BYU vs Opponents Thru Game 4

We’re now a third of the way through the season. So I think we’re close to the point where we can start to make some decently informed decisions about teams. We probably still need to wait another week so as to allow BYU’s opponents to have played four games against non-BYU teams. But since we’re close I think it’s safe to assume that the BYU offense is quite good.



So here is how BYU is doing compared to opponent season averages. As always, I'm comparing the BYU game to the opponents' season averages (with the BYU game removed from those calculations). I have also begun adding in the numbers and the changes from the previous week.



UConn

Held UConn 8 points (10) below their scoring average (18). (-2)

Allowed UConn 9 yards (71) above their rushing average (62). (+2.5)

Allowed UConn 135.7 yards (355) above their total offense average (219.3). (+37.2)

Held UConn 20.8 PER points (97.62) below their PER average (118.46). (-7.4)

BYU scored 11.3 points (35) more than their scoring defense average (23.7). (-3.3)

BYU gained 100.3 more yards (205) than their rushing defense average (104.7). (-26.2)

BYU Gained 225.3 more yards (513) than their total defense average (287.7). (+8.8 )

BYU was 42.1 PER points (177.14) above their PER defense average (135.02). (+6)



This UConn team has completely fallen off the charts. BYU actually played extremely well on defense against these guys. But the Huskies’ offense has become completely inept – in large part due to their QB issues stemming from yet another QB leaving the game against BYU and giving up football. In their last outing, UConn had a total of six first downs and 132 yards of offense. By comparison, BYU has two drives this season (including the 1st drive of the season against UConn) where the Cougars gained six first downs. This was a bad team when BYU played them and they’re even worse now.



Texas

Held Texas 20.5 points (7) below their scoring average (27.5).

Held Texas 62.5 yards (82) below their rushing average (144.5).

Held Texas 79.5 yards (258) below their total offense average (337.5).

Held Texas 9.1 PER points (116.40) below their PER average (125.48 ).

BYU scored 27.5 points (41) more than their scoring defense average (13.5).

BYU gained 100.0 more yards (248) than their rushing defense average (148.0).

BYU Gained 160.5 more yards (429) than their total defense average (268.5).

BYU was 21.6 points (115.57) above their PER defense average (93.93).



Texas had a bye, so no changes here.



Houston

Held Houston 8.7 points (25) below their scoring average 33.7. (+6.7)

Held Houston 206 yards (10) below their rushing average (216). (+91.5)

Held Houston 81.3 yards (325) below their total offense average (406.3). (+63.8 )

Allowed Houston 33.9 PER (127.09) points above their PER average (93.20). (-1.4)

BYU scored 19.3 points (33) more than their scoring defense average (13.7). (-0.2)

BYU gained 198 more (323) yards than their rushing defense average (125.0). (-22.5)

BYU Gained 250.7 more yards (523) than their total defense average (272.3). (-22.3)

BYU was 8.9 points (109.12) below their PER defense average (118.03). (-26.3)



The dramatic drop in BYU’s PER offense vs Houston’s PER defense is thanks to UNLV. UNLV had a PER of 57.09 vs Houston which lowered Houston’s season PER defense from 114.55 to 93.20. Houston will be hard pressed to repeat that performance. But it was still a substantially sub-par passing night for BYU.



Virginia

Allowed Virginia 3.7 points (33) above their scoring average (29.3).

Allowed Virginia 61.7 yards (192) above their rushing average (130.3).

Allowed Virginia 185.3 yards (519) above their total offense average (333.7).

Held Virginia 13.3 PER points (109.94) below their PER average (123.20).

BYU scored 20.3 points (41) more than their scoring defense average (20.7).

BYU gained 60.3 more yards (145) than their rushing defense average (84.7).

BYU gained 22 fewer yards (332) than their total defense average (354).

BYU was 45.9 points (153.51) above their PER defense average (107.64).



Season Totals:

BYU has held three of four opponents below their scoring averages.

BYU has two of four opponents below their rushing averages.

BYU has held two of four opponents below their total offense averages.

BYU has held three of four opponents below the PER averages.

BYU has score more points against all four opponents scoring defenses.

BYU has gained more rushing yards against all four opponents rushing defenses.

BYU has gained more total yards against three of four opponents total defenses.

BYU has been above three of four opposing PER defenses.

At the risk of beating a couple of dead Chihuahuas:

Many BYU fans thought our passing defense Vs Houston was fine - including you. Many thought it stunk Vs Virginia. I thought our pass defense Vs Houston was not terrible. But not acceptable, and an off night. CC does not yet have a defensive PER standard based on historical context of what would assure a win % appropriate for a team that wants to be ranked most years. My guess until data emerges, is 110.



You felt the UH performance would look better as the season progresses considering who they are playing and that O'Korn is hitting full stride. It went slightly the opposite direction this week, however and looks even more like an anomaly from both how we held them Vs how UTSA, Grambling, and now UNLV held them and also how we have held our other opponents.



We continue to look more like Grambling who also got no turnovers, than we look like their other opponents.



And, our defensive PER by game has been:

UCONN 97.62 which is 20.8 better than their other opponents held them.



Texas 116.4 which is 9.1 better than their other opponents held them.



UVA 109.4 which is 13.3 better than their other opponents held them.



We held Houston to 127.09. That is now 33.9 worse than their other opponents held them. They are the highest PER we have allowed in 2014 by 10.69 and they are the only team that we have not held below their defensive PER average.



Thursday VS Houston still looks like an off night and pass defense was fine Vs Virginia. Run defense was the problem Saturday.



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To be fair to O'Korn and Houston in their game vs UNLV, Houston did have 399 yards rushing on 52 carries. It was almost their version of BYU's 2013 Texas game.



But yeah, I am disappointed that BYU's Defensive PER got worse against their average instead of better.



And if that continues to be the case, and Houston remains the only team BYU didn't hold below their PER average, then we can more likely look at that game as the fluke of the season.