Goals for Offseason

[mrydel]

Need more offense but the defensive is hurting for size, speed and talent. Other than that we have arrived.

[SMU21TCU10]

I know we gave up a ton of yards. But other then the Rice game our D didn't really give up a ton of points to conference opponents. We held 6 conference opponents in the 30-40 range and only 1, Houston in the 40 range. Thats not bad in a conference with no D and all O. most of our opponents allowed a lot of points to Rice. And most allowed a lot more to UH and Tulsa. Anyway my point is if we generate an offense similar to JJ's at Hawaii we can outscore the other teams in most of our games. =) Was that a really sunshiner post?

Not sunshine. I agree that the D wasn't awful. The offense just shockingly underperformed IMO. Maybe my expectations were too high but, at least looking in from afar, the offense took a step back from 2007. Am I wrong here? If the offense produces then you aren't 1-11.

I agree. JJ turned the worst O in the country at Hawaii into one of the best in his first year didnt he? Ours was like 43 last year and probably 100 this year. That was the bigger problem than the D.

[ponyte]

When the best hit of the year was delivered by the placekicker, then it is a clue that the D needs a lot of upgrading. We need to vastly improve on D. We had too many times where the opponent’s O just pushed us back for 5-7 yards. We had too many blown coverages. We had too few people flying to the ball. We had effort but lacked speed, size, strength, experience and a head hunting attitude. Off season goal is to improve the D. We have got to get just a few stops on 3rd and 10+ yards. That alone would be a vast improvement.

[ReedFrawg]

Ok, so I looked some more at the stats and the defense was, in fact, really bad (#118) - ahead of UNT by 3 yards per game. #117 in rush D. Would be #115 in pass defense if you take out the Navy game. Based on this in-depth analysis, I retract my previous statements about the defense.

[PoconoPony]

These guy's, as June has been pointing out lately, need to MOVE into the weight room! Just look at our db's for example, we look like midgets compared to our oppenents. There is nothing you can do about being short, but, we look like skinny kids out there. Got to build some glutes, legs, and fill out those jersey's a little bit, then mabey they won't get run over so often. It will take discipline with nutrition as well.

Build all the strength and muscle you want and it does no good unless you have some concept of tackling technique. The strongest players are still going to miss tackles and give up mucho yardage when all tackles are attempted around the shoulders and are either missed or turn into wrestling matches.

[OC Mustang]

I know we gave up a ton of yards. But other then the Rice game our D didn't really give up a ton of points to conference opponents. We held 6 conference opponents in the 30-40 range and only 1, Houston in the 40 range. Thats not bad in a conference with no D and all O. most of our opponents allowed a lot of points to Rice. And most allowed a lot more to UH and Tulsa. Anyway my point is if we generate an offense similar to JJ's at Hawaii we can outscore the other teams in most of our games. =) Was that a really sunshiner post?

Not sunshine. I agree that the D wasn't awful. The offense just shockingly underperformed IMO. Maybe my expectations were too high but, at least looking in from afar, the offense took a step back from 2007. Am I wrong here? If the offense produces then you aren't 1-11.

I love it that we all parse sub-.500 seasons into who was better, the O or the D. The team sucked. Period. It doesn't mean that the players suck, or the coaches suck...it means that the team sucked. And we are so tone-deaf to that fact that we openly wonder what has to be tweaked to get above .500. How about EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING needs to be tweaked, coached up, conditioned, and drilled.

I know that I said the lines needed work earlier...I have changed my tune.
I think EVERY part of this team needs an enema.

And Reed, I'm not ripping on you. You certainly didn't do it. I am simply dumbstruck that we co-opted you into the same measure of thinking.

Just utterly sad.

[ReedFrawg]

And Reed, I'm not ripping on you. You certainly didn't do it. I am simply dumbstruck that we co-opted you into the same measure of thinking.

Just utterly sad.

No worries. I'm an ex-kicker so I am used to the abuse.

[Come and Take It]

What do the Mustangs need to do for next season in the offseason?

Get better.

[The PonyGrad]

Ok, so I looked some more at the stats and the defense was, in fact, really bad (#118) - ahead of UNT by 3 yards per game. #117 in rush D. Would be #115 in pass defense if you take out the Navy game. Based on this in-depth analysis, I retract my previous statements about the defense.

Stats are not quite as bad as that looks. Not to say we really need to get better, but the offense did not help the D at all. Kept them on the field, put them in bad situations.

Measured by yards per play SMU was 100th in Rush D and 111th in TTL D. Still really bad but not quite #118 and #117.

[mrydel]

Ok, so I looked some more at the stats and the defense was, in fact, really bad (#118) - ahead of UNT by 3 yards per game. #117 in rush D. Would be #115 in pass defense if you take out the Navy game. Based on this in-depth analysis, I retract my previous statements about the defense.

Why do you make us take out the one game where our pass defense excelled? We play a perfect game from a pass defensive perspective.

[ReedFrawg]

Ok, so I looked some more at the stats and the defense was, in fact, really bad (#118) - ahead of UNT by 3 yards per game. #117 in rush D. Would be #115 in pass defense if you take out the Navy game. Based on this in-depth analysis, I retract my previous statements about the defense.

Why do you make us take out the one game where our pass defense excelled? We play a perfect game from a pass defensive perspective.

You're right - you forced them to become one-dimensional.

[mrydel]

Ok, so I looked some more at the stats and the defense was, in fact, really bad (#118) - ahead of UNT by 3 yards per game. #117 in rush D. Would be #115 in pass defense if you take out the Navy game. Based on this in-depth analysis, I retract my previous statements about the defense.

Why do you make us take out the one game where our pass defense excelled? We play a perfect game from a pass defensive perspective.

You're right - you forced them to become one-dimensional.

Our problem was not putting 11 in the box.

[EastStang]

Games are won and lost in the trenches. A good O-line gives a runner a real hole instead of a glimmer, and a passer an extra second to find a receiver and spot coverage. A good D-line, stuffs the run and forces passing when and then sacks or hurries the QB. Give me lots of big uglies. After that give me some linebackers who drink blood and take the heads off of small QB's or wide-outs running a crossing pattern. Hitting the weight room would help for all players. After that, get BLM more reps and the players to go to class and follow the rules.

[Diamond Girl]

I'll suggest psychological counseling for the players (and fans?) to try to overcome learned helplessness attitude. They've been kicked around now for 20+ years and have learned to expect losing. This attitude needs to be changed to the 'little engine that could' attitude before the team will start improving and winning. They need to learn to believe in themselves and believe they can win. Once they start believing in themselves, the other things will follow. Like Bo Levi said, the team needs players who believe in winning and who will be able to fire up their teammates.