DMN SMU expects to do beter after "learning exper

OldTimer · September 6, 2006

After 'learning process' vs. Tech, SMU back expects to do better

11:37 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 5, 2006

By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK – SMU coach Phil Bennett still believes in DeMyron Martin.

The sophomore running back, who led the team in rushing last season, had only 30 of SMU's 118 rushing yards in the season-opening loss to Texas Tech on Saturday.

It was the fewest yards gained by Martin since last season's third game, when he rushed for eight yards on eight carries.

Martin, who averaged 2.5 yards per carry, expects a better performance against North Texas.

"I thought we made some mistakes schematically," Bennett said. "They put a lot more people in the box when DeMyron was out there, and it was a learning process for us, too. They were big and strong at the point of attack."

Martin, who is playing with tendinitis in his knees, told the coaches he's healthy.

"I've had tendinitis since high school," Martin said after Tuesday's practice. "I'm upset by the numbers we had, and we should do better."

Martin looked tentative as he approached the line of scrimmage against Texas Tech. His strength is his ability to cut and finish off runs, but the Red Raiders stopped the cutbacks by filling the gaps and bringing a safety toward the line of scrimmage.

Martin said he was hit by a safety near the line of scrimmage on four occasions.

Bennett used Johnny Fitzgerald and James Mapps to give the running game a change of pace. Each did a good job bouncing runs off-tackle. Mapps and Fitzgerald combined for 49 yards on 10 carries.

"Anytime you can run the ball north and south the quickest, that's where you're going to get your yardage," Bennett said.

Willis needs to stay home: Redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Willis is being asked to stay in the pocket a little longer. Willis and the offensive coaches saw that most of his scrambles could have been avoided if he showed more patience.

"It bothered him immensely, looking at his reads, the plays he didn't make," Bennett said. "His feet were a little bit hot. He wanted to go before he had to, and we had good protection."

Briefly: Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb was named Conference USA's offensive player of the week. Kolb led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives as the Cougars rallied to beat Rice, 31-30. ... UT-El Paso defensive back Quintin Demps was the defensive player of the week. Demps had two interceptions in a 34-27 victory over San Diego State.

E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com

SMU (0-1) at North Texas (0-1), 6 p.m. Saturday (no TV; KTCK-AM 1310, KTDK-FM 104.1; KWRD-FM 100.7; KNTU-FM 88.1)