Casey Woods on Ponies' Offense Meeting Expectations

After an off-season with high expectations, Mustangs still may have it together

DALLAS — SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods dismisses any talk about the preseason expectations for his offense. However, the Mustangs may have put it all together against Temple in a 55-0 rout that might not have been that close, really.

"Was that founded or not, I don't know," Woods said Monday morning. "We knew what our goals were. We did know the talent level and being able to bring those guys together from a bunch of different backgrounds, overcome some of the early adversities that we had. We had two really tough road, Big 12 opponents that we had to overcome those games and, again, just kind of incrementally getting better every week."

Last week, after weeks of what head coach Rhett Lashlee described as a between the 20s team, things finally fell into place. The coaching staff saw all the weapons in the spring and preseason practices, but there was still the question of doing it when folks are keeping score. It's been an improvement by fire type of thing, which is why SMU schedules games against Oklahoma and TCU from the Big 12. The Mustangs may not play another team with rosters that talented this year.

"We had to overcome those games and, again, just kind of incrementally getting better every week," Woods said in what has been a recurring theme. "I've mentioned this kind of weekly, but the fact we played extremely hard, kind of regained some of that physicality and we've really played a physical season. We've really taken care of the ball, even the turnover the other night was on me more than it was anything. We've valued those things."

The Ponies are averaging 36.4 points a game and 438 yardse. Not bad when you consider factoring in the Big 12 schools, especially with the success Oklahoma is having. The impression is that while Woods will admit it was good, it could have been better.

The big win over the Owls won't come every week. That one went about like the coaches wanted. There were still things the staff wants improved. With coaches there always is. But it's a good time for the offense to click heading into the key end of the season AAC games.

"We played in the first half the way we wanted to play, the second half the way we wanted to, finished the game, everyone that was on the trip got to play," Woods said. "Those are those are games you can sit back and feel the reward of your work. Now you can't hang out there. You've got to move forward."

That will start Saturday morning against Tulsa. The game kicks off at 11 a.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. You can't hear the game in DFW on The Ticket 96.7 FM and 1310 AM with Rich Phillips and analyst Scott Garner.

PONY EXPRESS:

SMU COORDINATOR WON'T TAKE CREDIT FOR NATIONALLY RANKED DEFENSE, WORRIED TULSA COULD LOWER THAT RANKING SATURDAY

MUSTANGS' COACH MAY BE THE ONLY LASHLEE WHO MISSED HIS VOICE

LASHLEE MAKES PROPOSAL FOR TULSA GAME THAT COULD BE HUGE FOR PROGRAM GOING FORWARD

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