SMU Football: Can Mustangs challenge for the AAC crown in 2020?

Defense

While SMU was otherworldly on offense last season, the Mustangs defense was a different story. Ranking outside the top 100 in the FBS in scoring defense and yards allowed, SMU needed their offense to outscore opponents because most every game was a shootout. In five of their 10 victories last season, the Mustangs gave up more than 30 points; that was also true of all three of their losses.

While that is stark on its own, it is even more sobering to realize that SMU’s defensive stats could have been even worse last year. The Mustangs benefitted from 21 takeaways, a major reason why they ranked in the top 40 in turnover margin. They also led the entire country in sacks, racking up nearly four per game. If not for all of those negative plays stalling and killing opponents’ momentum, already abysmal yardage and scoring trends would have torpedoed even further.

For defensive coordinator Kevin Kane, the challenge will be improving those marks with a team that returns less defensive productivity than all but two other AAC teams. Only two players from last year’s starting front seven — defensive end Turner Coxe and linebacker Delano Robinson — return in 2020.

Focusing on the SMU secondary

Where SMU has at least some advantage in continuity is in the defensive backfield, where starting cornerbacks Brandon Stephens and Ar’mani Johnson both return. Stephens led the team in pass breakups last year after transferring from UCLA as a graduate student, and Johnson racked up two interceptions (including a pick-six) and finished second in passes successfully defensed.

Chevin Calloway had a solid season at safety in a reserve role last year after transferring from Arkansas, and he looks to play an even bigger role in the backfield this season. Sophomore Chace Cromartie is the only other safety back with playing experience, putting the onus on Calloway to take on a bigger leadership role at the position.

Last year’s SMU secondary ranked 95th in opponent passing efficiency and 125th out of 130 FBS teams in passing yards allowed. Cutting down on big plays (the Mustangs gave up an average of 4.7 passes per game of 20-plus yards in 2019) will be critical if they are to have any chance at competing for the conference crown this season.