I do not deny that penalties have been ok, but to me thats like saying at least the reds haven't walked too many guys, when they have given up more HR's than any team ever has.

Turnovers forced is great, and other than 3rd down ineptitute, defense is playing broadly better this year, in the bend don't break fashion. but it's on the other side of the ball that 9 turnovers have happened, and that stat is really independent of any plus/minus margin. A "throwing punt" is also much different than picks in the end zone, pick sixes, and creating short fields. most of the TO's have been of that painful variety.

my point remains that under TT, there are massive deficiencies in the fundamental aspects that win ballgames, and they can no longer be considered anomalous. This is a vital stretch, where performance may well factor into B12 selection, and the eye test can't be helping right now unless voters went to bed early the night of the UH game.

I'm not saying fire the coach now, that would look even worse. But the search for the next coach should be underway, and ready to act on after the inevitable bowl implosion.