PonyFans.com 2015 preview: Defense preparing to attack

[PonyPride]

The new SMU coaching staff was hired to get the Mustangs back on the winning track, and that includes new defensive coordinator Van Malone revitalizing a porous defense.

To read this story, please check the link on our home page: http://www.PonyFans.com

Enjoy!

Webmasters
PonyFans.com

Reminder: Due to a change in PonyFans.com's relationship with our ad serving company, please access all PonyFans.com stories and videos via the home page, rather than copying the direct link to the message boards. Doing so allows the ads to benefit the site more, thereby allowing us to continue to operate this site at no charge to our readers.

[Rebel10]

Our new 4-2-5 will be good. When we play against run oriented teams it will look more like OSU's 4-2-5 and when we play against passing teams it will look more like the TCU 4-2-5. The Star has the versatility to play the run or pass. The 4-2-5 fits this team well. Glad we are going to it.

[SMU 86]

Interesting that in the Oklahoma State, SMU, and TCU 4-2-5's that star and rover are all the same size.

OSU star 215 pounds
SMU star 215 pounds
TCU rover 215 pounds

I guess because you have to be more a safety that can play the run as well. But like I said in another thread that the OSU 4-2-5 is not nearly as good as the TCU 4-2-5.

[PonyPride]

For what it's worth: in conversations with Malone, he has referred to his defense as both a 4-2-5 and as a 4-3 — the label used here because Malone referred to the STAR position with the linebackers.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Nice preview, thanks.

I am looking forward to seeing this unit this season - it will be fun to watch!

Go Ponies!

[Rebel10]

For what it's worth: in conversations with Malone, he has referred to his defense as both a 4-2-5 and as a 4-3 — the label used here because Malone referred to the STAR position with the linebackers.

I noticed in the video interview you did with Coach Malone that you did not ask him what type of base defense he ran but you told him that he ran a 4-3 base defense. He was polite and went along with it.

[malonish]

"Opponents successfully converted more than half (55 percent) of their fourth downs and scored a touchdown 62 percent of the time they reached the end zone."

I thought teams scored touchdowns 100% of the time they reach the end zone?

I kid. Maybe you meant Red Zone?

[PK]

I'm glad they aren't expecting much from the D-line.

“So defensive linemen? We don’t expect a whole lot from them,” Malone said. “We just expect them to dominate the line of scrimmage.”

[PonyPride]

"Opponents successfully converted more than half (55 percent) of their fourth downs and scored a touchdown 62 percent of the time they reached the end zone."

I thought teams scored touchdowns 100% of the time they reach the end zone?

I kid. Maybe you meant Red Zone?

Argh .... fixed. Thanks for catching that.

[PonyPride]

For what it's worth: in conversations with Malone, he has referred to his defense as both a 4-2-5 and as a 4-3 — the label used here because Malone referred to the STAR position with the linebackers.

I noticed in the video interview you did with Coach Malone that you did not ask him what type of base defense he ran but you told him that he ran a 4-3 base defense. He was polite and went along with it.

You're right — Malone is very polite. That includes in the conversations we have had without a camera rolling, during which he has referred to both a 4-2-5 and a 4-3 alignment.

[Rebel10]

I'm glad they aren't expecting much from the D-line.

“So defensive linemen? We don’t expect a whole lot from them,” Malone said. “We just expect them to dominate the line of scrimmage.”

Those are some good expectations.