Brown's Defense By the Numbers

[UConnJim]

Here are the facts by NCAA rankings last year:

Surprise number:

UConn time of possession was #39/120 last year. In other words, UConn's defense was not on the field as much as people think. (By comparison, BC was #114.)

The positive numbers:
Total defense: #10
Scoring defense: #23 (But, 4th in the Big East)
Tackles for loss: #13
3rd down conversions: #24
4th down conversions: #10
Sacks: #19

The negative numbers:
Red zone defense: #109
Passes intercepted: #105 (total was 6!)
Fumbles recovered: #104
Turnovers gained: #113


My interpretation: Brown's defense was good, but it was helped by UConn's time of possession as they were not on the field as much as I thought based on watching the games. Third and 4th down defense was really good. It was aggressive at the line of scrimmage judged by tackles for loss and sacks. Scoring defense was good based on national stats, but it was 4th in the Big East, more of an indication that the Big East really didn't have high powered offenses this year. But, it was poor in the red zone and did not provide the offense with many takeaways.

UConn's takeover margin was ranked #110 at -1.17/game and you do not win games without a positive takeover margin.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Good post with solid reseach. Thanks.

 

[BG79]

I see those negative numbers as more of an indication of individual skill and the first set of numbers as more of a coaching result. I don't know how a coach can coach interceptions or forced fumbles. The only thing in that second batch that I can blame on a coach is the redzone defense but how is that exactly scored? Is it a % based thing, or is it just total points given up ? If it's the latter then you have to take into consideration that we were a turnover machine and that lead to a lot more opportunities for offenses in our redzone.

Also, I am not too surprised by the time of possession numbers since that is essentially all that GDL and P were primarily occupied with (not scoring points). Brown's defense would force a fast 3 and out and then GDL's offense would run the ball a lot eating clock and not accomplishing much. I wish they would keep track of how much actual time during a game a Defense is on the field vs off the field as opposed to just time of possession which only refers to the game clock. I think that is a more realistic idea of whether or not a defense is getting gassed or not.

 

[huskynation]

I see those negative numbers as more of an indication of individual skill and the first set of numbers as more of a coaching result. I don't know how a coach can coach interceptions or forced fumbles. The only thing in that second batch that I can blame on a coach is the redzone defense but how is that exactly scored? Is it a % based thing, or is it just total points given up ? If it's the latter then you have to take into consideration that we were a turnover machine and that lead to a lot more opportunities for offenses in our redzone.

Also, I am not too surprised by the time of possession numbers since that is essentially all that GDL and P were primarily occupied with (not scoring points). Brown's defense would force a fast 3 and out and then GDL's offense would run the ball a lot eating clock and not accomplishing much. I wish they would keep track of how much actual time during a game a Defense is on the field vs off the field as opposed to just time of possession which only refers to the game clock. I think that is a more realistic idea of whether or not a defense is getting gassed or not.

Red zone defense, can be a misleading stat, its is based upon percentage (which is influenced mostly by missed fg and forced turnovers ), not total points given up, uconn gave up 136 points in redzone defense, which was alot less than most teams.

Regarding the turnovers, or the lack of turnover created by the defense. Maybe that fact is a based upon defensive philosophy. Don brown's defense created alot of turnovers in 2011 however, gave up a bunch of big plays especially in the passing game. PP is a defensive minded coach who stresses fundamentals, and is conservative by nature. I think that PP wanted to cut down on the big plays, so the defense was forced to be more conservative, relative to the aggressive style DB really likes.

 

[UConnJim]

BG79 - Good questions. Red zone defense is based on % scored in red zone. UConn had well below average red zone defenses (you can kind of infer that also from scoring defense), but the opposition converted a high %.

As for why we had few turnovers by the defense, I think I can explain it and it has to do with coaching. Typically, Brown attacked the line of scrimmage which means more players on the line and fewer players in coverage, which leads to more sacks and tackles for loss, but fewer interceptions as you have fewer double covered players and/or passing lanes defended. Lack of forced fumbles could be due to fewer gang tackles, again as a result of an aggressive charging defense.

 

[Stinger92860]

Here are the facts by NCAA rankings last year:

Surprise number:

UConn time of possession was #39/120 last year. In other words, UConn's defense was not on the field as much as people think. (By comparison, BC was #114.)

The positive numbers:
Total defense: #10
Scoring defense: #23 (But, 4th in the Big East)
Tackles for loss: #13
3rd down conversions: #24
4th down conversions: #10
Sacks: #19

The negative numbers:
Red zone defense: #109
Passes intercepted: #105 (total was 6!)
Fumbles recovered: #104
Turnovers gained: #113


My interpretation: Brown's defense was good, but it was helped by UConn's time of possession as they were not on the field as much as I thought based on watching the games. Third and 4th down defense was really good. It was aggressive at the line of scrimmage judged by tackles for loss and sacks. Scoring defense was good based on national stats, but it was 4th in the Big East, more of an indication that the Big East really didn't have high powered offenses this year. But, it was poor in the red zone and did not provide the offense with many takeaways.

UConn's takeover margin was ranked #110 at -1.17/game and you do not win games without a positive takeover margin.

Time of possession could be deceiving. We huddled up almost every time while many of our opponents ran a no huddle offense.

 

[UConnJim]

Time of possession could be deceiving. We huddled up almost every time while many of our opponents ran a no huddle offense.

True. But, having an offense take their time takes the ball out of the hands of the other offense leading to fewer plays for them and less offense. Reality is that no Big East offense last year was a juggernaut and having good defensive stats in the BE doesn't really say much. Clearly, teams that had to play against teams like Oregon, West Virginia, ... are going to have worse defensive stats even if they have good defenses.

 

[BHusky]

TOP is a tough stat to really base a team on in CFB. UConn was 39th in this, but the average number this equates to is 30 minutes, so it is not like the were controlling the game because their opponent had it the same amount of time they did.

If you play a team like Oregon who is 91 in TOP you would think the other team dominated this category. Maybe so on paper, but when they hand 50 points on you with 7 minute drives it can really skew the numbers. I it is safe to say defenses playing uptempo offenses are equally as tired or even more so even though their own offense controlled TOP on paper and many may assume their O kept them off the field.

Oregon is the extreme example of course, but most teams now try and run some type of uptempo offense in todays game.

 

[freescooter]

Here are the facts by NCAA rankings last year:

Surprise number:

UConn time of possession was #39/120 last year. In other words, UConn's defense was not on the field as much as people think. (By comparison, BC was #114.)

The positive numbers:
Total defense: #10
Scoring defense: #23 (But, 4th in the Big East)
Tackles for loss: #13
3rd down conversions: #24
4th down conversions: #10
Sacks: #19

The negative numbers:
Red zone defense: #109
Passes intercepted: #105 (total was 6!)
Fumbles recovered: #104
Turnovers gained: #113


My interpretation: Brown's defense was good, but it was helped by UConn's time of possession as they were not on the field as much as I thought based on watching the games. Third and 4th down defense was really good. It was aggressive at the line of scrimmage judged by tackles for loss and sacks. Scoring defense was good based on national stats, but it was 4th in the Big East, more of an indication that the Big East really didn't have high powered offenses this year. But, it was poor in the red zone and did not provide the offense with many takeaways.

UConn's takeover margin was ranked #110 at -1.17/game and you do not win games without a positive takeover margin.

excellent post, and not jsut because it confirms everything I believed!

 

[pj]

Opposing defenses certainly didn't look tired against our offense.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

It would be better if you could add ave starting position by game and broken down by half for each team. That matters as much as TOP.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

It would be better if you could add ave starting position by game and broken down by half for each team. That matters as much as TOP.

While most of the arguments are well thought out, I'd ask other questions. What would those numbers have looked like if the "D" had been playing with even a top-60 "O." Also, how many times was DB "instructed" to "soften-up" after the "O" had gotten a lead? Finally, does anyone think any of the other UCONN coaches are fielding offers?

 

[businesslawyer]

[quote="BG79, post: 444137, member: 1651" I wish they would keep track of how much actual time during a game a Defense is on the field vs off the field as opposed to just time of possession which only refers to the game clock. I think that is a more realistic idea of whether or not a defense is getting gassed or not.[/quote]

Just look at the number of offensive plays run, which is in every box score. Yes, that means much more than time of possession. Who cares how much time you are standing a the line of scrimmage not moving.