SMU Mustangs
Preview 2007
By
Richard Cirminiello
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2007 SMU Offense Preview |
2007 SMU Defense Preview
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2007 SMU Depth
Chart
| 2006 CFN
SMU Preview
With
head coach Phil Bennett holding the lantern, SMU was this
close in 2006 to completely emerging from the dark days of the NCAA
death penalty. After two decades of building from the foundation up
and recreating the program’s image, the new and improved Mustangs
came within four minutes and four points of going to a bowl game for
the first time since 1984. Their chance to showcase the program’s
progress to a mass audience, instead, went to Rice, which copped the
requisite seventh win on the final weekend of the regular season.
Head coach: Phil Bennett
6th year: 17-41
Returning Lettermen: 39
Lettermen Lost: 18 |
Ten Best SMU Players
1.
QB Justin
Willis, Soph.
2. LB Reggie Carrington, Sr.
3. WR Emmanuel Sanders, Soph.
4. DE Cory Muse, Sr.
5. RB DeMyron Martin, Jr.
6. P/K Thomas Morstead, Jr.
7. LB Wilton McCray, Sr.
8. OT Ben Poynter, Sr.
9. OG Caleb Peveto, Sr.
10. S Bryce Hudman, Soph. |
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction:
7-5 |
|
Sept. 3 |
Texas Tech |
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Sept. 8 |
North Texas |
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Sept. 15 |
at Arkansas State |
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Sept. 22 |
at
TCU |
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Sept. 29 |
UTEP |
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Oct.
13 |
at
Southern Miss |
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Oct.
20 |
Tulane |
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Oct.
27 |
at
Tulsa |
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Nov.
4 |
at
Houston |
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Nov.
10 |
Rice |
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Nov.
17 |
UCF |
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Nov.
24 |
at Memphis |
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2006
Schedule
2006 Record:
6-6 |
|
9/2 |
at Texas Tech L 45-3 |
| 9/9 |
at North Texas L 24-6 |
| 9/16 |
S Houston St W 45-14 |
| 9/23 |
Arkansas State W 55-9 |
| 9/30 |
at Tulane W 33-28 |
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10/7 |
at UTEP L 24-21 |
| 10/14 |
Marshall W 31-21 |
| 10/21 |
at East Carolina L 38-21 |
| 10/31 |
UAB W 22-9 |
| 11/11 |
Houston L 37-27 |
| 11/18 |
Tulsa W 34-34 |
| 11/25 |
at Rice L 31-27 |
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For the Mustangs, not playing in December was a lost opportunity, but by
no means was it the last one they’re going to get in the near term.
Since arriving in 2002, Bennett has been steadily steering the program
toward this day, when SMU has more depth, speed and potential since the
days of the Pony Express. Not unlike Greg Schiano at Rutgers, Bennett
struggled early, stayed the course and now is beginning to pay back a
patient administration. Recruiting in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, long
a trouble spot, has picked up, and the program gets two rare appearances
on national television this fall.
Even better than last year’s six wins was the emergence of quarterback
Justin Willis, who went from erratic redshirt freshman to the most
identifiable and valuable Mustang before September had ended. Every
program looking to elevate itself needs that unique sparkplug, a role
Willis will ably fill for the next three years.
Forget last year’s disappointing ending that left SMU out of the bowl
picture. The Mustangs remain right on course with the potential to be
even better if a left tackle and some quality defensive linemen can be
developed before September. The non-conference schedule is demanding,
but unlike recent years, every league game is winnable, putting that
magical seventh victory within reach.
What to watch for on offense: Willis is a legit franchise
quarterback who makes plays outside the pocket, and those around him
better. Beyond the obvious physical gifts, he possesses certain
qualities and characteristics that just scream success. Developing
alongside him will be fellow sophomore Emmanuel Sanders, who ignited a
pedestrian group of receivers by catching 46 passes for 605 yards and
nine touchdowns. Look out for DeMyron Martin, a 6-2, 225-pound horse,
who missed most of last year after whetting everyone’s appetite in
2005. With a passing game to keep defenses honest, he’s eyeing a
monster junior year.
What to watch for on defense: If the Mustangs fail to reach
expectations, the defense will probably be the guilty party. Replacing
three starting defensive linemen and five members of the two-deep is
going to take its toll, particularly on a pass defense that was 110th
nationally a year ago. End Cody Muse and linebacker Reggie Carrington
are all-league types, but they won’t be enough to keep SMU from
participating in a number of shootouts this year.
The team will be far better if …the offensive line improves its
pass blocking. SMU gave up way too many sacks in 2006, which makes
Willis’ 26 touchdown passes and six picks even more amazing. He’s the
headliner of this show, and any impediments to his growth represent a
roadblock to the Mustangs’ postseason dreams.
The Schedule:
It's not easy. The
Mustangs have the three worst Conference USA road games you can get,
going to Southern Miss, Tulsa and Houston in a title-dream-killing
midseason stretch of three away dates in four weeks. While North Texas
and Arkansas State help ease up the non-conference slate, playing Texas
Tech and going to TCU means a 2-2 start is likely. There can't be any
slips in home games against Tulane, Rice and UCF if the Mustangs want to
go to a bowl.
Best Offensive Player:
Sophomore QB Justin Willis. He has Conference USA Player of the Year
written all over him. A deadly accurate short- and mid-range passer who
completed 67% of his throws for 26 touchdowns and six interceptions,
Willis should be even better now that he knows what he’s doing. As long
as he keeps his head on straight off the field, and doesn’t try to do
too much on it, he’ll become one of the league’s signature stars.
Best Defensive Player: Senior DE Cory Muse. A blur of a pass
rusher with tremendous speed and improved strength, the second-team
All-Conference USA star will now be the team’s main man up front as the
only returning starter. He’ll have to deal with being double-teamed on
almost every play and can’t get frustrated, but if he gets any sort of
help from the rest of the line, he’ll flourish again.
Key player to a
successful season:
Senior CB Jonathan Lindley. The secondary was awful
throughout last season, and should have an even tougher time this year,
given that the three new starters up front are unlikely to provide much
of a pass rush. Lindley was the one beaten by Rice’s star receiver
Jarett Dillard for the winning score to knock the Mustangs out of a
bowl, and now he has to be a shutdown playmaker to improve the defense.
The season will be a
success if ... the Mustangs go to their first bowl game since 1984. After getting
so agonizingly close last season, not getting the first winning season
since 1997 and not being a player in the West race will be a major step
back for Bennett.
Key game:
Oct. 27 at Tulsa.
Beating UTEP in the conference opener is vital, a win at Southern Miss
would be nice, and a victory over Tulane has to be a given, but West
title hopes might be dashed if the Mustangs can't win at Tulsa. With a
trip to Houston the following week, they'll know in a two-week stretch
just where they stand.
2006 Fun Stats:
- Punt return average: SMU 7.8 yards; Opponents 10.3 yards
- Second quarter scoring: SMU 127 – Opponents 65
- Time of possession: SMU 27:25; Opponents 32:35