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Interesting comparison of SMU's National Rankings in all Statistical categories but information in the report is outdated based simply on last years roster and stats. Some great low-lites on our defensive struggles against UTEP. Man we really just didn't have much talent on defense last year.

http://www.doubletnation.com/2008/7/1/5 ... ponent-sou

Sounds like they are worried about us having Givens and Mapps returning.

That was as bad a defensive team as I've ever seen at the college level. Watching us blitz was near laughable as it was just three or four guys running into the line of scrimmage and hitting a stalemate. Plus we couldn't tackle to save our lives. If its OK I'd just like to forget last year ever happened.

Then why do several think there will be some big defensive turn-around, when we have basically the same personnel?

I see us continuing to be weak at LB - basically same as last year, a little better at DT but still in question - and better in the secondary with Rock and more depth there.

We will still need to way outscore to win -

Perhaps JJ's offensive will be more consistent (i.e. less turnovers). That will allow us to control the ball more giving our opponent les time to score. That alone makes us better. And we have the same personnel just one year older and hopefully bigger, faster, stronger.

We will not manhandle TTU but we could be improved enough to change the outcome of a TCU, Tulsa, Rice, UTEP, or Memphis game.

gostangs wrote:Then why do several think there will be some big defensive turn-around, when we have basically the same personnel?

I see us continuing to be weak at LB - basically same as last year, a little better at DT but still in question - and better in the secondary with Rock and more depth there.

We will still need to way outscore to win -

Odiari.

Justin Smart. I think it'll make a difference going from an underweight DE to a big LB.

A safety. We really missed Sturdivant.

D-Line: Yep, Im concerned. Elizee, an underweight Handy (yes I know he's real strong) and then...let's hope Huahulu makes the all-freshman team.

the answer I would give because many many are praying that Odiari, Dennis, McLeroy, Jourdan Johnson, Smart, Derrius Bell, Dizer, Herron, Victor Jones and some others all come up big time. The talent is in the new kids. Many have never played their position at the D1A level. Too many were not even involved in Spring Practice. That's a lot of questionmarks to hope come through. Because of that this will be one of the most difficult years ever to predict what SMU's defense will do. This is extremely unusual to rely so much on so many new kids.

We will still have a very suspect defense this year and I think JJ knows this. However, the best defense in CUSA is a good offense. This conference is atrocious defensively across the board except for Southern Miss. We're going to have to be patient with our defense this year boys.

I think simply having a coach that isn't in over his head every gameday is going to help tremendously on both sides of the ball. Our D was terrible last year, but the guys we had managing it on gameday weren't doing us any favors.

I realize that the players play and win or lose, but it will certainly help, at least a little, to have a guy who knows what he's doing on the sideline.

I'm betting on a better defense this year.

First, I'm hoping and praying for better fundamentals. Tackle, tackle, tackle. And here's hoping that hiring Coach Gansz and all the emphasis they put on fundamentals this spring will rectify that.

I'm a big Justin Smart fan, but throwing him out at DE as a true freshman was just asinine, especially when we had no size on the other end (Yenga) or at LB (take your pick: Bonilla, Ryan M. and Wilton McCray – all too small). That's not to say you can't be successful with undersized linemen or linebackers, but for pete's sake you need some size somewhere or you're just going to get pushed around.

I feel a lot better about the situation with Yenga a year older and reportedly 10 lbs. heavier, Dizer and Sowe on the other end and/or in the mix. By the way, both of these guys looked great in practice last year (and this past spring), and I never did see why they weren't on the field more often.

By moving Smart to middle linebacker, and hoping Alex Odiari pans out, all the sudden we have some decent size up front.

If nothing else, that size should take a little pressure off a suspect DB corps. That and the emphasis on pressuring the QB. We're going to probably get burned some, but hopefully our opponents won't just be able to methodically march down the field anymore.

mrydel wrote:Sounds like they are worried about us having Givens and Mapps returning.

Okay, I've been out of the loop for the last couple months, but what the heck happened to James Mapps? I tried the search function, but it only gave me posts from 2007.

"ALL OUT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mapps being gone is a disappointment. To me, he was the back we had whose set of skills best fit into JJ's style of offense going forward. Oh well

That UTEP video hurt to watch.

What an awful, awful excuse for a game.

Peruna Punch, Yenga's weight gain apparently is more than 10 pounds. I'm told his 220 listed weight last year was generous .... by as much as 20 pounds or more. The same person who told me that said he's a legit 225 now. Part of it is just a matter of him growing into his frame as he matures physically, eats all the food he can and lifts weights constantly.