AdamJT13
Salary Cap Analyst
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I was looking at our defensive stats compared to recent seasons, and one thing really jumped out at me --
Our opponents have thrown 481 passes already. That's almost as many attempts as our opponents had in any of the past four full seasons -- 511 last year, 495 in 2005, 502 in 2004 and 492 in 2003.
They've also run the ball only 303 times -- 110 fewer times than the fewest attempts in any of the past four seasons (429 last year, 414 in 2005, 425 in 2004 and 413 in 2003).
Including sacks (and not accounting for scrambles), our opponents are passing the ball 63.0 percent of the time this season, compared to 56.0 percent last year, 56.4 percent in 2005, 55.7 percent in 2004 and 55.9 percent of the time in 2003.
In any of the past four seasons, our opponents would have run the ball about 57 more times and passed it 57 fewer times so far. But they've been passing much more often this season, mostly because we've usually been ahead.
On a per-play basis, our pass defense has been significantly better than in any season since we had the No. 1 defense in 2003 -- we're allowing a lower yards per attempt (gross and net), yards per completion (by more than a yard per catch) and passer rating than we did in any of the past three years. We're not quite at the level of the 2003 pass defense, although we're better in yards allowed per catch (10.97 this year, 11.80 in 2003). But this year's interception rate is significantly higher than it was that year (3.74, compared to 2.64 -- an increase of 42 percent) and is higher than any of the past three years, as well (3.52, 3.03 and 2.59).
Our opponents have thrown 481 passes already. That's almost as many attempts as our opponents had in any of the past four full seasons -- 511 last year, 495 in 2005, 502 in 2004 and 492 in 2003.
They've also run the ball only 303 times -- 110 fewer times than the fewest attempts in any of the past four seasons (429 last year, 414 in 2005, 425 in 2004 and 413 in 2003).
Including sacks (and not accounting for scrambles), our opponents are passing the ball 63.0 percent of the time this season, compared to 56.0 percent last year, 56.4 percent in 2005, 55.7 percent in 2004 and 55.9 percent of the time in 2003.
In any of the past four seasons, our opponents would have run the ball about 57 more times and passed it 57 fewer times so far. But they've been passing much more often this season, mostly because we've usually been ahead.
On a per-play basis, our pass defense has been significantly better than in any season since we had the No. 1 defense in 2003 -- we're allowing a lower yards per attempt (gross and net), yards per completion (by more than a yard per catch) and passer rating than we did in any of the past three years. We're not quite at the level of the 2003 pass defense, although we're better in yards allowed per catch (10.97 this year, 11.80 in 2003). But this year's interception rate is significantly higher than it was that year (3.74, compared to 2.64 -- an increase of 42 percent) and is higher than any of the past three years, as well (3.52, 3.03 and 2.59).
