[Husker] Some interesting stats to chew on

[Knox, Chuck]

Great thread here.

To build on what Skylar has reported, I thought it was interesting comparing the numbers from the 2007 defense to the 2008.

Scoring Defense
2007 37.9 (last in the Big 12)
2008 29.1 (8th)

Rushing Defense
2007 232.2 yds/game (last)
2008 140.9 (7th)

Pass Defense
2007 244.7 yds/game (4th)
2008 239.1 yds/game (4th)

Total Defense
2007 476.8 yds/game (last)
2008 380.0 yds/game (5th)

Red Zone Defense
2007 91.8% scores (last)
2008 78.6% (4th)

Sacks By
2007 13 (last)
2008 21 (5th)

Opponents 3rd Down Conversion
2007 50.3% (last)
2008 36.9% (4th)

Opponents First Downs
2007 24.9/game (last)
2008 18.8 (T-2nd)

Probably the biggest negatives:
Pass Defense Effic. (smaller is better)
2007 130.2 (7th)
2008 140.3 (11th)

Takeaways
2007 11 (last)
2008 10 (last)


So, I am surprised at the "improvement" most of these numbers seem to indicate -- I was not expecting this.  One additional note -- I think Skylar said his stats were Big 12 games only.  The stats I was able to find were for all games.  Not sure the comparison would be much different.

Our two remaining games are against KSU (6th in scoring offense, 8th in total offense) and Colorado (last, last), so hopefully these numbers will only get better.


Chuck Knox
Pella, Iowa

-----Original Message-----
From: Skylar Dodds [mailto:sklarbodds at cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 3:29 PM
To: husker at tssi.com
Subject: RE: [Husker] Some interesting stats to chew on

I absolutely agree.  In fact, if I was forced to pick one stat we'd improve
in, I thought for sure it would be takeaways.  We've been in position SOOO
many times this year to get a takeaway only to have the ball go right
through the DBs hands or the offensive player jump on the ball.  I have no
stats for this, but it feels like there have been more opportunities, but we
haven't been able to capitalize.

It's probably also why we're 6-4 and not 8-2 (or penalties).

That being said.  I think most of us would have taken a 7-5 / 8-4 type of
season looking forward at the end of last year.  I don't think the Big XII
North is as competitive as last year, but in my mind we're vastly improved.
Unfortunately we're still in a pretty big hole.

GBR!

--
Skylar