College Football's 10 Most Overhyped Defenses Heading into 2011
We have all heard the old saying "defense wins championships."
Well, as cliche as it may sound, most of the time that statement holds true in college football.
This past year, the Auburn Tigers cruised to an undefeated season on their way to winning the BCS National Championship. Auburn featured an explosive offense, but in the game that mattered most, it was the play of their defense that led them to victory.
This upcoming 2011 season might very well tell that same story. But who are some of the top rated teams heading into the 2011 season that might be a little weaker than most people think on the offensive side of the ball?
Some of these top-rated teams are sure receiving a lot of hype, but are their defenses really "National Championship worthy?"
We're going to take a look here at the 10 most over-hyped defenses heading into the 2011 college football season.
10. Florida Gators
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The Gators struggled mightily on the defensive end in 2010, allowing over 21 points and 303 yards per game.
With the loss of their top safety in Ahmad Black, as well as three starters on their defensive line, the Florida Gators might be in trouble again this year.
So, if they had a questionable offense and a below-average defense last year, plus they lose a lot of talent to graduation, why are the Gators ranked in most preseason top-25 polls heading into the year?
Sounds like a lot of hype for a team that hasn't done much to deserve it.
9. Miami Hurricanes
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It seems like Miami is always ranked, or in consideration to be ranked, in the top 25 heading into the college football season. But with a defense that graduated six senior starters and loses three of their four top defensive backs, why would anyone believe that this team is going to be able to stop anyone in 2011?
Allen Bailey and Brandon Harris were the top two players for a defense that failed to rank in the top 20 in both points and yards allowed per game in 2011. With those two studs moving on and both expected to be first-round draft picks, this defense has a lot to replace in 2011.
And yet some preseason polls still stick with the Hurricanes as a top 25 team and one of the favorites in the ACC.
8. Oregon Ducks
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Oregon had an incredible year in 2010, finishing undefeated in the regular season, only to lose in a heart breaker to Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game.
While this offense did receive the majority of the hype last season, people still couldn't help but to talk about how much speed this defense had and now, because they held Cam Newton in check during the national title game, they should carry that defensive momentum into 2011.
Well guess what, Oregon fans, your defense might have held Newton in check, but you had a month to plan for him, and as a unit, your defense still allowed over 300 yards per game last season.
Key defensive players like Casey Matthews, Brandon Bair, Kenny Rowe and Spencer Paysinger are all gone now. You still have Cliff Harris, who is one of the best corners and pure athletes in all of college football. But is one player really going to make the difference for this team?
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Texas Longhorns
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Talk about your ultimate letdown.
The Texas Longhorns entered the 2010 college football season ranked in the top five by almost every preseason college poll. The Longhorns finished the year with a measly 5-7 record while failing to make a bowl game.
Texas had a defense that allowed over 24 points and over 300 yards per game in 2010. Yet, they are still ranked in the top 25 by most experts heading into the 2011 season.
The Longhorns will have to replace pretty much every defensive back who saw the field last season, but hey, since they're Texas, I guess the hype will always be there.
6. Auburn Tigers
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After one of the most memorable seasons in college football history, everyone seems to be talking about how the Tigers are going to struggle with replacing all that talent on the offensive side of the ball.
Now we ask, what about on defense?
Auburn lost their best defensive player, Nick Fairley, to the NFL Draft. But along with Fairley, the Tigers also have to replace the majority of their linebacking corps. Guys like Craig Stevens, Josh Brynes and Antoine Carter are all gone this year.
No one expects Auburn to be as good as they were in 2010, so the hype isn't huge here. But people may want to look at what this team is loosing on defense, as opposed to just focusing on what is gone from their offense.
5. Arkansas Razorbacks
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ESPN.com college football analyst Mark Schlabach has the Arkansas Razorbacks ranked as the No. 8 team in the nation heading into this season.
How can a team lose their starting quarterback, his most consistent go-to target, as well as five defensive starters, and still be ranked in the top 10 in the country?
The motto with this team over the past couple of years has been that they have that "bend-but-not-break" type of defense, which is just fine because they have Ryan Mallett behind center to put up enough points that it won't matter.
Well Mallett is gone, folks. And so are five starters from a defense that just simply wasn't very good to begin with.
4. Clemson Tigers
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Clemson is one of those programs that recruit very well and seem to always crack the top 25 preseason rankings, but then never seem to live up to the hype.
That is the same case again this season, and for anyone who thinks that this team is going to win college football games with the play of their defense this season, think again.
Gone is Clemson's best defensive lineman, Da'Quan Bowers, who could be the first overall selection in this April's NFL Draft. Gone is Clemson's best defensive back, DeAndre McDaniel, who will be one of the top safeties taken in this year's draft. And joining those two are four other defensive starters.
Sure, Clemson can recruit well. But when are we going to see these results play out on the field? Don't count on this defense to produce much of anything in 2011.
3. Oklahoma Sooners
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The college football experts have spoken, and Oklahoma seems to be the most popular pick as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation heading into the 2011 college football season.
Well, since All-Big 12 linebacker Travis Lewis decided to return for his senior season, this should be one of the best defensive units in the country this season, right? Not so fast Sooner Nation.
Even with Lewis in the lineup last season, this unit was just short of awful in 2010. They allowed over 21 points and 363 yards per game last season. The Sooners ranked 35th in total defense in 2010 and are forced with having to replace some key graduating seniors from that defense.
Offensively, yes, Oklahoma might deserve that No. 1 preseason rating. But this game comes down to a lot more then just offense if you want to win a national championship. The 2010 title game should be a prime example of that.
2. LSU Tigers
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The LSU Tigers will be good in 2011, there is no doubt about that. But when you take a deep look at this team, they have a lot to replace on the defensive end of the ball.
What Patrick Peterson was to this defense, Michael Jordan was to basketball in the '90s. He was the best at his position, and there wasn't anyone who was going to argue that.
The Tigers can not replace a guy like Peterson.
Also gone is the team's top linebacker in senior Kelvin Sheppard, and their top defensive lineman, senior Drake Nevis.
A lot of people have said that this could be Les Miles' best team he has had while at LSU. That may be true, but this defense is nowhere near as good as last year's was. End of story.
1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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ESPN's Mark Schlabach has Notre Dame ranked No. 14 in his preseason college football poll. Are you kidding me?
The Irish were nothing short of horrendous on the defensive side of the ball in 2010. Brian Kelly's team gave up 21 points and over 353 yards per game last season, while playing the likes of Western Michigan, Navy and Tulsa.
This is the same team that made Denard Robinson look like the best quarterback to ever step foot on a college football field. Just look what happened to Robinson's Heisman Trophy hype once he entered the heart of Big Ten play.
There is no way that this team should be ranked as high as they are, and there is certainly no way that this will be a top-notch defense in 2011.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
