Part 3 - Better, but Where?

The Virginia Tech defense through eight games is marginally better in SP+ compared to last year, but you wouldn't suspect it based on the PFF grades

Part 1 of this series examined the offense. Part 2 looked at the inside linebackers. Today, in Part 3, I will examine the defense as a whole.

Things on offense were fairly clean cut. The data on the defense, however, is all over the place.

Injuries have played a part, and a look at just the leaders at each position in terms of snaps does not tell the entire story. However, the starters’ numbers are indicative of the broader successes and struggles of the team, as these are the players out on the field for the vast majority of snaps.

Better overall, but not across the board

The defense has slightly improved in SP+ (72nd percentile in 2023, 70th in 2022), but the overall PFF defensive grade is 11 points lower in 2023.

In other words, the defense is playing worse and getting better results.

(I’ll pause here while you examine the graph below, mouth the word “How?”, then proceed to pick your jaw up off the floor.)

The run defense grade has fallen off a cliff, and the tackling decline has been almost as severe. The nearly six point improvement in the pass rush grade is notable, even if the eye test would suggest that the difference is even greater.

The declines at individual positions are striking.

Keyshawn Burgos has played at a below baseline level as DE2, about six points lower than Jaylen Griffin in 2022. Granted, Griffin was a very experienced senior and Burgos is in just his second year.

Mario Kendricks, DT2 in the chart, has struggled to match his form from last year, partially due to injury.

I covered the two inside linebackers in last week’s podcast, and looking at this chart, you can see why those positions merited unique attention.

Keonta Jenkins, STAR, is another player whose grade has declined partially due to injury.

Mansoor Delane has not played poorly (he is still one of the high graders on defense), but he hasn’t excelled in the way that he did last year. Still, there is