2007 spring preview from CFN
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:20 am- Code: Select all
SMU Spring Practice Begins: March 1 Game: March 31
The early spring buzz ... This is the year. SMU has been building under head coach Phil Bennett, and rebuilding, and now everything is expected to all come together in what's expected to be the team's best year since 1984, the last bowl season. The top recruiting class of last year is expected to pay off (wrong choice of words for SMU) in a huge way, while QB Justin Willis should make this the team one of the league favorites.
The big spring question is ... Is the defense going to hold its water? Everything else worked well for the Mustangs in 2006, but the secondary, despite getting a ton of help from a pass rush, got torched for 246 yards per game. That's what happens when you start two freshmen, and now the hope is for some redshirt freshmen to step in and make a difference. The defensive backs might be all that stands between SMU and a title.
The most important position to watch is ... Defensive tackle. The run defense was the best in the league thanked to Adrian Haywood, Brandon Bonds, and Randy Denman on the inside. The Mustangs have to find a good rotation right off the bat this spring to provide a base for the rest of the defense and not force the veteran linebackers to make all the plays. Losing star end Justin Rogers doesn't help the cause.
Spring attitude... It's time to win a title. Even with problems in the receiving corps, the offensive pop will be there with Willis along with backs Cedric Dorsey and DeMyron Martin. [b]No Conference USA team has more good young talent, and if can all come together in spring ball, and new stars emerge before fall, the pieces are there to represent the West.[/b]
http://cfn.scout.com/2/621738.html
