College Football News Preview

[SMUstang07]

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1080328.html

Also has a breakdown of our week one showdown with the aggies

[Harry0569]

Damnit...I have been waiting for months to post this.

Something very special is building at SMU. And it might be ready to hit a crescendo this fall.

In just three years, June Jones has been nothing short of a miracle worker, guiding the program from the depths of irrelevancy to an improbable place of prominence. In 2009, the Mustangs snapped a quarter-century bowl drought, going 8-5 and rocking Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl. A year ago, they won the Conference USA West Division, moving a step closer to an elusive league title. Fans of the school can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

To be fair, SMU sort of went sideways in 2010, going 7-7 and playing poorly down the stretch in losses to UCF in the league title game and Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. Chalk it up to growing pains, as the Mustangs lacked the previous year’s overall efficiency and big-play ability. The promising news on the Hilltop is that 18 starters are back, giving Jones the arsenal he needs to deliver the encore that didn’t quite happen last fall. After building from the ground floor up, the coach has manufactured a two-deep that has no glaring weaknesses. QB Kyle Padron is set to explode in his junior year. League-leading rusher Zach Line gives the run-and-shoot ideal balance and muscle. Every starter from both lines is back for another year. Pound-for-pound, no one, not Houston, Tulsa, or UCF, has more talent in the league than SMU.

With each passing year, the dark days of the Death Penalty in the 1980s and the subsequent malaise get smaller in the rear view mirror. This is a new program with a new trajectory and a fresh outlook. SMU. Sudden Makeover University

[Harry0569]

The season will be a success if ... the Mustangs recapture their 2009 form. SMU got a little stale down the stretch last fall, showing uncharacteristic flaws on offense. The program wants to deliver a cleaner product that makes fewer mistakes and looks as if it’s actually evolving on the field and in the standings. In terms of tangible results, the Mustangs have enough talent to navigate a brutal schedule and win eight games, nine with a postseason victory.

[ponyte]

Injuries hurt down the stretch. That is an issue with depth. It wasn't just losing D starters (we lost two starters early in the conference championship game). We had guys with injuries that played (Padron, Thompson to name a couple). One can't help but wonder what the year would have been like healthy at the end of the season.

This year, we could have more depth at key positions. The O line should be a real strength protecting the QB and opening holes for the running game. And we have depth there for a change. The D line should have a little better depth which’s desperately needed. Our LB corp also will have back up support that is much improved. The key to late season success is uninjured performers. Though our talent level may appear similar to last year, more depth and the ability to rest players could give us an advantage near the end of the season. We aren't there yet in terms of depth but vastly improved.

We took TTU to the wire with an inexperience crew in many positions and a lack of depth. That isn’t the case against any early opponent this year.

If we can stary healthy and get plenty of production from both starters and back ups, it could be the very best season for SMU in 25 years.

[sbsmith]

Decent review but they butchered a couple of names.

Josh Lories-Josh LeRibeus
Blake Chunking- Blake McJunkin

[Arkpony]

I am positive but remain concerned about Padron. An injury could have been at fault for his less than stellar performance, I hope that's the case, but don't think so. If he has another year like 2010 our season will be very disappointing.

[PonyPlayer4]

I didn't know that T Reed was all the way up to 230!

Also, I'm having trouble getting to the preview of the A&M game. The link is being stubborn for me.

[leopold]

If we beat A&M I'm going ape$hit.