We lost because...

[CalallenStang]

Our center doesn't know when to snap the ball and our senior QB isn't savvy enough to take a safety.

That's coaching, pure and simple

[SMU_Alumni11]

That one play is how you are judging Gilbert... Look at his stats. Him and Jeremy and an all of a sudden steroid O line came to play in the 4th quarter

[LHS81]

For whatever reason, the team isn't prepared to start a game, or a 2nd half of a game

[SMU_Alumni11]

For whatever reason, the team isn't prepared to start a game, or a 2nd half of a game

Exactly... A new coach is what is needed... Preseason is over.

[Lebanese4Life]

we lost cause jr richardson couldn't play contain on 3rd and 25

[lwjr]

Our center doesn't know when to snap the ball and our senior QB isn't savvy enough to take a safety.

That's coaching, pure and simple

I agree with you on many things CalallenStang but I have to disagree with you on that one. I think the more glaring problem is the continued poor tackling this team has exhibited from day one of the JJ regime. This "oh I don't won't anyone one to get hurt" BS is killing this team. I was on the lake for most of the second half so I do not recall a whole lot of penalties when I was watching. This team still has problems galore but they did play better today, in the second half.
That was a tremendous comeback by SMU, but the bottom line, it was a lost.

[lwjr]

we lost cause jr richardson couldn't play contain on 3rd and 25

Was JR playing his man on the line of scrimmage or was he back off off him? I could not tell.

[alyssa]

It wasn't really 1980, 81, 82, 83....

[redpony]

IMO- this team played its' hearts out the last part of the game. My issues are that they are not well coached or prepared. They are also typically playing against much bigger, stronger and more talented players. That is just a reflection of the poor recruiting of jj.

[Rayburn]

Our center doesn't know when to snap the ball and our senior QB isn't savvy enough to take a safety.

That's coaching, pure and simple

He tried to take the safety but fumbled the ball.

Really, savvy was not the problem

[CalallenStang]

Our center doesn't know when to snap the ball and our senior QB isn't savvy enough to take a safety.

That's coaching, pure and simple

He tried to take the safety but fumbled the ball.

Really, savvy was not the problem

Watch it again, he tried to pick the ball up and continue the play instead of falling on the ball for a safety.

[CalallenStang]

Our center doesn't know when to snap the ball and our senior QB isn't savvy enough to take a safety.

That's coaching, pure and simple

I agree with you on many things CalallenStang but I have to disagree with you on that one. I think the more glaring problem is the continued poor tackling this team has exhibited from day one of the JJ regime. This "oh I don't won't anyone one to get hurt" BS is killing this team. I was on the lake for most of the second half so I do not recall a whole lot of penalties when I was watching. This team still has problems galore but they did play better today, in the second half.
That was a tremendous comeback by SMU, but the bottom line, it was a lost.

Definitely agree on the tackling. Just saying that that one play made the relevant difference in the score.

[Lebanese4Life]

we lost cause jr richardson couldn't play contain on 3rd and 25

Was JR playing his man on the line of scrimmage or was he back off off him? I could not tell.

not sure but on a 3rd and 25 id like to think he was instructed to play deep

[AusTxPony]

Yeah, hang this on defense. I agree the first quarter was a disaster, but they caught up.

[ojaipony]

Actually, what lost us this game . . . . was a millimeter. If Jay Scott's fingers were 1 millimeter longer that pass gets tipped and ball game over (I'm still amazed that that ball got through there).

Of course, I agree with others: great, great resilience from a team that tends to fold like a cheap suit when they get behind (coaching). The kids should be commended for their efforts and grit and hold their heads up high. AND we should have never have put ourselves in that situation to begin with.

I saw some promising things all in all:

1 - the return of Shead. He looked good and he should be getting minimum of 15 carries a game even in this offense. He's the perfect back for us -- big and good blocker but have to respect his running ability. Then give Nlemchi 5 or so carries.

2 - JaBryce Taylor. Can we start him already! Unbelievable that this guy is on the bench.

3 - Holman, but he remains a head scratcher. The guy just looks like a specimen and has flashes of brilliance, but also seems to disappear. Maybe it's more of our offense, than it is him.

4 - Yenga. Another young talented guy who needs to start.

5 - Briggs! Did you see how well we protected in the second half once we brought in Briggs and moved Gottschalk to guard? Night and day difference.

And noticed that 3 of the 4 above are underclassmen. If we had a half way decent recruiting class this year, I'd be pretty sunshiney on our future (Taylor, Gaines, Minor, Briggs, Myers, Yenga, Richard, etc are all very athletic, higher caliber recruits that we are getting a little bit of a glimpse of now . . . still way too far from where we need to be though . . .