Tip of the hat to Scott Schafer?
For the full article and table at Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician
http://www.nunesmagician.com/2009/10/28/1105422/why-isnt-anyone-talking…
A few select 2008 to 2009 improvements
Run Defense 102nd 6th
Total Defense 102nd 62nd
Fumbles Recv'd 84th 6th
Sacks 101st 24th
Opp. 3rd Dn Cv. 117th 38th
I was lukewarm on the guy, but that is pretty good improvement in one year. I know they had some serious attrition at the beginning of the year (not sure what positions) so I guess that is a tip of the hat to Scott. How the eff did we not see that run defense and third down efficiency (granted it is a different conference)?
November 30th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
Brian and some others here have been saying this for a while, but at least a portion of the responsibility for our defensive ineptitude might well rest in poor coaching of a couple of position groups. I'm not convinced that literally 100% of the "blame" can be placed on roster issues.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
Don't these two really explain each other?
Run Defense 102nd 6th
Pass Defense 84th 115th
November 30th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^
Give "Greggers" a few players to work with, then can the Michigan faithful see his true potential as a Defensive Coordinator.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
Granted those are good improvements, but the article is dated Oct 28th and the rankings are based on the first 7 games. It would be interesting to see where those numbers rank now.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:38 PM ^
but based on my recollection it seems Syracuse gave up a ton of points this year. Didn't UConn drop 40-something on them in their last game?
November 30th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
I was shocked that Shafer was fired. I have nothing against him.
However, I would be careful about some of those stats when I see that huge swing in fumbles recovered. That is something that I do not consider repeateable and it is having a huge effect on some of those other stats.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:03 PM ^
Courtesy Rivals.com:
Syracuse ranks (2009):
avg pts allowed: 27.9 (82nd)
avg total yds allowed: 337.0 (36th)
avg rush yds allowed: 101.8 (14th)
avg pass yds allowed: 235.2 (82nd)
Syracuse ranks (2008)
avg pts allowed: 32.7 (102nd)
avg total yds allowed: 414.5 (101st)
avg rush yds allowed: 189.4 (102nd)
avg pass yds allowed: 225.1 (86th)
I'm not sure if Shafer deserves the hat tip or not, but it's clear that the Orange's defense was better in 2009 than in 2008.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:14 PM ^
Uconn dropped 56 on them.
The Big ten?
Northwestern: 34 pts
PSU: 28pts
Minn: 23pts
Also: WVU 34pts
S Fla: 34pts
Cincinatti: 34 pts
Pitt: 37pts
November 30th, 2009 at 1:19 PM ^
I think Brian brought this up at one point earlier in the season, noting potential "noise" in the numbers. I can't remember where/when now, possibly in a UV?
Edit: Found it.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:00 PM ^
But now that Shafer got to run his own D as was not interfered with by legacy asst coaches under RR, it appears he put together an improved D at 'Cuse this year. Brian has suggested as such for awhile now.....that our D position coaches may not be doing such a great job. My opinion is that outside of the D line coach (Tall), I think we need to replace all of them, including Singletary who is appears to be an unorganized recruiting coordinator.
I have to believe Gerg is being forced to keep certain coaches on his staff because of their long term relationships with RR. If RR truly does delegate all the D tasks, which he has professed all season to be doing, then he needs to give Gerg the autonomy to build his own staff and make changes if he deems it necessary.
I have harped on this in the past....i am a strong supporter of RR being successful, but I want progress and improvement, even if we are starting 5 walk-ons on D. I saw it from the D line this year. I did not see it from any other group on the defense (though the OSU game gave me hope). This is what is my biggest fear and concern for the future or our program. We all know D wins championships and shoot-outs are a 50/50 proposition each game. A good example is ND's predicament and we are eerily mirroring this trend. Nebraska did the same thing with Callahan, similar trend, all O, no D. Pelini finally builds a top15 D at Nebraska and now they are contending for conference championships. They still have a ways to go, but its on the right track. Same deal with Harbaugh at Stanford...they are 8-4, but would be 10-2 or 11-1 with some semblance of a D. Until they have a better D, this will be their fate 5-7 to 8-4 every year in a bunch of shoot-outs.
Next year is going to prove very telling IMO, I sure hope we see the D improve throughout the course of the year....
November 30th, 2009 at 3:44 PM ^
or those numbers wouldn't have improved. I can't believe they even considered Hopson for a minute as DC.