Gopher Defense

[Scottsdale Gopher]

I ran across this post today, which shows that the Gopher defense creates the highest percentage of "havoc" plays in the country out of their secondary.


What's a havoc play? It's a TFL, FF, Int, deflected pass, or pass break up. Digging a bit deeper, here's some raw stats from the Gopher secondary:

• The Gophers have 15 interceptions as a team (2nd in the nation), with 13 of them coming from the secondary
  • 12 all of last season, 10 from the secondary
• The defense has forced 6 fumbles, 2 of them by the secondary
  • 10 last season, 2 from the secondary
• The secondary has 15.5 TFL for 56 yards. Within this, Jack Henderson has 3.5 sacks.
  • 15 TFL from the secondary all of last season
• I'm less certain about the difference between pass deflections and pass breakups as I've been unable to find pass deflections anywhere and Jah Joyner is credited with 6 PBUs this year. The secondary has 23 PBUs this year. I will note, that the Gophers have 43 as a team, while our opponents have just 26.
  • The secondary had 24 of last year's 34 total PBUs

So as we look at what has been an effective defense so far this season, it seems that Hetherman's plan has been to use the secondary as playmakers with the rest of the defense designed to make that possible. It would be great to see a more disruptive defensive line - though the DEs made more plays last week - but the D-line is clearly being coached to contain and get in passing lanes as they've been credited with 11 PBUs themselves.

A lot of conversation on this board has been focused on the offensive changes, but it seems like the defensive changes have made the team a bit of an outlier compared to teams across the country. I find it encouraging that those changes have yielded nearly immediate results.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I ran across this post today, which shows that the Gopher defense creates the highest percentage of "havoc" plays in the country out of their secondary.


What's a havoc play? It's a TFL, FF, Int, deflected pass, or pass break up. Digging a bit deeper, here's some raw stats from the Gopher secondary:

• The Gophers have 15 interceptions as a team (2nd in the nation), with 13 of them coming from the secondary
  • 12 all of last season, 10 from the secondary
• The defense has forced 6 fumbles, 2 of them by the secondary
  • 10 last season, 2 from the secondary
• The secondary has 15.5 TFL for 56 yards. Within this, Jack Henderson has 3.5 sacks.
  • 15 TFL from the secondary all of last season
• I'm less certain about the difference between pass deflections and pass breakups as I've been unable to find pass deflections anywhere and Jah Joyner is credited with 6 PBUs this year. The secondary has 23 PBUs this year. I will note, that the Gophers have 43 as a team, while our opponents have just 26.
  • The secondary had 24 of last year's 34 total PBUs

So as we look at what has been an effective defense so far this season, it seems that Hetherman's plan has been to use the secondary as playmakers with the rest of the defense designed to make that possible. It would be great to see a more disruptive defensive line - though the DEs made more plays last week - but the D-line is clearly being coached to contain and get in passing lanes as they've been credited with 11 PBUs themselves.

A lot of conversation on this board has been focused on the offensive changes, but it seems like the defensive changes have made the team a bit of an outlier compared to teams across the country. I find it encouraging that those changes have yielded nearly immediate results.

Great info but I would disagree some with your take on the D-Line. I think our D-Line has been very disruptive and that has helped contribute to the success of the secondary because the line is making QBs uncomfortable which leads to off target passes that get picked or knocked down easier.

We don't get a lot of sacks but we have been generating a ton of pressure this year.

 

[Scottsdale Gopher]

Great info but I would disagree some with your take on the D-Line. I think our D-Line has been very disruptive and that has helped contribute to the success of the secondary because the line is making QBs uncomfortable which leads to off target passes that get picked or knocked down easier.

We don't get a lot of sacks but we have been generating a ton of pressure this year.

There's something to what you're saying... Here's D-line raw stats:

• 18.5 TFL in 2024; 26.5 TFL in 2023
• 11 sacks in 2024; 20 sacks in 2023
• 28 QB hits in 2024; 21 in 2023

I think the raw numbers are going to end up similar to last year, with the exception of QB hits. Anyone know where you can find pressure rate by position group? I'm guessing it isn't free anywhere.

 

[STPGopher]

Great info but I would disagree some with your take on the D-Line. I think our D-Line has been very disruptive and that has helped contribute to the success of the secondary because the line is making QBs uncomfortable which leads to off target passes that get picked or knocked down easier.

We don't get a lot of sacks but we have been generating a ton of pressure this year.

Complementary D.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Not seeing Rutgers as an outlier for DL of DB havoc. That is good. Let’s hope we run a great passing game against them, setting up good running lanes.