2010 Southern Methodist Mustangs Football Preview

2009 Results: 8-5, Won Hawai’i Bowl vs. Nevada

Head Coach: June Jones (3rd year, 9-16 @ SMU, 85-57 Overall)

Home Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000) Dallas, Texas

Last season was a long time coming for the Mustangs, as a 25 year bowl drought came to an end with a Hawai’i Bowl victory. SMU had never really recovered from the ‘death penalty’ in the late 80’s and June Jones has already lived up to the huge expectations laid upon him when he took the job two years ago. Now can the Mustangs get back to the postseason and compete in the C-USA West Division?

OFFENSE

Jones brought his trademark highly-flying aerial assault with him when he came over from Hawai’i and the Mustang passing game will be the primary axis of attack this fall. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Padron (1,922 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INT) performed very well in six starts as a true freshman last season and seems primed for a breakout in his first full season as a starter. Padron loses top receiver Emmanuel Sanders to the Pittsburgh Steelers but three wideouts return that recorded 40 or more catches in 2009, so there will be a lot of options.

The offensive line also looks like it will be a strength for the Mustangs this season. Let by junior Kelvin Beachem, who was a 2nd Team C-USA pick in 2009, there are four junior returning that started multiple games last season and they should be the foundation of a very good unit of blockers. The only negative for SMU is at the tailback position, which loses the first 1,000 yard rusher of Jones’ head coaching career. Obviously, the position is typically neglected in Jones’ preferred form of the run and shoot so perhaps it isn’t as big of a deal as it would be in other systems.

Overall, this offense should be the first in Jones’ SMU tenure to closely resemble the famed attacks that he oversaw while coaching at Hawai’i. Padron appears on the verge of a breakout season and he will have plenty of time to make decisions behind one of the league’s best lines. Expect the Mustangs to score more than 30 points per game in 2010.

DEFENSE

SMU took a major step forward on defense in 2009, allowing eleven fewer points per game compared to Jones’ first season! The Mustangs improved in all aspects, allowing more than 80 fewer total yards per game! Even better, the core of that unit is back for another round this season as seven starters return.

Up front, both defensive ends are back in SMU’s 3-4 set. Juniors Marquis Frazier (45 tackles, 4 sacks) and Taylor Thompson (40 tackles, 5.5 sacks) were extremely productive for playing a position that has a primary role of occupying blockers, which both also do quite well. Expect them to bookend a solid line. Behind them, three of the four starting ‘backers return, two of which are seniors: Pete Fleps (83 tackles) and Yuri Yenga (54 tackles, 2 sacks). Expect the run defense to continue performing in the upper half of the league.

But I am concerned about the defensive backs this fall. The Mustangs lost two starters who were named as C-USA Honorable Mention selections and they accounted for a combined total of eight interceptions last season! While junior safety Chris Banjo (86 tackles, 1 INT) is the team’s top returning tackler, I’m worried that SMU will fall back with the loss of their best aerial defenders.

Overall, I do have concerns about the aerial defense, especially in the pass-happy West, I think that the overall unit might be the best in the division. SMU has a solid front seven that should be stout against the run and the quality of their pass rush should help a more inexperienced secondary perform adequately. Expect another solid season from the Mustang defense.

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SCHEDULE

SMU has a pretty difficult non-conference schedule. Home games against archrival TCU and Washington State take place in September and the Mustangs also have to travel to Texas Tech and Navy! There’s no easy game on that list, not even lowly Washington State. Things are a lot better in conference as SMU hosts both Houston and Tulsa and they also avoid the two favorites in the East! Thus, their in-conference run looks promising and the overall schedule includes six home games, leaving the Mustangs with a great chance at competing for the West Division crown.

OUTLOOK

There are a lot of things to like about this team. SMU appears primed for a big season passing the football with a good fleet of receivers and a rising young passer. Furthermore, the Mustangs look strong along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football. While their non-conference schedule is pretty tough, things are set up well for them to make a run in the C-USA West. On top of that, Jones’ past success leads me to believe that the energy from 2009 will be contagious for the young Mustangs and that should propel them to another triumphant season. While I simply think that Houston is too strong for SMU to overcome in the West, the Mustangs look primed for a repeat trip to a bowl game and a 2 nd place finish in the C-USA West Division.

PREDICTED RESULT: 8-4 (6-2 CONFERENCE USA)