Defense Rules....

We're going to start with the positive.  If it wasn't a great performance on offense, it was a 100% one-side game on the other side.  BG's defense had as good a day as I can remember our defense having against any FBS opponent. I know, UMass is struggling and they are undermanned...but they are FBS, in our conference, they did score against OU...it still means something.

They pitched a shut out...the first shut out of the Clawson Era, the first shut out since 2004 (WMU at the Doyt) and the first road shut out since 2001 when a certain Urban Meyer was on the sideline.

I was reminded by John Wagner on his twitter feed that the WMU game was particularly funny.  BG was up like 49-0 at halftime (we scored near the end of the first half when we tried to run the clock out and nobody tackled us) and when they interviewed the WMU Coach on his way to the locker room, he said "I don't know why ya;ll are even watching.  This one is over.")  Funny man, Gary Darnell.

Anyhoo, BG's dominance was ridiculous.

6 first downs and 2 of those on penalties
85 rushing yards
33 passing yards on 34 plays
4 INTS
One pick-six, sounded like there should have been 2
Umass 1 out of 16 on third down
0 red zone trips

Individually....

Jude Adje-Barimeh had 2 INTs
Dwayne Woods had a pick-six
Boo Boo had an INT
DJ Lynch had a career high 10 tackles
Gabe Martin had 7 tackles.

Anyway, lots of guys obviously played well.  In the end, BG's top ranked MAC defense was no match for UMass on this day.

I'm glad they got the shut out.  And, if they continue to play this well, then the Falcons are going to be in games.  It certainly takes pressure off the offense and that means with just a little scoring, we could do well enough to win.

But for today, especially on the road, we should feel really good about how our defense delivered for us today and during this winning streak.  We will note that four of BG's wins are against teams with 0 or 1 win, but Miami and Akron were scoring on people...anyway, every week is a new game, and when OU and Kent come calling, BG's going to need the defense to make every play possible.