Not enough Scrimmaging ?

[westexSMU]

We certainly did not look physical on Defense against aTm, in the first game, like we did a few weeks later at TCU after a few games had been played. As Mrydel pointed out, "our early season tackling would be better" if we did more scrimmaging before the first game.

[Alaric]

Also, Aleric said "pass heavy offenses take longer to gel", than more reason to scrimmage before the first game, right ?

Not really. I think it's impossible to simulate game speed and don't think more scrimmaging would help. I also think scrimmaging is overrated. Many top coaches in different sports do very little scrimmaging...teaching necessarily gets deemphasized in scrimmaging and bad habits gets reinforced.

[westexSMU]

I just want to see our team better prepared for our first game, against Baylor on National TV, then we have showed in years past. Important game for SMU. In my opinion, we have been less than prepared for several first games the last few years,compared to our opponent. This includes blow out behind scores to start the game against Texas Tech, A&M, and Rice by half time. A 23-14 third quarter lead by SFA at Dallas was less than impressive to start that game also, which we finally won. SMU certainly looked like a totally different team by the time we played at TCU last year compared to the start of the season against A&M. Could A&M have beaten TCU at Ft Worth last year in game 4 ? I'm not sure.

[ponyte]

We do have one potential difference this year. A player with big time football exposure and knows what it takes to get prepared. Gilbert has been in a position where being prepared the first day of the season is expected and a must. And he will bring that knowledge with him. Sometimes it takes the leadership of someone that has been there to elevate the rest. Yes, we have learn to win. Now we must elevate the whole team attitude to the next level and Gilbert just might bring that out in this team.

And yes I am well aware of Mustang reminders. They were run after practice and it shocked me one day to see out Defensive coordinator (Steve Sidwell) running one after practice during 3 a days. He was late to a meeting and he got a Mustang reminder. The nice thing about Meyer is the rules were for everybody.

[Bergermeister]

I like the staff's coaching ability in general.

I know they'll be relieved.

[westexSMU]

Tell them to win the first game once in a while. Then we can all be relieved.

[PSCA]

Opinions vary as dose coaching philosophies as it relates to full contact scrimmages … not as much in the spring, but defiantly during the season. I for one do not think the reward is worth the risk of losing a key player(s) for an inter-squad game. How many times do we read every year at the colligate and professional level of playmakers going down to a season ending injury during practice (to quote the great Allen Iverson). With today’s players being so much more conditioned, bigger/faster/stronger … I don’t think the risk analysis pains out well. These guys can hit/tackle, know how to hit/tackle, and like to hit/tackle at this level or they would not be here. Guys get hurt when they go to the ground, which is why you hear in practice "hit and wrap-up, but stay on your feet". During individual position drills the team gets physical and works on various techniques to insure physicality and tackling ability.

Hey, the defensive will always have some missed tackles and/or have guys bouncing of them, this happens at every level every weekend. That has as much to do with the guys on the other side of the ball who are working and training to avoid hits, how to bounce off tackles, not take a direct hits etc. However, the point is well taken. Like anything, good tackling requires good technique and timing … and one can/will be rusty to start the season .. aka Fall Camp. That is why they work on it in drills, hit during 11-11 team drills … but don’t take the guy to the ground … that’s when a season altering freak accident can happen. To be sure, during 11-11 drills the lines, the LB’s etc, are going at each other well enough. As some have already pointed out … you will never replicate game conditions or adrenaline.