by JasonB » Mon Sep 20, 2004 3:17 pm
In order to stop the run, one of two things have to happen. Your D-line holds their ground and occupies blockers so that the linebackers can make plays. Or your D-line gets a push and blows up a running game.
Our linebackers are the thinnest and weakest part of the team right now. Against a great, great offensive line at OSU, our D-line didn't get totally manhandled, but the backers couldn't make the plays and stuff the holes, so we gave up 5-7 yards on each carry.
Against a lesser line, I believe our D-line will be able to get a solid push up front, and disrupt the running play before it starts. SMU will win the battle of the trenches against most WAC teams, and will help the run defense perform much better.
OSU has the best O-line in the country. You can't judge our run defense by that performance alone. The only other line that we will have significant problems against is the Fresno game. Unless our linebacker play picks up, we will have major problems in that game.
The sky is not falling, we tried a lot of players out and lost to three very good football teams. How many walk-ons saw the field on Saturday? These games were extended tryouts and we will see a different Mustang bunch this weekend.