I hope you're right though I think the biggest problem for USF was the Defense, probably still is. Blake Bartnett was Good but not great at QB though probably take him over Franks.
It's a puzzling situation, too: We ALL "know" Charlie's D was Urban's "rock" in '06, upon which he was given the room to have his OC (and their QBs) gamble at key moments in key games against the toughest opponents--and UPON which the conditions producing a potential (but not-quite-to-BE) "Dynasty" were subsequently built.
So DEFENSE now the seeming "weak spot" in his program seems counter-intuitive, to say the least. But things happen: certain things--players AND circumstances--don't work out somehow, and a Coach is left scrambling...IF he is given the time to react/recover, it might still work out--but in this case, the "window of opportunity", themselves the result of various problems and failings at the "Big Three" programs who normally dominate recruiting in talent-rich Fla, appear to be closing--Mullen & staff already have UF building a head of steam in that direction--enough in and of itself now to "cramp their style" at USF AND UCF. FSU don't seem to have really gotten their feet under themselves yet in that regard, and we just don't KNOW what Manny and the group he is gathering around himself at "da Euww" will eventually manage to accomplish--but no matter how good a face they try to put on things instate, in the meantime at least I think NO ONE is counting on "Mullen MIS-steps" to tilt things in any way but Gator-ascendancy for now.
Much as possible, though, our best hope is as much stability in our coaching ranks as greater "quality". We all see how "inevitable turnover" may have cost/is costing Saban and The Tide.
It is perhaps fortunate that for us there are still some potential "upgrades" in the event of "inevitable" attrition with coming success next season or two--but that can (and in my view probably SHOULD) be viewed as a "necessary evil" in reacting to unavoidable reality. We have a deep-thinking, practical Coach who considers and exploits all options as OPPORTUNITIES: We can count on him to have been anticipating and weighing possibilities and options all along, ready to "make the most of the situation" as required--and a change that may or NOT be a net "gain" no matter WHO the replacement(s) may be.
I get the impression here that this is an example of a subtle but fundamental difference between Mullen and Saban (one of many): Saban thinks in terms of service, finding highly talented up'n'comers to "plug in" on his "supporting staff", as needed--whereas MULLEN has a more organic/intuitive standard/attraction TO TEAM-building...His STAFF is a "team" too, one a part of but also one APART AND WITHIN the TEAM AT LARGE that in turn all are a part of--part heart, part "parts of the brain" that animates the BODY of that "team at large", and so on (I'll let y'all follow that metaphor out to its logical conclusions as you see fit).
My point here though is pretty simple:
Whatever mistakes Mullen might make as a Coach, a man and a human being, they WON'T be the same as Saban's. The same goes for all the positives along his road to SUCCESS: Mullen will do this/IS "doing this" HIS OWN WAY.
MORE and more, I am coming to accept and TRUST his choices'--and recognize that at the very least he has consciously considered and chosen from specific options, and that a coherent set of values, ethics, plans (sporting and generally strategic) and philosophies underlie the thinking from which he draws those "options"--and hence the resulting moves and decisions.
Aside from Saban himself, I am not at all sure how many college-level Head Coaches ARE that thoroughly thoughtful and organized in their thinking. It ISN'T the only way to approach the job, after all. But if you have the brain power--not to mention the honor, ethics, insight and ideals (not to mention THE BALLS)--to see, consider and APPLY "all that and MORE" in the enormous and far-ranging project that building and maintaining an eventual Championship-level major college football program truly is, count ME among those who believe that though talent and luck are necessary components you try to maximize (but are least able to count on, BTW), year in/year out all the REST will put you in the best position to aquire, maintain and sustain it all along the way.