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That's a stupid question. To improve we have to TRY to beat BCS teams, otherwise we will never earn any national respect again.

We need to beat Tech, finally.

He had better do whatever he needs to do in order to have the team prepared for BOTH games.

This team cannot beat Tech, although I hope it happens. Better to focus on Tech with an eye towards competing against a BCS team and letting that carry over to NTSU. I would hate to lose to the lower tier of the ShunnedBelt for a second straight year, if I were Bennett.

If this team is ever going to beat Tech, this is probably the year to give it a shot.

for the first time in... ever, SMU should actually win in the Trenches. I'll take our O-line by a wide margin on their D-line, and I have our D-line as a push on their O-line. They may edge us out, but I think it'll be close.

Their secondary is going to be a tough nutt to crack, but with a ball control attack focusing on Running the Ball with quick short passes (Especially using Chase), I think we can keep up with Tech. Win the battle of field position, and we'll be in this game for four quarters.

-CoS

you do realize that their front offensive line weighs about 340 per man fron LT, LG, C, RG. Their RT guard goes about 298. Louis Vasques is one of the Top OLM in Texas. I know I know its going to be hot. First backup at G is about 345. The first backup at Tackles is Chris Olson from HP who SMU was drooling over a few years ago. Most of these guys are 6-6 some 6-5. They are huge-they've got second stringers who would both be among the most highly recruited OLM in the last 20 years at SMU. Yes they have some experience issues-but just remember SMU has outrecruited Tech for about 5-6 players on the entire roster-and you'd probably have trouble coming up with that many. Tech won't exactly be facing the Fearsome Foursome in a rebuilt SMU defensive line. Tech man for man wins that matchup hands down in my opinion. Tech has better athletes at every position on the field. Tech is going to roll offensively over an SMU defensive unit that will take a few games to piece together. Too many major losses at the most important positions (right up the gut) on the field to field a very good defense that early. SMU will have to score in bunches to even keep it close. SMU will be extremely vulnerable on defense early in the season

I agree, they are big guys and have an overall talent advantage. On the other hand, 4 of 5 players are new starters. If we are going to have any hope at all in slowing down Tech, it's going to be 340 pounds of offensive lineman missing an assignment now and again. I think the experience issue hurts an offensive line more than a defensive line: The need for cohesion seems greater.

So how do you deal with it? If SMU can't stop Tech from scoring on every possession, the offense gets screwed. Play it on the ground like I outlined, and run the risk of falling behind and never catching up. Open up the passing game and run the risk of that secondary taking the ball back.

For anyone who didn't think we'd miss Carrington, I think the Tech game will prove his value. [deleted].

-CoS

Another point-I don't think Wilton McCray matches up well with Tech. Remember that hestitate inside receiver seam route they ran about 15 times to the same receiver last year. He certainly doesn't have the size to match up with Tech's size. I really think Tech's will roll this early against a mismatched SMU defense. SMU has its own experience issues on defense. Hopefully SMU can score but if they take away Sanders and Givens can't or doesn't step up-SMU doesn't have the proven WRs to score much on a BCS team. I'm sure Tech will attempt to take Sanders away and who is going to streatch the field. I'd like to think any one of Lowery, Henderson or some of the other new speed receivers can step up-but they haven't done so yet. Zach Sledge will catch 2 eight yard passes.

On offense, I really think they'll be able to take our WRs out of it more or less. The best hope for our passing game is going to be TEs and backs v. opposing LBers. I like our line a lot more than the press does, even though they are undersized, I think they'll be able to push forward and buy justin some time. It's really a matter of having someone open to throw the ball to.

On defense, I think prayer might help. I've been worried about the secondary all off season, but in some fit of July Optimism, I seem to have given them a pass. Did I mention that I miss Carrington already? I'll be happy so long as Tech doesn't throw a pass to the flanker at the LOS and pick up 5 yards a shot.

If want me to get really depressed, wait till we get to the TCU matchup. lol.

-CoS

Stallion wrote:Another point-I don't think Wilton McCray matches up well with Tech. Remember that hestitate inside receiver seam route they ran about 15 times to the same receiver last year. He certainly doesn't have the size to match up with Tech's size. I really think Tech's will roll this early against a mismatched SMU defense. SMU has its own experience issues on defense. Hopefully SMU can score but if they take away Sanders and Givens can't or doesn't step up-SMU doesn't have the proven WRs to score much on a BCS team. I'm sure Tech will attempt to take Sanders away and who is going to streatch the field. I'd like to think any one of Lowery, Henderson or some of the other new speed receivers can step up-but they haven't done so yet. Zach Sledge will catch 2 eight yard passes.

Okay this is the dumbest thread ever, but the line about Zach Sledge had me chuckling.

[quote="Stallion"]SMU will have to score in bunches to even keep it close. [/quote]..................... I agree that SMU better be planning a shoot out offensively.The only way we can be assured of a "chance to win" in this game is to score often which has proved not easy against Tech in the past. We should be better overall offensively than we were last year and Willis is even more special outside the pocket. So they have some things to think about but.....As you all know, Tech will eventually get their points, even if you slow them down. Unbelievable come back by Tech against Minnesota in their bowl game last year to win after being down 35-7. *Their TCU/Colorado games last year are a few examples of exceptions where Tech scored very little.....Defensively, I think back to 2004 here at Ford when SMU played it close in the first half with Tech. Were we ahead at the half ? That was a great defense called by PB that night as he blitzed the whole first half, confusing a new Tech QB and some new starters at WR..... Problem is we had almost zero offense except a few good plays. They made adjustments at the half, SMU fumbled deep in our end of the field in 3rd, and Tech came back quickly in the second half leading 27-6 late..... Point is, you do what you can to get the points and do not play ball control against them. When they get going, they are hard to stop.....Sure I hope PB can figure out a way to pull off somewhat of a similiar D to what the frogs did last year to them but I would not count on it. We have alot of new starters or guys who have not played in a while on defense.

I suspect the gameplan will be for us to try and control the ball and the clock as long as possible. We cannot win an ampted up offensive dual with Tech. They are built for that. We can try and hit a few long ones to keep their D honest and then try and establish our run. If DeMyron has a good day, and we can operate a ball control offense with some big plays now and then to keep Tech's offense off the field, then the game could be close. I will say that Bennett's defensive game plan seems to be very good at keeping Tech's offensive numbers down. What would be very good is if we start the game with Henderson running back the kickoff (or punt) for a TD and then our next possession start with a play action to Martin and a bomb to Givens (with Sanders selling run). If we could be up 14-7 or 14-0 early on, Tech might make some mistakes.

with the exception of his debut against the frogs, demyron has failed bigtime against quality competition. remember his second game, when he had something like 4 yards on 8 carries against a bad aggie team.

Control clock yes. But They will not respect the pass until Willis carves them up on short and medium routes. Bombs are one-off to Leach. He won't change his defense because of one or two, except maybe have a safety play zone (which, as Stallion pointed out regarding their comparative athleticism, they can do rather well). He isn't going to panic, so it has to be long, arduous, time-sucking drives that end in decisive TDs. That, or Willis starts torching their secondary and our defense plays such that they will require an exorcism after the game. If that happens, then, yeah, goober will panic.