I didn't mention this earlier but this is the best offensive line for SMU in over a decade, maybe 2. In an offense that puts a premium on getting the ball out fast, BLM consistly had time (usually 2 seconds more than required when they rushed 4). They played as a unit, with great technique albeit against WSU. They are young and will improve. Klemm is a great soft spoken teacher for a first time coach. Enright controlled the point of attack, had a few erratic snaps (keep in mind there was a intermittant drizzle so the ball was wet, only was wiped about 5-6 times all game) of which Bo adjusted to well. We rotated a bit at guard, everyone was decent. We had one guard beat a few times on stunts, can't remember who it was. After our reciever fumbled the ball after a nice gain, Bryce Tennison made a heads up play recovering the fumbled quickly, despite closer proximity of defenders. Josh L. had an effective game, (Klemm was instructing Brooks at the time), McKnight gave Josh a few pointers throughout the game that he adjusted to i believe in regards to run-blocking, on the next series he used his hands and leverage better. Beachem is solid, there were two battles he should have lost, but didn't. JT Brooks needs to improve on knee bend and footwork, both looked out of sync. He is using his hands effectively and is powerful, but from what I saw, he is predisposed to lower back injury. BLM was forced out of the pocket and to the ground on separate occasions, both those are on him. Run blocking needs to improve but we are farther ahead as a group then expected. Enright (backup center also, McJunkin?) Tennison and another guard were very effective in pulling on run downs. On a screen to Aldrick for a three yard gain on the right side, the LT, Beachem traversed the field, got a good push, was quickly joined by tennison and brooks, and they moved a pile of 8 wsu defenders backwards for a 12 yard gain. BLM side stepped pressure a few times (2x on left guard, 1x on Enright, 1x on RT) and when tackled made sure to secure the football with both hands.
This SMU team showed a lot of improvement from last year on both sides of the ball. Special teams overage unit needs to tighten up in two areas when we face better teams, but were fairly effective yesterday. We had little to no chance to return punts yesterday, most were fair catches. McCann's (i think it was him) knee touched the ground on one return, he made the right read, headed left but the refs whistled the play over. The had a clear alley to go 65 yards for the score on the far left side, and great blocking. Our kicker has a huge leg, but needs to improve on directional kicks. He stained the mattress with those kickoffs out of bounds, no excuse for that give WSU that field position. PATs and FG were solid. The short snapper was high twice, the holder got it down in time in either case, and points were converted. I digress.....
CalallenStang wrote:was Lobbestal as bad as he sounded on the radio or was our defense that good?
I can say that SMU players were extremely well prepared for WSU. The D consistently took everything they could away from WSU, and in the few instances when something was available (they cut the field in half for him to simplify reads, protected him with some swing passes to the flat, and short passes to Karsetter), their QB couldn't deliver the goods. He had a decent final drive in the fourth quarter aided by calls by the ref, and big game on a blown coverage due to assignment confusion by our DBs (should have been negated to do a clip on our DE).