Than you are arguing with yourself. I never said or implied they were or should be perfect. I merely pointed out that the offense gets blamed for these close games but is accomplishing it's primary function - scoring points. The defense while leading the SEC in several categories, used to lead the nation in several as well, but those numbers have dropped. Primarily not only because of mental breakdowns but also when those breakdowns occurred. See Tyson Jackson in the Kentucky game. Look up your stats for how many first downs have been given because of defensive penalties. It's staggering and equates to giving the game away. Kirston Pittman: Darry Beckwith: Pittman again: Seems like the players recognize their mistakes have been costly as well. I wonder if they are just saying this in public and on the inside, actually blaming all the other units instead. Something tells me they are not. Again, you are arguing with yourself, as I never said nor implied they were not just what I said, very good. You can ignore the intent of my original post by going off on a tangent about how good the defense is in an attempt to make it look like I am ragging on this unit, but it does not dispute my original statement. TheDude:
Yes it is and was much higher earlier in the season. Everyone wants to fall back on these numbers and ignore the reality that defensive and special teams mistakes at critical times have jeopardized us in the last several games. The defense is awesome but has also helped keep our opponents in the game. The offense does not deserve sole blame for this.
It doesn't get much higher. Also, the offenses we faced have gotten much better. The firsthalf of the season (pre-Florida game), the best scoring offense we met was Va Tech (59th). Since then, 3 of our last 5 have been better (2 of them in the top 15). Only Auburn's was worse (I'm gonna disregard La Tech, since that's understood), and that was the last game before brutal stretch of games with no bye week.
Well I am glad you are able to stat away any mistakes the defense has made, much less critical ones that turned games away from victory. They obviously don't need to play better. I'm inclined to agree with the statements of players from the defense - they do need to play better.
Um only 1 game. And other than Kansas an Hawaii who combined have played fewer ranked teams this season than LSU has this month, that's the lowest in the country. Like Red said, of course their not perfect. No one is. And yes their is room for improvement, I'm sure the Patriots feel they can make improvements as well, even though it appears no one is even close to them right now. Would you prefer if they said "Hell yeah, we the best. Nobody can hang with us. We are the greatest defense ever assembled"? Um they're not gonna say that. Even after prison-raping VaTech, the whole team talked about "playing better". It don't get much better than that game. But the class thing to do, is to stay down to Earth, which these guys are doing.
Now you are just bantering semantics. I didn't say we lost games. I said the defensive mistakes turned some games away from victory, and when you look at the momentum swings in the Florida, Auburn, and Alabama games, that is exactly what happened. I never said they were or should be. Are you claiming that the offense and special teams are the only ones that have kept opponents in the game and that the defense has had no hand in this? I can think of two personal fouls on Tyson Jackson alone that gave our opponents first downs and then touchdowns. What exactly is your point here? I have not said the defense is bad or plays poorly, but I have pointed out that they share some blame for our very close games and our one loss. The blame does not rest solely upon the shoulders of the offense.
Away from victory. away = opposite direction opposite of victory = loss Away from victory = into loss I'm claiming that the level of competiton we have faced is the main reason our games were close. See when 2 ranked teams that are heated conference rivals meet up in a game of football, quite often it is a close game. More often than not, the better team wins. That is what happened the last few games we have played. My point is they are among the best in the country. Are the best in the SEC, and are in position to win the SEC and MNC, if that doesn't make you happy, I have no clue what will. For some reason, you expect them to be better than the best.:huh:
Bantering semantics again in another non-issue. I never said we lost those games nor was that my intent. You can pretend that it was if it makes you happy. And I claimed that the defense and special teams should play better at critical times in order keep our opponents from playing us down to the wire. Kentucky's record does not seem to fit in to your model, and I doubt you would find a single bama fan to say they are better than MSU or Va Tech. Pretty sure bama just lost to a team we destroyed. But of course, better competition is the only reason those games were close. Your condescension and the motivations behind it are clear enough. Never disputed and I have claimed the same myself. Never disputed this either and have claimed the same myself. Considering how far off you are on what I have said, but continue to plug along with your misguided post, this does not surprise me. Yet another untruth you would like to attribute to me. But I doubt you will say anything different, so by all means get in the last word.:grin: :huh:
Please tell me what the heck "away from victory" means then. I said main reason. Also, like has been said on this forum more than once, you can't use the score of games between like opponents as a predictor for another game. Ask Florida fans. They destroyed Tenn. Tenn Destroyed Georgia. Yet Georgia beat Florida. O.K.:thumb:
