Mason: We're going to hit... This isn't flag football...

[blackoutpony]

Thank God. Wayyyyyy overdue. As a former OL/ DL. you can't really get game ready unless you can smash someones face into the ground in practice, aka develop and a damn mean streak. I'm a little old school (even though I'm 25), but I used to LOVE Oklahoma Drills

Good for Mason.

[SMU1523]

Please see that I asked about Mason having the potential to get "a" head coaching job, not the SMU job.

[Junior]

I like this.

[TWALV33]

I don't realistically think we can beat TCU or A&M,

but I like the direction Mason is starting off in. As long as our team looks like we are going to put up a fight.

A little fire is what JJ was missing and Mason is already lightyears ahead of JJ in that regard. Contact is practice should've happened long ago.

[Rebel10]

This sounds similar to what JJ was doing. So is there any real change?

“We’re not going to tackle to the ground but we’re going to put the pads on and we’re going to hit,” Mason said. “It’s not going to be flag football.”

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... tact.html/

[blackoutpony]

This sounds similar to what JJ was doing. So is there any real change?

“We’re not going to tackle to the ground but we’re going to put the pads on and we’re going to hit,” Mason said. “It’s not going to be flag football.”

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... tact.html/

Welp, nevermind.... some old BS

[JasonB]

I would guess there will be significant change in that the pads will be worn more often and that the majority of the practive will involve physical play and hitting instead of the offense running 7 v 7 or against air.

[mrydel]

As adamant as I am about full speed practice with full speed hitting, once the season starts, tackling to the ground should not be necessary. I would not mind it but not needed after two games to get them up to speed. But full speed line play helps in picking up blitz packages.

[JasonB]

A lot of times in the past, practice would start with breaking into individual units for position drills, then come together - defense would play against the scout team and beat them up to a certain extent. Offense would play against air. then offense would transition to 7v7 against the reserve defense. Then the offense and defense would get together and scrimmage.

The article implies that practice will start by breaking into 1v1 groups - OL vs DL, WR vs CB, LB vs RB. Then the rest of practice will be fast paced 1's versus 2's on both sides of the ball.

Hopefully that will get the offense more ready to go under game situations. I am guessing that even if you don't tackle to the ground, by going full speed in practice more of the time the fog of war won't occur as much... it's harder on the kids, and I respect June for keeping player health in mind, but there is a not so fine line between keeping the kids healthy and having them not ready for game speed...

[footballdad]

2 major differences:

Everyone now included in the Oklahoma drill including the O-Line. I believe this has previously been a defense only drill.

The younger guys, redshirts, and backups will now have their own full speed, tackle to the ground 11 on 11 games. Previously these kids basically got 3/4 speed walk thru's with no hitting against the starters. There are plenty of players on the team that have been here 2 or 3 years that have NEVER been able to play and hit full speed in a live scrimmage situation. I think that was a big philosophical Mason vs. June problem which has just changed.

From what I understand Mason gave his own 'intro to the team, this is how it's gonna be' speech to the team this week and it was met with a standing ovation from the players.

Junes primary cronies (Phillips & Mel) are none too happy about it and it is obvious. Gonna be a lot of tension on the staff the rest of the way but Mason has taken charge.

JasonB's comments above are also part of what I've heard as well.

[RGV Pony]

Atta boy Mason

[leopold]

I've heard rumblings that there are members of the staff who are quietly happy that June is gone because they felt that he wasn't motivated and was getting in the way. We'll see. I do hope they approach this with a new since of purpose.

[Junior]

Get on board or get out of the way.

[PSCA]

Players like Mason, recruits like Mason, and parents like Mason, and so do the HS coaches. Mason loves football, and yes he wants to be a HC. He believes in full contact esp. in the spring an early fall camp. Real football as he said. In season, I think you need to throttle that back some. I remember two years ago before the first Baylor game, Mason told me, I wish I could get June to let us go a few times full tilt. There is no way these guys a going to be in game shape (speed of the game, feel for the game, physicality, conditioning is different etc.). Pract will be more physical now in season going forward.

I think Mason will/would be a good HC, will be considered here ... probably not. I remember he told me once, the HC is the CEO. You surround yourself with top notch folks. Get a lights out OC and DC, and then surround them with a bunch young hungry guns, and recruit like a scolded dog. Attitudes and approach are shaped/influenced top to bottom ... as we know and have seen. Don't think for one second Mason doesn't get it, or understand it .... nor with his years in the business and contacts ... that he could not pull together a quality staff. He could. Not saying he should be the guy here ... and sometimes you do need a clean slate.

If we make a splash hire ... great. I personally don't think it is the end-all to be-all. Get a staff that understand and embraces recruiting , and start hitting the local HS's and the state hard an often with enthusiasm and integrity, the relationships will be there and the HS coaches will open and support the program. Just MO. I think HS coaches, especially locals want to support SMU and point their players our way for the reasons that have been stated many times. Show them some attention, effort and that you generally care, heck I think I could build those relationships successfully and quickly.

[Bergermeister]

Mason is a hard worker, a good guy and an outstanding coach. He has been supportive of SMU in a number of areas and has been visible in the SMU community throughout his time here. If he does not land a head coaching gig, I'd like to think he could be a fit on a new staff here. He is a team player. He gets it.