Whatever Happened to Defense in the SEC? Part 2

4. Alabama
Now here is a defense that only lost 4 starters in the off-season. That gives them a whopping 7 returning starters. Far more than any of the other Top 6 SEC teams we are looking at. It was LAST year that Alabama had to replace damn near everyone...and they finished in the Top 5 in defensive passing, defensive rushing, and points allowed. Here are some of their top players:
DB Vinnie Sunseri (JR) - 13 total tackles, 2 INT, 2 Touchdowns
DB Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (JR) - 16 total tackles
DB John Fulton (SR) - 15 total tackles
LB C.J. Mosley (SR) - 28 total tackles
LB Trey DePriest (SO) - 11 total tackles
The defense through the first 3 games is ranked 36th nationally at 19.3 points allowed a game. That's right if you take the 42 points from A&M and divide by 3 it only comes out to 14...Here are the specific yardage breakdowns:
GAME 1 Virginia Tech
Va Tech Yards Gained:
     59 passing
     153 rushing - 4.6 avg carry
     212 total
Va Tech on the year is averaging against other opponents
     192 passing
     142 rushing
     334 total
Va Tech averages last year
     231 passing
     146 rushing
     377 total
Virginia Tech is not an explosive offense in this day and age. They rely almost exclusively on their quarterback to throw AND to run. Their competition hasn't been great either with games against Western Carolina and ECU. And when they went against the veteran defense of Alabama; it's no wonder that they were 122 yards under their yearly average. Oddly though, their running game had one of its better games against the Tide. The Hokies' national rankings are: 100th in passing, 75th in rushing, 87th in points scored.
GAME 2 Texas A&M
A&M Yards Gained:
     464 passing
     164 rushing - 5.1 avg carry
     628 total
A&M on the year is averaging against other opponents:
     392 passing
     208 rushing
     600 total
A&M averages last year:
     316 passing
     242 rushing
     558 total
Just when you thought A&M's offense couldn't get better than last year....they did. 600 yards on average every game this year and they went ABOVE that average against Alabama, but had their worst rushing day on the year. Remember when I said A&M should run the ball more? Definitely should have against Bama, they were averaging over 5 yards a carry! The only defense worse than Alabama's D on the field this day was A&M's but I have already done the breakdown on this game if you refer back to my post "Alabama is still Alabama." A&M is currently ranked 5th in passing, 42nd in rushing, and 6th in points scored.
GAME 3 - Colorado State
Col St Yards Gained:
     228 passing
     51 rushing - 2 avg carry
     279 total
Col St on the year is averaging against other opponents:
     155 passing
     131 rushing
     286 total
Col St averages last year:
     210 passing
     129 rushing
     339 total
I thought Va Tech wasn't explosive...and Colorado State is even worse than last year and the veteran D of Alabama held another inept offense to 60 yards below their average.  Colorado State's national rankings are: 83rd in passing, 88th in rushing, 90th in points.
After 3 games here is how Bama's D is stacking up:
Passing: 751 total/250 per game
Rushing: 368 total/123 per game
Total:  1119 total/373 per game
The Tide is giving up 3.9 yards a rush which seems a little high for a veteran D like this. And even with these respectable averages this is a defense that has been up and down. The rushing D has had 1 good day and the passing D had a very very bad horrible day. But they are 3-0.
Alabama's opponents averages are as follows, with the Bama game taken out:
Passing: 246 a game
Rushing: 160 a game
Total: 402 a game
With these stats the picture starts to become a little more clear. Alabama is allowing a little more than their opponent's average in passing, they are holding their own on the run but are only allowing 29 yards less than their opponent's total yardage average. But we have to remember, they played A&M who is averaging only 20 yards less per game than if you ADD Colorado State's average total offense and Va Tech's average total offense together. So if we take it one step farther and factor OUT the A&M offense here are the averages for Colorado State and Virginia Tech:
Passing: 173 a game
Rushing: 137 a game
Total: 310 a game
And if you factor out the A&M game for Bama:
Passing: 143 a game
Rushing: 102 a game
Total: 245 a game
Still only a 65 yard difference. The other defenses we have looked at so far have played better against better competition and are younger.

5. Florida
Think LSU has the least amount of returning starters? Yep they do, but Florida is right there with them with only 4 returning starters, including a completely new starting defensive back-field. Here's a look at some of the top talent, which got thinner this past week with news that Dominique Easley is gone for the season, so I guess that gives them 3 returning starters now!
DB Loucheiz Purifoy (JR) - 5 total tackles
DB Vernon Hargreaves III (FR) - 5 total tackles, 2 INT, 3 passes defended
DB Brian Poole (SO) - 7 total tackles, 1 INT
DE Dante Fowler (SO) - 8 total tackles, 1 sack
LB Neiron Ball (JR) - 6 total tackles, 1 pass defended
LB Antonio Morrison (SO) - 13 total tackles, 2 games
Florida's defense is currently ranked 19th in points allowed at 14.7 a game. But what about dem stats?!?!
GAME 1 - Toledo
Toledo Yards Gained:
     155 passing
     50 rushing - 3.1 avg carry
     205 rotal
Toledo on the year is averaging against other opponents:
     234 passing
     225 rushing
     479 total
Toledo averages last year:
     251 passing
     193 rushing
     444 total
Toledo is out-performing last year with a more balanced attack. They have racked up their yards against East Washington and another SEC opponent in Missouri. And as you can see Florida held them to 274 yards BELOW their yearly average. That's just ridiculous no matter who you are playing. Toledo's national ranks are: 90th in passing, 59th in rushing, 85th in points scored.
GAME 2 - Miami
Miami Yards Gained:
     162 passing
     50 rushing - 1.8 avg carry
     212 total
Miami on the year is averaging against other opponents:
     257 passing
     314 rushing
     571 total
Miami averages last year:
     295 passing
     145 rushing
     440 total
131 yard difference between last year and this year for the Hurricanes. BUT this year the Hurricanes had the luxury of playing Savanah State and rolling up over 600 yards. The other game was over 500 yards against Florida Atlantic, but what happened when they ran into that buzz-saw from the Swamp? Only a 212 yard performance that is 360 yards below their average....360 yards....ridiculous, and Miami had every chance to put up yards on that defense because the Florida offense was so terrible. That FLA D was....ridiculous. Miami's national ranks are: 69th passing, 30th rushing, 15th points.
GAME 3 - Tennessee
Tenn Yards Gained:
     154 passing
     66 rushing
     220 total
Tenn on the year is averaging against other opponents:
    137 passing
     244 rushing
     381 total
Tenn averages last year:
     315 passing
     160 rushing
     475 total
Tennessee is definitely under-performing compared to last year by almost 100 yards. They have also had one more game to factor into their averages, and they have played Austin Peay, Western Kentucky, and Oregon. Oregon gave up 316 yards to the Vols, Florida gave up only 220 which is 161 yards below Tennessee's average. The rankings for Tennessee are: 114th in passing, 46th in rushing, and 60th in points.
Florida's defensive stats year to date are:
Passing: 471 total/157 a game
Rushing: 166 total/55 a game
Total: 637 total/212 a game
Florida's opponents total offensive averages without the Florida game are:
Passing: 209 a game
Rushing: 261 a game
Total: 477 a game
It's not even close. Florida is giving up 52 yards less a game in passing, 206 yards less in rushing, and a RIDICULOUS 265 yards less per game total than their opponent's average. I have nothing more to say, just re-read that last sentence.

6. Georgia
NOW let me ask you again: Think LSU has the least amount of returning starters? Yep, they still do, only they are joined by the 3 returning starters on Georgia. Georgia had a defense that was also ravaged by the NFL draft. But as we are going to see, the results from these 3 returning starters are much different from LSU's or Florida's 3 or 4 (however you want to count it). And let's be completely honest, for all the talent on the Georiga D last year....they underwhelmed at best. They gave up 44 points to Tennessee, 24 to Kentucky and an average of 20 points to Missouri, Florida Atlantic, and Buffalo. The stats were helped last year with games against that Florida offense, that Auburn offense, and that Georgia Tech offense later in the year. Here's how the fresh faces are doing:
LB Jordan Jenkins (SO) - 15 total tackles
LB Amarlo Herrara (JR) - 30 total tackles, .5 sacks, 3 passes defended, and he singled handedly won the South Carolina game this year with the fumble forced on Shaw and the 4th and goal tackle the last time the Gamecocks threatened late.
LB Leonard Floyd (FR) - 12 total tackles, 2 sacks
CB Damain Swann (JR) - 10 total tackles, 1 pass defended
CB Brendan Langley (FR) - 10 total tackles, 1 pass defended
DL Ray Drew (JR) - 7 total tackles
Georgia is currently 85th in points allowed at 29.7. Lets look at some stats:
GAME 1 - Clemson
Clemson Yards Gained:
     270 passing
     197 rushing
     467 total
Clemson on the year is averaging against other opponents:
     287 passing
     177 rushing
     464 total
Clemson averages last year:
     332 passing
     191 rushing
     513 total
Who knew Clemson was under performing from last year by 50 yards? And if not for their running game, would have been below their season yardage average against that young Georgia D. Clemson has played South Carolina State and had a tough go of it against NC State. Their national ranks are 30th in passing, 62nd in rushing, and 35th in points scored. It could have been a lot worse for that Georgia D, not a bad showing at all against a top offense.
GAME 2 - South Carolina
SCAR Yards Gained:
     228 passing
     226 rushing
     454 total
SCAR on the year is averaging against other opponents:
     269 passing
     224 rushing
     493 total
SCAR averages last year:
     238 passing
     138 rushing
     376 total
Talk about an offense that has broken out in a big way....AND they are Top 25 AND they play in the SEC, does this mean anything? (Another teaser for Part 3). Who would have thought that the Gamecock offense WITHOUT Marcus Lattimore would be doing so much better at running the ball. And Georgia held that offense to 39 yards less than their average and held at the goal-line when it mattered. South Carolina has played UNC and SEC opponent Vanderbilt. The Gamecock national rankings are: 49th in passing, 31st in running, 66th in points scored. Another big time offense, another decent stand by the Bulldog D.
GAME 3 - North Texas
NT Yards Gained:
     238 passing
        7 rushing
     245 total
NT on the year is averaging against other opponents:
     291 passing
     174 rushing
     465 total
NT averages last year:
     219 passing
     173 rushing
     392 total
The North Texas offense is off to a great start this year as they are averaging 73 yards more than last year against teams such as Idaho, Ohio, and Ball State. But when they went to Athens they were held to 220 yards less than their average. And as someone has said before, that kind of reduction is ridiculous. And for one more time, I HATE that special team scores are counted against the defense. If you take those out, the Bulldog D only allowed 7 points in this game. The North Texas rankings are: 33rd passing, 89th rushing, and 70th in points.
Here's how Georgia's ytd defensive stats look:
Passing: 736 total/245 a game
Rushing: 430 total/143 game
Total: 1166 total/389 a game
That per game average is ugly but here is what the Georgia opponents are averaging per game minus the Georgia game:
Passing: 282 a game
Rushing: 136 a game
Total: 474 a game
That's right, it's another inexperienced D in the SEC that is holding opponents under their season average and by a total of 85 yards a game. And they have played some serious offenses in South Carolina and Clemson. The offenses Georgia has played are averaging more per game than Alabama's, LSU's, or A&M's opposing offenses.

Now we have reached the end of the second part of my 4 part report on defense in the SEC and at this point we have to answer a question: What does all of this mean so far? Well in answer to that question we have gone through the past 2 posts in order to rank the defenses of the Top 6 SEC teams so we have a platform to spring off of in Part 3 (when we look at offenses of the whole SEC, as well as SEC on SEC violence) and Part 4 when we expand our defensive stats to the Top 10 in the country and we look at some SEC on Top 25 Out of Conference violence.

But in order to conclude part 2, we need to get to the rankings. Here is the criteria I used to rate them (all still based on the first 3 games of the season):
1. Average points allowed - they will be ranked 1-6 with 1 being the best/lowest
2. Average yards allowed per game - they will be ranked 1-6 with 1 being the best/lowest
3. Difference between yards allowed per game and opposing offense's total yearly average - they will be ranked 1-6 with 1 being the best/highest (basically #4 minus #3)
4. Average opposing offense's total yards a game - they will be ranked 1-6 with 1 being the best/highest
5. Average national rank of opposing offenses passing - ranked 1-6, 1 being the best
6. Average national rank of opposing offenses rushing - ranked 1-6, 1 being the best
7. Average national rank of opposing offenses points - ranked 1-6, 1 being the best
8. #'s 5-7 will be added together and divided by 3 for an opposing offensive national rank for each SEC D then they will be ranked 1-6, 1 being the best
9. #'s 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 will be added together and divided by 5 for a total score and teams will be ranked by average, lowest being the best

I have done my best to keep all of these stats confined to the first 3 games of the season, including the national rankings. It is not perfect, since some of these teams have since played 4 games, and some of their opponents have played 4 games, and not everyone on this list had played 3 games at the same time...etc etc...the differences are negligible but it will all work itself out by the time we are done with Part 4. However I do feel these rankings are a very comprehensive PERFORMANCE ranking, because it's not simply who has given up the fewest yards, points, etc...but how have they performed given the offenses they have faced. ENJOY!

#6 Defense: Texas A&M with a score of 5.3
     pts allowed rank: 6
     avg yds per game rank: 6
     difference btwn def avg and opposing offenses avg rank: 6
     opposing offense yard per game avg rank: 5
     opposing offensive rank: 2.7

#5 Defense: Alabama with a score of 3.94
     pts allowed rank: 3
     avg yds per game rank: 4
     difference btwn def avg and opposing offenses avg rank: 5
     opposing offense yards per game rank: 5
     opposing offensive rank: 3.7

#4 Defense: Georgia with a score of 3.94
     pts allowed rank: 5
     avg yds per game rank: 5
     difference btwn yds per game and opposing offenses avg rank: 4
     opposing offense yards per game rank: 3
     opposing offensive rank: 2.7

#3 Defense: LSU with a score of 3.46
     pts allowed rank: 2
     avg yds per game rank: 2
     difference btwn yds per game and opposing offenses avg rank: 3
     opposing offense yards per game rank: 5
     opposing offensive rank: 5.3

#2 Defense: South Carolina with a score of 2.54
     pts allowed rank: 4
     avg yds per game rank: 3
     difference btwn yds per game and opposing offenses avg rank: 2
     opposing offense yards per game rank: 1
     opposing offensive rank: 2.7

#1 Defense: Florida with a score of 1.54
     pts allowed rank: 1
     avg yds per game rank: 1
     difference btwn yds per game and opposing offenses avg rank: 1
     opposing offense yards per game rank: 2
     opposing offensive rank: 2.7

Interesting facts about the rankings:
1. LSU has played the worst offenses by national rankings
2. Florida has the most #1 rankings and has played the second best offenses in yards per game
3. Georgia gets the tie-breaker over Alabama because their offenses have put up more yards and the offensive ranking was better. And shouldn't a veteran D playing against lesser opponents be greatly out-performing that young Georgia D against the power-houses?

I'll see you later this weekend when I breakdown LSU/Georgia and Wisconsin/Ohio State!!!