Defensive Coordinator Van Malone

[SMUstangs22]

I thought this game was better against a mobile QB. We asked for progress... there was progress

[East Coast Mustang]

Yes, the defense is atrocious but Saban couldnt do much with this group right now. Going to take an influx of talent -- expect to see a lot of true freshman on the field on D next year

[SMUstang07]

Tom Mason already did better with this group. I hope it's just been that we are playing really high caliber offenses though. USF will be a good test. Tulsa will score 40+ on us.

[Rebel10]

Yes, the defense is atrocious but Saban couldnt do much with this group right now. Going to take an influx of talent -- expect to see a lot of true freshman on the field on D next year

You are probably right and they will need a year under their belt.

[East Coast Mustang]

Tom Mason already did better with this group. I hope it's just been that we are playing really high caliber offenses though. USF will be a good test. Tulsa will score 40+ on us.

He did?

[Pony Boss]

You cannot compare stats with 2014 because SMU was constantly blown out the whole season and the opposing teams let off the gas in the 2nd half usually. This years defense is not worse than last year, it is actually more aggressive/opportunistic. They have caused a turnover EVERY game this year.

[EastStang]

Except for the garbage TD at the end, TCU scored about the same number of points against us as they did UT. UT has all 4 and 5 star recruits. Baylor is rolling up points as well. JMU has a mobile QB which we couldn't stop. Same for ECU, Same for UH. I am certain that Malone has tried everything to scheme for this, but we just don't have the personnel to keep up with these guys. I am more concerned about our 1st Half/Second Half Offense. Except for JMU and TCU our offense has been shut down in the second half. I'd have no problem if every game was like the JMU game. Last team with the ball wins. But we're not keeping up on offense in the 2nd half.

[StangTime]

Except for the garbage TD at the end, TCU scored about the same number of points against us as they did UT. UT has all 4 and 5 star recruits. Baylor is rolling up points as well. JMU has a mobile QB which we couldn't stop. Same for ECU, Same for UH. I am certain that Malone has tried everything to scheme for this, but we just don't have the personnel to keep up with these guys. I am more concerned about our 1st Half/Second Half Offense. Except for JMU and TCU our offense has been shut down in the second half. I'd have no problem if every game was like the JMU game. Last team with the ball wins. But we're not keeping up on offense in the 2nd half.

Good points and kindof similar thoughts from me. Our first halves have been great. Our second halves show how we lack in depth, which circles back to what the new staff inherited: not much.

Our secondary will continue to be exploited, but I'm seeing instances of improvement. Each week, they're gaining experience.

2017 should be the barometer.

[Junior]

Doesn't seem like he's doing much coordinating...

[Chnash318]

Except for the garbage TD at the end, TCU scored about the same number of points against us as they did UT. UT has all 4 and 5 star recruits. Baylor is rolling up points as well. JMU has a mobile QB which we couldn't stop. Same for ECU, Same for UH. I am certain that Malone has tried everything to scheme for this, but we just don't have the personnel to keep up with these guys. I am more concerned about our 1st Half/Second Half Offense. Except for JMU and TCU our offense has been shut down in the second half. I'd have no problem if every game was like the JMU game. Last team with the ball wins. But we're not keeping up on offense in the 2nd half.

I'm not sure that bringing UT into the conversation helps you. Their defense is one of the few in the country that might be worse than ours...

[EastStang]

Yeah, but they have much better athletes than we have right now.

[Stallion]

right they are filling with the 10th rated recruiting class in the Country and perennial Top 20 Classes. SMU signed about 7-8 defensive recruits-most of which are redshirting- and only had about 1 month of actual recruiting. UT is actually playing a bunch of true freshman on defense, SMU in fact has had very little help from its freshman class on defense. Really tied Malone's hands. In fact, the rebuild on Defense really doesn't start until next year

[ftworthmustang]

This has been beaten to death here, but we really have mostly FCS talent playing FBS schools. Many of our players are not as big, not as strong, not as fast and not as quick as the players they play against. We play over our heads in the first half, but just get worn down as the game goes on. We have some talented Freshmen, but they are freshmen playing mostly against upperclassmen and they make freshmen mistakes. I don't see how anyone can judge the coaching under these circumstances.

[sbsmith]

I don't see how anyone can judge the coaching under these circumstances.

Because a lot of people think that the talent on hand is better than it actually is so they blame the coaches for our problems.

[Stallion]

I can still remember JasonB preseason defensive depth chart in both 2013-2014 talking about all the great young defensive players-therefore it must be COACHING. It couldn't be that we were stair-stepping down in talent-I'm mean look at all the NFL prospects and All-Conference players on Defense.