[duncan_idaho]

Some statistical analysis I just posted at PowerMizzou (those of you over there now know my identity). I broke this down after hearing yet another SEC fan talk about how "even Ole Miss" plays D in the SEC.

1) Missouri gave up 5.20 yards per play last year on defense, which would rank 9th out of 14 SEC team, 0.03 behind Arkansas and 0.23 behind Florida. The big separation comes after the top 4 - Bama (3.32), LSU (4.08), SCAR (4.17) and UGA (4.46).

2) The average SEC defense played 828 snaps in 2011 in right around 13 games (2 played 14, 7 played 13, 3 played 12 by my count).

3) Had Missouri faced the average number of snaps an SEC defense faced in
2011, it would have surrendered 4305 yards on the season, good enough to
rank 25th in total defense in the SEC. aTm's D would have ranked freaking 12th in total defense against the average number of snaps. Even if you split the difference in plays between the SEC average and what Mizzou actually faced, Missouri jumps from No. 61 in total defense to No. 41.

My point: I think this shows just how much the STYLE of play in the SEC helps the defense of the lesser teams. There's no disputing that Alabama and LSU had defenses in their own world last year, and that SCAR and Georgia were very, very good. But the rest of the league? Pretty meh and significantly helped by the style of the conference, which reduces the number of total plays run (and keeps total defense numbers low and impressive).

Counterpoint: Part of keeping the numbers of plays run by the opposing offense low is getting off the field on 3rd downs. This is something Missouri struggled with. But again, it's a chicken and egg thing. Great Ds improve 3rd
down defense. But poor QB play (which I would argue is what at least
Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, Miss. St, Ole Miss had)
helps, too. Likewise, facing accurate QBs who operate a spread/pass-heavy offense is a negative factor for 3rd down percentage defense (Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Baylor, aTm, Okie Lite, Arizona State).