Big Al's-Living On Tulsa Over Time

[ALEX LIFESON]

Just getting on PonyFans for the first time today...it looks like a number of my usual talking points were copy and pasted, so just a few things.

If we play this hard for four quarters in our remaining games: we'll have a good shot at Tulane and be competitive in a couple of more.

Tulsa had a very good crowd for a Friday night.

Got to agree with Stallion: We should have played at least one freshman lineman 2 weeks ago- once the injuries started piling up. Yes, the line played better last night, but it's a nightmare trying to shift people around and patch together a starting group every game.

D-line played well. Wonder why Badejo didn't get more playing time? Why didn't the Scott brothers play?(they were on the sideline) RS Hunter Thedford got some time at DE.

LB's are just guys, they can't get off blocks. Jackson Mitchell is bringing nothing to the table. Backup lb's are hurting us. RC Cox and Carlos Danger Carroll are good enough to get you beat. RS freshman sophomore Jordan Williams needs to be pushed. Matt McNew can't get on the field. Where is the freshman J Ward?

Alex Honey finally got off the schneid.

SMU ran 87 plays.....is that a record?

We didn't have a turnover...Tulsa had one. Tulsa had 17 penalties for 149 yards and still won.

Moe-Larry and Curly must be in charge of the special teams.....total cluster.

Ben Hicks played better, but needs to have a safe run now and then. Balls still sailing on him in every game.....I'm sticking to my theory of small hands until proved other wise.

[Rebel10]

I can't figure out why the ball sails on him so much.

[JasonB]

I think there might be something to the small hands theory. He threw a lot of knuckleballs, but he also was actually a little more accurate location-wise. I wonder if they are working on his technique that is causing the ball to come out funny? Or maybe he has a hand injury we don't know about that he has to play through because of the situation? I don't remember his throws being that wobbly before.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

SMU ran 87 plays.....is that a record?

Great question and observation. I love research topics!!!!

According to the media guide the record is 107 vs. Ohio State in 1978.

[ALEX LIFESON]

SMU ran 87 plays.....is that a record?

Great question and observation. I love research topics!!!!

According to the media guide the record is 107 vs. Ohio State in 1978.

Wow, I would have never guessed we would have run that many plays in that era. Thanks!

[footballdad]

I think there might be something to the small hands theory. He threw a lot of knuckleballs, but he also was actually a little more accurate location-wise. I wonder if they are working on his technique that is causing the ball to come out funny? Or maybe he has a hand injury we don't know about that he has to play through because of the situation? I don't remember his throws being that wobbly before.

Small hands, injured hand .....how about arthritis, or a hangnail?

[jpe747]

Big Al, I didn't check the statistics but (I believe) if SMU had stopped two running plays they would have not only won the game, but had an amazing defensive game against the run. the LBs were involved in that statistic.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Big Al, I didn't check the statistics but (I believe) if SMU had stopped two running plays they would have not only won the game, but had an amazing defensive game against the run. the LBs were involved in that statistic.

Our lb's continue to show they cannot get off blocks, or over run the play as in Tulsa's winning td.

[ALEX LIFESON]

I want to continue to praise true freshman TE Ryan Becker. Too bad we couldn't redshirt him, and begin the eating and lifting program for offensive tackle. If you watch him, he is a good blocker, great feet, long arms and very aggressive.

[Rebel10]

I want to continue to praise true freshman TE Ryan Becker. Too bad we couldn't redshirt him, and begin the eating and lifting program for offensive tackle. If you watch him, he is a good blocker, great feet, long arms and very aggressive.

You might be right about redshirting him. Our o lineman are not very athletic for the most part. Maybe they redshirt him next year and move him to offensive tackle.

[mavsrage311]

I thought he was an almost sure thing to redshirt and that Corey Rau would play from game 1 and maybe start by the end of the year. Fine by me.

[footballdad]

I thought he was an almost sure thing to redshirt and that Corey Rau would play from game 1 and maybe start by the end of the year. Fine by me.

Who said that about Rau?

[ALEX LIFESON]

I thought he was an almost sure thing to redshirt and that Corey Rau would play from game 1 and maybe start by the end of the year. Fine by me.

Who said that about Rau?

Quite a few predicted Rau would play a big role this year, Becker just picked things up faster. Rau being able to redshirt, is a good thing.

[ojaipony]

I thought he was an almost sure thing to redshirt and that Corey Rau would play from game 1 and maybe start by the end of the year. Fine by me.

Who said that about Rau?

Quite a few predicted Rau would play a big role this year, Becker just picked things up faster. Rau being able to redshirt, is a good thing.

Yeah, Rau not ready to play is a head scratcher. Hope he can still be the player we'd like to have there. Hopefully Becker can put on about 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason and we can put him at OT LOL - in this day and age, you don't need 300 pound OTs, you need guys who have very quick feet and long arms and just SOME strength is good enough . . . your bruisers need to be at guard.

[Rebel10]

Agree with Al. We badly need athleticism on the OL.