Tom Dienhart says biggest difference with Minn D this year is lack of turnovers

[BleedGopher]

per Dienhart's Q&A:

With a surprisingly exciting 35-40 game in Iowa and the fact that Mitch Leidner showed up in a very big way (19-of-27 for 259 yards with a TD), the real question for Minnesota fans: What on earth has happened to our defense? I understand we are battling injury, but 40 points allowed against Iowa?! It’s like they didn’t even get off the bus. – Travis Fawver

Let’s have a look at the stats.

Last year, Minnesota’s defense was No. 6 in the Big Ten in scoring (24.2 ppg); No. 7 in total defense (368.2 ypg); No. 8 in rushing defense (174.7 ypg); No. 4 in pass defense (193.5 ypg). It’s also worth noting that the Gophers were No. 2 in turnover margin (plus 10).

This year, Minnesota is No. 9 in scoring defense (25.9 ppg); No. 7 in total defense (347.9 ypg); No. 12 in rushing defense (164.8 ypg); No. 5 in pass defense (183.1 ypg); No. 9 in turnover margin (minus two). As you can see, the numbers for the Minnesota defense are not much different from 2014 to 2015.

The biggest difference is the turnover margin, where the Gophers have gone from plus 10 to minus two—a 12 turnover swing. That is pretty big.

http://btn.com/2015/11/16/big-ten-mailbag-is-ezekiel-elliott-the-nations-best-running-back/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Governor Sibley]

This man's a genius.

 

[frozengopher]

It's crazy that, despite all of our injuries, our total defense is better than last year. What a difference a few turnovers make.

 

[CWCWCW]

It's crazy that, despite all of our injuries, our total defense is better than last year. What a difference a few turnovers make.

Travis helped with turnovers. So did Boddy Calhoun. Myrick makes the trifecta.
Our replacements are getting valuable experience but they're not of the same quality as those three players.
BBC gets a pick this week.

 

[denguegopher]

Last year weren't we one of the tops in the nation for turnovers, (+14 or something like that). Such a stat is not likely to repeat in consecutive years. Go Gophers!

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

Hard to compare two years without considering the strengths of the opponents, where we played them, our offense's performance. And is special team defense included in the analysis? I'd be curious to see our ranking in third and fourth down stops. And turnovers aren't entirely a matter of ball-bounce fortune. My impression is that we rely too much on stunts and allow big plays when we guess wrong more than we disrupt opponents with them. Versus Iowa, we gave up too many yards after first contact by my eye. And just to get a jab in at the Lynch Leidner Lobby, I'm surprised there haven't been complaints here that his recent performance of scoring too quickly leads to too little rest for our defense.

 

[Cayman]

Interesting that we give up 10 yards per game LESS than last year, yet have dropped from 8th to 12th in the Big Ten in rushing defense. Has the Big Ten's rushing offense dropped off after losing Cobb, Gordon, Coleman, and Abdullah? Obviously the Gophers have been passing a lot more this year, I wonder if those other teams have struggled establishing a running game this year.

Probably right about the turnovers. How big would another possession or two have been against Iowa or Michigan?

 

[Word]

Interesting that we give up 10 yards per game LESS than last year, yet have dropped from 8th to 12th in the Big Ten in rushing defense. Has the Big Ten's rushing offense dropped off after losing Cobb, Gordon, Coleman, and Abdullah? Obviously the Gophers have been passing a lot more this year, I wonder if those other teams have struggled establishing a running game this year.

Probably right about the turnovers. How big would another possession or two have been against Iowa or Michigan?

Turnovers are huge, but how much of that is just plain luck? (or bad luck)

 

[jonnyganas]

How about the fact we've been starting underclassmen at LB and DB most of the year due to the insane amount of injuries? This is the main reason for lower turnover margin IMO.

 

[bottlebass]

Maybe we should look at starting field position and special teams too. Our special teams has been bad much of the year giving opponents much better field position than we gave them last year. This wasn't the case in the Iowa game since they had scoring drives of like 99 and 90 yards, but field position definitely played a role in other games.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Murray has regressed. Not the same player he was last year.

 

[bottlebass]

Murray has regressed. Not the same player he was last year.

I almost wonder if he is battling an injury (leg injury that is slowing him down). He started out the season pretty good and now the last few games has looked exposed. I'll admit it could be his lack of confidence in the safety behind him or even the safety behind him missing coverages too.

 

[LesBolstad]

I almost wonder if he is battling an injury (leg injury that is slowing him down). He started out the season pretty good and now the last few games has looked exposed. I'll admit it could be his lack of confidence in the safety behind him or even the safety behind him missing coverages too.

He takes a lot of chances and tries to jump a lot of routes. Last year, he had a lot more help back there. With all the injuries, he's often on an island.

 

[beavergopher]

Not having David Cobb is the biggest difference.