New Miami football DC Lance Guidry led elite 2022 Marshall defense
The Marshall defense led by defensive coordinator Lance Guidry posted elite numbers in 2022. Mario Cristobal hired Guidry away from Tulane on Tuesday after he was with the Green Wave for only 15 days officially. The Miami football program will owe Tulane $500,000 in buyout money according to Pete Thamel of ESPN.
The reaction to Cristobal hiring Guidry has been primarily positive. Most articles examining Guidry’s career, particularly as the Marshall defensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022 have been overwhelmingly positive. Marshall had one of the best defenses in the country in 2022 by nearly every measure.
Guidry will inherit a Miami defense that was too often porous in 2022. Miami allowed 40 or more points in a game for the first time in program history. The numbers for the Miami defense are worse than their rankings. Miami finished 67th nationally allowing 26.8 points per game. That increased to 28.0 PPG versus FBS opponents.
One of the biggest tasks that Guidry will have responsibility for is fixing the breakdowns in the Miami secondary. Miami was 127th nationally in 2022 allowing 15 pass plays of 40 yards or more. Marshall finished 90th allowing 10 pass plays of 40 yards or more. Guidry’s background is as a defensive backs coach.
These Stats Were Owned by 2022 Marshall Coaches and Players Only! Each Year is a Different Year! pic.twitter.com/QTMtfgJSaF
— Lance Guidry (@CoachLGuidry) February 7, 2023
Marshall 2022 national defensive rankings under Miami football DC Lance Guidry
- Top five in Six FBS categories:
- Third-down defense (first) (23.5 percent)
- Stop rate (second) (78.4 percent)
- Passing defense efficiency (third) (104.67)
- Yards per play (third) (4.6)
- Rush defense (fifth) (93.0 yards per game)
- Turnovers gained (fifth) (29)
- Eighth in passing touchdowns allowed (12) and rushing TDs allowed (10).
- Top 10
- Sixth in scoring defense (16.0 PPG) and interceptions (18)
- Eighth in total defense (294.5 YPG)
- Ninth in first-down defense
Stats Courtesy of ESPN, Miami Herald and Rivals
Guidry led a Marshall defense that held opponents to 21 points or less nine times in 2022. Miami held five opponents to 21 points or less. That included a 17-9 loss at Texas A&M. Miami was in the bottom half of the ACC by most defensive measures in 2022. Third and fourth down defense were particularly bad.
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Miami was 13th in the ACC allowing opponents to convert 41.98 percent of their third down conversions. Miami finished last in the ACC allowing opponents to convert 64.29 percent of their third down conversions. Marshall was 42nd nationally allowing opponents to convert 46.15 percent of their fourth down conversions.