Takeaways and Giveaways

[NUance]

Takeaways: NU = 110th in nation at 1.2 takeaways per game. LINK

(Houston is #1 in the nation at 3.2 takeways per game.)

Giveaways: NU = 110th in nation at 2.2 giveaways per game. LINK

(Navy is #1 at 0.8 giveaways per game)

Why are we so bad at both these stats? We're ranked 110th at both of these stats (coincidentally). That puts us in the bottom 12% in fbs in both of these important categories. If we were in the top 20 for both of these I'll bet we'd win another game or two per year.

 

[lo country]

Crazy thing to me is the 2003 D Bo called. led the nation in INT's, single season INT record IIRC, NU single season record etc.....

I think our decrease in takeaways is attributed to youth and lack of "talent". looking at Bo's success at NU, it is essential to have a dominant force at all 3 levels of play i.e. DL, LB and DB's. His system is predicated on every guy making the correct reads and getting the task accomplished. A DL misses a read and shoots the wrong gap, it exposes the LB who then exposes the DB. This year we appear to have difference makers at all 3 levels. A dominant DL will help any team as it allows the DB's and LB's to pin back their ears and play. I still say the loss of Sanders is evident in the steady decrease as well. I hope Warren is aggressive and wants the ball hawking back.

Hail Varsity showed a crazy stat as well. From 2008-2012 we were 90th cumulative for TO's (-14), YET our winning percentage was .700. Imagine where NU could be if we simply quit turning over the ball. After reading that, even with our lack of talent, injuries and youth we found a way to win. Win the TO battle and we would look like juggernauts.

Hope we find a way to do that. We do, we will easily be in the B1G this year IMO.

 

[Scratchtown]

The takeaways were the sole reason I wanted Pelini hired.

Hasn't panned out quite yet.

 

[alwayshusking]

It's been a major issue in the Pelini era. Maybe the biggest issue?

Takeaways per game national rank

2013 110

2012 81

2011 94

2010 77

2009 30

2008 113

Giveaways per game

2013 110

2012 112

2011 26

2010 36

2009 50

2008 98

We've actually been slightly better in the giveaway department, which is a bit surprising. (Though we've been miserable the last two seasons)

I attribute the lack of takeaways to the type of defense we've played. It's not been a pressure oriented defense, it's been a defense that puts its resources towards coverage. We get sacks but many are coverage sacks and there isn't constant pressure on the QB. Pressure causes mistakes, but opposing QBs can get comfortable in the pocket against us even if they don't have receivers open. Only in 2009, when we had an incredible talent at DL, were we even decent in this area.

On offense and special teams we're sloppy. The lack of attention to detail is concerning in both areas.

I think turnover margin is the #1 obstacle from Pelini breaking the 4-loss barrier.

 

[Hoosker]

Hands down the most frustrating thing about the Pelini era. As lo country mentioned above, it's astounding how good we've been despite putting up absolutely atrocious turnover numbers. A constant battle wages in my head on whether that is a good thing or a bad thing.

The best metophor I can think of is that Bo has the program in neutral. He is revving the sh#t out of the engine, but we haven't moved an inch.

 

[Saunders]

IMO, Part of it is Bo's defensive scheme shift in emphasizing getting off the field on 3rd down. The focus seems to be less on big plays, and more on smothering the offense and forcing them to make great plays to beat you.

Nebraska's 3rd down defense (Opponent conversion percentage).

2013: 31% (6th)

2012: 37% (46th)

2011: 40% (64th)

2010: 29% (4th)

2009: 32% (15th)

2008: 33% (23rd)

See a trend?

Not saying I agree/disagree with the philosophy, just pointing out the numbers.

 

[NUance]

IMO, Part of it is Bo's defensive scheme shift in emphasizing getting off the field on 3rd down. The focus seems to be less on big plays, and more on smothering the offense and forcing them to make great plays to beat you.

Nebraska's 3rd down defense (Opponent conversion percentage).

2013: 31% (6th)

2012: 37% (46th)

2011: 40% (64th)

2010: 29% (4th)

2009: 32% (15th)

2008: 33% (23rd)

See a trend?

Not saying I agree/disagree with the philosophy, just pointing out the numbers.

Wow, 6th in the nation in 3rd down defense. Now THAT is impressive. But I don't think 3rd down defense and takeaways are mutually exclusive. And it's totally unrelated to giveaways. Why can't we be good in all three?

 

[Saunders]

IMO, Part of it is Bo's defensive scheme shift in emphasizing getting off the field on 3rd down. The focus seems to be less on big plays, and more on smothering the offense and forcing them to make great plays to beat you.

Nebraska's 3rd down defense (Opponent conversion percentage).

2013: 31% (6th)

2012: 37% (46th)

2011: 40% (64th)

2010: 29% (4th)

2009: 32% (15th)

2008: 33% (23rd)

See a trend?

Not saying I agree/disagree with the philosophy, just pointing out the numbers.

Wow, 6th in the nation in 3rd down defense. Now THAT is impressive. But I don't think 3rd down defense and takeaways are mutually exclusive. And it's totally unrelated to giveaways. Why can't we be good in all three?

I agree in that it's unrelated to giveaways. It's also not mutually exclusive to generating turnovers. But, our guys seem to emphasize technique, and minimizing gains over big plays. Obviously, this wasn't the case for the previous 2 seasons (and about half of last year), but it's his philosophy.

Don't go for the big play/hit/turnover, and make the offense run 15-17 plays if they're going to score, because it doesn't happen that often. Seems he's coaching less boom or bust than a decade ago.

 

[zoogs]

I think if we can keep that up and pair it with a more ball control offense -- both in ball security and long, grinding drives -- it will be effective. The past few years it's been quite boom/bust and banked on the big play, both in design and in effect. Although I do like what our offense was doing last year, so I don't know.

Seems like the D is still prone to giving up big plays against the right (not necessarily good) offense. Maybe it just doesn't happen on 3rd down. I'm optimistic it is trending out regardless.

 

[tmfr15]

Three-and-outs, IMO, are a better read of the defense, especially in an era where teams use so much tempo.

A tempo offense requires more rhythm. You can't establish any of that if you are constantly going three downs and punt, three downs and punt.

 

[tmfr15]

IMO, Part of it is Bo's defensive scheme shift in emphasizing getting off the field on 3rd down. The focus seems to be less on big plays, and more on smothering the offense and forcing them to make great plays to beat you.

Nebraska's 3rd down defense (Opponent conversion percentage).

2013: 31% (6th)

2012: 37% (46th)

2011: 40% (64th)

2010: 29% (4th)

2009: 32% (15th)

2008: 33% (23rd)

See a trend?

Not saying I agree/disagree with the philosophy, just pointing out the numbers.

Doesn't that mean that 2014 is going to be a bad year? Let's hope not.

 

[Saunders]

I think if we can keep that up and pair it with a more ball control offense -- both in ball security and long, grinding drives -- it will be effective. The past few years it's been quite boom/bust and banked on the big play, both in design and in effect. Although I do like what our offense was doing last year, so I don't know.

Seems like the D is still prone to giving up big plays against the right (not necessarily good) offense. Maybe it just doesn't happen on 3rd down. I'm optimistic it is trending out regardless.

Yup. I think Bo needs to decide whether or not he wants a fast offense or a great defense. Because it sure seems that they are mutually exclusive.

 

[cg_8]

Ugh!

Why can't we be more like Houston?!?

 

[hskrfan4life]

One things those stats show me is I thought we how good the 2009 defense was, we really didn't have a ton of takeaways, but the 2010 is ranked a little higher.

 

[LukeinNE]

IMO, Part of it is Bo's defensive scheme shift in emphasizing getting off the field on 3rd down. The focus seems to be less on big plays, and more on smothering the offense and forcing them to make great plays to beat you.....

Very much this. I love to see big defensive plays and all that, but I don't really take issue with the more conservative approach as it's very difficult to beat when everything is firing on all cylinders. My bigger concern is the turnover issues on offense. I suspect a large part of the issue was Taylor Martinez, who was a double edged sword if there ever was one. Things didn't improve after he was injured last year, though I'm not sure what we should've expected throwing green QB's to the wolves like that. Offensive turnovers will be the #1 thing I'll be watching this year. Punt returns will be #2. Some of those were as bad as turnovers last year.