I get that Kiffin is trying to stick up for his player, but Geno Smith had an awful defense at WVU and that doesn’t to appear to be hurting his draft stock at all.
Barkley, just like every other quarterback in the NFL will have to show and prove on the field. No excuses.
“I think he’s going to be a great starting quarterback in the NFL, and the film shows it,” Kiffin said. “The plays he makes, all the throws he’s made here, the leadership qualities … I’ve said this before: If Matt Barkley had the defense that Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer had, Matt Barkley would have won the Heisman Trophy just like they did. He would have had the winning records they had.”
It should be noted that Kiffin’s father Monte Kiffin was the defensive coordinator.