Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part breakdown. Check dallasnews.com later for a one-on-one with SMU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.
SMU’s defense will be the key to winning or losing against a Navy triple-option offense that is unique and has previously given the Mustangs fits. The two teams square off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Dallas.
The Mustangs allowed a season-high 42 points to then-No. 9 Cincinnati last week. As a whole, SMU’s scoring defense ranks 50th in college football. Its rush defense is No. 72 out of 101 teams.
There have been times when SMU’s defense has been elite — think first quarter vs. Tulane, second half vs. Memphis and second quarter vs. Cincinnati. But there have been stretches in league games when it’s been bad, too.
After the Saturday letdown against the Bearcats ended at midnight, the defensive coaches were in at 7:15 a.m. to start preparing for the next game. The players were in soon after.
Mustangs defensive coordinator Kevin Kane spoke with The Dallas Morning News to break down the defense at the midway point of the season.
Good stretches vs. bad stretches
In the aforementioned first quarter against Tulane, the rush-heavy Green Wave couldn’t get a yard on the ground. The Green Wave ran 12 rush plays for seven yards.
The rest of the game: 36 rushes for 188 yards. The SMU defense broke down.
“When we do what we’re supposed to, and we get lined up, and we get our eyes where they’re supposed to be, we are a very good defense,” Kane said. “And then when we get lined up and our eyes are in a bad spot, that’s when we become inconsistent.”
SMU replaced some key players coming into the season. And like every team, it had almost no spring practice and a somewhat truncated run-up to the season. All of the defensive tackles are in new roles, which certainly impacts the inconsistent run game.
“A lot of it is having new guys up front, and new guys on the back end,” Kane said. “So there’s a learning curve there. … We’re at the point in the season where the learning curve needs to — it needs to stop.”
Possible return of Richard Moore
It’s been more than a year since linebacker Richard Moore was ruled out for the 2019 season with a knee injury. It happened before the fourth game of the year. He was given a sixth year of eligibility this year, but hasn’t been available yet.
Kane expects that to change in the near future.
“He’s coming back off of injury and other stuff that happened with COVID and all that other stuff,” Kane said. “Hopefully he’s going to be able to come back here in the next week or two and be able to get back on the field.”
“…At some point this year, I am expecting him to be out there.”
Moore led the team in 2018 with 92 tackles and five sacks.
Players who have impressed
SMU has gotten some good performances from new players in 2020. Kane credited defensive tackle Junior Aho, who he said is still learning the sport of football and the English language.
He also credited defensive tackle Elijah Chatman, the sophomore with seven tackles for a loss this year.
“He’s a very quiet young man, however, he speaks loudly with his hands and his play,” Kane said. “… I guarantee you, there’s probably not one offensive lineman that we’re gonna play, that’s stronger than this kid.”
Kane also spoke highly of linebacker Trevor Denbow, who moved from safety/punter before this season.
“I would say he’s played very well,” Kane said. “He’s quietly one of the best players on our team. And definitely our defense for sure. He doesn’t have the numbers that Pat Nelson had last year, but I’m not also blitzing him as much.”
Kane was complimentary of players like defensive backs Brandon Stephens, Ar’mani Johnson and Brandon Crossley. Kane jokes with Crossley, a transfer from Colorado State with three interceptions this year. He asks Crossley, “How was your vacation?” — a reference to Crossley initially committing to SMU out of high school.
Kane also highlighted defensive tackle DeVere Levelston and defensive backs Roderick Roberson Jr., Donald Clay, Chace Cromartie and Bryan Massey.
Bringing seniors back with renewed eligibility
Every college team across America is having similar conversations with players about returning and not returning. That’s because the NCAA has given a blanket year of eligibility to all college athletes for a year.
That means seniors on the SMU football roster could possibly return for another season.
“Individually, there’s been certain conversations,” Kane said. "But it’s been kind of weird … what’s going to be the ramifications of this two years from now? And the NCAA is going to come down with something at some point and say ‘Alright, this is a free year, but you can only have 85 (scholarships), or whatever they’re going to do.’
“So at some point, we need to understand, what are we going to be able to do from a university standpoint and what are we going to be able to do from a football standpoint?”
Kane said some players have indicated they’ll want to come back, but there will be more concrete conversations toward the end of the season.
Defense’s growth over the years
Kane took over as defensive coordinator in 2018, and the Mustangs' defense was terrible that year. It allowed 35.25 points per game and nearly 2,400 rushing yards.
The defense quickly improved last year, with the Mustangs leading the nation in sacks.
Kane was asked about the growth of the defense during his tenure.
“We’re getting bigger, we’re getting longer, we’re getting faster on the defense as a whole,” Kane said. "And we’re going to continue to be that way. Shoot, it’s tough to play defense in modern football. Shoot, Alabama is giving up 50 points at Ole Miss. It ain’t easy.
"Especially offenses that score. Like we score in two seconds here. So we’re on the field a lot, which is fine, because we’re scoring points. I like where we’re at with everything. I think if you watched our defense, we play hard, we run to the ball, we do all those little things the right way.
“We’ve just got to clean up some things as we go about it. We’re going to continue to be a good defense and give offenses headaches, I think, when they prepare for us. … We might not have the best players out there but we’re going to have the guys that play the hardest.”
