Historical stat of Nebraska's scoring defense since 1962

[TonyStalloni]

in the Devaney Era most teams were ground and pound with the occasional pass. Oklahoma had a few high scoring offenses. TO's offense eventually evolved into a ground game that ate up time and kept the ball away from opposing offenses. The thing that makes the Suh year defense stats even more remarkable is the fact we had a poor offense that often was 3 and out. I would be interested in seeing if college teams are scoring at a much higher rate than they did in the 60's, 70's and 80's.

[HuskersNC949597]

This year we have ave'd 23pts a game. That takes Pelini's yearly ave up to 20.5. If you take out 2009 because Suh was a once in a lifetime player and greatly changes the average, Pelini's yearly ave jumps to 23. Pretty middle of the road defense.

 

Actually, if you take out a fumble recovery in the endzone, a 100 yard kickoff return, and a safey, Pelini's defense is giving about 17 pts per game. Qualifying statistics to make an argument goes both ways.

And, as a mathematician as certified by the University of Nebraska-Omaha, I can shave a few tenths off as well by actually adding the total number of points given up through x-number of years instead of just adding the rounded averages and then averaging that, which through 2011 means Pelini has given around 19.7 ppg (without adjusting for special teams and defensive TDs scored by the opponent) But then I realize that means I have too much free time.

[BigRedBuster]

I would like to see two stats to go along with this information.

 

a) NCAA D1 average scoring nationally for the same time frame.

 

b) Average number of plays in a game over the same time frame.

[Huskerzoo]

I chose to highlight this particular stat because it's the one Pelini harped on a couple years ago in an interview. If you exclude the Callahan era altogether, you'll notice a roughly 3 point increment from Devaney to Osborne to Solich to Pelini.

 

These are just pure numbers. No agenda on my part. I'm not interested in debating the differences between each era. However, I'd be remiss not to acknowledge how much the game has evolved since 1962. Interpret away as you wish.

 

DEVANEY ERA

1962 - 12.7

1963 - 10.7

1964 - 7.5

1965 - 9.0

1966 - 8.4

1967 - 8.3

1968 - 16.1

1969 - 10.8

1970 - 15.8

1971 - 8.0

1972 - 8.1

Average = 10.4

 

OSBORNE ERA

1973 - 13.6

1974 - 11.0

1975 - 13.0

1976 - 13.9

1977 - 16.7

1978 - 18.0

1979 - 10.9

1980 - 8.5

1981 - 9.4

1982 - 12.3

1983 - 15.5

1984 - 9.5 -

1985 - 12.4

1986 - 13.6

1987 - 12.1

1988 - 15.2

1989 - 15.8

1990 - 13.4

1991 - 18.9

1992 - 15.6

1993 - 16.0

1994 - 12.1

1995 - 13.6

1996 - 12.8

1997 - 16.4

Average = 13.6

 

SOLICH ERA

1998 - 15.2

1999 - 12.5

2000 - 19.4

2001 - 15.8

2002 - 23.9

2003 - 14.5

Average = 16.8

 

CALLAHAN ERA

2004 - 27.1

2005 - 21.0

2006 - 18.3

2007 - 37.9

Average = 26.1

 

PELINI ERA

2008 - 28.5

2009 - 10.4

2010 - 17.4

2011 - 23.4

Average = 19.9

 

 

You should also post average point scored by teams that played us that year. As well as the NCAA scoring average. Here's a relevant book if you need to play with this more. http://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Statistics-Darrell-Huff/dp/0393310728

[EbylHusker]

So here are a few numbers for the defensive ppg against the top teams lately (final Coaches Poll).

 

2011:

 

Alabama - 8.8

LSU - 10.5

Oklahoma St - 25.8

Oregon - 23.6

Arkansas - 22.8

Boise St - 18.3

Stanford - 20.3

South Carolina - 18.8

Michigan - 17.2

Michigan St - 17.5

 

2010:

 

Auburn - 24.5

TCU - 11.4

Oregon - 18.4

Stanford - 17.8

Ohio St - 13.3

Oklahoma - 21.9

Boise St - 13.6

LSU - 17.8

Wisconsin - 20.5

Oklahoma St - 27.8

 

2009:

 

Alabama - 11.0

Texas - 15.2

Florida - 11.5

Boise St - 17.7

Ohio St - 12.2

TCU - 12.4

Iowa - 15.5

Penn St - 11.8

Cincinnati - 20.8

Virginia Tech - 15.8

 

2008:

 

Florida - 12.8

USC - 7.8

Texas - 18.6

Utah - 17.3

Okahoma - 24.5

Alabama - 13.0

TCU - 10.9

Penn St - 12.4

Oregon - 28.0

Georgia - 25.6

 

Edit - I figure this is relevant since everyone wants us to be a top 10 team again. Might as well see what top 10ish teams each year are ending up with for ppg against their defense.

[Paul in WI]

I have a problem with statistics like these. Let's use Osborne-era teams as an example. Unlike nowadays when we play starters the entire game or deep into the 4th quarter, many of the points and yards racked up against Tom's teams were long after our starters were pulled and we went through the roster. Many times the starters didn't get much more than a half of playing time. There were several times that I personally remember when we held other teams to 0 points and negative yardage in the first half only to give up points and yards on our 3rd and 4th strings in the second half. If one were to just look at the stats after the game, they wouldn't see the dominating performance that we gave. Keep that in mind when comparing coaches and eras.

[EbylHusker]

We used to beat Kansas by 60 points while putting our towel boys in for half the game!

[FrankWheeler]

National averages for scoring defense.

 

Devaney Era

1962 - 16.4

1963 - 15.8

1964 - 15.0

1965 - 16.7

1966 - 17.4

1967 - 18.4

1968 - 21.3

1969 - 21.6

1970 - 21.3

1971 - 20.3

1972 - 20.5

Average = 18.6

 

Osborne Era

1973 - 20.9

1974 - 20.0

1975 - 19.9

1976 - 20.0

1977 - 20.7

1978 - 20.6

1979 - 19.9

1980 - 20.5

1981 - 20.5

1982 - 21.5

1983 - 21.9

1984 - 22.0

1985 - 22.3

1986 - 22.7

1987 - 23.1

1988 - 23.7

1989 - 24.1

1990 - 24.4

1991 - 23.0

1992 - 22.9

1993 - 24.4

1994 - 24.5

1995 - 25.2

1996 - 25.5

1997 - 25.5

Average = 22.4

 

Solich Era

1998 - 25.6

1999 - 25.6

2000 - 25.6

2001 - 26.6

2002 - 26.8

2003 - 26.2

Average = 26.1

 

Callahan Era

2004 - 26.2

2005 - 26.3

2006 - 23.8

2007 - 27.7

Average = 26.0

 

Pelini Era

2008 - 26.3

2009 - 26.2

2010 - 27.1

2011 - 27.5

Average = 26.8

 

Can't figure out to format a table so it comes up looking like a pretty table with Nebraska averages compared to National.

[BigRedBuster]

We used to beat Kansas by 60 points while putting our towel boys in for half the game!

 

You do understand there is a HUGE difference between the football world back then and now don't you?

[EbylHusker]

We used to beat Kansas by 60 points while putting our towel boys in for half the game!

 

You do understand there is a HUGE difference between the football world back then and now don't you?

No, I sure don't. I also don't understand sarcasm or hyperbole. We really did play our towel boys back then, didn't we?? Maybe a few more question marks would help... ???????

[sd'sker]

We used to beat Kansas by 60 points while putting our towel boys in for half the game!

 

You do understand there is a HUGE difference between the football world back then and now don't you?

exactly. nexus did a good job compiling the stats, as he mentioned, these are pure numbers. there are so many variables to consider. the game has fundamentally shifted to be offensive heavy. this is not a defense of bo, it is just a fact. also, parity.

[EbylHusker]

Oh...my...God...

 

You guys definite deserve it.

 

[sd'sker]

Oh...my...God...

 

You guys definite deserve it.

alright, mea culpa, but mine was more of a general response.

[funhusker]

Oh...my...God...

 

You guys definite deserve it.

 

You like Star Trek, too?!!!

 

That's what your trying to say, right?

[dustinl15]

Year - Neb Scoring Defense - National Average - Standard Normal

2011 --------- 23.4 --------------------- 26.6 ---------------- 0.3118

2010 --------- 17.4 --------------------- 26.8 ---------------- 0.0958

2009 --------- 10.4 --------------------- 25.7 ---------------- 0.0126

2008 --------- 28.5 --------------------- 25.9 ---------------- 0.6370

2007 --------- 37.9 --------------------- 27.6 ---------------- 0.9331

 

It would be interesting to see how it has changed nationally since the time of Bob and Tom.