Twenty-One OL Units, Including Sixteen of the Top 25, Earn Honor Through Tough, Physical O-Line Play
NEW YORK, New York – October 9, 2017 – The Foundation for Teamwork has announced the Mid-Season Honor Roll for the Joe Moore Award, which identifies notable performances by offensive line units in games played through October 7. The OL units from the following universities, with a combined record of 100-19, earned a spot on the Honor Roll (in alphabetical order): Alabama, Auburn, Buffalo, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Navy, North Carolina State, New Mexico, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, San Diego State, SMU, Stanford, TCU, Virginia Tech, Washington, Western Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The Joe Moore Award Mid-Season Honor Roll includes units that display a high level of toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and “finishing”. The Voting Subcommittee uses game film and coach submitted cut-ups on The DragonFly Division I Network as the primary OL Unit evaluation tool. Advanced OL data and statistics are provided by STATS LLC, which helps to support the film evaluation process by highlighting key situations and moments over the course of the season.
“The O-line position is much more technical than some realize. So when we watch the film, we’re looking to see which units not only use good technique, but also for those that display a willingness to compete, finish, and set the tone for their offense,” said Cole Cubelic, who is the current Chairman of the Joe Moore Award Voting Subcommittee, a sideline analyst for the SEC Network and played offensive line for Auburn 1996-2001. “Its early in the season, and it takes a while for units to get going, so we are especially working to identify groups that can do this consistently every game.”
“There’s a good chance there’s not a single OL coach in the country that’s happy with how their Unit is playing. That’s just their nature. But the teams on the Mid-Season Honor Roll caught the attention of the Subcommittee for good reason,” said Aaron Taylor, CBS CFB Analyst and Team Captain of the Joe Moore Award. “As in years past, this award won’t be earned until November, the time when college football matters most. As the season progresses, the bar will be raised along with the stakes, and all of these units have a lot of work to do in order to earn this year’s title of Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in college football.”
The Joe Moore Award Mid-Season Honor Roll for Games Played Through October 7 (in alphabetical order):
Alabama (#1, 6-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Effort, Consistency
- 301.7 rush ypg (7th in FBS, 1st in SEC)
- “Consistency” - Negative Rush Percentage of 3.8% (1st in FBS, 1st in SEC)
- 5 straight games with 200+ rush yards
Next: vs. Arkansas on 10/14
Auburn (#10, 5-1)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Effort
- Paved way for first SEC player in the last 20 yrs to rush for at least 3 TD's in 3 straight games (K. Johnson)
- Only 2 OL penalties in 427 offensive snaps
- Have used three different starting rotations in six games. Senior Austin Golson has started at center, right tackle and left tackle this season.
Next: @ LSU on 10/14
Buffalo (3-3)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Effort, Teamwork
- Only 5 sacks allowed (T-13th in FBS, 1st MAC)
- RB’s enjoy an average of 3.66 yards before contact (YBC) per rush attempt
- Averaging 429.7 yards of total offense per game (52nd FBS, 2nd in MAC)
Next: vs. Northern Illinois on 10/14
Clemson (#2, 6-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Teamwork, Consistency
- 237.3 rush ypg (20th in FBS, 2nd in ACC)
- 21 rushing TD’s (T-5th in FBS, 1st in ACC)
- At least 2 rush TD’s in every game this season, including 3 games of 4 or more (4, 5, and 6)
-58 knockdown blocks recorded in 6 games (9.6 knockdowns per game)
Next: @ Syracuse on 10/13
Georgia (#4, 6-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Consistency, Finishing
- 268.3 rush ypg (11th in FBS, 2nd in SEC)
- Run the ball 68.1% of the time (19.3% higher than the FBS average)
- Have rushed for 3 or more TD’s 4 times this season
Next: vs. Missouri on 10/14
Miami (#11, 4-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Teamwork, Toughness, Effort
- RB’s enjoy an average of 5.31 yards before contact (YBC) per rush attempt (2nd in FBS, 1st in ACC)
- 6.46 rush ypc (6th in FBS, 1st in ACC)
- Have rushed for over 9.0 ypc in 2 of their 4 games this season
Next: vs. Georgia Tech on 10/14
Navy (#25, 5-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Technique, Consistency
- Navy leads the nation in rushing at 414.2 yards per game
- Navy allows only 3.4 TFL per game, 5th best average in the country
- “Alley Fight” - Average 6.53 rush yards per attempt (4th in FBS, 1st in AAC) despite facing 7+ defenders in the box an incredible 98.7% of the time (national avg is 56.5%)
Next: @ Memphis on 10/14
North Carolina State (#20, 5-1)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Finishing, Technique, Consistency
- 16 rush TD (T-17th in FBS and t-2nd in ACC)
- 471 ypg Tot Off (T-25th in FBS, 3rd in ACC)
- Have not allowed a sack in either of the last 2 games; have only allowed 2 sacks over the last 4 games
Next: @ Pittsburgh on 10/14
New Mexico (3-2)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Effort, Toughness, Teamwork, Finishing
- RB’s enjoy an average of 4.24 yards before contact (YBC) per rush attempt
- 266.8 rush ypg (12th in FBS, 2nd in MW)
- 5.85 yards per carry (11th in FBS, 2nd in MW)
Next: @ Fresno State on 10/14
Notre Dame (#16, 5-1)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Finishing, Toughness, Effort, Teamwork
- 6.9 rush ypc (2nd in FBS)
- 23 rushing TDs (2nd in FBS)
- 308.0 rush yards/game (6th in FBS)
Next: vs. Southern Cal on 10/21
Ohio State (#9, 5-1)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Teamwork, Finishing, Effort
- 245.8 rush ypg (18th in FBS, 2nd in B1G)
- Has only allowed 24 TFL this season (T-24th in FBS, 3rd in B1G)
- RB’s enjoy an average of 4.42 yards before contact (YBC) per rush attempt (B1G average is 2.99 YBC)
Next: @ Nebraska on 10/14
Oklahoma (#12, 4-1)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Effort, Teamwork, Toughness
- 202.6 rush ypg (36th in FBS, 4th in B12)
- Has only allowed 8 sacks this season (36th in FBS, T-5th in B12)
- Has allowed 34 TFL this season (34th in FBS, 4th in B12)
Next: vs. Texas on 10/14
Oregon (4-2)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Effort, Consistency
- Leads the nation with 25 rushing TD’s
- 36 total touchdowns (T-1st in FBS, 1st in P12)
- 239.3 rush ypg (19th in FBS, 3rd in P12)
Next: @ Stanford on 10/14
San Diego State (#19, 6-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Effort, Teamwork, Finishing
- 222.8 rushing ypg (24th in FBS, 4th in MWC)
- “Alley Fight” - RB’s average 6.1 rush ypa despite facing 7+ defenders in the box 94.4% of the time (national average for “Alley Fight’ is 56.5%)
- Paved the way for RB Rashaad Penny who averages 165.5 rush ypg (3rd in FBS, 1st in MWC)
Next: vs. Boise State on 10/14
SMU (4-2)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Teamwork, Technique
- 190.3 rushing ypg (46th in FBS, 7th in AAC)
- RB’s enjoy an average of 4.08 yards before contact (YBC) per rush attempt (national avg is 3.14 YPC)
- 15 rushing TD’s
Next: @ Cincinnati on 10/21
Stanford (#23, 4-2)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Effort
- 8.1 rush yards per carry (1st in FBS, 1st in P12)
- Paved the way for nation’s leading rusher RB Bryce Love (1240 total rush yards, 10.5 ypc, 9 rush TD’s)
- “Alley Fight” - RB’s enjoy a nation leading average of 6.03 yards before contact (YBC) per rush attempt, despite seeing 7+ defenders in the box 82.2% of the time (YBC national avg is 3.14, “7+ Defenders in Box” avg is 56.5%)
Next: @ Oregon on 10/14
TCU (#6, 5-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Technique, Effort
- 219.8 rushing yards/game (26th in nation)
- Only allowed 6 sacks this season (T-20th in FBS, T-1 in B12)
- “Clean Pocket” - QB’s enjoy a clean pocket with no OL pressure 84.3% of the time (national avg for Clean Pocket is 75.5%)
Next: @ Kansas St. on 10/14
Virginia Tech (#15, 5-1)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Finishing, Effort
- 178.67 rushing yards/game (56th in FBS, 7th in ACC)
- “Clean Pocket” - QB’s enjoy a clean pocket with no OL pressure 88.5% of the time (national avg for Clean Pocket is 75.5%)
Next: vs. North Carolina on 10/21
Washington (#5, 6-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Effort, Finishing, Toughness
- 170.2 rushing yards/game (62nd in FBS, 6th in P12)
- Has allowed 6 sacks this season (T-20th in FBS, 2nd in P12)
- Average 5.2 rush ypc
Next: @ Arizona State on 10/14
Western Michigan (4-2)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Effort, Teamwork, Technique
- 236.8 rush ypg (21st in FBS, 1st in MAC)
- Has allowed 8 sacks this season (T-36th FBS, 3rd in MAC)
- Run the ball 61.4% of the time with 7+ defenders in the box 66.7% of the time (national avg is 50.4%)
Next: vs. Akron on 10/14
Wisconsin (#7, 5-0)
Award Criteria Exemplified: Effort, Toughness, Teamwork, Technique, Consistency
- 257.6 rushing yards/game (16th in FBS, 1st in B10)
- “Consistency” - Negative Rush Percentage of 4.9% (less than half of the national avg of 10.5%)
- Has allowed 18 TFL this season (T-6th in FBS, 2nd in B10)
Next: vs. Purdue on 10/14
About the Joe Moore Award
The JOE MOORE AWARD is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, and is the only major college football award to honor a unit. The award annually recognizes the nation’s Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit that best displays toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and finishing. The voting committee is comprised solely of people who played or coached the position, including all of the current offensive line coaches at the Division I/FBS level as well as former players, coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore and select media. The Joe Moore Award has been earned by Alabama in 2015 and Iowa in 2016.
About The Foundation for Teamwork
The Foundation for Teamwork is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering the essential aspect of all great societal endeavors: teamwork. Our mission is to bring that spirit of collective achievement not only to sports, but also to schools, organizations, businesses and communities. Find out more at joemooreaward.com. Also follow the Joe Moore Award on Instagram (@joemooreaward), Twitter (@joemooreaward) and Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoeMooreAward.