It might be a real question, but it's one of the dangers of "well, you said one thing a year ago, and now you can never change your mind."
I try not to get too high or two low on forming opinions after one year.
Here's the reality. Guidry had a better defense in his first year of 2023, but by no means was it the #1 statistical defense in the country (as Dawson's offense was in 2024). And Guidry had three DBs get drafted from the 2023 team. It is not hard to point out that 2 of those 3 DBs were inherited and 1 was a transfer who was pretty good before he arrived in Miami.
And when you contrast the 2024 defensive performance, when Guidry had more of a chance to recruit his own HS and Portal players, it becomes easier to conclude that whatever "praise" anyone may have given Guidry in 2023 might have been premature and due MORE to the talented players and LESS to the coach.
Do I want to see a Guidry Year 3 simply to confirm these theories? No, I do not. Whatever positive impressions (right or wrong) that were built up in the first year of Guidry may very well have arisen from the benefit of comparison to how poorly our offense played in 2023. But I think that the observations we all made of the 2024 defense are now sufficient to overcome any "praise" that may have arise for Guidry's defense in 2023.
Time to turn the page. No matter what was said in 2023.