Gameplanning

[Cadillac]

with the exception of his debut against the frogs, demyron has failed bigtime against quality competition. remember his second game, when he had something like 4 yards on 8 carries against a bad aggie team.

I guess that comes down to how you define quality. He Failed bigtime against A&M and Marshall in 2005. Much of our hopes for this season rest on '06 having been a fluke year due to injury and over-confidence/under preparation.

When I started looking at this game, I started from the premise that we would have to come in looking for a shoot-out. Both teams have their strength on the Offense, so it makes sense. But looking closer at the Tech defense convinces me that coming out of the gate like that is going to be a mistake.

I think we'll come out with ball control. I hope that Vincent is everything he's been advertised as, and we could/should see Dorsey getting some throws from the backfield. Short, medium passes that focus on exploiting the LBers.

If the team falls behind, they can always switch gears later in the game. They can implement faster paced more shoot-out oriented passing game, and hopefully get some benefit from having kept the Tech defense on the field for a while.

Either way, I think we have about 1 chance in 3.

-CoS

[2112]

against tech last year, martin had 30 yards on 20 something carries. he needs to come of age..... now!

[PonyKai]

Pretty easy to make August 3rd look like Armageddon isn't it?

Maybe the heat will in the end take an effectively draining toll on Tech?

Maybe Viloria's hire and time spent with the team will chip away at the edge- if not balance it that Tech has in superior athletes?

Maybe Demyron wasn't a one year wonder and as a re-focused and physically improved junior will have an effective game, if not running wild?

Maybe SMU gets a noticeable jolt from playing at Ford where we were 5-1 last year?

Maybe, finally, SMU will be the better conditioned team and playing with more kick in their step rather than watching the opposing team waltz by?

Maybe Bennett slugs Leach at halftime instead of after the game so he wouldn't be able to call half the game?

Just go to youtube and watch the highlights from last years game. Three glaring weaknesses were inexperience and lack of trust in the quarterback position, atrocious tackling by our defenders, and physical domination by nearly the entire Tech team. All three of those problems have been addressed, at least to an extent, so in my own deluded opinion I don't think this is going to turn into a slaughter and that SMU has a legitamte chance to pull an opening day upset.

[Cadillac]

against tech last year, martin had 30 yards on 20 something carries. he needs to come of age..... now!

It was 12 carries, but point taken.

There are two things we can look at as to why Martin will do much better this time around: 1. As I mentioned, there is a good deal of speculation that Martin was unprepared last year. That he took his success for granted. 2. Of the starting front 7 from a year ago, only two are returning (Ratliff and Tillman).

I hope that the rumor around town is right and that Martin just didn't take it seriously which accounts for his sophomore slump, and that he is rededicated this season. His strong finish in 05, averaging 127 yards a game at almost 5 yards a carry gave us all a lot of hope, and for SMU to be able to keep up with this schedule this season, I believe that we're going to need that type of production.

-CoS

[2112]

i don't won't to watch that utube again! we look like we are at 3/4 speed, compared to tech running down hill. our offensive line getting shoved in our backfield. they were bigger, faster, stronger etc..... no thanks, i am trying to stay somewhat hopeful.

[PonySnob]

I think we'll come out with ball control. I hope that Vincent is everything he's been advertised as, and we could/should see Dorsey getting some throws from the backfield. Short, medium passes that focus on exploiting the LBers.

If the team falls behind, they can always switch gears later in the game. They can implement faster paced more shoot-out oriented passing game, and hopefully get some benefit from having kept the Tech defense on the field for a while.

Do we really have the kind of team that can play a "ball control" offensive game? With regards to the team "switching gears later in the game" Bennett has never shown that he can make adjustments during the game with regards to changing the offense or defense.

[mustang06]

I am worried about our Middle Linebacker. Tech does a great job of picking on the Middle Linebacker with their passing game. Last year Carrington really got picked on and was constantly a step behind. It is a little scary to put someone starting their first game in there.

[perunapower]

I think we'll come out with ball control. I hope that Vincent is everything he's been advertised as, and we could/should see Dorsey getting some throws from the backfield. Short, medium passes that focus on exploiting the LBers.

If the team falls behind, they can always switch gears later in the game. They can implement faster paced more shoot-out oriented passing game, and hopefully get some benefit from having kept the Tech defense on the field for a while.

Do we really have the kind of team that can play a "ball control" offensive game? With regards to the team "switching gears later in the game" Bennett has never shown that he can make adjustments during the game with regards to changing the offense or defense.

PB made adjustments at the Tulsa game last year and ended up winning after going into the half losing.

[ThadFilms]

I really see SMU as having an excellent shot to win this game. The games against Tech at Ford have been closer and closer over the years. While, as Stallion so astutely pointed out, we don't have the talent that Tech has - however I do believe we have the talent to pull the upset.

So much is riding on this year... so much is expected of this team. I think that Bennett has to hand the keys to the offense to Rusty, and say open it up baby. And then Bennett, should put his focus on entirely on beating Leach's offense. Bennett and Leach once patrolled the same sidelines, Bennett coached against Leach's offense in practice everyday at that time. I think, though our defense is suspect, Bennett has the tools to at least squeeze three three and outs, and a couple stalled drives. Other than that, SMU has to run at high octane on offense. Look, we know that Willis has the talent. If you wanted to knock the guy, the only thing you can lay on him is that he's a little too short - well, if he were 6'3" he'd be starting at a BCS program, and - what I really appreciated - was how he was able to move into throwing lanes with ease.... even with an oncoming blitz.

I think, wait, I know - if the coaches just say, "Justin - don't force anything, but at the same time we trust you completely to win or lose the game. Go out and win it!" I see no reason to think that we can't win the game.

So much to prove.

DMart's problem's last year were both mental and physical... he looked as though he was afraid of being hurt.... of course this is easier said than done, but he has to be looking to inflict the hurt on people, rather than the other way around. If DMart is punishing, if PB is coaching up the defense to play as a cohexive unit, and if the offensive game is JWill's to win or lose...... SMU wins the ballgame.

I like, and agree with, the posts about a short yardage passing game. I think that's the secret. Carve 'em up on the short routes, throw in some screens and draws (I sound like Corso), and then after the DBs creep up a bit, hit Columbus wide open with no one within 15 yards of him. He'll catch it this time, and it will mean an entirely different season for him - and an opening day upset/shocker that will be all over ESPN that night.

I can't wait for September 3rd.

(And yes, with all this being said, I'm going in fully expecting us to not win.... but we have more than a prayer this time... and I wouldn't be driving up for the game if I didn't think we had a chance.)

[Cadillac]

Do we really have the kind of team that can play a "ball control" offensive game? With regards to the team "switching gears later in the game" Bennett has never shown that he can make adjustments during the game with regards to changing the offense or defense.

I think we do have a team that matches up well against Tech for a Ball Control gameplan. That's been the gist of my posts from the beginning of this thread: I like our Oline v. their Dline and our RBs/TEs against their LBs. That same gameplan isn't going to work against every opponent, and I really want to see this team open it up early and often this season... just not against Tech, against whom that strategy will play to their strengths.

As for Bennett not being able to adjust... You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. I'm just putting out what I think the Team has to do to win v. Tech.

-CoS

[westexSMU]

[quote="EastStang"]I suspect the gameplan will be for us to try and control the ball and the clock as long as possible.[/quote]...........Hey if I'm wrong I will be glad to admit it, but just for the record, Alot of teams have tried to control the clock against Tech and failed...Can you name ANY non BCS team, with the exception of TCU, that has been successful against Tech with a great defense and a ball control game plan ??? Fact is there is a team that recently comes to mind that had similiar talent to our team this year that has had success. Last year after our blow out loss to Tech in Lubbock, Tech went to El Paso and played UTEP. UTEP came out with a shoot out in mind and had a 31-14 lead at the half over Tech. UTEP hung on until the end with the game going to overtime in a 35-35 tie. Tech won in overtime but UTEP, because of their aggressive offensive play, had enough points to force overtime. If you make it to overtime, as Boise State showed OU, anything can happen. If we come out with an aggressive game plan it will be a fun and interesting game to watch. If not, alot of SMU fans will be leaving in the 3rd and people all over the country will be changing their channels from ESPN.

[Cadillac]

.Hey if I'm wrong I will be glad to admit it, but just for the record, Alot of teams have tried to control the clock against Tech and failed...Can you name ANY non BCS team, with the exception of TCU, that has been successful against Tech with a great defense and a ball control game plan ???

If we go by last year, you pretty much eliminate the sample pool. If you take out TCU that leaves SMU, UTEP and SE Louisiana. We tried ball control last year and failed, UTEP tried a shootout and failed, and SE Louisiana tried to play soccer, and failed.

But if we look at the teams that did beat tech, TCU and CU had considerably more rushing yards than passing, and an advantage in time of possession. Missouri, Tex and OU all beat teach using a pass dominant offense.

-CoS

[Stallion]

21-1-if it weren't for contrarian jtstang we would have finally found a topic upon which we all agree

[westexSMU]

[quote="Cadillac"] UTEP tried a shootout and failed.[/quote] They certainly lost in overtime by 3 points but I would not say their offense "failed". UTEP scored 35 points against Tech. They just came up short in OT.

[Cadillac]

UTEP tried a shootout and failed.

They certainly lost in overtime by 3 points but I would not say their offense "failed". UTEP scored 35 points against Tech. They just came up short in OT.

So it failed less than our gameplan?

Either way, if we had Higgens and Palmer, maybe it would work. Those two were made to stretch the field. Love it or hate it, our offense isn't. Against a lesser secondary we could afford to take more shots and put up some big yards. I just don't think we can do it against Tech, or at least that we should try to avoid having to try.

-CoS