I know, according to some, we aren't allowed to appreciate the improvement on defense until we have played the entire season, but I thought I'd go ahead and take a gander any way. Here are the defense's national rankings through 10 games:
Total defense: 21st (1st in Big 12)
Scoring defense: 25th (1st in Big 12)
Passing yards allowed: 24th (1st in Big 12)
Passing efficiency: 12th (1st in Big 12)
Rush defense: 45th (1st in Big 12)
Sacks: 3rd (1st in Big 12)
Passes intercepted: 13th (3rd in Big 12)
*Net punting: 3rd (1st in Big 12)
Of the 20 teams in front of OU in total defense, zero have defended more than 698 plays. OU has defended 760 plays. At 4.42 yards given up per play, if OU had played as many snaps as Alabama (662), they'd be ranked 8th in total defense. They're just defending a lot more plays in the Big 12 than in some other conferences. I included net punting because, to me, that impacts the defense quite a bit with starting field position and whatnot.
So, to my untrained eye, that looks like the #1 defense in the conference and top 25 in almost every category nationally. Color me impressed.
Total defense: 21st (1st in Big 12)
Scoring defense: 25th (1st in Big 12)
Passing yards allowed: 24th (1st in Big 12)
Passing efficiency: 12th (1st in Big 12)
Rush defense: 45th (1st in Big 12)
Sacks: 3rd (1st in Big 12)
Passes intercepted: 13th (3rd in Big 12)
*Net punting: 3rd (1st in Big 12)
Of the 20 teams in front of OU in total defense, zero have defended more than 698 plays. OU has defended 760 plays. At 4.42 yards given up per play, if OU had played as many snaps as Alabama (662), they'd be ranked 8th in total defense. They're just defending a lot more plays in the Big 12 than in some other conferences. I included net punting because, to me, that impacts the defense quite a bit with starting field position and whatnot.
So, to my untrained eye, that looks like the #1 defense in the conference and top 25 in almost every category nationally. Color me impressed.
