I can point to deficiencies with last year's defense. Everyone points to the TFL, SACKS, and TO's, but more important statistical categories such as 3rd Down Conversion Percentage Defense was horrible at 75th in the country. We didn't make enough stops when we needed to. Our Red Zone Defense was 105th in the country. We didn't stop opposing offenses anywhere near enough when they got inside our 20.
The point is, our failures as a team last year did not fall squarely on Rosier's shoulders. If anyone believes that, they have no idea what they are looking at. I am not a fan of Rosier at all, but dude is getting way too much flack. Let me ask you a question, knowing what Sherrifs was, what is our record with him last year at QB? Knowing that Perry has completed 43% of his passes in 4 scrimmages with no contact. Knowing he didn't start grasping the playbook until the last few games of the season. Knowing that the dude to this point clearly does not have it. What is our record last year with him?
RZ% is just a percentage of scores per attempt. If you count a successful defensive stand in the redzone as simply not allowing a TD (or better yet limiting the amount of redzone attempts in the first place!!), our RZ defense jumps to 39th in the country, want to know why? Because we held teams in the redzone to field goals at a higher percentage than other teams. Ranking us 105th just off scores/attempt is very flawed imo.
Example, whats better **in 20 attempts** -option A) A defense that allows 20 field goals and no TDs - or - option B) A defense that allows 11 TDs and no field goals? .... Option A has a RZ% of 100% which would rank dead ******* last in the NCAA, but they will have only allowed 60 total points in the RZ. Meanwhile Option B has a RZ% of 55% which would be 6% BETTER than the best defense in the NCAA last year, yet they allowed 66 total points in the RZ (not even including PATs - with PATs it'd be 77pts!).....so as far as POINTS per Redzone Attempt, we rank 62nd. So when looking solely at Tds and points in the redzone, our defense actually should be in the 40-60 range, not 105.
However, Its better to not even have redzone attempts in the first place, right? Well, We rank bottom 50 in defensive RZ attempts (as in less attempt = lower ranking). So again, further showing that our defense was much better thank that 105 ranking would have you believe.
Now a 3rd down % example. ...Option A) a defense allows two 3rd down conversions, and then holds them to a punt on the third 3rd down of the drive - OR - Option B) A defense allows the offense to drive down the field without even getting a 3rd down until they get to the redzone where they finally hold them to a field goal. ....I'd prefer option A.
Sure its anecdotal, but it has a point - its what our entire ******* defensive philosophy is.... If you look at that through the scope of the season, what do you get? - The defense faces a lot of 3rd downs, but limits the amount of Redzone attempts. So yes, we may rank 75th in the country in 3rd down %, but we also rank 4th In opponent 3rd down attempts, and as I already said, bottom 50 in opponent RZ attempts. Want to guess what happens when we combine those two things?
There are only 7 P5 teams whose defense is in the bottom 50 in 3rd down attempts, and top 50 in Redzone attempts - Rutgers, Kansas, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oregon St, and Nebraska.
There are only 13 P5 teams whose defense was in the top 50 in 3rd down attempts, and bottom 50 in redzone attempts - TCU, Clemson, Alabama, UGA, Washington, Auburn, PSU, tOSU, FSU, Purdue, Boston College, Northwestern, and Us. ....notice anything in common? maybe how this is essentially just a list of the best defenses in the country last yr....which INCLUDES US.
Then you combine that information with the face we were 1st in sack/game, 3rd in total Turnovers Gained, 4th in TFLs per game, 11th in TDs allowed total, 12th in Yards per Play! and 23rd in Defensive passing efficiency, and you got a great ******* defense. Obviously the 3rd down and RZ D needs to improve, but some yall need to stop acting like our defense was anything but great last year and that anyone besides Rosier and the offense was to blame for the losses.
