This team can go either way next year. If ED is done, we are left with Mahoney. Pitt's defense sucks and is no measure of anything so let's not forget how bad he was against good defenses. We might very well have a true or redshirt freshmen starting. On the other hand, maybe one of them is a Dungey. Whatever the case he will not have AET to throw to and that is a problem.
The O Line is the major question. If they get bigger and stronger and can hold their blocks just a bit more we could have a running game. The jury is out till next fall.
While the defense may be more experienced next year and therefore schematically better, nobody is getting any taller or faster so, the defense is still likely to be a problem. We gave up 39 points per game. Let me repeat that - we gave up 39 points per game! And we gave up more points than any game in program history in the last game of the season after having the benefit of 11 games of experience. The problems on D run broad and deep and improvement may come grudgingly.
A couple of important take aways are the impact a couple of skill players can make (ED and AET), and how bare the defensive fingers was. If both the aforementioned are gone, we could take a big step backwards on offense. Absent some great recruits or JUCO, it would seem we need a couple more years to fix the D.
I think we face an uphill battle with many ups and downs. I just want to see progress next year. Anything more is frosting in the cake.