DMN: Report from Thursday's Practice

[MrMustang1965]

UNIVERSITY PARK – All 17 freshmen reported to camp and are expected to practice with the upperclassmen today at 9:30 a.m.

On Thursday, freshmen quarterbacks Eric Johnson (Plano West) and Justin Willis (Denton Ryan) threw the ball well, and receivers Columbus Givens and Emmanuel Sanders made catches while running a variety of routes.

Also, junior college transfer Adrian Haywood (Mesquite) will move from defensive tackle to nose guard.

Calvin Watkins

[SMUnick]

who do you think will get sig. playing time??? and who will redshirt???

[PerunaRaider]

Sanders is going to get major time.......

[Mickey]

If Haywood is moving from DT to NG, what does the depth chart look like for these two positions?

[BUS]

From what I saw at practice, we have Bonds, and a group of others that I think will play.

There are a few more listed like Feige at 340 but I have not seen him or did not remember his play.

Go to www.SMUMUSTANGS.com and print out a roster.

[Hoofprint]

Other interior defensive linemen include: Lucky DeLay, Randy Denman, Charlie Berry, Dominic Pryor, Hunter Shipp, Chase Smith, Brad Lankford and Patrick Handy (maybe).

Can someone who has played the game explain to us fans-but-not-experts the difference between playing DT and NG (at least in the defense SMU plays)? Thanks

[JasonB]

Nose Tackle is a big fat guy that takes on blockers and stuffs up the line. DT tries to knife in and penetrate up the middle.

LaRoi Glover is a DT. Jerry Ball was a NG.

[BUS]

Interesting description.

DT's play a 4-3 usually and when you go to a 5-2 you play a true nose gaurd and two DT's and 2 DE's.

DT's and NG's should be able to stuff up the line and penetrate up the field.

In my mind a DT or NG should be close to 300 and DE's in the 250 to 275 range.


There are a lot of variations that depend on the coach.

Go Mustangs

[WorldStang]

3-4? True NT.. several able bodied LBs ? Bennett likes speed..

[JasonB]

3-4? True NT.. several able bodied LBs ? Bennett likes speed..

It would also get both Carrington and Lee on the field...

[Grider]

3-4? True NT.. several able bodied LBs ? Bennett likes speed..

It would also get both Carrington and Lee on the field...

For those footbal experts out there....

If I remember correctly Bennett has pretty much run a 4-3 with the exception of dime/nickle packages. How much of a jump is it for caoaches and players to go from a 4-3 to a 3-4? I agree that it's looking more like we have the personnell for a 3-4, but what are the advantages/disadvantages to each defense?

[Pony4Life]

I agree that there will be some 3-4 sets thrown in, but even with the lack of bodies up front, I would expect we'll still be largely a 4-3 team.

Just my guess, of course.

Of course, if you're a Baylor coach reading this, just assume that we're going to take the LBs and secondary off the field and just play 11 defensive linemen. No need to bring a running back up to Dallas.

[Bocephus]

Willis won't end up at QB. Surprised they are letting him practice there

[Pony4Life]

What on earth makes you say that? He's the most highly-regarded QB we've signed in eons.