Falcon Review...Defense

So, now the 2012 review moves to a more pleasant topic...the BG defense.  Simply put, it was an incredible, historic season for our defense.  In the off-season, I am going to see how the defense ranks on historic BG defenses, but for now, a couple observations.

• BG led in almost everything.
• BG had only two seniors on defense who played.
• BG had an incredible improvement from 2011--in fact, without any facts, I find it hard to believe that any defense was as improved as BG's defense.

Check the following out....these are MAC stats only, with the stat listed and then the ranking in the parentheses.

Just move your way down and compare the first number to the second.  The numbers just plummeted, in many cases half as much as the year. before.  Once again...there can't be a team in the NCAA who went from average to dominant in one year.  Take your time...it is pretty incredible.

One disclaimer...BG had a lot of sack yardage which helps the rushing statistics.  Sack adjusted, BG gave up 4.7 yards per carry.  Don't have a rank on that, but it is an admittedly average number.  Both stats below are sack adjusted.

Scoring defense
2011--29.4 ppg (7)
2012--13 ppg (1)

Total Defense
2011--420 ypg (9)
2012--273 ypg (1)

Yards Per play
2011--5.8 (8)
2012--4.3 (1) (and not close...next was 4.7)

Rushing Defense
2011--218 ypg(10)
2012--104 ypg (1)

Rushing Per Carry
2011--4.8 (9)
2012--3.3 (t-2nd)

Pass Defense 
2011--202 ypg (4)
2012--169 ypg (1)

Pass Efficiency
2011--131 (8)
2012--98 (1)

Completion %
2011--61.1% (8)
2012--53.5% (2)

Sacks
2011--15 (7)
2012--29 (1)

3rd down
2011--40.7 (8)
2012--25.6 (1)

Red Zone
2011--4.9 Points per trip
2012--4.1 Points per trip

Red Zone trips 2011--33 (T-9)
2012--15 (1st, next lowest was 26)

Three last things.

First, all credit to everyone involved with the defensive team.  That kind of improvement is more than just players getting a year older.  It is players working harder to get better, it is great recruiting and great teaching.  So, congrats to the players and coaches who made it happen.

Second, BG loses Chris Jones and Dwayne Woods, two of our best defensive players.  However, with  Maynard and Campbell back in the interior and strong depth at LB, this defense should be stellar again.

Third, this improvement was accomplished with what essentially was the same players BG had before.  If BG's offense can get half this much improvement for next season...with essentially the same players...than BG is going to play for the MAC title.