Thoughts on the state of the team...
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:16 pm
Let's start on defense because there is obviously less to talk about there. The defense as a whole is good enough to win. The weakness is obviously the secondary. Acker is a plus player, he is fine, the rest are average. At corner, we are going to be in good shape next year with JR returning. i would look for Montes and posten (17) to start pushing as the season goes on. 17 is not the fastest, but this is three forced fumbles in two games? Parks is adequate as the second corner, but I think the others will push for time, especially if the season goes down hill. Robinson and Gray are a significant drop after Parks. At safety, Randolf is going to be a very good player for us. I would look for him to start pushing for PT after the bye.
I know there is concern about graduation for next year at LB and DL, but we are three deep at those positions right now. It won't have as much as an impact as graduating the oline did this year.
Now for the offense, obviously a huge discussion.
Gilbert is incredible in practice. I have seen it all. But obviously something is giving him issues when he steps into games. Even his mechanics are awful in the game, and picture perfect in practice. The mechanical breakdown is probably the reason why his accuracy is so bad. He refuses to throw the ball across the middle of the field. Sometimes you have some guys who are great in practice and don't show up in games. Maybe he is just one of those guys. Kind of a Ryan Leaf type - measurables, looks great in practice, but can't do it with the lights on. He is a great kid, and obviously not a knucklehead like Leaf was, but maybe it is just one of those things.
I actually think that is the problem we have in general right now on offense - we have a lot of skill position players that have great measurables, but nobody is producing.
I think that GG will have a short leash from here on out. I think Jones has had enough and is going to give people opportunities to play. If GG throws an egg the first quarter against TCU, he will be benched for Preston. And if Preston can't do it, he is going to be benched for Birchum. Jones' mannerisms on the bench during the game indicate the frustration level. The FG was a prime example of it. He is looking at his card for a 4th and two play, and just thinking, okay, we can't run it, my QB can't throw a ball over the middle or get a good touch pass in, so in disgust he waves the FG team in. That play call was an indictment of where GG is in Jones' estimation.
Slot receivers are okay. DJ is having a rough season, but we know the potential is there. JJ is a good receiver, but is not getting looks because of QB play. Depth-wise, Darious Joseph is next in line to step in for DJ next year, and Sims has good athleticism even though he is still learning the position and a step slow in practice. Both of those players have the ability, but you also watch Joseph in his routes, and he doesn't go all out all the time. When he does the 5 yard stop, he doesn't do anything to drive the defender off the ball. he jogs the route, turns around, and the defender is still on him to easily defend the pass. Part of the reason that GG is throwing those short passes 100 MPH is because our receivers aren't getting the separation. Sims has similar concerns in practice. We see Walker and loftin showing up in the games because they actually run the routes hard, even though they are way behind in terms of athleticism and upside.
Outside receiver is a major issue. Holman made several catches in the second half, but you watch him and he just doesn't get the position yet. His adjustments are horrible, which was really evident on a play where GG scrambled to his right, was trying to get Holman's attention to come back to the ball, and he wasn't even looking back at the QB.
Thompson is also just not a receiver. He is just fast. That deep ball where he doesn't even look back until he reaches the 5, that is just not instinctual. And then on the other deep balls, he completely underestimates the throws and slows his routes down. He just doesn't get the game.
I think that we will see Ace, Deiter, Waid and Stewart get opportunities over the bye week to take the starting spots on the outside. All of them have good athletic ability. Deiter is not a fast guy, but has size and really understands the fundamentals of the position. Even if you have to limit the routes on his side of the field, it is probably worth giving him a run out there. Stewart has star potential, I am surprised we have not seen him yet on the return team or at wideout. they must be trying to redshirt him. Ace has all the skill in the world, but is inconsistent in practice. Waid hasn't been seen in the game, but is really fast and has good size. It is time to see if some of those players are gamers. If we don't see Thompson and Holman sharing reps or demoted by TCU, that is going to be pretty disappointing.
On the line, Rice and Lowe at the least will have opportunities to grab spots. I wouldn't be surprised to see Collins moved back to guard and the right tackle position to be opened up to competition this week.
There is a lot of justified frustration with the offense right now, and there are a lot of different pieces that need to be fixed in order to get the thing working. The OL is a separate concern, but at QB and WR we have some pieces on campus to be able to make changes and get things moving in the right direction this season. I expect to see several changes in place by the time of the TCU game. As an SMU fan, I would be really disappointed if some of these other players don't get a shot.
I know there is concern about graduation for next year at LB and DL, but we are three deep at those positions right now. It won't have as much as an impact as graduating the oline did this year.
Now for the offense, obviously a huge discussion.
Gilbert is incredible in practice. I have seen it all. But obviously something is giving him issues when he steps into games. Even his mechanics are awful in the game, and picture perfect in practice. The mechanical breakdown is probably the reason why his accuracy is so bad. He refuses to throw the ball across the middle of the field. Sometimes you have some guys who are great in practice and don't show up in games. Maybe he is just one of those guys. Kind of a Ryan Leaf type - measurables, looks great in practice, but can't do it with the lights on. He is a great kid, and obviously not a knucklehead like Leaf was, but maybe it is just one of those things.
I actually think that is the problem we have in general right now on offense - we have a lot of skill position players that have great measurables, but nobody is producing.
I think that GG will have a short leash from here on out. I think Jones has had enough and is going to give people opportunities to play. If GG throws an egg the first quarter against TCU, he will be benched for Preston. And if Preston can't do it, he is going to be benched for Birchum. Jones' mannerisms on the bench during the game indicate the frustration level. The FG was a prime example of it. He is looking at his card for a 4th and two play, and just thinking, okay, we can't run it, my QB can't throw a ball over the middle or get a good touch pass in, so in disgust he waves the FG team in. That play call was an indictment of where GG is in Jones' estimation.
Slot receivers are okay. DJ is having a rough season, but we know the potential is there. JJ is a good receiver, but is not getting looks because of QB play. Depth-wise, Darious Joseph is next in line to step in for DJ next year, and Sims has good athleticism even though he is still learning the position and a step slow in practice. Both of those players have the ability, but you also watch Joseph in his routes, and he doesn't go all out all the time. When he does the 5 yard stop, he doesn't do anything to drive the defender off the ball. he jogs the route, turns around, and the defender is still on him to easily defend the pass. Part of the reason that GG is throwing those short passes 100 MPH is because our receivers aren't getting the separation. Sims has similar concerns in practice. We see Walker and loftin showing up in the games because they actually run the routes hard, even though they are way behind in terms of athleticism and upside.
Outside receiver is a major issue. Holman made several catches in the second half, but you watch him and he just doesn't get the position yet. His adjustments are horrible, which was really evident on a play where GG scrambled to his right, was trying to get Holman's attention to come back to the ball, and he wasn't even looking back at the QB.
Thompson is also just not a receiver. He is just fast. That deep ball where he doesn't even look back until he reaches the 5, that is just not instinctual. And then on the other deep balls, he completely underestimates the throws and slows his routes down. He just doesn't get the game.
I think that we will see Ace, Deiter, Waid and Stewart get opportunities over the bye week to take the starting spots on the outside. All of them have good athletic ability. Deiter is not a fast guy, but has size and really understands the fundamentals of the position. Even if you have to limit the routes on his side of the field, it is probably worth giving him a run out there. Stewart has star potential, I am surprised we have not seen him yet on the return team or at wideout. they must be trying to redshirt him. Ace has all the skill in the world, but is inconsistent in practice. Waid hasn't been seen in the game, but is really fast and has good size. It is time to see if some of those players are gamers. If we don't see Thompson and Holman sharing reps or demoted by TCU, that is going to be pretty disappointing.
On the line, Rice and Lowe at the least will have opportunities to grab spots. I wouldn't be surprised to see Collins moved back to guard and the right tackle position to be opened up to competition this week.
There is a lot of justified frustration with the offense right now, and there are a lot of different pieces that need to be fixed in order to get the thing working. The OL is a separate concern, but at QB and WR we have some pieces on campus to be able to make changes and get things moving in the right direction this season. I expect to see several changes in place by the time of the TCU game. As an SMU fan, I would be really disappointed if some of these other players don't get a shot.