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This morning, we ranked 2012 FBS offenses according to points per trip inside the opponent's 40. Now let's look at the same list for defenses. Who did the best job of preventing you from scoring (much) when you got inside their 40?
There are some fascinating teams on this list. First of all, you've got UNLV. The Rebels had one of the 25 best defenses when it came to preventing you from taking advantage of your opportunities; they were also the second-worst team in the country at handing you opportunities. On nearly two-thirds of all drives, UNLV opponents advanced inside the Rebels' 40. That they were good at turning teams back didn't really matter. (Navy, Colorado State, and California also experienced similar dynamics.)
Meanwhile, the anti-UNLV was probably Arizona State: fantastic at quickly shutting drives down before you could build any hope, terrible at shutting promising drives down once they got going. (Others like this: Missouri, Wisconsin, and UCLA.)
And yes, Hawaii was dead last in points per trip on both offense and defense. Woof.
Anyway, one of the conclusions I have begun to reach is that the red zone itself is not all that useful. Teams separate themselves at the 40 and the 5. There's a lot more work to do with this data, of course. It will be interesting to look at which offenses and defenses are particularly good year in and year out, and it will be even more interesting to look at correlations from year to year regarding the teams with the biggest differences in rankings between the Pct. of Drives and Points Per Trip figures below. But today was a good start, I think.
Defense | Total Drives | Trips inside 40 | Pct of drives | Rk | Pts/Trip | Rk | Record | Def. F/+ Rk |
Rutgers | 170 | 66 | 38.8% | 18 | 2.70 | 1 | 9-4 | 11 |
Notre Dame | 149 | 57 | 38.3% | 17 | 2.79 | 2 | 12-1 | 13 |
Utah State | 175 | 63 | 36.0% | 10 | 2.90 | 3 | 11-2 | 9 |
BYU | 163 | 50 | 30.7% | 3 | 2.98 | 4 | 8-5 | 10 |
Florida | 159 | 58 | 36.5% | 13 | 3.02 | 5 | 11-2 | 2 |
Cincinnati | 167 | 71 | 42.5% | 30 | 3.07 | 6 | 10-3 | 29 |
Boise State | 153 | 60 | 39.2% | 21 | 3.10 | 7 | 11-2 | 17 |
Michigan State | 167 | 59 | 35.3% | 9 | 3.12 | 8 | 7-6 | 3 |
Penn State | 151 | 66 | 43.7% | 35 | 3.15 | 9 | 8-4 | 19 |
Georgia | 184 | 77 | 41.8% | 28 | 3.23 | 10 | 12-2 | 18 |
Alabama | 166 | 43 | 25.9% | 1 | 3.28 | 11 | 13-1 | 1 |
Oregon | 191 | 83 | 43.5% | 32 | 3.34 | 12 | 12-1 | 4 |
Northern Illinois | 178 | 80 | 44.9% | 45 | 3.36 | 13 | 12-2 | 39 |
Michigan | 148 | 69 | 46.6% | 53 | 3.45 | 14 | 8-5 | 28 |
South Carolina | 165 | 68 | 41.2% | 26 | 3.53 | 15 | 11-2 | 7 |
Vanderbilt | 168 | 62 | 36.9% | 14 | 3.58 | 16 | 9-4 | 35 |
N.C. State | 200 | 89 | 44.5% | 40 | 3.62 | 17 | 7-6 | 49 |
Stanford | 181 | 66 | 36.5% | 12 | 3.65 | 18 | 12-2 | 8 |
Virginia Tech | 182 | 71 | 39.0% | 19 | 3.68 | 19 | 7-6 | 22 |
Kansas State | 151 | 72 | 47.7% | 57 | 3.68 | 20 | 11-2 | 16 |
USC | 173 | 83 | 48.0% | 59 | 3.70 | 21 | 7-6 | 33 |
UNLV | 161 | 103 | 64.0% | 123 | 3.70 | 22 | 2-11 | 98 |
Connecticut | 163 | 61 | 37.4% | 15 | 3.70 | 23 | 5-7 | 26 |
San Diego State | 158 | 79 | 50.0% | 67 | 3.72 | 24 | 9-4 | 36 |
Bowling Green | 171 | 58 | 33.9% | 7 | 3.74 | 25 | 8-5 | 38 |
Defense | Total Drives | Trips inside 40 | Pct of drives | Rk | Pts/Trip | Rk | Record | Def. F/+ Rk |
Central Florida | 171 | 78 | 45.6% | 48 | 3.74 | 26 | 10-4 | 42 |
Pittsburgh | 149 | 66 | 44.3% | 38 | 3.76 | 27 | 6-7 | 45 |
Ohio State | 161 | 65 | 40.4% | 24 | 3.77 | 28 | 12-0 | 20 |
Northwestern | 161 | 75 | 46.6% | 52 | 3.77 | 29 | 10-3 | 46 |
Iowa State | 177 | 81 | 45.8% | 50 | 3.83 | 30 | 6-7 | 47 |
Oregon State | 174 | 68 | 39.1% | 20 | 3.84 | 31 | 9-4 | 25 |
SMU | 184 | 84 | 45.7% | 49 | 3.85 | 32 | 7-6 | 55 |
Florida State | 186 | 53 | 28.5% | 2 | 3.89 | 33 | 12-2 | 5 |
Ole Miss | 175 | 83 | 47.4% | 56 | 3.90 | 34 | 7-6 | 34 |
Washington | 166 | 74 | 44.6% | 41 | 3.91 | 35 | 7-6 | 37 |
Arkansas State | 156 | 76 | 48.7% | 64 | 3.91 | 36 | 10-3 | 56 |
Iowa | 148 | 71 | 48.0% | 58 | 3.92 | 37 | 4-8 | 63 |
Louisville | 150 | 72 | 48.0% | 60 | 3.92 | 38 | 11-2 | 48 |
TCU | 183 | 72 | 39.3% | 22 | 3.92 | 38 | 7-6 | 12 |
Oklahoma State | 181 | 81 | 44.8% | 43 | 3.93 | 40 | 8-5 | 24 |
LSU | 175 | 59 | 33.7% | 6 | 3.95 | 41 | 10-3 | 6 |
Navy | 137 | 82 | 59.9% | 117 | 3.95 | 42 | 8-5 | 107 |
Texas A&M | 175 | 71 | 40.6% | 25 | 3.96 | 43 | 11-2 | 15 |
Minnesota | 162 | 76 | 46.9% | 55 | 3.96 | 44 | 6-7 | 59 |
Colorado State | 148 | 87 | 58.8% | 111 | 3.99 | 45 | 4-8 | 106 |
Nebraska | 196 | 87 | 44.4% | 39 | 3.99 | 45 | 10-4 | 30 |
Boston College | 155 | 86 | 55.5% | 100 | 4.00 | 47 | 2-10 | 81 |
Clemson | 178 | 81 | 45.5% | 47 | 4.00 | 47 | 11-2 | 51 |
Tulsa | 206 | 75 | 36.4% | 11 | 4.00 | 47 | 11-3 | 27 |
South Alabama | 180 | 95 | 52.8% | 87 | 4.02 | 50 | 2-11 | 83 |
Defense | Total Drives | Trips inside 40 | Pct of drives | Rk | Pts/Trip | Rk | Record | Def. F/+ Rk |
UTEP | 151 | 82 | 54.3% | 96 | 4.02 | 51 | 3-9 | 94 |
Ohio | 164 | 74 | 45.1% | 46 | 4.04 | 52 | 9-4 | 75 |
California | 163 | 93 | 57.1% | 106 | 4.05 | 53 | 3-9 | 67 |
Mississippi State | 156 | 68 | 43.6% | 34 | 4.06 | 54 | 8-5 | 54 |
Buffalo | 162 | 80 | 49.4% | 66 | 4.06 | 55 | 4-8 | 65 |
Kent State | 191 | 84 | 44.0% | 37 | 4.07 | 56 | 11-3 | 43 |
Western Kentucky | 153 | 78 | 51.0% | 78 | 4.08 | 57 | 7-6 | 61 |
Western Michigan | 159 | 82 | 51.6% | 84 | 4.11 | 58 | 4-8 | 82 |
North Carolina | 160 | 70 | 43.8% | 36 | 4.14 | 59 | 8-4 | 74 |
San Jose State | 175 | 66 | 37.7% | 16 | 4.15 | 60 | 11-2 | 44 |
Middle Tennessee | 137 | 81 | 59.1% | 115 | 4.16 | 61 | 9-3 | 114 |
Toledo | 177 | 87 | 49.2% | 65 | 4.17 | 62 | 9-4 | 62 |
Houston | 180 | 92 | 51.1% | 80 | 4.17 | 63 | 5-7 | 66 |
UL-Lafayette | 174 | 84 | 48.3% | 61 | 4.27 | 64 | 9-4 | 78 |
Florida Atlantic | 150 | 80 | 53.3% | 90 | 4.29 | 65 | 3-9 | 104 |
UTSA | 120 | 73 | 60.8% | 120 | 4.29 | 66 | 8-4 | 120 |
Utah | 154 | 66 | 42.9% | 31 | 4.29 | 67 | 5-7 | 57 |
Miami | 158 | 85 | 53.8% | 93 | 4.29 | 68 | 7-5 | 88 |
Auburn | 147 | 77 | 52.4% | 85 | 4.30 | 69 | 3-9 | 95 |
Purdue | 176 | 85 | 48.3% | 62 | 4.31 | 70 | 6-7 | 60 |
Tulane | 166 | 98 | 59.0% | 114 | 4.31 | 71 | 2-10 | 102 |
Rice | 173 | 88 | 50.9% | 75 | 4.33 | 72 | 7-6 | 89 |
Wake Forest | 163 | 82 | 50.3% | 69 | 4.34 | 73 | 5-7 | 77 |
Virginia | 159 | 74 | 46.5% | 51 | 4.35 | 74 | 4-8 | 53 |
UL-Monroe | 165 | 88 | 53.3% | 90 | 4.35 | 75 | 8-5 | 86 |
Defense | Total Drives | Trips inside 40 | Pct of drives | Rk | Pts/Trip | Rk | Record | Def. F/+ Rk |
Miami (Ohio) | 153 | 91 | 59.5% | 116 | 4.36 | 76 | 4-8 | 115 |
Oklahoma | 172 | 71 | 41.3% | 27 | 4.38 | 77 | 10-3 | 23 |
Washington State | 159 | 84 | 52.8% | 88 | 4.38 | 78 | 3-9 | 76 |
Texas State | 146 | 89 | 61.0% | 121 | 4.38 | 79 | 4-8 | 119 |
Air Force | 148 | 83 | 56.1% | 103 | 4.39 | 80 | 6-7 | 99 |
Maryland | 161 | 70 | 43.5% | 33 | 4.39 | 81 | 4-8 | 50 |
Georgia Tech | 174 | 88 | 50.6% | 72 | 4.39 | 82 | 7-7 | 58 |
Fresno State | 190 | 62 | 32.6% | 5 | 4.39 | 83 | 9-4 | 21 |
South Florida | 146 | 74 | 50.7% | 73 | 4.41 | 84 | 3-9 | 73 |
Arkansas | 159 | 80 | 50.3% | 71 | 4.43 | 85 | 4-8 | 72 |
Texas Tech | 156 | 84 | 53.8% | 94 | 4.43 | 86 | 8-5 | 64 |
Akron | 162 | 95 | 58.6% | 109 | 4.43 | 87 | 1-11 | 105 |
UCLA | 206 | 83 | 40.3% | 23 | 4.43 | 88 | 9-5 | 32 |
Florida International | 160 | 82 | 51.3% | 82 | 4.45 | 89 | 3-9 | 70 |
Syracuse | 161 | 68 | 42.2% | 29 | 4.46 | 90 | 8-5 | 52 |
Wisconsin | 183 | 59 | 32.2% | 4 | 4.46 | 91 | 8-6 | 14 |
North Texas | 152 | 71 | 46.7% | 54 | 4.46 | 92 | 4-8 | 108 |
Troy | 161 | 78 | 48.4% | 63 | 4.47 | 93 | 5-7 | 93 |
Memphis | 147 | 75 | 51.0% | 79 | 4.49 | 94 | 4-8 | 80 |
Missouri | 170 | 76 | 44.7% | 42 | 4.50 | 95 | 5-7 | 41 |
Idaho | 161 | 105 | 65.2% | 124 | 4.52 | 96 | 1-11 | 92 |
Kansas | 154 | 93 | 60.4% | 119 | 4.53 | 97 | 1-11 | 84 |
Temple | 142 | 72 | 50.7% | 74 | 4.54 | 98 | 4-7 | 96 |
Texas | 160 | 82 | 51.3% | 82 | 4.57 | 99 | 9-4 | 40 |
Tennessee | 173 | 91 | 52.6% | 86 | 4.58 | 100 | 5-7 | 85 |
Defense | Total Drives | Trips inside 40 | Pct of drives | Rk | Pts/Trip | Rk | Record | Def. F/+ Rk |
Wyoming | 144 | 82 | 56.9% | 105 | 4.59 | 101 | 4-8 | 112 |
East Carolina | 167 | 85 | 50.9% | 76 | 4.60 | 102 | 8-5 | 91 |
Central Michigan | 157 | 87 | 55.4% | 99 | 4.62 | 103 | 7-6 | 109 |
Arizona State | 191 | 67 | 35.1% | 8 | 4.63 | 104 | 8-5 | 31 |
Duke | 173 | 94 | 54.3% | 97 | 4.64 | 105 | 6-7 | 116 |
West Virginia | 172 | 101 | 58.7% | 110 | 4.64 | 106 | 7-6 | 69 |
New Mexico | 145 | 81 | 55.9% | 102 | 4.68 | 107 | 4-9 | 121 |
New Mexico State | 155 | 93 | 60.0% | 118 | 4.69 | 108 | 1-11 | 122 |
Illinois | 157 | 80 | 51.0% | 77 | 4.70 | 109 | 2-10 | 71 |
UAB | 163 | 91 | 55.8% | 101 | 4.73 | 110 | 3-9 | 101 |
Baylor | 177 | 101 | 57.1% | 107 | 4.73 | 111 | 8-5 | 79 |
Eastern Michigan | 152 | 88 | 57.9% | 108 | 4.75 | 112 | 2-10 | 103 |
Kentucky | 142 | 76 | 53.5% | 92 | 4.75 | 112 | 2-10 | 113 |
Ball State | 160 | 85 | 53.1% | 89 | 4.78 | 114 | 9-4 | 87 |
Nevada | 160 | 87 | 54.4% | 98 | 4.83 | 115 | 7-6 | 111 |
Southern Miss | 153 | 90 | 58.8% | 112 | 4.87 | 116 | 0-12 | 97 |
Arizona | 182 | 91 | 50.0% | 67 | 4.89 | 117 | 8-5 | 68 |
Indiana | 163 | 82 | 50.3% | 69 | 4.91 | 118 | 4-8 | 110 |
Massachusetts | 156 | 88 | 56.4% | 104 | 5.00 | 119 | 1-11 | 118 |
Army | 136 | 80 | 58.8% | 112 | 5.14 | 120 | 2-10 | 124 |
Louisiana Tech | 172 | 88 | 51.2% | 81 | 5.18 | 121 | 9-3 | 100 |
Colorado | 159 | 99 | 62.3% | 122 | 5.19 | 122 | 1-11 | 123 |
Marshall | 159 | 86 | 54.1% | 95 | 5.34 | 123 | 5-7 | 117 |
Hawaii | 163 | 73 | 44.8% | 44 | 5.34 | 124 | 3-9 | 90 |