On D performance: some might have noticed the concern at the first of the year about the youth and inexperience of our DBs. Sure enough, that has showed up all year, especially when some freshmen beat out their senior competition. Some might also have noticed the concern expressed about going to an entirely new D scheme under new coaches. Sure enough, that has showed up all year too.
I don't think we really have talent issue over there on D; the recruiting ratings (others always go by them, so I will here) are higher over there then on O. What we have is a threefold problem: lack of experience with the scheme, lack of players recruited to play in it, and lack of playing experience. That'll do it, usually. I haven't even begun to reach a verdict on Woody's D yet. It'll probably be a work in progress next year too, though I expect to see more improvement. The tackling issues are troubling, but, again, that's a matter of game experience more then anything else. (Well … that's how it was for me, anyway.) And, despite all the moaning and groaning here, getting more turnovers is a very positive development. It's what Woody's Ds were famous for at App State and it appears to be carrying over.
