This is the second year for this offensive system, lead by an experienced and successful QB. Tons of experience returning in the offense.
We know we are the 1st Quarter Boiz. We often ran out of gas in the second quarter, and it was a place that the opponent could at least stop the bleeding, often it was 15 minute period of them catching up.
If the offense is improved, and we can take the pace and pressure to the next level, we're looking more like Mizzou and SCar games, where the opponent found themselves in a shootout or a race.
When you're putting up a lot of points, the DL can pin their ears back.
If Garner is to be believed, and I have no reason to doubt his assessment, we have some vets on the DL that are improving. We have a rotation forming, we have more depth. If we have more depth, we have more energy, if we have more energy we can play harder up front, if we can play harder up front and we know that the opponent will have to pass more often, we can generate pressure. Pressure = mistakes. Mistakes that the secondary can capitalize on.
I don't think we'll be among the conference's elite. I do think that the defense can improve, if only incrementally from a statistical standpoint. But I do think that the defense will find more advantages this year.
With this offense, an extra turnover per game, or extra 1+ sack per game, can make a world of difference. I think we can find that.