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You can see how our lack of talent in New Orleans on Saturday was dreadful. Several Division I players had no business being out there.

For instance,
DL Adrian Heywood couldn't run through a roll of paper towels. I have no idea why Justin Rodgers is on this team. Our offensive line continues to get worse. WR Emmanuel Sanders cannot catch a cold. Why did we offer a scholarship to Jesse Henderson? There's a scholarship that was blown.

TE Ryan Kennedy has no cluue. Oh, our QB Justin Willis? Please tell me why he is the starter on this team?

According to some a couple of weeks ago, they argued that we are getting players just a hair above Sam Houston State.

Here's a tip, after the first 150 stud players across the country, Division I recruiting is a total crapshoot. You just hope that your players will develop.

And the stud guys are no lock either. Remember, Brock Berlin? The nation's top HS QB turned into Mr. Average at Florida and Miami (Fla.).

But the Tulane O-line did physically dominate us all night for their stunning -33 rushing yards. If only our coaches could adjust during the game it would have been more enjoyable, it was scary for awhile.

-33 yards doesnt mean too much when the QB is toasting the secondary like smores on a campfire.

For sure that haywood guy is terrible. He was only one of two players to make an all-confrence team last year for SMU; he gets double teamed every, yes every, week; and he had a sack and forced the fumble that led to what ended up being the winning touchdown...big10ponyfan has lost my respect...

MustangLaxer wrote:For sure that haywood guy is terrible. He was only one of two players to make an all-confrence team last year for SMU; he gets double teamed every, yes every, week; and he had a sack and forced the fumble that led to what ended up being the winning touchdown...big10ponyfan has lost my respect...

Those of us reading Big10 for a while know his tongue was in his cheek, was yours MustangLaxer? If not, read the sarcasim in Big 10's post. While he his full of ---- when it comes to Big 10 superiority, and he does not recognize the sparkling coverage SMU gets from the DMN, he does know a little about SMU football.

MustangLaxer wrote:For sure that haywood guy is terrible. He was only one of two players to make an all-confrence team last year for SMU; he gets double teamed every, yes every, week; and he had a sack and forced the fumble that led to what ended up being the winning touchdown...big10ponyfan has lost my respect...

he was being sarcastic. Heywood is one of SMUs best players.

From listening to 3 quarters, missing a half quarter for dinner and having to go pick up my son from a buddy's, and actually getting to see the last few minutes (from Sanders' screen pass catch & touchdown) because they have DISH, I have formed an opinion or two about why Tulane did so poorly in the 1st half and so well in the 2nd.

In a word, the 1st half was quicksand for them. Coffin corner punts by SMU and great defense, not to mention a gutsy/bonehead fake punt call, got them in a hole. That one interception for a TD changed the whole momentum after that. And then the 2nd half I actually think their coach stumbled on to a tactic that worked against SMU's defense. No huddle. Combine that w/ the defense being a half step off Ricard compared to the 1st half and blitzing 7-9 guys, and our secondary got torched. Guys, our secondary statistically is not good at all, but I see lots of signs of brillance out there. Mental breakdowns occur a lot, but by and large, they only occured last night when SMU sent the house to try and take Ricard's head off. And Rogers did just that on a downright ridiculous level. So much for their heralded O-line.

Bottom line, it was UGLY. But we got the W. Now Bennett has to figure out how to stall UTEP's pass.

OC Mustang wrote:From listening to 3 quarters, missing a half quarter for dinner and having to go pick up my son from a buddy's, and actually getting to see the last few minutes (from Sanders' screen pass catch & touchdown) because they have DISH, I have formed an opinion or two about why Tulane did so poorly in the 1st half and so well in the 2nd.

In a word, the 1st half was quicksand for them. Coffin corner punts by SMU and great defense, not to mention a gutsy/bonehead fake punt call, got them in a hole. That one interception for a TD changed the whole momentum after that. And then the 2nd half I actually think their coach stumbled on to a tactic that worked against SMU's defense. No huddle. Combine that w/ the defense being a half step off Ricard compared to the 1st half and blitzing 7-9 guys, and our secondary got torched. Guys, our secondary statistically is not good at all, but I see lots of signs of brillance out there. Mental breakdowns occur a lot, but by and large, they only occured last night when SMU sent the house to try and take Ricard's head off. And Rogers did just that on a downright ridiculous level. So much for their heralded O-line.

Bottom line, it was UGLY. But we got the W. Now Bennett has to figure out how to stall UTEP's pass.

If you saw signs of brillance in that secondary I want some of what you were drinking. They played too soft protecting the deep ball and when they went deep the receivers blew past them. This secondary needs a lot of help and it can not all come from Heywood and Rogers. Some needs to come from the secondary itself.

It looked to me that we were playing too much 1-on-1 and not a lot zone -- I always have a problem recognizing the difference and I have no idea why -- but that's when you play man and blitz. Unless you have really good cover corners, you're going to have issues.

Let's all remember here that our corners are new -- McCann and Lowery -- and they are going to have to mature a lot. What I think happened is when Tulane went to no huddle, we had problems getting the right personnel on the field and we didn't adjust well to it.

In no way should Goode be going 1-on-1 but that's what happens when you blitz. You get caught in bad matchups.

On a lighter note, I can't believe I was accused of being full of it when I claimed the Big 10 superiority's. My stars, ESPN's analysts said the two best teams in the country were Ohio State and Michigan. It's just me who believes it.

And for the poster whose respect I lost, maybe I need to draw a picture. When I put on my posting, that should be a signal that I was being a complete smart alec about it.

Get with it!

I think the corners were just getting beaten down. When TU moved to no huddle, it seemed like they were pressed to figure out what they were/should be doing. Experience is going to take care of their problems last night.

smu diamond m wrote:I think the corners were just getting beaten down. When TU moved to no huddle, it seemed like they were pressed to figure out what they were/should be doing. Experience is going to take care of their problems last night.

Secondary problems existed the entire game. The saving grace before the no huddle was the pass rush and primarily blitzes. The no huddle only exaggerated the problem.

if it makes you feel any better Johnie Lee Higgins had 223 yards in pass receptions last nite for UTEP.

Secondary problems existed the entire game. The saving grace before the no huddle was the pass rush and primarily blitzes. The no huddle only exaggerated the problem.[/quote]

I agree with myrdel and that's why our pass rush is going to have to be such a big factor for us this season -- to protect our young corners. It's going to have to disrupt the timing of the opponent's passing game.

Remember, the lack of experience in the secondary was a major concern going into the season.

God, I love the Big10

Stallion wrote:if it makes you feel any better Johnie Lee Higgins had 223 yards in pass receptions last nite for UTEP.

Wondered when you were goin to throw something out, Stallion.

The "W" must kill ya.

Speaking of receivers, nice call earlier this season on Zach Sledge. He got another TD against Tulane.

Col. Nathan R. Jessep wrote:

Stallion wrote:if it makes you feel any better Johnie Lee Higgins had 223 yards in pass receptions last nite for UTEP.

Wondered when you were goin to throw something out, Stallion.

The "W" must kill ya.

Speaking of receivers, nice call earlier this season on Zach Sledge. He got another TD against Tulane.

Not to mention, Zach had three receptions for 33 yards and a TD for the night. Justin threw to eight different receivers last night so Zach made the most out of the ones that came his way.