Coaching vs. level playing field

[mrydel]

Many seem to be at odds over whether our problem is coaching or the over all model under which the coaches operate. I contend they are not mutually exclusive. I am fully in agreement that we need to be able to compete in recruiting with at least our conference and preferably any school, period. But, I have come to believe, although I did not want to admit it for the longest time, that coaching is an issue. As a minor example, Justin Smart has been thrown into the mix as a true freshman playing an extremely difficult position for a young man. He has not had the advantage of a year to bulk up and be of a competitive size. Yet something was seen in him as a raw talent to allow him to start at DE. I watched him a lot on Saturday. He does nothing but rush straight into the OT and push him backwards. Kudos for showing some strength, but a little coaching would allow him to spin, swim move, feint, etc. to get by the OT and perhaps a sack. He never did anything but a straight on rush and was dwarfed by the tackle to a point that he could not see the play developing. Where is the coaching for this young talent. This is only one of several examples I saw Saturday of poor coaching. By the way, on a pop up onside kick (it was not bounced), a well coached player should have known to signal for a fair catch. Not only would we have gotten the ball but more than likely with a tacked on penalty for interefence.

[Pony94]

I think we need look no further than our basketball to see what a difference coaching can make. IKE OFEGBU (yes I know it is spelled wrong)

Doherty comes in recognizes talent and works with Ike and he was our best player last year. Just imagine if Ike had Doherty all four years. So, will we look back at Justin as a wasted talent, or he really blossomed at SMU?

[Arkpony]

Right on MryDel! Thou speakest the truth as usual!

[Hoop Fan]

I think we need look no further than our basketball to see what a difference coaching can make. IKE OFEGBU (yes I know it is spelled wrong)

Doherty comes in recognizes talent and works with Ike and he was our best player last year. Just imagine if Ike had Doherty all four years. So, will we look back at Justin as a wasted talent, or he really blossomed at SMU?

two things. Who do you think recruited Ike if you were so impressed with his talent? nevertheless, Ike did have a better season under Doherty but it doesn't prove your point. Tell me about Devon Pearson. Dez Willingham. The jury is still out on Doherty and grooming talent. Ask a Tarheel fan.

[thefamousguy]

Many seem to be at odds over whether our problem is coaching or the over all model under which the coaches operate. I contend they are not mutually exclusive. I am fully in agreement that we need to be able to compete in recruiting with at least our conference and preferably any school, period. But, I have come to believe, although I did not want to admit it for the longest time, that coaching is an issue. As a minor example, Justin Smart has been thrown into the mix as a true freshman playing an extremely difficult position for a young man. He has not had the advantage of a year to bulk up and be of a competitive size. Yet something was seen in him as a raw talent to allow him to start at DE. I watched him a lot on Saturday. He does nothing but rush straight into the OT and push him backwards. Kudos for showing some strength, but a little coaching would allow him to spin, swim move, feint, etc. to get by the OT and perhaps a sack. He never did anything but a straight on rush and was dwarfed by the tackle to a point that he could not see the play developing. Where is the coaching for this young talent. This is only one of several examples I saw Saturday of poor coaching. By the way, on a pop up onside kick (it was not bounced), a well coached player should have known to signal for a fair catch. Not only would we have gotten the ball but more than likely with a tacked on penalty for interefence.

I couldn't agree more. Sure it's easier to win if you're getting Top 100 national players every year but when you're getting the talent we sign you must coach them to their full potential. This coaching staff has failed to coach our players to their full potential and that's why we came up one yard short last year. That's why we blew that lead against UTEP and will have another losing season this year. Not because we couldn't sign that extra Juco player due to admissions policies.

[Hoop Fan]

maybe, maybe not. Utep did have two players who made a hell of a difference. They were noticeably a different class of athlete. They just were, you can't deny it.

[Stallion]

406 yards of Total Offense-and yet this guy just ignores those facts because he played football. OK then. He ignores the correlation between SMU finishing at the Bottom of almost all consensus recruiting lists for 17-19 years with the fact SMU has the worst record of all intercollegiate programs in the state of Texas during that period-including the only school that hasn't gone to a bowl game. He also ignores the coincidental occurrence of the longest dry spell in FB and BB in the history of the school. His solution is nothing more than "If we could just get a Coach who could motivate the boys ignoring that we've already gone through 7 coaches in FB and BB

[BRStang]

406 yards of Total Offense-and yet this guy just ignores those facts because he played football. OK then. He ignores the correlation between SMU finishing at the Bottom of almost all consensus recruiting lists for 17-19 years with the fact SMU has the worst record of all intercollegiate programs in the state of Texas during that period-including the only school that hasn't gone to a bowl game. He also ignores the coincidental occurrence of the longest dry spell in FB and BB in the history of the school. His solution is nothing more than "If we could just get a Coach who could motivate the boys ignoring that we've already gone through 7 coaches in FB and BB

No, see I think it's "If we could just get a Coach who could convince recruits that he is actually going to build a winner and that SMU is not just a place to get embarrassed and/or your brains bashed in." One who could coach on game day would be nice, too.

[Stallion]

Bennett told you why nobody wants to SMU job from Day 1-because SMU was not on a level playing field. Then he lied saying it was. Since that date he proved he's lied by repeatedly working for major changes-there is not one thing I propose that Phil Bennett or 90% of the Coaches teams in Division 1A would expect in a quality competitive program.

[originaloverthehilltop1]

there is not one thing I propose that Phil Bennett or 90% of the Coaches teams in Division 1A would expect in a quality competitive program.

uh, what?

[docabel]

Here is the way I am looking at it. Yes, for the most part we will be looking at inferior talent than the majority of other schools. I think this makes it even MORE important that we have a superior coach/staff. Right now, we are not only battling uphill in the talent field, but our coaching is inferior on a seemingly weekly basis.

[SoCal_Pony]

Many seem to be at odds over whether our problem is coaching or the over all model under which the coaches operate. I contend they are not mutually exclusive.

Mrydel, I think if most people were honest with themselves they would agree SMU's problems are a combination of both Model and Coaching.

The problem I have is too many are placing too much emphasis on coaching (aka PB).

What they refuse to acknowledge is that over the past 19 years, SMU has produced THE WORST COLLEGE ATHLETIC PROGRAM in America.

So either we have hired the WORST coaches in FB and BB over the past 19 years, or more maybe...just maybe...it is the Model.

[mrydel]

406 yards of Total Offense-and yet this guy just ignores those facts because he played football. OK then. He ignores the correlation between SMU finishing at the Bottom of almost all consensus recruiting lists for 17-19 years with the fact SMU has the worst record of all intercollegiate programs in the state of Texas during that period-including the only school that hasn't gone to a bowl game. He also ignores the coincidental occurrence of the longest dry spell in FB and BB in the history of the school. His solution is nothing more than "If we could just get a Coach who could motivate the boys ignoring that we've already gone through 7 coaches in FB and BB

Did you even read what I said. I fully agree there is a model problem and it has existed for over 20 years. I merely added that on Saturday, a point in time, the lack of solid coaching was very evident. Surely even you must agree that even with a good model, the team could not flourish unless there were someone capable to lead them.

[jtstang]

It's all broken, gentlemen. Every piece of it. It all needs to be fixed, or the thing is never going to work.

[mrydel]

Many seem to be at odds over whether our problem is coaching or the over all model under which the coaches operate. I contend they are not mutually exclusive.

Mrydel, I think if most people were honest with themselves they would agree SMU's problems are a combination of both Model and Coaching.

The problem I have is too many are placing too much emphasis on coaching (aka PB).

What they refuse to acknowledge is that over the past 19 years, SMU has produced THE WORST COLLEGE ATHLETIC PROGRAM in America.

So either we have hired the WORST coaches in FB and BB over the past 19 years, or more maybe...just maybe...it is the Model.

Perhaps I just was not clear on the point I was making. Whereas I have long better a supporter of Bennett, and consistantly blamed the model for the problems, on Saturday, I witnessed glaring events that allow me to now state that I have also lost confidence in this coaching staff to be able to do a job capable of winning games that we should. Saturday was a winnable game. I do not care about who UTEP had on the field. More importantly was who they did not. They had true freshman on the DL. They had back up CBs. This was a game that was ours for the taking. We did exploit the weaknesses, but did not execute in many of the basics of the game that should have made a difference in the outcome. That is coaching. Last year was the year for the "bowl return". We had a patsie schedule and due to the inability to have a short yardage package, we stayed home. Had Bennett beaten Rice, he would have gotten an extension and this year with the loss of the DL, LB and Safety, would have been labeled a rebuilding year and life would have continued. The coaches in this case have made their own bed.

That said, if the model does not change, Knute Rockne can not be dug up and provide a winner.