We took our biggest hit on defense and it showed in our 3 losses. Return our 4 best defensive players who left early (and stay out of trouble, Hill) and this team is playing for a playoff spot.
They obviously didn't buy in, but if they had any idea of how this season would go without them, they might have reconsidered how be high their draft stock could have risen with the season that we could have had. Hindsight 20/20 and all, and coaching changes are usually a tough road to travel, of which we have had a few.
But if Boyd was the guy they targeted because Hill was on the other side... Elliott and Jones at safety with CS and BJ running around closer to the LOS... Malik and GJ, with roach on the line... and a punter pinning offenses deep regularly and limiting the opposing playbook.
based on the surprising offensive turnaround I think it's fair to say we are overachieving. If we had returned our early departures on defense I would have thought 10-3 would be a great season. After seeing our offense this year, those guys come back and we are likely undefeated at this point.