June Jone, the realist

[newshound]

Interesting listen to coach's brief and terse postgame comments. I mean, what else can the guy say after a clunker like yesterday?

It's at the very least somewhat encouraging that he freely admits that he knows the deal. Yes, his team could have easily gone 3-9 last season and who knows what would have happened had BLM not gone down vs. UH last season?

Fact is, teams have now seen Padron on tape, he misses Sanders and Wilkerson and, as terrific as Zach Line has been, he cannot take it to the house -- and teams KNOW that. I noticed it at Navy and again Saturday. Teams have gone to playing two very deep safeties and then loading up the box to stop the run. The draw play was not very effective yesterday, but the counter/trap running play was there most of the game.

Would really like to see June play with a little more confidence in his team -- as in go for two with 2:51 left at Navy to try to break that 19-game non-conference road losing streak. Or, go for 4th-and-1 at the UH 28 on the opening drive. To me, June's reputation is that of a coach that has a system that causes chaos on defense. That's not happening enough this season.

I also cannot figure out how, in 33 games as the SMU coach, he has not run ONE trick play on offense. Sure, he might not want to put anything on tape until his team is a real contender. I'd also like to understand why the team has so little depth. He has players that were his recruits that are true juniors and redshirt sophomores. Where are these guys?

Even at this stage, we are much better off than we have been in a long time, so it's too early to throw stones at the guy. But the last three halves of football are not his proudest moments as a head coach. The Navy game was doubly troubling because it was a carbon copy of what Navy did to us the year before, except that we played for OT at home instead of trying to win the game with a two-point conversion attempt in the final minute.

C'mon, June. Ya gotta start letting it all hang out. When you play "not to lose," well, you usually lose. And, that doesn't mean throw deep all the time. Change up the tempo, run some hurry-up, get the 2-minute drill polished once and for all. Without better talent, the other teams have proved that they can defense your system reasonably well, well enough to beat you.

[that's great raplh]

a trick play would nice

[sbsmith]

Some screens and empty sets would be nice, trying to stretch the field horizontally sometimes would be nice too.

[westexSMU]

Zack Line has done a good job to this point, but you are right saying teams are loading up the box now and I think we could use a little speed now and then as a change of pace with Fields playing more.I know, he can't block,but still he has speed...The secondary is another issue when Moore can't play. We just have NO DEPTH at CB behind him now. Really hurt by the two guys not making their grades this year at CB. Can't vision any of the two freshmen getting ready to play this year.However, I would sure like to get surprised.

[RE Tycoon]

The only time he really has changed things up was in the Hawaii Bowl where he came out with 5 WR sets. We all know the result of that coaching decision. IF we make it to a bowl, maybe we will see some creativity again.

[Longtime]

Not so sure Fields has the quick-burst speed that would make a difference. On his kickoff returns, it seems to take him a while to get up to full speed - even with no one in front of him.

I wouldn't mind seeing him try a few plays at RB, though. He's certainly more of a home run threat.

[Hilltop]

I felt like Fields started to show some speed in the Houston game last weekend. I think he has a bright future ahead of him, but it will be interesting to see how he finishes out the season. I would definitely like to see him get some carries to help him develop.

[jimhagle]

Since Fields has burned any chance of a redshirt year now, give the guy a few more carries for goodness sakes.

[ponyboy]

Anybody have any idea what Zach Line's speed is like? Or are we just assuming he's not fast? Being the leading rusher in CUSA and #18 in the nation, it seems like a figure that like would be easy to come by.

[Big Hoss]

Since Fields has burned any chance of a redshirt year now, give the guy a few more carries for goodness sakes.

Yep. How about a 1-2 punch of Line and Fields? Remember how effective the Rutgers backfield was with Rice and Lonard (I think that was the other guy's name) a few years ago? We could easily become a poor-man's version of that. Give it a try, at least. What the he!!, right?

[ponyboy]

Folks, running back was not the problem on Saturday. Let's fix the one thing that's not broken, lol.

[RE Tycoon]

I think what would help this offense/Padron is to have a safety valve out of the back field a la Shawnbrey last year. I feel like Shawnbrey released to the flat last year where as Line releases to the middle of the field and sits at the line of scrimmage. By the time Padron needs him, Padron has run out of the pocket and Line is useless as a safety valve.

I'm not sure if Fields is the answer, but I would assume he could do more in the flat whereas Line is too slow to do much from the flat. The only way to answer that question is to see Fields play more. Lets not put all the blame on JJ for not playing Fields. He has done nothing but praise his ability, but he has always said that he will not play until he learns the blocking scheme. We have played eight games and if Fields isn't playing because he still can't pick up his blocking assignments, then he only has himself to blame.

[davidpaul123]

I think what would help this offense/Padron is to have a safety valve out of the back field a la Shawnbrey last year. I feel like Shawnbrey released to the flat last year where as Line releases to the middle of the field and sits at the line of scrimmage. By the time Padron needs him, Padron has run out of the pocket and Line is useless as a safety valve.

I'm not sure if Fields is the answer, but I would assume he could do more in the flat whereas Line is too slow to do much from the flat. The only way to answer that question is to see Fields play more. Lets not put all the blame on JJ for not playing Fields. He has done nothing but praise his ability, but he has always said that he will not play until he learns the blocking scheme. We have played eight games and if Fields isn't playing because he still can't pick up his blocking assignments, then he only has himself to blame.

I posted this same thing in another thread and I think it is one of the biggest differences between this year and last year. Im assuming the coaches think Line cant do anything if he recieves the ball in space (he is certainly not as shifty as Shawnbrey) but I havent seen them try it. There has to be another back on this roster who they feel like would be good in space. Maybe its Fields or maybe its someone else but having this checkdown was huge for Padron last year and I think it is really missing in 2010.

[ponyinNC]

Butler??