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I was worried about last year and we ended up kicking a pretty good CSU-Fresno teams' behind in a post season game. I am more excited about this year. Some experience in the Oline. A solid LB corps. A better secondary and hopefully receivers that can catch. And a huge threat to throw or run QB. Sounds like a solid spring where a lot of guys got attention and a chance. Add in some impact Fr in the fall and it just might be our year to really brake out.

Solid LB corps? Didn't we lose our two best LBs to graduation? Also, the DL is going to be very undersized and inexperienced. We better hope Gilbert and Shead can put up 40+ a game because we may need it.

East Coast Mustang wrote:Solid LB corps? Didn't we lose our two best LBs to graduation? Also, the DL is going to be very undersized and inexperienced. We better hope Gilbert and Shead can put up 40+ a game because we may need it.

Not worried about the defense at all with Coach Mason and all of that talent...

I think this team will be solid as well. More exp on the "O" line, a seasoned GG, Shead is the real deal. On "D", I think the D-Line is solid, and will improve when a healthy B Barnes comes back in August. Yes we did lose two very talented LB’s (JG and T Reed) and a very solid C Rogers. But Pope will fill in well, Joyner already got valuable PT when Rogers went down twice and did nicely, and I think Seals will be better than JG and it will not take too long for that to happen, add a bigger and more exp SS …. I think we have another solid LB corps. I predict we will also see the emergence of Lincoln Richards … this kid is going to be very special. We have great depth with Yenga Longoria etc. The secondary will be better for sure IMO.

SMu's defense will get exposed early in the year just like they were last year. You can't have that much turnover and expect untested newcomers to step-in against high quality competition. I agree they have some potential though and should improve throughtout the year.

Stallion wrote:SMu's defense will get exposed early in the year just like they were last year. You can't have that much turnover and expect untested newcomers to step-in against high quality competition. I agree they have some potential though and should improve throughtout the year.

Our defense actually stacked up pretty well* against early competition. It was our offense that put too much pressure on our defense and kept them out on the field way too long. If A&M's offense would have been horrible and we had a good defense, our defense would have been good enough to win that game. Constant three and outs will put too much pressure on any defense. D wasn't the problem against A&M or TCU.

*Except for Baylor. Our d was totally unprepared for that game. Embarrassing on both sides of the ball.

Alaric wrote:

Stallion wrote:SMu's defense will get exposed early in the year just like they were last year. You can't have that much turnover and expect untested newcomers to step-in against high quality competition. I agree they have some potential though and should improve throughtout the year.

Our defense actually stacked up pretty well* against early competition. It was our offense that put too much pressure on our defense and kept them out on the field way too long. If A&M's offense would have been horrible and we had a good defense, our defense would have been good enough to win that game. Constant three and outs will put too much pressure on any defense. D wasn't the problem against A&M or TCU.

*Except for Baylor. Our d was totally unprepared for that game. Embarrassing on both sides of the ball.

D wasn't too good at the end of the Tulane game.......

Nor were they very effective against Rice.

East Coast Mustang wrote:Solid LB corps? Didn't we lose our two best LBs to graduation? Also, the DL is going to be very undersized and inexperienced. We better hope Gilbert and Shead can put up 40+ a game because we may need it.

Very solid LB corps. Rambo and Pope are solid in the middle. Sanders and Seals will be studs outside. Some of the backups (Yenga, Henderson, Richard, Longoria, etc.) look damn good. We'll be fine there.

I don't know if we can call the DL "very undersized" if the story (link below) is right. Wood is 6-3 and 275 by August? Wright will be sniffing 300 pounds? Barnes goes 6-5/255 and McClenehan goes 6-6/265? That's a pretty good sized line, and several of them have gotten playing time before. It's not like Margus, Grenier and Pitt got every snap last year. I thought the coaches were great about throwing these guys in for a series at a time, making sure they learned what it's like. They'll have growing pains, like everyone says, but I'm not too worried about the front seven.

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/story.php?id=421

Looking ahead, it seems like 2014 will be our year. Lots of guys coming back, and Burcham will have learned the system

Also, do you guys think that any of the incoming freshman DL will see significant playing time? Especially Minor or Gaines? At least one of them will see a lot of playing time I would think with such a thin line.

SMU21TCU10 wrote:Also, do you guys think that any of the incoming freshman DL will see significant playing time? Especially Minor or Gaines? At least one of them will see a lot of playing time I would think with such a thin line.

Minor will play early

Stallion wrote:SMu's defense will get exposed early in the year just like they were last year. You can't have that much turnover and expect untested newcomers to step-in against high quality competition. I agree they have some potential though and should improve throughtout the year.

I suggest a new chant when being steam-rolled by real FB teams.....

'Wait till Basketball, Wait till Basketball'

Or here's one: 'I'll throw my team under the bus for a laugh, I'll throw my team under the bus for a laugh'

Last year teams had to account for Margus on every play.

This year they don't. That will be a huge change and I expect our front seven to get pushed around. We will do OK against " speed" teams but power teams will thrash us.

Minor will play early and play a lot. He better because he will be the most athletic DE we have .

GG and Shed better have long scoring drives and put 40+ points on the scoreboard for us to have a winning season.
I think Tom Mason is a defensive genius but he just doesn't have the DL as he has had in years past. The season will turn on how well the offense does - now it's time for June and Hal to show they can bring it.