(12-18-2017 05:14 PM)Tygrys Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 05:03 PM)tigernole79 Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 04:31 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 03:00 PM)tigernole79 Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 09:16 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  Since ISU beat both OU & TCU (the B12 north & south champs) & their biggest loss was 10 pts, it's pretty obvious they are pretty good. Like most every other Memphis opponent, we will have to out-score them (as opposed to a strong showing by the defense which isn't expected). Hoping for a game like ISU played against OSU which they lost 49-42, I think.

I am a little frustrated with how badly people don't understand our defense.

If our defense wasn't good, we don't win seven games this season.

ULM, we overcame the loss of three starters for the season, and they only scored in the first half off the drive set up by one of those injuries.

UCLA, the turnovers we caused won the game.

UCF, five turnovers, most in the redzone sealed that game. Two blown plays, also overcoming more injuries were their big plays. We still played well enough to win that game if the offense doesn't self-destruct.

Navy, we start the game with a turnover inside our 15. Had we not caused multiple turnovers, we don't win. Second lowest offensive output of the season. We also held them more than 100 yards under their season average (Better than Notre Dame).

Houston. We would've only given up 7 points in the first half had it not been two turnovers inside our own 30. In the second half, none of our drives lasted more than 2:15. We were on the field almost the whole second half, not to mention the majority of the first.

Tulane, we were up 35-0 and they had 32 total yards. Yes, we took the foot off the gas and played backups possibly too early, but it was total domination in the first half.

Tulsa and ECU were total dominance. SMU, at least 21 of their points were absolutely horrible calls by the refs that either kept drives alive or GAVE them 50 yards of a 62 yard drive.

Yes, statistically our defense is bad, but 1) it doesn't take into account how many of those yards were gained after the game was mostly decided and 2) doesn't account for all the injuries we've had this season. How many players on our defense didn't miss time this season... FIVE! Everyone else on the 1 or 2 deep missed time due to injuries and three due to targeting.

Point is, I think our defense has allowed enough points to say we will have to outscore the opposition to win. Doesn't mean our D doesn't get a crucial stop here & there but I don't think anyone is under the allusion we can score 14 pts & beat an opponent with a good offense.

No, but just how many teams have a defense that can do that?!

Iowa State sure couldn't score 14 and hope to win. So, why are you making it seem that we are going to have to score a huge amount of points to win?

And to your credit, overlooking the "isn't expected" part, your criticism of the defense was pretty light compared to many. I have seen threads talking about how all the defensive coaches should be fired, which is about the dumbest thing I have seen on here.

Umm, facts?

Points allowed
29 (ULM in a monsoon)
45
31 (Southern Illinois)
40
31
27
38
26
14
45
13
62

That averages out to over 33 points per game allowed. It is not a stretch to assume we need 42+ to beat Iowa State.

And if you're dumb enough to look at bottom line statistics and not in the context that they were made, then you totally fit what I was discussing earlier.

In multiple of those games (including the monsoon ULM game) their points and yards came AFTER Memphis had more than a 21 point lead. In EVERY game this season, the defense did enough for us to be undefeated and we only needed superior scoring efforts in TWO of them to win.

Since Iowa State scored below 24 five times this season, I don't think it's a stretch to say holding them to below 35 isn't a monumental task. And since they only scored more than 42 points ONCE (against Kansas a whopping 45), I don't think you have a grasp of what will be needed to win this game.