USMCDAD

I may not be the first to say this but "Defense wins Championships" Now The Blackshirts appear to be getting stronger in all areas while KU is going to have to rebuild their D.

I think he came in injured and as the season went on he got healthy and could have contributed (I have been told) but by then it was decided to not burn his redshirt. So I don't think you have to worry about any lost of speed or muscle.

Just a general comment on a thread that has been very interesting. I think KU has made progress and will do well next year. Their offense will be good although I like others think it will be a tall order to have 3 new starters in the center of the line. It was the center of the line that our coaches identified as Clemson's weekness and everyone saw what our D-line was able to do. I decided to look at the last 2 years. ------------------------ku 07-----------ku 08------------nu 07----------nu 08 off. yards/gm--------4th 480yds-----7th 432yds-----5th 468yds-----6th 457yds scoring offense------1st 43/gm------8th 33/gm------8th 33/gm------6th 35/gm def yards/gm--------1st 317yds-----7th 397yds-----12th 477yds----2nd 350 yds scoring deffense-----1st 16/gm-----7th 29/gm------12th 38/gm-----6th 29/gm TO Margin------------1.62------------.23--------------(-1.42)----------(-.85) In every case you will see how KU has slipped while NU has generally improved. KU fans are basing 09 success on their offense while NU fans are talking about their defense. I think KU is saying that their O is going to be just as good while NU is saying we are going to be better on D. I agree. Now it appears to me that KU 07's success was more a result of great defense. I think a good defense will trump a good offense. I think the KU offense ave of 43 a game was a direct result of their defense and that plus 1.62 TO margin. If I remember right Special teams and TD's off of INT's also help them quite a bit. I think replacing 3 multi year starters at LB will be very difficult for KU while NU is actually in a situation where several returning starters are going to have to step it up in order to keep their position. I go with the defense here so I go with the Big Red

the Iowa State game is on Aug 31st but it is not televised. Boston Col. vs a directional team from Michigan is on ESPN2 at 5PM CST and Miss ST plays South Carolina on ESPN at 7PM CST. There is also a game on Friday night.