Will SMU have the best D in C-USA?

[leopold]

We return 8 starters on D, 3rd in CUSA behind UTEP and UAB, two mediocre D's.

Our D improved from 27.6 in 2009 to 25.6 points per game last year, second in the conference, and UCF, #1 last year, loses 7 starters.

Phil Steele has our D-line as the best in conference, having 3 -count them 3 - potential NFL players.

Our LB's, ranked as 4th best, includes the conference's leading returning tackler, Tayor Reed, another all C-USA contender in Ja'Gared Davis, and our best recruit, Davon Moreland.

Our DB's return 3 starters, including two potential All-CUSA picks in Chris Banjo and Richard Crawford, and is expected to be the best DB unit under Jones watch. Anybody heard anything lately on Randy McKinnon?

All the talk is on Padron and Line. Is it possible that June Jones' Run-and-Shoot offense is reliant on it's defense to carry them this year?

[Pony ^]

If Houston doesn't hang 50 on us to inflate the stats, we should be. Our D line will be the best in CUSA no doubt. Isn't devon moreland grey shirted?

[RednBlue11]

4 yrs ago i would have NEVER imagined seeing this thread, glad we can talk about this finally

[Pony ^]

Isn't devon moreland grey shirted?

Yes. Word is he's moving to Dallas this fall and he'll be working on his SAT. He should be on campus this spring.

Awesome, can't wait to see him hit the field. Looks like a beast

[PerunaPunch]

Yes, we should have the best defense in CUSA -- despite not having Moreland (clearly whoever wrote the original review of the defense was smoking something).

This is the same group who hung in there against Texas Tech and TCU until the 4th quarter -- except now we're deeper, older and stronger. We lost one key starter in Sterling Moore, but we got back an equally key player in Torlan Pittman and a 2nd year senior and former Big East conference starter in McKinnon.

Taylor Reed was undersized for a middle LB, but he'e packed on a bunch of muscle. McKinnon is a graduate student transfer who was a starter at safety for Syracuse. He's small (like Reed) at linebacker, but he can run like a safety. He's also among the strongest players on the roster, so I imagine he can deliver a wallop. Small, athletic linebackers well-suited for the pass-happy CUSA. How they'll fare against the Aggies will soon be seen.

This defense has the ability to be something special. On paper, easily the best at SMU in 20+ years.

[leopold]

Yes, we should have the best defense in CUSA -- despite not having Moreland (clearly whoever wrote the original review of the defense was smoking something).

Sorry. I remembered there was something up with Moreland, coudlnt' remember what.

The biggest issue I can think with A&M is we are undersized compared to them. If we can somehow keep from gettting pushed around, we may be able to hold them under 28. If that happens, we definitely have a chance.

[Red+BlueDude]

Based on everything I have read, I'd think (assuming, of course, that key players remain healthy) that yes, we should have the league's best defense.

[PonyKai]

Ironic that with an offensive master at the helm, we have a much, much, much better defense than we ever had under the defensive master.

[AusTxPony]

I thought we were second to UCF in defense last year. What's your criteria?

[leopold]

Our D improved from 27.6 in 2009 to 25.6 points per game last year, second in the conference, and UCF, #1 last year, loses 7 starters.

We were. What's the issue?

[ponyte]

If, big if, we have the best D then its major improvement has to be in creating turnovers. Mediocre Ds that create turnovers look great. Great Ds that don't create turnovers look mediocre.

Despite the D creating far less turnovers last year, it improved. And I don't think for a monument anyone feels our D lost the last two post season games of the 2010 season.

But if our D improves on the turnovers, then it will be great and we will win CUSA. And we stay healthy and the O doesn't implode.

[SMU 86]

If Houston doesn't hang 50 on us to inflate the stats.

LOL. This is true. And yes Devon Mooreland is greyshirting.