Monday Mailbag: Reed Smith Article from 247Sports

[UNTLifer]

https://247sports.com/college/north-texas/Article/Monday-mailbag-829-North-Texas-comes-home-1-0-as-SMU-matchup-looms-192256694/

SMU was one of the worst teams in the country at defending the pass in 2021, finishing last in the American Athletic Conference while allowing 278.1 pass yards a game. The Mustangs have brought in help in the form of Texas transfer, senior safety Chris Adimora. Whether the former Longhorn will make a huge difference remains to be seen.

North Texas has the chance to test out the new look SMU secondary on Saturday. If the Mean Green can exploit the Mustangs' 2021 weakness, that will go a long way into if the team can pull off the “coveted” win.

[akriesman]

The article mentions attacking the secondary.    If we get in a shooting match with SMU, we will lose and probably badly.   SMU has more WR talent (on paper) and a premium college QB.

It is critical that we can establish the run, wear down their D and control the clock.   I would like to see nearly the same offensive game plan as last week.

If the SMU defense is gassed in the 2nd half, we have a really good chance.   If not, it will be hard for our guys to keep up...JMHO



 

Edited August 29, 2022 by akriesman

[outoftown]

To me this is mostly about whether NT can outexecute SMU by enough to negate the talent difference. Given how many moving parts SMU has, and the fact that nobody truly knows how any first time HC fares there is a actual non-zero chance that could happen. It is just a matter of finding where SMU breaks down most often, and nobody knows yet whether that will be pass defense or run defense, as this years team will not resemble last years SMU very much.