Thoughts on the game

[PonyFan32]

Can't decide if we are at the bargaining stage or acceptance stage with Hicks lol. Gotta love college sports. Grown men and women counting on the smarts and instincts of a college freshman.

[Rebel10]

Can't decide if we are at the bargaining stage or acceptance stage with Hicks lol. Gotta love college sports. Grown men and women counting on the smarts and instincts of a college freshman.

A redshirt freshman. So he has been in the system for a year. By the way, who else should we count on that is on the team?

[mavsrage311]

- That was the Anthony Rhone that we saw in the Spring two years ago. That is a big deal if he plays well every week. Kyron Mitchell also looked great. If 17/33/13 can continue to improve as the season goes on, the linebacker play may be decent by the time we get to conference.

- Too bad Sutton got banged up. Hopefully he is fine next week. Offense wasn't as effective once he slowed down.

- The defensive line is pretty good. Especially at DT.

- Secondary is also legit. I think this is at least an average defense in conference this season.

- HIcks showed the inaccuracy from practice. That said, what I love about what he did is that SMU didn't go backwards. Outside of the picks, not a lot of negative plays. I hate two QB systems, but even if Matt is healthy, I kind of want to see Hicks all season. His accuracy and red zone production will get better with more game time. Getting into the red zone 5 times against Baylor isn't bad.

- With the offensive line, the center and guard play was pretty good, which bodes really well for running the ball consistently in conference.

- Freeman is going to be a beast. West isn't explosive like Jones. A Jones/Freeman combo is really good.

- Depending on injuries, of course, I actually think we go 4-4 in conference and make a bowl game. Defensive line, secondary, and playmakers (especially Sutton) are good enough to carry us to a .500 record. This is a really, really good team 10 win team in 2017. Badejo and Gary are going to be incredible with a year in the weight room and nutrition program.

I wonder what the final score would have been if we had Davis and Jones available. Our problems in the red zone first half didn't really give us a chance to win. I was very pleasantly surprised by the defense and the offensive line. Defense tackled well, really well. Best I've seen us against a P5. As someone else said, we have some players with some really good closing speed. After the UNT game I was really concerned about the OL, especially Natour at LT. They held their own today. I'm pretty encouraged for this team in conference play.

[PonySnob]

Can't decide if we are at the bargaining stage or acceptance stage with Hicks lol. Gotta love college sports. Grown men and women counting on the smarts and instincts of a college freshman.

A redshirt freshman. So he has been in the system for a year. By the way, who else should we count on that is on the team?

Didn't he enroll early? If so, it gives him 2 spring and 2 fall camps so he has been in the system as long as anybody else on the team and he didn't have to get rid of the June Jones mentality like many of the other players had to do. Like Chad said in his press conference, we just need to get some other WR's involved besides Sutton and Proche.

[Stallion]

The OLM held up because Hicks knows how to get rid of the ball-simple as that-at least give him that-its was like Nite and Day. If Davis would release the ball on time like that he would be a much better QB. Hicks gets high marks for running the offense as its supposed to be run-he just lacks the accuracy to be a top QB right now. I'm actually more encouraged about the QB he can be than I was before. Let's see what he does against Liberty. He got burned twice by All-Big 12 Orion Stewart

[gostangs]

I actually think this offense runs better with hicks - he stays within the plays. For those of you not at the game, a couple of those interceptions were really good plays by the defensive backs.

I think X jones would have really helped us today. West is just too small. Really question early in the game when Chad put West in on a vital 3rd and short when Freeman had gotten us down the field. He got stuffed and we started the red zone ineptitude.

Very encouraged by this loss - which is a weird thing to say . If you know football i think it is easy to see the improvement. Mark my words we are going to surprise someone - might even be froggie.

[Stallion]

Encouraged is the word for the Day

[lollaperuna]

I too was at the game today and I left very encouraged about our near future. As others have said, Hicks accuracy was an issue at times but I thought he did an overall good job today. If those endzone picks had been touchdowns instead, we would have been in this game to the end. Didn't make the big plays when needed, but this team has made HUGE strides from last year.

[lollaperuna]

Encouraged is the word for the Day

Haha......yes it is

[Rebel10]

Hicks got beat up pretty good today. the more he got beat up the less consistent he was. Maybe the O line plays better next week.

[Stallion]

Baylor had one sack for -2 yards-that's was because of Hicks releasing the ball on-time

[TidePony]

Just got a chance to watch the game, kind of numb with the missed opportunities. Defense is better, but I hated the turn overs. Disgusted yet hopeful - does that even make sense?

[mavsrage311]

I actually think this offense runs better with hicks - he stays within the plays. For those of you not at the game, a couple of those interceptions were really good plays by the defensive backs.

I think X jones would have really helped us today. West is just too small. Really question early in the game when Chad put West in on a vital 3rd and short when Freeman had gotten us down the field. He got stuffed and we started the red zone ineptitude.

Some good points in this thread. As far as West, he should be used as more of a 3rd down/space back. He's just not going to be that effective in between the tackles. I also like him returning kicks. Thought he did a good job at that last year. Just have to use him better.

[Pony81]

I thought our tackling was excellent. The last 2 years I saw so many broken arm tackles that allow the 2 yd gain to become a 15 yarder.

Loved how our D competed and tackled!

I agree that West looks too small and not quick enough to compensate for his lack of size. I think Kemon Freemon will feast on the AAC. Hicks did well but for his picks. The ability to not turn over the ball is what separates the good from the great. The UT freshman last week avoided costly turn overs - I know he had one - but he survived. Hicks pick 6 and the end zone int is at least 10 point swing.

But I'll take this game. We must remember that we are 2 years removed from being the worst team in college football. Absolutely unwatchable.
Now we look competent. I'm encouraged.

[Rebel10]

Baylor had one sack for -2 yards-that's was because of Hicks releasing the ball on-time

Hicks may only have had 1 sack but he was getting hit a lot.