Marshall & SMU Both Unsettled at QB

[MrMustang1965]

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University coach Mark Snyder and Southern Methodist University's Phil Bennett both addressed a key, ongoing issue within their football teams Monday during the Conference USA weekly coaches and media teleconference.

The issue? What's going on at the quarterback position for the Thundering Herd and Mustangs?

Snyder said he would decide on a starter for Saturday's game against SMU after Monday's practice. Jimmy Skinner got the call in the opener against William & Mary, but Bernie Morris moved in to start the past two contests against Kansas State and Central Florida. However, Morris, who went to high school four blocks away from the Citrus Bowl, didn't have a happy homecoming as he was benched midway through the second quarter.

Skinner came on and completed 25-of-45 passes for 296 yards and two scores, but also had two picked off as UCF opened C-USA play with a 23-13 victory and snapped a 17-game losing streak.

"We'll make a decision and go with it from there," Snyder said.

Bennett sent 6-foot-2 senior Tony Eckert out to start SMU's opener at Baylor. He completed 6-of-18 passes for 64 yards and a TD in a 28-23 loss to the Bears. Enter Jerad Romo, who replaced Eckert the next week against TCU and helped lead the Mustangs to a 21-10 win over the then nationally-ranked Horned Frogs, who had beaten Oklahoma in their opener and Utah and BYU in overtime in the two weeks after that game. Romo stayed in against Texas A&M (66-8 loss) and last week's 31-10 loss to Tulane in SMU's C-USA opener at home.

"He had two good games, but played poorly against Tulane," Bennett said of Romo, also a 6-2 senior who was just 4-of-11 for 25 yards and got sacked nine times. "Tony never got into any rhythm. Quarterback is such a vital cog in the offense. You have to trust that position, you can't have doubt. You need decision makers. We'll simplify things and hopefully get things going."

SMU (1-3) and Marshall (1-2) meet Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. This is the first year in C-USA for both the Herd and Mustangs.

Snyder said the Mustangs have plenty of weapons despite their record.

"They run the Utah offense," he said. "It's all or nothing. They were very explosive against TCU. Against Tulane, turnovers hurt. On defense, they're very multiple. They bring people from everywhere. On special teams, No. 9 (Jesse Henderson) can flat go. He hits that crease and is gone."

Since there's no history between the first-year C-USA members, learning for now is done by film. "The unknown is what makes it fun" Snyder said.

Henderson fumbled on one kickoff Saturday and Tulane converted the turnover into a TD. He atoned for the mistake by returning the next kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, SMU's first kickoff return for a score since 2001.

Snyder said Romo can cause problems for the Herd's defense.

"He's an extra runner," he said. "It's a scary thing. He's always got the ball in his hands. On offensive plays, he has two or three options."

Snyder said the Herd's happy to be home. Bennett said he looks forward to his first trip to the Mountain State.

"It's a golden opportunity to get back on our feet," Snyder said.

"We had a lot of distractions," Bennett said, referring to problems created by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "It's taken a toll on some families. I have some friends who've coached there (Marshall's stadium). They say it's a great atmosphere. It's a challenge. We played so poorly last week. We have to step up and accept the challenge."

Bennett said he knows Snyder is going through a learning process with his players. The first-year coach had limited exposure to the Herd in the spring following then coach Bobby Pruett's decision to retire.

"They're like a lot of teams," Bennett said. "They have to find a new QB. They have a new front seven. They're in the process of getting maturity. On defense I like what I see of No. 25 (Curtis Keyes), No. 26 (Chris Royal) and No. 27 (Willie Smith). They all stick out. They're head hunters."

Snyder said the Herd must cut down on turnovers and penalties. The noisy UCF crowd in the Florida Citrus Bowl helped generate seven false starts on the Herd's young offensive line while UCF's defensive front had 10 tackles for losses, including four sacks. Herd quarterbacks fumbled twice and the Golden Knights pounced on both.

"We have to quit beating ourselves," Snyder said. "In two games, we turned the ball over and still had chances to win. We need to play a mistake-free game, win and see the comparisons."

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbc ... 002/SPORTS

[Dooby]

This article is funny. It is the classic, talk up the opponent in case you lose to them.

"[SMU] run[s] the Utah offense," he said. "It's all or nothing. "

Mostly nothing. And we run the Utah offense? Who knew?

[that's great raplh]

where is the offense from the tcu game or the first half of the aTm game?

[DallasDiehard]

Never mind the fact that the reporter didn't bother to learn how to spell JESSIE Henderson's name .... I think the criticism of Romo's performance in the Tulane game is not necessarily fair. He was either on his back or running for his life all afternoon. Who should play Saturday, I don't know. Romo didn't play well against the Green Wave -- almost nobody did, really. But to badmouth Romo for his performance Saturday seems a bit unnecessary, if not unfair.