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Kansas vs. Northern Illinois Tale of the Tape


 


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Northern-illinois-huskieslogo_medium


National Conf Actual Category Actual Conf National
Advantage Rank Rank Rank Rank
Kansas 7

301.00
Rushing Offense 289

9
Northern Ill. 89
146
Passing Offense 220

61
Northern Ill. 39

447
Total Offense 509

14
Northern Ill. 27

42
Scoring Offense 49

15
Kansas 38

95
Rushing Defense 303

110
Northern Ill. 93

158.28 Pass Efficiency Defense 107.58

47
Northern Ill. 84

420 Total Defense 409
79
Kansas 66

24
Scoring Defense 26

71
Kansas 11

45
Net Punting 37
60
Northern Ill. 84

0
Punt Returns 13

25
Northern Ill. 92

17.2
Kickoff Returns 19.5

72
Northern Ill. 28

1(?)
Turnover Margin 1

28
Northern Ill. 100

325
Pass Defense 106

14
Kansas 2

291.64
Passing Efficiency 199.92
11
Kansas
24

3
Sacks 1
67
Kansas 8

10
Tackles For Loss 8

22
Kansas
28

1
Sacks Allowed 1

28

Northern Illinois probably has the overall advantage from a numbers standpoint but it is a one game sample and they definitely had Army in a situation where they really can't compete.  The boys from West Point don't have a lot going for them when they are down and things tend to snowball. 

At the same time Kansas played an FCS opponent so we have to take that with a grain of salt as well.  That said, it sure is refreshing to see some oft those numbers and rankings reflect such a sharp turnaround from a year ago.  I can't place the Kansas forced turnover at the moment in my head so I gave the nod to NIU on that one. 

Overall it's great to see the ground game ranked so high.  Even thought the yardage is pretty average the passing game does check in at a very high efficiency and the two combined is exactly the formula that is going to win Kansas football games.  Throw in the positive signs on defense in terms of sacks, tackles for a loss and defending the run and things don't look half bad.  There is definitely work to be done in terms of the pass defense but all in all this is a MUCH better picture than this time a year ago.