As per request, Texasscout96's views on the 08 Mustang class

[Texasscout96]

I have not made it to practice yet. Things are a little crazy, but I do watch a lot of game film.

High school, college and pro.

[Top 25]

Very, very solid commentary. Thanks so much for taking the time.

The one thing that jumped out at me was your criteria for judging wideouts...you didn't mention whether or not they catch the ball with their hands.

That ability (as opposed to being a body catcher) is often a key indicator of future production.

[Stallion]

3/4ths of College Recruiting much like 3/4ths of NFL drafting is size, strength, speed and quickness and projecting players to the next level based upon those skills. Not much mention of that in the report. Many of the things listed are the attributes of high school All-Stars who might never see the field in college. Technique can be taught-athletic talent can't. The grades are not realistic for a team composed of players half of which did not get another scholarship offer. When you size up SMU's recruiting class based on size, strength, speed and quickness you understand why most weren't highly recruited-because they lack one of more of the attributes Coaches are ideally looking for to project the player to the College Level. The greatest High School All District LB(who runs a 4.75) or CB (who runs a 4.6) is likely going to struggle in College chasing RBs who run 4.4 or WRs who run 4.3. I believe that if you review SMU's list there are at least 18 players who have a physical attribute that they will have difficulty overcoming in order to excell at the D1A Level-some may-most will not. You guys may not want to hear that but it will be proven true as it has for the last 19 years built on similiar types of recruits. SMU needs to step it up in recruiting to build this program to a higher level.

[Alaric]

Texasscout96, thanks for the report. Myrdel had a good question that you only partially answered. What are your letter grades compared to? Other SMU classes? Other Conf USA classes? All D1 classes? I'm guessing you grades were comparisons versus other SMU classes, is that correct? Thanks

[Texasscout96]

I can respond in more deatil later, but quickly..

As for the WRs, yes catching the ball is obviously the most important thing. The basic logic behind catching the ball is to look for 2 things: does he catch the ball with his hands? (not body) does he catch the ball at its highest point? Two other questions I look for is how quickly does he secure the ball and how well does he secure it?

As for my grades, I really base them on the players ability to play in conference usa, but also against the players that we currently have on the roster. But I will say this, the grades are very arbitrary. There is no way to really define and stand behind the grades. I am impressed with Coach jones' first class, and when I look at how the new kids will fit it, I honestly believe that the talent level of each position will be raised, and that is why I assigned grades.

Any other questions?

[StallionsModelT]

Thanks for your input man. Its much appreciated.

[EastStang]

Obviously for wide-outs the ability to run crisp routes and to know when to look for the ball and to be able to react to the ball are huge things to watch for. A guy who is fast as the wind, but can't see the ball, or adjust to the ball won't catch the ball. Running crisp routes can be taught. For OL's and DL's you can't legally grow size. A frame is what it is. You can teach footwork, but in the end, the bigger and meaner linemen still beat the smaller linemen. And as BUS will tell you, all games are won or lost in the trenches.

[kent dorfman]

Thanks for the report. It is good to hear the skinny on some of these guys from a trained eye.

[smaniac38]

probably the most informative post i have read in the last two years

[Mustangsabu]

3/4ths of College Recruiting much like 3/4ths of NFL drafting is size, strength, speed and quickness and projecting players to the next level based upon those skills. Not much mention of that in the report. Many of the things listed are the attributes of high school All-Stars who might never see the field in college. Technique can be taught-athletic talent can't. The grades are not realistic for a team composed of players half of which did not get another scholarship offer. When you size up SMU's recruiting class based on size, strength, speed and quickness you understand why most weren't highly recruited-because they lack one of more of the attributes Coaches are ideally looking for to project the player to the College Level. The greatest High School All District LB(who runs a 4.75) or CB (who runs a 4.6) is likely going to struggle in College chasing RBs who run 4.4 or WRs who run 4.3. I believe that if you review SMU's list there are at least 18 players who have a physical attribute that they will have difficulty overcoming in order to excell at the D1A Level-some may-most will not. You guys may not want to hear that but it will be proven true as it has for the last 19 years built on similiar types of recruits. SMU needs to step it up in recruiting to build this program to a higher level.

I have had a long week, my fuse is short.

Everytime you put your paws near a keyboard, you further erode any virility the word "Stallion" ever had. You are not a fan, you are a fanatical negative.

I don't want to hear what you have to say, not because I am avoiding the truth, but because it adds nothing to my life except bile.

[SMUer]

For some reason I am always tempted to read his posts in an Eeyore narrative voice.

"Aw shucks, we're terrible. Why even try if we can't get Texas Top 100 players. TCU gets them. We're going to get creamed. Coaching can't make up for talent...without the model we might as well drop down to Division II because we simply can't compete..."

[StallionsModelT]

Mustangsabu,

From your lips to God's ear my friend.

[MustangIcon]

Texasscout96, I appreciate your comments on our incoming class- it was an interesting read but seemed to lack some substance. In addition, I am very confused by your arbitrary rating system. Maybe to better clarify your grades you could be more comparative of our class to our competition. Maybe our recruiting class could fall into a broad category for CUSA such as:

Excellent
Above Average
Average
Below Average
Well Below Average

The grades you have given indicate to me an excellent or at least above average recruiting class for CUSA. I have a hard time thinking that our class is anything abover "Average" this year for CUSA and certainly ahve trouble believing our WR claass would rate as an "A" at any level of D1A competition. However, I think it will only get better and better as Jones had a very, very limited amount of time.

***EDIT*** After all of your posts to date, TXS96, I still feel the same way I did in this post.

[stampedesbabyboy]

Scout; are you watching Game Tape or HL Tape?
Stallion; point well taken!

[Cadillac]

However, I am very confused by your arbitrary rating system.

Right. That's the downside to his post, and really devalues the hard work that Texasscout96 has put into his post. What do the letters corespond to? But really, even without the grades at all, it was a nice informative post and opinions (especially ones that say we're doing a-ok!) are always appreciated.

-CoS