Huge difference. Because Springs isn't in there, we're weak in coverage, and everybody knows it, including our defensive players. So the defensive guys are on their heels, trying to figure out how they're going to have to help on passing plays. That means that a lot of guys are playing their position and a little bit of somebody else's. This impacts the aggression, and spontaneous reaction time increases. The latter can be fatal. In addition, some guys are responsible a lot more for coverage who just aren't good at it (AA). Springs makes everybody but the pass rushers immediately better. But then we can bring another person on the pass plays, and so the pass rush is better too. So I think Springs means more to this defense than Portis means to the offense. I don't think (on paper) we're that much worse than the defense from 2 years ago. I remember hearing that if we had scored 21 points each game that year, we would have gone 14-2.
We have the POTENTIAL for a tremendous year this year. We just have to wait for Springs to get back to see where we are. (And wait for the OL to wake up. I'm assuming you hold only when you get beat. So they were even getting beat regularly by the Texas DL. Yes, Brunell didn't get sacked and they had awesome yards/carry, but we've got to get stronger there.)
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Originally Posted by dmek25
are we all in agreement that one player( s springs) is that big of a difference maker that our defense will change drastically? im not, i dont buy it. although i didnt think portis coming back would make that big of a difference. i was wrong on the that one
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