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All the issues on offense masked the performance of a way-too-young defense that played extremely well. With no offensive support, the Mustangs run defense was strong while the pass defense wasn't bad for a WAC team. Now there's a ton of experience returning on both sides of the ball, but it all comes down to the offense.
QB Chris Phillips came on at the end of last year and gave the offense hope for the future, while there are good athletes at receiver and running back. The offensive line is experienced, but has to be a jillion times more productive than it was last year. This won't be another winless season. It can't be.
The Schedule: This isn't exactly a schedule conducive to turning a program around right away with a difficult three games to start the year. While the Mustangs miss Hawaii, they have to go on the road to face Boise State and Fresno State. Eight of the 11 games will be played in Texas, but there aren't any sure-thing wins.
Best Offensive Player: Senior RB Foy Munlin. The Texas Tech transfer has one year to show what he can do. He's a big, strong runner who can catch, but he'll have to work to be as productive as Keylon Kincaide was.
Best Defensive Player: Senior DT Allan Adami. Adami added ten pounds to get up to 276 making him more of a true tackle. He's one of the most active linemen in the WAC making 75 tackles last year and 77 as a sophomore.
Key player to a successful season: Instead of just one player needing to step up, it's up to the entire offense. The line has to be better, the receivers have to make more plays, the running backs need to shine in place of Keylon Kincaide and all the young quarterbacks need to produce. Many teams can score 134 points in three or four games. SMU needed a whole season.
The season will be a success if ... SMU wins four games. Baby steps. It isn't going to be easy, but the WAC isn't so good that SMU can't make a Tulsa-like jump and turn things around right away. A winning season would make Phil Bennett everyone's coach of the year.
Key game: Oct. 16 vs. Louisiana Tech. Coming off road dates at Boise State and Rice and with Fresno State ahead, this game against the Bulldogs has to be a must-win for SMU. If the Mustangs aren't good enough to win this game, there won't be another honest chance for a victory until the season finale at UTEP.
2003 Fun Stats:
- First half scoring: Opponents 209 - SMU 63
- Sacks: Opponents 41 - SMU 12
- Fumbles: SMU 18 (lost 11) - Opponents 8 (lost 3)
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