Returning Big 10 numbers

[jedburks]

Last week there was a lot of talk about returning experience and how Nebraska's season will turn out with the over/under being released at 8.5.

So I wanted to see what kind of production the teams in the Big 10 have coming back next year. On defense I looked at the returning players for each team and how many tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, recovered fumbles, forced fumbles, and pass break ups those teams were bringing back. Then ranked them in each category by numbers. The listed teams are in order of the highest returning numbers in each category.

Tackles:
1. Michigan St
2. Ohio St
3. Iowa
4. Wisconsin
5. Illinois
6. Minnesota
7. Purdue
8. Indiana
9. Penn St
10. Northwestern
11. Nebraska
12. Michigan

TFL:
1. Michigan St
2. Ohio St
3. Illinois
4. Purdue
5. Wisconsin
6. Penn St
7. Northwestern
8. Nebraska
9. Minnesota
10. Iowa
11. Indiana
12. Michigan

Sacks:
1. Michigan St
2. Ohio St
3. Illinois
4. Wisconsin
5. Penn St
6. Purdue
7. Nebraska
8. Iowa
9. Minnesota
10. Indiana
T11.Michigan
T11. Northwestern

INT:
1. Michigan St
2. Ohio St
3. Iowa
4. Illinois
5. Purdue
T6. Indiana
T6. Michigan
T6. Penn St
T9. Minnesota
T9. Northwestern
T9. Wisconsin
12. Nebraska

Recovered fumbles:
1. Michigan
2. Purdue
3. Ohio St
T4. Illinois
T4. Penn St
T6. Northwestern
T6. Wisconsin
T8. Indiana
T8. Iowa
T8. Michigan St
T8. Minnesota
12. Nebraska

Forced fumbles:
1. Wisconsin
2. Michigan St
T3. Ohio St
T3. Purdue
T5. Michigan
T5. Penn St
7. Illinois
T8. Indiana
T8. Iowa
T8. Minnesota
11. Northwestern
12. Nebraska

Pass break ups:
1. Ohio St
T2. Illinois
T2. Michigan St
T4. Indiana
T4. Nebraska
T6. Penn St
T6. Purdue
8. Wisconsin
9. Iowa
T10. Michigan
T10. Minnesota
12. Northwestern

Overall ranking average:
1. Ohio St-2.14
2. Michigan St-2.28
3. Illinois-4
4. Purdue-4.71
5. Wisconsin-5.28
6. Penn St-5.85
7. Iowa-7
8. Indiana-7.85
9. Michigan-8.14
10. Minnesota-8.42
T11. Nebraska-9.42
T11. Northwestern-9.42

 

[jedburks]

Then I looked at the offense. Since defense at it's core is just simply go get the ball I went with straight numbers. Offenses are run differently and teams do certain things more than others. So I took the percentage of rushing yards, receiving yards, catches, punt return yards, and kick off return yards that each team has returning from their production last year.

Rushing yards:
1. Indiana
2. Michigan
3. Nebraska
4. Wisconsin
5. Purdue
6. Penn St
7. Ohio St
8. Minnesota
9. Northwestern
10. Michigan St
11. Illinois
12. Iowa

Receiving yards:
1. Ohio St
2. Nebraska
T3. Indiana
T3. Northwestern
5. Wisconsin
6. Purdue
7. Penn St
8. Michigan
9. Iowa
10. Illinois
11. Minnesota
12. Michigan St

Catches:
1. Nebraska
2. Ohio St
3. Northwestern
4. Indiana
5. Wisconsin
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Iowa
9. Illinois
10. Minnesota
11. Michigan St
12. Penn St

Punt return yards:
T1. Nebraska
T1. Northwestern
3. Wisconsin
4. Michigan
5. Ohio St
6. Penn St
7. Illinois
8. Minnesota
9. Indiana
10. Michigan St
T11. Iowa
T11. Purdue

Kick off return yards:
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Michigan St
4. Northwestern
5. Ohio St
6. Minnesota
7. Michigan
8. Illinois
9. Iowa
10. Purdue
11. Penn St
12. Indiana

Overall ranking average:
1. Nebraska-1.8
2. Wisconsin-3.6
T3. Northwestern-4
T3. Ohio St-4
5. Michigan-5.4
6. Indiana-5.8
7. Purdue-7.8
8. Penn st-8.4
9. Minnesota-8.6
T10. Illinois-9
T10. Michigan St-9
12. Iowa-9.8

 

[huskers1217]

Huskers fer the over

 

[Smart]

It's nice to see a metric that takes into account returning numbers rather than "returning starters." While we may have the most returning starters, pretty much every starter on our team this year got major playing time last year. That's why I think it is hilarious that so many people are dismissing us while crowning Michigan as B1G favorites.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

We would be #1 on Defense too if Lavonte David didn't beat so many people to the ball carrier

 

[Red_Alert]

Good stuff jed

Will digest later.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

LOL @ Wisconsin

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

I mean that from the bottom of my fucking heart.....

Wisconsin can suck on me balls

 

[Brasky]

Nice jed. For real, good stuff.

I would just say that I believe this defense is capable of serious improvement. Namely in the pass rush and in the secondary.

I have doubts about our LB play and interior line.

Secondary has a chance to be a signature Bo Pelini one though.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Well, the Defensive stats posted above do not surprise me........we lost 3 All-Americans on Defense.........David seriously was just faster to the ball than most other guys on the field......

After playing in sports all my life, I can guarantee you that there is a huge value in just the fact that you see playing time. I am really pleased with the amount of in-game experience we are returning.

 

[Brasky]

Well, the Defensive stats posted above do not surprise me........we lost 3 All-Americans on Defense.........David seriously was just faster to the ball than most other guys on the field......

After playing in sports all my life, I can guarantee you that there is a huge value in just the fact that you see playing time. I am really pleased with the amount of in-game experience we are returning.

I really do expect some guys to have breakout years.

Jason Ankrah is one. He was really playing well toward the end of the season.

Stafford is my only "All-B1G" lock. Book it.

Seisay is the real deal. He will start and he has a chance to be dominant in this system.

I think everyone here is hoping Whaley puts in the work he says he's willing to/has been.

Anderson will be right there waiting if Whaley isn't getting the job done.

Cam Meredith will be healthy again. irule told me he was playing with a bum shoulder all year. That makes sense because he was NOT himself. Ya kinda need your shoulders to pass rush.

Baker seems like a lost cause. He will start and he will be average.

Not even above average. Just average.

Chase Rome is going to be a fuckin head hunter by the time he's a senior and we'll see flashes of it this season... IF he can stay healthy.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

I seriously feel even better about our chances after seeing these stats to be honest.........I didn't realize we were looking that good offensively, I knew we were looking good, but damn.

Last year I felt like we were going to struggle on Defense, and I said as much several times leading up to the season. We were a very young defense with a stud at each level. Rarely does that equal greatness.

 

[chucksker]

threads like this are just plain awesome, thank you Jed...for realz

 

[Brasky]

I seriously feel even better about our chances after seeing these stats to be honest.........I didn't realize we were looking that good offensively, I knew we were looking good, but damn.

You know what those recieving stats tell me? We need to find a JUCO pro style QB from this class if Taylor is responsible for another triple digit ranked passing attack.

It will be easy to sell JUCO QB's on that receiving corps. Bo wants a multiple offense. If you don't have a guy who can pass, then a multiple offense sputters.

OR maybe.. Just maybe... Brion can pull his head out of his ass.

Last year I felt like we were going to struggle on Defense, and I said as much several times leading up to the season. We were a very young defense with a stud at each level. Rarely does that equal greatness.

I'll take a defense loaded with experience and senior leadership over a defense loaded with youngsters and 3 all-americans.

 

[chucksker]

You know what those recieving stats tell me? We need to find a JUCO pro style QB from this class if Taylor is responsible for another triple digit ranked passing attack.

It will be easy to sell JUCO QB's on that receiving corps. Bo wants a multiple offense. If you don't have a guy who can pass, then a multiple offense sputters.

OR maybe.. Just maybe... Brion can pull his head out of his ass.

TOMMY TOMMY TOMMY!!!!

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

So, combining both sides of the ball, we end up with this....

Overall:
1. Ohio St-2.14 + 4 = 6.14
2. Wisconsin-5.28 + 3.6 = 8.88
3. Nebraska-9.42 + 1.8 = 11.22
4. Michigan St-2.28 + 9 = 11.28
5. Purdue-4.71 + 7.8 = 12.51
6. Illinois-4 + 9 = 13
7. Northwestern-9.42 + 4 = 13.42
8. Michigan-8.14 + 5.4 = 13.54
9. Indiana-7.85 + 5.8 = 13.65
10. Penn St-5.85 + 8.4 = 14.25
11. Iowa-7 + 9.8 = 16.8
12. Minnesota-8.42 + 8.6 = 17.2

 

[chucksker]

not bad...but i don't think wisconsin will do as well this year as they did last year....maybe im biased though

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Now, here is a flaw in this.............

Take Wisconsin for instance.........losing a big time QB, plus losing a lot from the Offensive Line that opened up those gigantic holes to lead to all those Rushing Yards......

Yea, the guy who got the yards is coming back, but not all the guys around him are.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Same can be said for Nebraska losing a couple guys off the Offensive Line...

 

[Brasky]

not bad...but i don't think wisconsin will do as well this year as they did last year....maybe im biased though

Wisconsins rushing offense is always gonna be good, but Russel Wilson was the straw that stirred the drink. He took them from a 9-10 win team to a title contender.

He's gone.