Points Update Through Nebraska
The differences between the last couple of years are simply amazing. Totals are through eleven games.
Points Scored:
2011: 370
2010: 405
Points Allowed:
2011: 172
2010: 369
Michigan has scored 91.3% of last year's total through eleven games while allowing 46.1% as many points. The turnaround on defense is staggering.
Michigan needs to score 42 points next week to tie 2010's regular season total and average only 28ppg over the next two to eclipse last year's overall point total.
November 19th, 2011 at 5:46 PM ^
Coaching makes a difference, just unreal!
November 19th, 2011 at 5:47 PM ^
We've gone from the 110th best to the 17th (as of Illinois, right?) best defense. Absolutely remarkable.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^
Here are the up-to-date defensive rankings through completed games today (could move up or down one or two spots on these depending on later games):
Scoring Defense: #8 (was #7 after last week) - passed by MSU, but could pass Florida State if they give up more than 16 points.
Rushing Defense #42 (was #41). Could move up or down a few spots.
Passing Defense #16 (was #22).
Total Defense #14 (was #17). Can move to #13 if Texas gives up 322+ and Cal doesn't hold Stanford under 281.
I know, I know - way too much time on my hands, but I'm about to head off to a party. Fun day from start to finish.
November 19th, 2011 at 5:49 PM ^
November 19th, 2011 at 6:44 PM ^
My blood was gettin hot there for a second before I caught on. I almost nunchucked you! You don't even realize!!
November 19th, 2011 at 5:49 PM ^
It's pretty obvious that Greg Robinson was functionaly retarded. This staff has been amazing, even though I would like to choke Borges at times. We are rarely penalized and that is also a sign of good coaching. BCS game in the future? Win next week and it's possible.
November 19th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^
Functionaly retarded, I know I shouldn't laugh but I just spit beer all over my laptop, and that makes me a sad panda :(
November 19th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
Is any beer left? If yes, then be a happy panda.
November 19th, 2011 at 5:53 PM ^
It's pretty obvious RR didn't allow Greg to run his own defense. Instead, he tried to make him run the 3-3-5 shit
November 19th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
Not joking - I'm a high school coach of a sport that isn't football. We are in a conference right now on the west coast, and Greg Robinson was just used as an example of horrific coaching. When his great hair showed up on the power point I almost died.
Thank god for Hoke. Thank god for Mattison.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
And...don't even think of rubbing stuffed animals in your team's faces. Then again, I probably wouldn't recommend Mattison's "miracle bra" move with your team either. The board of education may take issue :-)
November 19th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
Gone are the days of ninety nine yard Indiana drives
November 19th, 2011 at 5:56 PM ^
I just wish Hoke would wear a headset...
November 19th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
Wait, the sarcasm ends before your statement. Does that mean you are serious?
November 19th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
Weellll, that's tremendous.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:14 PM ^
We have scored more points in conference this year than last year (even including OSU in last year's total). None of our points have come in a situation where we are gunning in the 2nd half while the opposing team is in comfort mode. Not only that, but think of how many more points we could have put up this year if we weren't smoking teams to the point where we were running down the clock for an entire quarter. This happened 0 times last year in conference and maybe once or twice in the preseason.
I am just failing to see why we'd be better off with RR at the offensive helm. Does anyone honestly think we would have hung 45 on Nebraska with last year's offense? No shot. Also, remember what Hoke said earlier this year? Facing the spread everyday in practice doesnt exactly breed a tough minded defense.
Last thing: We physically dominated Nebraska in the same form that we did Eastern a couple of months ago. Talk about improvement....this coach / player combo is incredible. Apparently Vince Lombardi couldn't fix our defensive woes, but Brady Hoke and Greg Mattison certainly could.
Hail Hoke. Hail Mattison. Hail Borges. Hail Team 132.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:52 PM ^
Also Kovacs admitted in the postgame presser that it makes a big difference when they have more time on the sidelines because the offense is sustaining drives. Pretty obvious but more material for your argument about the defense helping the offense and vice versa.
November 19th, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
I completely agree with the sustaining drives as being a big part of the equation. Even though we are scoring almost as many points, the big is the sustaining drives. Last year, we either scored on 3 plays or went three and out. Therefore, our defense was on the field ALL THE TIME.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
The defensive improvement is damn near unbelievable.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:37 PM ^
The defense is clearly the difference (I know, amazing observation), the real hidden stat here is that because the defense is playing well, the offense doesn't have to deviate from its comfort zone often. That is the biggest difference between these two years; last year the offense had to throw quite a bit to stay/catch up in games; this year, they can run most of their base offense late into close games because the defense keeps them close.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:38 PM ^
...but honestly, RR was a good coach, he proved himself at WV, and I wish him well. That said, I wouldn't trade our current coaches for any in the land, and I see no reason to continue comparing, other than to enjoy the amazing turn-around and give all our coaches huge credit.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:41 PM ^
Michigan defense.
November 19th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^
How many sacks did we have today? The recap on ESPN said we didn't have any. I remember at least 4.
November 19th, 2011 at 7:36 PM ^
recap says we got three, and lots of TFLs
November 19th, 2011 at 10:03 PM ^
Big Will Campbell got one today which was very nice to see. He will be needed next year with the tough schedule and 2 excellent seniors graduating.
November 19th, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
Michigan needs to score 42 points next week to tie 2010's regular season total and average only 28ppg over the next two to eclipse last year's overall point total.Remember that last year's team scored 22 points in overtime. If you restrict the dataset to points scored in regulation, we only need to score 20 points next week to match last year's regular-season total.
November 19th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
Regardless, the difference between the two years is astonishing. I'm actually confident when the defense is on the field. It's bizarre.
November 19th, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
Sometimes, I watch the defense play and I expect them to not let the other team score and then I ask myself "Is this real life?"
and lo, it is
November 19th, 2011 at 8:38 PM ^
We need to put up 42 pts next Saturday to match last years regular season total? Possible. Heck, after PSU put up 20 on ohio in the first half and we lit up Nebraska for 45 i'm marking it down.
November 19th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
I guess I am not going to find a much better place for this, so here it goes.
I was impressed with Nebraska's D NOT fading out in the 4th quarter. After a ridiculous time of possession ratio, added to repeated miscues sticking them back out there, the never faded, and were playing as hard at the end as they did in the 1st quarter.
That, as much as anything makes me feel like this was a quality win, against a quality opponent.
Finally, can we now put to rest the idea that last year's offense plus this year's defense would have been dynamite? The offense is as much a part of the scoring differential as the defense is, in terms of the reduction in points allowed. Obviously, the defense is vastly improved, but NOT giving the other team 20 possessions a game sure does help keep them out of the endzone, too.
November 19th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^
Mike Martin and RVB's agents should thank Mattison and Hoke personally because this is going to raise both of their stocks at least 2 rounds come April draft.