... to appreciate just how devastating our losses were on defense last season. We graduated several quality players, lost a couple more early to the NFL who would have been starters, had to get rid of three more starters due to off-the-field issues, and then what's left was ravaged by injuries. At the end of the season, we were starting guys who were projected to be no better than third-team when the season began.

Bud didn't suddenly forget how to coach defense and the players who were getting toasted last year will be better this year because of the experience. Plus, we went out and recruited players who can help immediately at positions of need like DT and CB.

Our defense won't be as good as some of the units that we've had in the past, but they'll be significantly better than they were last season. Combine that with an offense that should be pretty darn good, and I think we're looking at 8-4 or 9-3.