2010 NATIONAL RANKINGS
#1 in Tackles For Loss
#8 in Sacks
#3 in Passing Yards Allowed
#5 in Passer Rating
#3 in Completion Percentage Allowed
#2 in Passing TD's Allowed
#11 in Redzone Scoring Percentage (FG or TD)
#4 in Redzone TD Percentage
#20 in Yards Per Play
#19 in 3rd Down Conversion Percentage
#27 in Interceptions
Top-25 in PBU's and Passes Defended
SECONDARY
Brandon Harris
Jojo Nicolas (RIP)
Vaughn Telemaque
Ryan Hill
Brandon McGee
Demarcus Van Dyke
Jared Campbell
Corey Nelms
DEFENSIVE LINE
Micanor Regis
Allen Bailey
Marcus Forston
Marcus Robinson
Olivier Vernon
Luther Robinson
Andrew Smith
Curtis Porter
Adawale Ojomo
LINEBACKERS
Sean Spence
Ramon Buchanon
Colin McCarthy
Jordan Futch
CJ Holton
Kylan Robinson
The numbers are certainly close enough to say that Shannon and Co were doing just as good of a job, if not better. But some of the stats are so close that it would just be splitting hairs. That would bring us to the next debate...WHO HAD MORE TALENT TO WORK WITH?
I don't think anybody in their right mind would take THAT 2010 secondary over the DB's that Diaz has had while here. I don't think it's even close. DVD was a track star posing as a football player. Brandon Harris was a less physical version of Bandy. And let's not even get started on the Safeties.
Would you take Allen Bailey, Oliver Vernon, Marcus Robinson and Marcus Forston over what Diaz has had at Defensive Line? Over Gerald Willis, Chad Thomas, Joe Jackson, Jon Garvin, Nesta Silvera and RJ McIntosh? (there's two 5-stars on that list)
I'll give Shannon the Linebacker position, cause I would definitely take Sean Spence and Colin McCarthy over Shaq and Pinckney. Spence had ridiculous instincts and McCarthy ran a **** 4.6 at nearly 240lbs.
Other than Allen Bailey (who was simply a freak) and maybe McCarthy, the Diaz units had way more NFL type bodies too. Shannon's unit had a 4'8" Marcus Robinson eating at DE. Spence and Buchanan looked like they were still in high school. Brandon Harris was tiny, playing CB on the outside. DVD was built like an Italian Greyhound. And was Randy Phillips on that team too? I'm pretty sure he's the only D1 Safety I've seen with a dad bod. Vernon was arguably our best NFL guy out of that bunch and even he was considered undersized.
Meanwhile Diaz has had a bunch of prototype bodies at Defensive Line (have we even had a DE under 6'4"?) and a secondary full of 5'11"-6'2" guys who are built like Greek gods. Fvckin' Michael Jackson could've played Linebacker on Shannon's defense. LOL
I'm mainly joking with that last point, because obviously APPEARANCES don't win games, but the two units didn't even look the same getting off the bus.