Last year first 5 vs this year first 5

[wheels002]

I don't know about you but I am already tired of hearing yeah you guys did the same think last year and stunk it up afterwords. So I decided to look at a few things from last year and compare it to this year. Yes I am that bored thanks to the fact that the Tigers suck tonight.

Last year

Pts for 41 Pass yds for 240 Rush yds for 322
Pts against 25 pass yds against 308 rush against 126


This Year

Pts for 37 Pass yds for 168 Rush yds for 272
Pts against 10 Pass yds agnst 175 Rush yds agnst 153


It's clear that Denards passing has dropped although he looked better today with the short passes than the long passes. But the big difference so far is the defense. they dont give up the big play and the tackle a lot better than last year. I am really starting to like where this team could be headed. They seem to be getting better. Now our pass defense will be tested against NW next week and our offense will be tested vs MSU who looked real good today.

 

[uofm06marine]

Wheels, thanks for the stats. They're much appreciated.

 

[bamf16]

The difference is the defense. Period.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Wheels, thanks for the stats. They're much appreciated.

Yeah, thanks from me too, I'm riveted to this numerical analisys and it's true, the Tigers did suck tonight.

So like you I'm poring over the M numbers.

Again, much thanks.

 

[wellmanadam]

We benefited from an epic choke job and have played 4 really bad teams. We need to wait 2 more weeks before we have any clue if this is different from the last 2 years.

 

[bphillips4gg]

We benefited from an epic choke job and have played 4 really bad teams. We need to wait 2 more weeks before we have any clue if this is different from the last 2 years.

Really only need to wait another week. Don't overlook NW, that's a good football team and more than capable of knocking Michigan off, especially in Evanston. They'll give you a pretty good idea if this defense is any better.

 

[wheels002]

by no means am I saying I am not worried. Do I feel better about our coaching staff HELL YES I do. I also feel better about the defense. Instead of waiting and reacting on defense we are making plays and making things happen

 

[TheVictors]

I can definitely see a change already and don't need to wait two more weeks. Thanks for the stats wheels -- I'd be curious to see how many plays we're running this year when compared with last year. By not running the 'up tempo' no huddle spread, I'd bet we're running fewer total plays. Then again, we seemed to go Three and Out a lot too.... Either way I can see a pretty significant change, most noticably on the defense but across all areas of the team too.

 

[hungry]

We benefited from an epic choke job and have played 4 really bad teams. We need to wait 2 more weeks before we have any clue if this is different from the last 2 years.

That's one theory, wellmanadam, but look at the schedule last year. It compares to this year's schedule very much when looking at the first 5 games.

Another thing to note about last year and this year through 5 games are the defensive stats. Like I said, these 5 games are against very similar competition to the teams Michigan played in their 5 games at the beginning of last season. The scoring D and the total D are vastly different from last year's first 5 games to this year's.

 

[tinselwolverine]

We benefited from an epic choke job and have played 4 really bad teams. We need to wait 2 more weeks before we have any clue if this is different from the last 2 years.

That's one theory, wellmanadam, but look at the schedule last year. It compares to this year's schedule very much when looking at the first 5 games.

Another thing to note about last year and this year through 5 games are the defensive stats. Like I said, these 5 games are against very similar competition to the teams Michigan played in their 5 games at the beginning of last season. The scoring D and the total D are vastly different from last year's first 5 games to this year's.

Exactly the sniff test is enough.

M opened the B1G schedule against a cellar dweller Indiana, scored a lot of points, and barely held on to win.

This year another cellar dweller, but a shutout.

Same against the non-automatic teams from last year to this year - last year the D was awful; so far this year it's swarthy.

I don't know what out guys will do against the heart of the B1G conference this season, but from all appearances so far, the D performance will be significantly improved.

 

[jdbaker1]

Defense is much better coached this year. Still lacking some of the athletes they need to be a really good team but a huge step forward. I know it is early in the week but Persa got dinged up in the game on Saturday, with out him not sure how good the NW offense is. I think their RB got dinged up as well but not sure.

 

[lostleader]

How did MSU look good against a horrible OSU offense?

 

[thewolverines24]

Defense is much better coached this year. Still lacking some of the athletes they need to be a really good team but a huge step forward. I know it is early in the week but Persa got dinged up in the game on Saturday, with out him not sure how good the NW offense is. I think their RB got dinged up as well but not sure.

More than dinged up. He tore his ACL and is out for the rest of the year.

 

[zyxt9]

A very important stat not listed in this is Turnovers. How many and what was +/- last year vs this year? Oh, and points off TOs. Anyone have info please provide as I think TOs has been a very big part of the deal and it is nice to have a D that is hungry for the ball.

Oh, two more...penalties for/against and sacks for/against.

 

[hungry]

What about field goals, made/attempted?

 

[rumseyhouse77]

The coaching staff has this team moving in the right direction. There is a positive feel about the team that was seriously lacking in the previous three years. Even after wins. Let's take it one game at a time.

Go Blue! Beat Northwestern!

 

[deathroh]

A very important stat not listed in this is Turnovers. How many and what was +/- last year vs this year? Oh, and points off TOs. Anyone have info please provide as I think TOs has been a very big part of the deal and it is nice to have a D that is hungry for the ball.

Oh, two more...penalties for/against and sacks for/against.

Sure, I'm bored. I grabbed the stats from mgoblue, since the ncaa doesn't recognize stats from the WMU game. So these are slightly skewed, but I don't think it's too big of a deal...

2010/2011

TO's - 5/8 (only 1 pick in 2010)
TO's forced - 9/15 (forced 11 fumbles in 2011)
+/- +4/+7
Pt's off TO - not gonna happen
Penalties - 24 for 256 / 19 for 153
Penalties against - 20 for 151 / 37 for 299
Sacks - 7/7 (wouldn't have predicted that)
Sacks against - 1/2
FG att - 5/5
FG made - 1/4

A couple others...

YPC - 7.1/7.0
OPP YPC - 3.7/4.4
YPA - 10.1/8.7
OPP YPA - 7.5/6.1

 

[deathroh]

Oooh, here's a good one...

RZ Scores - 20-21 / 21-22
RZ TD's - 19-21 / 17-22
Def RZ Scores - 16-19 / 7-14
Def RZ TD's - 13-19 / 5-14

Similarly spectacular offensively in the red zone last year, that obviously changed, but a huge huge jump in red zone defense this year. Now let's look at total yards per play...

Yards per play - 8.1 / 7.5
Def yards per play - 5.7 / 5.2

So they're only giving up a half yard less per play, which is significant, but not monumental...the difference is clearly in the red zone.

 

[wolverine304]

I think the fact that they're giving up 10pts per game instead of 10pts per quarter is funny.


And I also feel like our team gets better each week. Last year the team was the same team vs uconn and vs miss state at the end.