My next concern

[mrydel]

OK, the defense is improving, and I am confident the offense will find their groove soon. So my biggest concern right now is deep snapping. I know whoever is doing it now must be the best we have, and he is doing his best with a task that is difficult and takes some ability, but we will lose a game this year do to a poor snap if we do not get better. Every one last night came in at the punter's feet and a couple actually bounced. I would not mind spending a scholarship exclusively for a deep snapper if need be although I think you can get a player that can do this that also can be an asset at another position. But we need this to be addressed.

[The PonyGrad]

OK, the defense is improving, and I am confident the offense will find their groove soon. So my biggest concern right now is deep snapping. I know whoever is doing it now must be the best we have, and he is doing his best with a task that is difficult and takes some ability, but we will lose a game this year do to a poor snap if we do not get better. Every one last night came in at the punter's feet and a couple actually bounced. I would not mind spending a scholarship exclusively for a deep snapper if need be although I think you can get a player that can do this that also can be an asset at another position. But we need this to be addressed.

It says a lot if this is our top priority.

[mrydel]

I really do not believe I said this was our top priority. I will read it again to be sure, but I think I said it was my biggest concern. That is, stack it on top of my other concerns, which include the offense and defense. It just seems that they are making progress on the others but not in this area.

[The PonyGrad]

I really do not believe I said this was our top priority. I will read it again to be sure, but I think I said it was my biggest concern. That is, stack it on top of my other concerns, which include the offense and defense. It just seems that they are making progress on the others but not in this area.

I do not believe I said that you said it was our top priority but I can go back and check.

[az1]

Special teams as a whole have been a roller coaster this year.

[ponyte]

Not to change the subject too much, but we were 2-10 on 3rd down conversations against ECU. We have been weak all year at 3rd down conversions. If we improve that then the deep snap becomes less of a volume issue. I would rather spend the scholarship on a 3rd down conversion specialist (al la Preston Preason back in the day) than a deep snapper. Also, improve the 3rd down conversions and we improve the offense's scoring capabilities. The biggest problem, and the one that has killed us against WSU and TCU (as well as made UAB close) is our inability to convert 3rd downs.

[Stallion]

Seeing the game in person it did appear to me that SMU was using Shawnbray McNeil as an outlet receiver-rather than as a mere blocking back- on many more plays last nite-although he wasn't thrown to as much. But those are things you don't notice on TV. I think its a good idea-the opponent has to account for McNeil even if he isn't thrown to and Mitchell could have an short option in rather than throwing into double coverage when rushed.

[ponyte]

If we start to use McNeal al la Preston Pearson and improve out 3rd down conversions, I will be tickled pink. And if that starts to happen, it will open up the deep and long intermediate routes of ES, AR, et al. Bottom line is that if we find a way to convert 3rd downs, then really good things happen on offense.

[KnuckleStang]

mrydel is right. As a former deep snapper who personally lost 2 games for my high school in 1984 myself, our deep snapping has been making me queasy

[mrydel]

They were swinging McNeal out wide and behind the line of scrimmage as an outlet and not in the mode of Pearson. It was more of an outlet as Stallion said rather than a 3rd down specialist type play. But the more I watch the more I realize how young this offense is. Someone like myself who certainly is not an offensive guru by any stretch can see the potential with the offense as this team matures. We have yet to see any major misdirection such as an end around. We are just starting to use more motion in the backfield.

That may be a reason for the offense being a little off. They may be learning new stuff that is clogging their brains.