By The Numbers: Defense In The Sunshine State

In evaluating the University of Miami football team's performance in 2013 we though it would be an interesting exercise to compare and contrast the state of college football defenses all across Florida to try to determine where the best defense is being played in the Sunshine State.

While some of the facts and findings are clearly obvious (FSU's defense is the best by far) we found several statistics among other State schools that are not as well known and we believe will interest you. So hop on board the Canesapace 12% bus  as we take a serious road trip to Tallahassee, Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, Boca Raton and Miami in search of defense "By The Numbers".

Before we load the bus and take the long drive up I-75 and across I-10 to the State Capitol, or across I-4 from Orlando to Tampa, or down I-95 to Boca, lets take a closer look at the cold, hard stats:

Here are the NCAA Total Defense Rankings for 2013:

1. FSU: #4
2. UF: #10
3. FAU: #12
4. UCF: #18
5. USF: #21
6. UM: #76
7. FIU: #95

Here are the NCAA Scoring Defense rankings for 2013:

1. FSU: #1
2. UCF: #17
3. UF: # 19
4. FAU: #28
5. UM: #57
6. USF: #74
7. FIU: #110

If you ignore the dumpster fire that is raging along the Florida Turnpike near the SW 8th Street exit in Miami, which is also known as the FIU football program, you will find UM ranked last or next to last in the Sunshine State in both total defense and scoring defense. This is probably not surprising or shocking to most UM fans as the are stuck in traffic on U.S. 1 near 57th avenue all the while complaining about the Hurricanes' defensive struggles this season.

As we head north and eventually turn off of I-10 and onto Monroe Street in Tallahassee it is not surprising to see Florida State at the top of both categories. The Seminoles have recruited some remarkable defensive talent over the last few years, are sitting pretty at 12-0 and are just an ACC title game win over Duke away from playing for the 2013 BCS Championship. Once FSU summarily dispenses of the Blue Devils in deciding fashion in Charlotte this evening the 'Noles will be Pasadena bound to play either Ohio State , Auburn or Missouri in the BCS title game at the Rose Bowl. The Seminoles pounded the Hurricanes in Tallahassee and we were there to witness the beat down. But, at least we had some twerking at the tailgate, so all was not lost on our road trip to the State Capitol.

As we pull off of I-75 and onto Newberry Road in Gainesville we discovered that most football fans are also probably not shocked to see the Florida Gators near the top of each defensive category. In spite of their embarrassing 4-8 record and putrid offensive output the Gators' defense was widely recognized before the season started as a Top 10 unit by most "expert" analysts. Will Muschamp's bunch did not disappoint even after having to battle through a few significant injuries and even if there were very few fans in The Swamp to watch them play late in the season. The once mighty Gators, who lost to Al Golden and his Miami Hurricanes in week two of the season, finished the 2013 campaign ranked at #10 in total defense and #19 in scoring defense.

However, what many football fans may find interesting is how some other teams in Florida that are not considered among "The Big Three" have done so well on the defensive side of the ball and how they managed to get there.

The Canespace bus exits I-4 near Orlando and gets onto the 417 toll road in Sanford to find the University of Central Florida leading the hit parade on defense with rankings of #18 in total defense and #17 in scoring defense. More surprising the Golden Knights find themselves ranked #16 in the BCS standings and playing in their conference title game (earlier today) against SMU in Texas. Head coach George O'Leary and his defense apparently have finally turned things around in his 10th season with the Knights. And you better watch out, if UCF can keep some more Central Florida talent to stay home in the 407 the Knights could make some serious noise on the National scene in years to come.

As we jump off of I-95 in swanky Boca Raton we are really shocked to find the FAU Owls ranked at #12 in total defense and #28 in scoring defense. We almost spilled out latte on our lap when we saw those numbers from a program that is better known for, well they are not known for really anything, and remember just a few weeks back about what happened in Palm Beach County that made the National news. You may recall that the Owls' head coach Carl Pelini was dismissed (along with DC Pete Rekstis) from the team in the most humiliating manner after he acknowledged to FAU athletic department administrators that he had been involved in some extra-curricular activities that apparently included some "puff, puff, pass" behavior off campus. In stepped offensive coordinator Brian Wright as interim head coach and LB coach Jovan Dewitt as DC to turn the Owls' season around and lead their defense to very respectable numbers given the turmoil and limited talent on campus.

Next after filling the Canespace Bus with gas and supplies we head West across I-4 to I-275 South and find ourselves in Tampa, home of the USF Bulls. First year coach Willie Taggart had his work cut out for him after inheriting a program in shambles courtesy of one Skip Holtz (Note to self: Never hire a head coach named Skip). Taggart had no players, no depth and no winning tradition to build from so he started from the bottom determined to establish a winning culture at USF. He lost early and big to Al Golden and the Miami Hurricanes in a game the we attended and enjoyed immensely. But as the season wore on the Bulls did not wear down. Instead they worked themselves up to a #21 ranking in total defense and #74 in scoring defense. Not too bad for a first year guy named Willie at a school like USF.

Related articles

By The Numbers: Going On The Offensive

Florida/FSU: Different Directions?

FSU Football: Gators, 'Noles heading in opposite directions

The Defense Will Not Rest

Comments

[CaneRock]

HAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! YEEEEEEEEAH! 1ST!

[SOUP]

So what?

[SinisterCane]

Why does AL believe in a system that has NEVER worked anywhere he coached

[SOUP]

READ and REACT?

[Go Canes!]

One thing we can all agree on is it's great to enjoy watching Urban Meyer AND Ohio State lose.

[SinisterCane]

Watching MSU's defense reminds me of our 01' squad

[Terrance Sullivan]

Great stuff Soup. Thanks for all your hard work, thanks to LB and VfB for their hard work as well. Canespace rules. Atlanta or Orlando is our bowl destination. Lets win that game and finish 10-3. Go Canes!

[Go Canes!]

I would guess we are going to Atlanta on New Year's Eve.

[SOUP]

Ohio State loses!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Ohio State loses!

Posted by: SOUP | December 07, 2013 at 11:59 PM
How sweet it is.

[Terrance Sullivan]

I would guess we are going to Atlanta on New Year's Eve.

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 07, 2013 at 11:59 PM
I would love that.

[Ohio_Cane]

OSU loses, and everything was closer to right in the world.

[SOUP]

I would guess we are going to Atlanta on New Year's Eve.

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 07, 2013 at 11:59 PM

Your guess is as good as mine?

[CaneRock]

As a TRUE! Canes fan, as much as I HATE! to say this, but...if we would've played FSU again, we would've got DRUBBED!...AGAIN!

I'm sorry, I just had to channel my inner UMike there.

[Go Canes!]

There is no way that bowl will take Duke over us.

[Go Canes!]

Bottom line: if FSU defeats Duke on Saturday and Clemson goes to the Orange, the Chick-fil-A would likely choose between Duke and Miami, with UM being the expected pick should Duke lose big.

“Duke certainly deserves strong consideration because they’re a great story and they’ve done a hell of a job this year,” said Chick-fil-A selection committee member Bill Flynn. “And Miami just blows everybody out in terms of TV coverage. ESPN loves them.

“What we look for is the most competitive game we can get. We want people watching and we want people excited about it.”

The ACC team’s opponent in the Chick-fil-A would be the No. 3, 4 or 5 Southeastern Conference selection. The Capital One, Cotton and Outback bowls pick before the Chick-fil-A. Until Saturday’s games, the SEC teams still being considered by the Chick-fil-A are Missouri, South Carolina, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M.

[WWIN]

One thing we can all agree on is it's great to enjoy watching Urban Meyer AND Ohio State lose.

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 07, 2013 at 11:54 PM

Damn Straight!!!!! Now if they could only show urban crying...

[Terrance Sullivan]

One thing we can all agree on is it's great to enjoy watching Urban Meyer AND Ohio State lose.

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 07, 2013 at 11:54 PM

Damn Straight!!!!! Now if they could only show urban crying...

Posted by: Willie Will in Missouri | December 08, 2013 at 12:13 AM
I approves these posts highly.

[SOUP]

Go Canes...U are winning some fans over!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Our defensive stats are shameful. Its never good to be in the same stratosphere as the dumpster fire known as FIU.

[jcane]

Good articles the last few days.

I'd be curious to look at how UTexas' D fared in its few games of the season vs. after the D coord. was let go (and the team started winning again, likely saving Mack's job).

A future Cane making a tackle. Novel concept:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/07/3805433/class-4a-final-booker-t-washington.html

[jcane]

above referring to Bethel in image7. Some nice shots of Walton running the ball, too. Looking forward to seeing him play for the U in a few years.

[CalgaryCane]

Posted by: SOUP | December 08, 2013 at 12:22 AM

Nice article!

[BEERicane]

My big take away from the stats are this: UFs second string and 3rd string D is better than our D by a country mile. Could you imagine if our whole DLine was injured and DBs hurt like theirs all year? What a cluster that would be.

[Terrance Sullivan]

My big take away from the stats are this: UFs second string and 3rd string D is better than our D by a country mile. Could you imagine if our whole DLine was injured and DBs hurt like theirs all year? What a cluster that would be.

Posted by: BEERicane | December 08, 2013 at 01:23 AM
Yet with that being said our lackluster defense rose up on September the 7th and beat that said Florida team and caused what 6 turnovers, we also beat FAU and USF. only giving up 6 points to FAU and what 21 or 27 to USF and winning easily against them as well. So even as bad as the defense was their were some rays of sunshine but the defense has to get better period point blank.

[360Cane]

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 07, 2013 at 07:16 PM

It's insane that you actually have to defend Miami coaches to Miami fans isn't it? The dumpster fire is this blog. It's a poor representation of Cane nation and they actually let OGV back because of his articulate way of putting our team down too. Such a shame what this blog has turned in to.

Fans like these always make me wonder why they're fans at all.

You know. Maybe if our #1 RB goes down, we can put in a guy we recruited for CB to take his place. Problems at S? Oh, we have this backup QB that could fit there nicely. Our DL just isn't getting it done. Who else we got? Ah man, search the country for almost career over DLs to fill those holes. There are these two from Whisky and UVA. Oh and this JUCO. What about LB? Sure did cut a lot loose this offseason. Oh we have a couple that were recruited as no stars.

What are we going to do about all these holes? We want to be cheddar but in reality, we're Swiss cheese.

Good thing the NCAA thing is over, we managed our scholarship usage extremely well while waiting on this cloud. Now we can finally have those top 5 recruiting classes that take you to the top instead of thinking a bunch of transfers and no stars were taking us. They did manage 9-3 though. []_[]

[AfriCane]

Posted by: 4-Real | December 07, 2013 at 11:32 PM

4-real, r u for real?

[Old Skool]

The best bit of coaching last night was the FSU PR department, telling Jameis what to say when he got quizzed by reporters after the game. He was asked variations on the same question about 4 or 5 times and never deviated from the script. He has to mature. It's been a trying time. The team hung together and had his back. Jimbo is God.

[Lurker]

OGV is blog poison.

That's why I mostly lurk and don't post.

It's just hard to take the angry bitterness of someone who openly cheers for our head coach, and our team, to fail. A troll from a rival team would actually be better than a guy who hates the coaches so much, he's cheering on the team's failure. It's so sad and pathetic when your life is so full of bitterness and hatred.

[TJL]

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/caneswatch/2013/12/06/grading-miami-hurricanes’-2013-senior-class/

Matt grades the seniors

[NativeCane]

Informative article Soup, makes U wonder if we deserved 9-3.

Also hard to ignore the fact that Gus Malzahn took a team from 3-7 and the cellar to 10-1 and the BCS Championship in less than two years and you could watch Auburn get stronger and smarter with each game.
When Shannons days were winding down I can remember several Canespacers hollering that Gus was the man.

DEM CANES!!!

[Sebas13]

Any word or updates from visiting recruits ? I know it's early Sunday morning but I was just wondering .

[CGNC]

Good morning party people.

Soup, I read the article and makes me very sad. And yes, we managed to beat Florida by scoring just enough points but we also gave up huge chunks of yardage and they moved the ball pretty much at will from what I remember. Numbers don't lie.

Lurker, OGV has his own style that's for sure. He is not cheering on the team's failure - he doesn't see much hope for this coaching staff - which is his opinion and he is entitled to it. Honestly, if the defensive side can't get it together, then he is going to have plenty of company

[CGNC]

Native, if we hadn't had two extremely easy teams, we wouldn't be 9-3

[CGNC]

Posted by: 360Cane | December 08, 2013 at 06:04 AM

If this blog is, as you put it, a "dumpster fire", you are certainly welcome to go elsewhere. Personally, I take offense at that. No way I am going to trash any players. Coaching staff needs to get it together, they just finished year 3

[CGNC]

TJL - I think I found a house! Fingers crossed, offer going in either today or Monday

[4-Real]

Native, Shannon tried to hire Malzhan, & Charlie Strong, & Kevin Sumlin, & Joker Phillips, & Darnell Walker, &....... Well u get the point. But nevertheless UM wouldn't shell out the dollars, which is why we just recently lost Cristobal. Miami didn't have to TOP what the other schools were paying, just MATCH em. Sigh..........

[BigWindyCane1]

Great article. No excuses. Stats don't tell the whole story, but stats provide a guide on how to identify problem areas and LB/Soup did a great job. D'No is not the guy capable of producing a top 10 defense without having a lot of assistance and guidance. Those other schools in Florida have better coaching on the defensive side of the ball.

[trianglecane]

I don't understand what "I don't know if they deserve 9 wins means". Not one of the teams Miami played gave them anything. When Miami played uf the d stepped up.

Miami's d was giving up long runs up the middle in the spring and summer, so what the heck going to change in the fall?

Bottom line. If Miami would have tackled consistently and held on to the ball, they would have finished the regular season with one loss, regardless of coaching. Just one loss. VT two freshman fumbles (playing because of ncaa, et al.) and poor tackling. Duke-a turnover and poor tackling.

I don't know.. the lack of experience and the it factor may plague our coaches now. But tackling was pretty good thru game five. What happened? I believe the players started feeling themselves. The coaches then had to go back and re coach vs. moving on to more advanced tasks. I don't know. Just my humble opinion.

[SOUP]

OGV may be poison, but it is better to keep your poison in clear view than let it sneak into you cereal for breakfast when you aren't looking. Jus sayin...

[SOUP]

TJL - I think I found a house! Fingers crossed, offer going in either today or Monday

Posted by: CGNC | December 08, 2013 at 08:58 AM

BOO YAH!

[SinisterCane]

Good Morning Spacers

[dj moonbat]

Fans like these always make me wonder why they're fans at all.

Posted by: 360Cane | December 08, 2013 at 06:04 AM

It's hard to cheer while you watch your team turned from something proven into something weird and new, especially when all the results are still promised for the future.

You have to understand: we're watching people try to impose a system that's not suited to our existing roster, and might never be as effective as the one it's replacing.

Jimmy Johnson's version of the 4-3 defense is simple, and allows the DL to get super aggro. It works in a lot of scenarios. It's also easy to learn, and doesn't place special demands for physical size on the players.

Mark D'Onofrio's defense emphasizes discipline over aggression up front, and the alignment of the defense necessitates big guys up front that we don't have. There are a total of two LBs (Figs and Gaines) who are really within the size range called for by this defense -- and they're toward the bottom end of that range. You should not run a defense for which your personnel are manifestly unsuited, but D'Onofrio insists on doing it, and then blames them when it fails.

I've been a 'Canes fan now for about 30 years. In that time, I always got more excited by watching a Miami defense shut down and intimidate the opposition than I did by watching the offense put points on the board. It's hard for me to accept that as long as this coach is here, I have to hope to melt down the scoreboard like some BYU team of old.

[SOUP]

1. You should not run a defense for which your personnel are manifestly unsuited, but D'Onofrio insists on doing it, and then blames them when it fails.

2. It's hard for me to accept that as long as this coach is here, I have to hope to melt down the scoreboard like some BYU team of old.

Posted by: dj moonbat | December 08, 2013 at 09:39 AM

1. There it is right there.

2. Could not have said it better myself.

[SOUP]

Triangle and 360...instead of getting upset about negative comments and running away, stand strong and post positive comments MORE often to outweigh the negative?

[SOUP]

NigeianCane...U should write an article about what is RIGHT with the UM football program?

[4-Real]

Go Dj!!!

[4-Real]

" The Blue Devils ARE who we thought they WERE, & WE LET EM OFF THA HOOK!!"

[dj moonbat]

By the way: for those of you who want a high-level explanation of why some people around here treat "read and react" as a horrible slur, and why D'Onofrio should be doing more to tailor his D to fit his personnel, go read this:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7537225/bill-belichick-vince-wilfork-new-england-patriots-defense

Also, Soup posted a link to an excellent NY Times series on the history and theory of NFL defenses.

[Lurker]

Just to be straight, I'm not an apologist for the terrible defense or defensive coordinator. I have big problems with both.

But I also see the great strides that have been made by the program, major improvements from the last two coaches, including this MONSTER recruiting class. Now is Golden perfect, and without flaws. No, of course not. I think his loyalty to his friend and that scheme may yet be his undoing but there is still time for change or improvement there.

I just think it's clearly hateful and unrealistic to not see the positive of what's happened even if you dislike the scheme, which I do. The personal attacks on Golden and his character are sickening and disgusting,