Spring football outlook

[PonyPride]

(From the SMU athletic department)

Mustangs Open Spring Practice
Red-Blue Scrimmage Set For April 8
March 3, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU opens spring practice on Friday, March 3, as the Mustangs being their preparation for the 2006 season. All 14 scheduled workouts are closed to the public, but the session wraps up with the annual Red-Blue Game at 2 p.m. on April 8. Admission to the game is free and open to the public.

The 2005 season saw the SMU Mustangs stampede to new heights. SMU posted its highest win total in eight seasons, a win over a ranked team for the first time since 1986, a 3-1 record against bowl teams, and a three-game win streak to end the season - SMU's longest since 1999. Seven Mustangs were named All-Conference USA and two were tabbed freshmen All-Americans.

As 2006 approaches, expectations are at their highest level in decades. The parity of the league makes a conference championship and a bowl game bid attainable goals this season, but the Mustangs do face questions at key positions - questions that must be addressed if the Mustang program is to continue its growth into a football power.

Perhaps the biggest question mark is at quarterback, where SMU returns only one player who has taken a Division I snap - and his last game came in September 2004.

At the top of the preseason depth chart is Justin Willis, a blue-chip redshirt freshman from Denton. Willis impressed coaches with his scout-team work in 2005, but the 6-1 signal caller has not seen game action since his last prep game in 2004.

Chris Phillips, who started five games as a true freshman in 2003 and three games in 2004 before suffering a rotator cuff injury, is the lone Mustang QB with college game experience. It will have been almost two years since he took a live-action snap by the time the season rolls around, however, and despite sitting out 2005 to allow his injury to heal, the 6-3, 230-lb., dual-threat quarterback is still bothered at times by his rehabbed shoulder.

Also getting looks in the spring will be redshirt frosh Eric Johnson and junior college transfer Corey Slater. Johnson made strides as a true freshman last season before suffering a hand injury late in the season and Slater had an impressive season as a freshman at Dixie State Junior College in Utah.

"It all starts with the quarterback, and we've got to find that guy,"
said SMU Head Coach Phil Bennett. "We have several guys that are capable, but we have to find who is most consistent."

Whoever wins the starting job will get considerable help from SMU's returning talent at the skill positions, as the Mustang starters at running back, wide receiver and tight end are all All-Conference-level players.

At running back, DeMyron Martin returns after a freshman All-America campaign that saw him gain the third-most yards ever for an SMU freshman.

"After watching the cut-ups, DeMyron was probably even better last season than I thought he was," said Bennett. "His vision and pad level were great, but there are a ton of things he will tell you he needs to improve."

Joining Martin in the backfield will be a slew of talented runners - Cedrick Dorsey, Johnnie Fitzgerald, Jessie Henderson, James Mapps, Richuel Massey and Fred Turner among others.

"Johnnie gives us another dimension at running back," said Bennett. "He
and DeMyron are different type backs and they keep defenses on their toes. We'll mix in the other guys as well. Massey is going to get more chances to run the ball, while Cedrick is going to become our third-down back. We still think Fred Turner and Jessie Henderson do some things back there and we are going to find packages to get them the ball. We also have a freshman that we're very high on - James Mapps. I think he can be a special player. We've got a lot of talented guys back there
and the guys that produce are the guys that are going to play."

Tight end is another stacked position for SMU, where All-Conference performer Ryan Kennedy and former prep All-American Vincent Chase are joined by redshirt frosh Jeff Brock.

"Getting the ball to our tight ends more is a must," declared Bennett.
"Ryan and Vincent are too good not to utilize them. We've got to find ways to get them the ball. That is one of the things that we have looked at all off-season."

At receiver, SMU returns a wealth of experience as all four slated starters return from last season. Bobby Chase, Columbus Givens, Reynaldo Pellerin and Blake Warren are listed as SMU's top four, but they are followed closely by Jay'Mond Cleveland, Joseph Ferguson, Emmanuel Sanders and Zack Sledge.

"Bobby Chase made several big plays for us last season," Bennett said.
"He's a fantastic team guy, and he's really consumed with getting better. He's a playmaker - he makes plays when we need them."

"Columbus Givens and Emmanuel Sanders both have exceptional quickness and an amazing ability to run after the catch. If they catch the ball on the run, defenses better watch out. I think we have a lot of talent at receiver."

Of course any offensive success is predicated on strong offensive line play.

"I think having Darrin Johnson, Ben Poynter and Caleb Peveto back will help our two new starters - Tommy Poynter and Kenard Burley - develop this spring," stated the head coach. "We're looking to improve our depth and play two different lines this year. I think it keeps your backups working hard, knowing they are going to play, and it gives your first team the chance to stay fresh and get a different perspective on what defenses are trying up front."

Overall, Bennett acknowledges the stat that matters most is, of course, scoring.

"To win in this league, you've got to be able to score 28-30 points a game.
We were very good red-zone offense last season, but a lot of that had to do with our ability to kick field goals. We've got to more touchdowns than field goals in the red zone," he declared.

Bennett's forte, however, has always been defense where SMU has to replace five key starters.

At linebacker, SMU loses three-year starters D.D. Lee and Alvin Nnabuife, both of whom played big parts in the Mustangs' 2005 successes. Two-year starter Wilton McCray returns, though, as does part-time starter Reggie Carrington.

"We've thought Reggie Carrington could be an All-Conference player ever since he got here," revealed Bennett. "Last year he stayed healthy, played a little over a third of the time and played well. He's a heck of a playmaker, but he does have big shoes to fill. Wilton McCray is a two-year starter and I expect him to get better at WILL. We've got two new guys at SAM - Paul Hiemenz and Pete Fleps. Paul and Pete are both 6-2, 6-3, 220-plus, and can run well. One of the things about my system is you don't have to be big, but you have to be able to run and I think these guys can do that. Will Bonilla and Damon Hurst are two other guys
who will provide depth and they have gotten better. We've got some guys that understand our system and I think linebacker can be a strength for us."

In the trenches, SMU brings back a pair of All-Conference players in Adrian Haywood and Justin Rogers. The tandem dominated offensive lines a year ago and should be even better in 2006. Bennett, however, also sang the praises of their linemates - Brandon Bonds and Cory Muse.

"Last year, Justin Rogers and Adrian Haywood got a lot of attention, but I
think Cory Muse and Brandon Bonds made it easier for those guys. They're all good football players. I thought Brandon had his best season yet and Corey came off knee surgery to have a great season when Don Stansbury got hurt. Our front four was about as good as anybody in the conference. Last year we were able to sub Charlie Berry and Randy Denman in at tackle, and they did a good job. We've got to be able to
do that at end as well. Troy Therien and Patrick Handy have to give us that depth."

The secondary, though, has the most holes as the Mustangs lose both corners and their free safety. The lone returnee, however, was an All-League player a year ago - Joe Sturdivant.

"Joe was great last season and I think he'll be even better next season,"
boasted Bennett. "Joe is a self-made football player. He has learned so much. He just absorbs what you coach. He watches tape. He won the UAB game for us by reading routes and calling things out. He's very passionate about SMU and very passionate about being a good football player."

"At safety, we have Randall Goode who played some last year and has gotten better. He'll be backed up by Bryce Hudman, a very athletic guy who was a medical redshirt last year. I think they're both talented."

"At corner, Jonathan Lindley played a lot a year ago and we're moving Cortley Blackmon to corner. We'll back them up with David Haynes, L.J. Johnson and Devin Lowery, who we're moving over to defense. I think that we have some athletes there. We found our niche in our coverage schemes last year and we got better. We became a team that gave up very few big plays. We made people earn what they got and that
is the kind of team we are going to have to be this year, too."

Coaches also preach the importance of special teams where SMU will have to replace two four-year starters - kicker Chris McMurtray and punter Ryan Mentzel.

"Chris and Ryan were key for us last year and finding guys who can perform under pressure will be important. At punter we've got Thomas Morstead and Andrew Galloway, two guys who were with us last season. That's one of the things that is different about our program now. These guys have been waiting their turn, when, in the past, they had to play from the minute they got on campus."

"Morstead is our placekicker right now, too. Brayden Harris and Ryan Wolcott will also kick every day during the spring. Kellis Cunningham is coming in this fall and they all will get an opportunity."

In the return game, SMU is loaded with Blake Warren on punts and 2005 Freshman All-American Jessie Henderson on kickoffs.

"Blake and Jessie are weapons," lauded Bennett. "If you look at our
field position last year, they were big for us. I think Jessie will get better and better. We've got to help Blake more this season. People didn't kick as much to Blake last year, so we're looking at putting two returners back, so they can't kick away from us. Before he leaves here, Blake will have our punt return record."

"I'm excited about the season," said Bennett. "If you look at how
close we were last season, it's clear that we're improving as a football team. Now we just have to take that next step. I think that we'll take that step this season."

[ponydawg]

Like trying guys at different positions, but i don't want to have short DB's again, that is to painful to watch. Did Devin play defense in high school?
Man, do we need a surprise at QB.





Fear the Pony.

[Corso]

I wonder how well Lowery can hit. We know he can run pretty well.

Tommy Poynter and Kenard Burley starting on the OL -- interesting. I expect Joe Holmes will get a chance in there somewhere (as will Damon Hurst on defense).

That report suggests Handy is staying at DE -- that's good size for a sophomore DE!

[Stallion]

they mentioned Brock but not McKinney at TE. What's up with that? Do we really need 8 RBs who basically will sit and watch DeMyron run the ball. UT doesn't seem to have any problem moving RBs to other positions when they are too good an athlete to sit. Then if there is an injury to Martin move em back. But Geez we have got to get some of these athletes like Henderson, Mapps and yes even Turner despite his fumbles on the field. At least 7 guys really fit one position the Tailback or I-Back-none are prototype FB for short yardage. What we need and have neede for some time is better production from our inside receivers-3-4 of those tailbacks could help.

[SMU Football Blog]

they mentioned Brock but not McKinney at TE. What's up with that? Do we really need 8 RBs who basically will sit and watch DeMyron run the ball. UT doesn't seem to have any problem moving RBs to other positions when they are too good an athlete to sit. Then if there is an injury to Martin move em back. But Geez we have got to get some of these athletes on the field.

I agree 100%. RB is not that hard a position to learn. Shuffle these guys around and see where else they can play. Get them on the field. For example, Dorsey is a competent back, but he also played DB in HS and we need defensive backs. You have to try him out and see what he can do.

[Corso]

Good call, Stallion -- I meant to mention TE, too. I guess McKinney is viewed as more of an H-back/blocking back? Brock is taller and supposedly has great hands (never seen him catch a ball), so maybe this is listing him because he's more of a receiving threat.

And wasn't there some talk that Mario Walker showed a lot of promise as a scout-team TE last year, too?

In addition, I agree with you about the RBs. (Although, to be fair, UT moves guys around because they're about 12-deep at every position, and if you move a guy from his natural position, you've got a high school all-America waiting in the wings behind him, anyway -- we've got to manage the roster more carefully, I think.) It does seem that we have a slew of talented runners, and since there's only one ball to go around, I would think that at least one or two of them might help as we try to locate some capable DBs and build depth in the secondary.

[PonyCat]

On the depth chart, they list a "new" position called "U-End." McKinney is first team there followed by Mario Walker & CPhillips.

[mrydel]

On the depth chart, they list a "new" position called "U-End." McKinney is first team there followed by Mario Walker & CPhillips.

I think that means U end up somewhere other than where you should or want to be.

[SMU Football Blog]

On the depth chart, they list a "new" position called "U-End." McKinney is first team there followed by Mario Walker & CPhillips.

I think that means U end up somewhere other than where you should or want to be.

***standing ovation***

[SMU Football Blog]

I may be totally off base, but I remember reading somewhere that, though you would not recognize it, we run the Urban Meyer version Spread Offense. That position has no fullback, but sometimes employes a tight end in motion that sometimes lines up between the tackles two or three yards deep. The position runs on occasion, catches and also blocks. I think that is the same position as we are talking about here, but I thought that was called "U-Back," not "U-End"

Here is one of the rare references to the position I could find:
http://www.alligator.org/pt2/050929latsko.php

[Charleston Pony]

I think that U-back means he will be under-utilized. Actually, I do like him as a fullback running out of the I formation in short yardage. We saw that a time or two last year and I liked it with the M&M boys running north/south