New High Octane Attack should be attractive!!!

[cheesepony]

Announced OC should be MAJOR positive for offensive player recruitng. I was surprised at how many NFL guys have come from Cincy the last 5 years. Regardless, it sounds like Coach Burns is an advocate for using multiple formations, etc... and fitting the scheme to the talents of his players and his opponents. Wideouts, linemen, tailbacks, QB's..... COME ON UP TO THE HILLTOP!!

[ponyboy]

When's the last time we saw high octane? With the offensive drought around here for the last few years, Burns' hire is encouraging news.

[Pony Fan]

I am not sure our offense has even qualified for LOW octane.

[ponyboy]

True. We've been out of gas of late.

[Invader133]

I played an evenly matched friend of mine on the PS2 back in the fall, I was Cincy, he was Okie State and i won--so that has to be encouraging news.....

[PonyFan]

This news has me as amped up as Redskins fans wwho think Joe Gibbs will lead his old/new team back to the playoffs.

Some things I'd like to see SMU start doing again:
• Throw to a tight end
• Back defenses away from the line with some quick slants
• Use quick receivers on reverses and even receiver-option passes (Cedric Vinson was a QB in high school)
• More formations on running plays (did you realize that all the carries and yards Kincade had last year came basically out of four plays? Talk about predictable....)
• More routes over the middle for the receivers, to give them room to run

[Stallion]

+ don't forget a couple of decent WR recruits that can actually play.

<small>[ 01-09-2004, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[JasonB]

I woldn't expecty miracles, because we still have shortcomings at receiver, and the Offensive Line is a big unknown and might be a shortcoming. But the new schemes, improvement at RB and infusion of experienced players at the QB position should allow for a significant improvement on offense this year.

HOWEVER, I will temper that by saying we had some major shortcomings on defense this year that were disguised at times by running a ball-control offense. We will be very young (but talented) at LB and CB, and do not have a dominant DE on the team. So for the progress we might make on offense, the Mustangs might slip a little on defense.

Not trying to be negative, just want to realistically temper enthusiasm for next year. We will be better, no doubt about that, but I wouldn't expect a winning or .500 season until the year after.

[Hoop Fan]

every offense is high octane on paper. And the old wishbone was high octane when Jemeil Holloway ran it for Oklahoma. It takes play makers and linemen who can protect the qb. I think we will have some play makers in Phillips, Massey, Munlin and some receivers can step up if we protect the qb and give pass routes the time to develop before the qb is running for his life.

[ClassOf81]

Right you are, Hoop -- the QBs can't pass and the RBs can't run if the protection isn't there. I'm real excited to see the new OLs like Boren and Peveto and others get into the rotation. I've heard nothing but great things about them.