2 deep

[ozfan]

Just released:

https://smumustangs.com/documents/2018/ ... f?id=15867


My thoughts:

Most interesting to see Wilds at LT backing up Pursley. He has made huge strides, but it really says the level of confidence they have in Hughes at RT and how impressive the frosh Thomas has been.

They are just playing games with all of the "ors" on defense, but I think it is at least an indication of the depth of the team...

And this link http://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-de ... smu/91809/

[ozfan]

Just released:

https://smumustangs.com/documents/2018/ ... f?id=15867


My thoughts:

Most interesting to see Wilds at LT backing up Pursley. He has made huge strides, but it really says the level of confidence they have in Hughes at RT and how impressive the frosh Thomas has been.

They are just playing games with all of the "ors" on defense, but I think it is at least an indication of the depth of the team...

And this link http://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-de ... smu/91809/

My bad on this just looked at the update date and it was end off July would have a change or two by now

[No Quarter]

I'm curious.

Does the published two - deep differ much from what those who visited practice - notably JasonB - would have posted had there been no instruction not to disclose?

Is it likely there will be one second team OT, Wilds presumably, who would be the first sub at either position? And ditto for guard and center?

Further, is there a chance the second OL will play as a unit in a close game?


And in response to several remarks by Stallion do the players in question look bigger, no matter the repeated zeros and fives in the program weights?


GO PONIES!

[JasonB]

All of the players look exactly like their weights end in 0 or 5 .

Seriously, yes, I think the team looks bigger and stronger.

Several players were held out of the open practice I went to, so observation of the exact two deep would have been somewhat difficult.

The only players not listed somewhere on the two deep that I am surprised about are:
- Christian Davis. The fact that Davis, Armani Johnson, and Justin Guy-Robinson are running 3rd team corner positions right now should tell you a lot about how much the secondary has improved.
- if the frosh DTs and DEs don't push their way into the 2 deep, I think it is an indication that what we have is pretty good. A little surprised at the layout at DE, but I'll take it with a grain of salt.
- I bet we will see Jeanlys, Ellison, and JC Ripress at LB at some point. I think there is quite a battle going on for the second team spots.
- The two deep doesn't surprise me at OL, other than the Wilds transition, but I'm a little disappointed that Howerton and Dennis didn't just grab those jobs and run. Not sure if Todora and Barton have taken steps forward or if the other two have plateaued a little bit.
- Surprised Redding/Rau aren't in the TE two deep. I think there is still a lot of competition. I would say that what is listed has more of a blocking focus.
- Interested to see how they handle the depth at safety. There is a lot of athleticism there, and if I were a coach I would find ways to get more of those players on the field at once.
- Brooks-Weiss over Gilespie/Miles/Shelmire is interesting, but I think you will see a little less rotation at WR than we saw with Chad. Just a guess.
- All of the "ors" on defense tells me that they want to see who is going to have a motor and run after the ball. If you don't run to the ball and swarm, you are out, next man up. They feel like they have enough depth to throw players on the field and pick their starters moving forward based on how much they buy into team defense.

Against UNT, I'll be watching:
1) The interior OL - we need a push there for the power game to work and to be effective in the redzone. We need someone who doesn't just hold their own, but wins consistently. That will make us a really strong offense.

2) The interior DL - We need someone who will force a double team and free up Moore to make plays. McLaurin, Pono, and Gary all might have that ability.

3) DE. I think we have guys who are strong enough to defend the edge against the run. But can we generate a pass rush? If we get a pass rush, there is enough talent in the secondary to be a really good pass defense. Westerfield, Scott, and Neals need to be able to win on a consistent basis. Neals is the only one we have seen do that in a game situation.

[crazy horse]

It appears that we have a whole lot more upperclassmen, GT, JUCOs than usual in the 2-deep. Even the FR-RS are few and far between. That certainly seems encouraging compared to previous years.

I am certainly not opposed to a very gifted true freshman starting or getting significant time. I would assume in most cases the more mature players with game experience would be better. In one instance, we have 2 junior letter winners in the 2-deep with a GT on deck. That's great depth.

With the departure of Gillins and Peavey, how confident are the coaches with Brown and Upshaw as the backups? I sure hope we can get a big lead in some of these early games and get them some PT.

[JasonB]

I think the new redshirt rule will definitely come into play with Brown. They will try and get both of them some PT at some point early in the season.

I'll also point out that our P5 GTs have 7, 14, 5, 1, and 14 games STARTED for those programs in the past. That is more significant than your typical GT.

[Vitale]

Just released:

https://smumustangs.com/documents/2018/ ... f?id=15867


My thoughts:

Most interesting to see Wilds at LT backing up Pursley. He has made huge strides, but it really says the level of confidence they have in Hughes at RT and how impressive the frosh Thomas has been.

They are just playing games with all of the "ors" on defense, but I think it is at least an indication of the depth of the team...

I took the Wilds-at-LT note as a huge endorsement of Thomas and the progress he has made. Sonny Dykes has mentioned him in several of PP's videos after practice.

[PonyPlayer4]

- I bet we will see Jeanlys, Ellison, and JC Ripress at LB at some point. I think there is quite a battle going on for the second team spots.
- Brooks-Weiss over Gilespie/Miles/Shelmire is interesting, but I think you will see a little less rotation at WR than we saw with Chad. Just a guess.

Against UNT, I'll be watching:

3) DE. I think we have guys who are strong enough to defend the edge against the run. But can we generate a pass rush? If we get a pass rush, there is enough talent in the secondary to be a really good pass defense. Westerfield, Scott, and Neals need to be able to win on a consistent basis. Neals is the only one we have seen do that in a game situation.

Maybe Ellison, but I disagree on the other two at LB. I think people need to stop being surprised when they don't see a true freshman listed on the 2 deep.

I'm not sure how there could be any less rotation at WR than what we saw with Chad. There was zero rotation with Chad, and they force fed the ball to Courtland and Quinn. Rotation last year?!

I think pressure from the DE spot is absolutely the key to the defense. We need someone to be able to win 1 on 1's and get pressure. We don't have anyone proven there.

[leopold]

Part of me expects the pass rush to come from some sort of blitz package. DB could be the deepest part of our defense and we may have the horses to go 1-on-1 with them and if that is the case our lack of a proven playmaker on the DL and our improved LB situation could mean that we bring our new athletic LB in for the kill. Wouldn't mind seeing Fine running for his life half the game.

[JasonB]

National writer opinion I don't worry about, because they don't know about the GTs.

Kind of concerns me that The Athletic writer who follows the team closely picked us to lose pretty badly to UNT. Not a lot of faith in either side of the line...