How many seasons does Orsini give Bennett to win?

[PonyTales]

You can't possibly be posing that as a serious question.
UT has wide receivers who look like small forwards, offensive linemen who look like dump trucks, running backs and defensive backs who could make up an outrageous sprint relay team, and they were all talented enough to be pursued by just about any program in the country. Put Justin Willis or Corey Slater or Eric Johnson or Zach Rhodes on that team and they'll look like the second coming, too. We have better talent around the QBs than we have in years past, but we are at a level where we still need siginificant contributions from all players, especially the quarterbacks.

[Charleston Pony]

QB was a question mark last year as I recall. I don't remember thinking our LB corps was going to be "stellar" in 2005. I know we all had questions on both the OL & DL. In 2006, we have the same conference schedule as last year and in the non-conference, we've substituted Tech for A$M, UNT for TCU, Ark St for Baylor and thrown in a I-AA game. With the softer schedule, improved line play and a stronger running game to buffer the QB situation I'd say this group better win 7 or it will be difficult to conclude that "progress" is being made.

[PonyTales]

You make good points, Charleston. But while there were questions surrounding Eckert and Romo last year, they at least had played in a Div. I-A game before. No current SMU quarterback has. Re: the linebackers - I don't think anyone saw a Butkus Award winner there, but at least having DD Lee, Rico Harris and Alvin Nnabuife meant there was a seasoned group of veteran LBs who understood Coach Bennett, Coach Gush and the defense they run. There will be some guys learning on the fly this year.

[PonySnob]

You make good points, Charleston. But while there were questions surrounding Eckert and Romo last year, they at least had played in a Div. I-A game before. No current SMU quarterback has.

Kind of ironic that we have a third string (or 4th?) TE who has more D-1 QB experience than any of the QB's on the roster.

[smu diamond m]

there is a lot more to playing football than what coach says. what you see on the field is different from what goes you see from the sidelines, and i think as long as we have SMART players, not just bennett vets, we will play good.

[Stallion]

I'm sure 0-12 Rice agrees with the importance of SMART players. Surely you are not that naive to think SMART players win football games. Athletes win football games. SMART players win football games-wow now that's a classic.

[couch 'em]

there is a lot more to playing football than what coach says. what you see on the field is different from what goes you see from the sidelines, and i think as long as we have SMART players, not just bennett vets, we will play good.

I'll take a team of huge, dumb gorilla-men who listen to Bennett than a team of the smartest football players in college football.

[Original Frank]

FrogSnob Idiot Alert!

Note: Everyone at UT is talking about taking a step back this year with Superman gone and the new frosh QBs. Everyone!

Typical FrogSnob anti-SMU balderdash.

[McClown27]

Was last season an aberration? Or the sign of things to come?

[McClown27]

I'm sure 0-12 Rice agrees with the importance of SMART players. Surely you are not that naive to think SMART players win football games. Athletes win football games. SMART players win football games-wow now that's a classic.

Stallion,
Vince Young is really smart.

Oh wait, he got a six on that Wonderlic test where half the questions an 8th grader could easily answer.

[smu diamond m]

damn, i'm not talking about geeks on the field playing football. i was simply saying that if you have 2 identical players, one that can read what is going on and adjust, and the other that only runs where coach tells him, the former is gonna make more plays. doesn't mean i think a 150lb OL will win games if they understand integrated photonics.

[couch 'em]

damn, i'm not talking about geeks on the field playing football. i was simply saying that if you have 2 identical players, one that can read what is going on and adjust, and the other that only runs where coach tells him, the former is gonna make more plays.

Yes, this is true, but a player who THINKS he knows everything and doesn't follow the coach's system, and fit within the teamwork, it a liability despite their talent. I forgot what the whole point of this argument is.....

doesn't mean i think a 150lb OL will win games if they understand integrated photonics.

I took that class. Dr. Christensen. It was..... challenging. One of the best EE profs by far.

[White Helmet]

I took that class. Dr. Christensen

And thats why you suck at football.

[BrianTinBigD]

8 WINS and a BOWL

Willis is the QB and he will be as good or better than Romo was in 2005. You can mark it down and call me a sunshiner all you want but this kid is a player. The one thing I remember when watching this kid in high school is that he is a winner and he can really control a game. The only team he could not beat was SLC and nobody has done that recently, not even Demyron Martin and he came as close as anyone.

Speaking of Martin, he will be a 1400 yard runner this year. At this point you are thinking that the local Kroger was selling sunshine in a bottle for less than a case of Lone Star. You would be wrong. Look at the numbers from last year. He averaged 85 yards a game over 10 games. Yet he was runnning at a 125 per game clip the last 5 games and the schedule actually gets easier this year. Expect a 200 yard game at least once next year.

The O-line may actually be better. Johnson, Urbanus, Peveto, Lobo, Poynter, Morton, and Burley. We have 7 hogs here who can keep the rush off Willis and open holes for Martin. Throw in the talent at TE and we will continue to have a potent running attack.

Bobby Chase, Pellerin, Givens, Sanders, and possibly Phillip Burley make up a bigger and better receiving corp. Throw in the possession midgets and we might have something here. If Burns actually looks there, the TE can be a good offensive weapon as well.

Expect the offense to average 28 points a game.

Defense is another discussion but here is what I see as possible starters on D:
Defensive End
11-Cory Muse (SO-0L, 6-3, 240, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
91-Kyle Griffi n (FR-RS, 6-4, 225, Colleyville, Texas)
Nose Guard
56-Brandon Bonds (JR-2L, 6-1, 300, Cooper, Texas)
68-Randy Denman (JR-1L, 6-2, 285, Dayton, Texas)
Defensive Tackle
60-Adrian Haywood (JR-JC, 6-3, 280, Mesquite, Texas)
92-Charlie Berry (JR-2L, 6-3, 280, Dallas, Texas)
Defensive End
40-Justin Rogers (JR-2L, 6-4, 250, Greenville, Texas)
90-Troy Therien (JR-JC, 6-4, 245, Meadow Vista, Calif.)
SAM Linebacker
44-Will Bonilla (FR-RS, 5-11, 200, Corpus Christi, Texas)
MIKE Linebacker
53-Reggie Carrington (SO-1L, 6-2, 235, Tomball, Texas)
WILL Linebacker
5-Wilton McCray (SO-1L, 6-0, 205, LaMarque, Texas)
Free Safety
10-Randall Goode (JR-JC, 5-11, 190, Hallettsville, Texas)
Strong Safety
29-Joe Sturdivant (JR-2L, 6-2, 210, Lilburn, Ga.)
24-Cortley Blackmon (SO-1L, 5-10, 185, Bay City, Texas)
Cornerback
22-Brandon Jones (JR-1L, 6-0, 180, Arlington, Texas)
21-Jonathan Lindley (SO-1L, 6-0, 185, Sulphur Springs, Texas)
7-David Haynes (FR-RS, 5-9, 190, McGregor, Texas)

[The PonyGrad]

Uh... those are last seasons player notes so all those players have another year of experience. The teams is actually the kind that we have been seeking for some time. It is an upper classman's lineup. This is what Bennett has been developing.

The days of the four year starters are over.