Season preview

[PonyPride]

SMU Mustangs football preview
By Rick Atkinson / C-USAfans.com

2005 Record: 5-6 (4-4)
Head Coach: Phil Bennett, 5th year

The excitement around SMU football is percolating like it hasn’t in years. Fans, players and coaches say they sense a different feel around this team, born of last season’s huge upset wins over TCU and UTEP, and heart-stopping road wins at Houston and UAB. The Pony faithful are smiling again and expecting something they haven’t seen since 1984: a bowl game. Head coach Phil Bennett says there’s also reason to believe SMU can compete for the conference title. (The Mustangs are rated fourth in the West by his C-USA counterparts.) This team knows that with a play or two last season, they could have been in the conference championship game.

"I think we’re a good-looking team right now," Bennett said at Media Day August 5.

Last year’s 5-6 record, including three straight wins at the finish, was SMU’s best since a 6-5 mark in 1997, its only winning season since the death penalty. The TCU win was SMU’s first over a ranked opponent since 1986.

New AD Steve Orsini, who came to SMU from Central Florida, says he plans to return SMU football to Top-25 status, and he has a reputation of making things happen.

But optimism is tempered with caution. In recent years, SMU has faltered when it appeared a return to winning was near.

2006 SMU Offense

The offense returns eight starters. The Ponies are deep at running back, wide receiver and tight end. The offensive line is experienced and has size. At quarterback, redshirt freshman Justin Willis takes the reins and his performance may be the story in 2006. A talented supporting cast should give the already-confident Willis a boost.

The Mustangs were dead last in total offense in C-USA last season, averaging just over 300 yards and 20.8 points per game.

“For us to be champions of this conference and play in a bowl game, we need to get in the 28-30 (points per game) range, without any question,” Bennett said.

Mustang Quarterbacks: SMU has not had a truly dominating QB since all-time total offense leader Ramon Flanigan left in 1997. This season’s hopes ride on Willis, the hands-down winner in a four-way battle for the starting job last spring. The 6-1, 197-pound Willis has a strong arm, can make all the throws, and is a running threat. Although he has no college game experience, Willis has a reputation as a winner and cool operator. Waiting in the wings are sophomore JC transfer Corey Slater (6-2, 220) and redshirt freshman Eric Johnson (6-1, 210). With these three, Bennett said he has a confidence in the QB position that he’s never had in the past. Junior Chris Phillips, who started three games in 2004, moved to tight end in the spring.

Mustang Running Backs: The Mustangs’ stable of running back talent is overflowing. Sophomore DeMyron Martin, a Freshman All-America selection last year, is expected to carry a heavy load. He led the team in rushing last year, (854 yards/4.6 per carry), and didn’t play in the opening close loss to Baylor. The 6-2, 235-pounder with 4.4 speed should dominate some defenses with his punishing running style. He’s also a threat to catch the ball. Another explosive back, senior Johnnie Fitzgerald (6-2, 220), gives the Mustangs a more slashing-type option.

Talented veterans Cedric Dorsey, Fred Turner, Jessie Henderson and freshman James Mapps will also see playing time. Bennett says SMU will go with one-, two- and even three-back sets. Several potent combinations are available.

Mustang Receivers: All the receiving corps is back, including clutch playmaker Bobby Chase (6-4, 205). Chase led the team last year with 39 catches for 625 yards and four TDs, the most-celebrated, a 31-yard game-winner at UAB. Another playmaker in Bennett’s book is senior Reynaldo Pellerin (6-3, 190), the team’s second-leading receiver last year with 30 catches. Zach Sledge, Jay’Mond Cleveland, and Northwestern transfer Joseph Ferguson will also catch their share. Additionally, Bennett is high on redshirt freshman Emmanuel Sanders, and sophomore Columbus Givens, calling them both “potential game-breakers.”

At tight end, SMU is stocked with size and speed. Bennett plans to get them the ball more.

“You’re not going to find a better looking group of tight ends than we have,” Bennett said.

Senior Ryan Kennedy (6-5, 265), a two-year starter, is fully recovered from last December’s knee surgery. Sophomores Vincent Chase (6-5, 250) and Andrew McKinney (6-4, 250), redshirt freshman Jeff Brock (6-5, 235) and Phillips (6-3, 230) bring solid depth. “And they can all run,” Bennett said.

Mustang Offensive Line: Bennett calls the O-line situation “vastly improved.”

“We don’t fall off a cliff when we go from (first-teamers) to (second-teamers),” Bennett said. “Our depth is better than it’s been.” Two-year starters include: senior left tackle Darrin Johnson (6-6, 295), junior right guard Caleb Peveto (6-4, 295), and junior center Ben Poynter (6-4, 285). New starters are sophomore left guard Tommy Poynter (6-4, 285) and junior right tackle Kenard Burley (6-5, 305). Juniors Lucky DeLay (6-4, 270) and Joe Holmes (6-2, 300), and freshmen Sean Lobo (6-3, 300), Mitch Enright (6-2, 280) and Chase Smith (6-4, 280) provide welcome depth. Bennett is planning to go with two complete O-lines. This crew should create plenty of holes.



2006 SMU Defense

The 4-3 scheme must replace starters at linebacker and in the secondary. Six starters return. Last season, the unit ranked second in C-USA in rushing defense and fourth against the pass. “I thought we reached what we needed to being doing last year,” Bennett said. Five senior starters will provide a tough nucleus for another solid performance.

Mustang Defensive Line: Senior defensive end Justin Rogers (6-4, 250), who led C-USA in sacks (7) in 2005, should be a force each week. At the other end, look for sophomore Cory Muse (6-3, 240) to have a break-out year. Two more seniors, nose guard Brandon Bonds (6-1, 295) and tackle Adrian Haywood (6-3, 290), have the ability to blow things up in the middle. Chris Parham (6-2, 250) and Randy Denman (6-2, 285) have come on as backups.

Mustang Linebackers: Here, SMU lost two three-year starters. Filling these voids will be key. Anchoring the unit is two-year starter on the weak side, Wilton McCray (6-0, 205), SMU’s third leading tackler last season. In the middle, junior Reggie Carrington (6-2, 240) also has starting experience. Junior Tony Hawkins (6-1, 215) moves into the strong side slot. “In my defense, our outside linebackers are not big guys, they’re fast guys,” Bennett said. Will Bonilla (5-11, 200) and Damon Hurst (5-11, 215) will spell these three.

Mustang Defensive Backs: Senior strong safety Joe Sturdivant (6-2, 210) returns to lead the secondary. The team leader in tackles last season (112), Sturdivant also led the conference in pass breakups (14). The Ponies lost starters at free safety and both corners. Senior Randall Goode (5-11, 190) steps in at free safety, with sophomore David Haynes (5-9, 190) and junior Jonathan Lindley (6-0, 185) filling the corners. Goode, Haynes, and Lindley saw playing time last year. Speedy Devin Lowery (5-11, 175) also moves to corner from offense.

2006 SMU Special Teams

The Ponies must replace four-year starters at punter and place kicker. True freshman Kellis Cunningham is battling sophomore Thomas Morstead for place kicking duties. Bennett said he is not averse to having one kickoff specialist and one field goal specialist. He said, at the moment, Cunningham has the edge in kickoffs, booming most into the end zone. Morstead is also the new punter. Sophomore Jackson Taylor is back as deep snapper, and true freshman Sam Bennett, (son of Phil) is handling PAT snaps.

SMU is set for return men – no question. Last year’s Freshman All-American Jessie Henderson (5-9, 175) is back. He led C-USA in 2005 with 27.6 yards per return and should provide sparks again. Senior Blake Warren will again handle punt return duties. Warren racked up 9.8 yards per return last year, third in C-USA.

2006 SMU Bottom Line

After opening at Texas Tech, the next four contests -- North Texas, Sam Houston State, Arkansas State and Tulane -- look very winnable. To build momentum and have an opportunity for a truly turnaround year, SMU must get out of the gate and perform in these contests. September has been a dreadful month for the Mustangs. SMU’s last winning September was 1992. The Ponies are a season-killing 8-39 for the month since.
A 4-1 start and who knows? The sky’s the limit. The keys will be: QB, linebacker and corner performance, finding a reliable kicking game, and avoiding key injuries. This bunch is ready to win and has some talent, speed and size. They know they were close last season. Look for them to remember how close and kick down the door.

Prediction: 8-4 (5-3), #2 in the West, bowl game.

[ponyte]

Mighty bold perdiction. Seems this fellow has more faith in the Ponies than some others. I sure do hope this guy is the expert of experts.

[Cadillac]

Awesome review, thanks for posting that. I think that pretty much gets me caught up lol.

-COS

[SMU Football Blog]

Isn't this the guy that wrote the Willis piece for the Sherman paper a week or so ago?

[ThadFilms]

Isn't this the guy that wrote the Willis piece for the Sherman paper a week or so ago?

Yup.

Good catch, blogger. I was wondering where I had seen that name before... so I wnet back and Czeched.

-Thaddeus

[Mustangs35SMU]

I like this guy a lot.

[BUS]

I hope this guy is right and not looking for a job at the DMN. Oh, that's right, writing good things about SMU does not help get a job there.

[Water Pony]

I like setting 'high' expectations. It will help getting the students to the games. We need to break the cycle of apathy. No more re-building. The future is now!

[Corso]

I like setting 'high' expectations. It will help getting the students to the games. We need to break the cycle of apathy. No more re-building. The future is now!

I like the way you think, and I want to agree with you .... but I want to see how long our freshman QB will need to get comfortable.

[mr. pony]

He's comfortable now. Really.

[BringBackThePonies03]

That's right the PONIES are back...

GO PONIES!!!

[smu diamond m]

WOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOO PONIES

[jtstang]

WOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOO PONIES

Are you on one knee squeezing your nuts?

[ponyboy]

That's illegal in Texas.

[PK]

That's illegal in Texas.

Tell that to the Aggie yell leaders/milkmen.