Offseason SMU notes, rumors, etc.

[abezontar]

But what about the 6'7" 290 DE that can run? Especially in CUSA where there is so much Spread/Passing

Yeah, we need someone that can intercept that shuttle pass.

as opposed to someone who can throw the shuttle pass for an interception

[One Trick Pony]

wE NEED MORE NEW MEAT!

[JasonB]

For one thing, I think Cuningham practiced at saftey some in the spring last year, simply because he likes running and hitting. It isn't an indication that he will be playing any time soon, he just likes the action.

As for the 3-4, I have mentioned that to some people in the past as well. I think it is much, much easier to recruit for. The fat nose doesn't fit in a 4-3, so there are some of those available. More importantly, it allows you to take the player who played DE undersized in high school and give them a true position at outside LB (like Yenga). You don't have to recruit against as many schools, similar to how our offense can grab the 5'9 WR that nobody wants because of size. I think that in a 3-4, Yenga and Smart would be very nice players to have at the outside LBs. We lack depth at MLB, though, so that might hurt.

[jtstang]

Yenga at OLB in the 3-4 might well be fun to watch. LT?

[Buddha]

Yenga at OLB in the 3-4 might well be fun to watch.

True.
I like the idea of dropping Patrick Fleming back there, too. Not sure what he'd bring, but it sure is intriguing.

Thanks, Scoops, for putting SMU football back on the football board.

[Ikus]

I generally don't post anything I hear on the rumor mill. But I got an e-mail from someone who I can't recall ever giving me information that turned out to be false, so I'm inclined to believe much (if not all) of this. He told me some things we can expect to see during spring ball.

1. Rock Dennis - there's an effort being made to get him an extra year because of the shoulder injury that cost him his first season at SMU.
2. Youri Yenga at linebacker (which has been reported/speculated many times)
3. Ryan Smith at safety.
4. Shaun Moore at safety.
5. More experimentation with a 3-4 defense because of personnel (and personnel moves). SMU used the 3-4 some last season (as virtually every team does), but they're at least considering using it more.
6. Patrick Fleming getting looks at defensive end and linebacker (remember, he was recruited as a receiver/tight end, so an errant throw in his direction could well get picked off - teammates have raved about his hands.)
7. Bryan McCann playing cornerback and receiver.
8. Justin Smart moving back to defensive end.
9. Kellis Cunningham working with the safeties (and still kicking off).
10. Jimmy Chase back at offensive tackle.

Now that's a Top 10 list, and a list with a lot of valuable information.

[Dooby]

I don't like the 3-4 discussion at all. I have no problem with the 3-4 or a permanent change to the 3-4. However, whenever I hear a team "moving to a 3-4 this year to take advantage of current personnel," I cringe. People forget Bennett said this once. Todd Dodge said it last season. It is actually very common.

What the coach is really saying is "I don' have enough defensive linemen that can play."

[ponydawg]

I don't like the 3-4 discussion at all. I have no problem with the 3-4 or a permanent change to the 3-4. However, whenever I hear a team "moving to a 3-4 this year to take advantage of current personnel," I cringe. People forget Bennett said this once. Todd Dodge said it last season. It is actually very common.

What the coach is really saying is "I don' have enough defensive linemen that can play."

That being said......could it be worse than last year?

[SmooBoy]

We could lose all 12 games by 70 points, so yes it could.

[ponyte]

We could lose all 12 games by 70 points, so yes it could.

Or we could lose 10 games by 100 points while winning 2 games next season. This of course brings up a huge post padding debate as to whether increasing our wins by 100% but suffering even worse humiliation in our loses is an "improvement".

[OC Mustang]

At a school like SMU, playing CUSA, I'll take all the 6-7, 290 lean sophmore DTs that can run that you want to give me. Its the 6-0, 300 pound fat boys that can't run at DT that bother me.

Bonds was 6-1 300 lbs...and Haywood was the faster of the two of them...you saying he's an exception to your concern? I wouldn't point that out, but you've commented positively about him in past.

[Stallion]

Bonds was very overrated-perhaps the most overrated Ponyfans "love child" ever -Haywood was more like 6-3 and could run. Bonds went about 2 years w/o getting a sack against a Division 1A team and our schedule isn't exactly "Murderer's Row"

[jimhagle]

It's more important that the short"fat" guys can clog up the middle of the field then get blown out especially with our lack of a playmaker at mlb. It's nice to have speed everywhere but you need bulk at dt most importantly.

[Stallion]

WRONG-you must not have watched the top teams in the bowl games. If you aren't putting pressure on the QB these days you're losing. Oh and you've got to clog the middle TOO!

[Lotus]

So if the moves Scoops suggests are true (and based on his track record, I'm assuming they are until we learn otherwise), am I right that the defense would look something like this (at the start of spring ball)?

DE: Taylor Thompson
Anthony Sowe

NT: Zac Thomas
Evan Huahulu

DE: Justin Smart (?)
Jordan Johnson

LB: Pete Fleps
Patrick Fleming

LB: Ryan Moczygemba
Jason Jackson

LB: Chase Kennemer
Victor Jones

LB: Youri Yenga
Julian Herron

CB: Bryan McCann
Keith Robinson

CB: Derrius Bell
Deyon McElroy

SS: Rock Dennis (maybe)
Ryan Smith (?)

FS: Tyler Jones (?)
Shaun Moore