All Big ten teams

[Spartanmack]

That's just simply wrong - we picked up a win and 24 points (2.2 of the incremental 3.9 pts per game) simply by the change in the schedule. Additionally, the defense cut the points against in half for michigan and by 70% for NW - 2 games that went from the loss to the win column. The defense outscored the opponent's (and the Spartan offense) in 2 games this year - didn't even need the offense in those games and we barely needed them to beat Illinois and Purdue (NW & michigan too, for that matter).

At best, you can say at least the offense didn't blow any games for us this year (despite their best efforts to do just that in weeks 1 & 2) but you can't point to a single game and say we won that game because of our offense. The data is clear, this team's success is due almost entirely to the defense. Sadler and Geiger combined get more credit for us being 11-1 than the offense does in my opinion.

 

[johnny2x2x]

We've run for 300 more yards in 11 games this season than we did last in 13 games.

The biggest difference is Cook though, 17 TDs and 4 INTs on 58% completion. Maxwell last year has 13 TDs and 9 INTs on 52% completion. Cook is a massive difference maker for this team vs Maxwell. He's much more efficient and much better on 3rd down too.

 

[Spartanmack]

I'm not denying that the offense is better. It is and I've said that. Sure some of it's personnel (guys are making tough catches and not dropping easy ones) but a big part of it is the schedule - there's just no denying that. And I also think the defense still gets all the credit or at least the lion's share of it - they've scored 35 points, given the offense the ball in or very near FG range a ton, forced more turnovers and single-handedly won 2 games. And I give much of the remaining credit to special teams. Our offense has gone from lousy to mediocre but like I said, you can't point to a single game and say "we won that game because of our offense". Thankfully, you can only point to won game and say we lost that game because of our offense (and some really crappy penalties).

 

[johnny2x2x]

I'm not denying that the offense is better. It is and I've said that. Sure some of it's personnel (guys are making tough catches and not dropping easy ones) but a big part of it is the schedule - there's just no denying that. And I also think the defense still gets all the credit or at least the lion's share of it - they've scored 35 points, given the offense the ball in or very near FG range a ton, forced more turnovers and single-handedly won 2 games. And I give much of the remaining credit to special teams. Our offense has gone from lousy to mediocre but like I said, you can't point to a single game and say "we won that game because of our offense". Thankfully, you can only point to won game and say we lost that game because of our offense (and some really crappy penalties).

The offense lost us 6 games last year. Lost us 1 this year, huge improvement.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

How can you not love Spartanmack and Johnny?

 

[Spartanmack]

They're improved but not losing games is not the same as winning games.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Point me, the offense just won us a game. Defense was huge too, but this game was won by Cook, Warner, and the O.

Above all though, GO GREEN!!!

 

[Spartanmack]

No doubt the offense made the bigger contribution in that game. Finally. The defense was still huge though - despite the 10 minutes before and after halftime.

 

[Spartanmack]

And let's not forget that stop in the 4th quarter was just as big if not bigger for the win than the final TD. The Denicos Allen 4th down tackle on Miller gets my vote for play of the game.