HERE'S THE DEAL

[PhirePhilBennett]

If, If....we win Saturday, at 5-6, you cannot fire phil.

However, recruiting could be lost regardless.

My problem with Phil is this:

He has no feel for the game with regards to:
1) clock management (when to / not to call timeout - the list is endless)

2) correct play calling (when you are at the cusp of field goal range - NEVER EVER pitch the ball back and risk taking yourself OUT of FG Range, COACH your QBs to get rid of the ball than to take a sack - HOW many times have we seen us go backwards at this point?)

3) personel management (why, up 7-0 and after a 4 yard run by Demyron do you insert J.Fitz?? who takes a 3 yard loss - this list is quite long as well).

4) doesn't know when to "GO FOR IT" (oh god...2 point conversions, 4th and 5 from your own 38, etc., etc.)

He doesn't seem to have a feel for RISK and REWARD.

He think PROBABILITY is the only factor.

PROBABILITY just measures your chance of success/failure, but doesn't properly weigh the REWARD or DAMAGE that could be the result of that risky behavior.

That's why he sucks.

[Mustangs35SMU]

One thing I don't get is his playing calling.

Sometimes its smart and then other times its just plain stupid.

[PonySoprano]

Doesn't offensive play calling fall on the shoulders of Rusty Burns?

[Stallion]

DeMyron Martin is saving Rusty Burns offense from utter humiliation. He got critical first downs on third down over and over again Saturday. The passing game is horrible. We don't have the athletes on the field to run the offense. 90% of the completions are 10 yard or less passes. We can't hit the long ball. BTW is Romo really overthrowing the ball or our WRs-at least the ones that play-just too slow to get to the ball. We've got one solid WR. Tech's has 6.

[AusTxPony]

Can someone with knowledge about the coaching on this team explain to me the way the offensive play calling works? I thought it would be Burns 99% of the time, but Bennett is blamed by posters here. I had thought that Bennett is more responsible for the defense (which ain't bad). Also, we need some more beef on that offensive line before our offense will take off consistently, but agree it's nice to have a tough runner like Martin.

[Hoop Fan]

Bennett is a personality guy and a salesman. Solid Defensive Coordinator too. He is not a brilliant game manager. If he was, he'd probably be at Oklahoma not SMU. We have to deal with strengths and weaknesses. For my money, I want a guy with enthusiasm, passion, and communication skills first and foremost. This program has to have that. If he makes a questionable on the field decision from time to time, I can live with that. Personel decisions like playing Jared Romo at this point in the season bother me more, but we'll see come next year. We do have some early season games next year that should allow the new qb to get some confidence for a change, so maybe its not as important to have Phillips in there right now.

[SMU Football Blog]

Though it doesn't appear he does it much, Bennett could tell Burns to pass or run on a particular play or call a particular play if he so chose. As far as I know, Bennett pretty much lets Burns do whatever he wants.

I don't know how Burns can stick around for a third year, except for the sake of consistency. This team has no offensive rythm.

Maybe I am high, but I would recruit the best JuCo QB in the country and hire his coach as offensive coordinator as a package deal. We have the 109th offense; it can't get much worse.

[Stallion]

nm

[Stallion]

it could be worse-a lot worse- if Bennett hadn't gotten a wild hair and decided to give a freshman(gasp) DeMyron Martin a chance. A chance apparently Henderson won't get all season. Here's a guy that didn't even get into the game against Baylor. How can he be so confident a guy like Henderson couldn't surprise as well. I would love to try some of the plays in the USC Playbook with Henderson. And yet we stumble along with 250 yard games here, ineffective QB play, poor athleticism at the receivers position. When something ain't working well-we are last in the league in offense-try something else. We've got cards we haven't played.

[SMU Football Blog]

Well, yes. And the offense would be worse if they lined me up as tailback as well (I think I have some eligibility left). I was talking mainly about the play calling and the offensive scheme.

[JasonB]

DeMyron Martin is saving Rusty Burns offense from utter humiliation. He got critical first downs on third down over and over again Saturday. The passing game is horrible. We don't have the athletes on the field to run the offense. 90% of the completions are 10 yard or less passes. We can't hit the long ball. BTW is Romo really overthrowing the ball or our WRs-at least the ones that play-just too slow to get to the ball. We've got one solid WR. Tech's has 6.

He is overthrowing the ball, because our receivers have two steps on the DB.

[LA_Mustang]

we stumble along with 250 yard games here, ineffective QB play, poor athleticism at the receivers position. When something ain't working well-we are last in the league in offense-try something else. We've got cards we haven't played.

No doubt- that is really my only problem with Bennett. You’re telling me that Phillips could not go 12 of 27 with 0 TDs and 1 Int. against Houston? Or 9 of 17 against Rice?? I’m not bashing Romo. He has done the best he can and has made a few big plays for us, but as a fan, I want to see something that gives me hope for the future. Henderson has shown he can make plays on special teams.....why not create a few offensive plays to get the ball in his hands?? Let’s be honest, these guys are not going to cost us a bowl game or a winning record and they might just prove that they can make plays. I would rather find out now than waiting until next year.