LOUISIANA TECH Defense Notes
Multiple Players, Multiple Picks
Sharing is Caring: Interceptions Spread Among the Defense
Schools with eight or more players recording an One of the reasons for Louisiana Tech’s success in 2011 has been its defensive efforts, including the 20 interceptions recorded. However, this is not a category where one Bullinterception in 2011: 11 11 11 10 10 10 9 8 8 8
dog has dominated the scene; instead, Tech is one of a few teams where 10 different players have recorded at least one interception this seeason.
Boise State Oklahoma State Virginia Tech Louisiana Tech Clemson Southern Miss South Carolina Arkansas State LSU Memphis
Only five other teams have had 10 or more players record an interception this season and Tech is one of only 10 teams to have eight or more players get a pick. Of those 10 teams, nine are playing in bowl games this postseason. That is notable considering a full one-third of the FBS teams (40 schools) did not even record 10 interceptions this year. Louisiana Tech ended the regular season ranked third in the nation with 20 interceptions.
Sacks Leaders the Reason for Success?
One of the reasons for Louisiana Tech’s defensive success in 2011 might be the domating Single Season Updates presence up front on the lines. This year Christian Lacey and Matt Broha have quietly accumulated enough sacks to each be ranked in the top 10 in school history in the single Updates on Tech players entering the school’s season charts. Lacey is currently ranked sixth with 8.5 sacks while Broha is ranked tied single season records charts in 2011: for seventh with 7.5 sacks. Glenell Sanders Glenell Sanders Doug Landry Joe McNeely Myron Smith Joe McNeely Johnny Robinson Doug Landry Myron Baker Jon Paul Laque Adrien Cole
1988 1987 1983 1973 1997 1972 1979 1984 1992 1983 2011
Sacks 1. 14.0 2. 13.0 3. 10.5 4. 10.0 5. 9.0 6. 8.5 7. 7.5 7. 7.5 7. 7.5 7. 7.5 7. 7.5
Walter Johnson Johnny Robinson Walter Johnson Mike Sorenson Matt Broha Christian Lacey Matt Broha Jemelle Cage Eldonta Osborne Tank Landry Walter Johnson
1986 1979 1984 1982 2010 2011 2011 2004 1988 1983 1983
Interceptions 1. 10 John Causey 2. 8 Willie Smith 3. 7 John Noel 4. 6 Doyle Adams 5. 5 14 Different Players 4 Jay Dudley
With an assisted sack on Heisman Trophy candidate Case Keenum on Sept. 17, Matt Broha notched his 16th career sack and tying him for second all-time at Louisiana Tech in career sacks. He moved into sole possession of second place on Oct. 1 against Hawai’i with his 17th career sack and enters the Poinsettia Bowl game with 22 career sacks to his credit. Walter Johnson (1983-86) owns the school record with 38 career sacks while Johnny Robinson (1977-80) is third with 16 career sacks. Lacey, who has 8.5 sacks this season, now has 14.5 career sacks which ranks him fourth in school history.
Tech Third in Nation in Pick-Sixes
Entering the bowl game, Louisiana Tech is ranked third in the nation with five “PickSixes” on the year. The interception return phenomenon must be a Bayou-related occurrence as three of the top six teams with pick-sixes hail from the state of Louisiana. It is unknown if former Louisiana Governor Huey Long has taught Pelican State defenders to make the most of their “stealing.”
1. Southern Miss 2. Louisiana-Lafayette 3. Louisiana Tech 4. Vanderbilt 4. Tulane 4. Kansas State 4. Arizona 8. 19 teams
8 7 5 3 3 3 3 2
Tech Among National Leaders in Interceptions... 1972 1995 1997 1985 --2011
Entering the bowl game, Louisiana Tech is ranked third in the nation and first in the WAC in interceptions. The Bulldogs have picked off 20 passes this season from opposing quarterbacks and have even returned an interception for a touchdown in five of the last six games. North Carolina State leads the nation with 24 interceptions. Passes Intercepted 1. North Carolina State 2. Oklahoma State 3. Louisiana Tech 4. Utah 5. South Carolina
24 23 20 19 18
5. Arkansas State 5. Connecticut 5. Houston 5. Kansas State 5. LSU 5. Southern Miss
2 0 1 1 B U L L D O G F O O T B A L L B o w l G ui d e
Tackles 1. 183 1. 183 3. 178 4. 150 5. 148 6. 144 7. 138 8. 135 9. 132 10. 131 121
Game YTISRNotes EVINU
1. 1. 1. 4. 4. 4. 7. 8. 8. 8.
18 18 18 18 18 18
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