QB play is the biggest factor in wins and we certainly have one of the best.
Theoretically the O should be equally good. Lose two starting OL, one good, one not really good. Lose a great WR duo... but the rest of the team will be a yr bigger, faster, smarter on paper, plus some WR xfers could help.
Buuuuut is there any reason to believe the D will be any better?
-DL We lose Chris Collins and obviously Noah Taylor - so we kinda need to reboot the Jack position unless Kaimon winds up there. Amari Gainer could help, but he's undersized.
-Secondary. We lose two starting cb, one starting safety. Transfers Armani and Huzzie might help, but it is hard to image them being huge difference makers, especially when our scheme is allowing guys so much room off the line of scrimmage. Conley is a question mark imo just cuz he didn't get a single rep this yr... hard to tell how recovered mentally and physically.
-LB. LB will probably be a little better just due to depth and experience.
My keys to the D being decent:
-Amari Gainer remains a speedy athlete even after adding at least 15 pounds. Big ask IMO
-Conley returns and hasn't lost his athleticism, plus plays with better discipline and decision making (maybe from maturity or a yr in film room?)
-Huzzie the FCS xfer proves he's a stud at FBS level.
-Shaw loses some weight and actually looks like a 4* recruit.
-Every other DL gets healthy, plays with better technique and finds and inner dawg.