Interesting comparison

[mrydel]

I am of course going to enjoy watching what the Mustangs can do this year as they grow into a new offense. Coach Jones has a different style of coaching than that with which I am familiar. Of course SMU is picked last or near last in its conference by most pundits, but the hope is there for improvement.

I will enjoy watching how our progress goes in conjuction with that of Arkansas. Arkansas is picked by most to be last or near the bottom of their conference. They have a new coach installing a new offense, and they have glaring holes to fill on defense. The local sports experts say, about Arkansas, much like SMU, that points will be scored but will the defense ever hold the other team from scoring.

Where the difference lies is the coaching philosophies. Where as Jones seems to be teach, instruct, show, repeatition, etc., Petrio uses the old school method of hitting, tackling, hitting some more and then at the end of practice hit a little more. They are having full scrimages, of around 180 plays, full speed, a lot. Often it is 1st team against 1st team. Survivors will play.

I am interested to see which school progress best in their respective conferences. Not to say they both could improve rapidly or both slowly, but I will be interested to see if one method progresses more rapidly than the other.

[originaloverthehilltop1]

great post mrydel. i realized there is a huge difference in training camp philosophy between jj and many other coaches. now you've provided us with a very good contrast to watch.

[Stallion]

quite frankly I have very little doubt that this will be a negative in Week 1 and 2. You can't go 9 months without full speed tackle football and not lose some feel for the speed and toughness of the game. On the other hand SMU has had a historical low in injuries since Spring so in the long run you have more players availiable. This year is one of the first in which the injury bug has not hit the team with a serious injury which bodes better for the rest of the season.

[Garret]

quite frankly I have very little doubt that this will be a negative in Week 1 and 2. You can't go 9 months without full speed tackle football and not lose some feel for the speed and toughness of the game. On the other hand SMU has had a historical low in injuries since Spring so in the long run you have more players availiable. This year is one of the first in which the injury bug has not hit the team with a serious injury which bodes better for the rest of the season.

JJ's teams normally start slow and get better as the season goes on.

With a lack of depth, reducing preseason injuries seems even more important than in a normal season.

[ponyte]

Meyer's first year was hit and tackle. We even had full pads and scrimmage up until Thursday before the Alabama game. And we were just too beat up and wounded to field a healthy team. By 1980, pads and hitting were reduced quite a bit. We had less injuries and more depth.

Meyer was trying to find who wanted to play and was willing to put in max effort regardless. He was looking for a few players in a talent poor environment. That had changed by 1980.

I don't know if it is coaching philosophy or an understand that we lack depth and can't afford to lose players. Bennett was running them hard in 2 a days and we lost Muse. That was a huge lost last year. Jones may not be different from his usual style or he may be trying to keep as many players healthy as possible.

As for the Beloved Razorbacks, who cares if their new coach, whatever his name is, gets them too beat up to finish the season.

[expony18]

quite frankly I have very little doubt that this will be a negative in Week 1 and 2. You can't go 9 months without full speed tackle football and not lose some feel for the speed and toughness of the game. On the other hand SMU has had a historical low in injuries since Spring so in the long run you have more players availiable. This year is one of the first in which the injury bug has not hit the team with a serious injury which bodes better for the rest of the season.

remember when you were [deleted] that there was no contact in our spring ball?