[needle]

  Leaving Mariota uncovered and allowing RBs to waltz through the line into open grass is BS. 

Last year the starting LBS included a guy now starting in the NFL (Murphy) and a fifth-year senior (Skov) all-conference guy (I think Murphy made that team as well).

It's a talent/experience drop-off to go to Lueders/Martinez, who are good players just not all-conference types.

It was disappointing to not see great things tonight from the front seven guys who have demonstrated the most play-making ability this season, so maybe that can be attributed to a scheme problem.

On the other hand, I never really believed the front seven this year is as talented as last year's group, even with the emergence of Kalambayi. So maybe the defense overperformed this season heading into tonight's game in part because of some good coaching.

[needle]

  Leaving Mariota uncovered and allowing RBs to waltz through the line into open grass is BS. 

Last year the starting LBS included a guy now starting in the NFL (Murphy) and a fifth-year senior (Skov) all-conference guy (I think Murphy made that team as well).

It's a talent/experience drop-off to go to Lueders/Martinez, who are good players just not all-conference types.

It was disappointing to not see great things tonight from the front seven guys who have demonstrated the most play-making ability this season, so maybe that can be attributed to a scheme problem.

On the other hand, I never really believed the front seven this year is as talented as last year's group, even with the emergence of Kalambayi. So maybe the defense overperformed this season heading into tonight's game in part because of some good coaching.