SMU Mustangs 2016 season left plenty to get excited about

The 2016 SMU Mustangs turned a corner this past season, but they still have a lot of work to do for next year.

Second year head coach Chad Morris improved the SMU Mustangs to a 5-7 record this past season. While they did just miss out on bowl eligibility, they still made major strides and have a lot to look forward to in 2017.

Why SMU fans are sad

Total Defense

While the Mustangs had a pretty solid team as a whole, they certainly yielded their fair share of yardage and points. They ended the season ranked 103 of 128 in total defensive yardage allowed with 453 yards/game.

Granted, yardage allowed only tells part of the story about a defense. While controlling the field is part of the defensive game, the main goal is to stop the opponent from scoring. Sadly, SMU didn’t fare too well in that, either by allowing a generous 36.3 points per game. That ranked them towards the back of FBS at 111th. Overall, the Mustangs will look to bolster their defensive recruiting in the offseason.

Red Zone Play

Football’s most pivotal moments come down to what happens 20 yards or less from the goal line. Many games are won and lost by a team’s ability to hold an opponent to a field goal attempt instead of a touchdown. The swing of allowing three instead of six, seven or even eight can kill momentum for an offense.

Defensively, SMU had trouble buckling down with their backs against the wall. Opponents scored against the Ponies on 89.4% of their 47 red zone trips. They allowed 33 touchdowns and nine field goals in those 47 opportunities.

When SMU had the ball, the story turns worse. They crossed the opposing 20-yard line 52 times on the season and scored just 24 touchdowns. Furthermore, they settled for field goals 16 times. Even without assuming a successful PAT conversion, that’s 24 points left on the board.

That could’ve put a nice little dent in the 103 combined points that opponents beat them by for the season. In fact, just one red zone conversion could have meant the difference against Tulsa or South Florida. They settled for field goals twice against each team, and failed to even score at all in two of their trips against USF.

Why SMU fans should be happy

Underclassmen

Particularly on offense, the Mustangs started a lot of underclassmen. While this could ultimately be a good thing for the team, it did lead to a high learning curve. The leading passer, rusher and receiver were all underclassmen, which can ultimately mean good things in the long run.

They return players at several key positions in 2017 and won five games with a bevy of first and second year players. That’s why in general, SMU fans should be excited about what 2017 has to offer.

Quarterback

Freshman quarterback Ben Hicks passed for 2,930 yards, which already ranks him 8th all-time among Mustang signal-callers for one season. That number also bested Mike Romo by three yards for the most all-time in a season by a freshman.

Bringing Hicks back for 2017 will be a major boost for the SMU offense. If he were to duplicate that number as a sophomore, he would vault himself into the number six spot in career passing yards. The ceiling is high for Hicks, and his receivers as well.

Receivers

Enter sophomore wideout Courtland Sutton. He broke Aldrick Robinson‘s record for receiving yards in a season by a sophomore with 1,246. But not only was that a sophomore record, it was also good enough for third all-time by anyone. Sutton also hauled in the fifth-longest passing play in school history with an 88-yard touchdown reception from Hicks against North Texas.

Then there’s freshman receiver James Proche. He caught 57 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns. Add in sophomore Xavier Castille, and that’s a trio of Mustang receivers that hauled in a combined 173 receptions for 2,378 yards. This gives Hicks several experienced weapons next season, and his receivers aren’t all.

Running back

SMU also had a pair of running backs that will return in 2017. Sophomore running back Braeden West carried the ball 202 times for 1,036 yards. His 66-yard touchdown run was the eventual game-winner against Liberty, where he totaled a career-high 220 yards. That marked the fifth-best rushing performance in school history.

When West needed to take a break or a change of pace was needed, freshman Ke’Mon Freeman took the ball. He finished the year with a respectable 651 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 111 against East Carolina towards the end of the season.

Next: Rice Owls 2016 season review

SMU fans should be excited about what lies ahead. They have a stable of offensive superstars that could put Mustang football back on the map, quickly. Not only should they have early bowl hopes next season, but they could make a run at an American Athletic Conference title. Coach Morris and the players should settle for nothing less.

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SMU Mustangs 2016 season review

By Stephen Francis | Jan 9, 2017