Zelt Minor

[PoconoPony]

Didn't Mason say Minor would play if he came along as they expected he would even during preseason. I suggest he probably played his way in during practice. Doubt the coaches worry about redshirts when they just need to win games...especially if they are leaving soon.

I'm with you AusTX. I think he probably played his way in during practice, which is not a bad thing. He could be part of a really good rotation at DE with him and Beau Barnes, Zach Wood, McClennegan. We actually have a pretty decent pass ruch at this juncture.

I seem to recall early practice reports indicating that he was not in great shape when he arrived and was struggling to learn the defensive system. I tend to believe that he needed a dose of reality and has since slowly earned his playing time.

[ojaipony]

Didn't Mason say Minor would play if he came along as they expected he would even during preseason. I suggest he probably played his way in during practice. Doubt the coaches worry about redshirts when they just need to win games...especially if they are leaving soon.

I'm with you AusTX. I think he probably played his way in during practice, which is not a bad thing. He could be part of a really good rotation at DE with him and Beau Barnes, Zach Wood, McClennegan. We actually have a pretty decent pass ruch at this juncture.

I seem to recall early practice reports indicating that he was not in great shape when he arrived and was struggling to learn the defensive system. I tend to believe that he needed a dose of reality and has since slowly earned his playing time.

I don't know anything about him personally, but I think he was nursing a groin injury and couldn't play in that all star high school game (the one Jabryce Taylor was the MVP of) right before summer practice started. I don't know if that slowed down his being in shape or not. Regardless, now that you've "wasted" his redshirt I'd be playing him a lot. Seems he's probably one of those game time type players (plays much better in games than practices). Who knows, but if I were the DC, he'd be starting already along with "someone else" and then Wood and Barnes would be very good backups rotating in heavily (with McCleneghan getting some playing time as well). Again, I know nothing about the players' development because I'm not there but I'd be doing the same thing at nose. Wright would start and Hollie would come quite a bit with Nick Reed getting a few minutes as well (I'm assuming Hollie may have some baby fat and weight room/conditioning work to do before ready for prime time, but man do I love that size for the future!).

[David70]

I still do not understand your "IMHO" regarding Barnes & Wood and negativity that you have towards these two young men. Very obvious that you do not support or cheer for these two players to be successful. I have been tracking tackles per game this year and the 2013 DL is more productive in tackles vs. the last two years. If you would do some research regarding Minor you will find there are reasons why he has not played since the A&M game and it wasn't due to injuries. Below are the stats thru 8 games vs. 2012 & 2011. The defense has not performed as well as they would like but to keep harping on Barnes and Wood performance and ability serves no purpose. Both of these players already have surpassed thru 8 games the total number of tackles of last year starters for the entire season. Maybe the defensive scheme needs to change from a 3/4 to a 4/3 to better fit the personnel that SMU currently has. SMU will have a tough time getting the right players to succeesfully build a stong 3/4 deffense overall.

Tackles thru 8 games '13, '12 &'11
2013
Barnes - 34 Sacks -4
Wright - 18 Sacks - 1
Wood - 37 Sacks - 2
Total - 89 Total - 7
2012
Hunt - 24 Sacks - 5
Pittman - 25 Sacks - 0
Grenier - 13 Sacks - 0
Total - 62 Total - 5
2011
Thompson- 29 Sacks - 5
Pittman - 29 Sacks - 0
Frazier - 29 Sacks - 3.5
Total - 82 Total - 8.5

[friend10]

I'm pretty sure when he says "someone else" he means Hollaway.

[ojaipony]

I still do not understand your "IMHO" regarding Barnes & Wood and negativity that you have towards these two young men. Very obvious that you do not support or cheer for these two players to be successful. I have been tracking tackles per game this year and the 2013 DL is more productive in tackles vs. the last two years. If you would do some research regarding Minor you will find there are reasons why he has not played since the A&M game and it wasn't due to injuries. Below are the stats thru 8 games vs. 2012 & 2011. The defense has not performed as well as they would like but to keep harping on Barnes and Wood performance and ability serves no purpose. Both of these players already have surpassed thru 8 games the total number of tackles of last year starters for the entire season. Maybe the defensive scheme needs to change from a 3/4 to a 4/3 to better fit the personnel that SMU currently has. SMU will have a tough time getting the right players to succeesfully build a stong 3/4 deffense overall.

Tackles thru 8 games '13, '12 &'11
2013
Barnes - 34 Sacks -4
Wright - 18 Sacks - 1
Wood - 37 Sacks - 2
Total - 89 Total - 7
2012
Hunt - 24 Sacks - 5
Pittman - 25 Sacks - 0
Grenier - 13 Sacks - 0
Total - 62 Total - 5
2011
Thompson- 29 Sacks - 5
Pittman - 29 Sacks - 0
Frazier - 29 Sacks - 3.5
Total - 82 Total - 8.5

I'm assuming this is addressed to me. I have no negativity towards Wood and Barnes. Both seem like fine, hard working young men. And neither are elite pass rushers in my humble opinion (an opinion that could very well be very wrong). That is all.

[David70]

The issue is that you have been giving your opinion about these two young men now for over a year now. Look at the stats compared to others that have have played in a 3/4 for SMU the last couple of years and the numbers would show they are just or more productive than the players that have played the same positions. You can have/share your opinions but the data doesn't align with your opinions. There is nothing positive about you constantly challenging their ability. If you are going to do that you should list all the DL names the last three years that have played because none of them were extreme pass rushers or put up big stats in tackles. You consistanly name these two players when comparing them to others. What have the others players done in practice or games that would make you feel they need to be starters?

[ojaipony]

. . . because none of them were extreme pass rushers or put up big stats in tackles.

I agree. I just like the athleticism and POTENTIAL of Zelt Minor and the other guy. I would like to see them put into a situation where I can either be proved right or wrong.

I like your stats. Thanks for sharing. But again I just feel that, yes, Taylor Thompson and Margus Hunt are absolutely better athletes and pass rushers than Wood and Barnes. I guess it's not backed up by data but that's just how I feel. AND I'd like to see these other guys get a shot. If they are duds, I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong. If I'm proven right, I won't say anything.

[dirtysouthpony]

The issue is that you have been giving your opinion about these two young men now for over a year now. Look at the stats compared to others that have have played in a 3/4 for SMU the last couple of years and the numbers would show they are just or more productive than the players that have played the same positions. You can have/share your opinions but the data doesn't align with your opinions. There is nothing positive about you constantly challenging their ability. If you are going to do that you should list all the DL names the last three years that have played because none of them were extreme pass rushers or put up big stats in tackles. You consistanly name these two players when comparing them to others. What have the others players done in practice or games that would make you feel they need to be starters?

This is a great post. I get so tired of the harping on the d line. They are the equal to last years line, and maybe even a little better. This is not a zero sum game. Zelt should be rotated in with Beau, Zack, McClennaghan, and Nasbshosie (sp?). Most of the good defenses have rotations of linemen that always keeps a fresh body in the game. Zelt has shown flashes of brilliance. Let's get him more run. Hollie is probably not ready for prime time at this juncture but he will be a big player down the road for us. Darrain Wright=Pitt. Nick Reed =Spike. Our d line is playing ok this year.

[friend10]

Actually Barnes has 5 sacks through 8 games not 4.

[PonyPride]

I seem to recall early practice reports indicating that he was not in great shape when he arrived and was struggling to learn the defensive system. I tend to believe that he needed a dose of reality and has since slowly earned his playing time.

I may be wrong, but I have never heard anything to suggest Minor has "struggled to learn the defensive system" at all. But he did suffer a stinger in the Texas A&M game that limited his practice time. Coaches talk all the time about freshmen needing time to learn. So maybe we're splitting hairs here on the terms used, but my impression is that he is simply learning, just like any other freshman. He will make mistakes as he goes, but every and teammate with whom I have spoken has been impressed with Minor's ability and his progress in understanding the defense. It seems to be a nearly universal opinion that he is on track with his development and his future is very bright.

[Stallion]

Well let me tell you-that's great and nice that he has been learning in practice-but the fact is that right now Minor has busted an entire year to play what 15-20(?) downs. This is what happens when you waste a redshirt. Another example, SMU is trading about 100 catches and 1,000 yards that Jeremy Johnson could have had in 2014 for the 1 catch he made when June Jones wasted his redshirt in his freshman year. Redshirt decisions have to be made by coaches hopefully by about the 4th game-its not always easy but once they are made they need to stick to them and play those freshman. BTW I don't think Minor considered himself injured enough to miss a game based on his tweets. Something else was going on here.

[ftworthmustang]

Interesting statitics on tackles by our linemen. One thing you need to look at is how many times Hunt and Thompson were doubleteamed. That takes an offensive lineman away from blocking a linebacker. Result: Linebackers make more tackles and lineman make fewer. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think our current defensive ends have been doubleteamed at all. Individual stastics are great, but they don't tell the whole story.

[Mustangsabu]

I never say this but I am with Stallion on this. Having JJ another year would be likely invaluable and I don't think it is even closely made up for by his 1 catch his first year.

I hope that these kids bring us 5 straight wins, otherwise you can call me bemused....

[David70]

To answer the question on Barnes having five sacks. Barnes got credit for a sack in the Tech game that Wood actually made. That is why the difference in the numbers of sacks.
To reply to the other statement of Thompson and Hunt getting doubled teamed so that is why they did not have have as many tackles. I watched the last two years and both of them did not get doubled team as much as everyone thinks. Not saying they are not great atheletes but neither of them were technically sound and had to rely on their athleticism. I am not saying those two did not play well. My point is that the DL this year is making plays this year and they are not near as bad as a unit that some people make them out to be. The biggest difference this year vs. prior is the turnover ratio.
To recruit DL for a 3/4 defense is much harder that finding talent to run a 4/3. I believe we have the talent to run a 4/3 from a DL perspective but I know that the DC likes the 3/4 with the emphasis on the LB's making plays.

[Rebel10]

Didn't Mason say Minor would play if he came along as they expected he would even during preseason. I suggest he probably played his way in during practice. Doubt the coaches worry about redshirts when they just need to win games...especially if they are leaving soon.

I'm with you AusTX. I think he probably played his way in during practice, which is not a bad thing. He could be part of a really good rotation at DE with him and Beau Barnes, Zach Wood, McClennegan. We actually have a pretty decent pass ruch at this juncture.

I seem to recall early practice reports indicating that he was not in great shape when he arrived and was struggling to learn the defensive system. I tend to believe that he needed a dose of reality and has since slowly earned his playing time.

He was not the one that came in out of shape. He played well in the allstar game.