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Notre Dame Football First Look: Bowling Green Falcons

By Sean McFadden

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VanGorder
SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Louisville Cardinals defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder speaks with TreSean Smith #4 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Defense & Special Teams

Incredibly, Bowling Green’s defense is significantly worse than its mediocre offense. Here are where the Falcons rank in some relevant categories relative to the rest of the FBS, courtesy of Sports Reference:

  • Opponent points per game: 38.0 (121st)
  • Opponent passing yards per game 227.8 (74th)
  • Opponent completion percentage: 75 percent (130th — last)
  • Opponent rushing yards per game: 220.8 (117th)
  • Opponent yards per carry: 5.1 (113th)
  • Opponent total yards per game: 448.5 (111th)
  • Opponent yards per play: 6.7 (121st)

You get the picture. This is a very, very poor defensive unit coached by former Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.

Now, let’s refine these numbers a bit. Undoubtedly, Bowling Green’s 46-3 thrashing of Morgan State inflates these stats, so let’s take a look at how the Falcons defense has fared against FBS offenses so far.

Against three FBS opponents this season, the Falcons are allowing 49.7 points per game, which would be the worst in the nation. Additionally, the team is allowing a whopping 574.7 total yards per game, with 279.0 rushing yards and 295.7 passing yards per game.

The opponent total yards and rushing yards per game are both the worst in the FBS by a significant margin, while opponent passing yards per game checks in at 117th.

Additionally, completion percentage (79.3 percent) remains the worst in the FBS, opponent yards per carry dropped to 128th (5.7 yards), and opponent yards per play ranks 129th (7.5 yards).

So, what’s the takeaway here?

Bowling Green’s defense is bad — really, really bad. This unit has not exhibited a single strength thus far and has let some very poor teams score on them seemingly at will. Unless VanGorder is able to seriously turn things around in a week, Saturday’s match up should be more of the same.

Special teams have arguably been worse for the Falcons. The team currently ranks 128th in extra point percentage with a conversion rate of 80 percent and 127th in field goal percentage, hitting 33 percent.

Bowling Green also ranks 99th in average yards per punt, 81st in average kick return yards, and 87th in punt return yards.

Barring an absolute collapse on the part of Notre Dame’s offense, the Irish should have their way with the Falcon defense from start to finish. The unit is struggling to stop anything at this point, and Notre Dame’s athletes will only exacerbate these issues.

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