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I know some will think I have gone brain dead, but I have to say the scores of the Baylor and A&M games are not really indicative of the way we played. At Baylor and interception on an actually well thrown ball, a questionable fumble return, and a broken coverage created 3 quick scores. Against A&M we held them down for a quarter and a half, and only when their very athletic QB was able to avoid serious pressure and turn a broken play (and really a sack) into a huge play did they get on the board. It wasn't like they were driving it down our throats; it was big plays when it looked like we had him stopped in the backfield. Four scores by A&M were like that!

After that it did seem to take the wind out of us, both at Baylor and against A&M. And yes I realize we haven't done anything offensively in all 3 games. But when you look at it in detail, it seems as if we're a mistake here and a play there away from looking good. I think we get some of the kinks out, receivers finish their routes, Gilberts gets in sync, and the defensive continues to keep pressure on the QB's, thing will look a lot different.

TCU will be another challenge, but hopefully this tough non-conference schedule will make us much better in conference.

fornaxqt wrote:hopefully this tough non-conference schedule will make us much better in conference.

i pray you are correct!

So our defense being ranked #119 in the country in allowed YPG is really not as bad as it seems?

fornaxqt wrote:I know some will think I have gone brain dead

Absolutely

fornaxqt wrote:I know some will think I have gone brain dead, but I have to say the scores of the Baylor and A&M games are not really indicative of the way we played. At Baylor and interception on an actually well thrown ball, a questionable fumble return, and a broken coverage created 3 quick scores. Against A&M we held them down for a quarter and a half, and only when their very athletic QB was able to avoid serious pressure and turn a broken play (and really a sack) into a huge play did they get on the board. It wasn't like they were driving it down our throats; it was big plays when it looked like we had him stopped in the backfield. Four scores by A&M were like that!

After that it did seem to take the wind out of us, both at Baylor and against A&M. And yes I realize we haven't done anything offensively in all 3 games. But when you look at it in detail, it seems as if we're a mistake here and a play there away from looking good. I think we get some of the kinks out, receivers finish their routes, Gilberts gets in sync, and the defensive continues to keep pressure on the QB's, thing will look a lot different.

TCU will be another challenge, but hopefully this tough non-conference schedule will make us much better in conference.

OK, I won't dispute brain dead. Look, if all you want out of this or any season is to beat the mighty C-USA bunch, we could drop down to a lower level. We can still get an occasional win. If you figure out we are presently in one of the worst leagues, and haven't won it so far, and are heading to an even higher level of competition, then maybe you will join with those of us who are trying to demand a higher level of play/commitment. Looking better/playing better in conference (usa) - meh, who is really stoked about that now. We had a chance to prove we at least belonged at the table, and then failed miserably. "If" we should win C-USA, which we won't, realize that the better teams are down this year and we "should" win this powder-puff league.

sbsmith wrote:

fornaxqt wrote:I know some will think I have gone brain dead

Absolutely

He probably is brain dead, but if you are optimistic, in a twisted sort of way, a great deal of the D's poor numbers can be attributed to the fact that our offense mostly goes 3 and out thus leaving the D on the field for inordinate numbers of minutes. Similarly, in our victory against SFA, the offense rarely took the field because our D and special teams did all of the scoring, leaving SFA on the field most of the game and adding to their total yardage. This is Chamber of Commerce thinking but it helps me work up the energy to go to the TCU game.

SMU21TCU10 wrote:So our defense being ranked #119 in the country in allowed YPG is really not as bad as it seems?

SMU21TCU10 I have always known you to be pretty reasonable, yes our D is ranked 119 but don't you think that ranking might have a little to do with the total ineptness of our offense?

7 or 8 scores and we're right back in those games!

SMUer wrote:7 or 8 scores and we're right back in those games!

You sound like our old friend, former UT Coach Fred Akers. We beat them by 30 points in 1985 and he told the Dallas Morning News that the Horns would have won the game if it hadn't been for three plays. I didn't go to Rice so I can't figure out the math.

SMUer wrote:7 or 8 scores and we're right back in those games!

I knew all that was coming and I agree with most. However the reality is Padron didn't work out as planned, McDermott was thrown in to a first year starter, as there were no other real options. Now we get Gilbert. All the players, coaches, and analyst still say he has all the tools and will get there once he gets in sync with the receivers and more comfortable, which would be hard for anyone playing this schedule. It's s rebuilding year for the offense. The best of teams have set backs when they come into a season with a new QB, and for the most part new players in most of the offensive positions.

The D gets worn down and the points start building because they're out there so much. I think Mason could do a better job rotating in fresh players.

I feel it will all come together at some point soon, and then we will be on the right track building momentum again.

It will improve definitely. The question is how much and will it be enough. I think you have made some good points. We will be better when the schedule eases up. That doesn't change the long term challenges going into the BE.

fornaxqt wrote:I know some will think I have gone brain dead, but I have to say the scores of the Baylor and A&M games are not really indicative of the way we played.

Neither was the score against SFA. Offensively we got outplayed by an FCS team with a backup QB for much of the game.

I agree with the old cliche that the winners and losers of blowout games are never as good or bad as those scores reflect, but this SMU team needs to show up and compete against TCU or it could be a really long season with very few people in Ford supporting our Mustangs

lwjr wrote:

SMU21TCU10 wrote:So our defense being ranked #119 in the country in allowed YPG is really not as bad as it seems?

SMU21TCU10 I have always known you to be pretty reasonable, yes our D is ranked 119 but don't you think that ranking might have a little to do with the total ineptness of our offense?

Yes. That stat definitely reflects the Offense's many 3 and outs and horrible 3rd down conversion ratio (wasn't it like 3/18 this last game? One of those was from a lucky spot too...). But. Still a scary statistic.