Does it matter with a DC like Grantham? Look at the talent the DAWGS had under Grantham?...NO Natty
I'm no Football Analyst but I know what I see. Last year I saw JR and SR players confused and out of position...Years under Grantham's tutelage.
The part in bold is what's most damning to me and the most infathomable. ALL coaches missed out on spring football and ALL coaches had limited practices before the season. The best defenses last year were teams that had a lot of returning talent (no great surprise in any year) and already had *some* exposure to the base packages and schemes the DC wanted to run.
Yes, the game has moved to favor more offense and defense has suffered; but we regressed in every possible way--even with tons of upperclassmen on defense. If the Juniors and Seniors on the team are confused, routinely out of position, and not properly set (leading to blown assignments and easy scores for the other team), it's squarely on the coach. This happened ALL season, not just the first few games.