Southern Methodist University

Type of Offense: Spread.  Zone read running plays and nearly all passing plays from the shotgun formation. There is rare to no use of a fullback. Tight End is used primarily as a blocking back (extra OL). Nearly all runs are made by the RB and QB save the occasional end around with the WR. More of a run and shoot style that was prevalent in June Jones’ time at Hawaii. A lot more passing and very high passing numbers.

Type of Defense: 3-4. The defense that is in vogue for professional football is only used by teams that have a skill set of: a large NT that can take up space and blocks, 2 DEs that can also handle multiple blockers and read blocks to make plays, a couple MLB that can make lots of tackles in the run game, a WLB that can cover all over the field on passing plays, and a SLB that is stout versus the run and can make plays at the LOS. The attractiveness of this defense is the ability to blitz all 11 players in many different ways. On the average play, 1-2 players are blitzing and the offense can never settle into a pattern that is more likely in a 4-3 base defense. A team must have DBs who can cover but aren’t afraid to hit people and break up plays in the backfield on blitzes.

• Run/Pass %: 44/56
• Run/Pass Attempts: 404/516
• Points Per Game: 25.7
• Points Allowed Per Game: 25.6

Key Returning Players:
• Zach Line, RB: 1st team all-conference selection at running back accumulated 1494 yards and 10 TDs on the ground and also 17 catches for 163 yards receiving. Should be the best returning running back in CUSA and barring an injury, he should be all-conference again in 2011.
• Kyle Pedron, QB: Returning starting QB had a spectacular season under June Jones in 2010.  He had 3828 yards passing for 31 TDs and 244 yards rushing for 4 TDs in 2010. Led a somewhat passing heavy attack and made the throws he needed to lead SMU to a bowl.

Key Incoming Freshmen:
• Devon Moreland, DE: This 4 star defensive end out of Los Angeles, California is 6-3 255 pounds and has been timed at a 4.6 40 yard dash. He has top line speed for a defensive end and could possibly be an OLB in the 3-4 scheme or get some added size and move to the DE position. He should be able to make a splash as a freshman.
• Dontae Levinston, OL: This 3 star offensive lineman out of California is 6-5 279 pounds and could easily fit in a guard spot as early as sometime in his freshman season. Jones does not want to rush him and will let the game slowly come to him before he is pressed into duty. Could be an all-conference performer down the line.

Overall Assessment:
Went 7-7 in 2010 with most of their losses coming to bowl teams from last season. The only loss to a non bowl team was a defeat to Houston. June Jones has his QB and stud RB back in 2011 and could easily win a few more games in 2011. The offense did well for the most part but tended to sputter a bit when facing the better teams on the schedule. They could rack up yards en masse against the lower tier teams. The defense must take that step and cut down on the points allowed per game in 2011. In 2010, SMU only outscored their opponents by .1 points per game and that is living on the edge. Best case is losing 2 of 4 out of conference games (Texas A&M and TCU) while going 6-2 or 7-1 in conference play. An 8-4 or 9-3 record is there for the taking. 2011 should end the same way for the Mustangs that 2010 ended, playing in a bowl game for back to back years.