[teejers1]

If we want to get better we have to get better at defense first.  Give up 9 of 11 4th down tries to Oregon says a lot about the defense.  In contrast we went something like 4 for 13.  Last year we gave up more points over 12 games than any year going back to Walt's last year.  As good as our offense might be, we absolutely have to play better defense, or the QB  has to have the game of his life every game and the offensive play calling has to improve markedly.  I agree that out play calling could be better but if you give up nearly 35 points a game you are going to lose a lot more than you win.  We also had the ball something like 4 minutes more than Oregon.  Defense is what wins games, plain and simple.

Yes, that's of course true.  But you need to recruit better/more highly ranked players than you are - and you need to cover the position groups well.  Shaw has not been doing that well, completely aside from "coaching them up."  But on O, he has the horses (and unfortunately, he has the Denny's Menu, too).  And that's why I (and perhaps others) focus on the failings of the offense - even while recognizing that the D needs to be shored up more than the O.  Plus, the D is not a week-to-week fix; it's more structural.  The O should not be the problem it is under Shaw.

[teejers1]

If we want to get better we have to get better at defense first.  Give up 9 of 11 4th down tries to Oregon says a lot about the defense.  In contrast we went something like 4 for 13.  Last year we gave up more points over 12 games than any year going back to Walt's last year.  As good as our offense might be, we absolutely have to play better defense, or the QB  has to have the game of his life every game and the offensive play calling has to improve markedly.  I agree that out play calling could be better but if you give up nearly 35 points a game you are going to lose a lot more than you win.  We also had the ball something like 4 minutes more than Oregon.  Defense is what wins games, plain and simple.

Yes, that's of course true.  But you need to recruit better/more highly ranked players than you are - and you need to cover the position groups well.  Shaw has not been doing that well, completely aside from "coaching them up."  But on O, he has the horses (and unfortunately, he has the Denny's Menu, too).  And that's why I (and perhaps others) focus on the failings of the offense - even while recognizing that the D needs to be shored up more than the O.  Plus, the D is not a week-to-week fix; it's more structural.  The O should not be the problem it is under Shaw.