Preview 2018: Previewing and looking ahead to the SMU Mustangs season with what you need to know.
Preview 2018: SMU Mustangs
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players, Key Game, Fun Stats
– What Will Happen & Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– SMU Previews 2017 | 2016 | 2015
SMU does like its passing attacks.
June Jones took the program from out of the doldrums and into the concept of going bowling again on a consistent basis – going to four in a row from 2009 to 2012 – until it all slipped back into the abyss.
It took a few years for Chad Morris to get the program back on a winning track and to a bowl, and then after turning the Jones run-and-shoot into a bomb and bomb some more attack, he left for Arkansas.
And now it’s up to Sonny Dykes to bring in another tweak to the air show. He and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee will go to a more midrange attack with a good tempo that keeps the pressure on defenses all game long. In an American Athletic Conference that prides itself on high-octane offenses, Dykes was a terrific hire at just the right time.
As long as there’s a little bit of defense, too, SMU can keep the bowl momentum going.
The Mustangs get back eight starters on D, with enough pass rushing talent returning to put the pressure on, but the front seven has to be more physical, and the secondary has to 1) get healthy and 2) come up with enough big stops in key moments to get the defense off the field.
It’s SMU and it’s Sonny Dykes. The defense will mostly be along for the ride.
Dykes has his quarterback in Ben Hicks – although others are in the mix. He has a few good wide receivers to keep the fun going – even though Courtland Sutton and Mr. Irrelevant, Trey Quinn, were unstoppable – and he’s got a great trio of backs to balance out the attack.
It’s SMU and it’s Sonny Dykes. The offense will carry the team and make it interesting and successful.
Other coaches got it started, and now it’s up to Dykes to take SMU to another level.
And throw for a whole lot of passing yards along the way.
