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Blake McJunkin knows the SMU linemen — he studies and practices with the offensive linemen, and goes against the Ponies' defensive linemen in practice every day. He has seen first-hand the growth in the defensive line, and knows the boost the offensive line has gotten since SMU signed six freshman offensive linemen in February.

McJunkin visited with PonyFans.com to discuss how defensive end Taylor Thompson and the Mustangs' defensive line should be more effective in 2009, and how he has added size and strength in his own battle for playing time at center.

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=113

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thank you PonyPride for another great article. I hope Blake puts on another 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, at 285 to 290, he'll be able to hold the point better against a big NT.

Good read PP. Thanks

thanks for the story

I'm all for McJunkin gaining 10 pounds too but I think the point of the story is a repeating theme for SMU Lineman since June Jones took over. We don't want no fat stinkin' overweight lineman that can't carry their weight and run. Weight as in Excessive Fat is not a desireable trait of good offensive lineman-never has been. The problem is we are asking Offensive Lineman to play 1-2 years too early. If they get into the weighlifting and conditioning program the desired bulk will come by their Redshirt Sophomore or Junior season before which they probably shouldn't be on the field anyway.

Stallion, I agree with what you are saying, but what are our other options. If they are indeed the best we have, shouldn't we go ahead and put them on the field? Or do we play some with lesser talent and redshirt these guys. I really don't know the answer. I think we are going to have to work our way through this for a few years until our recruiting catches up to where it needs to be.

if you look at our roster (OL) you will see that we have only 1 senior (Mitch Enright) no juniors - we have no choice but to play who we are playing - we are 1 to 2 years away from playing juniors and seniors in the OL

PP,

Thats excellent work as always. I have always been a Blake McJunkin fan, even at Plano HS and watched him play at the Texas Coaches HS allstar game last summer where he took on noseguards and DT's that outweighed him 40-50 lbs, he never backed off and was involved in several skirmishes which it looked like he was getting the better of.

Taylor Thompson looks a far cry from the slender FR who arguably hit the field a year before he was physically ready last year. Hope he becomes "the guy" on defense that ends up an all-conference performer. From what I saw of him last year, that guy has tremendous potential

Coaches have put together the makings of a pretty good OL taking shape in the next couple of years

d_pony wrote:if you look at our roster (OL) you will see that we have only 1 senior (Mitch Enright) no juniors - we have no choice but to play who we are playing - we are 1 to 2 years away from playing juniors and seniors in the OL

You are correct sir!

mathman wrote:Stallion, I agree with what you are saying, but what are our other options. If they are indeed the best we have, shouldn't we go ahead and put them on the field? Or do we play some with lesser talent and redshirt these guys. I really don't know the answer. I think we are going to have to work our way through this for a few years until our recruiting catches up to where it needs to be.

Another great article, thanks.

BTW, that's just another typical Stallion rant where he's not dealing with reality. Of course we all agree with Stallion's argument. We all want talented OL who don't see the field until their 4th or 5th years. It takes a lot of seasoning to make a good OL, both physically and mentally. The problem is that we don't have talented, experienced OL on the roster, save 1 or 2 guys. This will work itself out as June Jones upgrades talent but it's necessarily going to have painful moments in the interim.

Stallion's beef may be that he thinks June Jones has sufficiently talented upperclass OL on the roster but he doesn't want to play them because he wants to win with his own guys only? The fact JJ's using upperclassman in key roles dispels that idea for me...

I agree that guy's are playing before they should, but as well develop these OL and DL, they'll have a class behind them. Two years from now, we'll fit the ideal model. Until then, we need younger guys who are gonna step up like these guys.