Observations anyone?

[CoxSMU]

First off I would say I am most excited about Griffin, V Chase, and Haynes. What I noticed about some of these guys is that when asked about being 0-12 they didn't say something like "Oh, we will do our best to turn it around." A lot of said they were pissed and knew that SMU is still a program on the rise. It seems like this class has a lot of heart and will power to win. I guess you would have to after not winning a game. I can't say I wouldn't be daunted if I was committed to a team that didn't win a game, then get a call from Arkansas or Notre Dame....Shows you their committment is strong.

[giacfsp]

After watching the highlights last night at Mercury Grill, I'm excited about just about all of the new guys. However, if pressed to pick favorites:

- David Haynes
I confess I was a little leery of whether this guy was a reach because it's sometimes hard to judge a guy against small-school competition. Wrong - there's nothing hard to judge about "Super Dave." He's fast, but in his highlights, he always seemed able to crank it up a notch and shift into another gear when he needed to. And some of the moves he made just embarrassed the defenders. Most of them looked ridiculous trying to stop him, and he was able to make the moves at very high speeds - meaning that ability might translate to the college level.

- Vincent Chase
I'm now hearing that Ryan Kennedy will stay at TE, at least for now, but either way, the position has to become a weapon for the offense again, like it was when Hampton was here. Again, maybe I was skeptical, but when I saw the limited number of catches V. Chase had this year, I wondered if he was an offensive lineman playing out of position. Nope - the dude can catch and for a big guy, he can run. Hurdling a safety and keeping his feet? One-handed grabs? Pretty nice, since he's already a nasty blocker.

- Devin Lowery
Not sure why, but I get the sense this guy will be the sleeper of the class. He looked like he was in a slow jog as he blew by guys in his highlight tape -- I'm hoping he has another gear -- and I like his swagger, the way he carries himself. Not that he's like Michael Irvin, with the "look at me and let me tell you how great I am" routine, but Lowery seemed to be amused, if not offended, when teams tried to single-cover him. LaCori Johnson seemed to have the same attitude, and the speed to back it up. He also was impressive.

- Jessie Henderson
Oh Jessie -- Run, Jessie, Run. Too small? You can't hit what you can't catch.

- Andrew McKinney
I don't know what role he's going to end up filling for the Ponies, but that guy is a real football player. I bet you could ask him to punt and he'd do OK.

[PonyFan]

Both JC quartberbacks looked like they had strong, accurate arms. They both seemed to throw the deep balls very well. (Hmmm: good long-throwing QBs .... a year of experience for Pellerin, Cleveland and Warren .... the addition of Lowery, the Chase brothers, Hawkins and some RBs who can get downfield in a hurry .... a bolstered offensive line .... sounds like the ingredients to make Coach Burns look like a genius.)

[Dooby]

- Vincent Chase
I'm now hearing that Ryan Kennedy will stay at TE, at least for now, but either way, the position has to become a weapon for the offense again, like it was when Hampton was here. Again, maybe I was skeptical, but when I saw the limited number of catches V. Chase had this year, I wondered if he was an offensive lineman playing out of position. Nope - the dude can catch and for a big guy, he can run. Hurdling a safety and keeping his feet? One-handed grabs? Pretty nice, since he's already a nasty blocker.

Chase's tape is the one film that stands out in my mind and that hurdle over the safety being the one play that sticks out to me.

It also seemed to me that every guy was in 4th gear and still pulling away from everybody. It seemed that if they needed to, they could put it in another gear.

Let's just remember that these are "highlight" reels.