A defensive battle?

[Godfather]

So we have been talking about the lack of defense, I wanted to compare this years defense against last years up to this point.  Have we improved? or are we worse? 

Through 7 games in 2009
Opponent              Score     Rush   Pass  Plays  Total  Yds per play
Louisiana Tech       W 37-13     96     149      70        245     3.5
Mississippi St.        W 49-24    167     130      59       297    5.0
25 West Virginia     W 41-30    207    302       80       509    6.4
Ball St.                  W 54-30    146      114      74      260    3.5
@ Tennessee        W 26-22    151      259      73      410    5.6
@ Arkansas            L 23-44    221      274      82        95    6.0
Kentucky                 L 14-21    282      75       71       357    5.0

So that is 184 total points given up = 26.2 ppts per game
1270 Rush yards allowed or 181 yds per game
1303 Passing yards allowed 186 yds per game
509 Defensive plays = 72 avg per game.
2573 total yards or 367 yards per game

Through 7 games in 2010
Opponent                     Score     Rush   Pass  Plays  Total  Yds per play
Arkansas St.                 W 52-26     43     323     84      366     4.4
@ 24 Mississippi St.       W 17-14    117    129    68      246      3.6
Clemson                       W 27-24    187    227    82      414      5.0
19 South Carolina          W 35-27    79      305    57      384      6.7
La.-Monroe                   W 52-3      38      232    74      270      3.6
@ Kentucky                  W 37-34     110    226    59      336      5.7
21 Arkansas                 W 65-43     138    428    77      566      7.4

So that is 171 total points given up = 24.4 ppts per game
712 Rush yards allowed or 101 yds per game
1870 Passing yards allowed 267 yds per game
501 Defensive plays = 71.5 avg per game
2582 total yards or 368 yards per game

So WTF does all this tell us?

Well for starters we have allowed less points against better quality competition then last year. 

As everyone has stated our rushing defense has improved, however I question this vs. the fact that teams have got to throw the ball more in order to keep up with our scoring.

Bottom line...the defense is thin doesn't hold water this year.

[Ogre]

Who died and made you StatTiger?

[Tiger Wench]

I was thinking about this today...

the fact that teams have got to throw the ball more in order to keep up with our scoring.

Any deficiencies in the defense - and there are plenty - are compensated for in offensive points.  We used to have to RELY on the D to score or otherwise provide at least 7-10 points per game via interceptions, fumbles, etc.  Now with an offense that can take care of bidness all by itself, thankyouverymuch, the defense's main job is to get the big stops when they need to, make the other team work for every point they earn, and give Cam a chance to catch his breath.

[Godfather]

Who died and made you StatTiger?

Suck me beautiful