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Our O line executes much better with fewer busted assignments. I don't see opposing players getting as many open shots on the QB

I see a D line that manages to get pressure on the QB. My gosh I even saw a sack against Tech. Last year our pass rush against Tech was a complete joke.

Bryan McCann is a stud. He seems to have taken a big step up.

I see a much better coached team where players seem to be in position to make plays. Now if we only had the players with maturity, depth, and talent to consistently make them.

Maybe I seeing what I'm looking for but I see progress.

Positives: Bennett no longer on the sidelines, chicks on the 'vard are still extremely hot.

jtstang wrote:Positives: Bennett no longer on the sidelines, chicks on the 'vard are still extremely hot.

Amen to that brotha!!!!

We did get some stops on D, The D did show improvement, especially after BLM stopped putting them in bad positions.

If QB play improves and WRs stop dropping passes and TDs them we will have hope. (And the D continues to get better.)

At least we can count on Morestead.

I think I'm POSITIVE that the 47 points per game we are giving up could easily be at least 55 points per game-considering the flow of the Rice and Tech game. I'm positive we are giving up about 500 yards per game in the first 3 Quarters when the game is on the line.

Pony81 wrote:Bryan McCann is a stud. He seems to have taken a big step up.

And that was after a rough opener against Rice. Word is the coaches got after him after that game, and he has really responded. McCann is a stud.

There's (obviously) still a bunch of inconsistency, but he and Bell are the best pair of CBs I can remember in a while around here. Can't wait to see how good they are when McCann's a senior next year.

Stallion wrote:I think I'm POSITIVE that the 47 points per game we are giving up could easily be at least 55 points per game-considering the flow of the Rice and Tech game. I'm positive we are giving up about 500 yards per game in the first 3 Quarters when the game is on the line.

You think you're positive?

It could be 55. Or it could be 35, if interceptions hadn't given opponents so many beneficial starting positions in the field position battle.

Glass half full or half empty?

jtstang wrote:Positives: Bennett no longer on the sidelines, chicks on the 'vard are still extremely hot.

agreed

McCann has a long to go to ever being considered a stud.

Dubbya wrote:

Stallion wrote:I think I'm POSITIVE that the 47 points per game we are giving up could easily be at least 55 points per game-considering the flow of the Rice and Tech game. I'm positive we are giving up about 500 yards per game in the first 3 Quarters when the game is on the line.

You think you're positive?

It could be 55. Or it could be 35, if interceptions hadn't given opponents so many beneficial starting positions in the field position battle.

Glass half full or half empty?

I'll go with half empty.

it starts with D and in this system, turnovers can occur every play. you cant blame BLM all the time. the D needs to get much more 3 and outs, constant pressure, force turnovers, and DONT GIVE UP BIG PLAYS for short drives.

it starts with the D

Stallion wrote:I think I'm POSITIVE that the 47 points per game we are giving up could easily be at least 55 points per game-considering the flow of the Rice and Tech game. I'm positive we are giving up about 500 yards per game in the first 3 Quarters when the game is on the line.

Stallion
Some one pointed you out to me on the boulevard at the first home game, and said you were the most negative person they have every met. I have seen sperts of positive from you and know you will also improve.

McCann and Bell would look even better if we had depth at corner.

By mid season, Banjo will be starting at one of the saftey positions, and that will increase our speed and overall athleticism at that spot. If, and this is a big if, we can somehow find a third corner that can play well, this secondary willl be a strength of the team at the midway point. I know, with all the points we have given up, that seems like a strange comment. But at least with McCann and Bell we have something to build off of.

I think Smart and Odiari have played well at LB, the other spots need upgrading especially in the speed area. If we can somehow find a third corner and Herron takes over as the second LB in the nickel, we could have a decent back 7 going in the second half of the year.

At DL, Yenga has been a plesent surprise, and Elizee has played much better than last season. We need two more quality DL, but that isn't going to develop until after this year.

On offense, I think we have 3 real quality receivers and Beachum has real upside in the long term.

Only 9 more games.

Some positives to be sure. O-line play has been a pleasant surprise. The D shows signs of actually stopping someone every now and again. Our punter has done a good job.

However, we continue to turn the ball over, make stupid penalty after stupid penalty and blow coverages way too often. These are the SMU mistakes of the last decade. No discipline (turnovers, penalties and coverage issues are not due to lack of experience talent or administrative commitment) in the fundamentals of the game kill us game in and game out.

Eliminate the multitude of mistakes and we start to win. Continue the SMU tradition of multiple mistakes and we continue to lose.

Positives: young team (again...how often have we said that as SMU fans over the last 20 years....a lot!...also a negative).......recruiting has been better under JJ than Bennett....we already have around 20 commitments from better players than what Bennett recruited..........easier admission standards for athletes and accepting more credit hours which should continue to translate into more transfers and juco players (so SMU does not have to play as many freshman / redshirt freshman).....fun offense to watch (I love watching the run and shoot.....one play away from a td if run correctly and SMU will continue to make strides the rest of the year)