Nowhere to be found because I actually work during the day? Pivot and change what? Your hot take in this thread is that the last 5 years of defense was the 'best in 50 years'? Wow way to go out on a limb there, and that's still something I never disputed.
I posted nothing but facts in this thread and asked you a legitimate question in post #67, which you conveniently ignored. Who cares if an average B1G defense is the 'best we've had in 50 years'? That defense still blew a number of 4th quarter leads and resulted in Kill and Claeys having a losing B1G record.
Here's another good post you've ignored:
I'll add more facts.
2016 defensive S&P ranking: 23
2017 defensive S&P ranking: 25
A whole two spots lower but still in the top 25.
The defense has been just as good so far this year as it was last year. That's with much younger players, a depleted defensive backfield, and LBs playing DE. Maybe this coaching staff is actually better, and will produce a better than average B1G defenses when the talent is upgraded.
Any claim that supports that the defense can't and won't be better over the next several years are completely baseless.
Yes you have disputed it. Every post you have made since has been to compare and knock down what was accomplished in those years.
I said the D was the best we've seen around here in a long time, your reply - nope D of 1999 was better.
So I reply it the best we've seen from Gophers - your reply - nope they were middling in the conference and mediocre at best.
So I reply when comparing to Gopher D in the last 50 they had best D's we've seen - your reply nope, they blew leads, and their S&P isn't any better than this year.
All throughout this whole discussion, I have maintained that they were not perfect and they did not always get the job done, but in the past 5 years they have been consistent and good compared to what we have seen from Gopher D's by previous staffs.
Now your making claims that I or others are saying our D can't and won't get better, when that has never been brought up. Again with the pivot and change.
The D this year in the first 3 games was outstanding. They have not been outstanding or even middling the past 3. Part of that is due to personnel, because of injury and inexperience at some positions. Part of it is also due to coaching, which last year, especially early in the year we lost at PSU in part because of coaching. The difference in all of this is there are some on here that can praise and be critical of the current staff and can also praise and be critical of the old staff, while others do everything they can to make sure that any critical comments about current staff are shot down immediately and then do everything they can to tear down any good that was accomplished by the previous staff.
Keep in mind also that the S&P rank for 2017 is only for half a season. Lets examine the 17 season when it is over. If they maintain that top 25 rank for the rest of the year, I will be glad, because that means we will be in quite a few games yet and will come on here and say you were correct GWG, this D is as good as what we have produced the past 5 years. Will you make the same proclamation, the other way if they don't?
