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Scott Symons preparing for SMU's challenge at Rice

On3 imageby:Billy Embody•10/31/23•

BillyEmbody

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SMU DC Scott Symons. (Matt Visinsky - On3)

SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons met with the media on Tuesday to look back on the win over Tulsa and previewing the road matchup at Rice. The defense nabbed two more interceptions on Saturday, including Isaiah Nwokobia’s pick-six.

The Mustang defense continues to play at a very high level, but this week will be a new challenge.

“I thought our guys handled it and played well. A lot of positives, but we’re going to play a team that, really now if you go beginning of conference play, we haven’t played a true pocket passer at all,” Symons told On3. “Now, we’re playing a Top 5 quarterback in the country that’s really efficient with the ball that does a great job knowing where to go, how to defeat a lot of different looks. I think our secondary, more so than ever, will be really challenged this week.”

Rice comes into this matchup with SMU having JT Daniels rolling at quarterback. The Owls have an offense that helped pushed Tulane to the brink in a 30-28 loss last week.

“I think it all starts with the quarterback for them and just how fast the ball comes out,” Symons said. “Like I said, his ability to know where to go with the ball, there’s a lot of experience in a lot of different systems. There’s not a look you’re going to show him that he hasn’t seen. So from the standpoint of our guys just being able to anticipate the ball come out, being in the right spots and those types of things in zone coverage is going to be really important for us because he does a great job just distributing the ball.

“They’re going to try to slow the game down. It’s what they’ve done, and try to limit possessions for our offense and be really, really efficient on offense for them and try to keep us on the field and slowly move the chains.”

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