I think trying to use last year as an example is not a good idea. Diaco is not a good coach, and they were trying to run the 3-4 type thing.
Go back to Pelini, when he actually coached the defense. By keeping things in front of you, you improve your chances because you are forcing the other team to make first down after first down, over and over. The odds of making that happen, and marching the entire field, are less, than a team hitting the big play when a defender falls down and there is no help.
I entirely get that it's fun to watch an aggressive defense, but we should have held CU to less than 14 points, and shut out Troy.
Running a defense that automatically by it's nature gives up over 24 points (or something in that range), means you MUST have an offense that puts up more consistently.
We don't have that right now. So we lose.