No, we actually weren't getting torched the whole season. In the Houston game, we were indeed getting torched and there was a huge gap in our coverage due to the loss of Bills. I'm not saying Bills is the end all, but I am saying there was a huge noticeable difference in the Houston game without him.

Last year, our safeties did a great job and, at times, often did double duty protecting the corners as well. The secondary wasn't perfect but we had a lot more to worry about such as our O-line and our ability to score. Our defense put our O in many opportunities to score and it didn't happen. Our defense also gave us opportunities to come back by preventing huge
3rd and even 4th down plays and making interceptions that were huge, (I.e., Bills' INT in the end zone against Notre Dame, etc.)

To be fair, our offense put themselves in an opportunity to score many times but couldn't pull the trigger when it counted.

This year we have a huge opportunity to field a very good secondary. So, yes! I and others, including the players themselves and the coaches, seriously believe that.