program thoughts

[Millhouse]

Wake and Central mich were 50% on third down - who cares

opponents convert 29% when SU loses, 46% when we win

 

[PhatOrange]

Where did you get 18?

It's 22.9 this year vs 25.4.

And, no it's not the only thing that matters and the claim was this was the best defense SU has had for a while.

They are giving up conversions 42.24% of 3rd downs. That's awful. Passer rating against is 143.41, and it's not like we have been playing in the Big 12.

The defense is okay, but it's hasn't been great.

my bad on the average. i dont think the defense has been great either - but it's not giving up a lot of points which is the ONLY stat that matters; That and maybe turnovers, every other defensive stat is pretty much window dressing. This defense also forces turnovers and heck they've scored 4 touchdowns and 1 safety to their credit.

The defense bumps our scoring ppg average from 17.4 to 20.5

 

[javadoc]

they're 5th in the country in fumbles forced. they've already forced more fumbles than they did last year. go missed that category.

they're 4th in fumbles recovered

i do think there is luck involved and that's not something you can bank on year in year out

but when looking at an individual season, they deserve credit

the hardnosed stuff is bs mostly, but this fits with what shafer wants to be

We've done a pretty good job of getting turnovers this year, and I don't think it's entirely luck. I read somewhere that Clemson had only 6 turnovers in the previous 7 games, and we got 4 from them.

 

[javadoc]

Our D drives me nuts, but I have to remind myself than we are stretching to get a lot out of average talent and poor depth. CB always seems to adjust, albeit a bit too slowly for my taste, but he gets there most of the time. I don't think there is any question that if our O was average we would have beaten MD and quite possibly Clemson.

That said, we really need to get better DB's in order to compete in the ACC.

Reddish is playing pretty well. Folks are going to stop throwing those WR screens and quick outs to his side of the field because he is blowing those up.

 

[Millhouse]

my bad on the average. i dont think the defense has been great either - but it's not giving up a lot of points which is the ONLY stat that matters; Every other defensive stat is pretty much window dressing. This defense also forces turnovers and heck they've scored 4 touchdowns and 1 safety to their credit.

The defense bumps our scoring ppg average from 17.4 to 20.5

wish i knew what the rankings were for fumble tds, they gotta be near the top. they're tied with a million teams for 9th with two int return tds

 

[Crusty]

We've done a pretty good job of getting turnovers this year, and I don't think it's entirely luck. I read somewhere that Clemson had only 6 turnovers in the previous 7 games, and we got 4 from them.

Interesting point. BTW good to meet you at the tailgate.

 

[Chip]

We've done a pretty good job of getting turnovers this year, and I don't think it's entirely luck. I read somewhere that Clemson had only 6 turnovers in the previous 7 games, and we got 4 from them.

I think a lot of it is our style. Certainly some luck on the bad option pitch. But Stoudt's arm was hit on both INT throws, and on the other fumble, any QB that goes to the ground slowly while being tackled by 3 people, is a risk to have the ball ripped out.

Our theory is to keep blitzing and that over the course of a drive or a game, more often than not it will work. I think the only game where that consistently didn't work was FSU.

The Wake fumble TDs were right out of the VT playbook. Unlike the VT playbook, we just need to also try to score on offense.

 

[Crusty]

I think a lot of it is our style. Certainly some luck on the bad option pitch. But Stoudt's arm was hit on both INT throws, and on the other fumble, any QB that goes to the ground slowly while being tackled by 3 people, is a risk to have the ball ripped out.

Our theory is to keep blitzing and that over the course of a drive or a game, more often than not it will work. I think the only game where that consistently didn't work was FSU.

The Wake fumble TDs were right out of the VT playbook. Unlike the VT playbook, we just need to also try to score on offense.

And Nova.

 

[javadoc]

I think a lot of it is our style. Certainly some luck on the bad option pitch. But Stoudt's arm was hit on both INT throws, and on the other fumble, any QB that goes to the ground slowly while being tackled by 3 people, is a risk to have the ball ripped out.

Our theory is to keep blitzing and that over the course of a drive or a game, more often than not it will work. I think the only game where that consistently didn't work was FSU.

The Wake fumble TDs were right out of the VT playbook. Unlike the VT playbook, we just need to also try to score on offense.

I attributed the inexplicable option pitch fumble to karma. They had just booed Raymon while he was down.

Next step in the VT evolution is scoring touchdowns on special teams. There must be some law of conservation of beamer-ball. Now that it is fading in Blacksburg, we're adopting it.

 

[javadoc]

Interesting point. BTW good to meet you at the tailgate.

Likewise. Hope to make it up to one of the NC tailgates soon.

 

[BlackKnight76]

Are there any stats that show how SU did vs the teams they played and how other teams did vs that same team? For example...did SU's offense/defense do better than the norm vs FSU stat wise than other teams? Vs Clemson and the rest?

I think that is a better way to judge than some schools that haven't faced possibly the 3 best teams in the ACC while playing only 4 games. SU just played 3 schools that won BCS games last year and no team can say that at this stage of the season and other than the other schools in our division like NCS, Wake and BC no one else in the country can say that. Plus let's add a #6 team in the country as an added bonus.

What annoys me is that this team is so beat up from playing these teams. It's bad enough to play a ridiculous schedule like this but the residue of the injured players has left this team short handed for the rest of the schedule. Louisville, Clemson, Wake and ND have very good defenses. FSU and Nova have very good offenses. IMO, the SU offense has to step up from here as the defense will have their hands full with NCS and BC with mobile qb's. Stop Pitts good running game and play action and Duke's very good offense.

This team will win the rest of their games this year and the offense will step up from here unless the injury bug becomes the spider from Johnny Quest.

Looked up Clemson's Yards/play the other night (and tweeted the numbers).

The best games were all when Watson was playing. SU did pretty well compared to the rest of Clemson's schedule either way, though.

UGA 3.83
SCST 7.9
FSU 5.6
UNC 6.3
NCST 6.2
LOU 3.2
BC 4.9
Cuse 4.5

 

[anomander]

I definitely don't think this is one of the best defenses we have had, or even in the top 5 since Shafer has been here. We are good, not great. The offenses we have faced so far in league play are all significantly worse then last year. With Stoudt Clemson has been putrid on offense. Wake is the worst P5 offense in Football, and FSU is still very good that's why they scored every time they had the ball.

We definitely can win with this defense, but our offense would have to score a little bit.

I do think Reddish needs to be personally recognized for having an outstanding season. He has caught a lot of crap on this board, but the kid is balling out this year and has shown why NFL teams were asking around about his a few years ago. He will get drafted off of this season.

Going forward we need to get some guys that can rush the quarterback. Solely relying on the blitz to create pressure has been our biggest hinderance this season. We also need to get a lot quicker at LBer. Hodge leaves a bit to be desired in foot speed, and as good as Cam is on the blitz he is a liability in pass coverage.

 

[anglerman]

It's not. Not even close.

Down in every category but scoring defense from last year.

Last night was pretty good, best job all year, but they haven't played like that very much this year.

The defense has been fantastic this year my friend. This is the best SU defense I've seen in years Doug. Comparing numbers at the this point to last year is just foolish becuse SU just finished the meat of the schedule. As far as compared to The best teams on the schedule it's not close. GT FSU and C me son scored 50+ points. Scott Shafer is a better coach than Doug Marrone.

 

[anomander]

The defense has been fantastic this year my friend. This is the best SU defense I've seen in years Doug. Comparing numbers at the this point to last year is just foolish becuse SU just finished the meat of the schedule. As far as compared to The best teams on the schedule it's not close. GT FSU and C me son scored 50+ points. Scott Shafer is a better coach than Doug Marrone.

What has he done to prove this? Hopefully there will be a time when we can say Scott Shafer has been a better coach at Syracuse University then Doug Marrone, but he has done nothing yet to say that.

 

[anglerman]

It wil

Where did you get 18?

It's 22.9 this year vs 25.4.

And, no it's not the only thing that matters and the claim was this was the best defense SU has had for a while.

They are giving up conversions 42.24% of 3rd downs. That's awful. Passer rating against is 143.41, and it's not like we have been playing in the Big 12.

The defense is okay, but it's hasn't been great.

The scoring defense will
Only get better form here. Don't do comparisons until the season is over.

 

[anglerman]

Have yo

What has he done to prove this? Hopefully there will be a time when we can say Scott Shafer has been a better coach at Syracuse University then Doug Marrone, but he has done nothing yet to say that.

Hav you watched the way this team has played compared to the opposition they have faced? Are any of you guys objective? They played with FSU ,ND Louisville and Clemson. This has been the most difficult stretch of games I have ever seen SU play in my life time. They could have won a couple if these games if a fees more plays were made on the offensive side of the ball.

Granted the offense isn't where it needs to be and if it were this would be a top 15 team. With Shafer you can count a very good defense every year. I mean every year. He will get the offense fixed. He's in his second year as head coach so give him time

This is probably the best SU team in the past ten year despite the losing record. The schedule has just been brutal but I've seen SU going head to head with some of the best team a in the country and more than holding their own. I'm impressed.

 

[anomander]

Have yo

Hav you watched the way this team has played compared to the opposition they have faced? Are any of you guys objective? They played with FSU ,ND Louisville and Clemson. This has been the most difficult stretch of games I have ever seen SU play in my life time. They could have won a couple if these games if a fees more plays were made on the offensive side of the ball.

Granted the defense isn't where it needs to be and if it were this would be a top 15 team. With Shafer you can count a very good defense every year. I mean every year. He will get the offense fixed. He's in his second year as head coach so give him time

This is probably the best SU team in the past ten year despite the losing record. The schedule has just been brutal but I've seen SU going head to head with some of the best team a in the country and more than holding their own. I'm impressed.

Louisville (plus they dominated us) and Clemson aren't really that good this year. They both have great defenses and that's about it. Florida St is flawed and isn't nearly as good as last year. Notre Dame is solid, but they pretty much man handled us.

The 2010 team would beat this one by 2 td's

 

[anglerman]

lo

Louisville (plus they dominated us) and Clemson aren't really that good this year. They both have great defenses and that's about it. Florida St is flawed and isn't nearly as good as last year. Notre Dame is solid, but they pretty much man handled us.

The 2010 team would beat this one by 2 td's

Louisville is A very good team. They will be in the top 20-25 range by the end of the year. FSU is undefeated and in the top 5 and you make it sound like they aren't that good. They are very good the defenses this team has played have been ridiculous it's funny to think that FSU wasn't one of the best they've faced. You beed to have perspective

 

[anomander]

lo

Louisville is A very good team. They will be in the top 20-25 range by the end of the year. FSU is undefeated and in the top 5 and you make it sound like they aren't that good. They are very good the defenses this team has played have been ridiculous it's funny to think that FSU wasn't one of the best they've faced. You beed to have perspective

My perspective is fine. Saturday was the first time Shafer has been competitive against someone considered a top 25 team.

I don't understand. We are supposed to give them credit for getting blown out at home by Louisville and Florida St?

 

[baggerbob]

The 1st 5 games no Raymon, then Florida St Crume is hurt, last 2 games no Williams, so we haven't had our 3 best Defensive tackles together this year.

 

[GoSU96]

enough with third downs already. forcing fumbles on 2nd down are non events in 69alytics

Turnovers are important. Getting off the field on 3rd down and winning the FP game by doing so is more important.

 

[GoSU96]

I think a lot of it is our style. Certainly some luck on the bad option pitch. But Stoudt's arm was hit on both INT throws, and on the other fumble, any QB that goes to the ground slowly while being tackled by 3 people, is a risk to have the ball ripped out.

Our theory is to keep blitzing and that over the course of a drive or a game, more often than not it will work. I think the only game where that consistently didn't work was FSU.

The Wake fumble TDs were right out of the VT playbook. Unlike the VT playbook, we just need to also try to score on offense.

And Lville and ND.

If they had just played soundly on 3rd down against Lville it might have been a different game.

 

[007]

And Lville and ND.

If they had just played soundly on 3rd down against Lville it might have been a different game.

Definitely not great.

Looking at defensive efficiency rankings adjusted for the strength of opposing offenses faced, SU is ranked 67th nationally.

Looking at the raw unadjusted efficiency of SU's defense, which is a measure of the actual drive success of its opponents against expected drive success based on field position, they rated a more respectful 44th.

 

[SmilinBob]

I don't know what SU team had the better D over the years but one thing I do know is that last Saturday night this was the best I've seen the defense play those bubble screens in a long time vs a team that has some decent speed on the ends and they did a very good job vs Mike Williams.

 

[CousCuse]

Shafer is a defense minded coach. Whenever defensive coaches become head coaches , they always say they want to install the state of the art offense. But , at any sign of stress , they will pull the offense back and try to win the game with D. That's fine , though predictable. What I don't understand is , if he want's to run a D first bias , ball control is job No.1. Why doesn't he pound AAM , 3 yards and a cloud of field turf pellets.