Brad Edwards Starts Making Sense; He's Way Better than Your Average Talking Head

BCS guru Brad Edwards of ESPN has a statistical analysis of Oregon's defense that cuts away the usual flabby presumptions talking fatheads like Robert Smith normally make about Nick Alliotti's crew.

He takes a fresh look at the defensive numbers, pointing out the Ducks rank 9th or better in these meaningful stats: yards per play, yards per drive, yards per 30 minutes, and TDs per drive and per 30 minutes.

Looking at defenses in this way properly accounts for Oregon's high offensive output and fast pace. By comparison, Auburn's defense is far worse in all these critical measures.

Statistics get thrown around by careless analysts all the time. Anybody with capped teeth and an earpiece can spout the conventional wisdom and make assumptions. Edwards has a grasp of what the numbers mean, and he reaches supportable, logical conclusions. Quick, someone get this guy a microphone. He's burning down the house with valuable insight.