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our defense will take a step back, but so will the offenses we face

Cribby said:
The schedule is why the drop off isn’t as big of a deal to me. When we do step up in competition is when it’ll be more of an issue. No DE is what those guys were. They blew up the run game and pass. Always affecting the game even if stats didn’t show it.

I could see a guy or two with more total sacks but having nowhere near the impact on offenses if that makes sense. Watching Missouri games Wilson would disappear for long periods then would make a splash play.
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That last part. I felt the same when I watch his film, but I am giving Jason Taylor the benefit of the doubt he can squeeze some more juice out that orange.

Honestly, I am little higher on lightfoot. I have seem him be physical(IE: him vs Indiana RB) and he has been in the system for minute.. He just a little light in the *** compare to Bane and mesidor.
 
TheEye said:
Jason Taylor still coaches that position and was analyzing all the transfers. I don’t think this drop-off is as dramatic as people fear.
We have depth this year. I am looking forward to the next man up.
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Right… our 2nd team DL could be the 3rd best DL in the conference at worst.
 
Dees Brown said:
That last part. I felt the same when I watch his film, but I am giving Jason Taylor the benefit of the doubt he can squeeze some more juice out that orange.

Honestly, I am little higher on lightfoot. I have seem him be physical(IE: him vs Indiana RB) and he has been in the system for minute.. He just a little light in the *** compare to Bane and mesidor.
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Plus Blount who is more a DE than DT right now and can definitely set the edge. Plus Lowe, Plus Scroggins, Plus Pickett. Plus Moten collapsing the interior and Scott destroying any chance of an HB/RB blocker or ball carrier. ... It's unfair.
 
I have been patiently waiting for Chase Smith to have a break out season. Seems like it has been a decade. This could be his year to make a splash.
 
TriStarCane said:
I expect game scripts to be completely different because I expect to have a top 5 offense
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This. ^
Extremely undermentioned point. When we are up by 20+ in the 4th Q in most games (as I expect us to be this fall), the need for setting the edge diminishes to almost nothing since the run game is futile for the opposing offenses at that stage. Rotate the dawgs and let em eat.

Also, the main reason why it is legitimate to have some concern is that we lost both DEs from last year who were both 1st rounders. In case you don't get it, read that last sentence again. Both our starting DEs from last year are gone and both were excellent or better. Anytime that happens, it's reason for a little concern.
 
TriStarCane said:
I expect game scripts to be completely different because I expect to have a top 5 offense
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This is why I expect sack numbers to be up but being less dominant on DL. More opportunities to go eat rather than being in so many lower scoring dogfights, where we had to respect the run and pass. I could see some shootouts too. The offense will be dramatically better better. I could see more 2024 but with bigger splash plays.
 
DL all 5 stars
Elite secondary



Episode 2 Whatever GIF
 
Cribby said:
This is why I expect sack numbers to be up but being less dominant on DL. More opportunities to go eat rather than being in so many lower scoring dogfights, where we had to respect the run and pass. I could see some shootouts too. The offense will be dramatically better better. I could see more 2024 but with bigger splash plays.
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Respectfully, if we’re getting into shootouts this year something went horribly wrong.
 
I'll put it this way...

Absolutely nobody expected this unit to play like it did one year ago. No one. We would've been happy if we were slightly above average and not a Top 5 unit.

I also can only repeat myself: Jason Taylor made the switch from 43 DE to 34 OLB. He learned how to set an edge and he can teach it. If you think we can't set an edge next season... that's you. I know we will.
 
Everyone makes valid points on this topic. But our defense had to be dominant last year because our offense stunk for the most part. It took Pringle and Toney to break this offense out of the deep pits of ****.

I’m not ruling this defense out from being even better than last year statistically. Everything changes when you know your O is like that.

Year 2 of Heatherman + an ELITE offense… put me down for this d being even better than last year
 
Absolutely no excuse not to be in the natty game again... at least that's my expectation and I'm sure it's the team's as well.
 
Allabouttheu95 said:
Everyone makes valid points on this topic. But our defense had to be dominant last year because our offense stunk for the most part. It took Pringle and Toney to break this offense out of the deep pits of ****.

I’m not ruling this defense out from being even better than last year statistically. Everything changes when you know your O is like that.

Year 2 of Heatherman + an ELITE offense… put me down for this d being even better than last year
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This is my point . I don’t expect the defense to be as dominant but it shouldn’t have to.
 
Cribby said:
It’s college football 2026. Weird **** happens and points are scored. If you afire fast teams get more possessions. Don’t be shocked if we have one or two.
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I hate to be the guy saying this, but it takes one bad hit to our QB and our season is ruined.

We got lucky with injuries last season. It's not a given that this will happen again.
 
umhurricane2511 said:
Cribby said:
We had the two best de’s in America that were complete players. Imo the pass rush will drop off ( duh) but the setting the edge by the de’s is more of my concern. The Interior should be better so maybe those guys take some pressure off with the run d.
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Is Franklin changing up VT's run scheme? They ate us alive last year on those perimeter runs.
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The amount of “X beat Y with Z… nah we won’t even try” college OCs practice is WILD to me.

Anyone remember Fuente not even chipping Phillips when JP was “he’s full” levels of on the gas?

Lazy coaching in the ACC.
 
Cribby said:
This is my point . I don’t expect the defense to be as dominant but it shouldn’t have to.
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i think i'm here ... we take a step back, but we're still pretty good ... you made a great point, we need to be sharp come november and playoffs
 
Cribby said:
Josh said:
Respectfully, if we’re getting into shootouts this year something went horribly wrong.
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It’s college football 2026. Weird **** happens and points are scored. If you afire fast teams get more possessions. Don’t be shocked if we have one or two.
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I agree to an extent especially because I expect us to score a lot and often. Outside of ND I’m not sure I see anyone who could really keep up during the regular season. There’s always a weird one too for us in the ACC. Maybe I’m just not expecting much of a drop off from last year overall but losing the best DE duo in the country will be felt for sure. If we’re up on teams and they need to throw, that’s where I feel my best about our team.
 
ageezy said:
Cribby said:
This is my point . I don’t expect the defense to be as dominant but it shouldn’t have to.
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i think i'm here ... we take a step back, but we're still pretty good ... you made a great point, we need to be sharp come november and playoffs
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I’m curious what a step back looks like to you or anyone who’s expecting that to happen? Is it a top 3 unit to top 10ish? Or 20?
 
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