Favorite Defenses as a fan

[GopherGuy82]

I disagree this means 21, 22, and 24 should’ve been better seasons

A game takes offense and defense.
21, 22, and 24 the defense was the strength of the team.
21 the best offensive player tore his Achilles week 1.
22 the QB was banged up. And the best player missed one of the key losses (Mo-Purdue)
24 the team flat out couldn’t run the ball.



The biggest underachieving team was no doubt 2003.
They are a top 35 defense that was much worse than the offense with a good kicker. They had a soft schedule…..They didn’t beat a team in the top half of the conference.
I didn’t really think that going into this discussion but if 2003 is a top 35 defense in the country and top 20 of the last 30 years of gopher football. Embarrassing to go 5-3 in the conference while missing two of the top 3.

I’ll come off this position if everyone admits 2003 defense was below average and was propped up by 4 non conference games, one of the easiest conference schedules in the history of the program and an offense that was always on the field.

I'll agree it doesn't guarantee anything. It's just frustrating to be that good and then dump easy games. I would like to pair the offensive stats with those defenses to get the view you are mentioning.It was interesting to see that Kill's defenses were so bad against the run. I know people questioned the dline back then.

TCU defenses under Gary Patterson were flipping legit. Probably the best stretch of points allowed and rushing yards allowed. They had a handful of seasons where they were close to the best if not the best in the country.

2002 Iowa that won the Big Ten was 101st in pass yds allowed per game.

2003 USC only allowed 1.8 yds per rush

 

[Some guy]

I'll agree it doesn't guarantee anything. It's just frustrating to be that good and then dump easy games. I would like to pair the offensive stats with those defenses to get the view you are mentioning.It was interesting to see that Kill's defenses were so bad against the run. I know people questioned the dline back then.

TCU defenses under Gary Patterson were flipping legit. Probably the best stretch of points allowed and rushing yards allowed. They had a handful of seasons where they were close to the best if not the best in the country.

2002 Iowa that won the Big Ten was 101st in pass yds allowed per game.

2003 USC only allowed 1.8 yds per rush

If it makes you feel better, 2002 Iowa didn’t play the co big ten champ and wouldn’t have won the big ten had they played the national champion buckeyes


Claeys defenses were better than stats appear.
They stopped the run but then would give up big runs because of the scheme they played. I would guess their median was a lot better than their mean