The yardage numbers are disturbing. The red-zone numbers are encouraging.

Is the glass half full or half empty when it comes to Miami University’s defense? Clearly it depends on your perspective.

The RedHawks are giving up 489.2 yards per game and allowed winless Massachusetts to accumulate 471 (258 on the ground) last Saturday. Yet the Minutemen only reached the end zone twice as Miami recorded a 27-16 Mid-American Conference football victory at Yager Stadium.

“If you had to say to any head coach, ‘Hey, do you want to just shut the team down to 100 yards or less and let them score every time they get in the red zone?’ I think you know the answer to that,” MU coach Don Treadwell said Tuesday during his weekly press conference.

Miami came up with three interceptions against UMass with a revamped secondary. D.J. Brown moved from free safety to cornerback, where he replaced Chrishawn Dupuy in the starting lineup. Brison Burris, who had been rotating with Justin Bowers at strong safety, took Brown’s place.

Dayonne Nunley, Brown and Bowers had the picks. The RedHawks had three interceptions before Saturday, all by outside linebacker Pat Hinkel.

“Our defense has been able to force turnovers,” Treadwell said. “What matters most is, No. 1, you stop the drive. No. 2, even more importantly, you force a turnover.”

Miami is ranked 18th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in red-zone defense (opponents have 12 touchdowns and two field goals in 21 drives inside the 20), yet is 110th in total defense and 114th against the run. UMass running back Michael Cox punished the RedHawks with 188 yards and two TDs on 30 carries.

And MU’s pass rush has been minimal this season. Treadwell said Miami has smaller, more athletic D-linemen, and sometimes they lose the battle against bigger O-lines.

“You’ve got to give credit to the O-lines we’ve been facing,” Treadwell said. “They’ve got some big characters. I don’t care how big or strong you are, if you’re not as big and as fast as they are, it’s tougher to get to the quarterback. Then you just have to weigh your blitz game.

“Unless you’re just going to really roll the dice and bring everybody where they can’t block one more guy, more times than not blitzes are picked up just because of size and space. All it takes as a quarterback is to have one more second to get rid of the ball without being hit. I think you see more people are recruiting those 6-7, 6-6 linemen who are 300 pounds. You just can’t move around them unless they just fall down.”

A defensive bright spot has been the play of outside linebacker Chris Wade. He leads the team with 38 total tackles and has reached twin digits the last three games.

“With each young man, sometimes the light bulb comes on at different times,” Treadwell said. “I think he’s having a little bit more comfort in his role. Now what you see simply is his athleticism showing.”

Offensively, the RedHawks ran for 216 yards and threw for 192 against UMass. Treadwell said it was Miami’s most balanced performance in his 16 games at the helm.

Freshman Jamire Westbrook broke out with a 105-yard effort on the ground, and Dawan Scott snagged two touchdown passes from Zac Dysert. Scott has 16 catches for a team-leading 233 yards.

On the injury front, wide receiver Nick Harwell (knee) is doubtful for Saturday’s game at Akron and defensive tackle Austin Brown (back) is questionable — both missed the last two contests. Receiver David Frazier (leg) has returned to practice. Offensive guard Brandyn Cook (finger) is out, but might not be that far away from practicing.