Fresno - SMU observations

[JasonB]

I want to talk two things - QBs and Saftey play. But before I go negative here, Bischoff was absolutely awesome, and Humphrey did a great job coming in for Garrett. That kid is a player and will be awesome for the mustangs in the next few years.

Our saftey play is awful. Horrible, horrible performance last night. If our safteys were playing better, the defense would look really sharp. Time and time again, the safteys, both Harris, Moodley, and then at the end of the game Harper (on the last TD run) get caught sneaking up out of position and burned on runs or short passes. On the first long run by fresno state, Harris got caught up in the wrong hole, pulled up too far, and wasn't there for support once the back broke through the line. On the same play, moodley takes a horrible pursuit angle and gives up an extra 20 yards (it forced him to catch the running back from behind). On the same drive, there was a dropped pass by the fresno receiver who was wide open. Bichoff had him, and handed him off in the zone. Viloria was pulled up, but there was no saftey. Then the camera pans to the sideline and Harris is being yelled at for being out of position once again.

The first fresno TD, Jonas goes for the pick, playing aggressive, barely misses, but Moodley has a weak support effort and the guy is gone.

At the end of the first half, there was another big FS run, off of a horrible angle and read taken by moodley.

A lot of our defensive problems are related to very very poor saftey play. If that gets resolved, our defense will be very strong. Until then, we will continue to give up big plays.

As for the QBs, here is the assessment. These are not first and second string QBs, they are the third and fourth string QB. Wallis plays because he doesn't take the mustangs out of a chance of winning the game (i.e. he wont throw 5 picks and have the mustangs get killed). Bartel hasn't played, because although he obviously has the better tools, he makes really bad reads at times - his messups are really bad messups. He will mature though and looks like he could be very good. One thing that is painfully obvious is that he is not good at the option .

Bennett has a tough call the rest of the year - build on the future and play Bartel or try to keep us in the games as long as possible and play Wallis. I know the season seems like a waste because of the record, but if you just stick Bartel in there and give up turnovers, then 1) you don't give your team a chance to win and 2) the score is so lopsided that nobody on either side of the ball is getting any real gametime experience. I thought Bartel made some fantastic throws, but prior to the final play of the game he had thrown three balls that should have been picked off.

Bennett talks about wanting to run a "multiple" offense. The only way for this team to be "multiple" is to play multiple QBs. Change the look of the offense based on what QB is in the game, and use it to your advantage. When tate is in there, play a running, conservative, option game. Every third series, or when the offense bogs down, put Bartel in there and force the defense to adjust. Just forcing them to constantly adjust during the game will put a lot of stress on the other defense. When Bartel comes in, move to more of a game of pounding the ball up the middle and throwing the ball deep. Normally, I don't believe in playing multiple Qbs and planning to do so, but in this case, it is the only way to build an effective offense...

[fbdad]

Great analysis of the game. Numerous past comments on this board have highlighted the weakness at safety. Moodley has not played anywhere near his potential. He misses covers repeatedly and has a terrible time tackling somebody without help. Invariably, a runner will gain an additional 3-5 yards after being hit by Moodley. Harris is OK if the play comes his direction. If he has to read, forget it.Speed is not one of his attributes.Harpers got great potential but should be in a red shirt.He lacks technique and physical ability. He gave up two TD's to SJS last week.One due to cover and one due to getting run over...We have depth at the safety position starting with Price(JR), followed by Godfrey(SO) and Rushbrook(SO).Brent Briggs(SR) is listed as FS backup but has no experience at the position playing three years at backup corner with minimal game time.Look at the media guide if you have doubts about the ability of these players.It's been said before, these guys need some playing time.They are all veterans with the required physical, mental and game experience required to get our secondary back to where it was last year.

[JustAFriend]

OK, Bartel makes "really bad" reads? He made two, one he got away with and one with no time left trying to make something happen at the end of a hopeless game. I guess Wallis woulda been smarter and thrown it away with no time left huh? Yeah lets forget about the fact that SMU woulda been shut out if not for Richard's drive that landed them on the three. Then he came back with 1:30 left and no TO's and marches downfield to get back into scoring position. There's no way he throws the INT if the game is still in reach. Either way he out-threw Tate in half the attempts and all of 5 minutes of playing time. Say what you want about "garbage time" but thats BS. When asked about Bartel's performance Bennett deflected and avoided the question, as would be expected. Either way it was actually fun to watch SMU's offense on those last two drives.

[PonyGirl]

Relax, JAF - it was an opinion. We all have them.

It is curious that Moodley has struggled so much this year. I remember a couple years ago when Cavan said Moodley was the most draftable player on the team.

[PerunaPunch]

Which sort of proves a point, doesn't it... We all pretty much know how accurate Cavan was when predicting NFL talent.

Sorry. That wasn't very considerate, but I couldn't resist. It was just too easy.

[Pfan]

Great summary!

It was obvious to me that Wallis & Bartel are both talented players...which what QB's should be. Unfortunately the Ponies need more than just a QB this year on the offensive side of the ball. They need a LEADER. One who makes good decisions that translate into good plays. Unfortunately, leaders are not born overnight. I just hope it doesn't take another 2 years for one of these guys to step up their game.

[PerunaPunch]

I have to admit, probably one of the most disappointing things to me so far is the play of our DBs. As many have commented, going into the season, this was supposed to be an area of strength. So what gives? New system? Are we being out-hussled? These are the same guys we had last year. Are opposing QBs getting too much time (anybody else missing Kevin Aldrige’s consistent pressure at one end)? Other ideas??

[PonyTales]

I'd move to end zone seats to have Aldridge back this year. His pressure would be a massive difference for our defense.

Coach Bennett's scheme actually is a good one on defense, as far as the secondary. If you watch closely, even in games that have gotten out of hand, the DBs have been in the right place at the right time pretty often (obviously not on the long touchdowns against Navy and TCU, when a breakdown left opposing WRs wiiiiiiiiide open.) But I was at the Oklahoma State game, for instance, and on almost every play, we had a DB right there with the WRs when the ball arrived. The difference was that the WR went up for the ball, and all too often, our DBs stood and watched. Maybe they're not entirely comfortable with the system yet, so they're thinking too much, rather than reacting. Maybe they were in awe of OK-State WR RaShaun Woods (which is pretty understandable - he's amazing.)

Who knows what's going on. For the most part, they don't seem to be competing for balls. If you remember, Jonas got removed from the starting lineup against San Jose State, and when he did get out there, he played by far his best game of the year. Maybe more guys need to get slapped in the face with a benching. (Humphrey is exempt from this tirade - he's been fighting hard all year.) With Garrett apparently hurt for a while, Humphrey and Jonas will have to be great the rest of the way, because the safeties have offered little help this year.

I see safety joining QB, o-line and d-line as the team's highest recruiting priorities.

[PerunaPunch]

Hmmm, makes sense.

We've always had issues in the past with big receivers like Hawaii's Lelie, who like to play 'jump ball'.

Maybe we're getting more than the usual dose of big, talented WRs this year. Our guys have always run well, and both JR and KG are amazing, but I think they trend toward running tight with a receiver (because they can) and obscuring the receiver from the ball rather than turning and actually going up and fighting for the ball.

Also, I like big safeties who run and hit. Finesse works at corner not at safety.

[WildHorse]

Right on. Safeties need to knock the slobber out of a guy's mouthpiece. Even if they get a flag on the play, that will have the receiver with one eye on the ball and the other eye looking for a hit the next time down field. I only hope that Coach Bennett and his staff teach the safeties to hit like Roy Williams and John Lynch, not like a 5-8 corner. If you don't have 4.2 speed, you have to hit to play safety. And to the best of my knowledge, there's never been a safety who can run a 4.2.

[MrMustang1965]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PerunaPunch:
<B>Which sort of proves a point, doesn't it... We all pretty much know how accurate Cavan was when predicting NFL talent.

Sorry. That wasn't very considerate, but I couldn't resist. It was just too easy.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep, it was. And it's true. Seems there was a certain QB named Josh McCown whom Cavan didn't play properly. McCown transferred to a Div.1-AA school (Sam Houston State) and is now a back-up QB for the Arizona Cardinals' starting QB! Oh, yeah...McCown's brother comes to Dallas this weekend as La. Tech's QB.



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