Thoughts on the Tulsa game

[JasonB]

Well, it was great that the rain cleared out before kickoff. I thought that SMU would blow them out in the second half after the rain stopped, but instead SMU blew them out the entire game. The scores of the last two CONFERENCE games have been amazing, and SMU hasn't done this well in conference in a long, long time.

- Straight off the bat, when you watched the two teams warm up SMU looked twice the size of Tulsa. That was the first telling moment that "this game isn't going to be close". It was like when we went and played at A&M or Texas right after the death penalty.
- It was interesting to see the impact the wet field had on kickoffs - neither kicker wanted to kick it all that hard with the wet ground, which is why there were so many return opportunities. Just a reminder that as we enter fall and rain/cold weather season, the return game can play a much bigger factor.
- Haven't listened to any post game interviews yet, but I'm interested to hear the reasoning behind Clark playing. It is awesome to use 4 games and maintain the redshirt, but really dangerous IMHO to use the first one this early. Unless Clark indicated that he isn't coming back.
- Really bummed about the injuries to McMorris and Smoke. McMorris working so hard to return and it looked like another leg injury. I hope it isn't the same thing. Smoke is really playing well. Beyond just the interception he is coming into his own and I hope he is cleared to play quickly. He is going to be a fantastic corner.
- Really surprised to see Tulsa stick with one QB. You saw what Cardell Williams could do when he finally came into the ball game. The multi QB aspect is the only thing that gave Rice a challenge. Especially after Braxton turned the ball over a couple of times, which has been his issue all year.
- Sanders was fantastic early. He has really gotten better and better as the season has gone along. Ahmad Walker also continues to be fantastic and needs to be on all of the all conference lists.
- It is interesting to watch the line in the running game. Parr on the left can really move in space and get people at the second level but doesn't drive off the line as well. Osborne can physically handle people on the right but in space misses people. The ankle still impacts Osborne.
- First 3rd down of the game, Preston makes a quick decision to throw to Bailey over the middle. Lots of issues there, beyond the ball not being caught. Bailey didn't run the route deep enough, so it wasn't going to be a first. ALso, the outside WR, Brinson, had stopped his route at the FD marker and was wide open. I like that Preston is making quick decisions, much better than before, but they were sitting on the middle route and the ball should have gone to the right side. SMU coaches recognized Tulsa crowding the middle and thew outside a ton after that.
- Maryland is such a beast. Great to see we are finally breaking him out. He has the size and speed to dominate, speed against a LB and size to destroy a safety. And the long TD he outran everyone in the secondary.
- On the Tyler Lavine run, Eby makes a great seal block on the outside. I've pointed out that he has struggled to make the blocks, and it is great to see him get that one.
- Woods really struggled defensively on the double move. The FG drive Tulsa had, they got him to bite on it twice. Interesting that they never really went back to it. Same thing with the outside throw quick in the flat to the WR. It worked OK early, but they never went back to it. Smoke actually took over for Woods after that FG drive and was awesome.
- Nelson Paul has gotten so much better in run defense, it is really night and day.
- Preston just looks great. He is making really good reads and the last two games he has stayed in the pocket and settled down. Big difference in his play. And keep in mind, the Tulsa pass rush is the only effective thing about their defense and they were completely ineffective. Last drive he reverted back to running all over the place, but hopefully they show him that and don't allow him to regress.
- Rooster looked great, best he has looked all year, very physical runing from him.
- Knox is great on special teams.
- Sparks rotated in at both guard postiions and looked fantastic.
- NWO had the pick six, but he was great all game. Really has continued to take steps forwards all season. Not afraid to take on blockers but still make tackles.
- Also great to see Adam Moore get out there and make plays. He has looked great from the moment he showed up this fall. The future of the TE position is stacked.

Overall, a fantastic performance. Really seeing the players on defense play with instinct as they get comfortable with the scheme. And moving away from the RPO has really opened up both the passing game and the field for the offense. Even the analytics machines are starting to catch up with how well SMU is playing, even when taking into account the strength of schedule. Looking forward to next week's game against Rice, where SMU faces its most significant passing threat of the season.

[Terry Webster]

When Maryland gets a head of steam going I don't think any DB would want to try to tackle him.

[HubbaHubba]

McMorris injury looked to be on the leg he had the brace on.

Really impressed with the linebacker play. Even when 2nd and 3rd teamers in they looked to know what they were doing and flew to the ball. Don't know if this group is a big upgrade over previous years (I think they are) or having D-lineman needing more blockers on them makes the LBs look better (probably helps a lot).

[Big Easy Pony]

It would be a shame if SMU and Tulane don't meet in the AAC title game. They look to be significantly better than the rest of the league.

[JasonB]

McMorris injury looked to be on the leg he had the brace on.

Really impressed with the linebacker play. Even when 2nd and 3rd teamers in they looked to know what they were doing and flew to the ball. Don't know if this group is a big upgrade over previous years (I think they are) or having D-lineman needing more blockers on them makes the LBs look better (probably helps a lot).

Yes, the DL helps. But the other thing that helps is that several times a game our LBs physically engage a blocker and then roll off them and make a play. Last year, the LBs were more focused on running around blockers, and it left big holes. Saturday on one play on a draw, Wilson took on the Tulsa center head on and then was able to move to the side and make a tackle in the open field. We haven't seen that since Tank Reed. And all of them do it. Even Burns played much better yesterday.

[HubbaHubba]

Great to see that tackling at the second level. We seem to be giving up much fewer big plays and the ones we give up are not as big.