SMU/Marshall Preview - Sports Network

[SmooBoy]

The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 14th, 3:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000) -- Dallas, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: Marshall 1-1, SMU 2-0. Away Record: Marshall 0-3, SMU 1-3. Neutral Record: Marshall 0-0, SMU 0-0. Conference Record: Marshall 0-1, SMU 1-1. Series Record: Marshall leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: The Marshall Thundering Herd will try to snap a three-game losing skid when they travel to Dallas to take on the SMU Mustangs this Saturday afternoon in a Conference-USA battle at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Since defeating Hofstra, 54-31, the Thundering Herd have lost three consecutive tilts and that includes a tough 23-22 setback to C-USA foe UCF on October 4th. If Marshall is defeated this weekend, the team will have to take an 0-2 league ledger to Birmingham next week where they will face East Division-leading UAB. As for the Mustangs, they had a three-game win streak snapped with a 24-21 setback to UTEP this past weekend. If the Mustangs are victorious in this bout, it would be the fifth consecutive home win for SMU, which would be the longest home winning streak for the Mustangs since they collected seven straight home wins from 1981-82. A victory would also give the Mustangs their best start to a season since opening the 1986 campaign with a 5-2 ledger. This will be the just the second meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. Last season, the Herd pulled out a slim 16-13 victory over the Mustangs in Huntington, West Virginia.

Inconsistency would be the perfect word to describe Marshall's offensive unit this season. The Herd is averaging just 20 ppg behind 317 total ypg. The team is having plenty of success rushing the ball, averaging 174.6 ypg, but unfortunately has struggled in the passing game, posting just 142.4 ypg. In its setback to UCF last week, Marshall was once again led by its ground attack, churning out 230 yards on 35 carries. Ahmad Bradshaw led the way with 181 yards and one touchdown and now has a team-best 530 yards and five scores on the season. As for the passing attack, Bernard Morris completed 14-of-22 passes for 136 yards and one score. Morris also had one interception and was sacked once. Morris has struggled for much of the season and although the quarterback has completed 61.9 percent of his passes, he has only 659 passing yards and four touchdowns against five interceptions.

On the other side of the football, the Herd have been just as bad, if not worse. Marshall is allowing 30.4 ppg on the season and is surrendering a whopping 405.2 ypg. The defense yields 233.8 passing ypg, but the big issue has been against the run as foes are gaining 171.4 ypg. In the team's recent loss to UCF, the Herd was once again abused on the ground as the Golden Knights amassed an eye-popping 275 rushing yards. Overall, the MU defense was slaughtered for 488 total yards. The Herd was unable to force a single turnover in the loss and finished the game with just one sack. On the season, the defense has forced just five miscues and has only nine sacks. UCF collected 24 first downs and converted 4-of-6 redzone chances. Curtis Keyes led Marshall with 15 tackles in the loss and now has a team-best 38 stops on the season.

The Mustangs are averaging 27.2 ppg, but posting just 318 total ypg. The team is averaging a mediocre 134.3 ypg on the ground and only 183.7 ypg through the air. In their recent setback to UTEP, the Mustangs were completely dominated by the Miners as they finished with only 190 total yards and just seven first downs. The SMU ground assault was limited to just 58 net yards on 23 attempts. DeMyron Martin led the way with 55 yards on 17 carries in the loss. James Mapps, who leads the team with 190 rushing yards, finished with only four yards on two carries. With quarterback Justin Willis sitting out due to suspension, the Mustangs called on Corey Slater to handle the duties under center. While Slater tossed two touchdowns in the loss, he completed just 10-of-20 passes for only 132 yards and was intercepted three times. Slater showed promise in his first start of the season, but will need to improve quickly or the Mustangs' season could come crashing down.

If the Mustangs are going to survive the growing pains of a new quarterback, the defense must step up its play drastically. Thus far, SMU is surrendering 22.3 ppg and is allowing 356.3 ypg. The Mustangs have done an excellent job against the run, holding opponents to 82.8 ypg, but unfortunately the defensive backfield has been abused for a whopping 273.5 ypg through the air. In the loss to UTEP, SMU held the Miners to just 89 rushing yards on 39 carries, but once again the defense was abused through the air as UTEP collected 298 passing yards en route to the victory. SMU was able to force two turnovers in the loss, including a fumble which was returned 80 yards for a touchdown. The team also recorded two sacks in the loss and now has 18 on the season to go along with 13 forced turnovers. Joe Sturdivant led the Ponies with 16 tackles in the loss, while Wilton McCray added 14. Sturdivant has been the spark plug for the Mustangs all season and now has a team-high 53 stops.

SMU was dismantled by UTEP, but expect the Mustangs to rebound in a big way against a Marshall squad that has struggled defensively. Look for Slater to take a few more steps forward as he tries to ease into the starting role.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: SMU 28, Marshall 15

[smu diamond m]

We were hardly dismantled by UTEP, but whatever at least they favored us.

[SMU_is_bowling]

YEAH, I think that last comment was alittle overboard . . .beaten, yes . . .dismantled, if 3 points is dismantled, . . ok!

[SApony]

I think our running game might be flying under the radar. No mention of the injuries to our backfield.

[SMU_is_bowling]

The running game is back to full strenght now right . . . or is there someone else still nursing an injury that is a major contributer?

[J.T.supporta]

Martin should be back at 100% by now and the running game is right where we want it.

A great tandum of backs that are all healthy.

[SMU_is_bowling]

Now all we need is a full complement of DE's and QB's and we are ready to roll!

[J.T.supporta]

Slater will be good to go after getting first hand experience at playing a full game and I think are secondary will step up this week.

Tackling is the issue that I am worried about. Lets hope Gush and the Defense did tackling drills this week.

[The PonyGrad]

While I expect Slater to be better versed in the offense and perhaps have a higher completion % I wonder about the INTs. If they are long passes down field on third downs then that is not much worse than a quick kick, as long as they are not returned very far.

If Slater can not force Marshall to back off the line then it could be a long day.

[Pony4Life]

I think our running game might be flying under the radar. No mention of the injuries to our backfield.

Who would have thought the first two 100-yard rushing games would come from James Mapps and Fred Turner?

Put your hands down if you said you called it. You're lying.

[PerunaPunch]

I wouldn't give this report too much credence. The Sports Network obviously wrote this right from the media notes with very little firsthand knowledge to back up the stats.

If Slater can avoid the picks he threw against UTEP and if the DBs will progress against a less talented foe, the Mustangs should win by a goodly margin.

[Stallion]

as Bennett told Mapps after he ran for over 100 yards subtract 40+ yards for each turnover which leaves Slater with about 40 yards of effective offense last Saturday Nite.