2008 BSU@UO: 37-32 Win, defense yields 464 total yards
2009 BSUvsUO: 18-9 Win, defense yields 152 total yards
2010: TennvsUO: 13-48 Loss, defense yields 447 total yards
2012: UW@UO: 21-52 loss, defense yields 497 yards
The jury is still out on this guy.
I know what I saw on Saturday, and that defense is the best I've seen at Washington since the early 90s. (I'm not saying they're as good; I'm saying that they're the best since that time).
To his credit, Tenn fucking sucked that year, and we sucked last season. To quote Damone, "this team has some bad motherfuckers", who are now also experienced.
This is Wilcox's chance to prove he is the best DC in the country. The loss yesterday was not on the defense. Beat Oregon, people will notice.
I think you're overstating the DL play to call it "great". I'd say it was improved.
Regardless, I think it was a terrible call to not run right at our DL, but you're right, the improvement in the DL at least made it a consideration, whereas in year's past it would have been a gutshot run without hesitation.