84 points in 2 games

[44PRIDE]

yeeeesh....

 

[cpatrocks]

I still think the D is way better this year. Last week was, well, USC. Week 1 they scored a TD on punt return, and the Offense turned the ball over a bunch of times.

 

[dollarbill44]

I still think the D is way better this year. Last week was, well, USC. Week 1 they scored a TD on punt return, and the Offense turned the ball over a bunch of times.

The D gave up 2 TD drives against NW. The other 4 TDs were:

1. Punt return for TD
2. Set up by 52 yd punt return inside the 20
3. Set up by fluke INT returned inside 20
4. Fumble return for TD

 

[44PRIDE]

I get it fellas. That's why I didn't blame the Defense at all. But we aren't going to win many games if we keep surrendering 42 points per...

(yeah I know....newsflash)

 

[wfschrec]

I get it fellas. That's why I didn't blame the Defense at all. But we aren't going to win many games if we keep surrendering 42 points per...

(yeah I know....newsflash)

Thankfully Rutgers, Pitt and UConn couldn't score 42 points if they started every drive on the SU 1 yard line ...

 

[mountaincuse]

Thankfully Rutgers, Pitt and UConn couldn't score 42 points if they started every drive on the SU 1 yard line ...

Let's hope our special teams coverage improves and we don't have to find out!

 

[longislandcuse]

Our defense looks better than the points scored would indicate. IMO, the major issue is that they either stop the other team for no points or give up a TD. Not too good at holding the other team to a FG.

 

[upperdeck]

the big stat is that they have only allowed a couple drives all year, we just need to make sure the other team has to run more than 10 play and the D is fine.

 

[Chip]

the big stat is that they have only allowed a couple drives all year, we just need to make sure the other team has to run more than 10 play and the D is fine.

So the answer is don't punt, but don't on 4th down.

D is ranked 68th. Not bad considering most teams have at least one cupcake at this point and we don't. You look at 42 ppg and would never think it's the 68th ranked D.

They don't rank special teams units, and for that I'm thankful.

 

[wfschrec]

I still think the D is way better this year. Last week was, well, USC. Week 1 they scored a TD on punt return, and the Offense turned the ball over a bunch of times.

4 of USC's TD drives were 55 yards or less ... NW only had two drives of more than 40 yards ... hard to keep the scoring down when an opponents average TD drive is around 40 yards .. I don't care if you are the 2012 Orange or the 85 Bears.

 

[44PRIDE]

IMO, the major issue is that they either stop the other team for no points or give up a TD. Not too good at holding the other team to a FG.

Even this is misleading. Due to their lack of a FG kicker, USC was pressured into situations where they went for it on 4th down. Had there been a reliable kicker in their arsenal, I'm sure they would have kicked more field goals than they did.

 

[wfschrec]

Even this is misleading. Due to their lack of a FG kicker, USC was pressured into situations where they went for it on 4th down. Had there been a reliable kicker in their arsenal, I'm sure they would have kicked more field goals than they did.

Bingo ... in some circumstances they got lucky and it worked out for them ... of course had they brought a reliable kicker after being stuffed on 4th down real early you have to wonder how many times Kiffin would have gone for it.

 

[SaltineWarrior]

I really think there are reasons to be optimistic on both sides of the ball. And remember, we haven't really seen anything spectacular from the running game, which might have been the best thing we did consistently during the last 8 to 10 years. If we can just tighten up a few Special Teams issues, I think we can really do some damage. We might be the best 0-2 team in the country.

 

[longislandcuse]

Even this is misleading. Due to their lack of a FG kicker, USC was pressured into situations where they went for it on 4th down. Had there been a reliable kicker in their arsenal, I'm sure they would have kicked more field goals than they did.

I dont know, that does play into it but I remember even in the NW game a few times where I was saying "just hold them to a FG here" and granted they have been put into some bad situations by the mistakes made by the Offense and Special Teams but if they hold NW to a FG in any of those chances, we win. USC is obviously a different animal but did they even score any of those times they went for it? When USC did get into scoring range they got a TD, same as the NW game.