It's time to wake up and face the facts concerning the Tiger defense: it's not good by any means, and it will take time to return to a competitive level again.
Following this weekend's 35-14 loss to Tulsa at the Liberty Bowl in which the defense gave up 356 total yards and allowed Paul Smith to complete all but three passes, head coach Tommy West was obviously frustrated.
"I think we're coming along (with the new defense), but I still don't like losing," he said. "I thought that was the best effort we put forth in a while."
Memphis (1-6 overall, 0-3 Conference USA) gave up an average of 6.7 yards per play Saturday, compared to Tulsa (6-1, 3-0) allowing 3.5 yards to the Tigers. For a team fighting to win a Division I-A game, those numbers just won't cut it.
But for a defense that was obviously struggling earlier this season during defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn's tenure, an overnight makeover was never plausible.
West said time and time again this process was going to take time and it would get worse before it got better. And looking at the injured list doesn't help matters.
Since the start of the season, numerous Tigers have been banged up, and the team has lost seniors Derek Clenin and Mike Snyder, as well as junior Rod Smith for the season.
All three played significant minutes each week, and that has been coupled with the loss of other starters for stretches this season. Combined with the implementation of a new defense in the middle of the season, what defense wouldn't struggle?
Blame has been freely tossed around each week in the stands, on the radio and on the Internet as to whose fault this season is. At this point, however, the entire scapegoat idea should be tossed out the window.
"We're trying to start it over and build (the program) back up again," West said.
Watching Saturday's game, it was just an obvious case of the other team's players being better talent-wise than Memphis'. The Tigers rank 111th in rush defense, 104th in pass defense, 101st in total defense, 112th in sacks and 119th - last overall in the NCAA - in tackles for loss. In the first quarter, the Golden Hurricane held the ball for 13 minutes, keeping the Tiger offense pacing on the sidelines.
Those numbers don't signify a struggling defense anymore. Rather, those numbers indicate a defense that lacked great talent to start with, then went downhill with numerous injuries and a sudden shift in defensive philosophy.
West said he felt the team played with great effort all night against Tulsa. It was obvious they were, but Tulsa's offense had better talent, something West gave his opponent credit for.
Memphis players aren't sitting around without hope, though. The hunger is still in the players' eyes.
"I know the fans are eager for a win, and we are, too," said linebacker Quinton McCrary. He spoke after the game with the same frustrated look his fellow teammates and his coach spoke with.
West was adamant after the Tulsa game that he made the best decision for the future of the program in firing Joe Lee Dunn and installing his new defense.
So, the fact that the Tiger defense is bad should not even be an issue anymore.
Lacking the size, talent and health to compete each week, boos and negative comments should be a thing of the past.
West's defensive players are playing to the best of their abilities each game and should in no way be faulted for that, even if the scoreboard doesn't reflect that.
