Today’s blog will continue with my series of analyzing the most/least improved units over the last 20 years. Each day this week I will have a new offensive or defensive statistical category to examine and today I will breakdown defensive rush yards.

There are many factors that contribute to a significant change in rush defense. First, a team may see a significant improvement if they return a bunch of experienced starters especially on the front 7. Naturally a team that loses a bunch of starters especially their defensive line and linebackers could see a significant drop in rush defense.

Another factor may be a coaching change. Usually a coach is more experienced at one side of the ball than the other (especially if they were just a coordinator in their previous job) and this could lead to a change in rush defense. Some coaches prefer to play an attacking style of defense while others are willing to play a bend but don’t break defense which could affect the rush yards either way.

Whatever the case may be here are all the teams that improved by at least 100 ypg of rush defense compared to the prior season. Quick note for many of the smaller schools in the WAC, MAC and Sun Belt: My data only goes back to 1995 for those teams so it would include the last 15 years instead of the last 20.

Most Improved Rush Defense YPG L/20 years

The most improved rush defense of the last 20 years was the 1997 Wake Forest Demon Deacons who returned 8 starters from a unit that gave up 255 rush ypg (5.2) in ’96. The Deacons significantly improved their numbers in ’97 by giving up just 96 (2.9) ypg.

The #2 most improved rush defense of the last 20 years belongs to the 1992 Arizona Wildcats who introduced their “Desert Swarm” defense and allowed just 65 rush ypg which was significantly better than the 217 ypg they allowed in 1991.

At #3 is the 2003 Northwestern Wildcats who returned 8 starters from a poor defense in 2002 that gave up 41.1 ppg and 314 rush ypg. The Wildcats improved in ’03 to allow just 164 rush ypg, a 150 ypg improvement.

Now here is a look at all of the teams who gave up at least 100 rush ypg more than the prior year. Keep in mind again that my data only goes back to 1995 for some of the smaller schools.

Least Improved Rush Defense YPG L/20 Years

The transition to the Big 12 was tough on the #1 least improved rush defense of the last 20 years. In 1995, the Baylor Bears gave up just 113 rush ypg and were 7-4 (5-2) while playing in the final year of the SWC. In 1996, the Bears moved to the Big 12 and faced powerful rush offenses like Nebraska and gave up 287 ypg and in Chuck Reedy’s final season 4-7 (1-7).

The #2 least improved rush defense was the 1991 New Mexico Lobos who returned just 3 starters from the prior year. The Lobos would give up 315 ypg in ‘91 which was 159 ypg more than the previous year. The next year they brought in Dennis Franchione to improve the defense.

The #3 least improved is the 1998 Cincinnati Bearcats who returned 6 starters from a defense that gave just 82 rush ypg in ’97 under defensive-mined HC Rick Minter. Shockingly though, the Bearcats gave up 240 rush ypg in ‘98 which was 158 ypg more.

Make sure you visit the PhilSteele.com homepage and check out several of the new features added in the past week including Phil Steele Videos, Players Lost for the Season, Facebook Forecasts and a Week-by-Week Schedule complete with up-to-date TV times.

I will be back on Monday with a look at the most/least improved pass defenses from the last 20 years.

Have a great weekend!

Only 40 Days Until the First College Football Game!!