Thoughts on the game

[JasonB]

- Quick decisions, quick passes, much better. if you let HIcks think too much, you are in trouble.
- HIcks throws a better knuckleball than Charlie Hough.
- Hyder and Saenna looked much better on the right and McCarty was able to power block. LIne played better before the injuries.
- Fister C, Saenna G, Wilds RT is ouch scary. We need people to get fixed. Fast.
- Freeman misread some runs and left a lot of yards on the field. Practicing at 2 positions is hurting him a little, just like coach said.
- Minor, why couldn't we have had that the past two years?
- Thomas, Proche, Castille were brought In with a lot of hype. They each had chances to make big time plays in space tonight and couldn't do it. A little disappointed and concerned that they aren't the level of player we thought they were coming in. Better than what we had, but I was hopeful they would be upper echelon of the conference.
- Really disappointed with the drops, which we would have lambasted the coaching staff for 2 years ago. The knuckleballs aren't easy to catch, though.
- We throw the fade to Sutton and HOney 200 times a practice to perfection. Why in the hell do we never try it during the game? The slant or post is a much harder pass for a QB to read and throw in the red zone. We should have thrown 3 picks tonight and we aren't helping Hicks out with that playcall.
- Do we have a single stretch play or sweep in the playbook? Like just one? One? Is it just the Jet Sweep? The run off tackle was there all night long but we don't pull the sweep out.
- On third and 1, you can't run a counter. There isn't enough time, especially against a run blitz. Just power if you are going to run up the middle, or go outside. Especially with a struggling OL. They aren't going to hold up on a delay on an expected running play. You can't hand the ball off on one side and try to run off guard on the other. That is a really bad play call, and we do it all the time, at least twice tonight. If you are too scared to run power, throw the screen.
- Our LBs ran out of position on three plays, and it resulted in 2 long TD runs and the QB run at the end of the game. Lawler had the pitch blown up at the end, but Mitchell and Rhone completely overran their assignments and blew it. That first long TD run, our D Line had super wide gaps, there was only one player in the middle of the field and Rhone hit the wrong hole. Onu was at safety and was running away from the ball and was completely out of position. The other long TD run, we had no middle LB at all. That is the kind of crap that ate us alive last year. If those things don't happen tonight, we win the game.
- I have never seen a worse kickoff coverage and still we struggle on blocking on return. It is horrible. If you watch practice, when we practice Kick Return, it is always simulated, never physical. And that is exactly how we play in the game.
- I never want to see a 3 man rush with Lawler in coverage again. Please. Never. If you are going to do that alignment, at least have Lawler at RDE and use Badejo as the standup linebacker/rush LB in that 3-4 look. Badejo at least has the speed to get around the edge on the blitz when he goes at the QB, and is more athletic in coverage.

Proud that we fought. Definite improvement over last week and the TCU game. But I feel like we lost this game more than Tulsa won it. This was a big opportunity to get back to a .500 record and .500 in conference. Really stings.

[Pony81]

We don't run the jet sweep because we can't keep the DL from penetrating. Our OL can't hold blocks long enough to let that play develop.
Agree about kick off coverage - absolutely horrible. Everything gets returned and almost goes the distance. I don't get how we can be so bad every week.... Are we playing walkons?
The drops are very disappointing . But I chalk that up to inexperience. Now next year if we see the same thing then I'll share your opinion.

The bottom line is we aren't good enough to win unless we bring our A game. Tonight we brought our B game - which means we dropped some passes, had some busted D plays, special team failures.

Hopefully next year we can make mistakes and still win.

[JasonB]

The thing about the kick returns is that in practice, we always run kick return without contact. It is never practiced "live". And that is the one area we completely fail to block or cover correctly. We don't practice it and we don't execute.

[JasonB]

I'm starting wonder if Proche really has the top end speed to be on the outside, or if his athleticism might be better out of the slot.

Castille has been a huge disappointment so far this year. Expected a lot more from him.

Ward, Spears, and Carlisle - it's time to step up and win a job in the bye week.

The Houston game is going to be really, really long. Their D-Line will dominate our OL and their corners are going to press us tight and force us out of the quick passing game. It is a really bad matchup against what our offense can do right now unless we can get the OL working a LOT better.

[ponyscott]

Thanks so much for your educated thoughts JasonB...i look forward to reading them every week.

[Junior]

Great observations, guys. You guys point out a lot of things I miss but wonder what the heck happened. Three recurring themes. Quick decisions by Hicks. LB play. KO coverage. If you guys can see it, why can't our coaches fix it?

[mrydel]

I will say for the umpteenth time that if you are going to continually run the zone read, the QB needs to keep the ball at least one time to keep the defense honest. I know we do not want Hicks hurt. He can take a few steps and slide. There were times last night had he pulled the ball there were no defenses anywhere to stop him.

[Charleston Pony]

Hicks was much improved last night and was once again hurt by our WR drops (but also helped by Tulsa's defense dropping INTs). Morris has always had dual threat QBs to run his system but as Mrydel points out, that's not Hick's strength and even if it was, we don't have depth at QB and have to protect Hicks as best we can just to make it through this season. Hopefully we have QB depth next year and see a much improved offense.

[mtrout]

I'm starting wonder if Proche really has the top end speed to be on the outside, or if his athleticism might be better out of the slot.

Nobody has any top end speed. Hell millines got run down on that pick after a running start blowing past their rb.

That being said, I thought we played amazingly better. Give me at least competitive / interesting football for now and I'm good.

[Rebel10]

Spears is being redshirted and rightfully so. Even Sutton has dropped some passes this year so Castille having a less than stellar game is not the end of the world. we played a team that has about the same amount of talent with a better QB and took them into overtime. I think the reason you are giving evert such a scathing review is because you picked Liberty, Tulsa, and Tulane as wins. And you sa predicted that the team would win 6 games this year. And now those predictions are looking like a fares as your predictions do every year. As sbsmith so accurately stated that you overestimate the SMU football and underestimate the conference teams. You do it every year. Bottom line is it was a good exciting game that the team lost. No reason to feel bad and start blaming everyone. as Stallion has stated we are building to try to make a bowl game next year so no need to overreact.

[ponyte]

One never runs kickoff practice at full speed with contact. That is the quickest way possible to decimate a team with injuries. What one could do is practice lane disciple, especially with the guys that have out side contain Our outside contain guys sucked in too often to jump on a pile only to have the returner bounce it to the outside, the outside they are suppose to contain, and get a big return.

The O line did much better. They protected and got some good blocks in running. WE are miles away form lining up and pushing opponents' front 7 off the ball. Hicks wasn't sacked once. Not even once.

Not one single turnover. Talk about a vast improvement.

Penalties, though nothing like Tulsa, were committed in crucial situations.

West had over 120 yards rushing and averaged over 5 yards a carry. That isn't bad at all.

Our punter averaged 45 yards a punt. Much better. Now if he could just learn how to run the ball like Earl Campbell.

All in all, a vastly improved team over the previous 2 games.

We have a desperately needed week off to heal and prepare for Houston. And hopefully be healed and ready for the Tulane and other games. We could still win a few games if we play smart and discipline, get some folks healed and playing, and continue not making mistakes.

[jimhagle]

Someone said our D-line played better. Really? They got blown up way too much and gave up 350 plus yards. This was Tulsa not some powerhouse. And neither Proche or West show any burst returning KOs. I thought Proche was supposed to be so fast. I have never seen such horrendous kick off and punt coverage in my life too. Too many drops and too many runs up the gut on third downs that went nowhere. And too many runs on first and second downs too. Hicks looked light years better especially in the first half. Overall a better effort but there is still some shocking things going wrong.

[SMUer]

We are easy to impress.

[carolina stang]

One never runs kickoff practice at full speed with contact. That is the quickest way possible to decimate a team with injuries. What one could do is practice lane disciple, especially with the guys that have out side contain Our outside contain guys sucked in too often to jump on a pile only to have the returner bounce it to the outside, the outside they are suppose to contain, and get a big return.

The O line did much better. They protected and got some good blocks in running. WE are miles away form lining up and pushing opponents' front 7 off the ball. Hicks wasn't sacked once. Not even once.

Not one single turnover. Talk about a vast improvement.

Penalties, though nothing like Tulsa, were committed in crucial situations.

West had over 120 yards rushing and averaged over 5 yards a carry. That isn't bad at all.

Our punter averaged 45 yards a punt. Much better. Now if he could just learn how to run the ball like Earl Campbell.

All in all, a vastly improved team over the previous 2 games.

We have a desperately needed week off to heal and prepare for Houston. And hopefully be healed and ready for the Tulane and other games. We could still win a few games if we play smart and discipline, get some folks healed and playing, and continue not making mistakes.

Excellent points, PonyTE

[Stallion]

That was the best game our Defensive Line has played in years-without question. It was the LBs and DBs that turned simple runs into huge gains