Stats prove Blackshirts were nation's best

[Enhance]

Stats prove Blackshirts were nation's best

By the Lincoln Journal Star

 

Wanting to make the case that Nebraska had the best defense in college football in 2009? You’ve certainly got some statistical ammunition.

 

You may already be aware the Huskers finished the year No. 1 in the country in scoring defense — giving up 10.4 points per game.

 

But let’s break it down further:

 

* NU’s defensive scoring average was 18.1 points better than last season, when the Huskers gave up 28.5 points a game and ranked 80th nationally.

 

In 2007, the Huskers gave up an average of 37.9 points a game (114th).

 

The last time Nebraska led the nation in scoring defense was 1984, when NU allowed 9.5 points per game.

 

* The Blackshirts gave up 14 offensive touchdowns, which is something, considering they allowed 11 in one game (vs. Kansas) just two years ago.

 

* Nebraska shut out two opponents and held eight teams to 10 or fewer points.

 

* The Huskers finished seventh nationally in total defense, allowing an average of 272.0 yards per game, which is 204 yards fewer than they allowed in 2007.

 

That is the best for a Nebraska defense since the 1999 unit allowed 252.3 yards per game.

 

* Nebraska allowed an average of 3.99 yards per snap, joining TCU and Texas as the only teams that allowed less than 4 yards per play.

 

* NU held 13 of 14 opponents below their season average in total offense.

 

* The Huskers ended the season first nationally in pass-efficiency defense with a 87.28 rating.

 

Nebraska was also tops in this category in 2003 when Bo Pelini was defensive coordinator.

 

* Opponents completed 47.7 percent of their pass attempts, the fourth-lowest opponent passing percentage in the nation.

 

The Huskers were also seventh nationally with 20 interceptions.

 

* The Blackshirts had the top red zone defense in the country, allowing opponents to convert on 64 percent of their trips inside the Nebraska 20-yard line. Opponents scored 11 touchdowns and kicked five field goals in 25 red-zone chances against the Blackshirts.

 

* The Huskers allowed an average of 93.1 yards per game on the ground to finish ninth nationally in rushing defense.

 

* Nebraska tied for second nationally in sacks, recording 44 for the season and 3.14 per game.

 

* And in Pelini’s three bowl games as Husker coach, Nebraska’s defense has given up an average of 8 points, 164.3 total yards and 37.7 rushing yards.

 

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[husker B-rent]

BIG GAME BO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WVhuskerXX]

Its so nice to have a DOMINATING defense again

[Landlord]

So comparing half those stats to us in 2007 shows that we were the best in the nation this year?

 

 

 

Nice read nonetheless.

[74Hunter]

The most impressive stat (out of a group of very impressive stats) is that our D allowed less than 48% of passes to be completed. In a time when most qb's should be about 60% to be considered servicable and a number of qb's complete over 70% of their passes, this is a very telling as to how good the schemes Pelini runs, and how good of a db coach Marvin Sanders is. I hope we can keep HIM around for awhile, too.