My bold prediction: Defense WILL NOT be

[gravedigger]

the reason this teamdoesnt live up to expectations, if that is in fact the case come the end of November.

Wilson may notbe thequote machine and media darling as his former cohort.But he's every bit the coach.

Matter of fact, somehow I believe we'll be harder to dominate on the defensive front. We may not be as good in coverage (because I believe Wright and White created just as much havoc in passing lanes as they did running).

But we will be aggressive and hard nosed as last year in the run defense category. I think we have thetalent in the defensive backfield to support this well.

No, if we have problems it will be offensively. I see the running game (due to lack of chemistry on the offensive line) or passing (due to nobody stepping up as the big play guy) as being thepotential fault nobody saw coming. Expectations of how prolific this offense will be might just be the hardest things for fans to accept.

In the end, I think we overcome these. But if it's defense thatmakes you think we will fall on our face because of the loss of Diaz, Wright and White and McPhee, I contend you should relax.

 

[AssEndDawg]

Wilson may notbe thequote machine and media darling as his former cohort.But he's every bit the coach.

I like Wilson but he was a position coach before coming to MSU. I think he will be fine, but I can't back up your statement.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Top grade Wool!

 

[gravedigger]

was not based on fact but on a big helping of media attention. Before the groans, know that I think Diaz was a VERY good coordinator. Just not the end all be all.

I actually met Wilson through a connection with our children and he's the kind of guy young people listen to. I've worked with kids and he has some 'it' factor that makes them understand.

I've gone to practices tlast year and thisyear and watched how he runs the defense. They work (and when I say that I mean PREPARE) like a military unit. Something I have some experience with.

He's seen the carrot (diaz promotion) and knows this is a BIG time shot at making a national name for himself. He has the base tools (defensive line) and the talent in the defensive backfield to continue something special.

He will have to prove he can coach up the difference in talent that we lost at linebacker and with Pernell, but I'm saying that will not be an issue.

 

[coleman62]

Yes, thats a little of a shift in topic, but the correlation is strong. Diaz was a goodcoordinator at a small school but the numbers really showed it. Collins is the same thing, Came from a small school that had one of the top defenses. I think between the two of them, there is no lack in coaching. Honestly, it might even end up being that the two together produce an even better defense than last year. We shall see though.

 

[uncle remus]

the media around Memphis loved to act like he was huge loss.. but I think it's just another dig because some of those on bear radio have to work hard to praise Mullen. Who knew the guy's name a year ago? He didn't build that defense. That being said, he did a great job and I really wanted him to stay. I can't see our defense dropping off the map. Deficiencies?Obviously in the LB and DE corps. I think we'll besound if not pretty good.

 

[patdog]

As much as I like Diaz, and I think he's going to be a very successful head coach sooner rather than later, Wilson had a LOT to do with how good our defense was last year. And I think Geoff Collins is another rising young coaching star. We lost a lot at LB from last year, but we've got a lot returning too. I'm not worried at all about that position. If a guy with over 200 career tackles in a BCS conference can't crack the starting lineup, we're in pretty good shape. And for people who say his production went down last year, he missed 6 games completely. He averaged 7 tackles a game in the games he played (and he came out early in 2 or3of those). The only concern is at DE, but we really didn't get as much production from McPhee last year as his hype would indicate. That spot wasn't exactly a strength even last year. It won't be much worse this year. And our secondary should be a little better with everyone having one more year of experience.

 

[PBRME]

We'll see if Wilson has "it" at the Auburn game. Manny was great at adjusting his gameplan on the fly. Gus Malzahn will test us all game long.

 

[coach66]

a problem is what separates the good ones from the great ones. Hopefully Wilson and Collins can do it.

 

[Foronce]

i really just wanted to say mike hunt one more time.

//but i think bell and howie passing/leaving really hurt the def line depth, maybe not early in the year, but if we have to overplay boyd and cox could affect the pressure later in the year.