Are you surprised?

Defensive Coordinator Kent Baer was let go today in a move that really isn't going to shock anyone. Baer oversaw one of the worst defenses in the country this past season. All of us who watched this team implode after the 2-0 start had to be frustrated with the defense. You could focus on any given loss and come up with a short coming of the defense. Baer's defense couldn't stop the run and it definitely couldn't defend the pass either time and time again.

I could go into the details of so many games this season, but at this point I'd just rather put it all behind. Instead, here's a look final overall line for the Huskies defense in 2007:

Per Game Averages:
Points: 31.6 (94th)
Rushing Yards: 185.0 (89th)
Passing Yards: 261.4 (99th)

All very bad indicators, and that doesn't even begin to touch on some of the details that went into those aggregate numbers. But, like I said, none of us really want to go there. We know how bad it was. Let's hope the new DC can bring some change to the defensive philosophy and put some better numbers on the board.

Tyrone Willingham has been hesitant to make changes to his coaching staff over the years. He has kept a lot of his core coaching group together as he has moved from school to school. Today, by all accounts, his hand was forced to let go of a coach who had been with him for 13 seasons. In my opinion, this program is no longer completely under Willingham's control. President Emmert has promised necessary changes will be made despite bringing back the head coach. In the last week we've watched Todd Turner go by the wayside and now today a major shift in the football coaching staff. You can definitely assume that Willingham is on a short leash here. We'll see what else will be changed, but this is a nice start.