Preview of 2018 Mustangs in College Football News

[Donnell88]

Just saw this article.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2018/05 ... eview-2018

[AusTxPony]

Sounds about right, 6 wins expected, more if things come together.

[Bergermeister]

Sounds about right, 6 wins expected, more if things come together.

Six wins minimum IF we win the first game. If not, it'll be the June and Chad 1st year record for SD.

[ponyboy]

Why?

[Charleston Pony]

As usual, the UNT game is crucial to having a successful season. Nobody should think this will be a cupcake game in Denton.

[ponyboy]

It’s important. But a loss so crushes this team’s collective soul that we struggle to win one or two games the rest of the season?

[ALEX LIFESON]

As usual, the UNT game is crucial to having a successful season. Nobody should think this will be a cupcake game in Denton.

100% agree, this will be a tough game...Lose against nts, and we could be looking at a 1-5 start.

[AusTxPony]

Their QB looked really good last year and is rating highly for this year. We will need to score a lot to win. I also see it as critical for a bowl season.

[peruna81]

We will beat NTSU.

The rest of the schedule has a minefield interspersed with winnable games. It is still a little early to do the Prediction Thread, but 6 sounds about right.

[BIGHORSE]

N.T.S.U. is a must win!!!

[ojaipony]

I think getting to six wins will depend on injuries, some luck, and how well we are able to replace Quinn and Sutton. Will Page, Benson, and Bell be players?

I think our run game will be a little better. Our defense will be a little better. Our passing game will be worse but will definitely be, hopefully, a lot of quick hits that will play into Ben's strengths and avoid his weaknesses. (Ben does well when he gets rid of the ball quickly and doesn't force things). Down field blocking will be critical. (Bell, Thedford, Rau, and Becker are going to have to put some hats on some people).

[Stallion]

Hicks is great when he stands tall in the pocket even late in the play-he's been willing to take some big hits to make big plays and I'd bet his yards per completion are nationally high*. He gets in trouble when he bails out. The traditional Air Raid-if that's what we end up running is considered a more horizontal passing offense with quick reads in comparison to the Spread Morris runs so his completion percentage should go up

*Looks like he was No. 37 in yards per completion at almost 13 yards per completion--I guess Trey Quinn's 110 catches at 11.2 yards per catch lowered that a tad but still pretty good and Quinn was such a great outlet. But Proche averaged 20+ on 40 catches and Sutton averaged 16.4

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs ... vidual/740

[JasonB]

We won't run a traditional air raid. Power spread. But yes, the passing game will be more of a possession game and the route tree will look more like the Air Raid than Morris' offense.

Hicks does very well throwing down the seams, which is an important throw to make in the systems.

However, the out is also an important component - it was critical in the June Jones offense as well - and that is the pass Hicks throws the worst. Ball sails on him a lot on that route.

The other route Hicks threw better than the other QBs is the deep ball... and that route won't be as frequent.

The Hicks from the past two years would have really frustrated Dykes. He needs consistency and accuracy, just like June required, more than the homerun.

That said, Hicks was much more consistent in the spring. The practice I saw, he looked more effortless throwing the ball, like his natural ball speed had increased, and as a result his accuracy was much better. Didn't see any of the wild throws where a player is open and he just sails it. And a lot of the bigger plays were on out and ups, where he let the play develop and laid it in over the top just after the cut.

The fact that we came out of spring with Hicks firmly established as the number 1 is a very good sign of his development.

[JoeKidd]

6 wins is my expectation going into the season. I could see every position area improve except for WR, which will be masked by the type of routes run in this offense that will rely on precise route running more than pure athletic ability. We still have a very good receiver in Proche and some other potential ones.

With the LB and OL play significantly improving, which they will, that the team will be in a good position most games and this should lead to 6 wins with a now veteran QB in Hicks.

[RedRiverPony]

We won't run a traditional air raid. Power spread. But yes, the passing game will be more of a possession game and the route tree will look more like the Air Raid than Morris' offense.

Hicks does very well throwing down the seams, which is an important throw to make in the systems.

However, the out is also an important component - it was critical in the June Jones offense as well - and that is the pass Hicks throws the worst. Ball sails on him a lot on that route.

The other route Hicks threw better than the other QBs is the deep ball... and that route won't be as frequent.

The Hicks from the past two years would have really frustrated Dykes. He needs consistency and accuracy, just like June required, more than the homerun.

That said, Hicks was much more consistent in the spring. The practice I saw, he looked more effortless throwing the ball, like his natural ball speed had increased, and as a result his accuracy was much better. Didn't see any of the wild throws where a player is open and he just sails it. And a lot of the bigger plays were on out and ups, where he let the play develop and laid it in over the top just after the cut.

The fact that we came out of spring with Hicks firmly established as the number 1 is a very good sign of his development.

I didn't watch SD's teams at Cal or LaTech and don't know much about Lashlee, so I'm not challenging you. Just wondering: How can you say how frequent certain passes will be thrown? You're not basing that on spring ball, are you?