By the Numbers Through 4 Games

[GoldenIsThyFame]

OFFENSE
Rushing Offense 58th — 152.75
Passing Efficiency Offense — 70th
Passing Offense 38th — 270.75
Total Offense 49th — 423.50
Scoring Offense 85th — 24.25
Third-Down Conversions 55th — 43.64% (24 of 55)
Red Zone Offense — 116th — .570 (8-14)
Turnovers — 120th (t) — 3.75
Sacks Allowed — 35th(t) — 5 (1.25 per game)

DEFENSE
Rushing Defense 25th — 93.00
Pass Efficiency Defense 67th — 129.09
Pass Yardage Defense 82nd — 240.00)
Total Defense 37th — 333.00
Scoring Defense 39th — 20.75
Third-Down Conversions 18th (t) — 29.82 (17 of 57)
Red Zone Defense 37th — .77 (10 of 13)
Tackles For Loss 57th — 6.00
Sacks 23rd — 11 (2.75 per game)
Turnovers Forced 72nd (t) — 5 (1.25 per game)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Net Punting 115th — 32.65
Punt Returns 115th — 0.75
Kick Returns 46th — 22.83
Punt Return Defense 115th — 21.7
Kick Return Defense 70th — 22.14

 

[IrishinSyria]

Overall, pretty damn ugly. Good on our D though.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Overall, pretty damn ugly. Good on our D though.

^This.

With the exception of Rushing Defense, this team is no where close to being what everyone thought or hoped they'd be. We're getting there. Just not yet.


I will say that the defense (aside from the 4th qtr against UM) looks to be a Top 25 defense. I also like our much-improved running game. Those two items alone are what all great teams possess. Looking forward to some vast improvement in ST, TO margin, and Red Zone Efficiency.

 

[irish4ever]

^This.

With the exception of Rushing Defense, this team is no where close to being what everyone thought or hoped they'd be. We're getting there. Just not yet.
I will say that the defense (aside from the 4th qtr against UM) looks to be a Top 25 defense. I also like our much-improved running game. Those two items alone are what all great teams possess. Looking forward to some vast improvement in ST, TO margin, and Red Zone Efficiency.

I agree ... the rush defense is solid and getting better even still. I'm a little disappointed in our overall pass defense and take aways! The offense ... 'the proof is in the pudding' and it's NOT good pudding!

 

[maybenextyear]

numbers don't lie! having watched every game, i really didn't think the irish were that low in so many categories. nice to see the truth. now let's compare these numbers after the next four games and see how we fair - hopefully a huge improvement!

 

[Mr. Larson]

With that turnover margin and abysmal red zone scoring we are very lucky to be 2-2.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

With that turnover margin and abysmal red zone scoring we are very lucky to be 2-2.

I agree. Turnovers are killing us more than anything else. I can't believe we lead the nation in that category. Embarrassing really. Our defense has been pretty good especially against the run. I'm really hoping for major improvement with these stats, especially with the turnovers. We are indeed very fortunate to be 2-2 right now.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Absolutely fortunate to be 2-2. With a qb resposible for 9 TO's is sickening. But, just as bad is our punting and kicking. Man, Ruffer and Turk are not pulling their weight.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Vanilla stats after the first four games are extremely misleading. Sagarin ranks ND's schedule to date as the 5th toughest in the nation. Once the season has progressed a little further, opponent adjusted statistics will be more accurate, and our rankings in most major categories will shoot way up.

Our run defense is a top 10 unit. Our passing defense, aside from the 4th quarter against scUM, has been excellent as well.

The TOs are literally the only thing holding this team back.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Yes, our schedule has been extremely tough. But, the Turnovers and punting are very alarming to me. If we view ourselves as a top notch team, we have to have top notch stats regargless of the opponents.

We have to stop making excuses, we have to perform against whomever!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Bill Connelly (of Football Outsiders) via Twitter:

Sell: Nebraska (AP: 8th, F/+: 41st), Baylor (15th/49th), Iowa St (29th/62nd). Buy: ND (36th/13th), Penn St (33rd/18th), Mizzou (39th/26th).

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Whiskey, good find.

We are 1-2 against ranked teams as it stands right now. If we want to be taken seriously we can be sub .500 against ranked teams.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Brian Fremeau (of Football Outsiders) via Twitter:

Top 5 FEI SOS to date (FBS record): 1.Tulsa (1-3), 2.Missouri (1-2), 3.Florida State (1-2), 4.Arizona (0-3), 5.Notre Dame (2-2)

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ND is 13th in the Week 5 F/+.

We're also 5th in defensive S&P (which includes a 7th ranked rushing defense.)

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

stop making me optimistic, whiskey...

 

[Old Man Mike]

Defense is REAL good. Diaco deliberately goes slightly conservative in certain situations which allows things like those little flat passes to get some yards. This almost always turns out to be meaningless yardage as we are very good at third down stoppage, i.e. getting off the field. Given who we've played, and Denard's combination of supernatural running ability and so-bad-it-turned-out-good lame duck passing, this D should be nothing but praised, and the way the pass rush and Nix-stuffance is going, feared.

Now if the offense and the punting teams would come back from whatever whackland which they seem to like to occasionally visit....

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Defense is REAL good. Diaco deliberately goes slightly conservative in certain situations which allows things like those little flat passes to get some yards. This almost always turns out to be meaningless yardage as we are very good at third down stoppage, i.e. getting off the field. Given who we've played, and Denard's combination of supernatural running ability and so-bad-it-turned-out-good lame duck passing, this D should be nothing but praised, and the way the pass rush and Nix-stuffance is going, feared.

If you disregard the 4th quarter against Michigan, our defense as a whole is a top-10 unit.

Now if the offense and the punting teams would come back from whatever whackland which they seem to like to occasionally visit....

The return trip from "whackland" is a short one, as the factors that sent us there are all relatively minor fixes; (1) improve ball security; (2) spread the ball around more; and (3) more consistency on STs (particularly from Cowart).

Disappointment is justifiable, but the relentless negativity coming from some on this board is not. We're not far off from blowing most teams we play off the field.

 

[ulukinatme]

I think we'll see turnovers (hopefully) be reduced now that we're out of September. Tommy will hopefully improve, and along with that we'll hopefully be playing some easier defenses aside from maybe Southern Cal. I think there should be more concern if turnover margin hasn't shown that improvement after we've gotten through October.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Vanilla stats after the first four games are extremely misleading. Sagarin ranks ND's schedule to date as the 5th toughest in the nation. Once the season has progressed a little further, opponent adjusted statistics will be more accurate, and our rankings in most major categories will shoot way up.

Our run defense is a top 10 unit. Our passing defense, aside from the 4th quarter against scUM, has been excellent as well.

The TOs are literally the only thing holding this team back.

This is in no way towards you whiskeyjack...and nothing against our beloved Irish either.

I don't understand the Sagarin ratings. How in the hell can we be 5th and LSU be 10th. If you look at the schedules of both teams, I would much rather have ours than LSU's. And how can Florida's be 123rd and be in the SEC? Has me a bit confrused!!!

Diz

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think we'll see turnovers (hopefully) be reduced now that we're out of September. Tommy will hopefully improve, and along with that we'll hopefully be playing some easier defenses aside from maybe Southern Cal. I think there should be more concern if turnover margin hasn't shown that improvement after we've gotten through October.

DMQ over at Her Loyal Sons broke down Rees' Interceptions/ Attempt, and it shows a clearly positive trend of improvement since he started his first game. Check it out here.

 

[ulukinatme]

DMQ over at Her Loyal Sons broke down Rees' Interceptions/ Attempt, and it shows a clearly positive trend of improvement since he started his first game. Check it out here.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'd be interested to see what it looks like going back to his non-starting games too, like Michigan/Tulsa last year, and South Florida this year.

[Edit] Scratch that, DMQ said those numbers were included.

 

[irishff1014]

Our punt returns won't get any better until Goodman gets off the field, Also our run defense is going to get tested in the up coming weaks. Hopefully the can get some rest this weakend.

 

[ulukinatme]

Run defense doesn't worry me too much this year, unless we're talking Navy. Until we show that we've learned our lessons and shut down the FB, Navy still presents problems to me...even if Dobbs has graduated.

Pass defense is my biggest concern. While we haven't always had poor coverage, we've had a few head scratchers in that department. Barkley could make us pay if we can't pressure him, even though USC has had some troubles this year. Andrew Luck will certainly make us pay.