The aggy

[SMU89]

jones teams come up poor and rusty in first games? facts, anyone?

I decided to pull the scores from first games with JJ teams:

1999 - USC 62 Hawaii 7
2000 - Portland State (I-AA) 45 Hawaii 20
2001 - Hawaii 30 Montana (I-AA) 12
2002 - Hawaii 61 Eastern Illinois (I-AA) 36
2003 - Hawaii 40 Appalachian State (I-AA) 17
2004 - Florida Atlantic (I-AA) 35 Hawaii 28 Overtime
2005 - USC 63 Hawaii 17
2006 - Alabama 25 Hawaii 17
2007 - Hawaii 63 Northern Colorado (I-AA) 6
2008 - Rice 56 SMU 27
2009 - SMU 31 Stephen F. Austin (FCS) 23
2010 - Texas Tech 35 SMU 27

Draw your own conclusions from there.

After careful review, I conclude we beat ATM and TCU.

[Harry0569]

I know TAMU always blows the cake when they have high expectations, but their offensive firepower scares the bejesus out of me. They have two potential first round picks in Cyrus Gray, RB, and Jeff Fuller, WR.

They are #8 in CFN's post spring practice top 25.

8. Texas A&M
The Aggies might have lost Von Miller to the Denver Broncos, but everyone else of note is back including RB Cyrus Gray, who’ll be among the top NFL prospects going into next offseason, and a loaded receiving corps led by Jeff Fuller, who’d get more appreciation if he didn’t play in the Big 12 with Justin Blackmon and Ryan Broyles. Now it’s time for the golden boy, QB Ryan Tannehill, to show that last year wasn’t a mirage, but he has a tremendous team around him. Throw in the nine starters coming back on defense, and the expectations are sky-high – and that’s sort of the problem. The Aggies haven’t exactly thrived over the years when they’re supposed to be good, and remember, they were struggling last year before the great second half run.

[Alaric]

They have a ton of talent. Fortunately, they also have Mike Sherman so it will be close.

[Alaric]

jones teams come up poor and rusty in first games? facts, anyone?

I decided to pull the scores from first games with JJ teams:

1999 - USC 62 Hawaii 7
2000 - Portland State (I-AA) 45 Hawaii 20
2001 - Hawaii 30 Montana (I-AA) 12
2002 - Hawaii 61 Eastern Illinois (I-AA) 36
2003 - Hawaii 40 Appalachian State (I-AA) 17
2004 - Florida Atlantic (I-AA) 35 Hawaii 28 Overtime
2005 - USC 63 Hawaii 17
2006 - Alabama 25 Hawaii 17
2007 - Hawaii 63 Northern Colorado (I-AA) 6
2008 - Rice 56 SMU 27
2009 - SMU 31 Stephen F. Austin (FCS) 23
2010 - Texas Tech 35 SMU 27

Draw your own conclusions from there.

I think this issue might have some merit. Leach's offenses were much better late in the season than in the beginning. It seems reasonable that a pass heavy offense would need game speed to get polished. Having good experience on offense should mitigate that somewhat...

[westexSMU]

In the 12 years of coaching in college, Coach Jones has never beat a Div. 1 team in the first game. Not a good start, but maybe an upset this year will change that. Coach Jones says that this will be the best D that he has ever had in college. I do agree also that Padron will be improved though I'm not sure about improvement at WR. Blocking and running game should be good.

[mrydel]

The primary thing I see lacking in the early season games is the timing especially on defense. With the policy of no full speed scrimmages, the defense is not quite prepared for the full speed tackling. Thus, we see a lot of missed tackles due to improper angles or just not wrapping up. That comes around after a couple of games.

I hope as we develope more depth we will do a little more full speed scrimmaging but I am not sure that is the Jones way.

[RaideronaPony]

I'm not saying SMU is likely to win but if they play a game like they played against TCU and minmize mistakes there is certainly a decent chance. Looking at the first game last year against Tech, Padron pretty much lost the game. No need to get offended when I say he is a very average qb. Other qbs like the one is austin would like to be average.

Nobody has the team they are gonna have the rest of the year in the first game. I do agree that not tackling in practice doesn't make much sense.

ATM is always overated and got smashed by LSU last year and their defense will be worse. I remember SMU having their chest puffed out alot more before the game agaisnt Tech last year but the armed forces bowl can change some things.

Smu had a stingy defense last year that should be able to hang with the ags if there is a good gameplan. I know there are some good young receivers but I guess they have question marks right now.

[westexSMU]

The lack of full speed scrimmages is an issue big time early. I think even more so against a aTm team early at their place. Hopefully with so many starters out this spring on D, JJ will allow more scrimmaging this fall. I do think playing at night helps our cause instead of 100+ heat and high coastal humidity.

[abezontar]

The lack of full speed scrimmages is an issue big time early. I think even more so against a aTm team early at their place. Hopefully with so many starters out this spring on D, JJ will allow more scrimmaging this fall. I do think playing at night helps our cause instead of 100+ heat and high coastal humidity.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't the reason he doesn't like full speed contact scrimmages due to the potential risk of losing a starter? If so, I doubt he will suddnely start scrimmaging in the fall when there will be even less time for his gusy to heal before the first game.

[NickSMU17]

Beat them in the trenches - are you nuts? They will out-weigh and out-athlete us on both lines - especially when we are on D.
.

Disagree....We have multiple NFL players on these lines...

[PonySnob]

vs I-AA teams 5-1
vs BCS teams 0-4
vs non-BCS teams 2-0

Which two non-BCS teams did he beat in game 1?

[RGV Pony]

vs I-AA teams 5-1
vs BCS teams 0-4
vs non-BCS teams 2-0

Which two non-BCS teams did he beat in game 1?

My bad. D1 teams 0-6

[NickSMU17]

ouch...

[gostangs]

i didnt say our lines didnt have talent - i said theirs has more. I stand by that. They will win an extended battle of the trenches.

[NickSMU17]

While usually I would agree...I am a big proponent of upper class-men having a definitive advantage over underclassmen....

Pretty sure the Aggies o line and dlines are young...