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SMU's new defense still a work in process

01:55 AM CDT on Wednesday, August 6, 2008
By BOBBI ROQUEMORE / The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU defensive coordinator Tom Mason has the task of reviving a unit that allowed 498.7 yards per game last season, 10th in Conference USA.

Hired by SMU after seven years as Fresno State's linebackers coach, Mason has been animated in practice, demonstrating the attitude he thinks will make SMU's "high-pressure defense" effective.

"Right now we're still in the thinking process," he said. "We're making way too many mental mistakes. It's going to come, though."

I believe our defense may surprise some people.

By BOBBI ROQUEMORE / The Dallas Morning News UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU defensive coordinator Tom Mason has the task of reviving a unit that allowed 498.7 yards

At first, I thought that statement was jtstang embelleshing again about the NTSU game. Then I remembered that yes, our mighty D did give up 500 yards per f'ing game.

SMU 86 wrote:I believe our defense may surprise some people.

I agree. I think the improvement on defense will exceed even the improvement the June Jones offense will show.

I think that the complete change in approach will be a huge difference-maker. Playing up in the guys at the line will be a stark change for the other team, who will not have freedom to place their receivers where-ever they want. How many times last year did our D put the opposition in a 3rd and long and give up precisely the number of yards needed to move the chains. It was soul destroying. Every time, the receiver would be standing right at the marker, catch the ball and then get tackled. To late. And if not too late, not at all.

RGV Pony wrote:By BOBBI ROQUEMORE / The Dallas Morning News UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU defensive coordinator Tom Mason has the task of reviving a unit that allowed 498.7 yards

At first, I thought that statement was jtstang embelleshing again about the NTSU game. Then I remembered that yes, our mighty D did give up 500 yards per f'ing game.

We also gave up 40 ppg. No where to go but up (I mean down).