Defensive Stats - last 6 quarters. We might be good.

Submitted by old fan on

This is probably a bit glass half full, but in the last 6 quarters we have given up 9 points total and 246 yards with 3 turnovers.

 In the second half of the Utah game, they moved the ball a grand total of 3 yards (including penalties) for 3 points. I had forgotten how dominant that performance was. There were even 10 possessions for Utah so this is even more impressive and they averaged 3.6 plays per drive, mostly three and outs.

Against Miami we gave up 252 yards (243 total if you total up the yards from the drive charts, I guess penalities make up this difference, but we forced at least most of these). This wasn't as good as I thought it could have been, but overall this is fairly impressive considering the number of times they were asked to be on the field. Our offense had drives of 3,5,4, 3 and 2 plays in the second half, forcing the defense to play alot. We gave up drives of 72 and 60 yards which were 10 and 13 plays and were quite disappointing. But we made the plays we needed to limit the impact. Other than these two drives the last 6 quarters have been statistically impressive. (So if I pick the drives I want to analyze and the quarters everything looks fine :)

So in summary the last 6 quarters we have given up 246 yards, or 41 yards per quarter with 1.5 points per quarter. Combined with 3 turnovers and a couple of easy interceptions that bounced of our hands, there are signs of life. Yeah, the offense is bad but the defense is nearing as good as they need to be for us to have a good season. Our dline will be the best unit on the field next week, so there is that.

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krogerbrand14

September 6th, 2008 at 10:51 PM ^

There were quite a few plays that worried me, where the QB missed a WR wide open running free downfield, there was one where 3 Michigan players were all beat, but the ball was overthrown. Other than that, the defense looked good

Joined: 07/12/2008

MGoPoints: 2

Hannibal.

September 9th, 2008 at 1:20 PM ^

Our defense has been solid, above average I would say, but we need it to be excellent to keep our bowl game streak alive this year, and so far we haven't seen that. I was surprised when I found out that Miami only had 250 total yards in the game, because it felt like more.  The defense some trouble getting off the field after the 1st quarter, despite getting some help from Miami in the form of the dropsies.  Miami had a lot of 3rd and shorts and they kept our offense off the field so much that we only ended up with 53 plays from scrimmage.  This looks like a defense that can keep us in games, but not steal them.

Joined: 09/09/2008

MGoPoints: 9051

sca1zi

September 10th, 2008 at 9:46 AM ^

... on the D looking good, but.... remember Utah was ahead, and kept running that FB/RB dive over and over. The Utah offense wasn,t exactly wide open in the second half.

That being said, I like what the defense is doing. MOAR PLZ.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 156