News and notes

[PerunaPunch]

Three players who reportedly have some of the most significant improvement in their conditioning ("through hard work and just maturing physically," according to head coach Phil Bennett) are QB Justin Willis, RB DeMyron Martin and DT Charlie Berry.

Anthony Sowe has moved from OLB to DE. He has added 30 pounds since his arrival at SMU, now weighing in at 225.

Three players who, IMHO, needed to show the most significant improvement. The great Justin Willis, as good as he was/is, needed to get his head on straight. The formerly great DeMyron Martin needed get back to where he was. And we need Charlie Berry to step up in the worst possible way. Hopefully this isn't a load of coach-speak rah, rah. Because if it isn't, maybe we're in for a breakout season.

Like Richuel or Avery...had they stayed their last years, they would both have been starting.

I don't disagree with what you're saying in the main, but I wouldn't use Massey to prove your point. In the final analysis, Richuel is a statistical/workout wonder, not a DI running back (which just goes to prove how inaccurate the recruiting services can, at times, be). And if you don't believe me, check out the 141 yard season he had last year at Northwestern State (through 5 games). Best game was 46 yards against Southeastern Louisiana.

And to add onto what jtstang said, we're not taking flyers on these kids. For the most part Bennett recruits legit D1 prospects. Every program, and I mean every program, loses kids (including blue chippers) due to injury, personal issues, not getting enough playing time and whatnot (and in the case of OU and UT, jail -- at least we don't have that problem for the most part).

[PerunaPunch]

Richuel was terrible. He would not have started.

Why did Bennett give him a scholarship if he was so terrible? Are you saying the guy can't recruit?

If offering Massey a scholarship was obviously so bad, why was Miami trying to steal him away from us?

[jtstang]

Richuel was terrible. He would not have started.

Why did Bennett give him a scholarship if he was so terrible? Are you saying the guy can't recruit?

If offering Massey a scholarship was obviously so bad, why was Miami trying to steal him away from us?

Hey, I'm not the guy who said he was "terrible" when he got here.

[PerunaPunch]

I think Massey was so good in high school because he was very fast and more powerful than any high school DL or LB in the state, so he could basically run right through defenders.

So when you looked at him statistically in high school, he looked amazing!

But that advantage largely went away in college when most DLs were as strong as he was and also outweighed him by 100 lbs.

Also, if you every watched Massey in person or on film, he couldn't really cut and change direction very well. He is very much a straight ahead sort of guy. If you look at his stats since leaving SMU, they tend to support this supposition. He has a decent average, but it usually comes on one mid- to long-distance carry after a half dozen carries for minimal yardage.

[Stallion]

I think just the opposite-Massey wasn't all that fast. Fast enough for 3A - nothin' special in College. His asset in high school was probably his physical STRENGTH. Plus he did have two injuries as a high school senior and a College freshman that may have affected what speed he had. I was concerned following him as a Senior in high school that he wasn't a dominanting 3A RB. Very good yes-but not dominating like a top recruit should do at that level. He was better as a Junior than he was as a Senior although I think his team suffered from heavy graduation.

[DallasDiehard]

Glad Rhodes' shoulder is feeling better. Personally, I think we all want to see Willis start and play every game this year, of course, but if he should get injured, I'd like to have a guy with a year of experience and some serious wheels back there.

With that said, keep Willis healthy, and play Rhodes at both positions. A fast guy with a QB arm .... hmmmmm .... Time to draw up some trick plays.

[mavsrage311]

I think just the opposite-Massey wasn't all that fast. Fast enough for 3A - nothin' special in College. His asset in high school was probably his physical STRENGTH. Plus he did have two injuries as a high school senior and a College freshman that may have affected what speed he had. I was concerned following him as a Senior in high school that he wasn't a dominanting 3A RB. Very good yes-but not dominating like a top recruit should do at that level. He was better as a Junior than he was as a Senior although I think his team suffered from heavy graduation.

I think you're righ stallion. I remember reading about how Massey could bench-press more than just about any of our other recruits, he was a record setter IIRC. He was just a big guy, with less than marginal speed, wasn't he a fullback for a while too? I think I remember him taking some snaps there, either way...I don't think Richuel wanted that, and that was probably why he left, he wasn't going to cut it as a tailback at SMU

[Pony4Life]

Thanks for the info, PonyPride.

Hope you're right about Charlie Berry being in great shape. If he is, and he's really focused on the task at hand, I'll feel a whole lot better about the defense. Berry might be one of the most crucial players on the entire roster this year.

BEAT TECH!

[PerunaPunch]

I think just the opposite-Massey wasn't all that fast. Fast enough for 3A - nothin' special in College. His asset in high school was probably his physical STRENGTH. Plus he did have two injuries as a high school senior and a College freshman that may have affected what speed he had. I was concerned following him as a Senior in high school that he wasn't a dominanting 3A RB. Very good yes-but not dominating like a top recruit should do at that level. He was better as a Junior than he was as a Senior although I think his team suffered from heavy graduation.

I think you're righ stallion. I remember reading about how Massey could bench-press more than just about any of our other recruits, he was a record setter IIRC. He was just a big guy, with less than marginal speed, wasn't he a fullback for a while too? I think I remember him taking some snaps there, either way...I don't think Richuel wanted that, and that was probably why he left, he wasn't going to cut it as a tailback at SMU

Not true. Massey was plenty fast, especially for a "big" (220 lb.) RB. I remember when, after getting his cast off from when he broke his leg in high school, he came out and ran a 4.43. Bennett said he could run a 4.3, so I figure probably upper 4.3s to lower 4.4s. That's not Jesse Henderson fast, but that'd make him faster than Martin, Mapps, Dorsey... well, pretty much any of our currents RBs except Henderson.

[EastStang]

Wasn't Massey a three star recruit? Weren't we all excited about his committing to our program? That is part of the problem with rating services. There are three stars that flame out. The problem is that UT gets 3-4-5- star players in bunches, and if 20% of them are worthless, so what, but if we get one or two three stars, and one of them flames out, well shame on us for offering them a scholarship. However, because we signed Massey and Meeks, that gave those classes some momentum to perhaps recruit better players that would otherwise have not looked at us. Massey was better on paper than on the field and that may have helped us in getting other players. There are ways to spin these things. That said, it would have been nice if his play had met his hype.

[ponyboy]

Richuel was terrible. He would not have started.

Why did Bennett give him a scholarship if he was so terrible? Are you saying the guy can't recruit?

He was great in high school where he was bigger, stronger and faster than everyone, but he did not have the toughness for success at the college level.

Then why did we recruit him again?

Richuel was a highly recruited Rivals 3 star and #85 in the Rivals Texas Top 100 for 2003. And if you'll remember, he had an official visit to UT after he committed to us.

[jtstang]

I was just given the guy who said he sucked the business.

[Grider]

I was just given the guy who said he sucked the business.

I hope that works out for you.

[PK]

I was just given the guy who said he sucked the business.

Hmmm..who gave the guy to you and how did he "suck the business"?

[jtstang]

I was just given the guy who said he sucked the business.

Hmmm..who gave the guy to you and how did he "suck the business"?

We really need a dedicated grammer board on this website.