2002 Statistics

written by Boyce Garrison

A look at SMU's statistics from last season brings to light a very interesting number - the Mustangs had 230 first downs last season. Opponents had 218. And yet SMU scored only 207 points all season, while opponents poured on with 378.

The Mustangs held the ball for more than six minutes a game than their opponents on average. They would march downfield with some success, then when time came for the one play that would mean the difference between a scoring drive and an empty feeling - the play was not made.

SMU was a mediocre 90th overall in total offense, averaging 341.6 yards per game, but a dreadful 113th in scoring offense, putting just 17.3 points per game on the board.

The Ponies turned the ball over 29 times. If it wasn't a turnover, it was an untimely penalty, a sack, some other kind of blown assignment or a missed field goal.

You name it, it happened. Head coach Phil Bennett inherited a veteran team that played like a bunch of rookies.

The one position that did not have much experience was at quarterback. First Tate Wallis, then Richard Bartel had his shot. Bartel, who has a very strong arm, is at SMU on the dime of the Cincinnati Reds, who fully expect him to play for them someday. But for now, it looks like Bennett has a quarterback. Bartel completed 60 percent of his passes with 8 TDs and 8 picks, and appeared much improved during the spring, when he had three big scrimmage outings against the SMU defense.

The team's strength, as it was a year ago, is at the running back position. Keylon Kincade emerged after a spring injury to ShanDerrick Charles and led the team with 1,279 yards. Kincade, who is bigger and stronger than Charles, averaged only 3.9 yards a carry and does not have breakaway speed, which played a role in the pitiful scoring numbers. Charles, only 5-foot-9 with a little bit of wiggle, had a pair of 200-yard games in 2001 but averaged only 3.1 yards on 27 attempts last season as he dealt with the injury. With a healthy Charles, the Mustangs think they can cross the goal line a few more times.

They will, however, have to replace their top two pass catchers in wideout Cody Cardwell (47 catches) and tight end John Hampton (33). Chris Cunningham, the team's leading receiver in 2001, is back after sitting out last season with a broken foot. He and Daniel Francis, who had 29 catches as a true freshman, give Bartel a couple of undersized but quick targets.

The biggest surprise could be Matt Rushbrook, who led the team in receiving in all three spring scrimmages. The converted free safety had 19 catches for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns, two from Bartel.

Seniors Steve Reindl (center) and Sterling Harris (right tackle) anchor an offensive line that allowed only 20 sacks a year ago. Guards Townsend Hargis and Brad Kieschnick are two more decent returning starters and will team with junior left tackle Eric Neal to give Bartel a pretty solid wall of protection that might surprise a few people. Redshirt freshman Ryan Kennedy is the first option at tight end, replacing Hampton and his backup.

All in all, there are several reasons to think the Mustangs might actually celebrate scoring drives this season, instead of lamenting lost chances.

WR Chris Cunningham

written by Boyce Garrison

Bennett was known for defense at Kansas State, where he was the coordinator for three seasons and where the Wildcats were in the top four nationally in total defense all three years. Before that, he was the secondary coach at Oklahoma, where the Sooners ranked sixth nationally in total defense. Before that, Bennett spent a year as TCU's defensive coordinator, and the Horned Frogs improved dramatically in total defense. And before that, he was the DC at Texas A&M, which was in the top 10 in total defense for one of two seasons during his tenure. You get the picture. Now if only Bennett could get the same kind of athlete those schools do.

The Mustangs have a new linebackers coach in Darrell Patterson, who is still TCU's all-time leading tackler. Maybe Patterson can impart some of his intensity to SMU's backers. They'll need it. The unit lost its top tackler, Vic Viloria (89 tackles), as well as D.D. Johnson (50). Strongside backer Brian Bischoff added only 59 tackles, but he did add 11 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. The ineffectiveness in this unit showed up in the stats. Besides Viloria, four others had more tackles than Bischoff, including both safeties, free Ruben Moodley (72) and strong Rico Harris (71). The overall unit's reliability on Moodley and Harris to read and react first to the run paved the way to a dismal 97 national ranking in pass defense.

Top defensive back Kevin Garrett (a fifth-round pick by the St. Louis Rams) and Viloria led the team with 2 picks each. The rest of the defense had just 4. Senior Jonas Rutledge led the secondary with 11 pass breakups and brings some steadiness to the table.

Junior defensive tackle Allan Adami was the Mustangs' second-leading tackler with 77. He also had 3.5 sacks and is the main reason for optimism among this unit. The line will miss noseguard Lute Croy, who contributed 64 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. Don Ieremia-Stansbury moved from linebacker to defensive end during 2002. He can be effective, though he's a bit undersized at 240 pounds.

Overall, there is some talent on this defense. But is it enough to stop some of the very good offenses in the Western Athletic Conference? An answer to that may lie in the offense's ability to put up points this season. The Mustangs averaged a measly 6.4 first-half points last season, leaving the defense a disheartened bunch going into the locker room most of the time. Meanwhile, opponents increased their scoring in every quarter, up to a more than 10.6 during the fourth as the undersized unit wore down.

CB Jonas Rutledge