It is difficult to understand how an offense can rack up 373.2 yards per game, yet fail to break 20 points in half its schedule.

The University at Buffalo presents an offense which fails to mesh with statistical reason. The Bulls are second in the Mid-American Conference in total offensive yards, yet it is below average in the conference with just 20 points per game.

And although the Bulls average just 100.5 rushing yards per game, mainly because of the season-ending shoulder injury to James Starks prior to the season, CMU coach Butch Jones said he is impressed with some of the things they can do on the ground.

“They’re very dangerous because they present so many challenges with you,” he said. “They’re going to be able to run the football just because of their talent up front and their size.”

Senior defensive end Frank Zombo said it took him by surprise that Buffalo, ranked eighth in the MAC in rushing yards, had trouble running the ball.

“It’s kind of funny. It’s weird that they actually don’t have good rushing stats because they do a lot of things up front,” Zombo said. “They have a good, strong (offensive) line.”

Junior running back Brandon Thermilus is averaging 48.8 yards per gameon 59 attempts. In contrast, senior quarterback Dan LeFevour has the most carries for CMU (44) and has averaged 4 yards per attempt (including sacks). No other CMU running back has more than 29 carries.

But despite the Bulls’ struggles running the ball, they have excelled moving the ball through the air. Buffalo has the MAC’s third-best passing offense (272.8 yards per game) and, by college football standards, it is the most efficient passing team in the conference.

That passing attack is led by sophomore quarterback Zach Maynard and one of the MAC’s most dangerous receivers, Naaman Roosevelt. Roosevelt is averaging more than seven catches and 111 receiving yards per game.

“You see an offense that has a very talented cast of individuals, and you know it’s only a matter of time until they get into a rhythm and get going,” Jones said. “We got to do a good job of really neutralizing or understanding where Roosevelt is all the time.”

Problem areas

But the Bulls have executed poorly in two areas that have hindered the potential of the offense.

The biggest problem is maintaining possession of the ball. The Bulls are -10 in the turnover margin, second to last in the MAC. They have turned the ball over 13 times — seven fumbles lost and six interceptions — and have only forced three. Last year, when Buffalo won the MAC, it was +20 in turnover margin.

Buffalo also has scored just five touchdowns in 12 trips in the redzone. In contrast, CMU has entered the redzone 21 times and scored 15 touchdowns.

Different looks

What makes the Bulls offense so difficult to defend is its use of misdirection, Jones said.

“When you look at all the other things they throw at you, from their naked (bootleg) game, their misdirection game, to their screens, to their quick passing game, and then you look at the individuals they have … It’s going to be a great challenge,” he said.

Zombo said as a defense end, reading his keys will be important for the defense to succeed and stop misdirection plays, screens and sprint-outs.

“That’s how they’re going to get the majority of their yards,” he said. “I got to read my keys and I got to be ready to get outside and try to contain everything.”

E-mail the author: Andrew Stover