Hard Knox Sports

January 13, 2012

A Name? How about a Coach?

Through the past few weeks, I have kept relatively quiet about the defensive coordinator search for The University of Tennessee football program. I said relatively quiet, I have made a call here and there, but the filter doesn't work sometimes. I have laughed at the different "sources" that different media people in this town have, and who they think will be the next coach. What "media" and "journalists" need to do is take a look at the facts, the stats, and the reality of what takes place on the field. Instead, many want to take the path of just throwing popular names out. I will take the path less traveled.

From Randy Shannon, to Kevin Steele, to Bill Parcells(joke); it seems like every possible name has been rumored to be the next defensive coordinator. We know that Sal Sunseri, linebackers coach at Bama, has been targeted and interviewed for the position. We also know that Buddy Green, the defensive coordinator for The United States Naval Academy, has also interviewed. It was also written that Michigan State DC, Pat Narduzzi, has been "targeted" for the position.

We could go on forever here, but before I get to the facts, if we are going to hire a LB's coach from Alabama, is it too much to look at our own Lance Thompson for the promotion? We have enough Alabama people on the staff Dave Hart, enough.

I want to examine three different defensive coordinators and the FACTS of what they did this year. Let's take Buddy Green from Navy, Pat Narduzzi from Sparty, and oh let's throw out Tommy Spangler from Louisiana Tech. Yes, I will admit from the beginning that while coaching at Presbyterian College, I knew Tommy Spangler, who was the head football coach, very well. However, I am going to point out facts, so this is not just an opinion on my part.

Total Defense - of the 120 FBS schools ranked
Sparty - 5th, gave up an average of 273 ypg, and gave up 30 TD's.
Navy - 85th, gave up an average of 414 ypg, and gave up 47 TD's.
La. Tech - 55th, gave up an average of 374 ypg, but only 33 TD's.

Rush Defense
Sparty - 12th, 104 ypg and 11 rushing TD's
Navy - 92nd, 187 ypg and 32 rushing TD's
La. Tech - 25th, 122 ypg and 8 rushing TD's

Pass Defense
Sparty - 12th, 169 ypg and 16 TD's
Navy - 66th, 227 ypg and 10 TD's
La. Tech - 95th, 252 ypg and 20 TD's

OK, before I move on, let's take a look at this. Michigan State leads in every category, there is one category that matters - TD's allowed. Michigan State's defense allowed only three fewer TD's than Louisiana Tech's defense. Also, do you think the offenses in the WAC are a little more potent than the Big 10?

Now here are some more detailed stats that the average Joe may not take a look at:

Interceptions
Sparty - 15th in the FBS with 16(4 for TD's)
Navy - 70th in the FBS with 10(2 for TD's)
La. Tech - 3rd in the FBS with 20(5 for TD's)

Passes defended
Sparty - 40th with 61 passes defended
Navy - 105th with 37 passes defended
La. Tech - 8th with 76 passes defended

3rd Down Conversions
Sparty - 16th with only 34% allowed
Navy - 117th with 51% allowed
La. Tech - 10th with only 32% allowed

4th Down Conversions
Sparty - 45%
Navy - 58%
La. Tech - 47%

Red Zone Defense
Sparty - 38 attempts (22 TD's and 7 FG's allowed)
Navy - 51 attempts (41 TD's and 3 FG's allowed)
La. Tech - 29 attempts (19 TD's and 8 FG's allowed)

Total Turnovers created
Sparty - 24
Navy - 22
La. Tech - 30

I also think when you look at a total defense, you need to factor in offensive time of possession.
Offensive time of possession
Sparty - 28th with 31:15
Navy - 27th with 31:21
La. Tech - 101st with 28:21

That is three extra minutes per game that the La. Tech defense is on the field vs Sparty and Navy. Factor that in over a season, and you have a defense that has spent over two more quarters on the field than the opposing two teams.

Also, I took the schedule of the three teams and averaged up the strength of the opposing offenses faced. In other words, you have to take the stats based on who they played. Playing Houston is different than playing Minnesota.
Sparty - played offenses that had combined scoring average of 64th in the country.
Navy - played offenses that had combined scoring average of 57th in the country.
La. Tech - played offenses that had combined scoring average of 48th in the country.

Want more? La. Tech's defense held 10 of the 12 teams they faced to less points than they averaged per game. They also held 10 of the 12 teams to less yards than they averaged per game.

La. Tech finished the season with their first ever WAC championship and an 8-5 record. They had one bad loss to Hawaii, the other four losses were to bowl teams. In fact, they lost to Houston by 1, Southern Miss by 2, Mississippi State by 6, and to TCU in the bowl game, by 7.

OK, after this, you know who I feel should be the next defensive coordinator at UT. He has been the DC at La. Tech for five years, and I forgot to mention that when Derek Dooley hired him as DC, La. Tech was LAST IN EVERY DEFENSIVE STATISTICAL CATEGORY!

Tommy Spangler knows something about actually playing in the SEC as well. He won a National Championship with Georgia playing with the great Herschel Walker, under Coach Vince Dooley.

Who knew Justin Wilcox two years ago? Who was excited about him? I think he did a pretty darn good job under the circumstances. What would be the difference if Derek Dooley hired Tommy Spangler then instead of Justin Wilcox?

Tennessee would not be looking for a defensive coordinator now.

Paul Maxwell

1 Comments