Phil Steele's preview - SMU

[crazy horse]

Finally got the Steele preview. This is the only one I buy now since it actually gives great info on all 119 teams.

A couple of interesting notes:

1. Steele ranks all 1A teams by awarding points based on the class of starters and players listed on the 2-deep. SMU once again is ranked at the bottom (#119) as the youngest team in college football.

2. He predicts a #8 WAC finish and thinks SMU will have the 3rd best D next year. Nevada and San Jose are 9th and 10th and assume he gives the edge based on home field advantage.

3. Allan Adami is the only 1st team All-WAC. Massey, Kieschnick and Warren (PR) make the 3rd team. Lee and Nnabuife make 4th team.

4. SMUs 04 recruiting class ranked 4th in the WAC behind Tulsa ( 68 ), Hawaii and Boise. Steele uses his own formula for calculating a player's rank out of high school or JUCO by position based on an average from all the top recruiting services.

[Otto]

Finally got the Steele preview. This is the only one I buy now since it actually gives great info on all 119 teams.

A couple of interesting notes:

1. Steele ranks all 1A teams by awarding points based on the class of starters and players listed on the 2-deep. SMU once again is ranked at the bottom (#119) as the youngest team in college football.

Which is why the smart money is on 2005 as the real breakout year. Progress is vital this year, but the significant win/loss improvement will show up next year.

.... Allan Adami is the only 1st team All-WAC. Massey, Kieschnick and Warren (PR) make the 3rd team. Lee and Nnabuife make 4th team.

This is where I have a real issue. Adami is a slam-dunk for the first team, and I would think Kieschnick should be either second- or third-team. Warren also deserves recognition. Massey? No offense -- I want him to break every record we have -- but how does he make the third team and Munlin isn't even mentioned? Munlin is stronger (overall, if not in the weight room), more mature, older, more experienced .... if Steele had anyone who actually saw spring ball get the information for him, Munlin's name would be the RB representative on that list.

The real crime in this section is Nnabuife -- that guy should be on the first team. He's an extremely smart player, hits like a runaway truck and is real instinctive .... he always seems to be around the ball. Has pretty decent hands, too, and runs well. Maybe it was that weird injury he had a couple years ago, but he gets no pub for his level of play. He deserves every honor he can get. With all due respect to the great Allan Adami, I think Nnabuife is the best defensive player we have.

.... SMUs 04 recruiting class ranked 4th in the WAC behind Tulsa ( 68 ), Hawaii and Boise. Steele uses his own formula for calculating a player's rank out of high school or JUCO by position based on an average from all the top recruiting services.

This means little until classes are ranked by people who actually see the players play (translation: coaches). Recruiting services compile reports and rate players on reputation as much as anything. If Steele's "formula" is a compilation of the ratings thrown out by recruiting services, then his don't mean much, either. In a few years, we'll know where this class really ranks.

[Hoop Fan]

Steele loses credibility without Foy Munlin mentioned. He is the impact player for 2004.

[DallasDiehard]

Agreed - not mentioning Munlin shows Steele (or his editorial staff) have no idea what's going on on the Hilltop, and that they simply regurgitate what they read elsewhere.
Which also makes you what they've been reading.

[Ikus]

They need to read the PF.com story on Munlin.

[The PonyGrad]

Even though Munlin is a senior he is still elligible for newcomer of the year, isn't he? If so, he should have a great shot at it.