Tulane by 4

[Duke Blue Blood]

Interesting that the boys in Vegas did not kill us on the spread with Tulane (-4). Seems like a very fair spread, especially without the ability to kick a field goal.

DBB

[ponyte]

Nor the ability to punt the ball. Nor the ability to cover a kickoff. Our defense will be much sharper against Tulane and our offense should have al the tools available (run and pass). -4 is much better than one expects given last weeks effort and our overall history over the last few years.

[abezontar]

While we may not have been able to punt against tamu, we only had one punting glitch in the TCU and Baylor games, and both of those were due to blocking/snapping miscues.

[Sam I Am]

Since I have low expectations for our team, I surprisingly hopeful about winning the Tulane game. It's at home and Tulane doesn't have one. We hosted them post-Katrina and that works to our advantage. Take the points and get ready to be 2-2 in September.

[mrydel]

While we may not have been able to punt against tamu, we only had one punting glitch in the TCU and Baylor games, and both of those were due to blocking/snapping miscues.

A good team will actually go a whole game sometimes without a punting glitch.

[FW]

Nor the ability to punt the ball. Nor the ability to cover a kickoff

You obviously missed our special teams "clinic" vs Miss State

[ponyte]

Nor the ability to punt the ball. Nor the ability to cover a kickoff

You obviously missed our special teams "clinic" vs Miss State

Is there a suggestion that the game may be decided by the special teams that want to lose it the most?

Our special teams have been with mistakes and costly turnovers in every game we have played. I don't know about Tulane, but the one area in our game that needs the most improvement is the special teams. If we make rather significant improvement in the special teams and play our BU, TCU defense and just be consistent and mistake free on offense, then we win. However, if we play great defense and have the best offensive game of the year and our usual specialty teams show up, we will face a loss. Special team play is that important to a team like SMU trying to turn the corner.

[PK]

Nor the ability to punt the ball. Nor the ability to cover a kickoff. Our defense will be much sharper against Tulane and our offense should have al the tools available (run and pass). -4 is much better than one expects given last weeks effort and our overall history over the last few years.

Did you some how miss Ryan's 61 yard punt in the A&M game or the one against TCU that landed in the coffin corner only to be dragged out to the 20 by an insane official??? Just like the QB, the punter has to have adequate protection from his blockers to do his job. He also shouldn't have to jump high in the air to receive the snap. We have a very good punter...his team mates need to step up and help him more consistantly.

[ponyrider1947]

OMG! Now we have a Hall of Famer defending the kickers!! What can it mean???

[ponyte]

Nor the ability to punt the ball. Nor the ability to cover a kickoff. Our defense will be much sharper against Tulane and our offense should have al the tools available (run and pass). -4 is much better than one expects given last weeks effort and our overall history over the last few years.

Did you some how miss Ryan's 61 yard punt in the A&M game or the one against TCU that landed in the coffin corner only to be dragged out to the 20 by an insane official??? Just like the QB, the punter has to have adequate protection from his blockers to do his job. He also shouldn't have to jump high in the air to receive the snap. We have a very good punter...his team mates need to step up and help him more consistantly.

I stand corrected. Two blocked field goals, one missed PAT, one blocked punt for a TD (out of a mere three blocked punts this year), one TD return on a kickoff, two fumbled kickoff returns are completely erased by two fine punts. We certainly have nothing to worry about in the special teams as we average .66 great punts per game. And we have only cost ourselves a mere 7 points (two blocked field goals and a missed PAT).

My point isn't whether our punter has a great leg but that our entire special teams have been less than adequate. They have committed far too many mistakes and have cost us too much in points, field position and momentum. The special teams have to improve.

[PK]

...our entire special teams have been less than adequate. They have committed far too many mistakes and have cost us too much in points, field position and momentum. The special teams have to improve.

I certainly can agree with that.