Turnovers

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Mon Jul 13 09:46:36 GMT-04:00 2015

Turnovers

Today starts SEC Media days and there will be a lot of questions being asked in Birmingham, AL.

Wednesday Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile will have his media golf outing and he and his staff will field more questions.

There will be questions about suspensions, depth charts, staff changes, hot seats and I imagine there will even be a confederate flag question or two asked this week. However, perhaps one of the most important question cannot be answered. One of the most important question is, "Coach, how will you guys do with your turnover margin this year?"

No one can predict turnover margins, If we could, then we could also turn into millionaires. Often turnovers can be prevented. Often times turnovers can be caused. But predicting who prevents them and who causes them is about as perplexing as the reason they happen to begin with.

The facts say that turnover margin is one of the most important statistics in college football. When Clemson won the national title in 1981 the Tigers were +17 in the turnover department.

The last four years Clemson has gone 42-11. During that stretch Clemson is +13 in turnovers.

Last year Oregon played for the national title partly because they were +23 in turnover margin. Ohio State was +7.

There are examples of teams being minus in the turnover department and still winning. Last year Alabama and Florida State were in the national semi-finals despite both being a minus in the turnover department. But I think you better be really talented to overcome that statistic and both the Crimson Tide and Seminoles were more talented than the opponent in perhaps every game last year.

There are also examples of teams that won the turnover battle but still lost. Those are fewer and farther between though. Last year 15 teams had a turnover margin of +10 or more and 14 of those 15 teams had a winning record.

In 2008 and 2009 Georgia Tech won 20 football games and had a +10 turnover margin. The next four years the Jackets went 6-7, 8-5, 7-7 and 7-6. During that stretch they were -4 in turnovers. Last year Tech rebounded with a +11 in turnovers and went 11-3. This is a great example of a program talented enough to win if they win the turnover battle, but not talented enough to overcome it if they lose it.

So, what will Clemson do in 2015? A healthy Deshaun WatsonDeshaun Watson
So. Quarterback
#4 6-2, 205
Gainesville, GA
View Full Profile could mean less turnovers. As a true freshman Watson threw for 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Quarterback (2011 - 2014)
#18 6-4, 225
Dublin, OH
View Full Profile threw for 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. So I think it is fairly safe to predict Clemson will turn it over less in 2015. However, Vic BeasleyVic Beasley
Defensive End (2010 - 2014)
#3 6-2, 236
Adairsville, GA
View Full Profile created a pass rush that caused some turnovers last season. Can the Tigers continue to create and disrupt like they did five times in the bowl game against Oklahoma?

These questions will be asked this week, but not answered until September.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

src="https://2cic.b-cdn.net/t/ads/plyler/allstate_logo.gif" border=0>

border=0>

Prayer List

The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. If you would like to add someone to the list, please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. Please let me know when it is appropriate to remove a person off the list.

Those who need our prayers include: Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
View Full Profile , Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon KirklandLevon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
View Full Profile and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Josh Cox, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Jay Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Zach and Griffin Johnson, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Earl Gilstrap, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Patrick DeStefanoPatrick DeStefano
Offensive Line (2012 - 2013)
#71 6-5, 275
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile , Robert Summerville, Wendell Harrington, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Drew Moyer, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert SmithRobert Smith
Safety (2011 - 2014)
#27 5-11, 215
St. George, SC
View Full Profile , Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Lena Wright, Donna Springs, Elizabeth Bruner and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.