Summary
People seem to be somewhat disappointed in our defense so far this year. But when broken down drive by drive and situation by situation, it has really been quite stellar. More than 1/3 of our defensive drives have ended in either a takeaway or 4th down stop. They have surrendered a net 1.58 points per drive, which is really quite good, especially when considering the quality offenses they have faced. Most of the simple national defensive PPG metrics are penalizing the defense by 21 points, the 7 from the Air Force game fumble return for TD and the 2 kick returns. So our defense is really 7 PPG game better than the national stats would suggest.
In terms of situation, the defense has played their best (both in terms of yards per play and average points per drive) when the pressure was high - short fields and narrow margins in the game score. The tougher the situation has been, the better the defense has been. When the score has been close and/or being faced with difficult starting field position, the defense has been outstanding. When the defense has taken the field with a large lead or deep in opponent territory, it has been pretty mediocre.
----------------------------
Overall
* Drives: 33
* Points Per Drive: 1.58
* Yards Per Play: 1216/216 = 5.63
------------------------------
Defensive Drive Breakdown
Total Drives: 33
1 - Takeaways with TD
6 - Takeaways without TD
5 - 4th Down Stop
1 - End of Half
10 - Punt
1 - Missed FG
1 - FG
8 - Touchdown
-----------------------------
Defense by MSU lead at start of defensive drive
Leading by 0-7 Points
* Drives: 14
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 0.00 (1 TD surrendered, 1 takeaway TD scored)
* Yards Per Play: 267/68 = 3.93 YPP
Leading by 8-14 Points
* Drives: 10
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 2.10 (3 TD surrendered)
* Yards Per Play: 384/74 = 5.19 YPP
Leading by 15-21 Points
* Drives: 7
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 2.43 (2 TD, 1 FG surrendered)
* Yards Per Play: 410/53 = 7.73 YPP
Leading by 22-28 Points
* Drives: 2
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 7.0 (2 TD surrendered)
* Yards Per Play: 155/21 = 7.38 YPP
------------------------------
Defense by starting field position
30-50 Yard Line
* Drives: 3
* Points Per Drive: 0
* Yards Per Play: 11/12 = 0.92 YPP
51-70 Yard Line
* Drives: 4
* Points Per Drive: 0
* Yards Per Play: 83/22 = 3.77 YPP
71-80 Yard Line
* Drives: 15
* Points Per Drive: 2.8
* Yards Per Play: 616/106 = 5.81 YPP
81-99 Yard Line
* Drives: 11
* Points Per Drive: 0.91
* Yards Per Play: 506/76 = 6.66 YPP
People seem to be somewhat disappointed in our defense so far this year. But when broken down drive by drive and situation by situation, it has really been quite stellar. More than 1/3 of our defensive drives have ended in either a takeaway or 4th down stop. They have surrendered a net 1.58 points per drive, which is really quite good, especially when considering the quality offenses they have faced. Most of the simple national defensive PPG metrics are penalizing the defense by 21 points, the 7 from the Air Force game fumble return for TD and the 2 kick returns. So our defense is really 7 PPG game better than the national stats would suggest.
In terms of situation, the defense has played their best (both in terms of yards per play and average points per drive) when the pressure was high - short fields and narrow margins in the game score. The tougher the situation has been, the better the defense has been. When the score has been close and/or being faced with difficult starting field position, the defense has been outstanding. When the defense has taken the field with a large lead or deep in opponent territory, it has been pretty mediocre.
----------------------------
Overall
* Drives: 33
* Points Per Drive: 1.58
* Yards Per Play: 1216/216 = 5.63
------------------------------
Defensive Drive Breakdown
Total Drives: 33
1 - Takeaways with TD
6 - Takeaways without TD
5 - 4th Down Stop
1 - End of Half
10 - Punt
1 - Missed FG
1 - FG
8 - Touchdown
-----------------------------
Defense by MSU lead at start of defensive drive
Leading by 0-7 Points
* Drives: 14
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 0.00 (1 TD surrendered, 1 takeaway TD scored)
* Yards Per Play: 267/68 = 3.93 YPP
Leading by 8-14 Points
* Drives: 10
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 2.10 (3 TD surrendered)
* Yards Per Play: 384/74 = 5.19 YPP
Leading by 15-21 Points
* Drives: 7
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 2.43 (2 TD, 1 FG surrendered)
* Yards Per Play: 410/53 = 7.73 YPP
Leading by 22-28 Points
* Drives: 2
* Average Points Surrendered Per Drive: 7.0 (2 TD surrendered)
* Yards Per Play: 155/21 = 7.38 YPP
------------------------------
Defense by starting field position
30-50 Yard Line
* Drives: 3
* Points Per Drive: 0
* Yards Per Play: 11/12 = 0.92 YPP
51-70 Yard Line
* Drives: 4
* Points Per Drive: 0
* Yards Per Play: 83/22 = 3.77 YPP
71-80 Yard Line
* Drives: 15
* Points Per Drive: 2.8
* Yards Per Play: 616/106 = 5.81 YPP
81-99 Yard Line
* Drives: 11
* Points Per Drive: 0.91
* Yards Per Play: 506/76 = 6.66 YPP
