Out Coached

[ponyboy]

Our problem is not coaching. It is lack of defensive talent. End of story and next subject please.

[The PonyGrad]

I have no problem with running out of the RnS but we only have McKinney, who is good running up the middle but does not have the speed to the outside. What ever happened to Martin??

Biggest shock is the problem snapping the ball. At this point in the season how can we be that bad? Killed the first two drives.

BLM has become a wasted investment. He was hopefully going to pay off here at the end of the season, now, nothing. "Wait until next year" assuming his shoulder heals.

FG decision - I could see that either way. Time is running out, we have not stopped them consistently, TD and 2pt conversion tie the game.

On thing I have not heard discussed is D prep hindered by lack of depth -- on the scout team. With so many young players now on the field how can we put together a scout team to simulate the opposition? We have to adjust the D during the game. The first few series are scout experiences for the D. Hence, 14-0.

[EastStang]

I don't think that Jones teams have ever been considered defensive stallwarts. Even his best teams were mediocre on D. Jones (like Steve Spurrier) focuses on Offense and leaves defense to the defensive guys. His theory like Mike Leach is go ahead and score if you can, but we'll still score more than you. I'm sure our DC decided that Memphis was going to run more due to the results of the Navy game. That meant more run support from the safeties and less pass support. The result is that you have single man coverage. I am disappointed in this season, too. But this is the same cast of defensive characters that couldn't stop runs or passes all last year. You can't smoke and mirrors a defense where none exists.

[JasonB]

O.K. - I like JJ - but he and his staff got whipped today. Here are a couple of items - and someone who knows what they are talking about could come up with many more I think:

We start the game with a bunch of running - Why?

Because the entire right side of the line was new with LeBrius starting next to Poynter. Break in a new line by running the ball is what most teams try to do to get their feet wet, communication going, and keep your QB from getting killed and rattled early.

The second he stepped on the field the tall receiver was their obvious only real weapon - so instead of watching him catch multiple balls over our short CB's head - whey dont he hold him up at the line by hitting him at the line every time, He is not that fast - only tall. They play off him the whole game and he has a career game.

Because big corners are good at jamming, and we don't have big corners. The real solution is that you have a saftey come over for help. HOwever, our d-line and LB play is so poor, both safties have to play the run. If you have no deep cover, you absolutely can't jam at the line, and it also explains why we can't run cover 2 with a safty coming over to help.

We have the best special teams coach in the country? We got no returns off MEMPHIS!!!!

No field goal when it takes two scores to win - are you kidding?

I agree, special teams have been dissappointing. And I thought that was a bad call as well, but from JJ perspective, we couldn't stop them, so might as well go for the TD and hope they only get a field goal.

What is with Turner throwing motion? Most YMCA QB's throw over the top - Do we have a QB coach?

I suspect this is why Turner wasn't the starter coming out of fall practice.

Do we practice snaps in practice? Junior high snapping. The snaps lost the game for us - Bo would not have been scrambling on the play he got hurt on if he had gotten a good snap.

I don't know why starting center got Mackey Sasser disease. But, hey, it happened last year to Gurade of the Cowboys for a game last year. Enright has a broken finger, so his snapping wasn't good either.

We have no linebackers at all. But Fleming looks good at End and so does Thompson. So lets play them both at the same time and put our best defensive player (Yenga) in our weakest position - LB - and let him loose -

I expect that move to be made next season, after we get folks back from injury and increase depth on the line. I agree with you, but think it can't be done right now because there have been too many injuries on the line.

And get on the phone to some JUCO's for next year you will lose
the 5,000 fans we have now. We aiint gettin any younger while we wait.

Yeah, without JUCOs our d-line won't be anything next year either, I agree.

[ReedFrawg]

For $2MM per year, I don't see how you can't be pi$$ed about the way this season has gone. I thought 4+ wins and possibly 6-6 was realistic given the long list of close losses last year. Yes, you're young and inexperienced (again) but I just had higher expectations - the prospect of an experienced QB (JW) probably played into that expectation. Playing Tulsa and Houston close just shows me that you have, at a minimum, enough talent to play with and beat anyone in CUSA. There is simply no excuse to be 1-9 at this point, especially with a "better" coach.

[kull]

did they really use the pistol on saturday?

[03Mustang]

For $2MM per year, I don't see how you can't be pi$$ed about the way this season has gone. I thought 4+ wins and possibly 6-6 was realistic given the long list of close losses last year. Yes, you're young and inexperienced (again) but I just had higher expectations - the prospect of an experienced QB (JW) probably played into that expectation. Playing Tulsa and Houston close just shows me that you have, at a minimum, enough talent to play with and beat anyone in CUSA. There is simply no excuse to be 1-9 at this point, especially with a "better" coach.

Without a doubt - we're all there with you.

And yes, Kull - JW lined up in the pistol yesterday....I almost vomited.

[PK]

For $2MM per year, I don't see how you can't be pi$$ed about the way this season has gone. I thought 4+ wins and possibly 6-6 was realistic given the long list of close losses last year. Yes, you're young and inexperienced (again) but I just had higher expectations - the prospect of an experienced QB (JW) probably played into that expectation. Playing Tulsa and Houston close just shows me that you have, at a minimum, enough talent to play with and beat anyone in CUSA. There is simply no excuse to be 1-9 at this point, especially with a "better" coach.

I think this year has proved that coaching does not trump size and talent. TCU's defensive backs are a perfect example of the advantages of size along with speed. Your DB's are huge compared to ours and very fast. It makes a difference for sure.

[OR-See-Nee]

For $2MM per year, I don't see how you can't be pi$$ed about the way this season has gone. I thought 4+ wins and possibly 6-6 was realistic given the long list of close losses last year. Yes, you're young and inexperienced (again) but I just had higher expectations - the prospect of an experienced QB (JW) probably played into that expectation. Playing Tulsa and Houston close just shows me that you have, at a minimum, enough talent to play with and beat anyone in CUSA. There is simply no excuse to be 1-9 at this point, especially with a "better" coach.

I think this year has proved that coaching does not trump size and talent. TCU's defensive backs are a perfect example of the advantages of size along with speed. Your DB's are huge compared to ours and very fast. It makes a difference for sure.

I don't know why it continues to amaze me, but I am always amazed at the size difference between our team and the other team. There is a consistent disparity in favor of the other team.

[ReedFrawg]

I think this year has proved that coaching does not trump size and talent. TCU's defensive backs are a perfect example of the advantages of size along with speed. Your DB's are huge compared to ours and very fast. It makes a difference for sure.

Certainly talent is important but I think SMU is just as talented as Tulane, UTEP and Memphis. Our starting corners are actually pretty small:
Priest 5'10" 163 lbs
Sanders 5'10" 174 lbs

[papawasamustang]

I don't know why it continues to amaze me, but I am always amazed at the size difference between our team and the other team. There is a consistent disparity in favor of the other team.[/quote]

I think this article sums it up.

http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcon ... 31dd5.html

This kid might be tremendous but u don't see the other schools like TCU,
Tulsa & Big 12 schools offering this type of player. Just completely over matched playing DT @ the D1 college level. The question is can a school afford to take a flyer on him hoping he can play linebacker. Not many willing to take the chance.

This appears to be the type of player we have signed over the last several years.

[Dooby]

BTW, did I see Memphis run a variation of the last play from the "The Longest Yard" where the team gets set and then the QB starts walking over to the sideline like he is going to call timeout and talk to the coach and then the Center direct snaps it to the Running Back? I swear I saw that.

[RGV Pony]

BTW, did I see Memphis run a variation of the last play from the "The Longest Yard" where the team gets set and then the QB starts walking over to the sideline like he is going to call timeout and talk to the coach and then the Center direct snaps it to the Running Back? I swear I saw that.

That was on 4th and 1, was it not? Worked great. Guaran-f ing-tee you if we tried to run such a play and executed it perfectly, they'd flag the QB for illegal shift/illegal motion.

[Stallion]

I will say I think MOST of June Jones recruits for 2009 PROJECT average to about average size for their positions. Some could be bigger but the class is closer to projected size at their projected positions than what Phil Bennett was repeatedly doing during his tenure-which I pointed out over and over and was criticized for. Weight is less important than size which can not be improved through strength and weight training. Part of my assumptions are that Lineman should typically NEVER play their freshman year and ideally should not play until redshirt Sophmore year.

[PK]

I think this year has proved that coaching does not trump size and talent. TCU's defensive backs are a perfect example of the advantages of size along with speed. Your DB's are huge compared to ours and very fast. It makes a difference for sure.

Certainly talent is important but I think SMU is just as talented as Tulane, UTEP and Memphis. Our starting corners are actually pretty small:
Priest 5'10" 163 lbs
Sanders 5'10" 174 lbs

Well then it is all the other guys back there behind the line and between the corners I'm thinking about.