Indiana is averaging almost 20 points a game

[austinhawk]

So they scored 24 against us. This was only because our 3rdstringers gave up a long pass interference call towards the end of the game. Even though our defensive strength can be questioned, I truly only see Wisconsin and Mich state having a better defense. Most big 10 teams right now are questioning their defense. Bring on Michigan as a good test!

 

[DexterMorgan]

NW also put up 406 total yards and 24 points against PSU.

 

[CAARHawk]

Even though our defensive strength can be questioned, I truly only see Wisconsin and Mich state having a better defense.

Rushing Defense: 8
Pass Defense: 11
Total Defense: 9
Scoring Defense: 8
Sacks: 6
TFL's: 7

Wow. These numbers must really be lying then.

 

[TylerSash]

Prior to last Saturday, Indiana had scored 3 offensive TDs in 3 Big Ten games.

OP forgot Penn State, and Illinois' front line is ferocious. They look like Iowa used to with pro prospects all over. Michigan gives up about half as man point as we do. Ohio State is just as good as they usually are on D, which is all the more impressive since they don't have an offense.

If you can't see that Iowa has one of the 3 or 4 worst D's in the B1G, you should have your football watching privileges revoked.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

I would rank the B10 defenses: MSU/PSU
Wisconsin
Illinois
Nebraska
Iowa
Ohio State
Michigan
Purdue
NW
Minn
IN
PSU/MSU are both stout defenses, arguably equal. Wisconsin, Illinois then Nebraska.

Iowa, Purdue, Michigan, OSU are all about the same. Of these OSU has the most potential. I put Nebraska slightly ahead of this group.

The others are just bad.

 

[CAARHawk]

I just don't get it. Iowa has not played the toughest teams in the conference and is at the bottom of the conference in almost all statistical categories, but somehow 6 defenses are behind Iowa?

Not saying they can't or won't improve, but I just don't get the reasoning.

 

[FML]

Saw a stat recently....Iowa is 112th out of 120 teams in 3rd down defense.

 

[DJL]

I would rank the B10 defenses: MSU/PSU
Wisconsin
Illinois
Nebraska
Iowa
Ohio State
Michigan
Purdue
NW
Minn
IN
PSU/MSU are both stout defenses, arguably equal. Wisconsin, Illinois then Nebraska.

Iowa, Purdue, Michigan, OSU are all about the same. Of these OSU has the most potential. I put Nebraska slightly ahead of this group.

The others are just bad.

I'm sorry but this is just crazy. Iowa's D is better than IN, Minn, and NW, I haven't watched Purdue much, but they did pretty well against a decent Illinois offense. Nebraska's defense is not great either, I would probably put OSU and Michigan ahead of them. Wisconsin's defense is untested, I would drop them a little. The Big 10 as a whole is down defensively and we are towards the bottom in most statistical categories. Not good.

 

[DexterMorgan]

I'm sorry but this is just crazy. Iowa's D is better than IN, Minn, and NW, I haven't watched Purdue much, but they did pretty well against a decent Illinois defense. Nebraska's defense is not great either, I would probably put OSU and Michigan ahead of them. Wisconsin's defense is untested, I would drop them a little. The Big 10 as a whole is down defensively and we are towards the bottom in most statistical categories. Not good.

I'd say we average 4th to last in most categories after taking a quick glance.

 

[ibahawkeye]

I just don't get it. Iowa has not played the toughest teams in the conference and is at the bottom of the conference in almost all statistical categories, but somehow 6 defenses are behind Iowa?

Not saying they can't or won't improve, but I just don't get the reasoning.

Why consider stats when you can just use the eye test (with your hawkeye glasses on)?

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

I just don't get it. Iowa has not played the toughest teams in the conference and is at the bottom of the conference in almost all statistical categories, but somehow 6 defenses are behind Iowa?

Not saying they can't or won't improve, but I just don't get the reasoning.

I was trying to be brief in my comments there. I would put Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan as all interchangable. I wouldn't consider any of them to be that much better than the others right now. OSU has the best potential. Michigan is probably worse than Iowa. But thats an opinion base on observance.

 

[HomerChampless]

Saw a stat recently....Iowa is 112th out of 120 teams in 3rd down defense.

Considering Iowa's tradition, is that supposed to be shocking news?

 

[DexterMorgan]

I just don't get it. Iowa has not played the toughest teams in the conference and is at the bottom of the conference in almost all statistical categories, but somehow 6 defenses are behind Iowa?

Not saying they can't or won't improve, but I just don't get the reasoning.

This is total offense for only big ten games:

We've played #s 4 (NW), 6(PSU), and 10 (Indy)

"better" offenses left to play: #2 (mich) #3 (Nebby)

"worse" offenses yet to play: #8 (MSU) #9 (PU) #12 (minny)

 

[STILLBUSTER]

Rushing Defense: 8
Pass Defense: 11
Total Defense: 9
Scoring Defense: 8
Sacks: 6
TFL's: 7

Wow. These numbers must really be lying then.

I just don't get it. Iowa has not played the toughest teams in the conference and is at the bottom of the conference in almost all statistical categories, but somehow 6 defenses are behind Iowa?

Not saying they can't or won't improve, but I just don't get the reasoning.

The statistical evidence is not only relative to other teams but relative to history, as well.

Quick glance at the archives on Hawkeyesports.com shows that, statistically, this defense is on pace to be the worst Iowa defense in virtually every statistical category in a decade! (That's rush yards, avg rush per carry, pass yards, total defense, 3rd down %, scoring defense ... I think the only one that might be slightly better is some obscure category like average yards per pass attempt / completion.)

Folks, it's okay to accept that this is simply a below average defense without launching into all the routine rationalizations and apologies. They all know it. Hopefully they just keep playing with effort and do the best they can but the bottom line is, more than half the season is done and there has been no improvement (if anything, deterioration) in tackling, positioning and containment -- that's from even the experienced players.

 

[DexterMorgan]

Only big ten games.

http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/confonly.html

SCORING DEFENSE G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Penn State 4 6 5 4 0 0 0 55 13.8
2. Ohio State 3 6 3 6 0 0 0 51 17.0
3. Michigan 3 7 1 7 0 0 0 52 17.3
Michigan State 3 7 1 7 0 0 0 52 17.3
5. Purdue 3 6 4 6 0 0 0 54 18.0
6. Wisconsin 3 8 1 6 1 0 1 61 20.3
7. Iowa 3 8 4 8 0 0 0 68 22.7
8. Illinois 4 12 3 12 0 0 0 93 23.2
9. Nebraska 3 12 2 11 0 0 0 89 29.7
10. Northwestern 4 20 5 18 1 0 0 155 38.8
11. Indiana 4 21 5 20 0 0 0 161 40.2
12. Minnesota 3 18 6 18 0 0 0 144 48.0




TOTAL DEFENSE G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Michigan State 3 337 534 193 871 4.5 7 290.3
2. Illinois 4 589 574 267 1163 4.4 11 290.8
3. Penn State 4 412 847 279 1259 4.5 6 314.8
4. Purdue 3 403 543 201 946 4.7 5 315.3
5. Michigan 3 393 555 180 948 5.3 6 316.0
6. Wisconsin 3 491 530 193 1021 5.3 7 340.3
7. Ohio State 3 419 610 205 1029 5.0 6 343.0
8. Nebraska 3 606 485 186 1091 5.9 12 363.7
9. Iowa 3 601 703 235 1304 5.5 8 434.7
10. Northwestern 4 613 1169 263 1782 6.8 19 445.5
11. Minnesota 3 926 541 226 1467 6.5 15 489.0
12. Indiana 4 1036 926 286 1962 6.9 18 490.5

 

[DJL]

I'd say we average 4th to last in most categories after taking a quick glance.

Yeah bottom 3rd is pretty bad, hopefully we can get better soon

 

[DexterMorgan]

Yeah bottom 3rd is pretty bad, hopefully we can get better soon

It is. I think it'll get better. Don't get me wrong, it'll be frustrating all year but I think (hope) we see some improvement. Looked pretty stout for most of the Indiana game.

 

[DJL]

It is. I think it'll get better. Don't get me wrong, it'll be frustrating all year but I think (hope) we see some improvement. Looked pretty stout for most of the Indiana game.

I agree, we just seem to have those drives once in a while where we can't get off the field on 3rd down, and the drive goes on forever. I have seen improvement, we just need to make more 3rd down plays on D.

 

[DexterMorgan]

I agree, we just seem to have those drives once in a while where we can't get off the field on 3rd down, and the drive goes on forever. I have seen improvement, we just need to make more 3rd down plays on D.

Yeah, maybe a little more than "once in a while" this year

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

"I'm sorry but this is just crazy. Iowa's D is better than IN, Minn, and NW, I haven't watched Purdue much, but they did pretty well against a decent Illinois offense. Nebraska's defense is not great either, I would probably put OSU and Michigan ahead of them. Wisconsin's defense is untested, I would drop them a little. The Big 10 as a whole is down defensively and we are towards the bottom in most statistical categories. Not good."

I didn't put IN, NW or MN ahead of Iowa. Purdue has a quality win, but they are still not a good defense. As I stated above(and in other posts) I consider Iowa and Purdue about the same except that Purdue has a quality win against Illinois.

In spite of their loss to MSU, Wisconsin still has a good defense. They are better than Illinois and Nebraska. Drop them below tOSU or Michigan? Based on what? Against their two quality opponents Michigan gave up 31 to ND and 28 to MSU. Not to mention the 24 they gave up to NW.
tOSU is getting on track. With their talent they have to be considered a contender in their remaining games, but at this point they arn't impressing anyone with their defense.
I wouldn't put Wisconsin below Illinois either. Illinois has a good defense but not better than Wisconsin.
You are right the B10 is down this year. And Iowa is in the middle of the pack defensively. With Purdue, Michigan, tOSU, and just below Nebraska.