A look at the numbers...2018 defense.

[BengalChris]

(01-06-2019, 03:54 PM)fredtoast Wrote: This may seem like a bit of numbers overload to soem people, but if you just look at one or two numbers it is hard to get a good picture.  For example a very good pass defense can end up allowing a lot of pass yards if they are part of a good team that has a lot of big leads in the seecond half.

"Points allowed" which is the ulitimate goal of every defense can be affected by how bad the teams offense and special teams are.  Not only does "points allowed" usually include return tds, but constant bad field position will lead to at least FGs for evn the best defenses.

What I call "situational defense" (3rd down and red zone) is critical.  These plays only account for about 1/4 of the snaps, but they are the ones that usually determin who wins.

So when I look at all the team defensive stats I can argue that we were not the worst defense, but that is irrelevent because we were pretty bad all across the board.

RUSH...Teams ran at us a lot (4th most) and only 7 teams allowed more yards per carry than us (4.7).  Only 5 teams gave up more rushing TDs, and only 3 gave up more yards.  We gave up a lot of long runs,  Only 7 teams allowed more 20+ yd runs than us.  To top itoff we were terrible at forcing fumbles.  Only 2 teams had less than our 3.

PASS... Opponents threw at us a lot (8th most) and only 6 teams allowed a higher pass efficency rating (100.0).  We were dead last in yards allowed and 28th in yards per attempt.  We were 28th in first downs allowed and 29th in tds allowed.  We got burnt deep a lot (30th in 20+ yd completions, and 29th in 40+).  We were 18th in interceptions and 28th in sacks (Sacks are just a part of pass pressure defense. I'll add in pressures and QB hits later but I don't think it will make a big diufference)

SITUATIONAL... Bengals were dead last in 3rd down conversion percentage. They were 25th in td percentage allowed in red zone (down from 4th just last year)

Overall we ranked 28th in points per play allowed (down from 10th last year) and dead last in percentage of opponents drives that ended in a score.

Thats it for now.  I'll add some "short yardage" stats later along with more on our pass pressure.

I believe I've bolded and enlarged the key points.

1. Teams ran a lot of running plays against our defense.
2. Teams threw a lot of pass plays against our defense.
3. Our defense was dead last in stopping teams on 3rd down so the other teams got to run more running plays and throw more passing plays against our defense.


Or, in more simple language:

Our defense didn't stop other teams when they ran or threw, on first down, second down or third down, so drives were longer and we lost.


Or, in even more simply stated words:

Other teams out played our defense and we lost.


Or, in better language:

Our defense played so poorly that our defensive minded coach of 16 years was fired.