SI 2004 Recap for SMU

[Water Pony]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footba ... c/smu.html

SMU Mustangs

After suffering through an 0-12 season in 2003, the third winless season in SMU history, all the Mustangs can do is move up. But can they? That is the big question as head coach Phil Bennett enters his third season.

One of the major problems for SMU is its schedule. The Mustangs open the season against three teams that went to bowl games last season -- Texas Tech, TCU and Oklahoma State. SMU tried to change the schedule by replacing Oklahoma State, but it was too late in the spring to find another team. SMU expects a schedule better-suited for its young team in 2005.

The Mustangs return 22 players who started at various times last season and should have several freshmen in their starting lineup this year.

Bennett said the main priority for his program, at this stage, is improvement at all positions, especially at quarterback. The Mustangs struggled at that position last year, using three different starters. Bennett settled on Chris Phillips, but SMU recruited two junior college quarterbacks to add some competition and depth to the position.

Bennett changed the offense, hiring Rusty Burns from Cincinnati, who will implement a one-back West Coast offense with the goal of running 80 plays per game. SMU scored in double figures just seven times last season and scored only 13 offensive touchdowns.

Defensively, SMU showed some signs of life, holding Baylor to 10 points, Nevada to 12, and Fresno State and TCU to 20. But the unit also gave up 40 points or more on five separate occasions. The defense has to perform better for SMU to win games. Bennett said this fall will be the first time since he's been at SMU that he will be able to employ his nickel package.

"I didn't have the personnel," he said. "Now I have the speed at linebacker and cornerback that should help us. I know as a team we're getting better. You can't hide from the fact we went 0-12, but we will get better."


Offense
The Mustangs must get more production from an offense that ranked last in the nation in scoring last season, averaging a paltry 11.2 points per game.

Phillips, a sophomore who started five games last year, will get the first opportunity to run the Mustangs' new spread offense. If he struggles, junior college transfers Tony Eckert and Jerad Romo could take over. Eckert is the better of the two transfers because of his quick release and his ability to throw the deep ball. Phillips has a strong arm but isn't as accurate. Bennett said he might play both quarterbacks this season.

"Chris has gotten so much better since last year," Bennett said. "I really like how he worked hard in the offseason and viewed tape and improved how he throws the ball."

Foy Munlin, a junior, has emerged as the starting tailback. A transfer from Texas Tech, Munlin is big enough (5-foot-11, 236) to handle the rigors as the lone back.

Receiver Matt Rushbrook missed the spring with a knee injury and is questionable for the beginning of the '04 season.

The offensive line was a mess last fall, but new position coach Ronnie Vinklarek should have at least two dependable leaders in Darrin Johnson (left tackle) and Chris Urbanus (right tackle).


Defense
The defensive line was relatively strong a year ago, but Bennett would like to see his guys apply more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Mustangs totaled just 12 sacks in '04 -- not a good number for a team trying to win games with its defense. Tackle Allan Adami, an All-WAC pick last fall, is the unquestioned leader. He recorded 75 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss.

The linebacking corps could be the strength of the defense. D.D. Lee, who tied for the team lead with 100 tackles last season, has been moved to the strong side after playing in the middle in '03.

Cornerback Rolando Humphrey and safeties Jamey Harper and Alvin Nnabuife return. The star of the secondary, however, could be corner Charles Akinyemi, a transfer from Air Force who started one game with

[Higher Authority]

I trust there's more to the story?

A few things: Foy Munlin will be a senior, not a junior.

They list Darrin Johnson and Chris Urbanus as "leaders" of the offensive line. But has Urbanus, for all his potential, played enough to earn that pub? And what about Brad Kieschnick? To me, he's the heart and soul of the line.

They highlight D.D. Lee at LB - a fine player, but didn't he end up platooning with Reggie Carrington at the end of the year?

Overall, not abad preview, though. I'll be interested to see Coach Bennett's nickel package, now that he says he has the players to run it.

[Water Pony]

Specialists
Placekicker Chris McMurtray impressed the coaches in spring workouts, and he is coming off of a solid sophomore season in which he hit 10-of-14 field goals. Punter Ryan Mentzel averaged 38.3 yards last year, and his job is in jeopardy. Ricky Joe Meeks, a backup quarterback, will get an opportunity.


Final Analysis
The Mustangs heard all summer about their 0-12 record and anemic offense. Burns isn't guaranteeing any victories, but he is quite certain his West Coast offense will enable the Mustangs to be more productive in '04. SMU has some talent at tailback and in the receiving corps, but Burns will have to settle on a quarterback -- likely Phillips -- to create some continuity.

The Mustangs probably won't win any of their first three games -- all against bowl teams from a year ago -- so they will likely set a new school record for consecutive defeats (14). SMU's first chance for a victory might be the WAC opener against San Jose State on Sept. 25.

[Water Pony]

The Lowdown
Coach: Phil Bennett
(3rd season, 3-21)
2003 record: 0-12
WAC finish: 0-8 (10th)
'03 I-A Offensive Rankings:
Rush: 83rd (129.3 ypg)
Pass: 112th (131.3 ypg)
'03 I-A Defensive Rankings:
Rush: 69th (164.0 ypg)
Pass: 67th (225.3 ypg)

2004 Schedule
Date Opponent
Sept. 4 Texas Tech
Sept. 11 at TCU
Sept. 18 at Oklahoma State
Sept. 25 San Jose State
Oct. 2 at Boise State
Oct. 9 at Rice
Oct. 16 Louisiana Tech
Oct. 30 at Fresno State
Nov. 6 Tulsa
Nov. 13 Nevada
Nov. 20 at UTEP

Depth Chart: Offense
7 returning starters in bold
Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.
WR 3 Devin Lowery Fr. 10 Matt Rushbrook Sr.
WR 18 Jay'Mond Cleveland So. 83 Trey Griffin Sr.
WR 85 Reynaldo Pellerin So. 82 Bobby Chase So.
LT 58 Darrin Johnson So. 71 Martin Guidry So.
LG 50 Caleb Peveto Fr. 60 Eric Neal Sr.
C 62 Brad Kieschnick Jr. 65 Bryan Turner So.
RG 70 Townsend Hargis Sr. 79 Justin Boren Fr.
RT 78 Chris Urbanus So. 63 Grant Eidson Jr.
TE 89 Ryan Kennedy So. 86 Vincent Chase Fr.
QB 7 Chris Phillips So. 4 Tony Eckert Jr.
TB 32 Foy Munlin Jr. 33 Richuel Massey Fr.
Depth Chart: Defense
9 returning starters in bold
Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.
DE 90 Melvin Williams Sr. 99 Jamar Bey So.
DT 96 Desmond Jones So. 55 Lucky DeLay Fr.
NG 14 Allan Adami Sr. 40 Justin Rogers So.
DE 68 Randy Denman So. 97 Dominic Pryor Fr.
WLB 11 Cory Muse Fr. 30 Don Ieremia-Stansbury Jr.
MLB 55 Reggie Carrington So. 52 Avery Cleveland Fr.
SLB 35 D.D. Lee Sr. 44 Zach Hall Fr.
CB 26 Rolando Humphrey Jr. 22 Anthony Barnett So.
CB 12 Charles Akinyemi Jr. 8 Ervin McGee So.
SS 16 Jamey Harper Jr. 29 Joe Sturdivant So.
FS 27 Alvin Nnabuife Jr. 39 Ted Barnhart So.
Special Teams
Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr.
K 31 Chris McMurtray Jr. P 41 Ryan Mentzel Jr.
KR 26 Rolando Humphrey Jr. PR 2 Blake Warren So.

[giacfsp]

That's almost word-for-word the same preview that's in Athlon's - are Athlon's and SI owned by the same company (TimeLife)?

If that depth chart is right, Don Ieremia-Stansbury has gone from a star-in-waiting DE to a LB backing up a freshman? I don't think it's that big a deal, though, because Coach Bennett has said he finally has the speed and athleticism that will allow him to rotate LBs and secondary guys in and out all day.

[TailWind3]

Talked to a couple of SMU Football players over the weekend (#17 & # 3)
and got the best idea of the real starting line up and 2nd string.

Offense
1st 2nd
QB. Chris Phillips Toney Eckert
RB. Foy Munlin Richuel Massey
FB. Derron Brown Foy Munlin
WR.Matt Rushbrook Trey Griffin
WR.Devin Lowery Jay'mond Cleveland/Blake Warren
WR.Renaldo Pellerin Bobby Chase
TE. Derrick Swofford Vincent Chase/Ryan Kennedy
LT. Darrin Johnson Eric Neal
RT. Chris Urbanus Martin Guidry
LG. Caleb Peveto Grant Edison
RG. Townsend Hargis Justin Boren
C. Brad Kieschnick Ben Poynter/Bryan Turner

Defense

LDE. Melvin Williams Corey Muse
RDE. Justin Rogers Charlie Berry
DT. Desmond Jones Bradon Bonds
NT. Allan Adami Lucky Delay
SLB. D.D Lee Don Stansbury
MLB. Reggie Carrington D.D Lee/ Zach Hall
WLB. Rico Harris Aver Cleveland
CB. Rolando Humphrey Anthony Barnett
CB. Charles Akinyemi Brandon Jones/ Johnathan Lindley
SS. Jamie Harper Joe Sturdivan/Travis Hunt
FS. Alvin Nnubufie Johnnie Fitzgerald


KR. Rolando Humprhey & David Hanyes ????
PR. Blake Warren Rollando Humprhey

[Lotus]

Who's #17? There isn't one listed on the roster handed out at the Red/Blue Game.

Wow - that 2-deep chart strays a long way from what I'd read before. Some thoughts:

--> I don't see the coaches throwing Munlin in there at FB. If he's the primary ball-carrier, do you really want to risk him getting crunched while blocking for another RB? Sure, he'll have to block to help protect the QB, but his primary role is to have the ball in his hands.

--> Interesting WR alignment. I'd heard that the starting trio might be Cleveland, Pellerin and Lowery. I know Rushbrook had the most receptions last year, but wasn't he dinged up in the spring? I read a lot of good things about Lowery adjusting to the offense, and at the end of the year, Cleveland was playing pretty well. And Pellerin might be the best downfield target, with his combination of size and speed. (Doesn't really matter, of course, since Coach Burns' offense will require a lot of WRs to play. A lot.) Also, I assume Cedric Vinson has to be in the mix. I was told he made play after play after play in spring practices.

--> Swofford over Chase and Kennedy? It would be great if the other TEs play so well we can redshirt Chase, but he might be too good to keep off the field. Even if he doesn't play, though, I thought there was some sentiment that Kennedy might have the upper hand, since his size makes him almost a third OL.

--> When did Poynter move to C? I thought he was an OT prospect.

--> And when did Cory Muse move to DE? Wasn't he supposed to be a monster OLB this year? Maybe he's still growing. (Hey, the last #11 we had playing DE -- Kevin Aldridge -- had a really strong senior year there, after moving from LB. Maybe Muse can get a jump on the position.) What's really interesting there is that Rico Harris is projected to start at OLB, if the players you talked to are right. Coming off a ripped up knee, playing a new position .... that's a tough jump too make, getting into the starting lineup right away.

Question for you, TailWind3: how do you pick the three true freshmen (Chase, Haynes, Lindley) as potential contributors when they haven't practiced with the team? Not saying they won't -- they're certainly supposed to be among the most talented freshmen coming in -- just curious.

[TailWind3]

# 17'S name was Travis Hunt and # 3's name is Devin Lowery

I also verified info today with to mustangs working over the summer at "Ace parking" ......Very Accurate indeed


Rico Harris was playing at wlb first string the whole spring and his knee looked fine.

Corey Muse also practiced at end much of the spring and i was told thats where he would be starting 2 a days.. he is also working with the d line over summer work ous.

about the tight ends, I doubt that swofford will beat out the other two during two a days but thats the pojected line up going into the summer ...i see Vincent Chase beating out Swofford and Ryan Kennedey because of his status of an immdiate starter and impact player

Ben Poyter also actually played more center than tackle during the spring and he gained needed weight and look much improve at the position.


I moved John Lindey into that position because i've also heard numerous reports that CD MOSS transfered as well as Ervin MCgee.. And this was from numerous mustangs!!


Finally i believe that its much accurate to get info from players themselves than those damn magazines.

[ClassOf81]

WOAH! Moss and McGee have transferred? When did this happen?

That hurts. A LOT. Coach Bennett said in some article that with the addition of the speed and athleticism in the last couple of classes, he now has the speed guys to play his style of defense, with a bunch of nickel and dime packages in the secondary. Losing McGee, who played some last year and showed tremendous speed (and pretty good instincts, too), would be a hell of a blow to the defense.

And Moss looked really good in the Red/Blue game as a running back with breakaway potential. It didn't look like he'd get a ton of playing time anyway, with Munlin as the starter and Massey and Dorsey ahead of him (not to mention the freshman RBs), but with an injury or something, he might have gotten a chance. And he looked like he had more home run potential than any RB since ShanD, if not before.

[MizterTea]

allow me to sum up last season for you suckas !

[WildHorse]

# 17'S name was Travis Hunt and ....

Hunt was wearing #46 on the spring game roster.

[StangEsq]

Why & to where did these guys transfer?

[PlanoStang]

allow me to sum up last season for you suckas !

Looks like the pile-up of defensive lineman on one of our QBs last season

[DallasDiehard]

Why & to where did these guys transfer?

Not sure, and not sure. I'd like to know, though.
Anyone got the skinny on this?

[Camel]

I don't know where or why, but I've also heard they're gone. It's a shame if it's true.