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Sometimes hindsight is 20/20, sometimes it turns into revisionist history. I am of the opinion that a few bad performances unjustifiably changed the perception of just how "awful" our defense was. I've heard a lot of arguments about why our pass defense was ranked so high (we were #1 nationally in pass efficiency defense and pass completion percentage defense before the Georgia game, and finished at #9 and #1 respectively). The biggest and quickest argument is that teams were so good at running against us that they didn't have to pass it, therefore their numbers weren't good. Two problems with this. First, we aren't measuring volume; we're measuring efficiency. Even if a team passed 10 times against us compared to 25 as their average, they completed a much lower percentage of those 10 passes and were much less efficient doing so (which actually would go contrary to the idea that it was because of our porous run defense, which would assume that we were always expecting run, thus opening up the passing game for greater success. Number two, it's just not true. Below are the passing numbers of most all of the teams we faced (I took the numbers of the quarterback that played most or all of the game), compared to their averages per game on the season. UCLA Vs. Nebraska - 21/33 (63.7%) for 305 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT ----- Season Average - 23/34 (66.6%) for 267.5 yards, 2 TD, .78 INT - Threw an average amount of times at an average completion percentage Arkansas State Vs. Nebraska - 16/30 (53.3%) for 138 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT ----- Season Average - 21/31 (67.7%) for 257 yards, 1.8 TD, .3 INT - Well below season averages across the board, but threw for same number of attempts Wisconsin Vs. Nebraska - 12/23 (52.1%) for 214 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT ----- Season Average - 12/20 (58.8%) for 184 yards, 1 TD, .5 INT - Pretty average stuff here, right on par with his season numbers (Stave) Ohio State Vs. Nebraska - 7/14 (50%) for 127 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT ----- Season Average - 12/21 (58.3%) for 170 yards, 1.25 TD, .5 INT - These numbers are closer than I thought, although this game is one that is actually telling as to their success on the ground. Northwestern Vs. Nebraska - 16/37 (43.2%) for 121 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT ----- Season Average - 17/28 (63.3%) for 168 yards, 1 TD, .5 INT - Notably higher number of attempts with notably lower success Michigan State Vs. Nebraska - 9/27 (33.3%) for 123 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT ----- Season Average - 18/34 (52.5%) for 200 yards, 1 TD, .7 INT - Threw it a little less, but significant drop-off in efficiency Penn State Vs. Nebraska - 18/37 (48.6%) for 240 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT ----- Season Average - 22.5/37 (60.5%) for 272.5 yards, 2 TD, .4 INT - Threw the same amount of times, far less production. This being a quarterback that signed a three year deal with the Raiders. Us and Wisconsin the only two teams to hold him under 50% on the year. Minnesota Vs. Nebraska - 8/23 (34.7%) for 59 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT ----- Season Average - 11/21 (49.3%) for 125 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT - Same song different verse. Threw for more attempts than average. Iowa Vs. Nebraska - 11/24 (45.8%) for 82 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT ----- Season Average - 17/32 (57.3%) for 187 yards, .6 TD, .7 INT - Threw less times but keep in mind the 25 mph winds. So, you tell me if our pass defense was actually good or not, and if they actually "benefitted" from our run defense being so bad that teams didn't have to pass. The numbers seem pretty clear to me.