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Statistical Analysis of Defense During B10 Games - *Updated Through Purdue*

By matt D — November 13th, 2010 at 5:37 PM — 11 comments
Filed under:
  • 2010 Big Ten
  • football

**A few people thought this was worthy of a diary post, so here you are.**

I've seen a few diaries analyze the defense in terms of total yardage, points allowed, etc. However, I don't think total yardage and points are necessarily the best measurements to evaluate our defensive performances. Those measurements fail to account for how quickly we score on offense, our special teams (or lack of in this case) play, turnovers, and starting field position for the opposition.

I decided to evaluate the defense in a more comprehensive manner, using several statistics to get a "big picture" view of the defense. I used several statistics to evaluate the defense during B10 play:

  1. % of stops (defined as non-scoring drives by the opposition)
  2. % of punts forced by the defense
  3. % of 3-and-outs forced by the defense
  4. Points per drive allowed by the defense
  5. Average starting field position by the opposition
  6. Yard Per Drive By Opposition

Here's how B10 play stacks up

Game 1 (Indiana):

  1. 7 stops on 13 drives (53.8%) - 2 stops were forced by turnover on downs
  2. 4 punts on 13 drives (30.8%)
  3. One 3-and-out (7.7%)
  4. 35 points on 13 drives = 2.69 points per drive
  5. Average starting position by Indiana = 26.31 yard line (Indiana Territory)
  6. 568 yards on 13 drives = 43.69 yards per drive

Game 2 (MSU)

  1. 4 stops on 10 drives (40%)
  2. 4 punts on 10 drives (40%)
  3. Two 3-and-outs on 10 drives (20%)
  4. 34 points on 10 drives = 3.4 points per drive
  5. Average starting field position by MSU = 30.1 yard line (MSU Territory)
  6. 536 yards on 10 drives = 53.6 yards per drive

Game 3 (Iowa)

  1. 5 stops on 11 drives (45.5%)
  2. 5 punts on 11 drives (45.5%)
  3. Five 3-and-outs on 11 drives (45.5%)
  4. 38 points on 11 drives = 3.45 points per drive
  5. Iowa average starting field position = 38.09 yard line (Iowa Territory)
  6. 383 yards on 11 drives = 34.82 yards per drive

Game 4 (Penn State)

  1. 2 stops on 9 drives (22.2%) - That is a very ugly number
  2. 2 punts on 9 drives (22.2%)
  3. One 3-and-out (11.1%)
  4. 41 points on 9 drives = 4.56 points per drive
  5. Average Starting Field Position for Penn State = 37.78 yard line (Penn State Territory)
  6. 435 Yards on 9 drives = 48.33 yards per drive

Game 5 (Illinois)- Regulation Only

  1. 8 stops on 14 drives (57.14%) including 1 fumble and missed FG -
  2. 6 punts on 14 drives (42.75%) -
  3. Four 3-and-outs (28.57%) -
  4. 45 points on 14 drives = 3.21 points per drive -
  5. Average starting field position for Illinois = 40.43 yard line (Illinois Territory) - TO's and special teams absolutely killed us
  6. 486 yards on 14 drives = 34.71 yards per drive

Game 6 (Purdue)

  • 12 stops on 15 (80%) including 2 fumbles and 2 interceptions - That's a NICE number!
  • 7 punts on 15 drives (47%) - tainted by generating TO's
  • Four 3-and-outs on 15 drives (27%) -definitely tainted by generating TO's
  • 9 points on 15 drives = .6 points per drive(Purdue's TD was off an INT)
  • Average starting field position for Purdue - 35.93 yard line (Purdue Territory) - Wasn't really this bad, a few TO's in our territory really skewed the numbers
  • 244 yards on 15 drives = 16.27 - Holy Shit there is a God!

Game Standings from Best to Worst:





Stop% Punt% 3-and-out% Points/Drive Starting Field Position
purdue (80) purdue (47) iowa (45.5) purdue (.6) Ind (26.31 yard line)
illinois (57.14) Iowa (45.5) illinois (28.57) Ind (2.69) MSU (30.1 yard line)
Ind (53.8) ill (42.75) purdue (27) ill (3.21) purdue (35.9 yard line)
Iowa (45.5) MSU (40) MSU (20) MSU (3.4) PSU (37.78 yard line)
MSU (40) Ind (30.8) PSU (11.1) Iowa (3.45) Iowa (38.09 yard line)
PSU (22.2) PSU (22.2) Ind (7.7) PSU (4.56) ill (40.43 yard line)

**Yards Per Drive**

Purdue (16.27 Yards Per Drive)

Illinois (34.71 Yards per Drive)

Iowa (34.82 Yards per Drive)

Indiana (43.69 Yards per Drive)

Penn State (48.33 Yards Per Drive)

MSU (53.6 Yards Per Drive)

What does all this tell us:

I'm not foolish enough to believe we have a defense that is even approaching slightly below average, however, I do think we've made some improvement during 3 of the past 4 weeks with PSU being the outlier for the entire season. Taking into account that we've basically been without Mike Martin the past few weeks, and Mouton is playing at half strength, I definitely think we're trending upward. Even Avery is starting to look like a reasonable option at CB.

Moving forward:

We all understand the defense is going to be a liability for the rest of the year, but if the secondary can play semi-adequate for the Wisconsin game, we might have a reasonable chance of winning if the offense doesn't turn the ball over. Wisconsin's pass offense is ranked #74 in terms of passing efficiency and only average 200 yards per game. However, they have a potent rushing game that is ranked #12 in terms of yards per game. Our rush defense certainly isn't good(#75 in the country), but it's not absolutely horrible either. If we play clean football, we might have a chance at winning this game. Wisconsin is not a big play team, and if the secondary can just be something approaching average, I think we have enough firepower on offense to pull it out.

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November 13th, 2010 at 6:37 PM
#2
akblue
akblue's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 423
Nice work

Hoepfully we can maintain the current trend line.

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November 13th, 2010 at 7:16 PM
#3
BostonWolverine
BostonWolverine's picture
Joined: 11/13/2008
MGoPoints: 6557
Quick point - the defense

Quick point - the defense didn't allow 6 of the points today. An INT returned for a touchdown should not count against the defense.

That makes the numbers even better in what was an encouraging game.

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November 13th, 2010 at 8:08 PM
(Reply to #3) #4
matt D
Joined: 11/08/2008
MGoPoints: 2397
Good Catch

You are correct sir, I've made the modification and the standings/percentages are now reflected with 9 points rather than 16.

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November 13th, 2010 at 7:58 PM
#5
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 56291
That MSU game looks like a

That MSU game looks like a fiasco in retrospect.  We allowed a pretty ordinary offense to dominate us.

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November 13th, 2010 at 9:35 PM
(Reply to #4) #6
bronxblue
Joined: 11/22/2008
MGoPoints: 59111
I think Wiscy is feeling the

I think Wiscy is feeling the same way considering the whooping the Spartans put on them.  It is like clockwork with MSU - they gear up for about 1/2 the season (until the UM game), then just crash back to earth the rest of the way.  I would not be surprised to see them drop a game to Purdue or PSU.

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November 13th, 2010 at 8:55 PM
#7
jlcoleman71
jlcoleman71's picture
Joined: 07/15/2008
MGoPoints: 138
Improving defensive stats today

considering that Mouton and Martin were in limited action due to injuries.........here's hoping to see improvement the rest of the year and get everyone healthy for a decent bowl game.

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November 13th, 2010 at 8:56 PM
#8
aroberts36
Joined: 04/30/2010
MGoPoints: 204
Minor Correction

For the Purdue stops do you mean 2 INTs and 2 fumbles recovered and not punts?

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November 13th, 2010 at 9:04 PM
#9
NorthFLWolverine
Joined: 08/18/2010
MGoPoints: 134
Don't know if you all...

have heard yet but Dallas Crawford, the CB from Ft. Myers, just gave us a verbal commit yesterday. Things are starting to shape up nicely in the recruiting department. Go Blue! 

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November 13th, 2010 at 9:08 PM
#10
Blue in Seattle
Blue in Seattle's picture
Joined: 07/02/2008
MGoPoints: 1694
I agree with this quote

 

244 yards on 15 drives = 16.27 - Holy Shit there is a God!

Yes there is a God, and he makes it rain.

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November 13th, 2010 at 11:04 PM
#11
Communist Football
Communist Football's picture
Joined: 09/18/2010
MGoPoints: 5067
Great stuff comrade

Keep it up.

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November 14th, 2010 at 11:59 AM
#12
DaytonBlue
DaytonBlue's picture
Joined: 12/08/2009
MGoPoints: 1703
nice job

thx

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