That's a classic small-conference mindset that doesn't translate up. Finishing 3rd in the SoCon in yards per play is fine for that level, but scheme continuity means nothing if you don't have the athletes to execute it against elite competition. The portal is essential for immediate roster correction. Look at LSU's defense last year, they were 105th in total defense. Brian Kelly went into the portal and got major DL help like Shone Washington. You can't just coach your way out of a talent deficit. Your scheme gets exposed when you're facing teams with a higher talent level every week. Staying static gets you passed by. The teams winning championships now are mastering both development and aggressive portal use. Relying solely on your system is how you end up getting 40 points hung on you by a team that reloaded overnight.