Thorough Preview from SBN

[DiamondM]

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/8/21/4640694/2013-smu-football-schedule-roster-preview/in/4403817

He predicts a tough transition year, with a much better 2014. I can't say I disagree with his assessment, but I'm hoping that we prove him wrong, as he says, by winning 10. It's our turn to be the break out team no one expected, right?

[redpony]

If this is indeed a 'tough transition' year then I would expect/hope that JJ will be gone at the end of the season.

[Stallion]

preview pretty well sums up what I predict-SMU is simply hoping for too many things to jell all at the same time.

If Shead plays like a 4 star
If Gilbert plays like a 5 star
If Ashcraft plays like 4 star
If WRs learn to catch, adjust and run routes
If about 5 questionmarks from inexperienced players in front 7 are answered
If young, inexperienced underclassmen in secondary improve 100% from a pourous 2012 secondary
Inexperience in OLM
If Jones/Mumme modify mediocre offense

This team has a bunch of questionmarks that aren't answered in flag football

[gostangs]

agree - but one thing I would say is it is not a stretch to expect the three UT guys to play like they are supposed to - it is not like we are expecting them to play above the talent level we know they have.

so I would say the biggest question is our D-line. We are as strong everywhere else - better slightly in D-backs (our issues last year were lack of depth) and wide receiver I think. LB's about the same, maybe slightly less than last year. But those three up front guys will make for a VERY long year if we have a big drop off. We cant score enough to make up for a soft middle with this schedule.

We will look bad early is my prediction (not exactly rocket science). The competition is just too overwhelming in three of our four OCC games - and Rutgers is no slouch. Expect a month of gnashing of teeth, followed by indignation when Jones has his contract extended, followed by 5 -6 wins (again), followed by a bunch of fun at basketball games.

[redpony]

Expect a month of gnashing of teeth, followed by indignation when Jones has his contract extended, followed by 5 -6 wins (again), followed by a bunch of fun at basketball games.

If he gets an extension with another mediocre season then it proves that Turner, his admin. and the CofC have no real interest in being a top level program. I wonder how many of the CofC would accept the mediocre fball performance that we have seen the last couple of years in their business ventures.

[JasonB]

preview pretty well sums up what I predict-SMU is simply hoping for too many things to jell all at the same time.

If Shead plays like a 4 star
If Gilbert plays like a 5 star
If Ashcraft plays like 4 star
If WRs learn to catch, adjust and run routes
If about 5 questionmarks from inexperienced players in front 7 are answered
If young, inexperienced underclassmen in secondary improve 100% from a pourous 2012 secondary
Inexperience in OLM
If Jones/Mumme modify mediocre offense

This team has a bunch of question marks that aren't answered in flag football

I guess I look at things a little differently.

- Line was great, but we have several really good running backs. After watching things in person, I am not concerned. I think Shead looks like a 4 star, but we don't even need him to play at that level to be successful in our system.
- Gilbert doesn't have to be a 5 star. But he progressed over the course of last year. Don't discount the fact he was coming off shoulder surgery last year and wasn't quite right during the season. Don't discount going through Spring practice. Don't discount the experience with the offense. I don't know if he will be a 5-star, but he will certainly be better.
- Ashcraft doesn't need to play like a 4 star. But I will tell you this: Gottshaulk we know is solid. Ashcraft is an upgrade over the LG from last year, who wasn't that great. Lasecki will be better than what he was last year. Rice is an upgrade over playing McJunk out of position all last season. And Chauncey and Kris are both not that far behind Collins, who was really a guard playing tackle, even though they are young. Even if Ashcraft is average, our line will be better this season than it was last season.
- Having been to practice, the young wide receivers pushing the veterans has had a tremendous impact. You and I have both been critical of Holman in the past, but he looks fantastic. I know there are a lot of people out there who wished Dieter stuck around. I saw Dieter in practice. Great hands (you should see him on the jugs machine), but he would not be in the two deep this year.
- Don't forget that two of those inexperienced corners had already made their way past Parks on the depth chart last season before they got hurt. And that Parks had to play hurt most of the year. The secondary this season will be immensely improved this season. Night and day.
- I don't discount the questions around the defensive line. Mason is very positive about the group, which is encouraging. But the front 7 aren't a question. We are awesome at LB. With awesome depth. The defensive line is really the only question on defense.
- When our defense goes against the scout team now, it is definitely not flag football.
- Everyone on this board is going to be thrilled with the changes in the offense.

SMU will be improved at every position on the field this season except DL. It will be really interesting to see how that results against a higher level of competition. One thing I am really excited about is that if our QB is inaccurate, we have a backup who can step in and do something. If our receivers drop balls, we have really talented players backing them up who will replace them on the field. If players on defense aren't willing to hit someone, we have the depth to replace them and get someone in there who isn't afraid to make a play. Depth is really important and for once we actually have quite a bit of it all over the field.

And I know, if we crash and burn on Friday, I will hear it to no end. I know I get ridiculed for expect us to be very average last year and not giving Jones a hard time because I expected it. But we are a much better team than we were last year. And even though we are upgrading the competition, I expect we will see that in the results.

[Stallion]

SMU will not be better this year at LB after losing Jagared Davis and Taylor Reed and certainly not Friday Nite. Definitely not better in Defensive Line. May not be better at RB.

SMU's secondary was porous last year-they are relying on the same kids and a few kids that have never played. The evidence is that they have a long way to go to stay on the same field with Top Big 12 teams and Tech has one of the best receiving corps in the Big 12 especially when Amaro comes off bench in second half after his suspension. Oh and one thing to watch for from Tech's WRs-Texas Tech had the best blocking WRs I've seen in awhile last year and it really helps their running game. This has been a big weakness for SMU for years. I don't see a Receiver that projects next year better or even in same class as Darius Johnson.

In College Football until they prove it they are questionmarks. You are hoping everything turns up roses-good luck with that. The same thing was said about Gilbert, Thompson, Holman, Parks and others in the past and how did that turn out. At most of the positions you mention Tech has more experienced and more highly recruited players. Tech has something like 160 career returning starts on Defense-these guys that you question have all played significant snaps in the Big 12. I count 83 career starts on defense for SMU and yet you keep saying that Tech has experience issues on defense. Secondary only-even there they have returning lettermen at every position and 2 kids with substantial starting experience. Tech also has big advantage in returning lettermen-something like 50 (after late defections) to 34 for SMU.

You don't seem to consider their more experienced, highly recruited players will improve but accept unconditionally that every SMU newcomer is going to come through. Most of SMU's questionmarks haven't even played a meaningful down of football. We'll see how they react under pressure. You follow SMU and every time you talk about Tech you show you don't know a thing. I think Tech's Defensive front 7 will be a load for SMU to handle-better than Baylor last year

[Mustangsabu]

SMU will not be better this year at LB after losing Jagared Davis and Taylor Reed and certainly not Friday Nite. Definitely not better in Defensive Line. May not be better at RB.

SMU's secondary was porous last year-they are relying on the same kids and a few kids that have never played. The evidence is that they have a long way to go to stay on the same field with Top Big 12 teams and Tech has one of the best receiving corps in the Big 12 especially when Amaro comes off bench in second half after his suspension. Oh and one thing to watch for from Tech's WRs-Texas Tech had the best blocking WRs I've seen in awhile last year and it really helps their running game. This has been a big weakness for SMU for years. I don't see a Receiver that projects next year better or even in same class as Darius Johnson.

In College Football until they prove it they are questionmarks. You are hoping everything turns up roses-good luck with that. The same thing was said about Gilbert, Thompson, Holman, Parks and others in the past and how did that turn out. At most of the positions you mention Tech has more experienced and more highly recruited players. Tech has something like 160 career returning starts on Defense-these guys that you question have all played significant snaps in the Big 12. I count 83 career starts on defense for SMU and yet you keep saying that Tech has experience issues on defense. Secondary only-even there they have returning lettermen at every position and 2 kids with substantial starting experience. Tech also has big advantage in returning lettermen-something like 50 (after late defections) to 34 for SMU.

You don't seem to consider their more experienced, highly recruited players will improve but accept unconditionally that every SMU newcomer is going to come through. Most of SMU's questionmarks haven't even played a meaningful down of football. We'll see how they react under pressure. You follow SMU and every time you talk about Tech you show you don't know a thing. I think Tech's Defensive front 7 will be a load for SMU to handle-better than Baylor last year

Then why are they only 6 point favorites? Sounds like we are outclassed at every position.

[Stallion]

you say that as if 6 points for a road team starting a freshman QB is insignificant. Huh?

[JasonB]

1) terrific point about d Thompson. He looked like he took a step forward during fall camp last year and it never translated to the games.
2) I get what you are saying about the players we lost. I am just saying after seeing the team this fall I am not worried. But be clear - we are not relying on the same players in the secondary. The players who won jobs last fall are back and healthy. They just never got the chance to play last season.
3) the most glaring hope is that a frosh with no experience at qb is only going to have a 2 point impact on the game, regardless of what you think of the smu players

[Arkpony]

One problem is I do not see JJ benching GG if he plays badly. Burcham is the real deal, but I do not see it happening unless GG is injured.

[Harry0569]

One problem is I do not see JJ benching GG if he plays badly. Burcham is the real deal, but I do not see it happening unless GG is injured.

He did bench Padron 2 years ago at Kyle Field, so there is a precedent.

[sbsmith]

One problem is I do not see JJ benching GG if he plays badly. Burcham is the real deal, but I do not see it happening unless GG is injured.

True, June wants an extension and it's not in his best interest to start a noob (even if it's a practice warrior like Burcham). If Gilbert starts off lousy again then June/Mumme are just going to dumb down the playbook and start running more.

[East Coast Mustang]

One problem is I do not see JJ benching GG if he plays badly. Burcham is the real deal, but I do not see it happening unless GG is injured.

He did bench Padron 2 years ago at Kyle Field, so there is a precedent.

After two series, no less. Man, that was bizarre.

[PerunaPunch]

One problem is I do not see JJ benching GG if he plays badly. Burcham is the real deal, but I do not see it happening unless GG is injured.

He did bench Padron 2 years ago at Kyle Field, so there is a precedent.

After two series, no less. Man, that was bizarre.

Not really. Kyle earned his way into the doghouse. It's wasn't just the A&M defense and 90,000 screaming Aggies that had him rattled. The only bizarre part is that he couldn't seem to get out of the doghouse even when McDermott's arm was about ready to fall off