Chapter 12 Quiz: Defensive Metrics and Analysis

Instructions

This quiz contains 30 questions testing your understanding of defensive metrics and analysis. Select the best answer for each multiple-choice question. Some questions may require calculation.

Time Limit: 45 minutes Passing Score: 70% (21/30)

Section A: Core Defensive Concepts (Questions 1-10)

Question 1

Why is defensive analysis generally considered more challenging than attacking analysis?

a) Defenders generate fewer data points than attackers b) Defensive success often involves preventing events that leave no data trace c) Tackle and interception data is less reliable than shot data d) Defensive positions are less standardized than attacking positions

Question 2

A defender has a tackle success rate of 45%. Which interpretation is MOST accurate?

a) This is a poor defender who loses possession too often b) This defender is overly aggressive and should be benched c) Context is needed - high-volume tacklers often have lower success rates d) This indicates the defender should focus on interceptions instead

Question 3

What distinguishes an interception from a ball recovery?

a) Interceptions occur in the defensive third only b) Interceptions involve anticipating and cutting out a pass, while recoveries are loose balls c) Interceptions always lead to possession retention d) Ball recoveries are more valuable than interceptions

Question 4

Which clearance scenario typically represents the highest defensive value?

a) A headed clearance at the edge of the box b) A clearance of a cross inside the six-yard box c) A clearance in the middle third under no pressure d) A clearance after an aerial duel victory

Question 5

A shot block prevents a shot with 0.15 xG. How should this defensive contribution be valued?

a) Worth exactly 0.15 goals prevented b) Worth less than 0.15 because blocks are expected from defenders c) Worth more than 0.15 because it removes all goal probability d) The value depends on whether the team ultimately conceded

Question 6

Aerial duel success rate is calculated as:

a) Aerial wins / Aerial attempts b) Aerial wins / (Aerial wins + Aerial losses) c) Aerial wins / Team total aerials d) Headed clearances / Aerial challenges

Question 7

Which statement about defensive statistics is FALSE?

a) High tackle counts can indicate poor positioning b) Low interception numbers always indicate poor reading of the game c) Clearance counts depend heavily on team defensive style d) Block counts are often influenced by team shot-blocking instructions

Question 8

A center-back makes 2.5 tackles per 90 but has a very low dribbled-past rate. This profile suggests:

a) The defender is avoiding challenges b) The defender's positioning deters dribbles, reducing tackle opportunities c) The defender lacks physical ability d) The defender plays in a low-block system exclusively

Question 9

What is the primary limitation of using raw defensive action counts?

a) They don't account for quality of opposition b) They don't account for opportunity (team possession, opponent attacks) c) They can't distinguish between positions d) All of the above

Question 10

Recovery events are most valuable when:

a) They occur in the defensive third b) They occur in areas of high expected threat c) They follow aerial duels d) They result from opponent errors

Section B: Contextual Adjustment (Questions 11-15)

Question 11

Calculate the possession-adjusted defensive actions for a player with 3.0 defensive actions per 90 when their team has 60% possession.

a) 7.0 b) 9.5 c) 1.8 d) 4.5

Question 12

Why is possession adjustment necessary for defensive statistics?

a) Dominant teams face fewer defensive challenges b) Possession statistics are more accurate than defensive statistics c) It accounts for differences in playing style d) Both a and c

Question 13

When adjusting for opposition strength, which approach is most appropriate?

a) Weight all matches equally regardless of opponent b) Weight matches by opponent's league position c) Weight matches by opponent's attacking output (xG created) d) Exclude matches against weak opponents

Question 14

How should defensive performance be interpreted when a team is trailing?

a) Defensive actions are more valuable when trailing b) Teams typically defend more passively when trailing c) Teams often press more aggressively when trailing d) Game state has no impact on defensive behavior

Question 15

A full-back has excellent defensive statistics but plays for a dominant possession team. What additional analysis is needed?

a) Compare to other full-backs on similarly dominant teams b) Only evaluate attacking contribution instead c) Apply possession adjustment and compare across contexts d) Focus only on per-90 statistics

Section C: Pressing Metrics (Questions 16-21)

Question 16

PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) measures:

a) How many passes a team completes before losing possession b) How many passes opponents complete before facing defensive pressure c) The ratio of passes to defensive actions for a team d) Pressing efficiency in the attacking third only

Question 17

A team has a PPDA of 9.5. This indicates:

a) High pressing intensity b) Medium pressing intensity c) Low pressing intensity d) Cannot be determined without context

Question 18

Calculate PPDA given: Opponent completed 180 passes in their defensive third, team made 20 defensive actions in that zone.

a) 11.0 b) 0.11 c) 180 d) 20

Question 19

Counter-pressing (Gegenpressing) is defined as:

a) Pressing in the opponent's half b) Immediately pressing after losing possession to regain the ball quickly c) Maintaining a high defensive line d) Using a 4-3-3 formation with aggressive wingers

Question 20

A "high turnover" is typically defined as:

a) Any ball recovery b) A ball recovery in the attacking third c) A ball recovery that leads to a shot d) An interception from a long ball

Question 21

Which metric best captures the VALUE of pressing, not just the volume?

a) Total pressures per 90 b) Pressure success rate (regains within 5 seconds) c) PPDA d) High turnovers leading to shots

Section D: Defensive Positioning and Value (Questions 22-26)

Question 22

Defensive line height is measured by:

a) The average distance of defenders from their own goal b) The average x-coordinate of defensive actions c) The position of the deepest defender d) The offside trap height

Question 23

"Defensive compactness" refers to:

a) How many defenders are in the defensive third b) The spatial concentration of the defensive unit (vertical and horizontal spread) c) The number of defenders behind the ball d) The distance between center-backs

Question 24

Expected Goals Prevented (xGP) is calculated by:

a) Subtracting actual goals from expected goals b) Summing xG of blocked shots and prevented chances c) Comparing goalkeeper save percentage to expected d) Measuring interception value using xT

Question 25

A defender intercepts a pass intended for an area with 0.08 xT. This interception prevented approximately:

a) 0.08 expected goals b) 0.08 expected threat (probability increase toward goal) c) 8% of a goal d) An 8% chance of a shot

Question 26

When analyzing team defensive shape, which visualization is most appropriate?

a) Bar chart of defensive actions b) Convex hull of average player positions during defensive phases c) Line graph of xG conceded over time d) Pie chart of action types

Section E: Practical Applications (Questions 27-30)

Question 27

When scouting a "ball-playing center-back," which metrics should receive the HIGHEST weight?

a) Tackles per 90 and aerial win rate b) Pass completion rate and progressive passes c) Interceptions and clearances d) Blocks and pressures

Question 28

A defender's radar chart shows high values in aerial duels and clearances but low values in progressive passing and pressure. This profile best fits:

a) A modern ball-playing defender b) A traditional aerial-dominant stopper c) A pressing center-back d) A full-back role

Question 29

When identifying defensive weaknesses for opposition analysis, which area is MOST actionable?

a) Overall xG conceded b) Specific zones where high-xG shots are frequently conceded c) Total defensive actions d) Team possession percentage

Question 30

A comprehensive defender evaluation should include:

a) Ball-winning, ball-negating, and aerial metrics only b) Defensive actions with possession and opposition adjustments c) Ball-winning, ball-negating, pressing, aerial, discipline, and ball-playing metrics with contextual adjustments d) Comparison to league-average values without position adjustment

Answer Key

  1. b - Defensive success often involves preventing events that leave no data trace. This is the "counterfactual problem" - a defender who positions well may never need to make a tackle because the pass is never attempted.

  2. c - Context is needed - high-volume tacklers often have lower success rates. Players who attempt more tackles naturally have more opportunities for failed attempts.

  3. b - Interceptions involve anticipating and cutting out a pass, while recoveries are loose balls. This distinction is important because interceptions require reading the game.

  4. b - A clearance inside the six-yard box has the highest defensive value because it removes the ball from the most dangerous scoring zone.

  5. a - Worth exactly 0.15 goals prevented. The xG of the blocked shot directly quantifies the goal probability that was eliminated.

  6. b - Aerial wins / (Aerial wins + Aerial losses). This captures the proportion of contested aerial duels won.

  7. b - LOW interception numbers do NOT always indicate poor reading. Players on dominant possession teams have fewer interception opportunities.

  8. b - The profile suggests excellent positioning that deters opponents from attempting dribbles, reducing tackle opportunities.

  9. d - All of the above. Raw counts fail to account for opposition, opportunity, and position-specific expectations.

  10. b - Recoveries in high xT areas are most valuable because gaining possession there creates immediate attacking opportunity.

  11. b - 9.5. Calculation: 3.0 / (1 - 0.60) = 3.0 / 0.40 = 9.5

  12. d - Both a and c. Possession adjustment accounts for the reduced defensive opportunities faced by dominant teams and differences in playing style.

  13. c - Weight matches by opponent's attacking output (xG created). This directly measures the offensive threat faced.

  14. c - Teams often press more aggressively when trailing, seeking to regain possession quickly.

  15. c - Apply possession adjustment and compare across contexts to fairly evaluate defensive contribution.

  16. b - PPDA measures how many passes opponents complete before facing defensive pressure in their defensive third.

  17. a - PPDA of 9.5 indicates high pressing intensity (benchmark: < 8 is high press).

  18. a - 11.0. Calculation: 180 / 20 = 11.0

  19. b - Counter-pressing is immediately pressing after losing possession to regain the ball quickly.

  20. b - A high turnover is a ball recovery in the attacking third (typically x > 80).

  21. d - High turnovers leading to shots captures the VALUE of pressing by tracking outcomes, not just activity.

  22. b - Defensive line height is measured by the average x-coordinate of defensive actions.

  23. b - Defensive compactness refers to the spatial concentration of the defensive unit.

  24. b - xGP is calculated by summing xG of blocked shots and prevented chances.

  25. b - 0.08 xT represents the expected threat (probability increase toward scoring) that was prevented.

  26. b - A convex hull of average player positions best visualizes team defensive shape.

  27. b - Ball-playing center-backs require high pass completion rate and progressive passes.

  28. b - High aerials/clearances with low passing/pressing indicates a traditional stopper profile.

  29. b - Specific zones where high-xG shots are conceded provides actionable targeting information.

  30. c - Comprehensive evaluation requires all defensive dimensions with contextual adjustments.

Score Interpretation

Score Interpretation
27-30 Excellent - Ready for advanced defensive analysis
21-26 Good - Solid understanding with minor gaps
15-20 Fair - Review contextual adjustment and value sections
Below 15 Needs Review - Re-read chapter before proceeding

Concepts to Review by Section

If you struggled with Section A (1-10): Review core defensive action definitions and their interpretations.

If you struggled with Section B (11-15): Focus on possession adjustment formulas and contextual factors.

If you struggled with Section C (16-21): Study PPDA calculation, pressing definitions, and counter-pressing concepts.

If you struggled with Section D (22-26): Review positioning metrics and expected goals prevented methodology.

If you struggled with Section E (27-30): Focus on practical application of defensive profiles and recruitment criteria.