Perfect Defense?
I'm not sure if it's a glitch, but S&P+ apparently believes we would cede 0 points to the average team in the FBS. Am I interpreting that correctly? Also Sparty slipped below Old Dominion in the rankings this week. For some reason I find that funny.
| Team | Rk | Off. Rk | Def. S&P+ | Def. Rk | ST Rk |
| Michigan | 1 | 18 | 0.0 | 1 | 107 |
| Ohio State | 2 | 7 | 14.5 | 7 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 13 | 72 | 13.7 | 6 | 12 |
| Penn State | 19 | 37 | 20.9 | 16 | 10 |
| Nebraska | 21 | 28 | 22.9 | 26 | 45 |
| Colorado | 24 | 27 | 24.4 | 34 | 70 |
| Indiana | 37 | 54 | 23.3 | 29 | 67 |
| Western Michigan | 45 | 21 | 29.7 | 71 | 82 |
| Iowa | 48 | 57 | 24.8 | 37 | 33 |
| Maryland | 54 | 59 | 24.4 | 33 | 84 |
| Central Florida | 64 | 102 | 23.1 | 28 | 43 |
| Old Dominion | 72 | 63 | 29.9 | 72 | 81 |
| Michigan State | 73 | 79 | 28.3 | 59 | 103 |
| Illinois | 78 | 88 | 29.4 | 67 | 61 |
| Hawaii | 100 | 49 | 39.2 | 119 | 30 |
| Rutgers | 116 | 127 | 29.6 | 69 | 100 |
EDIT
For context, the number one team last year was Alabama with 7.9. And the year before it was Ole Miss with 11.5. And the number two defense this year is Clemson with 11.2.
Also, they updated a bunch of the numbers since I posted this, most notably bumping that defensive number all the way up to 0.9. And here's a link to the ratings if you'd like to peruse them yourself.
October 16th, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^
I'll remove some of these columns...
October 16th, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^
Michigan is now at 0.9 for Def S&P+.
October 16th, 2016 at 2:27 PM ^
Not sure if you are looking for something more so this may seem snarky but it's Special Teams Rank.
October 16th, 2016 at 3:19 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 12:13 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 12:17 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^
Are you foreshadowing for next week?
October 16th, 2016 at 1:08 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^
That is all.
October 16th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 12:22 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
I've asked this question and was told field goal kicking is by far the heaviest weighted component of the ST metric. So yeah, we probably won't vastly improve on that over the course of the season. I don't even expect to attempt field goals in many of the remaining games, we just put up TD's.
October 16th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
Our FG kicking has cost us well over 6 points relative to the avg unit, and even though we have a punt return for a TD and some other good returns, it's probably not adding enough compared to the avg unit to make up for the missed FGs. Hence we're below average STs in terms of points +/-.
October 16th, 2016 at 12:25 PM ^
CB: Charles Woodson
CB: Deion Sanders
SS: Ronnie Lott
FS: Ed Reed
LB: Dick Butkus
LB: Lawrence Taylor
LB: Zach Thomas
DL: Reggie White
DL: Warren Sapp
DL: Ndamukong Suh
DL: Deacon Jones
October 16th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
Pre or post contract Suh?
October 16th, 2016 at 12:44 PM ^
Detroit Lions Suh.
October 16th, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
Nice...I'd only replace Zach Thomas with Ray Lewis, and maybe replace Ed Reed with Rod Woodson.
October 16th, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
The only time this defense would give up a first down is when Suh gets flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct...
October 16th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
So 3 times per series on average?
October 16th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^
JJ doesn't slap enough linemen in the head. Deacon gets the nod.
October 16th, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 9:07 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
Per my review, it looks like the gap between us and #2 defense of Clemson is as large as the gap between #2 and #24 Minnesota...pretty decent.
October 16th, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^
Clemson is waaaaay overrated.
They are pooping gold nuggets and rainbows now but they would probable get hammerd by any of the current top 10.
October 16th, 2016 at 12:45 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
They can hang with anyone when they're on their game. When they're not, and if they were playing a true top-10 team, we may see a full-on Clemsoning.
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October 16th, 2016 at 12:41 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^
I updated the OP. Still, it was pretty weird (in the most awesome way) to see 0.0.
October 16th, 2016 at 1:30 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 6:01 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 7:11 PM ^
You can score two points for your own team while on defense. PAT return. It has even happened this year. PAT starts 1:10.
October 16th, 2016 at 10:12 PM ^
while on defense for two points, but the point was that you can't score two points against a defense (which was correctly disputed above in the case of a turnover that then gets turned into a safety).
October 16th, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^
Just as a quick note Michigan State is not considered an "average offense."
October 16th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 1:05 PM ^
Haha. Oops.
October 16th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
is ever better than the 1997 team. Never thought that I would say that...
And they are so damn fun to watch. Feels like we have 6-7 around the ball at all times. Relentless pursuit on every play!
October 16th, 2016 at 1:19 PM ^
These guys want it. Just win baby.
October 16th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
Hungry Dogs with OSU as Ramsay Bolton.
October 16th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
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October 16th, 2016 at 1:36 PM ^
Don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but let's see how the 2nd half of the season goes before we declare them better than 1997. We have only played 1 road game thus far and OSU will obviously be a really tough test.
October 16th, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
October 16th, 2016 at 11:48 PM ^
our last decent offense we've played and we weren't that amazing against their starter. Haven't been tested in the big ten yet.
October 16th, 2016 at 7:26 PM ^
apples and oranges IMO. 97 defense was fun to watch. This year's D is not quite there entertainment wise (yet). It might be ultimately better because of how suffocating it is. Let me be clear by saying I like a good sack as much as any Blue Blood Wolverine however the pass rush is so effective there is an expectation there. In 97 the front was strong but Marcus Ray, Hendricks, Woodson made insane plays. Peppers, Lewis and Stribling are close. We will see how the next 6 games go. They are simply different animals and quite frankly this year's D deals with a greater variety which also should be taken into account with this comparison.
October 16th, 2016 at 10:19 PM ^
we're six games into the season and haven't played a top 25 S&P+ offense yet. Colorado was the best at #27 and while their starter was in the game, it went...just ok. We were saying these things last year only to get absolutely torched by the two best offenses we faced. Yes, injuries. Yes, this team is better at LB, deeper on the line, etc. It could be the best of all time. But still early.