Defensive turnover next year

[footballdad]

This is one argument I'm not going to lose and you are going to look like an idiot in 3 years-that's why I want you to check in after 3 years when the Chad Morris gets finished with this rebuild.

Our argument was about Johnson, and you already lost. The bigger argument about Morris rebuilding the team was never in question, we all win!

[footballdad]

I ignore footballdad so i cant see his posts but I assume he's trashing guys on the team that have 100x more talent than his worthless, sign-holding son?

Yeah, you're ignoring me huh? So mentally weak you have to make stupid comments about something you can't even see. If you want to make stupid, baseless comments then un-ignore me. If not, actually ignore me!

Classic ECM

[Rebel10]

Speed wise coach noted that we are not fast. Sometimes when you have talent in place it can make up for mistakes. As noted by another coach that since we don't have the talent we have to make perfect plays most of the time. That's tough.

[Stallion]

What did I say about Johnson. All I did was point out he won a national track championship as a Junior, didn't play as a Senior in High School because of injury and played limited minutes in 3 years at Missouri. For decades I've posted information about every SMU recruit. I didn't say he was going to good, great, bad or average. In fact, I've posted numerous times that SMU shouldn't recruit any JUCOs since its a waste of a scholarship since they won't be around when the party starts in about 2017. I feel the same about transfers although because of the way the 85 man scholarship limit works you can add a late Graduate Transfer in August without losing a 25 man recruit. I'm sure you don't understand what I'm talking about because you don't know much about college football.

Fact this is the first time in 25 years that I have been this positive that SMU is going to build a strong program-I not a cheerleader I'm basing this on solid recruiting results, hard work on recruiting trail, coaching pedigree and composition and knowledge of how programs are built

[jimhagle]

And let's stop worrying about losing a recruit to another school like ND just because they offered late. For all we know Morris and staff may hold onto everyone regardless.

[footballdad]

What did I say about Johnson. All I did was point out he won a national track championship as a Junior, didn't play as a Senior in High School because of injury and played limited minutes in 3 years at Missouri. For decades I've posted information about every SMU recruit. I didn't say he was going to good, great, bad or average. In fact, I've posted numerous times that SMU shouldn't recruit any JUCOs since its a waste of a scholarship since they won't be around when the party starts in about 2017. I feel the same about transfers although because of the way the 85 man scholarship limit works you can add a late Graduate Transfer in August without losing a 25 man recruit. I'm sure you don't understand what I'm talking about because you don't know much about college football.

Fact this is the first time in 25 years that I have been this positive that SMU is going to build a strong program-I not a cheerleader I'm basing this on solid recruiting results, hard work on recruiting trail, coaching pedigree and composition and knowledge of how programs are built

I understand you perfectly, trying now to deflect and change the conversation, after making a point and being challenged on it. Not sure what makes you the all knowing guru of college football on ponyfans either? Sure you spend many more hours than most, following recruiting, but plenty of people here seem to follow college football closely, and probably know as much or more about college football than you. This is an opinion and chat board, and your opinion is worth no more than anyone else.

Who knows what you were saying about Johnson? You jumped in with a comment, (it was also pointed out that he had knee surgery after running those times and did not play as a Senior in high school but you left that out) apparently alluding to your opinion that Johnson is no longer fast?

I guess this was your attempt to counter my original argument to Charleston Pony to "Argue all you want whether it's coaching, scheme, or brain dead players, but blown coverages and mistakes have more to do with our defensive woes, than simply using speed as an excuse."

If you want to get back on point, you can make your argument whether Johnson's poor coverage on that 4th quarter bomb was due to his lack of speed....or due to coaching/scheme/player brain fart? (Didn't mean to insult with brain dead player)

If you don't want to get back on the original point, don't bother going further down some other tangent, the thread has already been taken far enough off course. And yes, I already agreed that Morris will turn around the defense eventually (if he stays long enough, and if he seriously evaluates Malone's progress/competence, on a yearly basis)

[Charleston Pony]

Morris & staff did a nice job in 2015 with a short recruiting season but if they keep this bunch together, the 2016 class will be the one eventually credited for turning SMU football around. This year's defense has improved and their effort has been great, but like Morris has said "you either have speed or you end up chasing it". Too often our guys can only watch as opposing players leave them in their wake.

Like David Johnson, the track star with plenty of speed, who gave up the bomb in the 4th when we still had a chance. Argue all you want whether it's coaching, scheme, or brain dead players, but blown coverages and mistakes have more to do with our defensive woes, than simply using speed as an excuse.

Johnson might be as fast as any of our DBs but that doesn't necessarily translate to his being a good defender. There is a reason we were able to get him for his last year of eligibility...he wasn't going to be starting or necessarily seeing much playing time at Missouri...but still an upgrade on our team. Yes, he's been inconsistent...but how many of our guys have not been?

[jimhagle]

Johnson bit on that play but so did our safety. Hence no one was back there to cover Johnson's back.

[Puckhead48E]

The get off my lawn yelling fest is getting so old.

We suck on D because we are slow, dumb, lazy, and lost. We lack talent. Next season, we will have some new freshmen and some red-shirts...both groups with more potential (Our Lady of the Walk school for the blind has as much potential as our current team) but with less game experience than even the crappiest player this season. We will see improvements, but nothing on par with the offensive growth we have seen. Like many have said, StangGang'16 will likely be that first class that can really make their mark en masse on the program...and that will be after a few years together.

Yes, we are on an upward trajectory...doesn't mean like is peachy and all is roses. Still so much improvement to be had, even with the players we have now. Simple mistakes kill momentum and lead to losses, mistakes that should not be made even by players of this level. It will happen, and we will get there...so how about be somewhat constructive (can be positive or negative, just be productive) and keep supporting.

Or, stay classy with the stupid childish personal stuff behind a computer screen.

[Rebel10]

Help is on the way!

Guys redshirting this year:

DL Biggers (P5 offer)
DLThedford
DE/LB M. Scott (P5 offers)
DE/LB D. Scott (P5 offers)
DB Clemons (P5 offer)
DB J. Williams (P5 offers)

Help coming next year:

DE/LB Badejo (P5 offers)
DT McLaurin (P5 offers)
DT P. Jones
DL Gary (P5 offer)
LB Spears (P5 offers)
LB Ward
LB D. Williams
DB M. Clark (P5 offer)
DB C. Davis (P5 offers)
DB Onu (P5 offer)
DB Sutton
ATH Carlisle - recruited as Star, could end up on offense
ATH Dukes - recruited as Star, could end up on offense

Since we have 1 or 2 more slots open we might be getting even more help. It will probably take about a season for them to get comfortable with the college game and then things get a lot better imo.

[blackoutpony]

FBD's go to, is to insult everyone else and try to be king of the mountain by yelling the loudest. It's so old and has nothing to do with the inevitable defensive turnover.

The defense is still going to be pretty rough next year and will be maddening at times to watch, since we will be playing a pile of young kids, but help is coming and it's athletic. They may not be world beaters, but hopefully by 2017, we can have a solid defense, so Morris can actually run his fast offense without having to be afraid that his defense is going to get killed.

[ponyte]

Better athletes make better coaches. And we need more team speed on D. It isn't the corners or safeties so much as the front 7. Overall, we are just too slow. And the other issue that is of concern is the lack of closing speed. Overall, our guys lack that explosive quickness to close on a runner.

HCCM and his staff have to recruit well to improve the overall team speed. That will take 2 or 3 more recruiting classes.

[Rebel10]

Better athletes make better coaches. And we need more team speed on D. It isn't the corners or safeties so much as the front 7. Overall, we are just too slow. And the other issue that is of concern is the lack of closing speed. Overall, our guys lack that explosive quickness to close on a runner.

HCCM and his staff have to recruit well to improve the overall team speed. That will take 2 or 3 more recruiting classes.

This ^.

[ojaipony]

What I'm getting, then, from all those in the know and me thinking quite a bit on this:

- Next year, it is realistic to expect our offense will be better due to one more year for our running backs, OL, etc in the S&C program and being just one year more experienced (Sutton, RBs, younger OLs, Thomas/Castille, etc)

- Next year, our defense might not be much better but we should expect maybe more competitiveness/energy at least with some new young talent coming in.

So if our offense is expected to be a bit better and our defense slightly so (and special teams maybe a bit better although Hedlund will be gone unfortunately - that guy is damn good - our NET difference could win us another game or two).

So I'm going WAY out on a limb here and say we win 3 games this season (Tulane and one more surprise one). Then next year maybe 5. Then, 2017 is bowl game.

Ok, that's fine. It's just a year slower than I realistically expected.

[Digetydog]

The redshirt list provides little inspiration, and the true frosh are...... true frosh, going to be another long year on D. Hopefully some of the freshmen start to really help 2 years from now.

Exactly. True freshman lineman, in particular, rarely make an impact.

In addition to a general talent upgrade, Malone desperately needs to find an "impact player" at LB and/or DB. If we had a guy capable of making 5 "special" plays per game, we probably have 4 wins and maybe 5.

Unfortunately, none of the existing guys seem to have that "it factor" that our defense desperately needs. I am hoping one of the Scott brothers is "that guy."