More SMU-to-NFL praise

[PonyPride]

From the Washington Post's coverage of this week's OTAs:

"The standout of the day had to have been second-year cornerback Richard Crawford, who picked off a Rex Grossman pass downfield, and also had three pass breakups. Crawford played at left corner for the second unit, and in the slot at times. He said after practice that he feels more confident this season, and it shows."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/foo ... -practice/

[Lefty]

Love seeing stuff like this. It looked like the Skins worked hard to improve their secondary in the draft. Is it safe to say Crawford has his work cut out for him to make the team again?

[cutter]

Mike Shanahan Full Transcript: 05/30

On cornerback Richard Crawford’s improvement:

“Richard is a guy that is a very smart football player. He stays in excellent shape. He is a person like London [Fletcher] as a young guy that will be in the film room studying all the time. He’s watching film. He’s studying offenses. He’s looking at our film cut-ups and he is always going to be in the right position. When you go into your second year, all of a sudden you start to feel more comfortable. The game slows down. He knows what to expect. He isn’t just thinking about the defenses, he is also thinking about the different types of patterns that are being run within a defense. He is a lot more able to intercept a ball and make plays, which he has done here throughout camp.”

On Crawford’s anticipation:

“In order to anticipate better you have to understand the defenses and the scheme. You have to understand what people are doing, but basically yes, he can anticipate a lot better know going into his second year.”

http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Mike-Shanahan-Full-Transcript-0530/fed3894f-4102-4c75-a6dc-b9b17c26d0a1

[cutter]

Mike Shanahan Full Transcript: 05/30

Aldrick Robinson has made strides since he has been here. He’s having one heck of a camp because he has speed and consistency catching the football. He’s been as good as there has been and hopefully he can keep that up.”

http://www.redskins.com/news-and-events/article-1/Mike-Shanahan-Full-Transcript-0530/fed3894f-4102-4c75-a6dc-b9b17c26d0a1

[ponyboy]

Gosh, maybe this coaching staff DESERVES SOME FRIGGING CREDIT

[RyanSMU98]

Don't go talking all crazy, ponyboy

[ponyboy]

I know, I know

[Vitale]

This is great to read. I still think Crawford and Robinson have an uphill battle on their hands, but it sounds like they're working hard and doing everything Shanahan has asked of them. Good luck!

[Junior]

I think Crawford is a lock

[ReedFrawg]

Honest question...with all of the NFL talent SMU has had recently, why hasn't SMU won more games over the last 3-4 years??? Everyone was talking about this lack of talent at SMU when JJ arrived but you have put a lot of players in the NFL. I see this and think that JJ has significantly underperformed given the talent level in the last few years.

[GRGB]

From the Washington Post's coverage of this week's OTAs:

"The standout of the day had to have been second-year cornerback Richard Crawford, who picked off a Rex Grossman pass downfield, and also had three pass breakups. Crawford played at left corner for the second unit, and in the slot at times. He said after practice that he feels more confident this season, and it shows."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/foo ... -practice/

[Bergermeister]

Gosh, maybe this coaching staff DESERVES SOME FRIGGING CREDIT

Don't go friggin' overboard. Not pf nature to give credit where credit is due.

[sbsmith]

Honest question...with all of the NFL talent SMU has had recently, why hasn't SMU won more games over the last 3-4 years??? Everyone was talking about this lack of talent at SMU when JJ arrived but you have put a lot of players in the NFL. I see this and think that JJ has significantly underperformed given the talent level in the last few years.

Good question, doesn't get asked that often though. Your last sentence is spot on.

[RyanSMU98]

Honest question...with all of the NFL talent SMU has had recently, why hasn't SMU won more games over the last 3-4 years??? Everyone was talking about this lack of talent at SMU when JJ arrived but you have put a lot of players in the NFL. I see this and think that JJ has significantly underperformed given the talent level in the last few years.

Didn't you hear? There aren't enough fans to motivate them, the lights used to be in their eyes, plus you have to account for the losses that are pencilled in each year.

In all seriousness though, that is the very question with which we all struggle and still don't have in my mind a satisfactory answer. I hope that the folks who pull the (purse) strings are asking JJ about that and hopefully this year he starts coming up with the answer. Guess we shall see.

[Prideful Pony]

Honest question...with all of the NFL talent SMU has had recently, why hasn't SMU won more games over the last 3-4 years??? Everyone was talking about this lack of talent at SMU when JJ arrived but you have put a lot of players in the NFL. I see this and think that JJ has significantly underperformed given the talent level in the last few years.

I would say part of the reason is that the players we're putting in the NFL need all four years to develop to anything near a competitive professional level. We're able to produce some quality NFL-ready players but we're usually only seeing one, sometimes two years of them playing at a high level here at SMU. Then once they catch on at someone's camp, they show the ability to grow into a solid NFLer...after another couple of years.

Basically we're great at coaching up our diamonds in the rough, but by the time they shine they're graduating and on to the next. That also makes it difficult to field a full team at that higher level without a "golden recruiting class" that peaks at the same time.