The "Total Defense" Problem
by dishingoutdimes on Oct 13, 2010 8:49 PM CDT
in Oklahoma Sooners Football
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PrintThey say that "defense wins championships". In college football recently, that has been true.
| National Champs Total Defense | |||
| Team | Yds/Gm | Rank | Year |
| ALA | 245.4 | 2 | 2009 |
| FLA | 285.3 | 9 | 2008 |
| LSU | 288.8 | 3 | 2007 |
| FLA | 255.4 | 6 | 2006 |
| TEX | 302.9 | 10 | 2005 |
| USC | 279.3 | 6 | 2004 |
| LSU | 252.0 | 1 | 2003 |
| OSU | 320.9 | 23 | 2002 |
| MIA | 270.9 | 6 | 2001 |
| OU | 278.9 | 8 | 2000 |
As you can see, only 1 of the last 10 national champions was ranked outside of the Top 10 in total defense, and only 1 allowed more than 303 yards per game - the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes. Even their defense wasn't terrible, as they came in at #23.
This favors TCU, Boise State, Ohio State, LSU, or Nebraska right now - teams that are near the top of the simulated BCS rankings right now, are allowing 275 yards per game or less, and are still undefeated.
So the question is, where does that leave an Oklahoma team that is #93 in the country in total defense so far in 2009, allowing a ghastly 411.6 yards per game?
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I'd say it leaves us...
exactly where I thought it would before the season.
As a very good team that will be the favorite to win the BCS Title….next year. Young defense and breaking in two new CB’s, two DT’s, and a MLB means growing pains.
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and who knows,
where that number will be by year-end. nowhere near top-ten, but as we take on the sort of offenses that we recruit and scheme for each year… it’ll improve. maybe we can get into that buckeye-like top 25 range, with a little luck and maturing youngsters.
That's a strong trend...
… I wonder where the Penn State defense that bent, bent, and bent against Vinny Testarverde stands? This was the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, and Miami put 442 yds and 22 first downs on Penn State compared to 162 yds and 8 first downs for the Nittany Lions. Penn State picked of Testarverde five times and won 14-10.
I’m not saying OU this year needs numerous turnovers to beat the best; their offense should compensate. I just hope this year turns out to be an anomaly, and they don’t require a top 10 type of ‘total defense’ team to win the BCS or a BCS bowl game.
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