Some stats to look at...

[Big10Ponyfan]

3rd down defense -- opponents are converting 48 percent (52/109) -- still way too high. Marshall was 8/14/ By the way, we're at 40 percent.

Turnover ratio -- We are plus-4. We have 8 ints and 9 fumble recoveries (13 total) for 17 total forced turnovers. We have thrown 7 ints and lost 6 fumbles (12 total) for 13 of our miscues.

Sacks -- We have collected 18 (about 2.5 per game). We have surrendered 15.

[perunapower]

I think you made a typo there. But yeah, those are definitely things we need to work on.

[FloridaMustang]

we have forced 17 turnovers, committed 13..

[gostangs]

That i3rd down is an interesting stat.

I remember standing up for each 3rd down we had a chance to stop - getting tired of standing up when they never stopped third down. That is a big problem for us when we are playing Marshall at home and you have that feeling.

Maybe with both starting DE's back that will be different.

[Big10Ponyfan]

I saw my mistake and corrected it. Thanks

[Col. Nathan R. Jessep]

It's tough to stop em on 3rd & short when our pass coverage is in "Prevent" mode on 1 st down, allowing opponents 7 yd passes.

[J.T.supporta]

We rank 56th in the nation in 3rd down completion percentage. Thats one spot ahead of TCU.

[FloridaMustang]

Has anyone looked at our pass eff and pass def #'s lately? They've improved dramatically after that Marshall game.. which also upped our rush D numbers.

[BUS]

Third down D number come from having BD's play 8 to 12 yards off the line. ANYONE could get a first down IF THEY CATCH THE PASS.

That has to change but this shows a lack of confidence in Corners and safety.

[mrydel]

Third down D number come from having BD's play 8 to 12 yards off the line. ANYONE could get a first down IF THEY CATCH THE PASS.

That has to change but this shows a lack of confidence in Corners and safety.

This is true. We needed to blitz Saturday due to ineffective pash rush from the front 4. (That is not a slam, just a fact) I am sure Gush and Bennett are afraid to blitz too much due to the lack of confidence in man to man coverage ability. I will say this, however, although I am one of the biggest critics of our secondary, I have not seen the long TD passes (60 or 70 or 80 yards) like we have in the past. That does show some improvement, but we have a long way to go.

[The PonyGrad]

The defense is OK as we force the other team to be efficient, which is why 3rd down conversions are driving PB nuts, because they are being efficient. If our offense was not so efficient we would have trouble. This also make turnovers very important as we saw last week. (And penalties on punting plays.)

[Big10Ponyfan]

Third down D number come from having BD's play 8 to 12 yards off the line. ANYONE could get a first down IF THEY CATCH THE PASS.

That has to change but this shows a lack of confidence in Corners and safety.

This is true. We needed to blitz Saturday due to ineffective pash rush from the front 4. (That is not a slam, just a fact) I am sure Gush and Bennett are afraid to blitz too much due to the lack of confidence in man to man coverage ability. I will say this, however, although I am one of the biggest critics of our secondary, I have not seen the long TD passes (60 or 70 or 80 yards) like we have in the past. That does show some improvement, but we have a long way to go.

The only long TD I can remember us surrendering was the one to Arkansas State. We've given up a couple of 20 and 30 yarders.