First 3 games

[Charleston Pony]

I don't see Bennett going into Lubbock "wide open". We kept that game close last year by controlling the clock and running Keylon into the ground. Tech will be prepared to shut down the run and give their offense more time of possession than they saw last year, and that would not be good for us. SMU will have to hope Bartel & co can mix things up enough to control time of possession if we are going to have any hope of making this game competitive.

While I'd love to see us win one of these non-conference games, the bottom line is that it is critical we win one of the 1st 4 games. If not Baylor, then we must win at Reno to avoid a repeat of last year.

[KnuckleStang]

Last year Tech saw Wallis. This year they'll presumably see Bartel. Hopefully this means we'll show them more than one dimension of our offense, and we can keep it close again. I'm a very optimistic man. I say we need to whip Baylor and Nevada. Kretchmer my butt. Realistic(?) 2-2 start. Hey, it can happen! Believe!!!

[EastStang]

Hopefully, Tech will be keying for the run on the first play and Bartel hits a play action bomb to Comet on the first play of the game.

[JustAFriend]

If Bennett doesn't go in Guns blazing then he is not a good coach. This team needs to win, not play close games. It will make no difference if you lose by 30 or 3, becasue the L is still there. You've got nothing to lose, I'm not saying throw the ball 50 times, although I would love to see that. But you can be the aggressor and not be careless. He just has to be willing to take some chances.....

[Corso]

Not so fast, my friend!

If Bennett is indeed opening up the offense this year, that is something that will require a learning curve. Bartel got some valuable experience last year, but the added wrinkles to the offense will be something that have to develop. If he abandons the run to throw the ball all over the field in the first game, THEN he's not a good coach. He has a running game that works, so he needs to stick with that and gradually add the more wide-open passing element to the passing game.

Fortunately, Bennett is a good coach, and will let the players grow with the offense.

[EastStang]

I'm not saying throw the ball 50 times, but we all know TT will be clogging the line early to shut down KK. If we hit a first play play action bomb, that would keep them honest on the run and let the Raiders know that they can't just worry about runs anymore.

[Eddie P]

I agree, Corso.

JAF-

This isn't a video game...it's much easier said than done to "throw the ball 50 times." There's a reason you don't see even the pros do that; no o-line can just sit there and repel a pass rush continually throughout the entire length of the game without the threat of the run. That's a d-line's dream scenario. I know your appraisal of your buddy's skills is boundless, but let's not get silly here.

With regards to early comments about tech "keying in on the run" and how that will make things more difficult this year. Well, I don't know what team you guys were watching, but EVERYBODY knew that all we could do was run the ball. hopefully Bartel adds a much needed dimension this year, but to say that Tech will be more prepared to stop the run this year is not accurate, as that was exactly there approach last year. (Along with every opponent we played) It's been said by Bennet himself that it is a tribute to our running attack that Kincaide broke 1,300 yards because everybody knew what we were going to do before we did it.



[This message has been edited by Eddie P (edited 07-10-2003).]

[KnuckleStang]

At the risk of stating the obvious, it's all about balance. We certainly didn't have that the first 7 games of last year, and we lost all of them. We are a more balanced offensive team with Bartel, so let's see what happens. And yes, I agree that Kincaid is some kind of stud. Everybody knew. Pissed me off that Street & Smiths (or somebody else, can't remember which magazine I had) this year voted him Most Overrated Player In The Wac for 2002 on the basis of his 320-some-odd carries. To me, that is cause for an award in itself. Somebody give that man a Budweiser.

[Pony Up]

And last year, Tech had Lawrence Flugence patrolling the middle, and he was a terrific run stopper. Whether his replacement will be as good as Flugence was remains to be seen. I expect we'll run the ball until a team proves they can stop it. Then we'll open up the passing game. The passing game lends itself to more mistakes -- interceptions, incompletions, sacks -- than a running attack, and unless you have a truly sensational group of passers and receivers, it doesn't make sense to abandon a strong running game like ours until you have to.

[Eddie P]

What's the old saying?

When you throw the ball, three things can happen and two of them are bad.

[JustAFriend]

OK, lets all take a deep breath for a sec. I said I didn't want to throw the ball 50 times. And I would never suggest to abandon the running game. And yes KK is a stud. When I say Guns blazing that doesnt mean change the system, it means be willing to be aggressive. If you play not to lose, you lose. You can be aggressive and stay within yourselves. And thank you for pointing out that this isn't a video game, I was confused for a sec, sorry. Look, you now have a very capable threat to throw, don't waste it. SMU does not have the luxury of setting up the pass with the run, everyone knows when you run and when you pass. You need to takt the opposite approach. Keep them guessing. Pass on 1st down every once and awhile. You have the means to have a good offense this year but it doesnt work if you run 1st and 2nd down and throw on 3rd. C'mon guys you know as well as i do that to get out of your funk you have to be willing to gamble a little. I wish you all the best and i just might be in Lubbock to witness the upset.....

[Charleston Pony]

Let's just say we will need to score at least double the 14 pts we put up last year to have any chance in this game and leave it at that!