GT Defensive Stats by Year

[slugboy]

I'll start with Defensive FEI, going back to 2007

Here it is by rank. Nate Woody was 2017, which was a rough year. We've improved on defense in each of the last two seasons, even though it doesn't feel like that to everyone.

Our best year by rank on this chart is 2007, under Tenuta. I think 2006 was actually a better year than that, but I don't have that stat today.
Ted Roof is 2013-2017, and had the best defensive seasons since Tenuta, with one bad season in 2015 similar to the other coordinators.
Al Groh was 2010-2012, with Charles Kelley DC'ing half of the season.
By absolute score, the best year was 2008--Paul Johnson's first year, with Wommack as DC, and a lot of talented players built up and trained under the Tenuta era. The next year, still under Wommack, the numbers plunged. They stayed flat under other coordinators, but never got back to the defensive quality of the early-to-mid-2000's

And here's our winning percentage over the same time:

Season	W-L	Wins	Losses
2007	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2008	63.64%	7.00	4.00
2009	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2010	41.67%	5.00	7.00
2011	58.33%	7.00	5.00
2012	46.15%	6.00	7.00
2013	45.45%	5.00	6.00
2014	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2015	18.18%	2.00	9.00
2016	66.67%	8.00	4.00
2017	40.00%	4.00	6.00
2018	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2019	27.27%	3.00	8.00
2020	30.00%	3.00	7.00

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

I've said before that the 2015 defense was directly impacted by the one bad offense CPJ fielded in his tenure here. They typically played well in the first half and then started surrendering chunks of yardage and points as they became gassed from being on the field so much. CTR was't a great DC, but he was far better than we give him credit for.

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

I'll start with Defensive FEI, going back to 2007
View attachment 9635
Here it is by rank. Nate Woody was 2017, which was a rough year. We've improved on defense in each of the last two seasons, even though it doesn't feel like that to everyone.

Our best year by rank on this chart is 2007, under Tenuta. I think 2006 was actually a better year than that, but I don't have that stat today.
Ted Roof is 2013-2017, and had the best defensive seasons since Tenuta, with one bad season in 2015 similar to the other coordinators.
Al Groh was 2010-2012, with Charles Kelley DC'ing half of the season.
By absolute score, the best year was 2008--Paul Johnson's first year, with Wommack as DC, and a lot of talented players built up and trained under the Tenuta era. The next year, still under Wommack, the numbers plunged. They stayed flat under other coordinators, but never got back to the defensive quality of the early-to-mid-2000's
View attachment 9636
And here's our winning percentage over the same time:
View attachment 9638

Season	W-L	Wins	Losses
2007	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2008	63.64%	7.00	4.00
2009	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2010	41.67%	5.00	7.00
2011	58.33%	7.00	5.00
2012	46.15%	6.00	7.00
2013	45.45%	5.00	6.00
2014	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2015	18.18%	2.00	9.00
2016	66.67%	8.00	4.00
2017	40.00%	4.00	6.00
2018	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2019	27.27%	3.00	8.00
2020	30.00%	3.00	7.00

Excellent post, BTW.

 

[Vespidae]

Interesting post. I wonder how relevant it is today given how much the game has changed. The SEC is passing 60% of the time so defenses are on the field longer and it's a point-slugfest compared to even 10 years ago.

I looked at the same period you presented (2007-2020) and had Tech scored 30 points per game, we would have had 7 seasons with at least 10 wins.

Moral? I'd be less concerned about defense today and more concerned about offensive scoring. Tech has to put 35 pts per game on the board to be competitive.

 

[slugboy]

Wow, here's SP+ defense all the way back to 1970 from CollegeFootballData.com and I didn't even have to do any work:

I'm not sure if it's right, but the 1990-91 and early-mid 2000's look right.
I can't believe we were that good in 1995 1985--I know we were good in the Black Watch years, but that looks like a gap in the data it's so low.

 

[slugboy]

Here's Total Havoc (same source->CollegeFootballData)
Havoc rate is a pretty simple method for looking at how much hell a defense is raising. Add up tackles for loss (which includes sacks), forced fumbles, and defensed passes (picks and break-ups), divide it by total plays, and voila: havoc rate. The national havoc average in 2013 was 15.9 percent.

Higher is better. Just for fun, guess when Tenuta coached?

 

[augustabuzz]

Wow, here's SP+ defense all the way back to 1970 from CollegeFootballData.com and I didn't even have to do any work:

View attachment 9639

I'm not sure if it's right, but the 1990-91 and early-mid 2000's look right.
I can't believe we were that good in 1995--I know we were good in the Black Watch years, but that looks like a gap in the data it's so low.

It looks correct to me.

 

[alagold]

THe DL in '08 was SO much better than any since then.If your DEF starts with the "hawgs" then that explains the high rating then easily..

 

[GTBandit22]

THe DL in '08 was SO much better than any since then.If your DEF starts with the "hawgs" then that explains the high rating then easily..

Best starting 4 of my fan life. Also best DT combo.

 

[presjacket]

I'll start with Defensive FEI, going back to 2007
View attachment 9635
Here it is by rank. Nate Woody was 2017, which was a rough year. We've improved on defense in each of the last two seasons, even though it doesn't feel like that to everyone.

Our best year by rank on this chart is 2007, under Tenuta. I think 2006 was actually a better year than that, but I don't have that stat today.
Ted Roof is 2013-2017, and had the best defensive seasons since Tenuta, with one bad season in 2015 similar to the other coordinators.
Al Groh was 2010-2012, with Charles Kelley DC'ing half of the season.
By absolute score, the best year was 2008--Paul Johnson's first year, with Wommack as DC, and a lot of talented players built up and trained under the Tenuta era. The next year, still under Wommack, the numbers plunged. They stayed flat under other coordinators, but never got back to the defensive quality of the early-to-mid-2000's
View attachment 9636
And here's our winning percentage over the same time:
View attachment 9638

Season	W-L	Wins	Losses
2007	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2008	63.64%	7.00	4.00
2009	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2010	41.67%	5.00	7.00
2011	58.33%	7.00	5.00
2012	46.15%	6.00	7.00
2013	45.45%	5.00	6.00
2014	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2015	18.18%	2.00	9.00
2016	66.67%	8.00	4.00
2017	40.00%	4.00	6.00
2018	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2019	27.27%	3.00	8.00
2020	30.00%	3.00	7.00

Why does the rank for 2009 look similar to 2008 but the raw number is much worse?

 

[slugboy]

Why does the rank for 2009 look similar to 2008 but the raw number is much worse?

Excel did something funky with the "rank" chart and was including a title in the x axis.

In 2008, we were ranked 43rd with a DFEI of 0.42. In 2009 we were ranked 84th with a DFEI or -0.13.
The DFEI Rank chart should look like this:

Here's part of the chart behind it

Season	W-L	Wins	Losses	DFEI	Rk
2007	50.00%	6.00	6.00	0.35	48
2008	63.64%	7.00	4.00	0.42	43
2009	76.92%	10.00	3.00	-0.13	84
2010	41.67%	5.00	7.00	-0.17	80
2011	58.33%	7.00	5.00	-0.28	83
2012	46.15%	6.00	7.00	-0.19	71
2013	45.45%	5.00	6.00	-0.02	69
2014	76.92%	10.00	3.00	-0.08	66
2015	18.18%	2.00	9.00	0.17	50
2016	66.67%	8.00	4.00	-0.24	75
2017	40.00%	4.00	6.00	0.04	55
2018	50.00%	6.00	6.00	-0.64	107
2019	27.27%	3.00	8.00	-0.52	94
2020	30.00%	3.00	7.00	-0.03	79

 

[presjacket]

Excel did something funky with the "rank" chart and was including a title in the x axis.

In 2008, we were ranked 43rd with a DFEI of 0.42. In 2009 we were ranked 84th with a DFEI or -0.13.
The DFEI Rank chart should look like this:
View attachment 9645

Here's part of the chart behind it

Season	W-L	Wins	Losses	DFEI	Rk
2007	50.00%	6.00	6.00	0.35	48
2008	63.64%	7.00	4.00	0.42	43
2009	76.92%	10.00	3.00	-0.13	84
2010	41.67%	5.00	7.00	-0.17	80
2011	58.33%	7.00	5.00	-0.28	83
2012	46.15%	6.00	7.00	-0.19	71
2013	45.45%	5.00	6.00	-0.02	69
2014	76.92%	10.00	3.00	-0.08	66
2015	18.18%	2.00	9.00	0.17	50
2016	66.67%	8.00	4.00	-0.24	75
2017	40.00%	4.00	6.00	0.04	55
2018	50.00%	6.00	6.00	-0.64	107
2019	27.27%	3.00	8.00	-0.52	94
2020	30.00%	3.00	7.00	-0.03	79

Now can you add offense to the charts?

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

Excel did something funky with the "rank" chart and was including a title in the x axis.

In 2008, we were ranked 43rd with a DFEI of 0.42. In 2009 we were ranked 84th with a DFEI or -0.13.
The DFEI Rank chart should look like this:
View attachment 9645

Here's part of the chart behind it

Season	W-L	Wins	Losses	DFEI	Rk
2007	50.00%	6.00	6.00	0.35	48
2008	63.64%	7.00	4.00	0.42	43
2009	76.92%	10.00	3.00	-0.13	84
2010	41.67%	5.00	7.00	-0.17	80
2011	58.33%	7.00	5.00	-0.28	83
2012	46.15%	6.00	7.00	-0.19	71
2013	45.45%	5.00	6.00	-0.02	69
2014	76.92%	10.00	3.00	-0.08	66
2015	18.18%	2.00	9.00	0.17	50
2016	66.67%	8.00	4.00	-0.24	75
2017	40.00%	4.00	6.00	0.04	55
2018	50.00%	6.00	6.00	-0.64	107
2019	27.27%	3.00	8.00	-0.52	94
2020	30.00%	3.00	7.00	-0.03	79

Based on those DFEI stats, the years under CTR look vastly different from the common perception of him on these boards.

 

[yeti92]

Based on those DFEI stats, the years under CTR look vastly different from the common perception of him on these boards.

That tends to happen when you get bubble screened to death.

 

[slugboy]

Now can you add offense to the charts?

Not too pretty on one chart, but here's historical SP+ Offense, Defense, and Overall:

Ranking might tell you a little more. If the black double line was above the gold line, does that mean our defense is better than our offense? (it doesn't--offense and defense chart in opposite directions)

Is offense being better than defense even a meaningful question?

The blue like tells you we were great in 1990, which we were. In 1985, our defense was great, and it carried our offense to one of our best Curry years. In 1990, offense and defense were both great. In the late 90's, our offense kept getting better and our defense kept getting worse. In the 2000's, our defense got better and our offense declined. In the 2010's, we flipped back.

Based on those DFEI stats, the years under CTR look vastly different from the common perception of him on these boards.

In comparison to Wommack and Groh and even Nate Woody, he did as well or better than them all while he was here. The problem is that he gets compared to a decade of better defense under Tenuta--most fans could remember excellent defense on the flats, and held that against him.
They also held the lack of offense against Gailey, and everyone who watched remembered 1995-2000.

 

[slugboy]

I though it might help to have a comparison team. VT gives a decent color contrast. Here's an SP+ overall comparison to VT. There's a light blue line for the ACC average. We've been ACC-average territory since O'Leary.

Here's defense (also against VT, lower is better):

And offense (higher is better):

Comparisons against Florida State look better, surprisingly.

Since NCST has been recruiting about where we've been--better than us until the last two classes--I thought I'd see how they compare overall, and it's pretty tight

 

[Jacketman]

I'll start with Defensive FEI, going back to 2007
View attachment 9635
Here it is by rank. Nate Woody was 2017, which was a rough year. We've improved on defense in each of the last two seasons, even though it doesn't feel like that to everyone.

Our best year by rank on this chart is 2007, under Tenuta. I think 2006 was actually a better year than that, but I don't have that stat today.
Ted Roof is 2013-2017, and had the best defensive seasons since Tenuta, with one bad season in 2015 similar to the other coordinators.
Al Groh was 2010-2012, with Charles Kelley DC'ing half of the season.
By absolute score, the best year was 2008--Paul Johnson's first year, with Wommack as DC, and a lot of talented players built up and trained under the Tenuta era. The next year, still under Wommack, the numbers plunged. They stayed flat under other coordinators, but never got back to the defensive quality of the early-to-mid-2000's
View attachment 9636
And here's our winning percentage over the same time:
View attachment 9638

Season	W-L	Wins	Losses
2007	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2008	63.64%	7.00	4.00
2009	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2010	41.67%	5.00	7.00
2011	58.33%	7.00	5.00
2012	46.15%	6.00	7.00
2013	45.45%	5.00	6.00
2014	76.92%	10.00	3.00
2015	18.18%	2.00	9.00
2016	66.67%	8.00	4.00
2017	40.00%	4.00	6.00
2018	50.00%	6.00	6.00
2019	27.27%	3.00	8.00
2020	30.00%	3.00	7.00

Very interesting post slugboy. Hate to nitpick, but one minor thing. The awful 2017 year was not Woody, it was Roof's last year(and rightly so). Roof was alright, but it's really hard for me to forget the Miami, UVA, and UGA games from that season when I think about his time with us and some may say that his defense may have cost Little Joe the Heisman in 99.

 

[Gtswifty81]

Very interesting post slugboy. Hate to nitpick, but one minor thing. The awful 2017 year was not Woody, it was Roof's last year(and rightly so). Roof was alright, but it's really hard for me to forget the Miami, UVA, and UGA games from that season when I think about his time with us and some may say that his defense may have cost Little Joe the Heisman in 99.

The Wake Forest game lost Joe the heisman.

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

Very interesting post slugboy. Hate to nitpick, but one minor thing. The awful 2017 year was not Woody, it was Roof's last year(and rightly so). Roof was alright, but it's really hard for me to forget the Miami, UVA, and UGA games from that season when I think about his time with us and some may say that his defense may have cost Little Joe the Heisman in 99.

2017 wasn't the awful year. 2018 was. IMO, it was largely due to the transition from 4-2-5 to 3-4 under Woody.

 

[slugboy]

Returning to this, From The Rumble Seat did a nice job on advanced analytics looking back at the season.

It’s worth a read, but across the board, the offense got better. The defense regressed. Overall, we moved up to being an average-ish team. I’m not sure if I go all-in on that power index he’s creating, but in 2019, we were pretty much the weakest team in the ACC, and now I’d put us somewhere around 9th to 11th.

We definitely have work to do on defense and special teams.