weakest part of team

[White Helmet]

I think the weakest part is fans wearing white shirts to stay cool.

[ponygrad90]

There is no question the weakest part of our team is on the defensive line, but with that said I think our insider linebackers were worse thatn the corners over the last couple of years

i haven't seen fleps play in person, but the navy game was ridiculuos

[ponyte]

Actually, the secondary may arguably be the most dominate part of our defense. I remember how they so intimidated Navy last year that Navy didn't even attempt a pass. Now that is domination!

I appreciate your humor. Unfortunately, we will be facing that outstanding Navy running attack again this year with their sophomore QB who is much quicker and a far superior runner than last year's starter. This is one game where our DTs will really be exposed and our LBs will really be tested. Why pass when you can control the clock, game and simply run up the field in big chunks.

I fear all running attacks, not just Navy's. Hopefully, we will be able to improve team defensive speed with a new scheme (and speed is key to stopping a running game like Navy's). Also, with luck we will not play Navy during a monsoon.

The weather conditions adversely affected our offense. Our offense, without production, never placed Navy in a situation that caused them stress. They could afford to be slow and methodical as long as there was no threat of a creditable SMU offense. Also, no offense meant plenty of playing time for our defense and that wore us down. If the O puts up some quick scores, then Navy is forced to respond knowing we have the ability to score quick and often. That stresses the Navy O which didn’t happen in ’08.

I hope there is better weather this year and we force Navy to alter its all run game plan.

This isn’t to say we win (or lose), but to say that a freak in the weather placed our already low chances in a worse situation. That is unlikely to happen again (but of course it could).

[EastStang]

Not to be alarmist, but our special teams coach died this summer and arguably our most valuable player last year (our punter and place kicker) graduated. I could see some hiccups in special teams this year.

[One Trick Pony]

Is this year going to be another beating? I mite have to go to UCF vs. Texas if so.


On a Positive note!

Sanders Named Preseason First-Team All-C-USA


http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-fo ... 09aaa.html

[Dooby]

This year is not about defense. It is about offense.

I don't remember where he said it (I think it was around signing day), but June Jones basically said (I am paraphrasing here), "You put the offense in place. You recruit to the offense. You get in some shootouts. You win some games. You prove you can win. Then you can start recruiting better players. Then you start getting better defensively."

I recall in 2005, people where wringing their hands over whether SMU could finally stop Rice's option attack. I noted then that stopping that offense was not crucial to winning that game. What was crucial was running the offense efectively, because the Rice defense at the time was awful and its offense was not effectively keeping them in games.

SMU plays in a league with horrible defenses. Next year, in conference, SMU plays the 41, 74, 84, 100, 102, 106, 111 and 115th ranked defenses.

This year's team hinges on the offense and not the defense. You don't have to like it (I don't like it much either). You don't even have to accept it.

Get in some shootouts; hopefully get a late stop; hopefully win some friggin' games.

Don't plan on getting comfortable with a lead late; don't head for the car or the Boulevard early. The goal is not a shutout. The goal is not to win by 20 (though, we may need a 20 point lead sometimes just to hold on); the goal is just to win.

SMU is not trying to win a national championship right now; SMU is just trying to win six and hopefully finish in the top 6 in C-USA or maybe go to Hawaii. Beat UTEP at home. Beat Rice at home. Beat Tulane at home. Beat Marshall. Beat UAB. Beat that I-AA school at home and you are right there.

[NastyStang]

Actually, the secondary may arguably be the most dominate part of our defense. I remember how they so intimidated Navy last year that Navy didn't even attempt a pass. Now that is domination!

I appreciate your humor. Unfortunately, we will be facing that outstanding Navy running attack again this year with their sophomore QB who is much quicker and a far superior runner than last year's starter. This is one game where our DTs will really be exposed and our LBs will really be tested. Why pass when you can control the clock, game and simply run up the field in big chunks.

I fear all running attacks, not just Navy's. Hopefully, we will be able to improve team defensive speed with a new scheme (and speed is key to stopping a running game like Navy's). Also, with luck we will not play Navy during a monsoon.

The weather conditions adversely affected our offense. Our offense, without production, never placed Navy in a situation that caused them stress. They could afford to be slow and methodical as long as there was no threat of a creditable SMU offense. Also, no offense meant plenty of playing time for our defense and that wore us down. If the O puts up some quick scores, then Navy is forced to respond knowing we have the ability to score quick and often. That stresses the Navy O which didn’t happen in ’08.

I hope there is better weather this year and we force Navy to alter its all run game plan.

This isn’t to say we win (or lose), but to say that a freak in the weather placed our already low chances in a worse situation. That is unlikely to happen again (but of course it could).

Agree totally...I was at the game and could barely function as a fan. We put a few TD's on the board early in decent weather and they can't run the ball every possession...

[NastyStang]

bunch of overrated cbs who don't know how to play the ball.

I think Bryan McCann and Derrius Bell are pretty good.

These two are solid and Bell should be much better this year. Banjo is an emerging stud. Rock Dennis isn't a favorite of mine, I thought he over-ran or got burned on a lot of plays last year. Wouldn't mind seeing Tyler Jones or a younger guy in his place....

[RednBlue11]

Running somewhere in the weak link running is depth at running back. After Chris Butler, it gets really dicy, especially if McNeal does not gain eligibility. We have a bunch of guys named Herb after Butler.

i have to agree, buuut it should be better this year with the trans from miami...he got cleared right?

the thing in the 2ndarry we need? speed, speed, speed...just about everyone figurers out if they run a post fly and can burn us right off the line they will have a clear path to 6

[Nacho]

09:
dl--3
lb--3
db--6
ath--3
ol--6
qb--1
wr--3

10:
dl--2
lb--3
db--4
ath--3
ol--0
rb--1
qb--2
wr--2

in 2 years we have recruited 10 dbs and some of the athletes will play db as well. obviously the coaches see a pressing need for dbs as much as I do. of course we haven not finished recruiting for 10 so i see more dbs coming in.

this white shirt keeps me cool as i again point out my statements of fact not some observation that we have a great secondary which i find laughable.