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Observations from the sideline: Navy

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Observations from the sideline: Navy

Postby PonyPride » Mon Nov 02, 2020 1:08 am

Observations from the sideline: Navy
Check out some of the storylines in the Mustangs' dominant win over the Midshipmen

SMU needed a rebound. When he met the media during the week, Sonny Dykes preached that the Mustangs not only needed to play assignment-sound defense against the triple-option Navy offense, but also needed to match the Midshipmen's intensity and attention to detail, which always are at a high level.

Mission accomplished. For much of the game, including on the 38-3 SMU run that essentially ended the game by the middle of the third quarter, the Mustangs dominated. Navy scored several times late to make the score far closer than the game really was, and there's a lot on which the Ponies can improve. But a nice bounceback win for SMU before going on the road next week.

You saw the game and have seen the stats. Here's some of what I saw from the sideline:

• A lot was made over the offseason about the defensive linemen SMU lost from last year's team. Sonny Dykes said it would take time to replace the likes of Delontae Scott, Pono Davis, Zach Abercrumbia, etc., and he's right. But the line is playing better. DT Elijah Chatman really had a breakout performance last week against Cincinnati, and he was outstanding again Saturday against Navy. Here's an indication of the thankless nature of playing in the middle of the defensive line, where much of the job entails eating up blockers to let linebackers run to the ball: Chatman was credited with just one tackle, and transfer Mike Williams with none, but both wreaked havoc on the middle of the line of scrimmage and forced Navy ball carriers into the arms of teammates. On one drive, Williams got into the backfield three times, missing a sack by inches and forcing a near interception when Navy QB Dalen Morris flunch the ball downfield, almost like a punt and just out of reach of SMU S Chevin Calloway. The defensive line is not as deep as it was last year, but it is much-improved since the beginning of the season.

• Ask a casual observer to describe QB Shane Buechele, and what kind of answer do you get? "Really good passer, runs the offense well, smart player, seems like a good guy," etc. All of that is true.

But Buechele showed another side against Navy. RB Ulysses Bentley scored his first touchdown in part because of a block thrown by Buechele, and it wasn't one of those blocks some quarterbacks throw out there where they stand near a defender but have no real interest in making contact. Buechele buried his shoulder into the ribcage of a Navy defender, knocking the defender back on his heels and allowing Bentley to turn upfield toward the end zone. One Bentley's second score, Buechele wasn't as fast as his freshman teammate, but he was racing upfield to try to find someone to block, and again, it didn't look like window-dressing hustle by Buechele, who easily could stood back and admired Buechele's run.

Buechele's grit should not come as a surprise. Against Cincinnati last week, the Mustangs ran a gimmick play on which Buechele was the target of an option pass. Two defensive backs from one of the American Athletic Conferece's best secondary knocked the ball away. But as he walked off the field, Buechele was visibly angry that he had not come down with the pass. He has done some special things as a passer, and deserves the accolades that come his way for that, but don't make the mistake of thinking Buechele isn't tough.

• This is all you need to know about RB Tyler Lavine. Sonny Dykes has talked several times about how tough Lavine is, how strong he is, how tough he is, etc. Based on what we have seen so far, that seems to be true.

You know that post-touchdown celebration so many players do where a receiver or running back scores, and then gets lifted up in celebration by one of his offensive linemen? After Lavine's first touchdown against Navy, he gave a nod to the big guys who lead the way for the offense ... and lifted C Alan Ali — all 6-4 and 303 pounds of him — over his head. How many running backs can do that? How many would do it if they could?

• Anyone else think it was beyond weird to see Navy quarterbacks throw the ball 30 times in a game? There have been Navy teams that didn't throw a lot more than that in a season. For what it's worth, the Navy QBs completed just 14 — or 47 percent — of their passes.

LBs Delano Robinson and Richard McBryde were outstanding, combining for 15 tackles against a Navy option offense that is tough on virtually everyone who defends against it. Two plays by McBryde that stood out came on tackles he didn't make. Several times in the game, Navy quarterback Dalen Morris ran out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage, when throwing the ball away would have prevented taking a sack. On two of those occasions, Morris headed to the sideline while McBryde was closing in, and it's understandable that seeing a big linebacker bearing down could impact a quarterback's poise and decision making. Both times, Morris beat McBryde to the sideline ... and McBryde resisted the urge to blast Morris into the Navy bench. Those decisions, that maturity, were critical. Had he succumbed to the "see quarterback, hit quarterback" philosophy every defender is taught, it would have cost the Mustangs 30 yards in penalties and given the Midshipmen a couple of first downs. Outstanding restraint by McBryde.

• SMU was flagged for just four penalties, but three resulted in Navy first downs. Reducing penalties is important for every team. Reducing penalties that give opponents new life is even better.

• Last week, TE Kylen Granson dropped a few passes while wearing a wrist brace against Cincinnati. This week, he caught three passes for 39 yards — not bad numbers, but not typical numbers for a player of his talent. But the idea that he did not have a significant impact is inaccurate. Despite his frustrating outing last week against the Bearcats, opponents who scout SMU know Granson is a key part of the SMU passing game. In the third quarter, Buechele ran to his left on third down and converted it into a first down. A few plays later, Buechele found WR Austin Upshaw behind the Navy defense for a touchdown that put SMU ahead, 38-17.

So what does this have to do with Granson? He was a key part of both plays. On Buechele's run, Granson was lined up wide on the left side. When he ran a deep route up the left sideline, side-by-side with a Navy cornerback. But a safety shifted over from the middle of the field to double-cover Granson, opening more space on the left side into which Buechele could run. Then, on the touchdown, Upshaw headed up the left sideline, with Granson running a similar route a few steps to the inside. Granson bent his route slightly toward the middle of the field, prompting the DB covering Upshaw to shade that way, cheating toward Granson. That gave Upshaw several yards of open space, and Buechele hit him for the score.

• Backup Navy quarterback Tyger Goslin was significantly better than Morris, completing six of 10 passes for 123 passes and a couple of touchdowns. Part of his success was a result of reduced pressure from the SMU defensive front. The game was not as close as the score suggests, but Navy did score 37 points and put up 430 total yards — yes, many of those points and yards came when the Midshipmen were playing catch-up, but with numbers like that, defensive coordinator Kevin Kane and his staff will have plenty to discuss in film this week as the Mustangs get ready for Temple.
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Re: Observations from the sideline: Navy

Postby redpony » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:33 am

PP- thanks for the analysis. very interesting. always like to hear opinions from those who can see things from a different perspective.
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