Pope to play linebacker

[skurtn]

I remember myself, as well as several others thinking that Pope did a great job at RB last year, and were looking forward to seeing him there again.

[Mustangsabu]

Great call. Late but great.

[Grant Carter]

Or it makes sense from a personnel perspective.

Could be both.

Hopefully someone at the lunch on Thursday will ask him whether he made the decision because it was best from a personnel standpoint or to go along with public sentiment. I would be interested to see his response.

[ponyte]

I have no idea why he coaching staff moved Pope back to LB. I do know the D needs help in he middle and Pope can be that help. It makes football sense to move Pope to LB to help a struggling D. We need to stop teams from getting 21 or so points ahead early as it makes comebacks very difficult.

KC and Prescott can handle the RB position.

And no I didn't talk to any coach or other person involved in the program. It just makes sense to move a good defensive person back on defense when its needed..

[footballdad]

Or it makes sense from a personnel perspective.

Could be both.

Hopefully someone at the lunch on Thursday will ask him whether he made the decision because it was best from a personnel standpoint or to go along with public sentiment. I would be interested to see his response.

I can just hear Mason at the luncheon now: "Yes, I have decided to return Pope to a position he played well for 3 years, not because I know him, his abilities, and the current needs of our team well, but primarily because most of my current decisions are based on ever changing public sentiment, various talking heads, and the media. Thank you for asking such a thoughtful and brilliant question."(as he shakes his head in dismay and laughs)

The notion that Mason is doing anything because of public sentiment is absurd. He is finally free of June to do things his way and the changes are obvious. I guarantee he wanted nothing to do with Pope being moved to offense when June told him about the plan. Of course he said all the right things publicly, because he was a team player and June was the boss.

[Stallion]

He made it because SMU doesn't have an Inside LB-it has Yenga who is about 210 and not physical at the point of attack and it has Nwasso who played OLB at Rice pretending to be Inside LBs. We'll be better at 3 positions by this move

[Hoop Fan]

agree footballdad, why would the DC EVER want to give up his starting MLB to the offense? He wouldn't, not for one minute. He went along with the plan from JJ and what the coach believed was best for the team. The DC doesn't ever want to lose starters and depth on his side of the ball. Now, I wish Pope moved back to defense sooner in a perfect world, but it might have taken time to make sure KC was ready to go and now we have bye week to give Pope a chance to reacclimate on defense. He probably hasn't been in defensive practices at all since last fall!

[PSCA]

I don't think Mason is taking his direction from us. I hope not. As many have said, some of this is obvious to anyone who cares to look and think. Mason never wanted Pope to move to the "O". I think we may be seeing a combination of;

1) Improved OL play ... new coach is helping and so is the conference sch
2) KC had a nice showing with runs, and run after catch, and has a little more speed/quickness and elusiveness then Pope.
3) QB is maturing
4) Future tweaks to the offense may line up better with KC style and PL combo
5) we do need help at "D" in particular LB (DL also)
6) Mason getting his arms around more issues

[Hoop Fan]

nevermind that no matter how good a kid is, he probably needs more than 3 practices to be ready to play a position, even if he has played it before. Moreso if the MLB has responsibility for making the calls and lining up the D, not something you just do cold after spending months immersed in Offense.

[Stallion]

I don't think it will be much of a problem-less of a problem than a kid returning from injury. He's healthy. knows the defense and has the experience-he has 2 weeks to prepare. I expect him to be able to pick this up pretty quick

[footballdad]

He made it because SMU doesn't have an Inside LB-it has Yenga who is about 210 and not physical at the point of attack and it has Nwasso who played OLB at Rice pretending to be Inside LBs. We'll be better at 3 positions by this move

Wonder if Nwosu moves outside and actually gets to play or just continues to sit. Pope in the middle with Yenga and Nwosu outside would be formidable. Not sure if Nwosu has seen enough reps outside but the next 2 weeks could help.

[Grant Carter]

[quote="Treadway21"]Or it makes sense from a personnel perspective.

Could be both.

Hopefully someone at the lunch on Thursday will ask him whether he made the decision because it was best from a personnel standpoint or to go along with public sentiment. I would be interested to see his response.

I can just hear Mason at the luncheon now: "Yes, I have decided to return Pope to a position he played well for 3 years, not because I know him, his abilities, and the current needs of our team well, but primarily because most of my current decisions are based on ever changing public sentiment, various talking heads, and the media. Thank you for asking such a thoughtful and brilliant question."(as he shakes his head in dismay and laughs)

The notion that Mason is doing anything because of public sentiment is absurd. He is finally free of June to do things his way and the changes are obvious. I guarantee he wanted nothing to do with Pope being moved to offense when June told him about the plan. Of course he said all the right things publicly, because he was a team player and June was the boss.[/quote]
I agree which is why I would love someone to ask him so we can see the response. I could have been more succinct and said that I thought it was idiotic to suggest he did it for public sentiment but I have been trying to be nicer.

[Rebel10]

He may very well be making these move to save face to try to get the SMU job imo. But hey, I would would do the same to keep the paychecks coming.

[PSCA]

Just MO. I think Nwosu is better suited inside, move Yenga outside in place of Seals. Either Nwoso or Horton with Pope. Throw in Tui, and you have a nice inside outside rotation. I just think Nwoso is too short for outside (rushing off the edge and pass coverage ... plus speed). I think ... what I have seen is he does OK inside. He is physical, and has a nack to duck and dive under the OL and make a play.

[footballdad]

Just MO. I think Nwosu is better suited inside, move Yenga outside in place of Seals. Either Nwoso or Horton with Pope. Throw in Tui, and you have a nice inside outside rotation. I just think Nwoso is too short for outside (rushing off the edge and pass coverage ... plus speed). I think ... what I have seen is he does OK inside. He is physical, and has a nack to duck and dive under the OL and make a play.

As mentioned above by Stallion, Nwosu had all of his success at Rice at OLB. I'm sure that is where he is most comfortable, forced to play MLB here out of necessity. Don't think he is any less athletic than Sanders, and Seals just never seems to make any plays.

I'd like to see Nwosu, Pope & Yenga at LB's with Shakiel & Richardson at the safety spots. Would also be great if Zelt would ever get his attitude right and lay claim to one of the DE spots.