Ben Hicks wanted his pass on third-and-goal from the 6-yard line to find Shelby Walker in the end zone. Instead, a defender shoved Walker to the ground, was not flagged for it, and the ball landed in Liberty cornerback Tyrin Holloway’s hands. Rather than celebrating in the end zone, Hicks angrily pulled off his chinstrap at midfield after running down and tackling Holloway.
The pick was Hicks’ fourth interception in the end zone since replacing the injured Matt Davis. It was the tenth straight time that SMU had been inside an opponent’s 15-yard line and not scored a touchdown.
That streak reached 12 at the end of Saturday’s 29-14 win vs. Liberty. It’s a big reason why a 15-point win felt sloppy despite the Mustangs gaining 200 more yards than the Flames and forcing four turnovers.
“I think there’s a lot of pressing,” SMU head coach Chad Morris said. “Everybody is trying to make the play right then instead of letting it happen. Just relax, let’s go play and put the ball in our playmaker’s hands. Just go through your reads, don’t press.”
Through the turnovers and early struggles, the coaches have still touted Hicks’ confidence and still predict he will have an productive career at SMU. Hicks was the first big recruiting win for Morris at SMU. Once committed to Houston, he picked SMU over Texas Tech about three weeks after Morris took the job in December 2014. He enrolled early for the spring 2015 semester and redshirted last season.
“It’s all about confidence. When a guy gets out of his rhythm and throws a couple picks, you have to find a way to get him back his confidence,” Morris said. “Whether it’s short throws or whatever that may be, we have to do a good job of that.”
On his interceptions, Hicks has had open receivers in the end zone or threw to receivers who weren’t open. Against Baylor, he underthrew a pass intended for James Proche coming across the back of the end zone and another for Shelby Walker on a corner route. He forced the throw to Walker and underthrew Proche on a post earlier in the game.
In Hicks’ first two starts, SMU gained 405 and 495 yards on offense. The Mustangs can still move the ball with Hicks, but those yardage totals lose some meaning when combined with turnovers on the cusp of the goal line.
“I know what we can do offensively and what this football team is capable of doing and scoring points,” Morris said. “It’s about scoring when you get in the red zone. Bottom line. That’s it. Can you get your team in the end zone when you get in the red zone.”
