After watching NAU have their way with ASU's pass defense in the follow up game to the embarrassing loss to West Virginia (and their average passing offense that threw for 532 yards with a previous high of 359 and 3rd best at 294...........which was a follow up to the embarrassing loss to Cal and their 542 passing yards) I decided to look at a few stats on CTG's previous defenses
Last season and previously (and now it appears the same for 2016) there was focus directed at our statistically strong rush defense and our high rate of TFLs and sacks. (2012's poor rush defense was an outlier)
Since our exceptionally strong pass defense in 2012 (when we very fortunately faced FIVE backup QBs) we have taken an annual drop in pass defense statistically and plummeted to below the bottom of FBS in 2015. (128th out of 128 and 20 yards per game more than #127 and only Cal and Louisiana Tech have had this bad of a pass defense in at least the last 10 years).
In 2010 Tulsa was DEAD LAST in FBS pass defense. 120th out of 120 FBS teams. In 2007 they came close (115th out of 119 FBS teams......16 yards more than #114, his previous stop, Rice)
Pass defense/total defense /total yards
ASU 2015-128th/113th/464 128 FBS teams
ASU 2014-106th/83rd/417 128 FBS teams
ASU 2013- 72nd/43rd/372 125 FBS teams
ASU 2012- 3rd/27th/351 124 FBS team
Pitt 2011-72nd / 35th /351 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2010 120th/87th /415 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2009 102nd/84th /397 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2008 98th/75th /379 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2007 115th/101st/452 119 FBS teams
(Tulsa had the #1 scoring offense in FBS in 2007)
Obviously being a member of the Pac 12 puts a pass defense at a severe disadvantage vs the American Athletic Conference (Tulsa) or the Big East (Pitt). A Pac 12 pass defense could probably rank in the middle of the FBS (64th) or even a bit lower and still win the conference.
The fact is that CTG has been successful as a head coach with high scoring offenses Tulsa-#1 in FBS in 2007, #2 in 2008, #43 in 2009 (when he went 5-7), #6 in 2010, Pitt-83rd in 2011 (when he went 6-6), ASU 14th in 2012, ASU 10th in 2013, ASU 16th in 2014, ASU 32nd in 2015 (when he went 6-7)
I am thrilled with the hiring of Coach Rushing. I think coach Seumalo can be very successful. I think coach Slocum has benefitted from Zane Gonzalez' kickoffs and and signing Tim White but I do see improvement on special teams and with our linebackers.
Last season and previously (and now it appears the same for 2016) there was focus directed at our statistically strong rush defense and our high rate of TFLs and sacks. (2012's poor rush defense was an outlier)
Since our exceptionally strong pass defense in 2012 (when we very fortunately faced FIVE backup QBs) we have taken an annual drop in pass defense statistically and plummeted to below the bottom of FBS in 2015. (128th out of 128 and 20 yards per game more than #127 and only Cal and Louisiana Tech have had this bad of a pass defense in at least the last 10 years).
In 2010 Tulsa was DEAD LAST in FBS pass defense. 120th out of 120 FBS teams. In 2007 they came close (115th out of 119 FBS teams......16 yards more than #114, his previous stop, Rice)
Pass defense/total defense /total yards
ASU 2015-128th/113th/464 128 FBS teams
ASU 2014-106th/83rd/417 128 FBS teams
ASU 2013- 72nd/43rd/372 125 FBS teams
ASU 2012- 3rd/27th/351 124 FBS team
Pitt 2011-72nd / 35th /351 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2010 120th/87th /415 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2009 102nd/84th /397 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2008 98th/75th /379 120 FBS teams
Tulsa-2007 115th/101st/452 119 FBS teams
(Tulsa had the #1 scoring offense in FBS in 2007)
Obviously being a member of the Pac 12 puts a pass defense at a severe disadvantage vs the American Athletic Conference (Tulsa) or the Big East (Pitt). A Pac 12 pass defense could probably rank in the middle of the FBS (64th) or even a bit lower and still win the conference.
The fact is that CTG has been successful as a head coach with high scoring offenses Tulsa-#1 in FBS in 2007, #2 in 2008, #43 in 2009 (when he went 5-7), #6 in 2010, Pitt-83rd in 2011 (when he went 6-6), ASU 14th in 2012, ASU 10th in 2013, ASU 16th in 2014, ASU 32nd in 2015 (when he went 6-7)
I am thrilled with the hiring of Coach Rushing. I think coach Seumalo can be very successful. I think coach Slocum has benefitted from Zane Gonzalez' kickoffs and and signing Tim White but I do see improvement on special teams and with our linebackers.
