Coz's Blackshirts and Fumbles Caused

[Roy CO HSKR]

From rojo:

Last Spring we heard about Cosgrove doing "CPR work" in practice to cause fumbles---“Club. Pull. Rip.”

Our guys needed the practice. In ’04 the opponent offenses fumbled only once in every 44 defensive plays.

This year we're getting opposing offenses to fumble every 29 plays---best in the Big 12 and right in there with Charlie McBride’s later teams.

[Note: Let’s make it clear: "Causing fumbles" is looking at how often the opponent’s offense puts the ball on the ground. Not whether or not that fumble is recovered by the defense.]

I. Rate of Causing Fumbles: Number of fumbles / Number of plays by the defense

A) Charlie McBride’s Blackshirts:

--’96: 1/29 (i.e., the opponent fumbles every 29 plays)

--’97: 1/29

--’98: 1/27

--’99: 1/28

B) Craig Bohl’s Blackshirts:

--’00: 1/53

--’01: 1/41

--’02: 1/44

C) Bo Pelini’s Blackshirts:

--’03: 1/34 [Note: A drop of 10 plays over the previous year.]

D) Kevin Cosgrove’s Blackshirts:

--’04: 1/44

--’05: 1/29 [Note: A drop of 15 plays over the previous year.]

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II. 2005 Big 12 Defenses: Rate of Causing Fumbles

1-3. Nebraska: 1/29 (One fumble every 29 defensive plays)

1-3. Oklahoma State: 1/29

1-3. Baylor: 1/29

4. Texas A&M: 1/30

5-7. Texas: 1/31

5-7. Texas Tech: 1/31

5-7. Kansas State: 1/31

8. Missouri: 1/33

9. Oklahoma: 1/34

10. Colorado: 1/35

11. Iowa State: 1/39

12. Kansas: 1/40

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III. FWIW… Michigan’s Rate of Causing Fumbles:

--1/33 this year.

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The Bottom Line:

Our defense has improved a lot from last year.

1) Scoring Defense: From #71 to #25 in the nation---cutting a TD allowed per game (from 27 to 20 points-allowed/game)

2) Total Defense: From #56 to #24 in the nation---cutting half a football field (from 372 yards-allowed/game to 326 yds).

3) Getting the ball on the ground is just another little piece of it all.

There’s lots to like about our Blackshirts. Let’s see if we can carry it one more game....

Just some things to think about…..

 

[DJR313]

Good stats. There has been some marked improvement even with a loss of 3 kids to the first 2 rounds of the NFL. Let's see how well Cos can do in year #3!

 

[Roy CO HSKR]

The depth on the DL and with the LBs next year will be very good for rotation. If we can shore up the DBs, we'll be a 4th qtr team!

I'm sensing a surprise by NU in this bowl. Does anyone want to guess what it will be?

 

[gamecocks]

I am not going to argue with the idea of stripping the football when we are on defense. But I wish that we would make sure that the tackle is secure before we try to rip the ball out and let the offense get a big play on us.

 

[Eric the Red]

I am not going to argue with the idea of stripping the football when we are on defense. But I wish that we would make sure that the tackle is secure before we try to rip the ball out and let the offense get a big play on us.

Bullocks got lucky early in the year, then looked like a fool at times trying to strip the ball while being dragged 20 yards downfield.

 

[husker rob]

it seems that everytime bullocks had a tackle after getting the strip for a TD he was trying to make ESPN highlight reel. Had he just knocked the snot bubbles out of ball carrier instead of getting pulled for 20 yards he would have been on the reel anyway.

roy-----what do think the suprise will be.

NU24 MU20

 

[Roy CO HSKR]

A half back pass to Zac & then deep!

 

[Weasel]

There has been "some" obvious improvement in regards to the defense. However I will tend to agree with the point that we try to strip the ball to often and more so in bad situations (at times).

Nothing wrong with being aggressive with stripping, but when (for fun) I took a coaching class while attending UNL they preached over and over "NEVER" to go for a strip unless it was in a pile, or you were the second player on a chase down to go for the ball. First and foremost MAKE THE TACKLE. Same can be said for big hits, etc...... Nothing wrong with that at long as you are tackling. If folks remember there were times under Charlie we went for the forearm tackles instead of wrapping up. That obviously changed, but was one of my biggest issues with his tactics at first (please don't get me started on the CB's not turning their heads though).

Weasel