringer in part to the different offensive scheme, in part he has incredible hands. Ringer's versatility comes in his kickoff return duties which have been sporadic and after an impressive Cal game (5 KOR, 102 yds) his touches have been limited as his workload has increased in the backfield. Sutton, as you know, does not return kicks.
Taking it up a notch to a more macro perspective, let's take a look at the productivity of their two careers:
CAREER COMPARISON - NOTE: Head-to-Head Stat Leader in BOLD
Tyrell Sutton - Career File
- Games Played - 36
- 634 rushes, 3460 yds, 30 TDs
- Career YPC average: 5.5 ypc
- Career YPG average: 96.1 ypg
- 132 receptions, 1095 yds, 5 TDs
- Career Rec PG average: 3.7
- Career Rec Yds PG average: 30.4
- Career 100+ yd rushing games: 14
- W-L in 36 games played: 20-16
Javon Ringer - Career File
- Games Played - 38
- 665 rushes, 3749 yds, 24 TDs
- Career YPC average: 5.6 ypc
- Career YPG average: 98.7 ypg
- 75 receptions, 589 yds, 1 TD
- Career REC PG average: 2.0
- Career Rec Yds PG average: 15.5
- Career 100+ games: 16
- W-L in games played: 20-18
Wow. It doesn't get much closer than that in terms of similar rushing career numbers. Yards per carry is a true differentiator in most cases, yet it is one-tenth of a point separating the two. Ringer has a 2-game advantage in terms of sheer numbers of games played which really only impact the career 100+ game line (which he is ahead by 2) and the W-L record, which Tyrell wins on a percentage point tie-breaker.
Let's finish the RB comparison by checking out how they do against one another. Well, let's rephrase that. Why? They haven't played in the same game against one another since 2005! Last year Tyrell sat with an injury in the Cats 48-41 OT win, while Ringer got a DNP, I believe due to injury in the infamous 2006 41-38 Sparty win. So, here is how Tyrell has performed against Michigan State and how Ringer has played against the Cats.
Tyrell Sutton vs Michigan State
- 2006 (MSU wins 41-38) - 21 carries, 172 yds, 0 TDs, 2 rec, 20 yds
- 2005 (NU wins 49-14) - 21 carries, 109 yds, 2 TDs, 2 rec, 47 yds
Javon Ringer vs Northwestern
- 2007 (NU wins 48-41) - 12 carries, 185 yds, 3 TDs, 6 rec, 54 yds
- 2005 (NU wins 49-14) - 18 carries, 104 yds, 0 TDs, 1 rec, 25 yds
Wow. Both guys like to play the other team. Neither Ringer or Sutton has failed to net 100 yards rushing when playing the other's team. Ringer's statline from 2007 clearly wins for best overall performance with Sutton's 2006 game a very nice runner-up.
What does all of this prove? Nothing really other than the fact the two are both critical to their team's offense (duh - knew that before this) and that in the "who is the better RB?" debate at tailgates this weekend, you are now equipped with the info to shape your battle. Let's hope the bottom-line is that Ringer walks away from the weekend 0-3 vs Northwestern in games in which he plays.
5 comments:
Nice breakdown of the two backs. Interesting that Ringer's numbers from 2005/2006, when he was playing in John L. Smith's spread offense, look more like Sutton's current numbers. Fewer carries/TDs; higher yards/carry (6.7 in 2005; 5.8 in 2006).
@KJ - I also find it interesting that Sutton and Ringer had such big breakout freshmen years with huge pops of 100-yard games. What's up with Ringer's KOR status? Is he done?
@LTP -- let's face it. As much as I love Sutton (and I do) and think he's a great (almost perfect) back for NU's system, Ringer is a beast.
This game comes down to:
1) NU's D making Ringer earn his yards.
2) NU D getting pressure on Hoyer, and/or forcing turnovers.
3) NU's O-line getting Sutton respectable yards and continuing to protect CJ.
4) CJ breaking down a dinged up MSU secondary.
5) Special teams.
6) Turnovers.
Can't wait for Saturday....I'm hoping the Purple crowd brings it loud, and the Purple Haze is awesome...
@ LTP - Ringer looks to be done with Kickoff return duties, as his spot has been taken by Glenn Winston, a 6-2, 220 lb. true freshman. Ringer is still listed as a second string KR.
GREAT Column by Dave Revsine of Big Ten Network (and NU alum) on the lack of respect nationwide and conference wide for the Cats:
http://www.bigtennetwork.com/blogs/blogs.asp?topic_id=&blogger_id=2
He nailed this one -- NU may not be a Big Ten powerhouse, but we're certainly not Big Ten cellar dwellers, either, over the last 15 years or so.
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