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The last few weeks have done quite a bit to quell my early season concerns about this team. Lets all face this fact. Young teams who lack confidence make mistakes down the stretch. There's nothing you can do but live with it. We have had a realistic chance of winning our last four games. Did anyone think after Rice/Texas State/Texas Tech/TCU that we'd be kicking ourselves over giving away games in the 4th quarter? I have said since the beginning of the season, that I'd evaluate the team based on progress. Its undeniable that we are moving in the right direction. We still have serious problems on defense, but I've seen progress there as well. Bo Levi has matured and is playing a pretty high level for a true freshman and isn't throwing rediculous INTs all over the place. We may not win another game this year, but I feel confident that we are going to win some games next year and be a much more competitive squad.

StallionsModelT wrote:The last few weeks have done quite a bit to quell my early season concerns about this team.

Inasmuch as my early concerns about this team were focused predominately on defense, I cannot say the same.

jtstang wrote:

StallionsModelT wrote:The last few weeks have done quite a bit to quell my early season concerns about this team.

Inasmuch as my early concerns about this team were focused predominately on defense, I cannot say the same.

Two 4th & short stops and Youri Yenga mitigate my concerns a little for this year, and given that SMU has no chance of finishing above 500, I am looking at everything through the lense of next year. I

My concerns for next year - Offense:
Running Back; Depth in all positions

My concerns for next year - Defense:
Interior Defensive Line; Depth in all positions

I'm not trying to say that the defense is good...BUT...after giving up 56, 36, 43, 48 to start the season I agree with Stallion that even the defense is much improved. That may only be because the offense is better which gives the defense more rest and less time to make mistakes, but either way, they are making stops, and at least making the other team work a little to move the ball. The same Tulsa team that scored 37 on us, and we competed with, scored 77 on UTEP! This team was a roughing the passer call away from beating Houston. After those early season games, I didn't think I would be able to say that. Now you can see the players/areas where we need to improve, as opposed to everything at the beginning of the season. We NEED to win one (or two ) to close out the year so that next year we aren't figuring out how to win and close out games. It is a process, and I at least feel like we are closer than we have been in quite a while. I know that the "no expectations" montra is everywhere and I'm sure I will hear it after this post, but it's hard for me not to be excited about the possibility of competing and winning some games. OK, I'm done

After not stopping Texas State on any third down, or Rice for that matter, You have got to say this defense is better. The #3 offense in the country, Houston, was held to 6 of 11 conversions. Very few busted plays for long yardage. There are tackling and picks.

After our thin, beat-up defense gets into the fourth quarter they are going to struggle.

The O has got to keep moving the ball.

RunPeruna,

Please don't confuse me with that ego-obsessed blowhard. His existence is proof that there is a devil.

RunPeruna wrote:I know that the "no expectations" montra is everywhere and I'm sure I will hear it after this post, but it's hard for me not to be excited about the possibility of competing and winning some games. OK, I'm done

Actually, there's nothing wrong with being excited and hoping we win. I do it every game. But I have no expectations that we will win. And in fact, unfortunately, my expectations are starting to swing in the opposite direction. However I still hope we win.

I see vast improvement on both sides of the ball. In addition to the 3rd down stops the defense stopped two 2 point conversions. We still can't tackle one on one. I guess we just don't have the talent for that. But how many times did you see everyone on in on the tackle? Several times - we are gang tackling and that is what it takes. On the long run at the end of the game once the receiver was past the line of scrimmage and he was in a one on one situation he won the battle. But that didn't happen near as often as in the past. They are playing better as a team. Yenga and Bell continue to be the best we have and they will be around for a while.

I saw Bo revert back to a nervous freshman at only two points. He looked very uncomfortable when he was in our on end zone and at the very end when he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. In today's press conference Jones said he had told him to pass it and then run up and clock the ball. Yet, after the pass Bo started over to the sideline to get the play and Jones waved him off and then Bo sill looked over and asked for confirmation that he was to clock the ball. Looked to me like a freshman who has not had a lot of experience with end of game time management and who is not sure of what to do. That will not happen again and we would have had about 15 seconds on the clock instead of six.

This team has made huge strides since the beginning of season. These coaches know what they are doing and the players believe in the coaches and are beginning to believe in themselves.

San Antonio Mustang wrote:I see vast improvement on both sides of the ball...

This team has made huge strides since the beginning of season. These coaches know what they are doing and the players believe in the coaches and are beginning to believe in themselves.

Condensed to the nitty-gritty. Great post.

they call it progress dear

Stallion I wasn't trying to accuse you of being one of the "no expectation" people. I was just trying to address it before it was brought up. I'm learning from the politicians! Beat Navy!

Hooray for StallionsModelT. A voice of reason!

/s/ someone who sees beauty in a young Hillary Clinton

I'm not sure how much the defense has improved, considering that a lot of the points scored by our opponents in the first few games (especially TCU) were handed to them by ridiculous passes and fluke fumbles... but you can definitely see some improvement in the offense, with fewer dropped balls and far fewer "panic" throws by Mitchell.