Here's a look at where Notre Dame's "D BOYS" are ranked among their peers in college football after Week 5 of the 2011 season. Here's the STAT OF THE YEAR FOR OUR DEFENSE -- WE'VE ONLY GIVEN UP ONE RUSHING TD THIS SEASON, WHICH WAS D-ROB PICKING UP A FUMBLE for Michigan.
Once again, you'll see how we fared in 2010 and 2009 -- and the 2011 NCAA Leader in every defensive category:
NOTRE DAME DEFENSE -- 2011 TEAM STATISTICS
Quarterback Sacks: 2011 after game #5: 13 sacks, ranked #19 in the country. 2010 Rank #45 with 26 QB sacks -- in 2009 we had 19 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #92. 2011 NCAA Leader: Colorado State and Hawaii with 19 sacks.
Tackles for Loss: 2011 after game #5: 6.2 average tackles for loss per game, ranked #50 in the country. 2010 Rank #65 with an average of 5.63 tackles for loss per game -- in 2009 we averaged 6.0 tackles for loss per game, ranking us #48 in the country. 2011 NCAA Leader: Louisville averaging 9 tackles for loss per game.
Interceptions: 2011 after game #5: 5 interceptions, ranked #35 in the country. 2010 Rank #32 with 14 interceptions -- in 2009 we had 12 interceptions for the season, ranking us #50. 2011 NCAA Leader: Vanderbilt leads with 14 interceptions.
First Downs: 2011 after game #5: 18.6 first downs allowed per game, ranked #46 in the country. 2010 Rank - #30 allowing an average of 17.92 first downs per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 19.67 first downs per game, ranking us #72. 2011 NCAA Leader: Alabama allowing only 11.2 first downs per game.
Third Down Conversion Rate: 2011 after game #5: allowed a 30.99% conversion rate on third down, ranked #19 in the country. 2010 Rank #22 allowing only 35.08% conversion rate on third down -- in 2009 we allowed a 39.5% conversion rate, ranking us #67. 2011 NCAA Leader: Arizona State allowing only 24.24% conversion rate on third down.
Red Zone Efficiency: 2011 after game #5: allowed opponents to score 80% of the time, ranked #45 in the country. 2010 Rank #53 allowing the team to score 81% of the time -- in 2009 we allowed teams to score 75% of the time, ranking us #15. 2011 NCAA Leader: Michigan allowing opponents to score 45% of the time in the red zone.
Turnovers Gained: 2011 after game #5: 6 turnovers gained, ranked #80 in the country. 2010 Rank - #54 with 21 turnovers gained -- in 2009 we gained 19 turnovers for the season, ranking us #80. 2011 NCAA Leader: Cincinnati and Rutgers with 18 turnovers gained this season.
Rushing Yards: 2011 after game #5: 91.2 rushing yards per game given up, ranked #19 in the country. 2010 Rank #57 giving up an average of 147 yards rushing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 170 yards rushing per game, ranking us #89. 2011 NCAA Leader: Alabama giving up an average of 39.6 yards rushing per game.
Passing Yards: 2011 after game #5: 230.4 passing yards per game given up, ranked #72 in the country. 2010 Rank #44 giving up an average of 206 yards passing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 227 yards passing per game, ranking us #76 in the country. 2011 NCAA Leader: UCF giving up an average of 103.5 passing yards per game.
Total Yards: 2011 after game #5: 321.6 yards of total offense per game given up, ranked #31 in the country. 2010 Rank #49 giving up 353 yards per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 397 yards per game, ranking us #86. 2011 NCAA Leader: Michigan State giving up an average of 173.4 yards per game in total offense.
Points Allowed Per Game: 2011 after game #5: 18.6 points allowed per game, ranked #26 in the country. 2010 Rank #29 giving up 20.5 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63. 2011 NCAA Leader: Alabama allowing 8.4 points per game.
Points Allowed Per Game: 2011 after game #5: 18.6 points allowed per game, ranked #26 in the country. 2010 Rank #29 giving up 20.5 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63. 2011 NCAA Leader: Alabama allowing 8.4 points per game.
