[tps_title]DEFENSE[/tps_title]
AREAS OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENT …
SCORING DEFENSE
Ranked No. 9, 26.0 points allowed a game. No. 1: USC (7.5). No. 12: Oregon (36.5).
TOTAL DEFENSE
Ranked No. 11, 426 yards allowed per game. No. 1: Stanford (255.5). No. 12: Oregon (469.0).
RUSHING DEFENSE
Ranked No. 10, 180.5 yards allowed per game. No. 1: Utah (96.5). No. 12: ASU (231.0).
PASSING DEFENSE
Ranked No. 10, 245.5 yards allowed per game. No. 1: Stanford (123.5). No. 12: Oregon (315.0).
PASS DEFENSE EFFICIENCY
Ranked No. 8, 118.3. No. 1: Cal (78.1). No. 12: Oregon (146.0).
SACKS BY
Ranked No. 10, 2. No. 1: Cal and ASU (5 each).
OPPONENT FIRST DOWNS
Ranked No. 10, 22.0 allowed per game. No. 1: Cal (13.5). No. 12: Oregon (26.0).
OPPONENT THIRD DOWN CONVERSION RATE
Ranked No. 7, 37.8 percent. No. 1: UCLA (21.4). No. 12: Washington State (50.0).
NOTES: Injuries at the middle linebacker position, with Scooby Wright’s absence the most substantial, have taken their toll on the overall defensive efficiency. … Arizona is also breaking in inexperienced cornberbacks DaVonte’ Neal and Sammy Morrison. … Notice that Oregon ranks last in the Pac-12 in five of the categories, so while improvement is very necessary, it’s not drastic (at least yet).
