On to Navy

[smupony94]

SMU @ Navy -20

[Charleston Pony]

SMU @ Navy -20

opened higher than I would have guessed, but still might go to 22 before game day

[Charleston Pony]

spread now up to 21.5 any takers?

[CA Mustang]

Great theory and unbeatable if you have an equal or better athlete at each position. We do not.

No better athletes than Navy? Ouch...

[mrydel]

You need a better athlete at every position, not just some. Every position is played one on one.

[couch 'em]

You need a better athlete at every position, not just some. Every position is played one on one.

If this was true every team would still be playing option ball.

[mrydel]

Not necessarily. Many players want to play beyond college. When you get to the professional level they athletic ability on the defensive side is adequate to handle the option so it does not play well there. The military schools use it because you cannot play a normal game and match up unless of course you have top athletes to stop them.

[JasonB]

Our DL and LBs really struggle with assignment football with the zone read, which doesn't bode well for playing against the option.

On the plus side, our defense gets exposed when we are spread out and we have one LB in the middle of the field. When teams play more compact, we are much better against the run. I think Rhone could play a lot better in this game, but I think I would circle Tui at MLB. I think this type of game is made for him because he is physical and really struggles more in pass coverage.

In order to contain the option, DRich is going to have to play pretty close to the line and help the linebackers, so I think we will get beat for long passes over the top at least twice in this game.

Two factors that might make us play a little better than Mason's defenses: We have done a much better job developing a rotation on the DL than he did, which could help. And the defense as a whole is more physical and more physically prepared, which should help a little.

All in all, though, mobile QBs have killed us all year.

[PonySnob]

Bad case of butthurt

[Rebel10]

Not necessarily. Many players want to play beyond college. When you get to the professional level they athletic ability on the defensive side is adequate to handle the option so it does not play well there. The military schools use it because you cannot play a normal game and match up unless of course you have top athletes to stop them.

Well said.

[Junior]

Not having any decent linebackers is going to hurt us.

[mrydel]

Big time

[The Falcon]

For 5 or 6 straight weeks I have been saying that I'd like to see us ---

tackle someone; tackle anyone, and tackle everyone. We are getting better at
this; in the Temple game we had some very good hitting.

Because Navy runs the wishbone it will be necessary for us to "tackle everyone"
or assignment football. Go for it Mustangs. An unexpected win would be a great thing.

[HarvCrimYaleBlue]

Cool story on Stich and Navy http://wpo.st/E2rm0 that was twatted.

[SoCal_Pony]

trying to remember the last SMU D Coordinator who was successful against Navy...was it Schumann?

I think you mean Hyndman.

Oh, and Lance won more games than any QB in SWC history. That makes him elite & CHOF worthy IMO.