[BostonCard]

Agree. Lack of recruiting on D pathetic. That said there are a few guys still in play. But being "in the know" about this stuff can be INFURIATING.

Not an informed concern about the seniors; just stating the obvious. We did see a defensive starter exodus last year and better pray we don't see another.

OK, thanks.  Yes, it is obvious, but I just wasn't sure if you were hearing something.  As I recall, there were some extenuating circumstances last year, like one linebacker who had legitimate health/injury concerns, but I still haven't gotten a good read on whether fourth years with eligibility left not coming back for reasons other than the NFL are the new normal or if last year was an aberration.

Five seniors with eligibility left were starters against Cal (Williams, Swann, Robinson, Pryts, and Eboh); Antoine and Fox would have been had they not gotten injured.  And while we might debate some of their effectiveness, we simply don't have the depth at key positions if they depart en masse.  The defensive linemen are by far the most indispensable, but the experience at ILB, CB (assuming as I do that Adebo is gone), and Safety is indispensable.

BC

[BostonCard]

Agree. Lack of recruiting on D pathetic. That said there are a few guys still in play. But being "in the know" about this stuff can be INFURIATING.

Not an informed concern about the seniors; just stating the obvious. We did see a defensive starter exodus last year and better pray we don't see another.

OK, thanks.  Yes, it is obvious, but I just wasn't sure if you were hearing something.  As I recall, there were some extenuating circumstances last year, like one linebacker who had legitimate health/injury concerns, but I still haven't gotten a good read on whether fourth years with eligibility left not coming back for reasons other than the NFL are the new normal or if last year was an aberration.

Five seniors with eligibility left were starters against Cal (Williams, Swann, Robinson, Pryts, and Eboh); Antoine and Fox would have been had they not gotten injured.  And while we might debate some of their effectiveness, we simply don't have the depth at key positions if they depart en masse.  The defensive linemen are by far the most indispensable, but the experience at ILB, CB (assuming as I do that Adebo is gone), and Safety is indispensable.

BC