New Look Defense

[30gut]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

Not sure how much one can really make of these stats, but

That's why in this thread, and in general, I like to look at multiple stats. Imho its the combination of stats in conjunction to watching the games closely that allows people to make the most accurate assessments.

We ranked number 1 in short yardage and goal line situations. I think Chris Baker should get a large part of the credit for that ranking. He blew up so many short yardage plays this year.

Being good in these situations imo clearly points to the DL playing stout. If they can stop the run when every knows its a run that's bodes well. Also, it seems arbitrary to give credit only to Baker.

We ranked 30th in "2nd level" but that doesn't mean it's all on the LBs if someone in front of them didn't take on a blocker or missed contain. It just means we were bad, the ranking doesn't clarify which unit broke down. Although, Perry Riley hasn't shed a block since he has been here.

No, it doesn't mean its all on the LBs.
We already looked at situations where its up to the DL to answer the call and in those instances they were very good.

This is where other stats come in. If you look at the individual DL grades for run defense Baker, Knighton and Ricky all grade well. But if you look at the ILBs grades only Mason rates well in run defense.

Sure we could speculate that the DL didn't take on a blocker which would absolve the ILBs of blame. But, I don't see any statistical support or even schematic support for that rationale because in this defense its not the DL role to take up blocks.

The stats and scheme suggest to me that the blame is distributed between the DL and ILBs and the scheme. However individually if its me, I'm looking at Hatcher, Riley, Compton and Keenan.

Delving deeper, I'm not all that mad at Hatcher because he makes up for it with pass rush. One could argue the play/production suggests that Hatcher and the defense would be better served with Hatch in a strictly situational pass rusher role and for Ricky to play more 'base' D.

What I thought was the most disappointing stat, was from the 2nd chart on the page that lists run direction.

We had our worst ranking containing the run right up the middle with a ranking of 26th. Can't base everything off of a ranking like this but I think it is representative of what was happening during the games and part of the reason why I don't think Knighton will be back next year.

I'm not sure why you would isolate Knighton for blame here?

FBO doesn't differentiate between any runs between the tackle and counts them all as 'middle'. Also, the ILBs play a key role in defending middle runs because each ILB is responsible for a gap on either side of Knighton and depending on the type of play they need to get downhill and bump faces with an OG. And again when you look at the individual grading and their histories, Knighton comes off looking far less culpable then Riley, Compton and Keenan.