SMU should win CUSA

[SMU 86]

Not saying it will be easy but with GG coming in and all the coaching changes in CUSA we can do it. We really don't have any excuses.

And several schools will be getting new QB's other than just SMU.

Schools with new QB's other than SMU

Tulsa
Houston
ECU
UCF
USM


Schools with new coaches

Houston
USM
Memphis
UAB
Tulane

[Comet]

I honestly don't see why many think we're the favorite to win C-USA. We lost a lot, and let's be honest, we are going to be having to ask A LOT out of some young guys for us to win it all. It could happen, but I'm not betting on it. I just hope we have a winning season.

[PonyKai]

We darn well better win the conference. We were supposed to win it last year too. Those were the stated goals of the coach, to win CUSA in 2010. The fact that his mantra of 1 1/2 recruiting classes away circa 08-10 flying completely in the face of his caution that we might take a step back in 2011 is irrelevant. He's paid to win a title in a crappy, mid-major football conference. Let's make it happen.

We won 8 games last year with Mason's quality defensive play and below-average offensive production with a horrendous turnover ratio. Get the offense into gear, settle on a QB, sack up, and win the CUSA title.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Defense is very solid

Backs and receivers are very solid

O-line is a big question mark

QB is a big question mark.

It boils down to which way the O-line/QB issue breaks for us. If they do well, the Ponies roll. If the O-line and/or the QB struggle, then its time to party like its 2010.

[JasonB]

Everything comes down to the oline and is the main reason why I think we are not going to win the conference next year.

[SMUer]

We have the capability of winning the conference next year but there is no way that we "should". It's great having attrition years for Tulsa, USM and UH but our offense is WAY too inconsistent to count our wins and I don't see anything this year that makes me think the run & shoot is going to suddenly "click" that wasn't struggling last year. Maybe GG signs and looks phenomenal and I change my tune, but I just want to compete and freaking crush UH finally (1 win in 12 years) and beat UTEP away (last time we did this was 10 years ago). Between USM, Tulsa and UCF, I hope we steal 2 of the 3. 9-3 would be a phenomenally successful year, 2-2 in non-conference and 7-1 conference. More realistically though 7-5, 1-3 non-conference, 6-2 conference. 6-2 in-conference usually ties with some other division team, so it comes down to who has the tie-breaker.

[sbsmith]

It's year 5 and we've been close in previous seasons, so it's natural to think that we'd break through and get it done this year but we'll have a noob running our QB dependent vertical passing offense with 4-5 noobs blocking for him. The schedule sets up well but we're going to need far more consistent offensive production to win C-USA and I'm not sure we'll get it given what we've seen thus far and what we have to work with.

[SMUer]

Philosophically speaking though, yes, we should win CUSA.

[The PonyGrad]

Basically, can we beat USM, Tulsa and Houston at home? And UCF on the road?
I am thinking 3 of four will do it.

[smubrooks]

It all comes down to the defense. Can they consistently score as well as holding opponents to low scoring?

[BigT3x]

Call me crazy, but our OLine play in every game except the bowl game was complete garbage. I realize they were seniors, but look back at the games. They were horrible. We'll be going from crappy seniors to possibly good freshman. Sounds like an upgrade.

[sbsmith]

Call me crazy, but our OLine play in every game except the bowl game was complete garbage. I realize they were seniors, but look back at the games. They were horrible. We'll be going from crappy seniors to possibly good freshman. Sounds like an upgrade.

O-line play in the bowl game was bad as well (Pitt got pressure on every pass play) but McD showed good pocket presence and evaded the rush well. The unit was plagued by penalties and inconsistent blocking all season long. We might see an upgrade but not a significant one considering the lack of live game snaps the new guys have.

[SMUer]

You both are right, but I agree, the OL looked better vs Pitt than it ever had during the season.

[SMU 86]

It all comes down to the defense. Can they consistently score as well as holding opponents to low scoring?

That is a good point. Defensive consistency will be very important. Our Oline will have some experience in Collins, McJunkin, Gottschalsk, and two more to chose from out of Hughes, Free, Emshoff, Miller, and Duhe. Others schools have lost players as well and I think we can do this.

[smubrooks]

The OL looked better vs Pitt b/c Saun took over for Klemm. The players even admitted that Klemm focused on aggressive play and getting on your man early, where Saun emphasized technique and patience. Klemm has been getting tons of love on PF but perhaps he was not the great OL coach most of us thought. Going forward we have bigger, stronger, heavier guys than we did in 2011 and with proper coaching they could easily out perform last years OL.

Still, it's all about the D taking care of business in order to reduce the pressure on the offense!