Importance of a top ranked defense?

So we got a lot of attention last year for our top ranked defense and we saw Van Noy and Ansah benefit from that as well with pro scouts. I was wondering about how important that is, as well as if this year's defense is going to take a hit just from the GFGH scheme of the offense. Last year, over all 13 games, BYU gave up averages of 86.92 yards rushing, 179 passing, 266.08 total per game, but opposing teams only had 60.77 plays per game. So far this year, we are giving up 120.5 rushing, 213.5 passing and 334 total yards, but opposing teams have had 78.5 plays per game. In total, last year we gave up 4.37 yards per play, this year, it has been 4.25 yards per play.



Does this "hurt" the defense from a National perspective?



Either way, this defense has been phenomenal through 2 games.



In contrast, our offense is currently averaging more yards per play than they did last year (5.42 vs. 5.19)

Traditionally and historically great defenses will dominate great offenses much more frequently - almost exclusively - than a great offense will dominate a great defense.



Defense is extremely important and can carry a team against more opponents than an offense can.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Traditionally and historically great defenses will dominate great offenses much more frequently - almost exclusively - than a great offense will dominate a great defense.



Defense is extremely important and can carry a team against more opponents than an offense can.

Here, here. Defense and Special Teams play. For exhibit A (though I know it was on the professional level) look at the Tampa Bay Bucs vs. Oakland Raiders Super Bowl. Tampa's superb defense completely locked down the Oakland offense in what would become a blowout with Tampa's very average offense. If you have a great defense, great special teams, and a decent offense, you can win championships. See also Alabama.

Cougarfan87 wrote:

Traditionally and historically great defenses will dominate great offenses much more frequently - almost exclusively - than a great offense will dominate a great defense.



Defense is extremely important and can carry a team against more opponents than an offense can.

Here, here. Defense and Special Teams play. For exhibit A (though I know it was on the professional level) look at the Tampa Bay Bucs vs. Oakland Raiders Super Bowl. Tampa's superb defense completely locked down the Oakland offense in what would become a blowout with Tampa's very average offense. If you have a great defense, great special teams, and a decent offense, you can win championships. See also Alabama.

I'll see your example of the Bucs & Raiders and raise you a Patriots & Giants. The Patriots in 2007(?) set an NFL record for points scored. Tom Brady set an NFL record for TD passes and Randy Moss for to TD catches. They managed all of 14 points in the Super Bowl.

kjjson wrote:

In contrast, our offense is currently averaging more yards per play than they did last year (5.42 vs. 5.19)

speaking of the offense, it could turn out that the UVA and UT games were outliers when we look back at this season. hopefully the mean is closer to the UT game though!!

SpiffCoug wrote:

Here, here. Defense and Special Teams play. For exhibit A (though I know it was on the professional level) look at the Tampa Bay Bucs vs. Oakland Raiders Super Bowl. Tampa's superb defense completely locked down the Oakland offense in what would become a blowout with Tampa's very average offense. If you have a great defense, great special teams, and a decent offense, you can win championships. See also Alabama.

I'll see your example of the Bucs & Raiders and raise you a Patriots & Giants. The Patriots in 2007(?) set an NFL record for points scored. Tom Brady set an NFL record for TD passes and Randy Moss for to TD catches. They managed all of 14 points in the Super Bowl.

That's another great example.

I completely agree that having a great defense is vital to success, particularly game in and game out. What my question is as far as a top ranked defense is based on the national perception of being "the 3rd best run defense". It seems that the stats that are measured are Rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, total yards, points allowed, etc. We could have the best defense in the country, but it might not show up on a national level due to the number of plays ran in a game, like this year we are giving up 70 more yards per game than last year, but on a per play basis, we are giving up less yards per play. Is our defense perception hurt due to the high number of plays being run in a game, and how much does that matter?

kjjson wrote:
I completely agree that having a great defense is vital to success, particularly game in and game out. What my question is as far as a top ranked defense is based on the national perception of being "the 3rd best run defense". It seems that the stats that are measured are Rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, total yards, points allowed, etc. We could have the best defense in the country, but it might not show up on a national level due to the number of plays ran in a game, like this year we are giving up 70 more yards per game than last year, but on a per play basis, we are giving up less yards per play. Is our defense perception hurt due to the high number of plays being run in a game, and how much does that matter?

I think the talking heads are sophisticated enough to see that--especially if the yards per play are down and the points per game are down. They were touting Oregon as a really great defense, and I think they were taking into account how the offense puts the defense on the field more. If we can consistently keep points of the board, play great special teams, and have a good turnover margin, I think the perception about the defense will not take a hit at all because we will be winning games. In fact, it may even go up. Winning cures a whole lot.