It's the Turnovers, Stupid

I agree with the sentiment that our offense needs to protect the ball more, but is our defense generating turnovers at a consistent pace with the past as well? 

Off the top of my head, it seems like Michigan's defense has been poor the past few years in generating turnovers, which leads to the net TO margin being more difficult to get positive.

thanks for doing this

Missed field goals don't really affect what the D gives up because the opponents field position will be relatively the same.

thanks for the data to back it up.

Tie it in with field position and TOP, and that hurts the defense.

I think you do a great job here of highlighting a very over looked issue that we have.  Michigan has turned the ball over in alarming fashion. 

As good as our Offense is, it's gotten progressively worse at turning the ball over through the course of this season.  I'm hoping something happens, maybe a little luck on our side, that helps us win the TO battle against Ohio State this weekend.

Here's to hoping.

I like you but you're crazy psychomatt.

But I would put dollars to donuts that our rank would be better.

Enjoy Life has been doing a series that tracks turnovers, but it's really dense.

He also recently starting talking about unforced errors:

I think you guys are saying pretty much the same thing.

TOM against Wiscy was 0. We both lost a fumble and got picked off.

http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=303240130

Great job though. Wisconsin was clearly a better team than us, but we may have been able to keep it closer if we keep the ball on the drive where Denard got picked. Otherwise turnovers have been killer, as expected. I'm a believer that as our QBs mature, those will reduce (RBs too).

My gut tells me that while we have turned the ball over too much (and when I say turnovers i mean interceptions and fumbles) but at the same time i don't think they were the reason we lost the games we lost.  Several of the seemingly most costly turnovers (fumble at the 1 against IND, pick 6 against PUR) came in wins.  Of the four losses it seems the most winnable was PSU and in that game there were no fumbles or interceptions.  

broadening the definition as you do to include missed FGs and missed 4th down conversions really highlights a special teams kicking problem not an offense problem.  We have gone for fourth downs where other teams would have kicked the FG because our kickers can't convert. 

There are other things you don't include that could be considered turnovers.  I think one of the most costly plays of the year was the personal foul on Lewan on the second drive against Iowa.  We are up 7-0, defense has stopped them and we get the ball back, then Lewans penalty turns 2nd and 3 into 2nd and 16.  2 plays later we punt.  Of course you never know how an alternate universe would play out but that was such a momentum killer and isn't captured in your numbers as it was just a punt.   so to your point there is no correlation between net penalty yards and wins,  but there may be a correlation with drive stopping penalties like that one. 

I thought that RR main focus was on limiting turn overs, so what gives we are averaging more this year than last. Also we are getting called for more penalties, looks like a problem to me

It has been a major issue.  It's killed us against MSU and Iowa.  It may not win every game obviously, but we need to get on the + side of this to have a chance against our better opponents.  Denard started to remind me of last year against Illinois and Purdue - too many INT/Fumbles.  But he's battling back and will get better.

The D isn't good, but we need to take advantage of every opportunity. I think this is why our yards per points or points per possession are not as good as some people may want.  We have a lot of drives that have ended by turnovers in the redzone.  all for nothing.  Hope it gets better, but has been a trend.

I'm going to the game this weekend and we need to be +3 IMO to have a chance.

Go Blue

shitty defense for a 1000, please.