***The Nebraska Defense - Blackshirts 2023***

[TGHusker]

4 hours ago, Savage Husker said:

Was listening to the game on the radio when this play occurred, Benning was real excited over that effort and “starred” that play as a big moment in the game. 
 

Also, pretty close to a clipping. NW with a clear push in the back. Oh well.

That was a beautiful read by Gifford.  Engaged the lineman and then backed off as he saw the screen develop.  Such great coaching and great pursuit by Gifford.  That play shows definitively the difference between this year's D and the D we've had for the past 8 years.  Read, Pursuit, Great tackling, Gang tackling after Gifford initiates the original tackle.  This play and the bull rush sack play by Nash is a picture of what we are becoming and it will only get better has the years go by and we have Frosh > Seniors developed.  As others have said - Give White a blank check.  We need to pay him enough to make sure he doesn't want to take on the headache of being a head coach someplace at Podunk U.  Maybe HCMR can redesignate some of his Neb & Carolina salary over to him.  

[BigRedBuster]

18 minutes ago, TGHusker said:

That was a beautiful read by Gifford.  Engaged the lineman and then backed off as he saw the screen develop.  Such great coaching and great pursuit by Gifford.  That play shows definitively the difference between this year's D and the D we've had for the past 8 years.  Read, Pursuit, Great tackling, Gang tackling after Gifford initiates the original tackle.  This play and the bull rush sack play by Nash is a picture of what we are becoming and it will only get better has the years go buy and we have Frosh > Seniors developed.  As others have said - Give White a blank check.  We need to pay him enough to make sure he doesn't want to take on the headache of being a head coach someplace at Podunk U.  Maybe HCMR can redesignate some of his Neb & Carolina salary over to him.  

 Good coordinators usually get their chance at being a HC.  Some, jump to HC by going down a level to a smaller school and start working their way up.  Others, stay OC or DC till they have definitely proven themselves as a great coach, while making really good money, and get that chance at an FBS school and even a P5 school.  Hopefully, White is thinking he can do the second option....while staying here.

[BigRedBuster]

White needs to get paid.  But, another angle that could convince him to stay here is if he truly thinks Rhule has the program going in the right direction (as I do) and thinks that can play a big part in his future on his resume....and, if he truly thinks Rhule is a very good HC (as I do) and he can learn by being around him longer.

[TGHusker]

4 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

White needs to get paid.  But, another angle that could convince him to stay here is if he truly thinks Rhule has the program going in the right direction (as I do) and thinks that can play a big part in his future on his resume....and, if he truly thinks Rhule is a very good HC (as I do) and he can learn by being around him longer.

And maybe Rhule decides to do something different after 8 years - leaving the door open for White.  The BobFather was HC for 11 years and Tom was in the wings.  Hopefully we can follow the same pattern as HCMR rebuilds us into a contender once again.  Yes, 8 years is a long time to wait but Frank waited a bit longer.  

Really counting my eggs before they hatch here - but like you said, I believe Rhule has us going in the right direction.  

[caveman99]

On 10/26/2023 at 7:47 AM, BigRedBuster said:

 

So basically opponents are expected to have the worst rushing yards per attempt against the Blackshirts, but the Blackshirts are 2nd best in holding them below the already really low expected yards per attempt? Am I reading that right, because if so, that is bananas.

[Toe]

@caveman99 Not quite. It's how often opponents run it compared to what they normally do (X-axis), versus how successful they are at running compared to what they normally are (Y-axis). Bottom left quadrant means that opponents have run the ball against us less often than they usually do, and when they do run it against us, they are less successful at it than they usually are .

 

So yeah, we've been pretty solid at run defense, despite only being a 3-3 up front (instead of 3-4 or 4-3).

[DefenderAO]

EDIT

[caveman99]

On 10/27/2023 at 7:26 PM, Toe said:

@caveman99 Not quite. It's how often opponents run it compared to what they normally do (X-axis), versus how successful they are at running compared to what they normally are (Y-axis). Bottom left quadrant means that opponents have run the ball against us less often than they usually do, and when they do run it against us, they are less successful at it than they usually are .

 

So yeah, we've been pretty solid at run defense, despite only being a 3-3 up front (instead of 3-4 or 4-3).

Thanks, still pretty damn impressive. These Blackshirts are as fun to watch as any squad since 2010.

[Akees]

If Buford can give us 10-15 snaps next week that will be a huge boost. Having him for that last four games is an exciting thought. 

[Mavric]

 

[BigRedBuster]

And, I love it that Rhule is telling them they can do better. 

[BigRedBuster]

Hate it that he’s in concussion protocol. 
 

 

[TGHusker]

Stop Rate.  The key to the success of our D.   Intersecting article.  Neb went from # 93rd last year to 23rd currently.   Get out the check book for White.  It sould only get better as he and his assistants develop these players and new recruits.  

 

 

https://theathletic.com/5021015/2023/11/01/college-football-stop-rate-rankings-nebraska/

 

Nebraska is one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. How is Matt Rhule getting it done in Year 1? With a defense that’s quickly rising up the ranks as one of college football’s best in stop rate.

What is stop rate? It’s a basic measurement of success: the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs. This simple metric can offer a more accurate reflection of a defense’s effectiveness in today’s faster-tempo college football than yards per game or points per game. We’re now in Year 7 of tracking this statistic (here are the final standings for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017) along with every defense’s points per drive average.

The Huskers are emerging as one of the most improved defenses in the country by this standard. They finished 93rd in stop rate last season and have climbed to No. 23 in this week’s update. Rhule’s squad has won five of its last six games, and if you take a closer look, this was one of the best defenses in the country in October.

Nebraska’s stop rate during its current three-game win streak is 87.2 percent. That’s good for fourth-best in FBS and second among all Power 5 defenses behind Michigan in the month of October. Over the past month, this defense surrendered a total of 22 points over 39 drives and ranked among the top 10 nationally in yards per play (4.0), rush defense (66 yards per game), first downs allowed (12.7 per game) and three-and-out rate (46 percent). During this three-game streak, the Huskers haven’t allowed a touchdown on six trips into the red zone.

Rhule had to search for a new defensive coordinator when he made his return from the NFL and he found a gem in Tony White, whom he hired away from Syracuse. This isn’t a defense that was totally reconstructed via the transfer portal. They’re doing what great coaches tend to do in Year 1: bringing out the best in the guys they inherited. Only one of Nebraska’s defensive starters in their 31-14 win over Purdue — freshman edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen — wasn’t on the team a year ago.

For Rhule and his process of building this program, it’s important to praise the improving play while also driving home the point that the truth is somewhere closer to the middle. At his weekly news conference on Monday, he pointed to some miscues with alignment in the secondary, a touchdown allowed on a third-and-15 along with issues with QB scrambles and tackling that weren’t quite up to their standard. Players watched the tape, Rhule said, and understood that game wasn’t as good as they thought.

 

“We didn’t play nearly as well on defense as the stats denoted,” he said.

That’s the mentality they need in a rebuild, especially if they want to be a team that can win close four-quarter games down the stretch. The Huskers have endured a ton of injuries on offense, and their defense just keeps picking them up. Nebraska has lost 19 turnovers this season, which ranks third-most in FBS. The season-opening losses to Minnesota and Colorado were doomed by a combined 26 points scored off of Huskers turnovers. Since that rough start, the defense has done a remarkable job in those tough spots with only two TDs and two field goals allowed off 11 turnovers.

Note: All data is courtesy of TruMedia and Pro Football Focus.

RK	DEFENSE	G	DRIVES	STOP RATE	PTS/DRIVE
1	Michigan	8	81	88.9%	0.58
2	Ohio State	7	80	82.5%	0.91
3	Penn State	7	83	81.9%	1.02
4	UCLA	7	86	77.9%	1.07
5	SMU	7	85	77.6%	1.32
6	Iowa	8	104	76.9%	1.05
7	Georgia	7	77	76.6%	1.44
8	Troy	7	79	75.9%	1.33
9	Rutgers	7	74	75.7%	1.47
10	Wisconsin	8	97	75.3%	1.47
11	Duke	7	76	75%	1.39
12	Air Force	7	67	74.6%	1.49
13	Fresno State	7	77	74%	1.62
14	James Madison	7	96	74%	1.56
15	Louisville	7	84	73.8%	1.63
16	Utah	7	79	73.4%	1.61
17	Alabama	8	94	73.4%	1.40
18	Florida State	8	90	73.3%	1.40
18	Jacksonville State	8	105	73.3%	1.58
20	Notre Dame	8	93	73.1%	1.

20	Texas	8	93	73.1%	1.38
22	Clemson	7	89	73%	1.54
23	Nebraska	8	94	72.3%	1.50
24	Texas A&M	8	88	71.6%	1.43
25	Ohio	8	84	71.4%	1.48
26	Oklahoma	8	96	70.8%	1.43
27	Oregon	7	75	70.7%	1.57
28	Liberty	8	92	70.7%	1.74
29	Virginia Tech	8	94	70.2%	1.80
30	Miami (OH)	8	87	70.1%	1.66

 

[BigRedBuster]

8 minutes ago, TGHusker said:

Stop Rate.  The key to the success of our D.   Intersecting article.  Neb went from # 93rd last year to 23rd currently.   Get out the check book for White.  It sould only get better as he and his assistants develop these players and new recruits.  

 

 

https://theathletic.com/5021015/2023/11/01/college-football-stop-rate-rankings-nebraska/

 

Nebraska is one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. How is Matt Rhule getting it done in Year 1? With a defense that’s quickly rising up the ranks as one of college football’s best in stop rate.

What is stop rate? It’s a basic measurement of success: the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs. This simple metric can offer a more accurate reflection of a defense’s effectiveness in today’s faster-tempo college football than yards per game or points per game. We’re now in Year 7 of tracking this statistic (here are the final standings for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017) along with every defense’s points per drive average.

The Huskers are emerging as one of the most improved defenses in the country by this standard. They finished 93rd in stop rate last season and have climbed to No. 23 in this week’s update. Rhule’s squad has won five of its last six games, and if you take a closer look, this was one of the best defenses in the country in October.

Nebraska’s stop rate during its current three-game win streak is 87.2 percent. That’s good for fourth-best in FBS and second among all Power 5 defenses behind Michigan in the month of October. Over the past month, this defense surrendered a total of 22 points over 39 drives and ranked among the top 10 nationally in yards per play (4.0), rush defense (66 yards per game), first downs allowed (12.7 per game) and three-and-out rate (46 percent). During this three-game streak, the Huskers haven’t allowed a touchdown on six trips into the red zone.

Rhule had to search for a new defensive coordinator when he made his return from the NFL and he found a gem in Tony White, whom he hired away from Syracuse. This isn’t a defense that was totally reconstructed via the transfer portal. They’re doing what great coaches tend to do in Year 1: bringing out the best in the guys they inherited. Only one of Nebraska’s defensive starters in their 31-14 win over Purdue — freshman edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen — wasn’t on the team a year ago.

For Rhule and his process of building this program, it’s important to praise the improving play while also driving home the point that the truth is somewhere closer to the middle. At his weekly news conference on Monday, he pointed to some miscues with alignment in the secondary, a touchdown allowed on a third-and-15 along with issues with QB scrambles and tackling that weren’t quite up to their standard. Players watched the tape, Rhule said, and understood that game wasn’t as good as they thought.

 

“We didn’t play nearly as well on defense as the stats denoted,” he said.

That’s the mentality they need in a rebuild, especially if they want to be a team that can win close four-quarter games down the stretch. The Huskers have endured a ton of injuries on offense, and their defense just keeps picking them up. Nebraska has lost 19 turnovers this season, which ranks third-most in FBS. The season-opening losses to Minnesota and Colorado were doomed by a combined 26 points scored off of Huskers turnovers. Since that rough start, the defense has done a remarkable job in those tough spots with only two TDs and two field goals allowed off 11 turnovers.

 

Note: All data is courtesy of TruMedia and Pro Football Focus.

RK	DEFENSE	G	DRIVES	STOP RATE	PTS/DRIVE
1	Michigan	8	81	88.9%	0.58
2	Ohio State	7	80	82.5%	0.91
3	Penn State	7	83	81.9%	1.02
4	UCLA	7	86	77.9%	1.07
5	SMU	7	85	77.6%	1.32
6	Iowa	8	104	76.9%	1.05
7	Georgia	7	77	76.6%	1.44
8	Troy	7	79	75.9%	1.33
9	Rutgers	7	74	75.7%	1.47
10	Wisconsin	8	97	75.3%	1.47
11	Duke	7	76	75%	1.39
12	Air Force	7	67	74.6%	1.49
13	Fresno State	7	77	74%	1.62
14	James Madison	7	96	74%	1.56
15	Louisville	7	84	73.8%	1.63
16	Utah	7	79	73.4%	1.61
17	Alabama	8	94	73.4%	1.40
18	Florida State	8	90	73.3%	1.40
18	Jacksonville State	8	105	73.3%	1.58
20	Notre Dame	8	93	73.1%	1.

20	Texas	8	93	73.1%	1.38
22	Clemson	7	89	73%	1.54
23	Nebraska	8	94	72.3%	1.50
24	Texas A&M	8	88	71.6%	1.43
25	Ohio	8	84	71.4%	1.48
26	Oklahoma	8	96	70.8%	1.43
27	Oregon	7	75	70.7%	1.57
28	Liberty	8	92	70.7%	1.74
29	Virginia Tech	8	94	70.2%	1.80
30	Miami (OH)	8	87	70.1%	1.66

 

Amazing how Michigan can be so good....it's like they know what the other team is going to run.

[Lorewarn]

2 touchdowns and 2 field goals allowed off 11 turnovers in the last 6 games is an incredibly impressive stat and performance turned in by the Blackshirts. I absolutely love to see it.