SMU Football: Any quick fixes or is this a total teardown?

[Sic_em]

As it's been mentioned before, I went to BU undergrad (saw a lot of bad football 1996-2009) and went to SMU for grad school. I've seen all or part of the 3 games so far this year. I think the talent level is down a bit over what we had 3-4 years ago, but it's hard to tell to what degree.

Captain Obvious comment here...the OL is way down. That drives everything else...the QB doesn't have time to wait for the WRs routes to develop and either has to scramble, throw early, or take a sack. There aren't any lanes for the RBs, so how can you really evaluate the skill players?

The offense can't consistently move the chains and give your defense a rest, so they get worn down and start getting exposed.

So...whenever a permanent HC is named, does he have a full-blown rebuilding job that will take years or is it a case where a few tweaks can fix the problems and the team can be competitive again sooner than later?

What path would you pursue to fix things and what specifically would you do? Here's my list:

1. Focus recruiting on DFW...the Mustangs have to rebuild relationships with area HS programs...the coaching staff should have guys camped out at Allen, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Skyline, Southlake, the Plano schools, etc. They may not land the big fish at those schools right away, but there's got to be a better recruiting presence in DFW.

2. The rest of the recruiting efforts should be focused on Texas, no need to recruit outside of the state. There may be an occasional overlooked kid in Oklahoma or Louisiana, but outside of DFW, the focus should be Texas, with an emphasis on Houston area, East Texas, and the Beaumont/Port Arthur/CC area.

3. I don't know how big the senior class is, but if it's less than 25, if dead weight can be identified...scholarship kids who won't be getting playing time...help them move on to better opportunities for them, so we can start upping the talent level.

4. Not sure what recruiting restrictions remain in place, but out of that 25, I would be tempted to take a Bill Snyder approach on a smaller level for this year only...maybe 7-8 JUCOs, with at least 3 OL, maybe a DL or two, then maybe an LB, DB, WR or RB. Out of the remaining 17-18 spots for HS guys, try to redshirt 14-15 of those guys. As you go forward, recruit even less JC kids, and redshirt as many HS recruits as you can. The idea is to go to war with 21-22 year olds, not 17-18 year olds.

5. If you recruit smaller Texas towns, recruit the QB. That's usually the best athlete on smaller teams. Those guys can usually be converted to RB, WR, or DBs. Baylor and TCU have had a lot of success doing this.

6. Get more speed on defense, even if you have to sacrifice a little size. Spin DEs down to DT, LBs to DEs, Safeties to LB. Speed covers mistakes.

7. As I said earlier, it's hard to evaluate what we have right now at QB, RB and WR. Solidify the OL with JUCOs and let's see what Matt Davis, Burcham, etc., can do next year before making wholesale changes with the offensive skill players.

What is your plan to right the ship?

[Digetydog]

Not a quick fix as "coaching" by Knute Rockne could not solve the problems. Simply put, we need 2-3 decent recruiting classes to become competitive again. In particular, we need a more balanced roster with size/speed upgrades on both lines, the LB corp, and WR.

[covok48]

We are in badly in need of good recruiting. There's just not much there with the talent we have right now.

Even a mastermind would have a tough time winning 4 games with this team. So we need to throw money at a coach that is an excellent recruiter. Something like a Mack Brown type that can bring quality players in because our present and immediate future look bleak.

At best we get good prospects and they can turn the program around later. At worst we'll have the talent to turn the ship around if the Mack type isn't a good game day coach.


Sorry for the lack of detail, I just don't know how to keep this program going at any level with our current way of doing things.

[ender3]

Even a mastermind would have a tough time winning 4 games with this team. So we need to throw money at a coach that is an excellent recruiter.

I have a sneaking suspicion that 4 wins next year would be a pretty significant turnaround. Honestly… a clear plan for where we were headed in the future, an energetic messenger to tell us about that plan, a new dedication to recruiting Texas talent, and 4 wins next year, and I'm happy. That's HUGE progress.

I agree with the points in the OP. Recruit Texas (almost exclusively). Improve relations with local high schools. Recruit as much JUCO OL help as the rules allow. This team is not strong anywhere, but the offensive line is keeping what little talent we have from performing at all.

I'm not really in favor of a Mack Brown-type hire (I'd very much prefer Morris), but the man DOES raise money like it's going out of style. More money for first-rate recruiting staff could theoretically solve a lot of problems.

[fifty]

Do we think Chad Morris will fare better than Muschamp?

[SMU 86]

Even a mastermind would have a tough time winning 4 games with this team. So we need to throw money at a coach that is an excellent recruiter.

I have a sneaking suspicion that 4 wins next year would be a pretty significant turnaround. Honestly… a clear plan for where we were headed in the future, an energetic messenger to tell us about that plan, a new dedication to recruiting Texas talent, and 4 wins next year, and I'm happy. That's HUGE progress.

I agree with the points in the OP. Recruit Texas (almost exclusively). Improve relations with local high schools. Recruit as much JUCO OL help as the rules allow. This team is not strong anywhere, but the offensive line is keeping what little talent we have from performing at all.

I'm not really in favor of a Mack Brown-type hire (I'd very much prefer Morris), but the man DOES raise money like it's going out of style. More money for first-rate recruiting staff could theoretically solve a lot of problems.

CoC has said that money will not be a problem.

[03Mustang]

with a few JUCOs and the right coach we could be a bowl team in the AAC next year.

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[Nacho]

get rid of june--check
get rid of run and shoot--check
better recruiting
dynamic head coach
great staff
do not pay coach more than you can afford to buy out
limit ooc schedule to one great team.

[sbsmith]

Do we think Chad Morris will fare better than Muschamp?

Yes, if for no other reason than he'll have a much lower bar to clear than Muschamp.

[gostangs]

I think we could be slightly faster then you mention if we can put out the call for "hardship" transfers. 4-5 of those in the right positions could give us some serious breathing room. The only thing June did well in the recruiting arena was attract transfers. What would that second year team have done without Shambry? What would last year have been without Gilbert? Put out the call for those type players and this can turn in 2 years - at least to back to average - which is where we topped off under June.

We only have to figure out how to beat the bottom 4 AAC teams plus UNT to create some pretty big momentum -

[sbsmith]

So...whenever a permanent HC is named, does he have a full-blown rebuilding job that will take years or is it a case where a few tweaks can fix the problems and the team can be competitive again sooner than later?

No quick fixes here, it'll take the new guy at least three Top 40-50 classes to have the depth he needs to win the AAC and beat P5 teams.

[LA_Mustang]

CoC has said that money will not be a problem.

I keep hearing this but it's hard to believe when a 5 million dollar buyout was too much last season. A decision that set the program back another year, and two years in recruiting. That's a very mixed signal. Can't have it both ways.

[ender3]

CoC has said that money will not be a problem.

If they said that, I'm sure they meant to hire a quality head coach, and get a quality staff.

Surely their goal is not to keep footing the bill for this forever. Turning football into a money-maker has to be a long term goal.

Still, I'll say it again. I don't think Mack is the guy we want, but his proven ability to turn a program into a money maker is a plus.

[gostangs]

it wasn't just the buy out last year - it was the buy out plus the obvious need to pay up for the next guy.

Plus there were two or three that still didn't understand just how shut down June was, so they had to be convinced. June did that part for us.

[LA_Mustang]

it wasn't just the buy out last year - it was the buy out plus the obvious need to pay up for the next guy.

Plus there were two or three that still didn't understand just how shut down June was, so they had to be convinced. June did that part for us.

I'm not sure paying up would have been necessary last Dec/Jan. identify a young P5 assistant and pay him JJ's salary. According to USA Today in 2013 JJ's salary ($1,911,511) was higher than eleven P5 schools. Boise is the only non-P5 school paying a higher salary.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/salaries/

The last two sentences of your post is troubling.