There's a lot of talk about how this years team has the potential to be the Best NC team ever and also maybe the Best Defense on an Alabama NC team. I thought it would be fun to look at the stats and see how the 'Modern' NC Alabama defenses stack up against each other. Here they are in Chronological order.
1992 - Scoring (9.02 ppg)1st, Total (194.2 ypg)1st, Rushing (55.0 ypg)1st, Passing (139.2 ypg)1st, 22 INT's, 10 Fumbles
2009 - Scoring (11.7 ppg)2nd, Total (244.1 ypg)2nd, Rushing (78.1 ypg)2nd, Passing (166.0 ypg)10th 24 INT's, 7 Fumbles
2011 - Scoring (8.20 ppg)1st, Total (183.6 ypg)1st, Rushing (72.2 ypg)1st, Passing (111.5 ypg)1st, 13 INT's, 7 Fumbles
2012 - Scoring (10.9 ppg)1st, Total (250.0 ypg)1st, Rushing (76.4 ypg)1st, Passing (173.6 ypg)7th, 18 INT's, 11 Fumbles
2015 - Scoring (15.1 ppg)3rd, Total (276.3 ypg)3rd, Rushing (75.7 ypg)1st, Passing (200.5 ypg)30th, 19 INT's, 8 Fumbles
2016* Scoring (11.4 ppg) 1st, Total (247.2 ypg)1st, Rushing (69.1 ypg)1st, Passing (178.1 ypg) 11th, 11 INT's, 10 Fumbles
*So far through 12 games
I still say both the '92 and '11 Defenses are the best by a MILE. They are the only two to clean sweep the four major defensive categories and post sub 10.0 ppg averages. 2011 is probably better than even 1992 because of the Offenses being more prolific now.
The one thing that really pops out is that while the rushing defense continues to be stellar the pass defense has faltered since 2011. Especially last year's 2015 squad......30th with UGA, A&M, Missouri, Florida, and even Kentucky having better pass defenses just in the SEC. This years effort is almost Top 10 though with only Fla having a better pass defense in the SEC.
If this year's stats hold true until the end I would rank the defenses like this:
1) 2011
2) 1992
3) 2012
4) 2016 (might would swap w/ 2012 at 3rd based on the NOT's)
5) 2009
6) 2015
What say you? Which Defense do you think is best? How would you rank them?
1992 - Scoring (9.02 ppg)1st, Total (194.2 ypg)1st, Rushing (55.0 ypg)1st, Passing (139.2 ypg)1st, 22 INT's, 10 Fumbles
2009 - Scoring (11.7 ppg)2nd, Total (244.1 ypg)2nd, Rushing (78.1 ypg)2nd, Passing (166.0 ypg)10th 24 INT's, 7 Fumbles
2011 - Scoring (8.20 ppg)1st, Total (183.6 ypg)1st, Rushing (72.2 ypg)1st, Passing (111.5 ypg)1st, 13 INT's, 7 Fumbles
2012 - Scoring (10.9 ppg)1st, Total (250.0 ypg)1st, Rushing (76.4 ypg)1st, Passing (173.6 ypg)7th, 18 INT's, 11 Fumbles
2015 - Scoring (15.1 ppg)3rd, Total (276.3 ypg)3rd, Rushing (75.7 ypg)1st, Passing (200.5 ypg)30th, 19 INT's, 8 Fumbles
2016* Scoring (11.4 ppg) 1st, Total (247.2 ypg)1st, Rushing (69.1 ypg)1st, Passing (178.1 ypg) 11th, 11 INT's, 10 Fumbles
*So far through 12 games
I still say both the '92 and '11 Defenses are the best by a MILE. They are the only two to clean sweep the four major defensive categories and post sub 10.0 ppg averages. 2011 is probably better than even 1992 because of the Offenses being more prolific now.
The one thing that really pops out is that while the rushing defense continues to be stellar the pass defense has faltered since 2011. Especially last year's 2015 squad......30th with UGA, A&M, Missouri, Florida, and even Kentucky having better pass defenses just in the SEC. This years effort is almost Top 10 though with only Fla having a better pass defense in the SEC.
If this year's stats hold true until the end I would rank the defenses like this:
1) 2011
2) 1992
3) 2012
4) 2016 (might would swap w/ 2012 at 3rd based on the NOT's)
5) 2009
6) 2015
What say you? Which Defense do you think is best? How would you rank them?