SMU Offense

[westexSMU]

Maybe we will get better, but right now we can't catch very well, can't pass very well, can't run very well, and at times can't block very well. In fact at this point, this is the worst SMU offense since 2008 for sure. Truthfully, maybe the worst SMU offense since 2004 and that was back when we could hardly get any decent student athletes in school....Answers ? My only statement is DJ, Zack Line, and some of the OL are the only ones on this Offense who have really proved they deserve a starting spot at this point. Seems to me the Coaches need to find out if we have any other playmakers that are not starting at other positions because what they are doing now is not working.

[jimhagle]

Sadly this team invokes memories of the prior regimes. Who would have thought this would happen.

[couch 'em]

Zach Line + I-form = Heisman?

[ponyte]

Zach Line + I-form = Heisman?

Not with this O line.

Watch the O line on run plays when you see TV replays. Too many times the O line doesn't even get a passing hand on a defender. This is the third game where missed assignments are too obvious. And its worse that it happened against a team like SFA that doesn't have the same caliber of athletes as BU and A$M.

Pass blocking is adequate for CUSA but not adequate enough for the next level. Our O linemen are getting pushed too far back on most plays. No sacks but definitely making it hard for GG to see passing lanes.

O Line play takes the longest to develop of all the positions. And we have an entirely new O line. This is one area where we have to give these young men time to develop.

There are a lot of new players on the offense this year. We had a number of seniors (many now playing in the NFL) that had years of experience last year. We now have a new line, new QB, many new receivers and it is a bit overwhelming to the younger kids.

[redpony]

TE- yep and that all comes down to two things. 1) recruiting top level players and 2) building depth and experience by rotating players so you don't have giant gaps to fill after graduation.
By now we should not be having those type of problems. Coaches= epic fail on those issues

[ponyte]

To that point, we can thank our last two years of abysmal turnover ratio. We have had long fields for two years for our O. This decreases the opportunities to have quick scores and flip large advantages our way. Thus, we have close games and our best players are plying the whole game. Turnovers have consequences more far reaching than just a quick score. They can literally change a game. And we don't have those type of game changing opportunities. Not to say we take advantage if we got more turnovers the previous two years, but given our run game we sure would have improved our chances to score quick, get way ahead early and give more back ups a chance to play and get experience.

Turnovers create opportunities to score. Increased opportunities to score increase the chances of changing a game's momentum. Changing momentum gives a team a chance to put the killer finish on a team. The killer finish creates opportunity for younger players to get playing time.

[redpony]

Agree- but how many times in the last couple of years have we put our foot on the opponents throat and put them away. I remember too many times we were way ahead and then almost lost the game. IIRC Rice was one of those games.

[PonySnob]

That last debacle up at Navy comes to mind.....

[footballqueen]

Some observations:
A. not playing the "best" players for OL
B. having starters get pulled out of the game with injuries and then returning to the game like nothing happened
C. missing blocks on the both sides
D. not completing 1st downs on 4th down
E. having no time controlling the clock
F. and the list goes on.....

Kinda of upsetting as a fan.

[Junior]

Those are pretty weak observations. Not converting 4th downs? It shouldn't even get to 4th as much as it does.

[ghost]

Not sure about the O line because they function as a unit oftentimes but having said that only Line stands out to the average fan as to running and not sure of the blocking since not very knowledgeable in that area when it comes to blitz pickups etc. Also don't know if any receiver makes the list since supposedlly our best receiver has few catches and yards and on top of that against Baylor missed a short td catch which was intercepted and then shortly afterward fumbled on a hard hit as the offense was marching in to score and the fumble was returned for a Baylor Td which turned any positive momentum our offense was trying to gain for that game AND the season! We are still trying to recover from those miscues. I mention it because even the best make mistakes and in this game there are many mistakes. It is how you react to those mistakes that matter. So...I guess it is not us "critics who count who point out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better and who at the very best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst , if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls (like us posters) who neither know victory or defeat!" Circle up the wagons and fight your way out boys!

[WordUpBU]

Your offense can put it together if either GG or Preston can step up. That is a big if but the OL can be serviceable if the QB can make a play or two. I've seen less talented OL's do it but they did have QB's helping them out.

[Junior]

I blame the defense. They took away a lot of valuable PT from our offense in the SFA game.

[ghost]

On the other hand..what if the season plays out this way. At the time we thought blowouts to an average Florida and A&M team turns out that both teams advance and have great years and possibly TCU too. Should know after this weekend after BU plays WV. And our offense with a great new qb and an inexperienced offensive line just needed a few games to jell instead of playing what turns out to be three top 10 teams in the first four games! Look at TCU last year where TCU lost a close one to BU and an OT loss to SMU. They could have rolled over but instead they stayed the course and upset Boise and had a great year. You gotta have confidence in your teammates and coaching staff that the next game is where things turn and then keep working hard every week.

[SMU_Alumni11]

Your offense can put it together if either GG or Preston can step up. That is a big if but the OL can be serviceable if the QB can make a play or two. I've seen less talented OL's do it but they did have QB's helping them out.

It's lazy drop happy WRs