Our D - better than advertised

[QCCyclone]

Depends whose "advertisement" you're looking at. I think we'll be pretty close to what the media and CW have been saying, but better than a lot of the posters on here are saying.

 

[CycloneErik]

Depends whose "advertisement" you're looking at. I think we'll be pretty close to what the media and CW have been saying, but better than a lot of the posters on here are saying.

The media matches a lot of the posters. I don't remember a lot of glowing predictions from media sources.

 

[Stormin]

Our defense will not be as bad as some think. Wait till fall to make a full assessment. IMO, we will be better than last year. Last year was not good. But still. For those thinking we will be worse, they do not really know.

 

[Wesley]

Just as likely that the opposite is true. The better you do on defense, the better the offense performs. Better starting field position for the offense results in a more open playbook and better scoring chances.

Now if you said OSU, that would be a good example.

That said, we have been offensively challenged for many, many years pulling up the rear in conference in points scored.

Yardage gained/allowed is integrally/indirectly linked to the number of points scored.

Year....PtsUs.Them.YdsUs...Them..Wins..Losses..COACH

2013...24.8...36.0...363...463........3........9......Paul
2012...24.5...23.5...364...442........6........7.......Paul
2011...22.7...29.4...387...428........6........7.......Paul
2010...21.7...28.8...317...408........5........7.......Paul
2009...20.5...21.8...365...416........7........6.......Paul
2008...25.3...35.8...387...453........2........9......Gene
2007...18.2...31.8...327...390........3........7......Gene
2006...18.8...30.8...318...392........4........8.......Dan
2005...28.2...18.2...350...345........7........5........Dan
2004...20.5...21.6...329...329........7........5........Dan
2003...14.4...36.4...298...443........2.......10.......Dan
2002...28.9...23.9...381...359........7........7.........Dan

Looking at yardage impacting wins or losses (70 yards out averaged a game):
2003 was a bad year. 2013 was awful bad too.
2012 and 2010 were not so hot.

Looking at point differential (greater than 10 points differential):
2003 was horrible.
2006, 2007, 2008, 2013 were not so good for POINT DIFFERENTIAL.

As far as wins go, 2000 was the year with 9 wins, the only recent great win season.

 

[Luth4Cy]

I think they'll at least be able to hold their own. There's some good young talent across the board and a lot of potential. Our linebackers as a whole should be better, which will help a lot. My biggest concern for the defense is depth at defensive tackle. Cousins and Jensen will be fine, but Ayeni, Garcia, Aka, etc. will be big in determining whether this defense can stop the run or not.

 

[Cycsk]

Seems to me that we don't even know who will be getting minutes for several of our positions on defense, so it is hard to tell. For instance, what impact with the JUCO d-linemen have? I'm holding out lots of hope, but at this point it is hope, not based on much actual knowledge.

 

[Dandy]

This thread title made me giggle a little bit.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I think it'll probably be no worse than last year. I mean, the dropoff between Knott/Klein, compared to the guys we lost this year isn't as great.

 

[SCarolinaCy]

Been thinking about this. Everyone frets about our 2014 defense, too inexperienced. True. But . . .the worst enemy of a defense is not the opposing offense, it's their own offense. We led the nation in three-and-outs last year. One game, we went an entire first half with only 1 first down. No defense can survive with that kind of field position, and time of possession. So, let's say our O is significantly better this year, cuts three-and-outs in half. That's 10 yards of average field position, 5 minutes of time of possession (I did the math). That's 100 yards a game in performance of our defense, just because of our offense. One or two touchdown swing, with really the same talent and productivity of D. Gives me some hope for surprise improvement in our D. Anybody buying this?

I like this. But, I never understand our hurry-up offense, that is usually ineffective,,,and always plays against our defense. K-State offense is never in a hurry.

 

[CyCloned]

I like this. But, I never understand our hurry-up offense, that is usually ineffective,,,and always plays against our defense. K-State offense is never in a hurry.

The hurry up is all the rage for teams that can really move the ball. It really limits the amount of situational substitutions that teams can make on defense. Unfortunately, for teams like ISU that seem to go 3 and out 65% of the time it means that your defense gets 2 minutes rest before punting again.

 

[jbindm]

I think those who assume that the defense will be awful are underestimating Wally Burnham. That said, it's a young and unproven group. We'll see; if the defense struggles early in the season and comes on toward the end I wouldn't be shocked. And that would bode well for 2015.

 

[CyCloned]

I will not be surprised if the defense is a lot better this year.

1. The offense will be better, period. A dartboard would have been more successful than the play calling last year, and no, I am not joking.

2. There are some young talented guys that have waited to play on defense. There will be some mistakes, but there will also being guys flying into the backfield and making plays.

3. There are finally enough LBers in the program to have a rotation, or at least give a guy a break. Also, if someone is really messing up out there, at least there are options to put someone else in.

4. This defense will be more aggressive, and take more chances, because the offense will be able to score points. There will be less bend but don't break. I look for ISU to be making more 3 and outs and having less of their own.

 

[awd4cy]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the defense ends up being solid and the offense struggles. That's just how it's worked the past several years...

That would surprise me. The personnel on the defense is easily the most inexperienced and least talented.

 

[Goothrey]

The defense was bad, just not as bad as the offense. They didn't do so well with pints per drive and yards per play.

 

[jbindm]

The defense was bad, just not as bad as the offense. They didn't do so well with pints per drive and yards per play.

I think we all averaged at least a pint per drive during the Baylor game.

 

[Wesley]

We are so young this year. Alas, woe is us.

 

[CascadeClone]

So if the defense is 20% worse this year, but the offense holds the ball 20% more of the time, it's a wash? I hope you are right.

I will say this: Wally's bend-but-don't-break strategy works a hell of a lot better for points allowed when they only have to play 60 snaps instead of 90.

I expect the defense generally to be overpowered and give up lots of yards and points. But in some games, they will force turnovers and in those they will hold the opponent to a manageable score and the offense (if competent) will get the win.

 

[Wesley]

Funny to think that since 2002, both Dan and Gene had higher scoring teams in a single year than did Paul. I think we have to go back to the seventies to find a clone team that averaged 30 points offensively.

 

[boyd]

Been thinking about this. Everyone frets about our 2014 defense, too inexperienced. True. But . . .the worst enemy of a defense is not the opposing offense, it's their own offense. We led the nation in three-and-outs last year. One game, we went an entire first half with only 1 first down. No defense can survive with that kind of field position, and time of possession. So, let's say our O is significantly better this year, cuts three-and-outs in half. That's 10 yards of average field position, 5 minutes of time of possession (I did the math). That's 100 yards a game in performance of our defense, just because of our offense. One or two touchdown swing, with really the same talent and productivity of D. Gives me some hope for surprise improvement in our D. Anybody buying this?

Yup, They will be awesome. Rock em and Sock em.

 

[madguy30]

I'm still anticipating 3-4 wins, but one thing to consider is that it hasn't felt like the coaching staff is talking the team up too much...where as last year I believe they were labeled as CPR's most talented, etc. Maybe there's some good things that really aren't that apparent.

They still lost a lot of guys from a bad D from last year, and return players from an offense that never looked all that good even at their best.