Daily Blog •August 16, 2012

I am always looking at new ways to evaluate teams’ and in this year’s magazine I featured a couple of new factors taking a looking at offensive and defensive yards per play averages. Today I will go in depth at how yards per play allowed defensively may be a more accurate factor when judging how good/bad a defense is.

For years I have talked about how a defense can be hurt by a fast paced high scoring offense. This past spring I was startled to hear that Stanford’s defense which allowed just 338 ypg faced a total of 815 plays. Oregon had a much maligned defense LY but they did face 1077 plays or 262 more!! The Ducks D, which finished #115 in the NCAA acually was #67 in total yards allowed per play by the opposing teams offenses.

Now there are numerous factors in how many yards a team gives up. The first is the quality of the D. As you see by Kansas down at #120  they allowed 7.16 yards per play! Now that was a BAD defense. Can you imagine on avg, teams were facing 2&3 vs the Jayhawks? The #1 D last year both in total D and yards per play allowed was Alabama as they were also the only team in the country on average that if you multiple the yardage given up by 3, teams would not have made a FD vs them in three downs.

Contributing to the amount of plays a teams faces are 3rd down conversions, and the pace not only of their own offense but of the opponents offenses as well. This is an era where many head coaches are talking about running plays as fast as they can as Oregon is one team that has had great success with that. The chart listed below ranks each defense by the yards per play they allowed last year. It also ranks the total plays a team faced per game, the ypc rush allowed, the yards per pass attempt allowed and 3rd down conversions.

Defensive Yards Per Play Allowed

Def Yds Def Plays Def Rush Def Yds 3rd Dn
Rk Team Per Play per Gm Rk YPC Rk Per Att Rk % Rk
1
 Alabama 3.32 55.4 1 2.43 2 4.34 1 24.5 1
2
 LSU 4.08 64.1 16 2.74 5 5.49 3 34 19
3
 Florida St 4.16 66.1 28 2.35 1 6.23 13 35 24
4
 South Carolina 4.17 64.2 17 3.62 34 4.95 2 35.3 27
5
 Michigan St 4.3 64.5 18 2.8 7 6.18 12 33.7 16
6
 Illinois 4.42 64.8 20 3.13 13 6.43 23 34.6 21
7
 Georgia 4.46 62.1 8 3.22 15 5.73 4 28.9 3
8
 Florida 4.59 65.2 23 3.4 23 6.36 21 27.3 2
9
 Texas 4.6 66.5 29 3.06 11 5.98 9 33.7 17
10
 Southern Miss 4.61 74.4 104 3.28 19 5.87 6 35.5 30
11
 Penn St 4.64 69.8 63 3.6 33 5.8 5 38.4 52
12
 Arkansas St 4.67 71 80 3 9 6.24 15 35.2 26
13
 Mississippi St 4.7 74.6 106 3.72 41 5.91 8 36.5 38
14
 USF 4.81 73 94 2.96 8 6.64 36 35.5 31
15
 Texas A&M 4.82 78.4 118 2.61 3 7.03 61 40.4 66
15
 Vanderbilt 4.82 67 37 3.59 32 6.28 17 36.6 39
17
 FIU 4.85 71.1 81 3.35 22 6.32 20 36.4 35
18
 SMU 4.86 69.9 65 3.3 21 6.51 25 38.8 56
18
 Kent St 4.86 67.1 39 3.51 26 6.53 27 34.7 22
20
 ULM 4.87 67 37 3.11 12 6.49 24 40.9 71
21
 Temple 4.89 63.8 12 3.64 36 6.31 18 33.9 18
22
 BYU 4.9 64 15 3.66 38 6.05 10 37 42
23
 Rutgers 4.91 63.9 13 3.87 48 6.31 18 31.5 8
24
 Louisiana Tech 4.92 76.5 113 3.41 24 6.36 21 32.2 10
24
 West Virginia 4.92 70.8 77 3.99 53 5.9 7 35.8 33
26
 Virginia Tech 4.93 61.8 6 3.22 15 6.8 48 32.3 11
27
 Cincinnati 4.95 72.2 91 2.74 5 7.03 61 32.7 13
28
 Utah 4.96 70.7 76 3.24 17 6.65 38 38.7 53
29
 Louisville 4.97 65.9 27 3 9 7 58 38.3 51
29
 UCF 4.97 61 4 3.76 44 6.06 11 31.6 9
31
 Utah St 4.99 73.4 98 3.46 25 6.54 29 35.4 28
31
 Pittsburgh 4.99 70.2 70 3.27 18 6.78 47 33 14
33
 Notre Dame 5.05 68.2 47 3.78 45 6.54 29 34.2 20
34
 Ohio St 5.06 63.9 13 3.84 47 6.72 42 40.2 65
35
 Oregon 5.07 76.9 115 3.65 37 6.54 29 38.9 58
36
 Houston 5.09 74.6 107 4.17 63 6.23 13 37.5 44
37
 Iowa 5.12 74 101 3.69 40 7.02 59 45.9 99
38
 Oklahoma 5.15 73.1 95 3.68 39 6.62 34 30.5 5
38
 California 5.15 64.6 19 3.79 46 6.67 40 35.2 25
40
 Arkansas 5.17 70.2 68 4.31 71 6.24 15 36.7 40
40
 Boise St 5.17 62 7 3.53 28 6.84 51 29.8 4
42
 Missouri 5.2 73.1 95 3.58 31 6.74 44 41.2 75
42
 Nebraska 5.2 67.4 41 4 55 6.92 55 40.2 64
44
 TCU 5.21 66.6 31 3.52 27 7.11 65 37.5 44
44
 Wisconsin 5.21 60.7 3 4.3 70 6.51 25 38.2 50
46
 Michigan 5.22 61.8 5 3.99 53 6.62 34 36.4 36
47
 North Carolina 5.23 69.8 60 3.56 30 6.89 53 44.9 95
48
 Ohio 5.25 68.7 51 4.03 57 6.54 29 40.9 72
49
 Tulsa 5.26 78.8 119 3.28 19 7.21 72 42.3 82
49
 Miami (OH) 5.26 69.1 55 4.17 63 6.81 50 37.2 43
51
 Virginia 5.27 66.8 33 3.94 50 6.76 45 33.3 15
52
 NC State 5.33 66.5 29 3.72 41 7.14 67 38.8 55
53
 Florida Atlantic 5.34 73.4 99 4.02 56 7.11 65 48.1 106
54
 Louisiana 5.4 74 101 3.73 43 7.09 64 38.2 49
54
 East Michigan 5.4 64.9 21 4.14 60 6.77 46 31.5 7
56
 Connecticut 5.41 67.8 44 2.67 4 7.86 98 32.6 12
57
 Tennessee 5.43 62.7 9 4.39 74 6.95 56 38.9 57
58
 USC 5.44 68.8 52 3.62 34 6.91 54 40.1 63
59
 Oklahoma St 5.45 83.8 120 4.39 74 6.53 27 41.8 81
59
 Syracuse 5.45 70.9 78 3.53 28 7.47 83 41.6 79
59
 Stanford 5.45 62.7 10 3.16 14 7.3 76 31.1 6
62
 Kentucky 5.46 69.1 55 4.51 78 6.8 48 39.7 61
63
 Northern Illinois 5.48 75.7 111 4.03 57 7.26 74 38 47
63
 Miami (FL) 5.48 65.7 26 4.11 59 7.54 86 41.4 78
65
 Georgia Tech 5.5 65.4 24 4.52 80 6.66 39 42.4 83
66
 Purdue 5.52 71.7 88 4.28 69 7.16 68 40.5 68
67
 Nevada 5.54 66.6 31 4.51 78 6.54 29 36.2 34
68
 East Carolina 5.55 67.8 44 4.54 81 6.85 52 41.3 76
69
 Buffalo 5.57 69.1 55 4.27 67 7.64 91 40.8 69
70
 Wake Forest 5.59 71.2 82 4.59 85 6.67 40 39.4 60
71
 Clemson 5.6 70.4 72 4.35 72 7.3 76 41 73
71
 Boston College 5.6 70.4 71 4.27 67 6.95 56 40.8 70
71
 Hawaii 5.6 69.2 58 3.9 49 7.51 85 38.7 54
74
 Bowling Green 5.65 71.8 89 4.92 100 6.64 36 36.8 41
75
 Marshall 5.66 71.5 87 4.14 60 7.21 72 38.2 48
75
 Kansas St 5.66 69.8 60 3.98 52 7.16 68 39.8 62
77
 San Diego St 5.67 69 54 4.14 60 7.92 102 45.7 98
78
 Iowa St 5.68 75.3 108 4.54 81 7.16 68 36.5 37
78
 Air Force 5.68 68.1 46 4.96 103 7.02 59 50.3 115
80
 Auburn 5.73 71.2 84 4.63 87 7.2 71 48.4 107
81
 Middle Tenn 5.76 76.6 114 4.67 88 7.72 95 49 109
82
 Toledo 5.83 68.8 53 3.94 50 7.65 94 35.4 29
83
 Maryland 5.85 78.1 117 4.68 89 7.64 91 53.8 119
84
 Idaho 5.86 74.6 105 4.18 65 7.59 88 37.7 46
85
 Oregon St 5.88 70 66 4.8 92 7.39 81 47.4 104
86
 WKU 5.89 63.5 11 4.37 73 7.31 78 35.5 31
87
 UCLA 5.9 70.6 74 5.15 108 6.73 43 47.5 105
88
 Cent Michigan 5.93 72.3 92 4.54 81 7.76 96 45.6 96
89
 Army 5.94 60.5 2 4.86 96 8.05 106 48.6 108
90
 Minnesota 5.96 67.7 43 4.87 97 7.37 80 44.3 93
91
 Tulane 6 68.4 48 4.59 85 7.56 87 43.3 90
92
 Troy 6.01 77.3 116 4.54 81 8.04 105 42.7 85
93
 Arizona St 6.06 69.6 59 4.26 66 7.89 101 34.9 23
94
 San Jose St 6.07 70.2 69 4.88 99 7.81 97 43.2 89
95
 North Texas 6.08 70.7 75 4.68 89 7.44 82 42.9 86
96
 Wyoming 6.09 70.9 79 5.09 106 7.86 98 41.6 79
97
 West Michigan 6.1 71.2 84 5.4 116 7.04 63 39.2 59
97
 Akron 6.1 70.1 67 4.93 102 8.14 107 44 92
97
 Northwestern 6.1 66.8 35 4.49 77 8.41 112 50 114
100
 Navy 6.13 67.5 42 4.83 95 7.87 100 51.4 117
101
 Colorado St 6.18 66.9 36 5.5 119 7.35 79 43 88
102
 New Mexico St 6.23 74.2 103 5.39 115 7.26 74 45.7 97
103
 Ole Miss 6.24 67.2 40 5.4 116 7.62 90 41.1 74
104
 Washington St 6.25 65.6 25 4.4 76 8.46 113 42.7 84
105
 UTEP 6.32 69.8 62 5.25 111 7.48 84 44.4 94
106
 Fresno St
6.37
 68.4 48 4.8 92 7.99 103 43.4 91
107
 Baylor 6.4 76.3 112 5.16 109 7.64 91 49.8 113
108
 Washington 6.43 70.5 73 5.09 106 7.61 89 49.2 110
109
 Indiana 6.44 71.2 83 5.3 114 8.54 114 49.4 111
110
 Texas Tech 6.45 75.3 109 5.26 112 8.67 116 47.1 103
111
 UNLV 6.46 68.6 50 4.87 97 8.66 115 49.7 112
112
 Rice 6.48 71.3 86 4.82 94 8.38 109 40.5 67
113
 Duke 6.55 64.9 21 4.92 100 8.69 117 43 87
114
 Colorado 6.58 66.8 33 5.27 113 8.02 104 46.8 102
115
 Arizona 6.59 69.9 64 4.72 91 8.38 109 41.3 76
116
 Memphis 6.64 73.9 100 5.05 104 8.32 108 46.4 100
117
 UAB 6.71 72.4 93 5.24 110 8.4 111 46.5 101
118
 New Mexico 6.73 73.1 97 5.48 118 8.76 118 57.2 120
119
 Ball St 6.77 75.3 109 5.07 105 9.25 120 52.9 118
120
 Kansas 7.16 72.2 90 5.83 120 8.9 119 51.3 116

Yards Per Play Vs Total Defense

Yds Per Pl Tot D
Team Rank Rk Diff
Oklahoma St 59 107 -48
Texas A&M 15 59 -44
Tulsa 49 87 -38
Louisiana Tech 24 57 -33
Oregon 35 67 -32
Houston 36 62 -26
USF 14 39 -25
Northern Illinois 63 88 -25
Maryland 83 108 -25
Iowa 37 60 -23
Mississippi St 13 35 -22
Middle Tenn 81 103 -22
Louisiana 54 75 -21
Troy 92 113 -21
Southern Miss 10 29 -19
Utah St 31 50 -19
Missouri 42 61 -19
Oklahoma 38 55 -17
Iowa St 78 95 -17
Idaho 84 101 -17
Florida Atlantic 53 69 -16
Cincinnati 27 42 -15
FIU 17 30 -13
Arkansas St 12 24 -12
Utah 28 38 -10
New Mexico St 102 112 -10
Penn St 11 20 -9
West Virginia 24 33 -9
Baylor 107 116 -9
SMU 18 26 -8
Cent Michigan 88 96 -8
Arkansas 40 47 -7
Purdue 66 73 -7
Syracuse 59 64 -5
Bowling Green 74 79 -5
Pittsburgh 31 35 -4
Wake Forest 70 74 -4
Texas Tech 110 114 -4
Vanderbilt 15 18 -3
Kent St 18 21 -3
Marshall 75 78 -3
Texas 9 11 -2
North Carolina 47 49 -2
UCLA 87 89 -2
North Texas 95 97 -2
Wyoming 96 98 -2
West Michigan 97 99 -2
Florida St 3 4 -1
Michigan St 5 6 -1
Illinois 6 7 -1
ULM 20 21 -1
Auburn 80 81 -1
Memphis 116 117 -1
Alabama 1 1 0
LSU 2 2 0
Florida 8 8 0
Clemson 71 71 0
Indiana 109 109 0
New Mexico 118 118 0
Ball St 119 119 0
Kansas 120 120 0
South Carolina 4 3 1
Miami (OH) 49 48 1
Boston College 71 70 1
Oregon St 85 84 1
San Jose St 94 93 1
UTEP 105 104 1
Rice 112 111 1
Georgia 7 5 2
Ohio 48 46 2
Arizona St 93 91 2
Washington 108 106 2
Notre Dame 33 30 3
Kansas St 75 72 3
Akron 97 94 3
UAB 117 114 3
USC 58 54 4
Kentucky 62 58 4
Nebraska 42 37 5
Connecticut 56 51 5
Hawaii 71 66 5
Arizona 115 110 5
Louisville 29 23 6
Buffalo 69 63 6
Toledo 82 76 6
Fresno St 106 100 6
UNLV 111 105 6
Tulane 91 83 8
Temple 21 12 9
BYU 22 13 9
Rutgers 23 14 9
San Diego St 77 68 9
Virginia 51 40 11
NC State 52 41 11
TCU 44 32 12
East Carolina 68 56 12
Colorado 114 102 12
California 38 25 13
Air Force 78 65 13
Minnesota 90 77 13
Ole Miss 103 90 13
Navy 100 86 14
Ohio St 34 19 15
Nevada 67 52 15
Virginia Tech 26 10 16
Colorado St 101 85 16
Northwestern 97 80 17
Miami (FL) 63 45 18
UCF 29 9 20
East Michigan 54 34 20
Georgia Tech 65 44 21
Duke 113 92 21
Washington St 104 82 22
Boise St 40 16 24
Wisconsin 44 15 29
Michigan 46 17 29
Tennessee 57 27 30
Stanford 59 28 31
WKU 86 53 33
Army 89 43 46

As you can see here two teams in the Big 12 where typically teams average a lot of plays and a lot of yards since many of the offenses are spread are at the top of the list meaning that their defenses were underrated as far as yards per play allowed go. Like I mentioned earlier, total yards allowed involves many factors and my theory that high paced-offenses lead to allowing more yards per game came to fruition here as Oregon and Houston were also high in these ratings as being underrated defenses (allow a lot of yards but not a lot of yards per play). At the bottom of the list is Army, which makes sense because they faced many offenses that do not run a lot of plays per game (Air Force, Navy) and this shows that their defense was a bit overrated a year ago ranking #43 in total D.

Only 14 Days Left Until the First College Football Game!