SMU @ Texas Tech

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this fall to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA football coverage. Today, our SMU Correspondent, Rick Atkinson, gives you a preview of the SMU’s visit to Texas Tech.

SMU @ #25 Texas Tech Game Info

Date: Saturday, September 2, 2006 @ 6 p.m.

Location: Jones AT&T Stadium, (52,882), Lubbock, TX

Weather forecast: 74 degrees F, 40% chance of rain

No Television

Last Season: SMU (5-6, 4-4 CUSA), Texas Tech (9-3, 6-2 Big 12)

All-Time Series: Texas Tech leads, 28-16

Injury/Personnel Report
SMU: No serious injuries
Texas Tech: No report

SMU @ TTU Overview

Texas Tech has a 10-game winning streak over SMU, the longest in series history, dating to 1932. SMU’s longest series streak is six games, reached with its last victory over the Red Raiders in 1986, in Lubbock.

SMU enters the contest on a three-game winning streak, its longest in seven years.

Saturday, quarterbacks Graham Harrell of Texas Tech and Justin Willis of SMU will take their first snaps as collegiate starters. Willis was redshirted last year, while Harrell saw action in six games.

Mike Leach, in his seventh season at Lubbock is 48-28 overall and 3-0 versus SMU.

Phil Bennett enters his fifth season at SMU with an 11-35 record, 0-3 against Texas Tech.

SMU Offense vs. Texas Tech Defense

Advantage: Even

The Mustangs look to control the ball and keep Tech’s potent offense off the field. But, that’s not enough.

“Ball control is good, as long as you score points,” Bennett said Tuesday.

It all starts up front. SMU’s offensive line has size and depth. Senior left tackle Darrin Johnson (6-6, 295), center Ben Poynter (6-4, 285), right tackle Kenard Burley (6-5, 315), right guard Caleb Peveto (6-4, 295), and left guard Tommy Poynter (6-4, 285) can hold their own at Tech. How long and how well they protect Willis and open lanes for DeMyron Martin (6-2, 235) will go a long way in deciding this game. Bennett has said SMU will go with two complete O-lines this season. They’ll need them in Lubbock.

Backs Johnnie Fitzgerald, Cedric Dorsey and others will also see playing time.

Willis has an arm and is a threat to run. When passing, he’ll look to two senior playmakers, Bobby Chase (6-4, 210) and Reynaldo Pellerin (6-3, 200). The Mustangs will also try to get the ball to big, senior tight end Ryan Kennedy (6-5, 265).

Bennett said No. 2 QB Corey Slater (6-2, 215), a JC transfer, will see playing time.

On the other side, Tech’s starting linebackers, Fletcher Session (6-0, 232), Keyunta Dawson (6-2, 248) and Brock Stratton (5-11, 228), present a formidable obstacle for the Mustangs - and everyone else on their schedule, for that matter.

Again, how long SMU can hang is key.

The Red Raider secondary is loaded with speed, led by free safety Darcel McBath (6-1, 193). Look for SMU wideouts, Columbus Givens and Emmanuel Sanders, to test that speed.

Texas Tech Offense vs. SMU Defense

Advantage: Texas Tech

Bennett said he’s not looking for Harrell to flop in his first start at quarterback for the Red Raiders.

“It’s seems like every year we play them, they’re starting a new quarterback,” Bennett said. “And he always breaks the previous quarterback’s records.”

If Harrell performs at all, SMU’s secondary will be sorely challenged by Texas Tech’s three senior receivers: Joel Filani (6-3, 214), Jarrett Hicks (6-3, 208) and Robert Johnson (6-1, 218).

Filani piled up over 1000 yards last year and Hicks, the Red Raiders all-time leader in TD receptions (28), was right there with him at 850. Throw in Johnson’s 951 and you’ve got mucho problems, defensively. Seniors safeties Joe Sturdivant (6-2, 210) and Randall Goode (5-11, 195) must come up big to keep the lid on.

SMU has new starters at the corners, junior Jonathan Lindley (6-0, 185), who saw playing time last year, and untested Devin Lowery (5-11, 175). They will be targeted early and often. True freshman Bryan McCann (6-0, 175) will also work at corner.

Tech’s huge O-line is led by seniors Manuel Ramirez (6-4, 328) at right guard and Glenn January (6-7, 287) at left tackle. If they give Harrell time, things could dicey for SMU.

No secret: the Red Raiders pass nearly twice as often as they run. But they do run. The top two rushers from 2005 are gone, but the cupboard is hardly bare. A speedy tag team of Danny Amendola (5-11, 176), Shannon Woods (5-11, 197) and Kobey Lewis (5-6, 167) should take up any slack.

On the D-line, SMU counters with an experienced crew: Brandon Bonds (6-1, 300), Cory Muse (6-3, 250), Justin Rogers (6-4, 265) and Adrian Hayward (6-3, 300). Look for Muse to be a big factor Saturday.

SMU’s linebacking corps, led by two-year starter Wilton McCray (6-0, 195) and Reggie Carrington (6-2, 240), must get to Harrell on blitz opportunities. They have the speed – just need to pick the right time.

Special Teams

Advantage: Even

As a freshman, SMU’s Jessie Henderson (5-9, 175), led CUSA in kickoff return average with 27.6 yards on 24 attempts. Senior punt return man Blake Warren (5-7, 180) was third in the conference with 9.8 yards per return.

Henderson, especially, is a threat to break it every time.

Tech’s Woods returned 11 kickoffs for a 20-yard average. Amendola’s punt return average was identical to Warren’s.

Tech has the upper hand in the kicking game, due to experience. Senior punter Alex Reyes is back, (42.8 yard avg., 0 blocks last season,), along with senior place-kicker Alex Trlica (13–18 FG, long 47).

The Mustang kickers are new faces, but Bennett feels good about them: true freshman Kellis Cunningham (kickoffs), and sophomore Thomas Morstead (place-kicking and punting.)

Intangibles

Advantage: SMU

No one thinks SMU can win this thing - no one except Phil Bennett, the Mustang players and a few astute SMU fans. The 26-point favorite Red Raiders are not expecting to break a sweat.

Odd things have happened with Tech football of late: players getting miffed and walking out of practice; Leach calling his team “soft” in the media. Hard to tell what effect that will have.

SMU’s seniors were freshmen when the Mustangs were steamrolled, 58-10, in Lubbock in 2003. That season turned into the 0-12 debacle they will never forget. The next year, in Dallas, with seconds remaining, Leach continued to throw deep with a 14-point lead, saying later his team needed the reps.

Despite claims to the contrary, that hasn’t been forgotten either.

The memory can do strange things.

Final Prediction

I’m going all out here, folks - right out of the blocks, just like the Mustangs.

Tech’s offense will explode for big plays, as always, but no more than three.

SMU’s defensive pressure up front and linebacker speed will bother Harrell just enough.

The Ponies will be able to run the ball and Willis will click on one or two deep passes.

A long punt/kickoff return turns the game for SMU, 30-21.

See you next week!