Don't really agree with that. The defense is mediocre, everyone knows it. I know it, you know it, Dantonio knows it, Urban knows it, Herman knows it.
If we want any chance at winning against quality opponents, it comes down to the offense. The offense has to shoulder that burden. In the same way that our defense used to shoulder it under Tressel.
Yes, the D is bad... but that's not going to start improving until the off-season at the earliest. This offense has the horses to score at least 35 on anyone. In the meantime, that means the Offense has to be the ones that win or lose games -- and we lost on that basis. The offense had the opportunities to finish the game last night, instead they delivered two 3/4-and-outs.
Not calling for heads or anything; but making excuses for what happened on the offensive side of the ball last night seems like a cop-out to me. There were some serious letdowns by both some players and some coaches. In particular, I think the receiving corps should stop trash talking and focus on not dropping passes. Hyde has pulled his weight and then some all season and doesn't run his mouth.