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Better than last year?

Better than two years ago?

Better than 5 years ago.

Hot darn! Better than 10 years ago!

I need to know these things.

hawaiisashimi_smu wrote:Better than last year? Better than two years ago? Better than 5 years ago.
Hot darn! Better than 10 years ago! I need to know these things.

Phil Bennett Defenses: Our best defender was our punter. Truthfully. Bad athletes. Tackling was about as poor as you can imagine and our only hope stopping the run was praying their RB tripped a) over himself or b) one of our guys who'd been bulldozed by a blocker. I think what we were going for was bend-don't break but we never got around to the not-breaking part. In 2008, I think opponents averaged 200 yrds rushing against us and nearly 40 pts per game. No pressure generated by the 4-3. Our defense reached an abysmal low (I feel) in 2007 vs Texas Tech with Phil deciding it would be a good idea for our linebackers to yell out the fact that they were blitzing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM6mn0ztOas Still, our (passing) offense was good and kept us in many games.

Tom Mason Defense: 2008, still pretty bad technique-wise but showed glimmers of hope in getting pressure to the QB. Overall, a more aggressive system. 2009, suddenly better tackling (70% of the time), we're doing things upfront to frustrate and stop rushing attacks and we're generating turnovers for what feels like the first time in a long time.

That was the story, here are the numbers. I'm actually surprised the numbers aren't better. Pass D and turnover margin much improved, and we are giving up 10 pts less per game. Otherwise similar. We look better, but maybe that's just because we are creating so many turnovers.

2009 (thru 6 gms)
Rushing Defense #96, 177.33 yds/gm
Pass Efficiency Defense #29, 106.42
Total Defense #92, 393.00 yds/gm
Scoring Defense #102, 30.67 pts/gm
Turnover Margin #19, 0.83 (*wags finger at Bo*)
Pass Defense #64, 215.67 yds/gm
Sacks #92, 1.33/gm
Tackles For Loss #71, 5.50/gm

2008
Rushing Defense #116, 225.58 yds/gm
Pass Efficiency Defense #119, 166.70
Total Defense #118, 479.50 yds/gm
Scoring Defense #115, 38.17 pts/gm
Turnover Margin #113, -1.08
Pass Defense #101, 253.92 yds/gm
Sacks #89, 1.50/gm
Tackles For Loss #117, 4.00/gm

2007
Rushing Defense #99, 197.25 yds/gm
Pass Efficiency Defense #92, 138.36
Total Defense #116, 498.67 yds/gm
Scoring Defense #117, 39.75 pts/gm
Turnover Margin #104, -.75
Pass Defense #116, 301.42 yds/gm
Sacks #88, 1.67/gm
Tackles For Loss #95 , 5.25/gm

I have done any research, but my impression is that our defense is not giving up big plays like in the PB years. Seems like we endured a lot of 40+ yard plays both running and passing during Bennett's tenure.

Just so we're not comparing ourselves to the worst defenses of the last decade.

2006

Rushing Defense #26 107.5 yds/g
Pass Eff. Defense #76 133.12 yds/g
Total Defense #75 353.33 yds/g
Scoring Defense #71 24.5 points/g
Turnover Margin #51 0.8 TOs/g
Pass Defense #110 245.83 yds/g
Sacks #26 2.58 sacks/g
Tackles for Loss #12 7.17 tackles for loss/g

2005

Rushing Defense #48 142.64 yds/g
Pass Eff. Defense #48 120.45 yds/g
Total Defense #70 392.64 yds/g
Scoring Defense #57 25.45 points/g
Turnover Margin #30 0.45 TOs/g
Pass Defense #89 250.00 yds/g
Sacks #89 1.73 sacks/g
Tackles for Loss #104 4.82 tackles for loss/g

Ah, 2006, what could have been.

Re: So how good is this D????

I guess we will find out today.

First real quality passing QB we've faced this year-not to take anything away from solid improvement so far on defense-new challenge this week. UH spreads the field like no team we've played they make you account for RBs in the flat(550 or so yards to RBs), they have capable RBs in the running game, they can go deep and score on any play and they have big WRs who are strong enough to break tackles. Plus the QB doesn't throw Ints and is one of the most accurate in country.

Stallion wrote:First real quality passing QB we've faced this year-not to take anything away from solid improvement so far on defense-new challenge this week. UH spreads the field like no team we've played they make you account for RBs in the flat(550 or so yards to RBs), they have capable RBs in the running game, they can go deep and score on any play and they have big WRs who are strong enough to break tackles. Plus the QB doesn't throw Ints and is one of the most accurate in country.

And this answers the question about how good our D is??

it's pretty clear that this year's defense is much improved from last. coming into the season, most expected our offense to put up gaudy numbers but that we would lose games 48-45 because of a weak defense. I's say the real key is the job Frazier/Parham/Thompson are doing up front. They have been pretty stout and that makes everyone behind them better.

Now, if we just had more depth...like JJ has been saying, we are a couple of recruiting classes away from being where we need to be. Please deliver us some hosses

Yenga has been almost a non factor this year and he was supposed to be one of our top defenders. I assume he has never gotten back to health or maybe he should have stayed more on the the line like last year.