Alabama Football: Will 2017 Be ‘Run-Daboll’ Or ‘Air-Daboll’ Or Something Else?
By Ronald Evans
Passing Specific Stats – 2016 Compared to 2015
All of the 2016 passing totals are less than 2015, except for total touchdowns by passing. Jalen Hurts’ inconsistency with downfield passing was a major 2016 offensive weakness. The Completion Percentage and Average Yards Per Game were down in 2016.
The Completion rate and the Average Yards Per Attempt indicate the Tide passing attack while diminished, was not down drastically in 2016.
| Passing Offense | 2016 | 2015 |
| Passing Attempts | 417 | 446 |
| Passing Completions | 265 | 301 |
| Interceptions | 9 | 10 |
| Completion Percentage | 64 percent | 67 percent |
| Avg. Yards Per Attempt | 7.56 | 7.6 |
| Avg. Yards Per Game | 210.27 | 227.1 |
| Touchdowns | 26 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 3154 | 3407 |
Passing Specific Stats – 2016 Compared to National Championship Offenses in 2011, 2012 and 2015
Similar to the above stats, the 2016 season comparison to the Alabama football national championship seasons, document diminished success through the air.
The most noticeable difference in the two passing tables is seen in Average Yards Per Attempt and Average Yards Per Game. These stats show the national championship seasons were more effective in gaining yards and those yards were accomplished with a little more downfield passing.
| Passing Offense | 2016 | 2011, 2012, 2015 |
| Passing Attempts | 417 | 420.7 |
| Passing Completions | 265 | 278.3 |
| Interceptions | 9 | 9 |
| Completion Percentage | 64 percent | 66.2 percent |
| Avg. Yards Per Attempt | 7.56 | 8.3 |
| Avg. Yards Per Game | 210.27 | 251.2 |
| Touchdowns | 26 | 28 |
| Total Yards | 3154 | 3509 |