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Locker has to be a more effective passer.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

How a much a team needs to throw to score can say a lot about it.

The Titans relied heavily on the pass with Jake Locker under center.

Points per attempt (PPA) is not a commonly used stat, but is an interesting concept posted by Texans FC Jeffery Roy in a previous article.

The idea is to divide a team's offensive points scored (excluding defensive and special teams scores) and divide that by the number of passing attempts plus sacks. The stat really should be called PPDB (points per dropback), but let's keep it simple, shall we?

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What happened to this guy?
Elsa/Getty Images

The Texans have a balanced offense.

Or at least they did for most of the year.

Points per attempt (PPA) is not a commonly used stat, but is an interesting concept posited by Texans FC Jeffery Roy in a previous article.

The idea is to divide a team's offensive points scored (excluding defensive and special teams scores) and divide that by the number of passing attempts plus sacks. The stat really should be called PPDB (points per dropback), but let's keep it simple, shall we?

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Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Sometimes threats can work.

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reported the the Tennessee Titans have decided not to place the franchise tag on free agent tight end Jared Cook.

At the heart of the decision was a late maneuver by Cook's agents to reclassify him as a wide receiver. Based on the fact that Cook spent most of his time in a receiving position, his agents argued he should fall under the receiver tag.

That move may well have scared the Titans into not using the franchise designation, as it would have potentially cost them more than $10.5 million to retain exclusive rights to Cook in 2013.

Cook has had a tumultuous season and offseason, as he clashed with former offensive coordinator Chris Palmer over how he was used. Still, the Titans are interested in bringing him back for obvious reasons.

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If the Colts were going to score in 2012, there's a good bet Luck was throwing.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

How often does a team have to throw to score?

In the case of the 2012 Indianapolis Colts, it was a lot.

Points per attempt (PPA) is not a commonly used stat, but is an interesting concept posited by Texans FC Jeffery Roy in a previous article.

The idea is to divide a team's offensive points scored (excluding defensive and special teams scores) and divide that by the number of passing attempts.

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Nate Washington was the best receiver on the Titans in 2012.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Some players get taken for granted by a fanbase and the media.

Nate Washington is one of those players.

Kenny Britt gets all the attention and Kendall Wright gets all the hype, but this week's advanced stat of the week illustrates that it's Washington who is the best wideout on the Titans.

Yards per target (YPT) is a player-specific derivative of the single most important stat in football: yards per attempt (YPA). There is no number more important for evaluating an offense or a defense than measuring yards per attempt.

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Shorts ran away from the competition (and the other Jaguars).
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

For the 2012 Jaguars, there was Cecil Shorts, and then there was everyone else.

While no one needs a fancy stat to tell them Shorts was fantastic, this week's advanced stat of the week helps put in perspective just how good he was.

Yards per target (YPT) is a player-specific derivative of the single most important stat in football: yards per attempt (YPA). There is no number more important for evaluating an offense or a defense than measuring yards per attempt.

YPT is just YPA isolated to a particular wide receiver. To calculate it, simply divide a player's receiving yards by his total number of "targets." As I discussed when looking at catch rate, knowing how often a player was thrown to matters when evaluating his overall play.

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Re-signing Quin is job one for the Texans.
Bob Levey/Getty Images

Before the draft and before free agency, the Houston Texans have to take care of something just as important.

They have to re-sign Glover Quin.

Quin isn't the only free-agent-to-be on the Texans roster, but with apologies to Connor Barwin, he is the most important.

Quin helped anchor the Texans secondary in a season where there were too many struggles with the pass defense down the stretch.

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Hilton runs away from people.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

T.Y. Hilton had a fantastic rookie year. That much is clear.

What's amazing is how much more efficient he was than his teammates.

Yards per target (YPT) is a player-specific derivative of the single most important stat in football: yards per attempt (YPA). There is no number more important for evaluating an offense or a defense than measuring yards per attempt.

YPT is just YPA isolated to a particular wide receiver. To calculate it, simply divide a player's receiving yards by his total number of "targets." As I discussed when looking at catch rate, knowing how often a player was thrown to matters when evaluating his overall play.

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Mike Wallace won't likely be making big plays for the Colts.
Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Once upon a time, everyone had Mike Wallace pegged for Indianapolis.

As Ben Savage of Colts Authority points out, the fit is no longer there.

Savage takes the time to break down Wallace's game on tape and does a good job illustrating that he likely won't fit as snugly in Pep Hamilton's offense as he would have in Bruce Arians.

The change not only in offensive coordinator but possibly in direction and tone to the offense makes one of the popular preseason matches an awkward fit now that free agency is nearly on us.

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McAfee is a fixture around Indianapolis.
USA TODAY Sports

Anyone who has read the AFC South Blog for the last 11 months knows by now that I hate punts.

A punt is nothing more than a strategic turnover, and nothing boils the blood faster than watching a coach willingly surrender the ball to the other team.

Despite my aversion to the art of punting, if there is one must-do for the Indianapolis Colts before free agency begins, it's re-signing punter Pat McAfee to a new contract.

McAfee is more than just a punter for the Colts. He's a viable weapon and an important part of the community.