What we have been missing for decades.....

[sambowieshin]

Is a true, SEC caliber defense. We have had many teams over the years that have been able to put points on the board (Mumme's teams w/Tim Couch, Brooks teams w/Andre Woodson) but the one ingredient that was almost always missing was an SEC level defense that could keep us in a game even when the offense sputtered. Brooks did an adequate job moving us in that direction with our D but never really got us over the hump. An SEC caliber defense can keep you close in games that you have no business winning and put points on the board when you least expect it. Stoops took over a C-USA level defense from Joker and is quickly (in football years) making us a truly competitive SEC team. Stoops understands you can't EVER make a move toward the top of the SEC without a real defense. He is moving us in the right direction.

 

[UKSanders]

I agree the defense has looked quite good, but we should also be careful to temper expectations going forward b/c the last 2 offenses have been pretty poor. So, I am hopeful the defense will continue to improve (I think it will), but I don't think they will be dominant.

But, like you said, it seems to be moving in the right direction. Hopefully, that will continue as the year moves on. I hope the backups can get a lot of reps this Saturday against EKU as that will only help moving forward.

 

[JasonS.]

I agree the defense has looked quite good, but we should also be careful to temper expectations going forward b/c the last 2 offenses have been pretty poor. So, I am hopeful the defense will continue to improve (I think it will), but I don't think they will be dominant.

True enough, but the good news is "pretty poor offense" describes just about every team on our schedule.

We aren't playing in the Big 12 or Pac 12 South over here.

 

[UKSanders]

True enough, but the good news is "pretty poor offense" describes just about every team on our schedule.

We aren't playing in the Big 12 or Pac 12 South over here.

Jason,

I thought about that re: future opponents and poor offenses, but I didn't really look ahead at the schedule. Other than UGA, MSU, and Tenn (I think Dobbs will be tough to handle), I think the Cats D has a chance to shut people down pretty well.

Real question is, can the offense continue to improve enough to put pressure on the opponents' defenses? Continue to approach the play from Mizzou, and I think 8-4 is realistic.

 

[Rockford]

We have played some of the weaker offenses in the SEC.... and we have done well against them.

Let's look ahead.

Auburn..... great players, but QB issues and have not gotten it together yet. Great test.

Miss St...... great QB, physical defense. Can we hold up verus the run?

UT....... Dobbs is the kind of QB that gives us fits. They rolled us last year. 50 points in 3 qrts.

Georgia.... looking scary good right now. Ouch.

Vandy..... one of the lower ranked offenses. We handled them pretty well on D last year.

Charlotte...... next

UL...... have QB ID issues. They have a lot of time to get it together. Too soon to tell.

 

[Poetax]

I agree the defense has looked quite good, but we should also be careful to temper expectations going forward b/c the last 2 offenses have been pretty poor. So, I am hopeful the defense will continue to improve (I think it will), but I don't think they will be dominant.

But, like you said, it seems to be moving in the right direction. Hopefully, that will continue as the year moves on. I hope the backups can get a lot of reps this Saturday against EKU as that will only help moving forward.

But FLA did put 28 points on ut.

 

[Blueaz]

Is a true, SEC caliber defense. We have had many teams over the years that have been able to put points on the board (Mumme's teams w/Tim Couch, Brooks teams w/Andre Woodson) but the one ingredient that was almost always missing was an SEC level defense that could keep us in a game even when the offense sputtered. Brooks did an adequate job moving us in that direction with our D but never really got us over the hump. An SEC caliber defense can keep you close in games that you have no business winning and put points on the board when you least expect it. Stoops took over a C-USA level defense from Joker and is quickly (in football years) making us a truly competitive SEC team. Stoops understands you can't EVER make a move toward the top of the SEC without a real defense. He is moving us in the right direction.

you must have missed some of Claiborne defenses...some were very stout. We would only lose 21 to 6 to Fl sometimes

 

[Deeeefense]

Is a true, SEC caliber defense. We have had many teams over the years that have been able to put points on the board (Mumme's teams w/Tim Couch, Brooks teams w/Andre Woodson) but the one ingredient that was almost always missing was an SEC level defense that could keep us in a game even when the offense sputtered. Brooks did an adequate job moving us in that direction with our D but never really got us over the hump. An SEC caliber defense can keep you close in games that you have no business winning and put points on the board when you least expect it. Stoops took over a C-USA level defense from Joker and is quickly (in football years) making us a truly competitive SEC team. Stoops understands you can't EVER make a move toward the top of the SEC without a real defense. He is moving us in the right direction.

I agree - the speed and athletism on display this past week were impressive and as Blueaz pointed out you would have to go back to the Claiborne era to see that level of quality with a defensive unit but unlike even Claiborne's teams this defense has some quality depth and an offense to go with it.

 

[Blueaz]

I don't remember Jerry ever having a quality offense. We had some great individual players, but as a group...