(05-07-2020 11:05 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote: (05-07-2020 10:07 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote: I see no reason why our defense won't be improved.
We have an elite DC.
Only concern is this will be the third DC in three years and no spring practice to introduce new schemes. So team will have to learn a new defense in the fall camps. Hopefully if things open up in time the NCAA will allow additional practices this fall to make up for the lost spring practice.
Agreed, I do believe our defense will be better in 2020 than in 2019. Largely because we're only losing Austin Hall, Wilson, and Claybrooks. I do expect Jalil Clemons or Cole Mashburn to be productive. Xavier Cullens will be good, he'll replace Hall. Also, Gabe Rogers or Broussard will get Claybrooks' spot, along with Francis (who will probably be the starter).
Let's not forget, Adam Fuller did an amazing job being the DC at Memphis. Being a DC under Mike Norvell is not the easiest job to have.
We went from giving up 32 points in 2018, to giving up 24 in 2019. That's 13-14 fewer touchdowns in a season.
We also gave 4,840 yards in a game in 2019 (372 average) which is 50 yards fewer per game compared to 2018 season (5,465, 420 average).
In 2018, we gave 250 yards per game in the air. With fuller getting new and faster safeties, that dropped to 200 yards per game.
Only bad thing is that our rushing yards went up by like 2 yards per game I think, and only like 30 yards throughout the season.
Also, Fuller and the defense won us the Ole Miss game, would've shutout South Alabama if it wasn't for a missed tackle, only gave up 5 first downs to South Florida, and only gave up like 2 field goals in quarters 2-4 to Houston.
Fuller did an amazing job, and I expect McIntyre to do the same.