Enlightening, thanks!It's completely understandable. Skip allowed our staff on defense, including Baker, to make needed changes in 2017, getting away somewhat from Diaz was doing in 2014. And they delivered.
After 2015 we had assistant coaches quietly telling people that our defensive backs had a difficult time picking up our defense and running it correctly. Then in 2016, while our defense continued to struggle, 2 of those defensive backs from 2015 made NFL rosters and got playing time. They struggled with our defense but were able to thrive in an NFL defense. That was embarrassing.
Going into this season Baker simplified the defense. It allowed everyone to think a little bit less and play faster. It also allowed some of the younger guys to step in and play right away. Baker talked about all of it on the coach's weekly radio show late in the season.
And in fairness to our assistant coaches the decision to play prevent late against South Carolina, the decision to drop 8 with 4 minutes left against USM, and the decision to play a soft zone late in the 1st half against North Texas, were all on Holtz. Sometimes he just gets too involved with the defense.
We could be looking at a 10 - win season if our head coach would have allowed those guys to do their jobs.