Just The Stats Week 8: Still The Top Defense In The Land
Eight weeks into the season, and the Michigan Defense remains the best in the country. Here's a sample of national rankings (FBS):
#1 Total Defense (207 ypg)
#1 Def - Points Allowed (10 pg)
#1 3rd Down Conversion Percentage Allowed (0.13)
#1 1st Downs Allowed (74)
#1 Passing Yds Allowed (111)
#2 Passing Efficiency Def (84.2)
#3 Red Zone Defense (0.667)
#3 Team Tackles for Loss (9.1/gm)
#4 Rushing Defense (96 ypg)
T#4 Sacks (3.57/gm)
They are #1 in the Big Ten in all of these categories except Red Zone Defense (#2 OSU).
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:18 PM ^
That 3rd down conversion percentage is INSANE. No other team is even close.
It's hard to imagine that only 13% of attempted 3rd downs are converted... a crucial stat that really tells how smothering Don Brown's defense truly is.
Don Brown's Boston College was #1 in this category last year with 24% 3rd down conversions allowed.
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^
Dr. Blitz.
Pundits are saying "who has Michigan played"....lol....well look at how Michigan made PSU look like a Pop Warner team and then look at what PSU did vs. OSU yesterday. No comparison. Michigan D is making opposing offenses look silly.
October 23rd, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^
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October 23rd, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^
was pretty pedestrian. only put up 280 yards. they won that game because of ohio state errors on special teams.
the argument that we have played no good offensive teams is definitely legit. we've not played anybody nearly as good as tennessee or texas a&m offensively. there's only one good offensive team on this schedule and we play them at the end of the season.
October 23rd, 2016 at 5:04 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 7:08 PM ^
Look, football is about matchups, personnel executing certain plays and emotional issues outside the boundaries of analysis. Teams play better at home than on the road. Teams with great crowd support are more likely to succeed with emotional backing than those without.
A team plays the schedule it plays and it performs based on the matchups the teams it faces offers.
Right now, Michigan is the best team in the B!G and I don't care who they've played, they just are. This team is the best Michigan team since 1997 and it might be better than that team. It just is. So, let the arguments begin.
I just know what I am watching and how this team is performing. And there is no team in the country outside of Alabama which is better.
October 24th, 2016 at 2:55 AM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^
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October 23rd, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^
Tied for #4 in sacks? This is completely unacceptable. Don Brown - your moustache wax per diem is being reduced 25% until this situation is resolved!
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:39 PM ^
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October 23rd, 2016 at 3:17 PM ^
Absolutely. Our raw numbers TFL and Sacks are being hurt a lot by the fact that we're giving up so few plays.
October 23rd, 2016 at 4:03 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 5:33 PM ^
CFP.
It's a good tradeoff: conceal defensive dominance in fancystats, while ensuring more dominant defense in November, December, and on January 10th.
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
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October 23rd, 2016 at 4:07 PM ^
Say the Alabama fans on Bleacher Report.
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
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October 23rd, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:56 PM ^
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October 23rd, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
As someone already said, this defense is indeed ridiculous.
I mean, when is the last time a Michigan defense was giving up only 3.5 yards per play on average, an average of 111 pass yards per game, had a sack percentage of 12.77%, held teams to 2.9 yards per rush....and that's just a few more stats.
This unit is fun to watch on every single play.
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:38 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 3:09 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 5:32 PM ^
I've heard that about 8 years in a row about MSU. Maybe it'll finally be true this year.
October 23rd, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
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October 23rd, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^
Other than Colorado has Michigan played an offense with a pulse?
Penn St. didn't show much yesterday and is probably better than they were when Michigan played them.
No question, this is an outstanding defense -- I just hope they prove to be as good/great as they seem. If they start forcing more turnovers, that would be nice.
October 23rd, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^
coming up on the schedule with a pulse anytime soon? It's not our fault they suck rocks. I get what you are saying, though.
October 23rd, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
What has been most telling for me is that all these wins, except for the 1st Q vs Colorado and the Wisconsin game, have come easily, and as the weeks go on, these teams don't seem as bad as Michigan made them look.
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October 24th, 2016 at 3:04 AM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 4:51 PM ^
October 23rd, 2016 at 4:59 PM ^
S&P+ has us #1 in every defensive category.
October 24th, 2016 at 3:06 AM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:39 AM ^
Yeah, it's nuts.
so. https://t.co/YWB05UUcJM pic.twitter.com/PZxFFCbs4M
— Ace Anbender (@AceAnbender) October 24, 2016
Frequency of First Downs Allowed
— The Solid Verbal (@SolidVerbal) October 24, 2016
(per play, min 4 gm vs P5)
1. Mich, 16.1%
2. VT, 21.9%
3. Aub, 23.70
4. Ohio St, 23.77
5. Alabama, 23.91
October 24th, 2016 at 12:20 AM ^
#3 and 66.7% is correct, but perhaps more importantly, we're far and away #1 in Opponent Red Zone attempts - only 6. No one else has less than 12. This defense is unbelievable.