Bennett

[PK]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by sam:
<B>It is alot easier to recruit at K State than SMU. And other than the QB's his class so far is not much better than other coaches that had to deal all the pye restrictions. </B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are you serious? Are you going to say that a class with four 3-star recruits so far is not that much better than the previous recruiting classes of say the last 10 years? At this time last year, we only had one commitment, much less any 3-star recruits.

Look again...particularly at the lineman.

Ricky Joe Meeks
Quarterback
6'3", 210, 4.8
Mount Vernon, Texas

Justin Boren
Offensive Line
6'4", 280
Colleyville (Heritage), Texas

Desmond Jones
Defensive End
6'0", 270
Dallas (Carter), Texas

Zach Hall
Linebacker
6'3", 225
Irving, Texas

Richuel Massey
Running Back
5'11", 220, 4.4
Hillsboro, Texas

Bryan Turner
Offensive Lineman
6'2", 290
Tyler (Lee), Texas

Blake Warren
Wide Receiver
5-8, 170
Arp, Texas

Kenard Burley
Offensive Lineman
6-4, 310
Scurry-Rosser, Texas

Caleb Poveto
Offensive Lineman
6-4, 275
Flower Mound (Marcus), Texas

Chris Phillips
Quarterback
6-4, 220, 4.6
Dallas (Bishop Lynch), Texas


We are only half way there for this next class...maybe you should wait for the final tally to assess your grading.

[Guest]

I don't think many people (other than PK) realize that it takes time to rebuild a program like SMU's. Look at Iowa State....they weren't good and they endured 6 losing seasons before McCarney turned it around. Now look what they're doing. It takes time to replace all the kids on your roster and build depth...talented depth. No other coach has has such a strong backing from the university, and Bennett's comitmment and work ethic is extraordinary. Don't give up just yet. Keep the faith. Go Mustangs! We'll slaughter UTEP !

[PerunaPunch]

Sam, you must be on crack.

I believe at this time last year we only had one recruit (Billups). Except for 1 player, everyone Bennett has pulled in thus far is rated 2-star or higher. We have 4 3-star players thus far, which is 4 times as many as we got all of last year. This is, by a wide margin, the best class we’ve had since the Death Penalty. And, we’re still fairly early in the recruiting process.

I agree that many programs are going with lighter/faster defensive lineman. But we’re talking programs who are picking ‘lighter’ defensive tackles in the 280-range instead of the 300-range. That’s what they mean by light. They’re picking ‘lighter’ defensive ends in the 260-270 range. Not 225 –240 range like our guys. And they’re definitely not playing freshmen and sophomores like we are.

Time to put up or shut up sam. I hereby challenge you to find one single top D1A program who has a 250 lb. starting defensive tackle. I have the highest regard for Allen Adami, but at his size and weight, he should be playing defensive end. At another school, even with all his talent, he probably wouldn’t be starting as a sophomore. Your next assignment... find one single top D1A program who has a 225 lb. starting defensive end. Fact is, 225 is a good weight for a safety. Heck, you’d almost require more weight than that for an outside linebacker. So, did you find a starting DE at a top school that weighs 225? No?? Now comes the realization that not just one, but BOTH starting ends weigh in at 245 or less. Hell, we don’t have a DE on the entire freakin’ depth chart that weighs more than 245.

I want to be very clear on the point that I’m not denigrating these guys’ talent. My point is that excepting Croy, our defensive line is small and young. Other programs have the luxury of waiting until their players mature in the system and are much heavier and stronger before they crack the starting lineup.

[PX]

The answer to your question would be Eric Thompson of the Air Force academy.
All of Air Forces defensive linemen are 230-260. Remember that the academy has size limitations, cant fit in the cockpit of a jet if you're too hefty.
Air Force is a perennial bowl team, and is 7-3 so far this season.

[Charleston Pony]

Virginia Tech had a DE a couple of years ago (Moore?) who played at about 230-235 and was all over the field. Opposing teams never knew which side he was going to line up on and he was strong and quick. Don't know if he ever went on to play pro ball, but was a fun guy to watch and he competed at the highest level of I-A football and generally wreaked havoc. I don't have a big problem with having an undersized group of DL, if they are strong and can compensate with quickness...BUT, I would like to see them backed up by bigger linebackers and safeties for run support.

[PK]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PX:
<B>The answer to your question would be Eric Thompson of the Air Force academy.
All of Air Forces defensive linemen are 230-260. Remember that the academy has size limitations, cant fit in the cockpit of a jet if you're too hefty.
Air Force is a perennial bowl team, and is 7-3 so far this season.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You're sort of right PX, They do however have one DE listed at 270 and they have some OL's in the 285 to 295 range and many over 6'-2"....must be making those cockpits bigger. Actually not everyone who goes to the Academy becomes a jet jockey....someone has to fly those cargo planes.

[hpfan]

You are so right about need for more size. The Karrington kid is at 260 now but will likely play DT next season(at 270)due to a lack of depth at tackle. He was always best suited at DE,which would be perfect grow into DE size for D-1. More d-line size needed and give it time to mature.Darrin Johnson has the size but not the experience.The other existing DE's are either too small (perfect D-1 world)or have not grown enough yet. Coach Fello likes the all DE look four wide so maybe it can still all work out with more practice..

[PerunaPunch]

Dangit PX, you're supposed to be on my side! As a former O-Lineman you're not even supposed to acknowledge the existence of anyone under 300 lbs. (unless of course, she's a waitress at the Tipp).

And although you are the acknowledged master of all things pigskin related, in this case I’m going to have to say, “close, but no cigar.”

The challenge was to find a top D1A program who has a starting 250 lb. DT or a starting 225 lb. DE. First, Air Force might be good, but they’re definitely not top 25. If we’re going to beat TCU (who is, in fact, ranked #25) any time soon, we need top 25 beef. Eric Thompson is a 260 lb. senior, not a 250 lb. sophomore. So all talent aside, we’re not comparing apples to apples. Two years and 30+ pounds later, I’d probably take Adami over Thompson.

The point I’m desperately trying to make is that in many areas, our most talented guys are still young and haven’t benefited from 4 or 5 years of training table food (oh yeah, we don’t have one of those either) and a serious strength and conditioning program... Unlike every program we want to be competitive with.

BTW, just to set the record straight, I checked the stats and Eric Thompson is nowhere to be seen on top 30 lists of: tackles, solo tackles, sacks, tackles for loss or forced fumbles.

[ProudPonyPa]

I know it was early in this thread, but someone said good players make coaches good? That is so backwards. If you measure a coach's ability solely by his record, you are missing the point. A good coach helps develop players and brings out what the player didn't even know he had. If you sit around waiting for players to become good so you can become good, that's like trying to cook soup before you light the fire.

[PX]

You're stetching things a bit now, PP. You asked for a starter from a top program. You didnt specify that they had to be a sophomore. or what the team had to be ranked. Thompson starts for a team that has been ranked in the top-25 this year, and will be going to a bowl game. The program is a consistent winner, consistently in bowl games, and consistently much better than SMU. They crushed SMU like a toy the last time the 2 teams met. Do you remember the Navy team that humiliated SMU in this seaons opener? Air Force beat them by 40. They were ranked this year, and trying to claim they definitely arent good is preposterous.
When I watched Air Force play his weight was listed as 255, but 255-260 is a neglible difference. Incidentally, on SMU's website Allen Adami's weight is listed as 257. So, 2 pounds under, or 3 over, you are seriously splitting hairs here. Exaggerating things doesnt make your argument more credible.
I answered your question. Sorry that you would rather dance around it, but thats your choice. If you want to split hairs, 2 can play that way.

[Charleston Pony]

PPP: I'm the one who has made that comment about "great players making coaches great". That's not meant to say that what you say isn't true. It's absolutely critical in a program like ours to have a coaching staff that can both teach and motivate our guys to improve year after year and to work hard to develop physically. My point, in rebuttal to those who attack coaches and think our losses are entirely their fault, was that if Bennett was suddenly able to bring in a bunch of Parade All-Americans and win the WAC, those same people would be talking about what a great coach he was. I'm a firm believer in the premise that the coach with the best players will win 80-90% of the time. But, you are right...if my guys aren't quite as big, or strong, or fast or as talented as the team they are lining up against...I sure hope I have a coaching staff on my sideline that can help them play over their heads in order to compete and possibly be that 10-20% on that given day.

[PerunaPunch]

PX,

Am I splitting hairs? If so, it wasn't my intention to do so.

I asked someone else for a starting 250 lb. tackle at a top ranked program. You gave me a 260 lb. tackle at a mid-30-something ranked program. That talent level won’t help us beat TCU, and it wouldn’t even help us win the WAC (Boise State). Besides, I already know YOU know damn near everything about college football. I wanted to see if sam could back up his point.

Kudos to Adami, Ieremia-Stansbury and Melvin Williams for taking on all comers and starting as a sophomore, sophomore and RS freshman (respectively) at an average weight of 242 lbs. That’s one hell of a feat. But honestly, don’t you think they’ll all be better next year and the year after when they’re all older, bigger and stronger?

If not, fine. If so, oh dreaded Burger Warlord, it is you who are splitting hairs and being argumentative merely for argument’s sake.

[PX]

Yes, you are splitting hairs if you are saying there is some large difference between TCU and Air Force. TCU has been ranked for one week. Air Force was ranked for 4 weeks and was ranked higher than TCU is currently. I look at what both programs have accomplished and I cannot see the distinction you are trying to make between them. In the current Sagarin rankings TCU is #41 (SOS 104) and Air Force is #47 (SOS 93). They shared 2 common opponents Northwestern (Air Force 52-3, and TCU 48-24) and Army (Air Force 49-30, and TCU 46-27) with the point differential in Air Forces favor. I'm seriously looking for anything that would support your persistent claim that Air Force is not competitive with TCU, and I cant find it.

Allan Adami doesnt weigh 250.

I dont think anyone ever said it wouldnt be better if our defensive line wasnt bigger, I just answered your question. I'm not going to try to dance this circle on a message board. If you want to continue, make it the next time I see you.

[sam]

PK and Punch,I'm sorry if I have offended either of you and I will answer all your questions.The recruiting class other than the QB's do not impress me as being that much better than any of the others that we have had.Don't get caught up in all this star ratings,if you do than I know for a fact that you do not understand the system and how many obtain this goal,it many times has nothing to do with ability and no coach worth his paycheck will pay any attention to anything less than the 5 star(can't miss) player,all the others are a guess,But if you want to believe otherwise, than I'm sure the fairy still puts money under your pillow.Meeks is ok Hall is good and the Massey kid is good.All others are no better than what we have recruited in the past.
Now Punch to answer your question,last weekend when I was in town, I attended a UNT game at the invite of a player whom I coached 20+ years ago,his son plays for UNT now,when the conversation turned to defensive line he pointed to a DT named McIver(?)who they list at 252 but he told me that he is really around 240,he starts and he is suppose to be pretty good,so much so that scouts have talked with him when they were there looking at the Kennedy kid(the other DT) and I've aleady given you Oklahoma's average size on their DL(260) and if you think that is not inflated then maybe the tooth fairy can take care of that for you also,and I think PX gave you an example also.I would take two Adamis over two 300 pounders that are slow.
Since I have answered your question please answer mine(put up or shut up I think was the phrase) Tell me what game it was that Adami was double teamed by two 340 pound linemen,I do not think it ever occurred and I think it is untrue statements like that,that damage your credibility,so please let me know what game that was.
I'm sorry that bennett is not a good coach,there is nothing I can do about that.He is just bad and from what I hear not well liked.Can you honestly tell me that another coach could not have won at least 4 to 5 games thus far.I think most good coaches could have. bennett does not fall in that category
Look foward to hearing from you. Will you be in ElPaso this weekend.

[PK]

Not to worry sam, you haven't offended me...just wish you could be a little more positive towards the coach. BTW if you will check the OU roster, you will find that they have 1 DL at 260 (rs fr), the other 4 are at 275, 280, 285 and 290. They have 10 DE's with the lightest at 215 (FR) and the heaviest at 270 (RS SO) the rest vary between 235 and 250. More later.