Illinois Defense: 7 Day Swing

Submitted by PhillipFulmersPants on

Maybe Illinois' D performance Saturday was a one game aberration. But aberration or not, Michigan inflicted heavy damage. Three overtimes are going to skew the scoring average, but still these are some big swings in average numbers nine games into the season …

Total D

Last week, Illinois was ranked 15th, giving up just  301.38 ypg.

Flash forward to post Triple Overtime thriller, they fall 28 spots down to 43rd, now giving up 343 ypg (+42 yards a game increase week over week).

Scoring D

Last week, Illinois was ranked 12th in scoring D nationally, giving up just  16.75 points pg.  Commence freefall to 47th this week after leaving AA. Denard, Tate, Roy, Junior and Co. bounced their per game average to 22.33 (nearly a 6 point pg increase).

With Michigan's D being what it is, this is the pot calling the kettle black, clearly. So be it. It's nice to have company. Hey Illinois, Nelson Muntz says, "Ha-ha."

Farnn

November 7th, 2010 at 11:19 PM ^

Without looking up the stats, I'm gonna guess that every team Michigan has played this year will look like an aberration. But opponents' offensive performances will look like aberrations as well.

jmblue

November 7th, 2010 at 11:19 PM ^

If the OT stats (22 points, 75 yards) were removed, Illinois would be surrendering 19.9 PPG and 334.7 YPG.  Where would they rank in that case?

Brightside

November 8th, 2010 at 12:23 AM ^

I was at a bar, and it was on...  and I couldn't help thinking...  if we only had one of their defenses, we might be a few wins ahead of where we are...

That said, I do think our young players have more potential... would love to see a strong defensive staff come in and at least move us toward the middle of the big ten...

joeyb

November 8th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^

(This is off of ESPN's drivechart which is slightly messed up but still mostly accurate.)

Illinois had 16 real possessions in regulation. 6 ended in punts, 1 a fumble, and 4 were FGs, 1 of which was missed. That means we held them to no score on 50% of their drives. All of this was done despite starting past the 30 on 75% of their drives and past the 40 on almost half of them.

If this were games of years past with 8 drives, that would equate to roughly 4 punts, 2 FGs, 2 TDs, which is about 20 points.

Our defense played a pretty good game with lots of big stops.

jlcoleman71

November 8th, 2010 at 8:29 AM ^

giving up big plays can be frustating to the fans (how do you think the players feel?), but they're just kids and I want them to succeed.

Get guys healthy and stop the attrition this offseason and I expect we'll start gravitating back towards the middle of the pack which is progress.

Also, I expect to see mutliple kickers on campus this offseason........better kickoffs will help the defense as well.

ontarioblue

November 8th, 2010 at 8:35 AM ^

I think we will win at least one of the final two games.  I don't think Wisconsin has the fire power to stay with us in a shoot out, and I think Tressel is looking at that game thinking the same thing.  We could end up 9-3 or 8-4 at worst.  Orlando looks good for New Years.

jsquigg

November 8th, 2010 at 8:53 AM ^

Really?  I would be absolutely thrilled to win either game, but haven't we learned to curb our expectations?  5 games in and people were posting about when Rod gets a lifetime contract.  Just last week the mind numbing Harbaugh talk had begun.  Let's just beat Purdue and go from there.