ONE WEEK until Spring Ball!

[Corso]

Spring football is nearly here, so it's time to start thinking about the Mustangs' areas of focus this spring:

Quarterback: Jerad Romo and Tony Eckert are graduating, and most believe Chris Phillips will move to tight end, wide receiver or running back. That leaves redshirt freshmen Justin Willis and Eric Johnson, newcomer Corey Slater and true freshman Zach Rhodes, who will enroll in August. Willis drew raves from coaches and teammates last year with the scout team, and Slater has a year of post-high school experience, so they likely will be the early leaders. It's safe to assume Coach Bennett will not announce the starter this spring, even if one QB outshines the others. If none separates himself from the pack, Rhodes might be able to enter the mix with a strong performance in two-a-days. Prediction: Willis.

Linebackers: In the last calendar year, the Ponies have lost six LBs: D.D. Lee, Alvin Nnabuife, Rico Harris, Clayton Cox, Avery Cleveland and Russ Powell. Wilton McCray is the lone returning starter, and Reggie Carrington got major playing time in 2005. The Ponies signed five this spring: Damon Hurst, Pete Fleps, Anthony Sowe, Taylor Bon and Patrick Strodtman, who I think is supposed to grayshirt. As a JUCO transfer, Hurst has more maturity and experience than any of the newcomers, so you've got to think he has a leg up on the competition. Fleps sat out last year, but is substantially larger and stronger than he was as a senior at Southlake Carroll. Predictions: Hurst (SAM), Carrington (MIKE), McCray (WILL).

Cornerbacks: Ro Humphrey is graduating, and the rumor mill suggests that Brandon Jones won't be on the team this year. Translation: Texas Tech is loading up the guns, and not the goofy little Yosemite Sam hand signal that the fans make between tortilla throws. What this also means is that the Ponies must replace BOTH starting corners, which can't be comforting with Tech up first. The corners on the roster have little to no experience, but Jonathan Lindley and David Haynes excelled on special teams and are fast players who are sure tacklers. L.J. (formerly LaCori) Johnson and Emerson Settle also will factor in the rotation, and true freshman Bryan McCann was singled out on Signing Day as a true freshman with a good chance to play. Predictions: Lindley, Haynes.

Free safety: SS Joe Sturdivant was a star last year, but former FS Jamey Harper is one of those players who will be better appreciated after he's gone. Bam Blackmon has great athleticism and speed, but he spent the 2005 season as Sturdivant's backup. Tony Hawkins reportedly is moving from wide receiver to safety, and might well have the ball skills to play the center field style of free safety. Randall Goode, Victor Makinde and Bryce Hudman also could get a look. Prediction: Goode.

Center: Ben Poynter started last year, and JUCO Joe Holmes was brought in to fortify the position. Holmes has a few pounds on Poynter, but Poynter has a year of playing in the system, and added tremendous weight and strength between his true freshman season and his redshirt freshman season last year. Poynter has played some backup tackle, but Holmes reportedly plays guard, too, so his flexibility might make him more valuable as a backup at multiple positions. Prediction: Poynter.

Right guard: Brad Kieschnick started the 2005 season as the starter, but Chris Urbanus finished the season as the starter. A converted tackle, Urbanus made the adjustment pretty well. Sean Lobo and Holmes also factor in. Prediction: Urbanus.

Right tackle: Assuming Darrin Johnson stays on the left side, there are several candidates at right tackle. Urbanus played the position in the past, but he appears entrenched at guard. Holmes, Kenard Burley, Ben Poynter and Tommy Poynter all can play tackle. In the interest of keeping Holmes as the supersub who can play numerous positions across the line. Like Ben Poynter, Tommy is getting stronger by the day. Burley was huge when he arrived at SMU, has very long arms and is one of the strongest players on the team. Prediction: Burley.

[SMUltimedia]

excellent post. I'm pumped for spring ball!

[Pony4Life]

Last year, the scout team offense had a line of Ross Nigh (LT), Josh Hickman (LG), Mitch Enright (C), Brad Lankford (RG) and David Allison (RT). Could any of them fit in somewhere, at least on the second string? I heard so many good things about that group last fall -- it's a refreshing change to have young linemen building up the depth of that unit.

Can Lobo also back up Peveto at left guard?

[Dark Horse]

Great post, Corso.
But wasn't it Curtis Powell?

[Mickey]

Great post, Corso.
But wasn't it Curtis Powell?

Curtiss

[PonyPride]

Last year, the scout team offense had a line of Ross Nigh (LT), Josh Hickman (LG), Mitch Enright (C), Brad Lankford (RG) and David Allison (RT). Could any of them fit in somewhere, at least on the second string? I heard so many good things about that group last fall -- it's a refreshing change to have young linemen building up the depth of that unit.

Can Lobo also back up Peveto at left guard?

I also like the reports I've heard about that group -- some seem extremely optimistic about the futures of several of them. But at the same time, I can't wait for the day that when an offensive lineman signs with SMU, he can just assume that his job for the first three years (including a redshirt year) is going to be lift, eat, lift, practice and lift some more -- and ONLY THEN, as a junior, will he venture out on the field during a game.

With that said, if these guys can play, get 'em out there. No more redshirts available to that bunch.

[BringBackThePonies03]

Nice post Corso, the QB race will be interesting to watch, I think Willis will probably get it, but you never know with the newcomers. I do think that McCann will start at CB though, and if he doesn't start there he should definitely return kicks and/or punts for us.

[PonyPride]

Assuming he's 100 percent healthy. I would be careful -- perhaps overly careful -- about rushing him, if his leg isn't 100 percent healthy.

If he is healthy, we all know he can run. What about his tackling ability?

[WorldStang]

I just keep thinking.. McCann and Henderson returning kicks! Our return game is incredibly dangerous. Let's just hope Henderson has learned to hang on to the ball a little more.. and the blocking remembers DO NOT BLOCK IN THE BACK THIS YEAR ON RETURNS!!!!!

[expony18]

ANy word on who will be punting/placekicking... which was very solid at the end of the year for us

[Sasser Rules]

I guess Wolcott and the freshman (Cunningham) will compete for placekicking duties, and that the Morestead kid will handle the punting. But they might well have a bunch of extras on the roster that I just don't know about -- I just don't pay much attention to those spots.

But you're right, Mentzel punted well, and whoever replaces McMurtray has some very large shoes to fill.

[WorldStang]

I guess Wolcott and the freshman (Cunningham) will compete for placekicking duties, and that the Morestead kid will handle the punting. But they might well have a bunch of extras on the roster that I just don't know about -- I just don't pay much attention to those spots.

But you're right, Mentzel punted well, and whoever replaces McMurtray has some very large shoes to fill.

Mentzel punted well.. when he got the ball off. One of his biggest problem is that he took WAY too long to get the punt off.

[PonyFan]

I openly admit I don't know anything about punting -- were the blocked punts a result a slow "release" (?) by Mentzel, or because of a missed block here and there?

I also wondered if the freshman who took over the deep-snapping duties (Taylor Jackson? Jackson Taylor?) got the ball back there more quickly. Not to take away from the Great Justin Rogers, who started the season snapping on punts, but I don't recall any blocks after the switch was made.

[Flatlander]

Ponyfan-
Most blocks that are obvious ones result from a missed block or assignment (or failure to adjust to the block scheme before the snap). "Closer" blocks are the result of slow releases. Of course, normal releases look 'slow' when rushed by speed (in this case, Va Tech or Texas' block units)...Texas right now is on top of the heap in regards to kick blocks of late and Va Tech has always been a program to model the special teams after.

On the comment about the corners, how tall are the starters to be? I ask because Tech's offense boast its top three WR's at 6'2" Robert Johnson, 6'4" Jarrett Hicks and 6'4" Joel Filani- all SRs- it ain't the type of match up to do on the job training.

[MrMustang1965]

Drove by the practice field at the corner of Bishop Blvd. & Mockingbird Lane yesterday afternoon and saw a guy laying down chalk with the fertilizer-type machine. Would you believe it was head coach Phil Bennett himself!?