[winflop]

By far?  Injury caused some other positions to look weak too...and let's not forget the absence of pass rush or run-stopping vs. UW/WSU :(  Alfieri had two memorable INTs--did he give up any big plays?

It's true the platoon rotation at ILB was an indirect sign of no-confidence.

Run-stopping was the direct result of poor ILB play, Alfieri was an OLB last season, and when you have six ILBs you have none.

Injuries did hamper other position groups but were there major injury issues at ILB? I don't recall them hence that doesn't explain the poor interior run defense as well as poor pass coverage on TEs and RBs.

[winflop]

By far?  Injury caused some other positions to look weak too...and let's not forget the absence of pass rush or run-stopping vs. UW/WSU :(  Alfieri had two memorable INTs--did he give up any big plays?

It's true the platoon rotation at ILB was an indirect sign of no-confidence.

Run-stopping was the direct result of poor ILB play, Alfieri was an OLB last season, and when you have six ILBs you have none.

Injuries did hamper other position groups but were there major injury issues at ILB? I don't recall them hence that doesn't explain the poor interior run defense as well as poor pass coverage on TEs and RBs.