Football Review: Rushing Defense

As we work our way through the review of the Falcon football season, let's turn our attention to the rushing defense.

This has been the defense's fatal flaw for years.  We might play a team tight in the first half, but in the second half, they know they can adjust the game plan, put a heavy formation in and just run the ball over us.  Coach Clawson said in the post-season that this was a priority, especially as we were getting stronger in the middle of the D-line, able to rotate players, etc.

So, how did it work out?  My perception was that we were better, but far from where we might need to be.  Let's see.  (You know the drill, conference only stats).

In 2010, BG allowed 180.1 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry, both 12th in the MAC.

Remembering that rushing offense was up in the MAC overall, BG allowed 4.8 yards per carry in conference games and 218 yards per game, but moved "up" to 10th in both categories.  Teams actually attempted more runs against us than they did in 2010, which in a way is probably a compliment to our pass defense.

So, based on results, things are pretty static in the run defense.  Coach Clawson has talked about this...the team needs to get stronger and more physical, and he believes it will. Based on the numbers, BG was only slightly better relative to the competition and not better at all based on raw numbers.