Sports Illustrated: Preview of the 2006 Mustangs
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:40 pmhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2006/teams/cusa/smu.html
After finishing his best season in four years at SMU, Phil Bennett received several emails from fans thanking him for finally turning around the hapless Mustangs.
He didn't agree with the notes.
"There were a lot of people who said we turned around this program last season by winning five games," Bennett says. "But I don't believe you can say that you turned around a program until you've had a winning season and gone to a bowl game. That's what we need to do this season."
Despite having an untested quarterback and several question marks in the secondary, Bennett will have his best opportunity in five years to have a winning season.
The Mustangs are a surprisingly confident team heading into a new season after closing 2005 with three consecutive wins to finish with their best record in eight years at 5-6.
Bennett has his best defensive front since he arrived on campus, and sophomore running back DeMyron Martin has breathed life into a running game that has been largely nonexistent during the coach's tenure.
Those intangibles could keep Bennett's bunch from being the same old Mustangs. "We just want to win," defensive end Justin Rogers says. "We won't be satisfied unless we end this season in a bowl game."
OFFENSE
SMU coach Phil Bennett was tempted to play Justin Willis as a true freshman last season but instead opted to redshirt him. He's glad he did. Willis used his redshirt to study the Mustangs' offense, and Bennett believes his new starting quarterback will use those lessons to solidify the position for the next four years.
"He's not a guy who is going to kill you with his arm," Bennett says. "But he is a special quarterback. He makes everyone around him better."
Willis will have plenty around him as he grows into his starting role.
Sophomore running back DeMyron Martin is capable of carrying the offensive load after rushing for a team-leading 854 yards last season. The mark was the third-highest rushing total by a freshman in school history.
Willis also has talented wide receivers and tight ends to ease his transition. Wideout Bobby Chase, a 6'4'', 205-pound deep threat, is the best of the bunch after leading the Mustangs in receiving for the past two years. He averaged 16 yard per reception last season.
The Mustangs' offensive line is deep even though two starters are gone.
DEFENSE
The Mustangs have been inconsistent in the secondary over the past four seasons and probably won't be any better in the defensive backfield this season.
Strong safety Joe Sturdivant, who led SMU in tackles last season, is the only returning starter in the secondary. He isn't the team's best cover man or hardest hitter, but he is the secondary's quarterback. He'll have to shout plenty of instructions with this inexperienced group.
What might save the secondary is a solid front seven. The Mustangs are returning four starters along the defensive line, including Justin Rogers, who led the team with seven sacks last year.
Defensive tackles Adrian Haywood and Brandon Bonds will plug the middle after combining for 15.5 tackles for a loss last season.
The Mustangs once again have three speedy linebackers after Tony Hawkins made the move from safety in the spring.
SPECIALISTS
Sophomore Thomas Morstead earned starting duties at both punter and kicker in the spring. He'll have to hold off highly touted freshman Kellis Cunningham in the fall to remain the placekicker.
Kickoff return specialist Jessie Henderson and punt returner Blake Warren are two of the top return men in Conference USA. Henderson had an 88-yard return for a score last season.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Bennett's Mustangs showed improvement in his fourth season by winning five games and beating a ranked opponent in TCU, but they still aren't good enough to take any opponent lightly.
The Mustangs are turning to a first-year starter at quarterback in Willis, and the secondary might be the weakest in Conference USA.
Still, Bennett has the opportunity to guide his school to a bowl game for the first time in 22 years. The defensive front is solid, and Martin should help Willis ease into the offense.
The schedule doesn't hurt either. The Mustangs are only playing two games outside of Texas and scheduled winnable non-conference games. SMU could realistically enter Conference USA play with a 3-1 record and use that momentum to register only the school's second winning season since the death penalty.
After finishing his best season in four years at SMU, Phil Bennett received several emails from fans thanking him for finally turning around the hapless Mustangs.
He didn't agree with the notes.
"There were a lot of people who said we turned around this program last season by winning five games," Bennett says. "But I don't believe you can say that you turned around a program until you've had a winning season and gone to a bowl game. That's what we need to do this season."
Despite having an untested quarterback and several question marks in the secondary, Bennett will have his best opportunity in five years to have a winning season.
The Mustangs are a surprisingly confident team heading into a new season after closing 2005 with three consecutive wins to finish with their best record in eight years at 5-6.
Bennett has his best defensive front since he arrived on campus, and sophomore running back DeMyron Martin has breathed life into a running game that has been largely nonexistent during the coach's tenure.
Those intangibles could keep Bennett's bunch from being the same old Mustangs. "We just want to win," defensive end Justin Rogers says. "We won't be satisfied unless we end this season in a bowl game."
OFFENSE
SMU coach Phil Bennett was tempted to play Justin Willis as a true freshman last season but instead opted to redshirt him. He's glad he did. Willis used his redshirt to study the Mustangs' offense, and Bennett believes his new starting quarterback will use those lessons to solidify the position for the next four years.
"He's not a guy who is going to kill you with his arm," Bennett says. "But he is a special quarterback. He makes everyone around him better."
Willis will have plenty around him as he grows into his starting role.
Sophomore running back DeMyron Martin is capable of carrying the offensive load after rushing for a team-leading 854 yards last season. The mark was the third-highest rushing total by a freshman in school history.
Willis also has talented wide receivers and tight ends to ease his transition. Wideout Bobby Chase, a 6'4'', 205-pound deep threat, is the best of the bunch after leading the Mustangs in receiving for the past two years. He averaged 16 yard per reception last season.
The Mustangs' offensive line is deep even though two starters are gone.
DEFENSE
The Mustangs have been inconsistent in the secondary over the past four seasons and probably won't be any better in the defensive backfield this season.
Strong safety Joe Sturdivant, who led SMU in tackles last season, is the only returning starter in the secondary. He isn't the team's best cover man or hardest hitter, but he is the secondary's quarterback. He'll have to shout plenty of instructions with this inexperienced group.
What might save the secondary is a solid front seven. The Mustangs are returning four starters along the defensive line, including Justin Rogers, who led the team with seven sacks last year.
Defensive tackles Adrian Haywood and Brandon Bonds will plug the middle after combining for 15.5 tackles for a loss last season.
The Mustangs once again have three speedy linebackers after Tony Hawkins made the move from safety in the spring.
SPECIALISTS
Sophomore Thomas Morstead earned starting duties at both punter and kicker in the spring. He'll have to hold off highly touted freshman Kellis Cunningham in the fall to remain the placekicker.
Kickoff return specialist Jessie Henderson and punt returner Blake Warren are two of the top return men in Conference USA. Henderson had an 88-yard return for a score last season.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Bennett's Mustangs showed improvement in his fourth season by winning five games and beating a ranked opponent in TCU, but they still aren't good enough to take any opponent lightly.
The Mustangs are turning to a first-year starter at quarterback in Willis, and the secondary might be the weakest in Conference USA.
Still, Bennett has the opportunity to guide his school to a bowl game for the first time in 22 years. The defensive front is solid, and Martin should help Willis ease into the offense.
The schedule doesn't hurt either. The Mustangs are only playing two games outside of Texas and scheduled winnable non-conference games. SMU could realistically enter Conference USA play with a 3-1 record and use that momentum to register only the school's second winning season since the death penalty.
Oh, well...