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[QUOTE="reedny, post: 1590277, member: 1423"]
We did, but it wasn't because we were stout (if you mean that in the positive sense as big or strong). Our defense played their butts off in that game. Holding the nation's #1 team without a TD in the second half was probably the high point of the season. Unfortunately, not only did we lose, I think that defensive performance turned out to be an outlier. We got embarrassed against LV, USF, FSU and NCSt. In 7 out of 8 losses, our defensive line got pushed around and opposing O linemen were often able to block our LB's off the ball. In the secondary, we were outmatched in size, speed and experience. We couldn't defend bubble screens because our CB's and safeties got manhandled by bigger stronger receivers on the other teams. We also had trouble all year tackling bigger, faster RB's and TE's (I remember us trying to tackle USF's tight end .. it took half the defense to bring him down). So I'd say size and speed were the two biggest concerns with our defense this year.

Pretty much the same story on offense. Our OL was overmatched in most games and had trouble opening holes against bigger, stronger D linemen. In our backfield, Fredricks provided occasional lightening. But he's certainly not a short yardage back and we had no thunder to compliment him in the running game. Again our receivers, with one exception, had trouble separating and weren't big enough to out-muscle or out-jump opposing defenders.

I don't know how people can watch RB's like Furnette, Gallman, Ollison, Patrick, etc. run over our defense and conclude that size isn't an issue. Have you seen Alabama's RB? Monster. I'll take THAT guy.
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