Back from Rice...

[braginator]

I just got back from Houston and wanted to first of all commennd all the Mustang supporters at the game. I went with a group of my friends and some alumns from the area and was really happy to see so many of our fans at the game. Now for my other observation...How could our coaching staff let us down like they did last night. I don't understand how going inot a game against the triple option and absolutely no passing game, our players looked so confused by what was going on in the Rice offensive scheme. You would think Phil and the boys would prepare out team adequately to defend this Rice team that attempted like three passes, but apparently not. Any other people disgusted after what they saw?

[ALEX LIFESON]

It was a totally gutless performance. I have spent most of the day in the rest room, trying to rid myself of the experience.

[braginator]

Glad to hear another person was disgusted with the display and miserable coaching last night.

[BRStang]

I didn't see the game or even hear it as I was away and couldn't catch the game on the internet.

It sounds like I may have been too quick to give Bennett kudos last week after the well-played game against BSU...oops...just when you think Bennett and the boys have turned the corner, KA-SPLAT!!

To me, without even having watched or heard a single down, the score says it all...44-10 vs. Rice??? Are you frickin' kidding me???

Oh, well, at least the Tigers came through with a W!

[Water Pony]

I am reminded of the easy victory Navy had against us two years ago at Phil's first game. It is the option offense that we can't understand or defend? I am surprised by this pattern.

[Topper]

Well we didnt do a very good job preparing agains the 'bone but at least the coaching staff had time to practice the swinging gate.

[Stallion]

it goes deeper than just coaching. When you play a finese offense your defense never gets to practice against a tough blocking scheme. SMU's defense is playing a lighter quicker group who are not the best run stoppers. I believe I recall that Rice has the second best rushing offense in the nation-they do this day-in-day out. Rice's weakness is that they never practice against an efficient passing attack-although many of their games are against passing teams. As any Rice fan will tell you Rice's defense has always had trouble with passing teams that can streatch the field. Unfortunately, SMU doesn't have an efficient passing game that can streatch the field and perhaps more problematic-we have an amazing lack of athletic ability at WR.

[Topper]

Stallion, your comments are well taken up to a point. But I dont think our defense was physically dominated. To me they looked confused by Rice's scheme. Having said that, the SMU defense, like any defense, looks better when they dont spend most of the game on the field due to the ineptitude of the offense.

Which raises another point: Does our hurry up offense really add a needed dimension? To me, when a team is outmatched, ( and we are almost every week) the better manned team has a better chance to win the longer the game lasts. The hurry up offense just means, usually, that our defense has less time to catch its breath on the sideline.

[PK]

Stallion, your comments are well taken up to a point. But I dont think our defense was physically dominated. To me they looked confused by Rice's scheme.

From what I read in the paper this morning, we had prepared our defense based upon Rice using their regular starting QB, but when Rice substituted their rs Freshman QB in as starter, they changed a lot of the plays to fit his capabilities and even added some they hadn't used before. Therefore, we probably were pretty confused.

From DMN:

Rice started redshirt freshman quarterback Joel Armstrong. In his first college start, Armstrong rushed for 138 yards on 14 carries. He was too elusive and too fast for the Mustangs. He started in place of Greg Henderson, who missed the game with a chest injury. Bennett said SMU prepared for Henderson, who passes more and isn't as fast as Armstrong.

"They did some schemes with Joel that they don't do with Greg," Bennett said. "They ran [some different] plays that we didn't prepare for, and that's what happens when you get a different quarterback; schemes change."

[Topper]

I think the key words in the story were "too fast" and "too elusive". From what I saw Rice ran the same basic, simple scheme they have run for years. Hatfield is not Hayden Fry. He has installed a simple offense to make the best use of the limited talent he has. His limited talent outplayed our limited talent. This is not a knock on our players. I think these kids play their hearts out and it must be difficult to go to practice every day given the lack of fan support and the lack of a winning tradition. I think we all underestimate the heart these guys must have.

[rogershealy]

Braginator...back on the board? TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. Welcome back my friend.

[Stallion]

Again, Henderson spent several days in Hospital last week and Armstrong had a 43 yard TD run against UT, and ran for more than 100 yards against SJSU . Plus, Bennett RECRUITED Armstrong and was fully aware of his 4.3 speed. If this really is the excuse Bennett is using then as far as I am concerned this is strike one against the Man. If Stallion knew about Armstrong all week why didn't Bennett, BTW the day Armstrong committed to Rice I told this board that Rice felt it has signed the No. 1 rated QB in the Country to run its offense. He may have been a 3 star on Rivals but he was a 5 star for Rice.

[Vitale]

Sounds to me like further evidence that Coach Bennett is right when he's said for the last two+ years that we need to be faster -- a lot faster -- on defense. For all their good points, the defensive line (now that Cory Muse is on the shelf) and several of our linebackers are not fast. McCray is fast, but it's been well documented that he needs significantly more strength and lots more experience. Rico Harris is pretty fast, but in the last two months, he's moved from safety to outside linebacker to middle linebacker -- hardly enough time to feel comfortable. Had the defense included Cory Muse on one end, Reggie Carrington at MLB, Rico and McCray on the outside with Fitzgerald at a backup OLB spot, I don't know if we would have won the game, but I daresay we would have had a better showing. And in the past, when Coach Bennett was at places like Kansas State and A&M, he had enough depth (fast depth) that he was able to take fast CBs and let them help out at safety spots, increasing the team's overall speed. Speed kills with an offense like the one at Rice.

Now we get a more normal looking offense this week. I expect (demand?) a better showing this week.

Go PONIES!

[braginator]

Thanks Rog, it is nice to start posting again. Say hi to that guy from Sweet Home Alabama next time you see him and tell Tatayana Ali she was my favorite charcter on Fresh Prince!!!