Pass 5th
Rush 13th
I was thinking about that as a sign of a good coach
As the season goes on luck becomes less prominent and intelligence gathering takes over.
Like how Jim Bob Cooter’s offenses never quite did as well when the league figured out what that year was about.
I would modify this thought as a sign of a great coaching staff.
You need really good quality control along with a brilliant OC. And an OC who can take that feedback and modify.
I can often call the play for other teams as the game progresses. But the Lions are so damn hard to predict.
1 Like
1 Like
Wanted to get this in there before the GB game is entered added to the stats.
After two weeks without Hutch (through game 7):
3rd in Defensive DVOA
20th in total defense
27th in passing defense
6th in rushing defense
4th in passing defense DVOA
8th in rushing defense DVOA
7th in scoring defense
9th in red zone defense
1st in 3rd down defense
Tied for 18th in Sacks (tied). (Tied for 7th per game)
Tied for 2nd in forced turnovers
After three weeks without Hutch (through game 8)::
3rd in Defensive DVOA
22nd in total defense
29th in passing defense
7th in rushing defense
3rd in passing defense DVOA
9th in rushing defense DVOA
Tied 5th in scoring defense
4th in red zone defense
1st in 3rd down defense
Tied for 18th in Sacks (tied for 14th in sacks per game)
3rd in forced turnovers
After four weeks without Hutch (through game 9):
2nd in Defensive DVOA
20th in total defense
28th in passing defense
6th in rushing defense
3rd in passing defense DVOA
7th in rushing defense DVOA
8th in scoring defense
Tied for 4th in red zone defense
1st in 3rd down defense
Tie 14th (tied for 14th in sacks per game)
3rd in forced turnovers
1 Like
How does this even work?
1 Like
yards and points are 2 different things I guess. it’s crazy we have more turnovers that TDs given up.
2 Likes
So DVOA is isolating the play and comparing the team (or unit or player’s) success compared to league average in that situation. So let’s say you give up a ton of garbage time passing yards. That would be very bad for your passing yards but may not impact your DVOA at all. Also, splash plays and turnovers in particukar influence dvoa quite a bit. That’s why we finished 13th on defense last year despite being the brunt of jokes.
1 Like
Those who made it the brunt of jokes really weren’t watching closely enough. Last year, we had a fantastic defense against the run (better than this year even). We did that at the expense of our pass defense. It worked like a charm all the way up until the second half of the NFC championship game.
When in doubt, go by DVOA.
Basically we give up a lot of passing yards but create a ton of turnovers. QB’s have put up yardage but had terrible qb ratings against us cause we keep intercepting them. Kerb and Branch have 10 picks combined.
We have only given up 7 passing tds and have 13 ints. That’s outstanding.
5 Likes
4th to 2nd n Defensive DVOA +2
13th to 20th in total defense -7
27th to 28th in passing defense -1
3rd to 6th in rushing defense -3
5th to 3rd in passing defense DVOA +2
10th to 7th in rushing defense DVOA +3
8th to 8th in scoring defense 0
10th to 4th (tied) in red zone defense +5.5
2nd to 1st 3rd down defense +1
14th (tied) to 14th (tied) in Sacks 0
7th (tied) to 3rd in forced TOs +4.5
Cumulatively, we’re a plus 7. Trade Hutch while we can (LOL)!
1 Like
Haha - strange how that works! Of course the counter-factual (i.e. true comparison) would be having Hutch all this time, because the Lions normally improve over the year.
2 Likes
Mostly. But also that the system is built around devaluing plays that don’t really matter much.
Right. Give up 10 yards on 3rd and 15. That’s a win. Give up 10 yards on 4th and 9. Big minus.
Similarly, give up a TD when ahead 34-10 in the 4th q…almost no impact. Give up a go-ahead TD in the 4th quarter. Big minus.
It makes so much more sense than points or yards against.
2 Likes
That is seriously impressive. 1st in the nfl on 3rd down defense. Reading the game thread you’d think we were dead last lol
3 Likes
That is probably the most satisfying stat of all. How many times was our heart ripped out by other teams converting 3rd and 15 in the past four decades?
BTW, that’s why I stay away from the game threads. My least favorite part of this happy place.
2 Likes