05-06 Football Depth Chart

[1987alum]

So...how is our offense getting the ball back to get a big lead? If we are not stopping the other offense, wouldn't the score be tied???


Hmmm...

Well, it's not because we made teams punt, the defense was good at getting turnovers this past season (3rd in the nation at 1.36 per game). If that's the mark of a good defense, then so be it. I tend to think good defenses can force teams into punting instead of relying on turnovers.

UK:

Be careful with your statistics. I think you're talking about turnover margin; that number looks very good in large part because the offense did such a superior job protecting the ball (only 4 during MAC play, 10 overall).

When you're looking at sheer takeaways, the situation is a bit different. BG's defense was above average in MAC play with 16 takeaways; Marshall had 18, Buffalo & Akron had 17 and Kent State and Toledo had 15.

If you look at punt returns, BG was again in the middle during MAC play; Marshall, Kent & Miami all had 24 returns, Ohio had 23, BG and WMU had 18 and UCF had 17.

[PGY Tiercel]

UK:

Be careful with your statistics. I think you're talking about turnover margin; that number looks very good in large part because the offense did such a superior job protecting the ball (only 4 during MAC play, 10 overall).

When you're looking at sheer takeaways, the situation is a bit different. BG's defense was above average in MAC play with 16 takeaways; Marshall had 18, Buffalo & Akron had 17 and Kent State and Toledo had 15.

If you look at punt returns, BG was again in the middle during MAC play; Marshall, Kent & Miami all had 24 returns, Ohio had 23, BG and WMU had 18 and UCF had 17.

I think UKs point is that our defense didn't do a good job at forcing punts, and while we won the turnover battle, by getting the ball maybe 1 or 2 more times by forcing a turnover, thats not a real good game plan. Those punt statistics show that we had an average defense and that it needs to step up.

[1987alum]

PGY:

I understood the general premise of the post and agree. Just want to point out the details, which are too often overlooked during some the discussions here.

[Mr_Sweets]

Im glad my first post was a good one......whatever you guys decide on, BG's defense needs to step up next year......thats just my opinion!

[kdog27]

Im glad my first post was a good one......whatever you guys decide on, BG's defense needs to step up next year......thats just my opinion!

Good topic Sweets, stick around... and yes, yes it does.

[UK Peregrine]

Sorry '87, it was TO margin. I was looking right at the statistics and must have just forgot to type the word MARGIN. Careless. Agreed that TO margin was probably more of a function of the efficient offense. But I was trying to help the "D" out a little by giving them credit for getting a decent amount of turnovers.

PGY said what I was trying to say much better than I obviously did. But, yeah that was my point. We didn't stop teams on downs as much as any of probably desired. Turnovers are a risky thing to rely on. We need to make team punts.

[hammb]

Hammb,
I could take your stance and just call you totally ignorant or I could take the high road...hmmm.

Believe, sorry if I came off as brash, but my opinion does not change. I gave you a choice. I didn't call you ignorant, I said that was one possibility. Given the general nature of this board, I would've put all of my money on it being the other possibility, that of wearing Orange & Brown glasses.

You think our defense was put at a disadvantage because our offense was good? I don't think they were nearly at the disadvantage that teams with incredibly bad offenses have. They also give the other team the ball incredibly quickly, but generally on a shorter field. OSU would be a good example of this...their defense still manages to get a lot of key stops against a much higher level of competition than what we faced, even though their offense continually goes 3 & out (which is usually infinitely quicker than one of our quick TD drives).

I could also very easily argue that our prolific offense should've made it even easier for the defense, because if they made one stop the other team was continually playing catch up. That took them out of their gameplan, most times forcing them to leave the running game. Sure give them credit for getting that one stop, but one stop to let the offense build a lead is hardly what constitutes a "pretty good" defense to me.

What it all boils down to, IMO, is watching the team. I watched a lot of BG football this season, and a lot of football outside of BG football. I'll assume you did as well. If you take off the orange glasses I just don't see how anyone can say they were comfortable with our defense last season.

Like someone else said earlier, think about 3rd & 3 with the game on the line. Does anyone honestly we beleive we get that stop any more than 1 out of 5 times? I don't. Turnovers are great, but forcing your opponent into a 3 & out is more important. Sorry, but we did not have a "pretty good" defense in my mind, and NO statistic could change that opinion.

[kdog27]

You think our defense was put at a disadvantage because our offense was good? I don't think they were nearly at the disadvantage that teams with incredibly bad offenses have. They also give the other team the ball incredibly quickly, but generally on a shorter field. OSU would be a good example of this...their defense still manages to get a lot of key stops against a much higher level of competition than what we faced, even though their offense continually goes 3 & out (which is usually infinitely quicker than one of our quick TD drives).

That's what I tried to say. Whether you score a lot or a little should not make much of a difference on how much the other team gets the ball. It might even be more often with a bad offense. The truth is if you are scoring often you are putting your defense in a great position. Generally the opposing team will be starting around their own 20 yard line. With a punt they maybe on the opposing teams 45 yard line.

There were only a couple games where I thought our defense looked really good, some others where they looked ok, and 5 games when they looked bad. The good/ok games were against the likes of SEMO, Temple, the directionals, OU, and BSU. None of these teams are good. Big deal if we can shut them down, so can 110 other teams. Against teams with a record of 6-6 and better we gave up an average of 38.6ppg. That is not a good defense.

I think the most disturbing thing about our defense is that they are at their worst when our offense is slumping. That is when you need them to be at their best. NIU and UT looked like they were playing CYO teams in the second half.

[SuperFan_FutureGrad]

I wouldn't be so quick to lump all of the directional michigan schools together. Our defense looked great against Western, no doubt, but we had some struggles against Central and Eastern.

Central's little running back, Seymour, gave our defense fits, a la Garrett Wolfe, and Eastern stayed around way too long and had several long pass plays against us.

OU had some moments against us as well, until an interception in the endzone in the 4th quarter by Jelani Jordan.

And how can you even consider SEMO?!?! They are Div 1-AA, and scored twice against us!

I'd say our second half performances against Marshall and Memphis, and of course our shutout against Western and games against Temple and Ball State, were our best displays on defense.

[kdog27]

I wouldn't be so quick to lump all of the directional michigan schools together. Our defense looked great against Western, no doubt, but we had some struggles against Central and Eastern.

Central's little running back, Seymour, gave our defense fits, a la Garrett Wolfe, and Eastern stayed around way too long and had several long pass plays against us.

OU had some moments against us as well, until an interception in the endzone in the 4th quarter by Jelani Jordan.

And how can you even consider SEMO?!?! They are Div 1-AA, and scored twice against us!

I'd say our second half performances against Marshall and Memphis, and of course our shutout against Western and games against Temple and Ball State, were our best displays on defense.

I my whole point was that those schools sucked and that is why are defense looked ok. Read the thread I'm not giving our defense any props!

[JohnnySwoop '85]

Good call Option QB.

Mack penciled in as the DE, he is still a project in the making but he saw some action as well as made the travel team.

Gotta have the back of anyone from Webster NY!!