YPP, YPPGU or maybe just Efficiency

This post is about a stat that is frequently overlooked but can tell us a good deal about a team. I'm talking about Yards/Point and Yards/Point Given Up. To find a team's YPP, you just divide the total number of yards they've gained on the season by the total number of points they scored. The same works with the defense, YPPGU is just the total number of yards given up divided by the number of points given up. For YPP, lower numbers are better (you're scoring lots of points) and for YPPGU you want higher numbers (you're giving up very few points).

So what can we learn from these numbers?
Yards Per Point:
A team can get a low Yards Per Point number by scoring more touchdowns as opposed to field goals and getting positive field position due to good special teams play and recovering turnovers. Any points scored off of a turnover or on a return do not add any yards to the offense's totals and boost a team's YPP that much more. Just the opposite, a team that is always playing a long field, turning over the ball, and settling for field goals is going to have a very high YPP, and they probably won't win very many games either.

Yards Per Point Give Up:
A team can end up with a high Yards Per Point Given Up number by having a "bend but not break" defense that can force punts and limit the opponent to field goals. Forcing turnovers and pinning your opponent in their own territory with strong return coverage will also drive your YPPGU up. Because of these factors, I like to think of YPP and YPPGU as Offensive and Defensive Efficiency, respectively. I think it sounds better too.

So wouldn't it be nice if I could give a real world example whereby we can pierce the veil of obfuscation created by conventional statistics? Well you're in luck! We need look no further than the 2004 NC State Wolfpack Defense.

I'm confused, is my defense good or bad?

In 2004 the Wolfpack lead the nation in total defense, allowing an incredible 226 yards per game. Somehow, they only managed to win 5 of their eleven games, including a 42-0 beat down on 1-AA patsy Richmond. What explains this? Maybe they had a crappy offense? Well their offense was below average (61st), but they still finished in the black by about 120 yds/game and were never outgained by an opponent all season. Well if we take a look at their Defensive Efficiency (YPPGU), they were the second WORST in the nation allowing opponents a point for every 10.4 yards. This means they were giving their opponents a very short field. If we dig deeper into the box scores, we'll see that NC State gave up 31 turnovers (15 fumbles, 16 INTs), a -19 margin! It also didn't help the defense that NC State was 103rd in return coverage, allowing 12.4 yards per return. So yes 2004-Chuck, your defense is very good. You just need to teach the rest of the team how to hold on to the ball!