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[QUOTE="SoBristol, post: 51526, member: 485"]
I think Shafer knew we had to gamble to disrupt the WVU aerial attack.  Make them do something different, if they want (like run the ball), but disrupt what they do best.  Of course, it also fits what SU can do at this point, with Chandler back -- use blitzes to put pressure on the QB.
People trot out the excuses (depth, youth, inexperience, lack of size, injury) but we should be past that.  Look at the make-up, at this point, of the units on defense.  We have 4 highly experienced DEs (seniors and juniors, all of them); 3 experienced DTs plus a promising big frosh in Crume; 5 LBs who have now played a lot; and 7 DBs who have played a lot.   We have good size at DE with Chandler back, and the DTs have stood up better than expected.  The LBs are undersized but have more experience than folks acknowledge (Vaughan in the program, Spruill as a second year starter, Diabate as a Juco), although as a unit they are still developing.  At DB, we have at least average experience with two seniors, two juniors, 3 sophs and no frosh.   We have had a couple of big injuries (Chandler and Fisher) but most teams have that many.
Time to judge this defense on its performance, without the excuses.
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