Time of Possession = Winning Football

they are a ball control team that plays EXCELLENT special teams and GOOD defense. That, my friend, is winning football.

Not sure how we are 4th in TOP but so bad in converting 3rd downs. If we can convert 2/3 of those missed 3rd downs. This team would be the sh*t!

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
Not sure how we are 4th in TOP but so bad in converting 3rd downs. If we can convert 2/3 of those missed 3rd downs. This team would be the sh*t!

It could simply mean that the 49ers made a more good plays on 1st or 2nd downs and they (the coaches and players) got more conservative on third downs.

I learned this year how important it is to try to get as many short drives as possible. I think Field Position is the most important factor in winning. Your opponent must drive an average of 80 yards every time to score a TD but you only need to drive an average of 60 yards. Total that about 10 possessions and your opponent must drive 200 more yards than you. That's nearly 3 more possessions worth of drives of 80 yards.

For example, PIT had 3 more minutes of TOP than we did but they had to drive nearly 80 yards every time. PIT had 102 more total yards than we did, but considering the yards needed to score, they had to go 200 more yards than us the entire game to score TD's. Therefore, we actually had 100 more yards than them.

Originally posted by Joecool:
I learned this year how important it is to try to get as many short drives as possible. I think Field Position is the most important factor in winning. Your opponent must drive an average of 80 yards every time to score a TD but you only need to drive an average of 60 yards. Total that about 10 possessions and your opponent must drive 200 more yards than you. That's nearly 3 more possessions worth of drives of 80 yards.

For example, PIT had 3 more minutes of TOP than we did but they had to drive nearly 80 yards every time. PIT had 102 more total yards than we did, but considering the yards needed to score, they had to go 200 more yards than us the entire game to score TD's. Therefore, we actually had 100 more yards than them.

I think this is what players and coaches mean when they say "it was a team win."

it all factors in and build on each other. when the D can force 3 and outs, and get turn overs, the offense can get a rhythm and give them rest. in turn they are fresher and can play even tougher D...

I have always preached TOP or time of possession. If the offense can sustain drives, and keep the defense fresh, all is good.

The opposite was a few years ago when there was constant 3 and outs, with the defense winded by the 4th quarter from the track meet up and down the field.

What a difference a good coach makes.

Originally posted by Joecool:
I learned this year how important it is to try to get as many short drives as possible. I think Field Position is the most important factor in winning. Your opponent must drive an average of 80 yards every time to score a TD but you only need to drive an average of 60 yards. Total that about 10 possessions and your opponent must drive 200 more yards than you. That's nearly 3 more possessions worth of drives of 80 yards.

For example, PIT had 3 more minutes of TOP than we did but they had to drive nearly 80 yards every time. PIT had 102 more total yards than we did, but considering the yards needed to score, they had to go 200 more yards than us the entire game to score TD's. Therefore, we actually had 100 more yards than them.

That's why Ray Guy was so important to the Raiders. He changed the game for them, to the point that Hank Stram, coach of KC one accused the Raiders of filling the ball with some type of gas to get the edge that they had on Guy's punts. Field position is huge. The longer the team must drive to score, the more likely they will fail.

Originally posted by verb1der:

Originally posted by Joecool:
I learned this year how important it is to try to get as many short drives as possible. I think Field Position is the most important factor in winning. Your opponent must drive an average of 80 yards every time to score a TD but you only need to drive an average of 60 yards. Total that about 10 possessions and your opponent must drive 200 more yards than you. That's nearly 3 more possessions worth of drives of 80 yards.

For example, PIT had 3 more minutes of TOP than we did but they had to drive nearly 80 yards every time. PIT had 102 more total yards than we did, but considering the yards needed to score, they had to go 200 more yards than us the entire game to score TD's. Therefore, we actually had 100 more yards than them.

I think this is what players and coaches mean when they say "it was a team win."

Good point Joe. It could also be a good reason why our offense is ranked so low in total offense.

Originally posted by gamechanger:

Originally posted by verb1der:

Originally posted by Joecool:
I learned this year how important it is to try to get as many short drives as possible. I think Field Position is the most important factor in winning. Your opponent must drive an average of 80 yards every time to score a TD but you only need to drive an average of 60 yards. Total that about 10 possessions and your opponent must drive 200 more yards than you. That's nearly 3 more possessions worth of drives of 80 yards.

For example, PIT had 3 more minutes of TOP than we did but they had to drive nearly 80 yards every time. PIT had 102 more total yards than we did, but considering the yards needed to score, they had to go 200 more yards than us the entire game to score TD's. Therefore, we actually had 100 more yards than them.

I think this is what players and coaches mean when they say "it was a team win."

Good point Joe. It could also be a good reason why our offense is ranked so low in total offense.

It could be but our offense is ranked 24th in yards per play but we also run way more than other teams and since it is ranked 16th in yards per pass, I think we need to do better in yards per play area.

Originally posted by Joecool:

Originally posted by gamechanger:

Originally posted by verb1der:

Originally posted by Joecool:
I learned this year how important it is to try to get as many short drives as possible. I think Field Position is the most important factor in winning. Your opponent must drive an average of 80 yards every time to score a TD but you only need to drive an average of 60 yards. Total that about 10 possessions and your opponent must drive 200 more yards than you. That's nearly 3 more possessions worth of drives of 80 yards.

For example, PIT had 3 more minutes of TOP than we did but they had to drive nearly 80 yards every time. PIT had 102 more total yards than we did, but considering the yards needed to score, they had to go 200 more yards than us the entire game to score TD's. Therefore, we actually had 100 more yards than them.

I think this is what players and coaches mean when they say "it was a team win."

Good point Joe. It could also be a good reason why our offense is ranked so low in total offense.

It could be but our offense is ranked 24th in yards per play but we also run way more than other teams and since it is ranked 16th in yards per pass, I think we need to do better in yards per play area.

We also are ranked pretty high on dropped passes (with the few attempts that we do make) and have had to deal with a bunch of injuries throughout the season in the WR department. It's not an excuse but if we're running more than other teams, ranked high on drops, and have had to deal with injuries at WR. Is it not understandable why we are ranked so low?

play off time is totally different than regular season, sudden death , Harbaugh and staff will stress that all next week. Should be a great game, between the leagues best.

Originally posted by niners4lyfe:
they are a ball control team that plays EXCELLENT special teams and GOOD defense. That, my friend, is winning football.

I think if we hold the ball for all 60 minutes we win