Ben McAdoo Offensive Statistics, Damn Statistics, and Horrifying Stats
/Hiring Ben McAdoo as offensive coordinator is a last-ditch effort for Carolina to stabilize the offense and save Matt Rhule’s job. The hire reveals a lot about the attractiveness and stability of the position. Unfortunately, the selection hasn’t inspired much optimism, and fans can’t help but envision the mustached Giants head coach with slicked-back hair during his dreadful time as Giants head coach. Why would Rhule hire a guy who oversaw Ney York’s decline from prominence and was last associated with a 1-15 Jacksonville Jaguars as quarterbacks coach?
Rhule said he made a “bold move” that was “outside of his comfort zone” by hiring an experienced Joe Brady when coming to the NFL. After mixed year-one results, a carousel of broken quarterbacks, problems running the ball, and an impotent second-half offense, Rhule fired Brady after an embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins. Brady’s offense struggled for sure, but Rhule appeared to sacrifice the young coordinator mainly as a move of self-preservation.
Carolina finished the 2022 season losing eight straight. Rhule somehow managed to keep his job for another year, but he purged a lot of his staff (offensive coordinator, special teams coach, offensive line coach, and defensive line coach. Reports indicated that Carolina’s decision to retain Rhule depended largely on his selection of offensive coordinator. When asked about the traits he wanted to see in his future offensive coordinator, Rhule stated that NFL play-calling experience and an ability to build an offense tailored to the talent on the team. Rhule is hoping McAdoo’s experience will lead Carolina to a more consistent offensive production and somehow save his job.
Can McAdoo’s offense do it? Here are some offensive statistics, damn statistics, and horrifying stats that make one wonder.
Optimistic Offensive Statistics:
Goofy images that reminded of an adolescent wearing one of his dad’s oversized-old suits may make it difficult to see that McAdoo, at one point, was once a hot name. He became the second-youngest NFL coach in 2016 after two successful years as Giants’ offensive coordinator. McAdoo helped transform an offense ranked 28th in passing yards, averaging only 18 points a game, to the 13th- ranked passing attack in 2014 and jumping to the 6th-ranked in 2015. New York’s offensive scoring improved accordingly, averaging 26.2 ppg. Carolina led the league that magical year putting up 31.2 ppg. Eli Manning bounced back during these two years, and Odell Beckham, Jr. became a league-leading receiver. Beckham would post three consecutive 1300+ yard seasons under McAdoo.
Damn Statistics
McAdoo once said, “statistics are for losers.” In fairness, he was contextualizing that sacks aren’t the only important measurement in evaluating the pass-rush. Losing statistics are a part of McAdoo’s resume, however. The Jaguars went 1-15 in 2020 with McAdoo as quarterbacks coach. The Giants at one stretch went 0-8 in the NFC while he was head coach and finished with a losing record both years while he was at the helm. New York struggled to muster a rushing attack when McAdoo was with the Giants, #23 ranked in 2014, #18 in 2015, #29 in 2016, and #26 in 2017.
Horrifying Statistics:
Some horrifying stats led to McAdoo being relieved of play calling responsibilities and then fired before the 2017 season. The Giants never scored more than 30 points with McAdoo as head coach. Through week 12 of 2017, NY hadn’t surpassed 24 points in a game in over a year. NY 29th in total offense, 31st in 3rd down conversions, and 32nd in explosive plays that season. It was a season where he benched Eli Manning for Geno Smith and then went back to Eli Manning after realizing he was digging his own grave.
Mark Twain said, “There are three kinds of lies — lies, damn lies, and statistics.” Rhule is probably hoping that stats from the final two years of McAdoo’s time in New York are the damn lies and that the first two years as offensive coordinator are the true statistics!
By Tony Dunn
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Inspiration for this piece came from 14 horrifying stats about the Giants offense under Ben McAdoo