Pretty surface level stats there, especially if our bad games contributed to their higher numbers. You’re also completely ignoring run stats, which is laughable at best.
If you want to dig into the number appropriately… Pickett is good, but was averaging mid 300 yards per game. We gave up over 500.
We only gave up 344 to Young, but they also spent the second half pretty much running the ball.
We did great against Howell throwing but also gave up 228 yards rushing at 5 ypc.
Leary at NCSU had his second most yardage by game.
You can make all of the excuses you want. We are not playing some juggernaut offense every week, and we are in the bottom third of the country in defense with a .500 record. Maybe if Manny had actual self confidence and hired a real DC that he didn’t micromanage we would have 1 or 2 losses. But he didn’t and we don’t, and a large reason why is his defense, his recruiting for the last several years, and his decision to take on more responsibility instead of focusing on being the best head coach possible