Out At End of Season

[East Coast Mustang]

Actually other than the bowl game I think most would agree that Margus under performed most of the time he was here as a DE.

Seriously? Underperformed? What was the expectation to begin with?

He was a 2nd round NFL draft pick for God's sake.

[SMU 86]

Actually other than the bowl game I think most would agree that Margus under performed most of the time he was here as a DE.

Seriously? Underperformed? What was the expectation to begin with?

He was a 2nd round NFL draft pick for God's sake.

No, I am not saying he did not have potential but his senior year did yield the spectacular results everyone was expecting. Or at least I was expecting. Not saying that he did not have NFL potential. A couple of years ago Memphis had a DT that got run all over but was a 1st round draft choice. Again not talking about potential.

[blackoutpony]

Actually other than the bowl game I think most would agree that Margus under performed most of the time he was here as a DE.

I love margus and I hope he become the beast that we all hope he can. but to my point, so far in the NFL this year, he's only been active for only 1 game and has zero anything (tackles, sacks, etc)

He was this years combine wonder and he's and absolute freak, but he hasn't been able to translate that into being a good football player (yet, I hope).

So once again, you can have all the physical tools in the world, but it doesn't mean anything if you can't play.

[PlanoStang]

So you're saying someone who get's himself drafted into the NFL can't play football

[SMU 86]

The Cowboys thought Rod Hill could play as well. I hope things play out better for Margus.

[SMUer]

So coaches are hitting the trail hard and June is burning the midnight oil looking at tapes but we rarely offer any 4-star athletes, barely offer any Texas Top 100 guys and mostly take guys with little to no D1 offers. How do these facts make any sense put together?

[blackoutpony]

So you're saying someone who get's himself drafted into the NFL can't play football

Ryan Leaf
Jamarcus Russel
Tim Tebow
Blaine Gabbert
Christian Ponder

Just to name a few QB's taken in the first round the were not good NFL football players. So yeah it happens

[SMUer]

So you're saying someone who get's himself drafted into the NFL can't play football

Did you watch Hardknocks? All the coaches talked about was "once he learns this" and "once he learns that." He didn't even know how to get in a three-point stance properly at Bengals camp. Coaches had to re-teach that. I'm not saying he knows nothing but I was kinda embarrassed that our staff didn't prepare him better for the NFL. Margus is incredible and anything but a slow-learner, but obviously they hadn't worked on polishing his fundamental skills much pre- or post-combine.

[PlanoStang]

So you're saying someone who get's himself drafted into the NFL can't play football

Did you watch Hardknocks? All the coaches talked about was "once he learns this" and "once he learns that." He didn't even know how to get in a three-point stance properly at Bengals camp. Coaches had to re-teach that. I'm not saying he knows nothing but I was kinda embarrassed that our staff didn't prepare him better for the NFL. Margus is incredible and anything but a slow-learner, but obviously they hadn't worked on polishing his fundamental skills much pre- or post-combine.

I was taught to use a 4 point stance on defense, but that was back in the olden days. Different coaches use different techniques.

If you get drafted into the NFL, most likely you've forgotten more football than Phil Bennett ever knew.

[Rebel10]

The Cowboys thought Rod Hill could play as well. I hope things play out better for Margus.

Probably the worst draft choice the Cowboys have ever made.

[LHS81]

So you're saying someone who get's himself drafted into the NFL can't play football

Ryan Leaf
Jamarcus Russel
Tim Tebow
Blaine Gabbert
Christian Ponder

Just to name a few QB's taken in the first round the were not good NFL football players. So yeah it happens

Think Christian Ponder is the winner out of these names. Got paid 1st round money to be a "bust." And he married ESPN broadcaster Samantha Steele

[Mustangsabu]

So coaches are hitting the trail hard and June is burning the midnight oil looking at tapes but we rarely offer any 4-star athletes, barely offer any Texas Top 100 guys and mostly take guys with little to no D1 offers. How do these facts make any sense put together?

So you would be happy if we were offering and they just weren't choosing us?

I understand your point and I have real questions about the approach to recruiting that has been used, but I don't believe that the staff is lazy. For starters it wouldn't take any real effort to offer all the best kids. Just a letter. But you want to dedicate your time to the kids that you believe you have a shot at and that you think will be good in your system.

As I say, I question the recruiting approach but I am not at all sure that what follows June will bring in players who are any better when they see the field. And no amount of June Bashing (not saying that you were) is going to make the next guy more successful.

[SMUer]

You offer they guys you want, have a good relationship with and just might choose SMU. I would not be upset at aiming high and missing out...but the serious lack of offers among what are considered the best players in the State is concerning...especially with QBs and WRs. Early on, June should have been able to easily sell that his offense was a proven way to become a NCAA stats leader and a good way to get you noticed and in the NFL. Zero top-level QBs besides Gilbert.

[ponyinNC]

All you have to do is look over to Moody to see what a motivated, aggressive coaching staff can do.

SMU had literally no basketball history (recent) or street cred in DFW or anywhere else for that matter. And yet, in 2 straight recruiting classes, we have landed a top ranked local kid - mcdonalds all american and possible one-and-done types of players!

I'd argue that football was actually perceived better than basketball at SMU up until last year - so June should be able to recruit and do what LB does. But for whatever reason (lazy, ego, coaching/recruiting style), he just doesn't do it or have a staff that can do it (outside of Mason and JP).

It makes no sense - the blueprint is right in front of him! Young, aggressive recruiters that get you top players and you can coach the heck out of them.

[GreenbeltPony]

This is pure "hindsight is 20/20," but I feel like we could have put up some 9, 10, or 11 win seasons starting about year 3 of JJ's tenure If we had gotten at least one Texas recruiter on staff when JJ arrived:

I get the impression that Year 1 is the most important time for a new coach (unless you're a legend like Saban or such) since he has a clean record and is able to "sell the future" to recruits by promising that they can make an immediate impact, win big, go to the NFL, stay close to home, etc. Year 1 is the prime time to make inroads at TX highschools and steal a 4 or 5-star who wants to win and stay close to home, similar to EM in basketball. The good coaches start to win after a year when they have their system and their players ready. Everything else falls into place after that: pipelines, publicity, better recruits, etc.

JJ screwed this up by relying too much on his "they'll come to me" approach and his CA staff. If he and a TX recruiter or two had immediately hit the recruiting trail hard (like LB) and relied on talking points like JJ's trip to the Sugar Bowl, getting players to the NFL, and staying close to home then I'm nearly positive we could have seen better recruiting classes which would translate into more Ws. JJ's system, albeit complex, has worked for us with average QBs and a bit of playbook-shuffling; I can only imagine what would happen if we had a 4 or 5-star who actually panned out (GG is a different story).