Bias Against Superb Defensive Teams

I perused the college football shows this morning, expecting to hear some praise of the defenses on display yesterday at Michigan Stadium. I was disappointed; the general assessment of this “defensive slugfest” implied that the offenses “struggled,” and that the struggling produced the good defensive play and not the other way around.  Sure, they singled out D highlights, but the tone was softly critical that anything remotely special occurred.

IMO, the summary of the talking heads and various analysts was that this boring game may have lived up to expectations to be close and physical, but the level of play was malodorous and full of inherent offensive incompetence.

I argue that what we saw on display on defense (both sides) was as more glorious and far rarer than the video game offenses in the Big 12, Pac 12 and ACC. Yet little credit for those special defenses; however, I heard how “dominant” Clemson’s defense was and profuse praise for individual defensive performances in various games producing 90+ points.

It appears defense is only desired as part of an occasional highlight play or defensive stand that doesn’t otherwise impede the mad sprint up and down college football fields all over the country.

I am old enough to remember the ’85 Bears. I say Viva la Defense!