[NU Sports] Some Crucial Stats

[johnadeg at comcast.net]

We stop finishing t the bottom of  Divison I-A in defense when we get a new defensive coordinator.

John DeGroat
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: CHerron604 at aol.com
> Today's Chicago Tribune contained some very interesting statistics.
>  
> The Cats finished 1st in conference passing (307.9 ypg), 11th in rushing (a  
> mere 119.8 ypg), and 1st in total yardage (427.7 ypg) - but 10th in scoring  
> (25.8 ppg).  Most other teams scored in proportion to the yardage they  gained. 
>  The other exceptions were OSU, which was 8th in yardage (397.1  ypg) but 3rd 
> in scoring (32.0 ppg), and Indiana, 9th in yardage (393.3 ypg) but  4th in 
> scoring (31.6 ppg).
>  
> Some of our problem was turnovers - we were 2nd worst in the league in  
> turnover margin at -9 (16 takeaways, 25 giveaways).  But the problem  remains - 
> we 
> gained alot of yards, but did not convert those yards into  points.  And until 
> we can convince the NCAA to start deciding  games on 'yards gained', we've 
> got a problem.
>  
> The top 7 teams in the league standings finished 8th, 3rd, 10th, 5th, 7th,  
> 11th and 9th in yards gained.  That would seem to indicate that there is  not a 
> strong relation between yards gained and league success.   The relation seems 
> to be defense - the top 7 finished 1st, 7th, 3rd, 4th,  2nd, 5th and 9th in 
> total defense.  We were not last - we gave up 410.5  ypg, and the Gophers gave 
> up 518.7 ypg.  The message seems clear - good  defenses win in the Big 10.
>  
> Indiana seems a very interesting case.  9th in yardage but 4th in  scoring, 
> and 9th in yardage given up, they still managed to finish 7-5 and  are probably 
> Bowl bound.  We finished 1st in yardage but 10th in scoring,  and 10th in 
> yardage given up, and we will be home for the holidays. 
>  
> So how do we attack these 2 problems ?  Other than taking the ball  away more 
> often than we give it away, how do we start converting yardage gained  more 
> efficiently into points scored ?  And how do we stop finishing at or  near the 
> bottom of the league in defense ?
>  
> Chuck Herron   Tech '85
> 
> 
> 
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