It's Wednesday -- which means it's time for our weekly look at where Notre Dame Football ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- AFTER EIGHT GAMES OF THE 2010 SEASON. In today's analysis you'll see how Notre Dame's Offense & Special Teams currently stand; on a national basis -- as compared to their final ranking for 2009 -- and how this week's opponent: Tulsa's defense and special teams compare in the same categories.
OFFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS
Total First Downs: 2010 Rank - #27 with 168 first downs -- in 2009 we had 293 first downs for the season, ranking us #13 -- TCU leads the country with 205 first downs. Tulsa has 183 first downs for the season, ranking them #9 in the country.
Third Down Conversions: 2010 Rank - #66 with a 39.25% conversion rate -- in 2009 we had a 39.1% conversion rate for the season, ranking us #48 -- Nevada leads the country converting 60% of their third downs. Tulsa's defense has allowed a 42.11% third down conversion rate this season, ranking them #84 in the country.
Passing Yards Per Attempt: 2010 Rank - #63 with 7.0 yards passing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 8.7 yards passing per attempt, ranking us #7 in the country.
Passing Yardage: 2010 Rank - #18 with 283 yards per game (2,263 yards for the season) -- in 2009 we passed for 323 yards per game (3,882 yards for the season), ranking us #7 -- Hawaii leads the country with 401 yards passing per game (3,206 yards for the season). Tulsa's defense has given up an average of 330 passing yards per game this season, ranking them #120 in the country.
Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 2010 Rank - #87 with 3.7 yards rushing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 3.8 yards rushing per attempt, ranking us #76 in the country.
Rushing Yardage: 2010 Rank - #98 with 112 yards rushing per game (897 yards for the season) -- in 2009 we rushed for 127 yards per game (1,539 yards for the season), ranking us #88 -- Air Force leads the country with 326 yards rushing per game (2,612 yards for the season). Tulsa's defense has given up an average of 113 rushing yards per game this season, ranking them #20 in the country.
Fewest QB Sacks Given Up: 2010 Rank -- #45 giving up 16 QB sacks -- in 2009 we gave up 25 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #66 -- Oregon and Marshall lead the country having only given up 2 QB sacks this season. Tulsa's defense has sacked the QB 17 times this season, ranking them #38 in the country.
Fewest Pass Interceptions Thrown: 2010 Rank -- #103 having thrown 9 pass interceptions this season -- in 2009 we threw 5 interceptions for the season, raking us #5 -- Army leads the country having thrown 0 pass interceptions this season. Tulsa's defense has intercepted 9 passes this season, ranking them #27 in the country.
Turnovers Lost: 2010 Rank - #85 with 15 turnovers lost -- in 2009 we had 14 turnovers for the season, ranking us #7 -- Oregon State leads the country with 4 turnovers lost for the season. Tulsa's defense and special teams have gained 15 turnovers this season, ranking them #28 in the country.
Total Offense: 2010 Rank -- #52 with 395 yards per game of offense -- in 2009 we had 451 yards per game of offense, ranking us #8 -- Oregon leads the country 569 yards per game of offense. Tulsa's defense has given up 443 yards per game this season, ranking them #108 in the country.
Points Per Game: 2010 Rank -- #71 with 25.88 points per game -- in 2009 we averaged 30.1 points per game for the season, ranking us #32 -- Oregon leads the country scoring 55.1 points per game. Tulsa's defense has given up an average of 28.9 points per game this season, ranking them #81 in the country.
Fewest Penalties: 2010 Rank - #18 with 37 penalties -- in 2009 we had 75 penalties for the season, ranking us #50 -- Penn State leads the country in the fewest penalties with 25. Tulsa is ranked #6 in the country for fewest penalties with 30 on the season.
Fewest Penalty Yards: 2010 Rank -- #37 with 355 total yards in penalties -- in 2009 we had 666 yards in penalties, ranking us #60 -- Penn State leads the country in fewest penalty yards with 176. Tulsa is ranked #9 in the country for fewest penalty yards this season with 260.
Net Punting Yards: 2010 Rank -- #37 with an average net of 38.0 yards per punt -- in 2009 we averaged 32.1 yards per punt, ranking us #112 -- Florida leads the country with 44.55 net yards per punt. Tulsa is averaging 10.18 yards per punt return this season, ranking them #37 in the country.
Field Goals -- 2010 Rank -- #10 with 13 field goals made this season. The Irish are 13 for 13 (100%) -- one of six teams in the FBS who have not missed a field goal this season. In 2009 we made 19 field goals, ranking us #22 -- while going 19 for 22 in the process. Tulsa has made 11 field goals this season, ranking them #25 in the country. Tulsa's 11 of 16 (68.8%) -- ranking them #78 in the country.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS ON OFFENSE -- Ranked in top 100
Dayne Crist:
-Ranked #56 in the country with a QB Rating of 130.2
-Ranked #14 in the country with 2,033 yards passing
-Ranked #20 in the country with 15 TD passes
-Ranked #65 in the country with a 59.6% pass completion percentage
-Ranked #27 in the country for most pass interceptions thrown with 7
-Ranked #3 in the country with a 95 yard pass completion / his 80 yard pass completion to Floyd would be ranked #19 in the country
David Ruffer:
-Ranked #8 in the country in most field goals made with 13
-Ranked #2 in the country with most field goals made without a miss (13)
-Ranked #18 in the country for longest field goal made - 50 yarder
Armando Allen:
-Ranked #65 in the country with 514 yards rushing
Michael Floyd:
-Ranked #23 in the country with 624 yards receiving
-Ranked #23 in the country with 44 catches
-Ranked #19 in the country with 6 TD catches
-Ranked #19 in the country with an 80 yard catch
Kyle Rudolph:
-Ranked #3 in the country with a 95 yard catch
Theo Riddick:
-Ranked #41 in the country with 38 catches
-Ranked #90 in the country with 406 yards receiving
TOMORROW AN ANALYSIS OF NOTRE DAME'S DEFENSE
