'We prepared for a running game'

[FloridaMustang]

You guys should chill on the anti-Bennett talk. As I said in an earlier post, our problems are at free saftey. Both of our two safties are too eager to play the run, they don't split out wide fast enough. That is why we can't cover tight at CB, because if we do, we will give up the big play. Everyone who was at even the Ark St. game saw how close they came to beating us deep early when the safties weren't getting over. We also don't have a lockdown corner, so we have to have our safties look to contain on both sides of the field. We also struggle because sturdivant has to stay inside because Carrington isn't the best against the pass. Our LBs mainly play the run, so against spread formations they always have guys either free in the middle or deep on the outside, depending on what we try to take away.

One thing we are missing is the nickel package. The two outside LBs are our best cover LBs, but they usually blitz on 3rd down. A nickel would be nice with Lindley, McCann, and Lowery, but the other problem is that we just don't have enough corners who are ready to play, so you can't really run the nickel if you only have three corners in the rotation.

So, in short, we don't have the saftey play to have tight coverage on the corner, and we don't have corner depth to be able to run a nickel. That isn't a coaching issue. Maybe a recruiting issue, but not a coaching issue. Next year, we will struggle at saftey still, but at least we will have more talent developed on the corners, especially if Jones comes back, and that will allow us to run more nickel packages and we will be a lot better on third and long.

I think you nailed it.

[SMU_is_bowling]

I Support Bennett all the way . . . he has done a good job taking this programe from 0-12 to bowl talk(not eligible yet) in 4 years . . . that is not easy to do in todays "quick-fix" society

[EastStang]

This game came down to coaching and Holtz's game plan was far superior to ours. You don't run the same basic play 25 times for positive yards and the only stop occurred when the receiver dropped the ball, ever. The ran that sideline pass over and over and over. We never covered it. No adjustment to it at halftime. How about a linebacker going out there just to maybe tip it or get in the way? Or just once a cornerback gambling on a pick. I support Coach Bennett, but he criticized himself and it was deserved this weekend.

[mrydel]

I Support Bennett all the way . . . he has done a good job taking this programe from 0-12 to bowl talk(not eligible yet) in 4 years . . . that is not easy to do in todays "quick-fix" society

I have long been a Bennett supporter, but you do realize he was the one that took us to 0-12 also do you not. That is kind of like pouring whiskey down the throat of the alcoholic in order to get him to rock bottom so he can recover.

[jtstang]

In addition to taking SMU to 0-12 in 2003, Bennett has also won a grand total of four road games in five seasons as SMU head coach. So he's got that going for him too.

[MustangIcon]

In addition to taking SMU to 0-12 in 2003, Bennett has also won a grand total of four road games in five seasons as SMU head coach. So he's got that going for him too.

jt you are so negative. Its just like you to bring up the poor road record without any mention of landmark wins at home over prestigious programs such as SHSU and Ark St.

[jtstang]

In addition to taking SMU to 0-12 in 2003, Bennett has also won a grand total of four road games in five seasons as SMU head coach. So he's got that going for him too.

jt you are so negative. Its just like you to bring up the poor road record without any mention of landmark wins at home over prestigious programs such as SHSU and Ark St.

I'm sorry. I thought our stellar home mark over the same period spoke for itself.