Pony Boss wrote:vielsiehorsepower wrote:gostangs wrote:The offensive improvement of our team from two years ago to last year was nothing short of amazing. Gotta assume some improvement in the line, plus upgrades at all other positions in talent and depth. Then you have a slightly improved secondary, a questionable LB groups still and a much better DL - and I have
We aren't going to be able to beat Baylor or TCU - but TCU will be closer. Baylor has a TON of pent up frustration and much better athletes (for now), and they are at home. TCU at our place? You never know, but I think we know. Navy is the only one that might flat out embarrass us. I don't ever think I have seen an SMU team ever stay with Navy - its just weird.
Baylor and tcu had little to no film on chads offense with smu. Once those gimmicks were figured out production decreased (see the latter half of last season) if tcu had as much film to study and figured they weren't playing a terrible team they blasted 56-0 the year before then the score might have been a bit more lopsided.
And I've seen an smu team stay with navy...in particular 2009,2010, and 2011 come to mind.
Disagree...I don't think it had to do with film. SMU played them well but it wasn't because they were shocked and had no tape. The latter part of the season had more to do with Matt Davis being inconsistent (I would venture out to say he was hurt but kept it hush) than anyone "figuring us out".
Replace Davis with Sutton playing hurt and you might be on to something.
OL is still the weak point on offense, which is going to kill a high level of consistency. Last year, however, was boom or bust on offense and I expect it to be more consistent this year with a better running game, more playmakers, and both Jones and West are built to turn the 20 yard games from last year into 40 yarders.
As a result, I think you see a slight uptick in offense, but significant improvement in defensive numbers as the offense can keep them off the field. Last year there were games where the offense would post 5 3 and outs in a row and get the defense killed. I don't think that happens this season.
Defensively, I think you will see a significant improvement in the play of the secondary, both corner and safety. Our safeties in particular will be one of the better units in the conference. DL will improve some because of an influx in depth. Still need a playmaker to let Lawler loose, but there is a chance the depth of the line could free him up late in games to make some things happen. LB is going to hold us back. I think we will see a lot of 0-2 yard gains on running plays and then a lot of 15 yards. Not much in between - they either get past the line or they don't. I liked the multiple formations that I saw in practice; I think we are going to make much better use of our talent.
Overall, I think we are good enough to beat bad teams, and hang in with "ok" teams. We beat Liberty, UNT, and Tulane. Tulsa, ECU, Memphis and Navy I think may all be "meh" this year with Memphis and Navy unknown at QB and losing others to graduation. Split those games and we win 5 games this year (Navy will be an awful matchup for us still with our LB and OL). 3 wins or less would be a disappointment. A bowl would be a pleasant surprise, but not out of the realm of possibility. Any team we play that struggles offensively and relies on defense is a potential upset for us.
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 3:12 pm