Solid Defense

[eNDzone]

After the Navy blowout the ND defense put together a solid effort. Here are some numbers from the last 5 games.

ND opponents scored 67 points. 13.4 points per game.

The defense allowed a total of 52 points. 10.4 points per game.

If all scoring drives of less than 20 yards are removed the defense allowed 36 points. 7.2 points per game.

No matter how you stack it these numbers are impressive.

 

[phork]

Food for thought.

 

[Riddickulous]

We're no Alabama.

But as long as the offense is good, the defense can be decent and we can win football games.

 

[BGIF]

After the Navy blowout the ND defense put together a solid effort. Here are some numbers from the last 5 games.

ND opponents scored 67 points. 13.4 points per game.

The defense allowed a total of 52 points. 10.4 points per game.

If all scoring drives of less than 20 yards are removed the defense allowed 36 points. 7.2 points per game.

No matter how you stack it these numbers are impressive.

Some fans have lamented that the competition in those last 5 games was soft. Sagarin doesn't agree. He ranks those 5 teams:

Team	Sagarin
Tulsa	73.2
Utah	81.78
USC	81.65
MIA	78.32
Army	64.77
	
Average	75.94

75.94 equates to Sagarin's #14th toughest schedule for 2010. No directional schools. No Div II schools.

 

[tankjeep]

Some fans have lamented that the competition in those last 5 games was soft. Sagarin doesn't agree. He ranks those 5 teams:

Team	Sagarin
Tulsa	73.2
Utah	81.78
USC	81.65
MIA	78.32
Army	64.77
	
Average	75.94

75.94 equates to Sagarin's #14th toughest schedule for 2010. No directional schools. No Div II schools.

welcome back BGIF!!!

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

The world is good when the BGIF is in it.

I called this defense great early in the season. The Navy game was the exception. The D was a sitting duck in that game.

Best D since Alvarez. I rarely cussed.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Glad to see that the board is generally getting behind the idea that we were REAL good on defense in a continually evolving season, and with proven players back will probably be continually better this coming season. [some of the now-thankfully rare negativity continues to boggle my mind, but some commentators apparently can't get past history out of their way]. [relevantly: Darrin Walls was terrific this year and should be praised unconditionally. He'll be missed. Hopefully the flashier Blanton can acquire his steadiness].

If I were Diaco, I'd spend one out of every two film hours studying in finest detail how other teams slowed Navy down. Study that until his eyes cross, and call every D-line/coordinator buddy he and Kelly have and meet face-to-face with them for little "How-to-stop-Navy" workshops. That game is the only one that we were completely incompetent in. [Stanford showed that no one could stop Luck/Harbaugh so that doesn't count]. We're structured next year to stop everyone else.

I'd also sit down with Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore and the linebackers and ask them play-by-play what they thought was giving them trouble. A good "manager" occasionally goes down into the factory and asks the guys in the trenches what's really going on.

 

[irishff1014]

This defense was good all season in the begining we just gave up way to many big plays. The coaches did an awesome job of making adjustments and fixing things. This coaching staff showed just how good they are by making adjustments.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I'd also sit down with Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore and the linebackers and ask them play-by-play what they thought was giving them trouble. A good "manager" occasionally goes down into the factory and asks the guys in the trenches what's really going on.

Nailed it.

 

[johnnykillz]

Like a fawn on a corner at 55 mph on a foggy morning...

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Like a fawn on a corner at 55 mph on a foggy morning...

OK brother. I walked out into a pillow of fog a few minutes ago. You watching me? Is this a conspiracy?

This SoCal weather is odd.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Some fans have lamented that the competition in those last 5 games was soft. Sagarin doesn't agree. He ranks those 5 teams:

Team	Sagarin
Tulsa	73.2
Utah	81.78
USC	81.65
MIA	78.32
Army	64.77
	
Average	75.94

75.94 equates to Sagarin's #14th toughest schedule for 2010. No directional schools. No Div II schools.

Welcome back BGIF! We all missed your incite!

 

[ACamp1900]

SOmething has clicked in terms of wrapping up and stopping with this over pursuit on every play madness since Navy...

for years now you have heard how slow we are... and compared to some great, great D's out there we have been... but so has just about every other D 1 team compared to those units...

the issue has but **** poor tackling and a sickness of over pursuit for at least three-four years now...


I was worried in the SUn Bowl that they would regress back to that... maybe, just maybe Diaco and Co FINALLY got into these guys heads about staying home... keeping the play in front of you and wrapping the hell up when you have a chance... to me that has been a very noticable difference.

 

[lookingdeadred]

compliment?

compliment?

??

Welcome back BGIF! We all missed your incite!

 

[dshans]

BGIF, with his insight, is able to incite knowledgeable, thoughtful and measured discussion on all matters concerned with Irish football.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

BGIF, with his insight, is able to incite knowledgeable, thoughtful and measured discussion on all matters concerned with Irish football.

Exactly what I was trying to say...Thanks for the hand

 

[eNDzone]

Proof in numbers: Defense greatly improved | Inside the Irish

Good article on the defense.