MacDaddy3 said (original post) Agree to disagree. Brent is one of the best defensive coordinators in college football and a force to reckon with in 2022. The Oklahoma defensive coordinator refused the offensive teams from earning points as under him, the Sooners went from conceding 33 points to as low as 22 points per game. Steele, a veteran defensive coordinator with 39 years of coaching experience, begins his third stint on the Alabama coaching staff after calling the defense at Miami in 2022. This scheme is especially useful to guard against passing and running plays. While Harsin is an offensive minded coach, he's done an equally good job fielding top caliber defenses while head coach in Boise. And even on the other half of pass plays where they havent applied pressure on opposing quarterbacks, Houston secondary has more than made up for it. If delivering stunning defense is a thing, Jim Leonhard delivers it well, and everyone loves it. RELATED: Best Football Prep Schools in the USA| 2022 Rankings. With Georgia easily topping the table as the best college football team in terms of defense, and Clemson coming stealthily behind, it is difficult to say which of the teams has the number one defense. It's just not how football is, and I don't know how people come up with all that stuff, except reading others post it on the internet. It hasnt allowed more than 25.9 since and usually has hovered around the 20-point mark. In addition to the head coach, most teams also have at least one offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator; however, the head coach will sometimes assume one of these roles as well. By Year 3 in 2021, the Cougars had climbed from 119th in the nation in scoring defense in 2018 to No. Stop paying attention to these random lists. With 5 seasons in a row of allowing under 20 points per game, Parkers Hawkeyes will be tough again. 1 Junior College players in both 2018, Jermaine Johnson (Georgia), and 2021, Jeffrey M'Ba (Auburn). The stress of coordinating defense behind an Air Raid offense will continue at USC. The Pokes join. And thats a very good thing considering the Bearcats owned one of the top defenses in college football under Freeman who is now the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame in 2020. Look at the 15 best defensive coordinators in college football in 2022 ranked based on the success of the team and the defense strategies used, endurance, and accomplishment at other jobs outside the team. And you you really think that a number of the guys Texas had on defense cared to play? It is American football played by students from colleges or American universities. Thomas has racked up 26 combined sacks and quarterback hits while playing anywhere from nose tackle to edge defender. are among the 11 edge defenders nationally with a pass-rush grade at or above 91.0 for the 2021 season. Which one is more representative? https://twitter.com/BigGameBoomer/status/1478059492801658880?s=20. Without further ado, here are the top 25 defensive coordinators in college football. Donerson has also produced over 50 Division 1 student athletes. While Golding (previously the defensive coordinator at Texas-San Antonio) has only been at Alabama for four seasons, first as co-defensive coordinator before becoming Nick Saban's full-time defensive coordinator, the Crimson Tide have owned a top-20 scoring defense nationally during that span, which is in line with the production of Venables . In 2 seasons with the Aztecs, Mattixs defenses have finished No. He has earned a grade north of 86.0 against the run to go with a 90.5 grade as a pass rusher. Thomas has been an all-around great player, but his impact has been most notable against the run, where he ranks second in the Power Five in grade (89.3). This post was edited by Anon736773 1 year ago. Clemson is generating pressure at the seventh-highest rate in the Power Five this year. You can hear him daily from 12-3 p.m. on 1010XL in Jacksonville. has been the star of the group for the third consecutive season, as the true junior is in the midst of one of the best seasons from an outside corner in the PFF College era (2014-present). Cost, Schools, and Procedures, Best Online Ph.D. History Programs in the World | 2023, Admission Requirements, Tuition, Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Money | Format And Steps in 2023, 15 Best Colleges For Zoology in the World | Ranking 2023. He assisted the Seminoles last year to make notable improvements in their run defense. "It has been a pleasure, man. Built one of the Big 12s best defenses over 4 seasons at Oklahoma State, including a record-setting unit it 2021. Venables is one of the best in the business when it comes to scheming pressure, which has continued this season. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Although they ran into Joe Burrow's LSU buzzsaw in 2019, Grinch is putting the pieces together for a playoff run that will change the school's narrative. Factors considered included team success, defensive success, longevity, success at other jobs and programs, and the likelihood that this particular defense will shine in 2021. Cincinnati CB Sauce Gardner allowed 0 yards last night vs USF while picking off a pass. February 22, 2023 4:30 pm ET. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. He is tied for the highest PFF grade at the position through Week 11, and his blitzing prowess is the biggest reason why. Theres a reason why PK was considered one of the best DCs, and he didnt become an idiot when he arrived at Texas. Hell do better with more and better players in 21. John Reed-USA TODAY Sports Perhaps one of the more popular names that may get thrown into this conversation from outside the Penn State program is Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason, better. 2 Alabama, SEC Women's Basketball Tournament action suspended due to weather delay, 2 SEC players named to late-season watch list for Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy, Overrated? Off-ball linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez has been the top performer from the group. He has won two national coaching awards, and three conference coaching awards and is the architect of the "Air Raid" offense, which set NCAA records. The versatile Cameron Thomas anchors the trenches and has truly been one of the most impressive defensive linemen in college football. The top-two earners among assistant coaches and coordinators this past season hailed from Clemson. RELATED: 15 Largest College Football Stadiums in USA. The Top 15 Havoc-Inducing Defensive Coordinators No surprise here with the No. Golding gets more criticism than he should for the unit not being as dominant as it was in the early Nick Saban years. Seriously? Under Cain's watch, Oklahoma outside linebacker Nik Bonitto broke out as a second-team All-American in 2020 and enters this season as one of the nation's top defensive players. On non-blitzes, the Badgers have used a stunt 49.5% of the time the highest rate in the Power Five. I think our DBs were very average but good enough to understand down and distance and coachable and disciplined enough to play in press coverage on a few select plays during a game where the down and distance mandates that. Manny Diaz started his career at Florida State University placing him on the list of defensive coaches after working together with Mickey Andrews, a veteran defensive coordinator. Venables is one of the best in the business when it comes to scheming pressure, which has continued this season. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees visited both within the past week. Jetson212 said (original post) And PK was ranked 11th the previous year according to this publication: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/ranki "You dont magically forget football and become an incompetent DC after a year at a program that was bereft of talent on defense". The 2019 (No. that's not marketing BS at all. News Joshua L Jones. The 38-year-old former Wake Forest safety. Thats more about personnel than coaching. And I didnt see a unit that looked liked they had high football IQ. Now, there certainly may be some underlying context to Pete Golding's exit and Saban may have propped the back door open for . Joseph Gillespie, Tulsa defensive coordinator. All the way from Penn State University, Brent took his 4-3 defense scheme over to Virginia Tech to bring back the winning tradition of the team. And PK was ranked 11th the previous year according to this publication: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/ranking-the-top-25-defensive-coordinators-in-college-football-for-2021/amp/You dont magically forget football and become an incompetent DC after a year at a program that was bereft of talent on defense, didnt have the guys for his scheme, and was on its 4th DC in four years. 15 Esthetician Schools Online 2023: Courses, Schools & Certification, How To Create A .edu Email Account For Free In 2023, List Of 1 Year MBA Programs In USA 2022 | Admission, Requirements, Cost, 4 Weeks Certificate Program That Will Pay You Well In 2023, Top 15 Quick Certifications That Pay Well In 2023, 18 Cheapest Colleges in Canada 2023 for International Students, 45 Free Online Courses With Printable Certificates 2022 | START NOW, 10 Tuition-Free Universities in USA For International Students in 2023, 15 Best Paying Jobs Out Of College | 2023 Ranking, Top 20 Book Publishing Companies in Chicago | 2023, Netflix Student Discounts 2023: Easy Procedures to get Subscription Fast | Updated, How To Become A Permanent Resident Of Canada In 2023 | Full Step Guide, Study in USA: Fully-Funded Scholarships Available 2023, Work-Study in UK: 5 Types of Visa to Apply For in 2023, Top 10 Masters Scholarships In Aerospace Engineering 2023, Pak Afghan: 3000 Pakistan Scholarships for Afghanistan Students 2023, Quick Tips On How To Write A Scholarship Application Letter With Samples in 2023, Full Guide On How To Become a Medical Examiner In 2023, Criminologist: Work Description, Skillset, Salary, and Career Tips, Top 15 Colleges With Gymnastics Scholarships In 2023, 17 Scholarships for Nepalese Students in USA 2023, 21 MBA Scholarships For Canadian Students 2023, 13 Accredited Midwifery Programs 2023 | Careers & Schools, 10 Accredited Online Universities in South Africa 2023, 17 Easiest Medical Schools to get into in 2023 | Full Guide, Best Makeup Artistry Schools in the World | 2023, Top 15 Harvard Scholarships List for International and African Students | 2023, 17 Scholarships for Indonesians in the UK in 2023, Agbami Scholarship For Undergraduate Students 2023. Gillespie, 50, joined the Tulsa staff in 2015 after winning 72 games in seven seasons as coach at Stephenville (Texas) High. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores. Oklahomas defense has not been the same since Alex Grinch started overseeing the affairs of its defense. Cornerback. If he could do it at Cincy, he should be fine at South Bend. Despite losing three of his linebackers and defensive backfield to the NFL draft some years back, his Hawkeyes team is still a force to reckon with. Comments. Former Utah All-American safety was a Broyles Award finalist in 2019, when the Utes led the Pac-12 in scoring defense (15.0 points per game). Each week it takes the field, the Georgia defense looks like one of the best in the history of college football. Only the 2016 Alabama defense, which featured six first-round picks, comes close to Georgia this season. We support responsible gambling. Alex Grinch is one of the best defensive coordinators in college football ever known. Marve is one of the youngest defensive coordinators in the ACC and ranks as one of the best defensive coordinators in college football in 2022. make up the third highest-graded outside cornerback tandem in the Power Five. The Ohio State Buckeyes have the best college football stadium. make up the highest-graded interior defensive line in college football. At Notre Dame, the veteran defensive coordinator improved their ranking and allowed an average of 369.2 yards for each game played. Opposing offenses have produced a 34.3% success rate this season the third-best mark allowed by an FBS defense. Just the technique things, how he sees the defensive backfield and how he understands all the ins . . Cincinnati owns the fourth-highest-graded coverage unit in college football ahead of Week 12. The NFL allows a team size of 53 players to allow for adequate substitutions during the game. The stars of the Michigan defense reside on the edge. Theyve combined for 83 total pressures, 20 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. At every position group, Georgia is in the conversation for best in the country. Thomas has been an all-around great player, but his impact has been most notable against the run, where he ranks second in the Power Five in grade (89.3). Mike Leach was the Head coach at Mississippi State University and American college football. In zone, Iowa jumps to No. He has 9 starters back this fall and may well have the second-best defense in the ACC. Or better yet, ask Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who has seen the junior defensive end grow up before his very eyes over the past three years. The way he dials up pressure, in particular, has made his Badgers defense so special this year. 2. Each game of college football has a duration of 60-minutes divided into four quarters, 15 minutes each. 20 college football teams we aren't sold on in 2023, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Mizzou shocks Tennessee, Alabama downs Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Alabama stays unbeaten in SEC play, Tennessee outlasts Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: A new top team emerges, Alabama loses in blowout fashion, Mizzou lights it up again. Look at the 15 best defensive coordinators in college football in 2022 ranked based on the success of the team and the defense strategies used, endurance, and accomplishment at other jobs outside the team. This will be season three for him as the Golden Hurricane's defensive coordinator. His achievement was noticeable when they went 9-1 in the last season and the Bearcats were ranked 13th in total defense. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard this. On pace to be one of the biggest lockdown years from a CB #CFB has ever seen.pic.twitter.com/pgG0Ezhsy1, Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) November 13, 2021. The hardest job in college football, where losing happens nearly every play and its only a question of how badly. They serve to protect the players body while participating in the game. have generated pressure when blitzed, as they rank second and eighth respectively among Power Five off-ball linebackers in pass-rush grade. Brian Newberry, Navy Defensive Coordinator Depending on what the defensive coordinator for a college football wants for the team, the defense schemes vary. Theyve given up only four touchdowns while picking off 18 passes in zone coverage this season. Only the 2016. has proven to be one of the top defensive coordinators in all of college football. He exploits different defense tactics with a 2-4-5 scheme against teams coming in heavy on passes. As impressive: Theyve forced 112 turnovers. He will have more control of the defense the season with Schumann. This 44-year-old legend has made his mark as a top defensive coordinator in college football stealing our hearts with the great work he did when he was at Texas A&M. Aggies defense team improved while he was in charge. With an experienced and talented front, Orlando could really shine in 2021. The defensive coordinator coordinates the affairs of assistant coaches including the linebackers coach, cornerbacks coach, defensive line coach, and safeties coach. 10 Best Hockey Boarding Schools in USA | 2022 Ranking, The 25 Best College Football Teams of All-Time | 2022 Rankings, The 50 Best College Football Players of All Time | 2022 Ranking, The 50 Best College Football Coaches of All Time | 2022 Ranking, Best Football Prep Schools in the USA| 2022 Rankings, 15 Largest College Football Stadiums in USA, 15 Best Websites To Watch College Football Online Free, 15 Best High School Football Teams In Florida | 2022, Best Football Prep Schools in the U.S | Rankings, 20 Cute College Mascots In The USA| Pictures, 15 Largest College Football Stadiums in USA | 2022, 100 Informative Speech Topics for College Students in 2022, Top 10 D2 (DII) Colleges in North Carolina | NCAA List 2022. Rodriguez who was a state champion wrestler and three-time state champion quarterback in high school has a nose for the ball. The head football coach who is in his sixth season at Cal was a top defensive coordinator at Boise State, Tennessee, Washington, USC, and Wisconsin. Offensive Coordinator Age: 50 College: Richmond, 1980 Hometown: . The Cards yielded 50 or more . Check Also: What are the Best College Football Mascots in 2022? Iowa State allowed 31.6 points per game in 2016. Of course, CCU went from 5 wins in 2019 to 11 last year. There isnt a single guy on the Texas defense who looks like an NFL player. In just one season Lebby took the Rebels' offense to new heights and they scored 39.2 points per game. Its not a list of top DCs in college football based on overall body of work. 20 college football teams we aren't sold on in 2023, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Mizzou shocks Tennessee, Alabama downs Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Alabama stays unbeaten in SEC play, Tennessee outlasts Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: A new top team emerges, Alabama loses in blowout fashion, Mizzou lights it up again. He has been coaching Iowa Hawkeyes for over 10 years after taking over as the defensive coordinator in 2012. He did great work at Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State and is building toward something special at Miami. He has 10 starters back and even in the eternally loaded SEC West, Arkansas will show significant improvement this fall. The talent on that side of the ball is as bad as its been in a long time. Kwiatkowski built elite defenses at Boise State and Washington. They didnt have to go up against that powerhouse Kansas offense. 10, 29, and 7 with him as their defensive coordinator. Thomas has racked up 26 combined sacks and quarterback hits while playing anywhere from nose tackle to edge defender. Wisconsin blitzes at a top-15 rate in the Power Five this season at just over 36% of the time. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. 5 possibilities to replace Pete Golding at Alabama. Others such as neck rolls, elbow guards, hip guards, tailbone guards, and rib guards may be worn. Thats the expectation for Knowles in Year 1. Off-ball linebacker Drake Thomas is the teams top defensive player this season, as hes earned a team-leading 80.4 PFF grade in 2021, which ranks seventh among Power Five off-ball linebackers. College Football's TOP 50 DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS with Big Game Boomer - YouTube Contribute directly to "The Voice of College Football": Venmo. The ways to score in college football include touchdowns, which will earn a total of 6 points, field goals to give 3 points, two-point conversions, extra points, and safety. In 2020, Oklahoma was the 29th-best scoring defense in the country and the ninth-best run defense. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Patty C (@PattyC831) break down the 2022 Wake Forest roster and key in on each and every game the Demon Deacons play in 2022? In college football, players typically wear protective gear while playing. Here are the Top 25 defensive coordinators in college football entering the 2022 season: 25. Despite a hiccup against the Purdue Boilermakers in Week 7, the Hawkeyes still are one of the three highest-graded teams in coverage in the Power Five. The Tigers have allowed a mere 4.9 yards per play against Power Five competition, ranking seventh. Tim DeRuyter will hopefully take the Texas Tech team on a winning journey this 2022 with his spot reserved as one of the best defensive coordinators in college football. Hes still an elite recruiter. The Badgers have allowed just a 5.2% explosive run rate this year as a team the best in the Power Five by over three percentage points. In his first season at Wisconsin, Dave led a defense that was ninth nationally in defensive F/+. He also led the unit to rank second in passing defense. Under his 3-4 defense scheme, Texas A&M recorded an improvement in their scoring defense. If you disagree with this, you'll be in for a shocking surprise that we're not going to have anyone from those positions drafted. Our issues this year were edge rushers, LBs, and safeties. But the veteran coordinator and former Mizzou head coach knows defense. Tony Gibson, NC State A longtime college assistant, his 2nd season as DC at NC State in 2021. There isnt. RELATED: 20 Highest Paid Sport Agents| Best Reviews. Rodriguez who was a state champion wrestler and three-time state champion quarterback in high school has a nose for the ball. The longtime Hawkeyes DC might have had his most complete defense at Iowa in 2021, finishing 13th nationally in scoring defense, forcing 30 turnovers (nation-leading 25 INTs) and scoring 4 defensive touchdowns. The UCLA Bruins had an extremely dynamic offense in the 2022 college season, ranking as the fourth-best offense in . He was one of the best defensive coordinators in college football the Wisconsin team has ever seen before going over to Baylor Bears to be the head coach. Patterson spent over 20 years at TCU and had ten different defenses finish inside the top 35 (yards per play) nationally from 2009 to 2021. A quiet reality this offseason: Toney a rising star in the coaching fraternity was pursued by many this offseason, but stayed with new Gators coach Billy Napier. I'm TELLING you they do. San Diego State is essentially West Coast Iowa, as it struggles on offense while the defense shuts down the opposition on a weekly basis. Molding young players to form a strong unit of defense, Phil has done his work as one of the best defensive coordinators in college football since he stepped into the shoes of his predecessor. A pair of national titles, a Frank Broyles award, even despite some tough season-ending performances the past 2 years, this guy is a top-of-the-list pick until he becomes somebodys head coach. The versatile. From 2009 to 2014, the Tigers. Typical defensive coverages include: 0/1: Man coverage with either 0 deep zone players, or 1 deep player (often referred to as 'man free') 2: the deepest part of the field is divided into 2 . Behind a historically strong defense that produced eight picks in the NFL drafts with a record five in the first round, Georgia won its first national championship in 41 years. The Tigers have allowed a mere 4.9 yards per play against Power Five competition, ranking seventh. I want to think we have to be better on defense in 22 but unfortunately I just can't make myself believe it. And I hate it!!!! Totally worth it! After working as a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2017 and 2018, Pope spent last year as the. Rankings & Projections | WR/CB Matchup Chart | NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings. The Cougars have one of the best pass-rush units in all of college football, as they actually rank No. Mike Elko, then-defensive coordinator for Texas A&M, was the only other coach to make over $2 million this past year. Steele served as the defensive coordinator at Alabama in 2007 and was the associate head coach and head defensive coach for the Crimson Tide in 2008. Grantham has done great and terrible things and has coached everywhere in the world, given or take a few teams. Over at Appalachian state, he coordinated the team to play defense 3 times in the Sun Belt Conference thereby earning a top 30 position in the NCAA division. While the defense regressed a bit in 2020, it was substantially better since the new staff came on board than it had been. Gregory was recently promoted to DC, and Malloe will retain is co-DC status. Since his hiring, OU has gone from allowing 33 points per game to per game before him to 27 and 22 under him. James Morgan. Mason was in a tough spot as head coach at Vandy, but his Stanford defenses were superb, and given that Auburns cupboard is never bare, dont be surprised if Mason is back in the head coaching ranks sooner rather than later. Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning is the final one we'll touch on in this piece, earning a pay increase from $1.25 million to $1.7 million this off season after being pursued for other premier coordinator openings. Clemson has been arguably the most disappointing team of the 2021 college football season, but Brent Venables defense isn't the reason why. During his tenure, he has helped coach the Pirates to three Jayhawk Conference Championships in 2017, 2019, and 2021. is the teams top defensive player this season, as hes earned a team-leading 80.4 PFF grade in 2021, which ranks seventh among Power Five off-ball linebackers. Here's one assessment of the Top 25 offensive coordinators in college football: 25. The latter is six more than any other Power Five defense. Currently, the highest paid college defensive coordinator makes $2.5 million a season while some of the smaller Division I defensive coordinators make $75,000 a season. Gardner has allowed just 87 yards and zero touchdowns across 10 starts this season while picking off three passes and breaking up another. If the position group is bad, the position coach is bad. This isnt to say that any team can get by with a scrub defensive unit and coast to a College Football Playoff (CFP) berth, as strong defenses still matter in college football. In the previous season, he coached the Florida team to allow 147.6 running yards per game, which was a 51.6-yard increase over the 2020 record. 20-minute mark: DawgNation's Connor Riley joins the show. A disciple of Nick Saban, Geoff Collins took over as the full-time defensive coordinator at Mississippi State just last season and led a unit that finished top-20 in defensive F/+. So it's a no-brainer that he'll have a top-notch Offensive Coordinator. s single-high structure that isolates their outside corners in one-on-one single coverage under new defensive coordinator, Cincinnati owns the fourth-highest-graded coverage unit in college football ahead of Week 12. Both coaches have been on staff for a while, and the defensive units and players they coached have produced. He honed the few talents he has which included Evan Weaver leading the nation in tackle games. Sixth-year DC Scalley always has the Utes among the conferences best in stopping the run and before a slow 2020, his guys had generated a ton of QB pressure. A few caveats. The Pokes join Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan as the only Power Five defenses with a grade above 80.0 as a team against the run, rushing the passer and in coverage. 105 in total defense in 2018 but improved to No. With defense plays being an important aspect in college football, then defensive coordinators should be too. . Without further ado, here are the top 25 defensive coordinators in college football. In 2019, his UF defense was outstanding (15.5 PPG allowed, 305 total yards, 49 sacks). But he coached UKs pass defense to top of the SEC status and sent a bunch of players to the NFL. Playing off coverage was done because Texas had zero defensive backs who could play press. Following are some of the best college defensive coordinators in American college football: Greg Mattison Todd Grantham Bud Foster Kirby Smart John Chavis Brent Venables Dave Aranda Lorenzo Ward Bob Shoop Justin Wilcox Greg Mattison Greg Mattison is an American football coach born on November 15, 1949. Editors note: Our annual Top 25 preview week continues with a breakdown of the best defensive coordinators in the business. All three of those players own a PFF grade north of 80.0 for the season something only four SEC interior defensive linemen can say right now. The major role of the defensive coordinator in college football is to assist the head coach in managing the football team. Bryan Harsin went with an experienced and talented coordinator. Regardless of college football being one very competitive sport, Wilcox still led the Boise State team to a victory of 17-10 in the Fiesta Bowl. I saw a bunch of players continually making the same mistakes, playing with poor leverage, not being able to fit run gaps, and not giving much effort.. Everyone of those things can be coached in to players(effort to some degree is debatable). This sounds like standard talking points crafted by a marketing department. This post was edited by Hookem777 1 year ago. The times that Jameson played press coverage, he got absolutely torched by Tech WRs. Trash. Kwiatkowski was outstanding at Washington, leading the Huskies to sub-20 PPG defensive performances in 5 of his 7 years there. Brent Venables made $2.5 million as offensive coordinator, while Tony Elliot made $2.13 million. This is essentially a referendum on Mack Brown at UNC. A football defensive coordinator is a coaching staff member whose primary job is developing a defensive strategy for their team, relaying that plan to the team and assistant coaches, and implementing the system in practice in preparation for the upcoming game. With his strategies, the Wisconsin team has ranked top 5 in defense rank, and the Badgers ranked third in scoring defense and improving the points and yards allowed per game. The latter is six more than any other Power Five defense. N.C. State has one of the most underrated defenses in college football, as the Wolfpack have been one of college football's top defenses on a down-for-down basis so far this season.