For the first time since they opened up the season against Baylor, the SMU Mustangs have some positive momentum to build off of.
Sure, the Mustangs’ upset bid fell short against East Carolina, but the team showed signs of life for the first time all year in the 45-24 loss. The offense finally was able to get something going, and SMU looks like it has found an answer at quarterback in Garrett Krstich. The 41-point underdogs with nothing to lose fell short, but gave the Pirates quite the scare.
Of course, not everything about SMU’s performance was encouraging, especially on defense.
The Mustangs’ defense struggled to stop Shane Carden and the high-powered East Carolina offense, giving up 45 points and 581 yards of total offense. This is nothing new for an SMU defense that has allowed opponents to score at least 43 points in every game this season, and four of the Mustangs’ five opponents have now put up at least 574 yards of total offense as well.
In defense of interim coach/defensive coordinator Tom Mason’s unit, they’ve had to face some very potent offenses so far this year, including four of the country’s top 12 scoring offenses. Still, this doesn’t excuse the the consistently dismal play from the defense.
Players like defensive backs Darrion Richardson (37 tackles) and Hayden Greenbauer (32 tackles, one interception, two tackles for loss) and linebacker Stephon Sanders (31 tackles, two tackles for loss) have been bright spots on an otherwise lackluster defense.
SMU ranks dead last in the FBS in scoring defense (49.4 points per game), 126th in total defense (557 yards per game), 123rd in pass defense (315 ypg) and 119th in rush defense (242 ypg). In addition, the Mustangs haven’t been able to cause many turnovers.
They have forced just two fumbles and recovered one on defense, and have two interceptions on the season. Meanwhile, the special teams unit has already forced and recovered a fumble. This leaves them as just one of nine teams that have forced four or less turnovers so far this year.
SMU has a very young defense in 2014 and growing pains were to be expected, but opponents have had no trouble keeping them out of the backfield and moving the ball down the field.
The Mustangs have recorded the fewest tackles for loss (16) and are tied for the fourth-fewest sacks (3) in the country. Opposing offenses also have converted on 48.53 percent of third downs and have scored 83.87 percent of the time on trips into the red zone.
Needless to say, there’s plenty of room for improvement all around.
The front seven needs to do a better job of putting pressure on the quarterback and making stops in the backfield, while the secondary has to find a way to limit opponents’ aerial attacks and get a few more interceptions. It certainly won’t be a quick fix and this is all easier said than done, but the Mustangs have to at least start showing signs of progress on defense.
Mason and his coaching staff have a bye week to try and address some of its issues before welcoming in Cincinnati. If they fare well against the Bearcats and quarterback Gunner Kiel, assuming he’s recovered from his bruised ribs by then, it could set the tone for this unit moving forward into the second half of the schedule..
The Mustangs took steps in the right direction on offense against East Carolina, but they won’t be able to be consistently competitive if the defense continues its poor play.
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