Could our defense play worse?

[Texasscout96]

Our defense looks passive and weak!

Why are they waiting for the Tulsa players to tackle themselves??

[sadderbudweiser]

It’s really poor. But they’ve been coming around a bit in fourth quarters....at least enough to win the close ones.

[Charleston Pony]

Absolutely...they could have played the 2nd half like they did the 1st! Let's just be thankful they did not. Huge stop by Gary!

[gostangs]

We should be scouring the country for transfer eligible line backers. Virtually anyone could win the job here. Mitchell is only player.

[peruna81]

Could our defense play worse?

You must be new here...Navy is coming. Hide the women.

All teasing/smart-alecking aside, SMU schemes poorly, and then makes solid adjustments in the 2nd half. It is how we survive this year. Then at the most unpredictable moment, a player steps up with a key sack in OT, or a great spin move to trap the QB (Gary).

It is frustrating, aggravating, and so very SMU.

And we are still 6-2. WOW!

[Stallion]

Bottom Line-They found a way to win-ha! Chad Morris said almost the exact same thing to the word-3 seconds later on Post Game Show. We know they have physical limitations especially on the back end but they got the interception-held Tulsa on 4 downs and held them to FGs. That's all we can ask of them until we improve the talent level over there

[Arkpony]

Outscored them 17-6 second half. Well Dane!

[JasonB]

Our rotation at defensive line wears the other team down. That is the reason for the better second half performance the last two games.

Our linebackers are awful, though. Speed is really exposed on the QB scrambles

We changed the defense to play tight man and take away the easy passes, but got burned deep early because we couldn't get a pass rush. Later in the game, the pass rush helped.

It seems like we have a choice at LB of playing guys who can't run or guys who can't tackle.

[78pony]

Our rotation at defensive line wears the other team down. That is the reason for the better second half performance the last two games.

Our linebackers are awful, though. Speed is really exposed on the QB scrambles

We changed the defense to play tight man and take away the easy passes, but got burned deep early because we couldn't get a pass rush. Later in the game, the pass rush helped.

It seems like we have a choice at LB of playing guys who can't run or guys who can't tackle.

Might I suggest both: can’t run or tackle. Truly, I’ve never seen anything that can compare to this stuff. But Van the man said we did the same thing in practice this week. “If my D looked like that, I would likely slit my wrists.

[Stallion]

39 carries for 175 yards (4.4 ypc) by Tulsa' 2 RBs really wasn't that bad considering Brewer had over 800 yards in 6 games and their Freshman backup had over 600 this year. We weren't that bad on 1st or 2nd down. Skipper's scrambles drove me crazy though. I was pretty impressed with Tulsa' Offensive Line especially in pass protection

SMU's 3 Backs had only 24 carries for 180 yards (7.5 ypc)-that's not many carries mostly because we couldn't get Tulsa off the field and we weren't consistent on Offense

[PlanoStang]

We did fairly well against the run at first, but then our secondary got burned many times for long
passes.

That set gashes up the middle for long runs, and QB scrambles for first downs.

We did better again in the 2nd half, and thankfully prancer dancer receiver got called for over
celebrating before he scored

[Digetydog]

Our rotation at defensive line wears the other team down. That is the reason for the better second half performance the last two games.

Our linebackers are awful, though. Speed is really exposed on the QB scrambles

We changed the defense to play tight man and take away the easy passes, but got burned deep early because we couldn't get a pass rush. Later in the game, the pass rush helped.

It seems like we have a choice at LB of playing guys who can't run or guys who can't tackle.

Rhone can’t run fast enough to miss tackles. Even if the other players make mental mistakes, they might make a play from time to time.

[lollaperuna]

I thought the lack of offensive consistency in the first half was going to lose the game. 4-13 on third down the entire game and almost 10 minutes less time of possession. Did the people that blame Van for everything really believe this defense was going to become the steel curtain this year?

Down 21-7 if we don't score on the next possession it was going to be a really long night.

[JasonB]

Our rotation at defensive line wears the other team down. That is the reason for the better second half performance the last two games.

Our linebackers are awful, though. Speed is really exposed on the QB scrambles

We changed the defense to play tight man and take away the easy passes, but got burned deep early because we couldn't get a pass rush. Later in the game, the pass rush helped.

It seems like we have a choice at LB of playing guys who can't run or guys who can't tackle.

Rhone can’t run fast enough to miss tackles. Even if the other players make mental mistakes, they might make a play from time to time.

I tend to agree with you. I kind of would like to see McQueen at Star and Mitchell at Will and see what happens. There must be a reason we haven't tried it, thought.

Spears and McNew must really be struggling to not get a shot at MLB.

[sbsmith]

Did the people that blame Van for everything really believe this defense was going to become the steel curtain this year?

Those people put too much stock into practice reports and forgot that our opponents also have talent.