Maybe a staff over correction when we moved to this conference. I think the staff should've trusted that their style of D would translate better than they thought. Or am I missing the mark here?
I think you're spot on with the over correction part. Too many people assumed that our players (specifically linemen) were the proper builds for any conference. Unfortunately, the program recruited a different type of athlete in the "track meets" of the Big 12. The B1G has a much more plodding style where the size of players are typically stockier and space is harder to gain. Our skill players in the transition were obviously our best assets and it was their play that separated us from most of the B1G teams. Therefore, the staff had to basically scramble to determine the new kind of player that could be effective in the Big Ten. It's part of the reason why our defensive line is still so young, it's the first class where the staff had some idea of what athletes to recruit and how the conference games are played (pace, style, refs, other quirks, etc.). I hope more fans can come to understand that transition's effect in the near future. Good call RedRed!
