The defense has been giving up about 10 points a game more than I expected, given the talent returning. That's the difference between 2-4 and 4-2. Let's hope they can fix the problems soon.

Disturbing.

Perhaps the most significant loss from last year was Kylan Nelson, who was reputed to be the one on the field who called the defensive adjustments.

Nelson at Safety, Croutch at WLB, Berger and Payne in the center of the line. Gullet started some games at SLB, particularly late in the season. So, 5 1/2 starters return. None of the players who are missing were signed to NFL contracts, though I believe Nelson had a mini-camp tryout.

By contrast, multiple players on the offensive side did sign with the NFL, including Oullette, Lowery, and White, and Irons is in the CFL. Thus, the offense lost not only more players, but players who had more interest from the NFL, yet the offense, while not as productive as last year, is making steady progress.

I'm not sold on the offense's progress. 14 regulation points against buffalo 10 against Pitt. I'm counting 18 at home against ull due to the gift. Our problems run deeper than our defense.

I think that we're spoiled a little by the phenomenal offensive numbers from the last two years. I think when the season is done, the Offense will average between 28 and 32 points a game, pretty much in the range of most years prior to the last couple. Considering the losses, that certainly is not terrible.

Defensively, so far Ohio is giving up an average of 457 yards a game. The worst year in the Solich era for the defense was 2005, when the defense gave up 452 yards/game. From 2006-2018 the defense gave up an average of 373 yards/game, though it's been a bit higher, at 383 yards/game since Ohio switched to the Cover 4. The worst year since 2005 was 2013 when the defense gave up 406 yards a game. I think the defense is capable of playing quite a bit better than they have played so far, and I hope they do, but right now the facts aren't pretty: the defense is currently on track to be the worst defense since Solich came to Ohio, and unless they dramatically improve, at the very least they will be the worst defense since 2005.

Edit - I would add that, if the defense got a few more stops, the offense would get more chances, and they might well be averaging 32-35 points a game, still not as good as the last two years, but better than all the prior ones.

But when was the last time Kent State won a MACC? 1972.

Russ said it was three times on the radio. 2001, 2012 and something in the 80s.