01-18-2021, 08:30 PM
(01-18-2021, 03:32 PM)Au165 Wrote: So he was 5 positions better in points allowed, the only stat that really matters
Actually, most people (and sites) tend to favor "yards allowed" over "points allowed" when trying to place a singular value on the defensive performance. In fact, a lot of place you go to, when you're looking for team defense ranks, will default to yards allowed.
Why you may ask? Well, because of the following...
1.) Most sites give "team stats". And as such, all scoring is included in "points allowed". This would include special team scores, pick sixes, fumbles returned for touchdown ect. It defaults to teams stats rather than solely defensive stats.
2.) Field position. If you go strictly by scoring you're ignoring field position, or a particular defense being put in untimely and worse positions.
Say one defensive goes out after a turnover by their offense at their own 20 and end up giving up a TD, and another defense goes out with their opponent on the 20 after kickoff, and proceeds to let them march down the field 70 yards and kick a field goal. Which defense did better? The one who gave up 20 yards and allowed 7, or the one who gave up 70 yards and allowed 3?
There's no right answer here, as I understand both are important. But I do think you're mistaken if you think points allowed is all that matters when grading a defense. Yardage tends to be much easier to digest, although it's full of imperfections too (Ex: Time of possession).
