October 20th, 2012 at 1:15 PM ^
Outliers are the exception...not the rule. For the most part, though I have no systemic proof, I would expect the hypothesis that the proliferation of the no huddle spread has caused offensive production to rise and defenses to give up more points. Don't let your outliers cloud what really exists out there!
October 20th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
And near as I can tell there's really no good reason why this should be.
I wonder if it's a case of a head coach's general philosophy influencing decisions related to defense? My sense is teams that are spread-oriented are that way because the HC is spread-oriented, and maybe they view defense through the lens of the offense.
An exception to this is, I think, Oregon, which has a decent enough defense. Not Alabama soul-crushing defense, but decent enough.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
I think for some coaches they install a soulless killing machine on offense that is good for 400+ yards per game and then they assume everyone they face will have done the same. Thus spending time on the defense is not as valuable, since it will just be facing unstoppable offenses anyway. Basically some coaches seem to argue that these days the rules benefit the offense, so you get more out of investing an hour in the offense than you do in the defense. Of course some other coaches think the opposite. Spread coaches seem the mostly likely to be the kind who advocate the rules favor offense and that should be the focus.
Some people just seem to have a bad concept of where diminshing returns kick in and you should go spend time with another unit.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
I wonder if we're witnessing a swing back in this way of thinking?
Last year ended with WVU torching Clemson, then starting this year lighting up the scoreboard. Offense was king. Then Texas Tech put a major hurt on WVU by showing that a high-powered offense can be stopped ... or at least slowed down considerably. All the talk on ESPN and elsewhere was about how bad WVU's defense was.
I would think at the very least the "all offense all the time" way of thinking would see that trading score for score is based on the assumption of no mistakes. One scoring drive thwarted by an INT or fumble might well determine a game.
I like watching a good defense at work.
Florida's defense this year looks pretty good ... can't wait for the SC game today. Having Lattimore out alters the makeup of that game, however.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
Personally I tend to wonder if the reason we saw a lot of one aspect teams (good o, terrible d or vice versa) was that coordinator salaries were too low. Every year there are more FCS programs and more FCS coaching gigs. Michigan finally wised up and started paying guys. I think a lot of programs need to realize they need a great HC and at least one coordinator who if you gave him his own team has the football acumen at least win the MAC or Big East. So you need to pay them enough they don't go off to Ball State.
Also I agree that hopefully teams will demostrate good D and cause a shift. I think one of the big problems is typically the B1G tends to demostrate the value of good defense in bowl games, but in recent history tOSU was the only team field constantly fielding a good to great defense.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^
This is why I'm drooling to see the NC game this year be between Alabama and Oregon. Battle of the two opposing points of view. We'll see who comes out on top.
I guess I'll be rooting for Alabama since Michigan is headed more toward the Alabama philosophy while Ohio State is headed more toward the Oregon philosophy.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
It's not often you are inept enough to have the other team decline roughing the passer
October 20th, 2012 at 1:07 PM ^
that just made me LOL
October 20th, 2012 at 1:07 PM ^
That was classic Purdue, classic.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:07 PM ^
knew it the moment he passed
October 20th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
I know. Purdue's had the edge all day against tOSU, so what do they do in the red zone? Pass across the middle. You know the part of the field where there is always traffic in the middle of the field.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 1:14 PM ^
Note to Luke Fickell: Iacono's in Columbus has an opening for a pizza delivery boy. Just sayin'
October 20th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
Joey Galloway must have spent hours in their....yeah...definitely.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 1:18 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
how great of a day would it be if ohio would lose this game and michigan beats lil bro? im not sure if i have enough rum.
October 20th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
Purdue is embarassing to watch on offense.
AND THEY'RE WINNING
October 20th, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^
and i had a buckeye fan tell me last week that ohio would smash wvu. lol
October 20th, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^
Short is a moron. Although in the end it just resulted in an arm put and a ding to Miller's QB rating, so haha.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
I just don't think he's that good at defense as:
Times that Urbz has had an elite defense = Times he was signing Mattison's paycheck.
Of course it is also starting to look like the same is true for elite offense and Mullen being on staff.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:43 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:07 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
Watching this Purdue/OSU game is like watching the Spread option equivalent of last week's MSU/Iowa. Totally brutal.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:15 PM ^
You DID it again Purdue!
October 20th, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^
The D actually isn't that bad today. They've held Purdue to 6 points - the other touchdown was on a 100 yard kickoff return that almost cost me my TV and computer.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^
Although I'm obviously rooting for Purdue, I will laugh heartily if their missed XP winds up being the difference in this game.
(Spoiler: it won't)
October 20th, 2012 at 2:25 PM ^
Purdue 20, ONoo 14
October 20th, 2012 at 2:25 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
I hear they're still evaluating people
October 20th, 2012 at 2:45 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^
Oh no tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering!
October 20th, 2012 at 2:33 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
They really don't. This is supposed to be the team that is going to crush Michigan in November? M's and Ohio's offense are fairly similar, but the glaring difference between the two teams is defense...and M has one.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^
I don't know whether to be happy Purdue is making Ohio look bad or mad at Purdue when they eventually Purdue this winnable game away
October 20th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^
Could be a separated shoulder for Braxton... this could get interesting!!!
October 20th, 2012 at 2:40 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^
they might not have an offense now either.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
Hopefully he'll be OK.
Quick recovery dude. Damn.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^
Doubtful to return to game.
October 20th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^
October 20th, 2012 at 2:45 PM ^
Purdue defender grabbed his jersey and swung him down to the turf. He landed on his head (left side).
Miller is clearly shaky getting to the cart/gurney.
It could be a serious injury. They need to be fucking careful with himi, those stupid Ohio medics.
October 20th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
Hit looked a lot like the one that knocked Gholson (Gholston? The QB from ND) out of the game last week, and he had a concussion. They're taking him to the hospital now, this looks really bad. I hope he's OK.