I think the real problem is that we do not have enough depth and size along the lines. Also, do we have enough secondary speed to get into position to make tackles?
I expect things like tackling can be fixed over the offseason. My point of reference is the Tiller years between the K-State Copper Bowl loss and the 1996 season. In each of those years there was a basic fundamental flaw that cost us games but that was corrected the following year. One year it was tackling. One year it was turnovers, I think that we had one year that we were among the most penalized teams in the WAC. Each year the preceding year's major problem was fixed. By 1996 we not only fixed those problems, but we got faster on defense.
The real problem going into next year is that I do not think that the new staff has very many scholarships to work with. I expect to see several defensive linemen in the next class along with TE, FB and corners. If we only have 11 seniors plus 3 defections that I remember, I do not know if there are enough scholarships to round out the class apart from forced attrition. I think the D-line and cornerbacks will go a long way toward determining whether we are 4-8 or 7-5.
The other issue is if the NDSU D-coordinator stays in Fargo, this could end up like when Joe Glenn's OC stayed in Montana to take over that program with Coach Glenn moved to Laramie.
My guess is that both Boise State and Oregon are on their way to coming back to the pack given the coaching changes.