The Pioneer Press had an excellent article yesterday about the success the Gophers have had on defense this year. It is my opinion that a team can either play good defense or it cannot (e.g., Kill's teams almost always did and Mason's almost never did). Most good defensive units establish themselves early in the season. P.J. Fleck says the success of MN's defense this year is due to a lot of defensive players consistently doing the right things:
http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/25/gophers-defensive-success-not-a-coincidence/
Bud Grant used to say that "defense wins championships." There is no question a good defense will keep a team in many games and give them many more chances to win them.
Conference statistics reveal that MN is 5th in run offense and 1st in run defense. That would put them third in "running the ball and stopping the run." MD is 7th in this combined category, PUR is 10th and MSU is 5th.
In another important statistical category, turnover-ratio, MN is 2nd, MD is 6th, PUR is 3rd and MSU is 14th in the conference.
Finally, in a totally unrelated note, Washington State is ranked around 16th in the nation in all the polls I've seen. Their Sagarin power ranking is 25th best in the country.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/25/gophers-defensive-success-not-a-coincidence/
Bud Grant used to say that "defense wins championships." There is no question a good defense will keep a team in many games and give them many more chances to win them.
Conference statistics reveal that MN is 5th in run offense and 1st in run defense. That would put them third in "running the ball and stopping the run." MD is 7th in this combined category, PUR is 10th and MSU is 5th.
In another important statistical category, turnover-ratio, MN is 2nd, MD is 6th, PUR is 3rd and MSU is 14th in the conference.
Finally, in a totally unrelated note, Washington State is ranked around 16th in the nation in all the polls I've seen. Their Sagarin power ranking is 25th best in the country.
