ND By The National Numbers Comparision: Team Stats

By Michael Rothstein

The Journal Gazette

Considering the current state of Irish floundering, thought it'd be interesting to see where Notre Dame currently stacks up individually and in the team statistics compared to where it was at midseason, when Irish coach Charlie Weis declared Notre Dame close -- statistically -- to the Sugar Bowl participating version of itself. In 2006. Here are Notre Dame's team rankings at midseason. Where there is a big differential now, I'll note it in italics.

And when you look at it, you might be surprised. I was.

Notre Dame team rankings followed by national leaders:

Rushing offense: 91st, 119.18 ypg. (up from 108th and 101.7 ypg.); Leader: Nevada, 308.55 ypg.

Passing offense: 28th, 248.7 ypg. (down from 17th and 271.8 ypg.); Leader: Texas Tech, 427.1 ypg.

Total offense: 57th, 367.91 ypg.; Leader: Tulsa, 584.64 ypg.

Scoring offense: T-71, 24.45 ppg. (down from 62nd and 25.5 ppg.); Leader: Oklahoma, 52.64 ypg.

Run defense: 55th, 139.7 ypg.; Leader: TCU, 48.7 ypg.

Pass defense: 22nd, 176.73 ypg. (majorly up from 87th and 231.33 ypg.); Leader: Southern California, 132.3 ypg.

Total defense: 28th, 316.45 ypg. (majorly up from 75th and 367.67 ypg.); Leader: TCU, 215.08 ypg.

Scoring defense: T-31, 20.8 ppg.; Leader: Southern California, 8.3 ppg.

Punting: 71st, 34.63 net ypa. (majorly down from 23rd and 37.67); Leader: Cincinnati, 41.34 net ypa.

Punt returns: 51st, 9.46 ypa. (up from 68th and 8.33 ypa.); Leader: Central Michigan, 18.69 ypg.

Kickoff returns: 91st, 19.96 ypa. (down from 60th and 21.33 ypa.); Leader: Southern California, 30.12 ypa.

Turnover margin: T-88, -.45 (down from T-58 and .00); Leader: Oklahoma and Florida, 1.64

Fumble recoveries: T-40, 10; Leader: BYU, 18

Passes Intercepted: T-66, 10; Leader: Boston College, 23

Fumbles Lost: T-67, 10; Leader: Oklahoma and LSU, 2

Interceptions: T-99, 15 (down from T-76, 8); Leader: Florida, 3.

Passing Efficiency: 55th, 126.36 (down from 39th, 137.95); Leader: Tulsa, 189.54

Pass Efficiency Defense: 14th, 102.40 (up from 28th and 108.48); Leader: Southern California, 84.34

Fewest Penalties: T-54, 5.73 pen. pg (down from T-41, 5.5); Leader: Ball State, 2.64 pen. pg.

Punt return defense: T-42, 7.0 ypa.; Leader: Wake Forest, .6 ypa.

Kick return defense: 1st, 16.38 ypa. (up from 2nd, 16.44); Leader: Notre Dame

Sacks per game: T-85, 1.55 (up from 100th, 1.17); Leader: Texas and Oklahoma, 3.45

Tackles For Loss per game: T-113, 4.18 (with Washington); Leader: Florida State, 8.64

Sacks allowed per game: T-34, 1.45 (up from T-44 and 1.5); Leader: Air Force, .25

Third Down Conversions: 80th, 36.8% (down from 62nd, 39.5%); Leader: Tulsa, 59.4%

Fourth Down Conversions: T-100, 35.7% (down from T-72 and 42.9%); Leader: Alabama, 100%

Third Down Conversion Defense: 21st, 32.7% (up from T-51, 36.7%); Leader: Florida State, 24.1%

Time of possession per game: 24th, 31:37; Leader: Nebraska, 33:29

Red zone offense: T-115, 68% (up from 119th, 55%); Leader: Miami (Fla.), Pittsburgh, Ohio State, 95%

Red zone defense: T-58, 81% (down from T-14, 76%); Leader: Florida, 63%

Share this story

What's this?

The Journal Gazette's Assistant Sports Editor Tony Krausz covers The University of Notre Dame. Krausz, a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a native of St. Louis, has been assistant sports editor since October 2005. Prior to joining the JG, he worked at two papers in Mississippi covering high school and college athletics.


Email:
Password:
Log me on automatically each visit:

I forgot my password

Registration Information
Items marked with a * are required unless stated otherwise.
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E-mail address: *	(This will be your user ID)
Password: *
Confirm password: *
Remember my ID on this computer.