What Now? Fixing The Longhorn Offense, Part 2

A coach who can't be bothered to gameplan by matching his talents' strengths and weaknesses against the opponent's strengths and weaknessess is a coach who is just too lazy to do his job.  

Shorter version: running the same scheme regardless of personnel and/or opponent isn't doing his job.  

GD Jr. hasn't worked in years.  The last time he lifted a pudgy finger was five years ago when the staff traveled to West Virginia to learn the zone read as a way to exploit Vince Young's talents.  Since then: zip, nada, bupkis.  

We're stuck in a scheme that has nothing to do with our players because someone doesn't fell like doing his job.  

Our O-line is chopped liver.  We have an embarrassment of riches at receiver and we're stocked at RB and TE.  Oklahoma lost their star DE for the year and their corners are good.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to figure out what the matchups are.  

Wow, that's ... hard, isn't it?  

Uh, no.  

1. Colt's banged up and his line sucks:  max protect.  

2. Corners are good and you're not flooding anything (see #1):  TE's down the middle and/or Sweed and Pitman in motion.  

3. Aces, with Charles, McGee, and Ogbonnaya in the gut.  

The problem with this offense is not necessarily the scheme, as much as it is the lack of balance.  GD's play calling stunk.  And I'm willing to bet Mack had some serious issues with how quickly we abandoned the run.  He mentioned it at the press conference, but I'm sure he was irate behind closed doors.  In the first half, nearly 45% of the plays called were designed runs.  And what was the result?  JC gained all but 7 of his 72 yards before halftime.  In the third quarter we went almost exclusively to the pass, and this was when the issues started to mount.

I firmly believe that the 'horns need to pass to set up the run, not abandon it...Especially when your QB is seeing stars.

Beating OU will take balance on offense and a defense that does not give up the big play. If you would have asked me at the start of the season I would I have said we would have the offese, not the defense.  Now, I'm beginning to think this defense will be able to hold, but its the offense that is not capable of putting points on the board due to poor play-calling and decision making.

Aside from still being pissed off about you agreeing with the "hard but stupid" comment, I think you are right on the money about this situation with colt and chiles. I'm really not a guy that likes to make knee jerk decisions based on one game, but clearly we are getting back to the time period when we had talented players (Simms, Applewhite) and never went anywhere. I dont think those quarterbacks were ever comfortable playing here at UT because I dont think our offensive coordinator was really ever comfortable coaching them. Colt may be comfortable running a zone read style of offense, but this isn't Tuscola and there are much faster athletes at this level that he simply can't compete with and doesnt pose the kind of running threat we need to run GD's offense through him. My biggest problem with GD is not that he "just sucks." While in some cases this may be true, it's a general attack and ultimately useless. My biggest problem with him is that he has shown no ability to really put out a scheme in which he can succeed without a QB that has all the worlds most physical gifts. (Ala Ken Dorsey @ Miami)  He is just comfortable putting the ball in the hands of a guy who can run and let him play backyard style of football, and make his own decisions. This is really sad for our current starting QB, who isnt gifted in the ways that a VY or a John Chiles. Unfortunately for Colt he has a coordinator that will not and, seemingly, cannot adjust to the style of offense that he is best suited. And since GD isn't going anywhere anytime soon, more than likely Colt is going to have to bite the bullet instead.

I'm clueless.  I don't know what to think versus OU.  All the trepidation we are facing...OU is facing as well.  Hell, they were up 24-7 at the half with the Colorado "IT'S BIG 12 FOOTBALL!!" Buffaloes.
Sadly, I have lost confidence with Colt.  Painful to say, but if the coaching staff and the personnel do not change or shift in some other way, we are probably going to see the early demise of young Mr. McCoy.
Should OU fall asleep like they did against the Buffs, maybe we have a shot.  But shake the confidence of our primary playmaker in Colt McCoy, we are going to have another very long Saturday afternoon.
I don't know about everyone else, but I am lighting some candles at the church.  The NCAA doesn't have a health plan for post-concussion disorder.

Normally, I just lurk here, but I couldn't hold my tongue any longer.

If TX goes back to the zone read and to an I formation or even power I set, do they have the personne to execute?  I don't think they do, given the lack of run blocking they presently have.  If Charles was a power runner ala Benson, I'd more open to the idea.  However, in the zone read/1 back set, Charles can use his quickness and moves to cutback in the open field.  If we go to a more traditional set, teams will line up 8-9 in the box against us (see 2003-04) and our run game will really go nowhere.  

Finally, in regards to Chiles at QB: I don't think the guy has the arm (yet).  Chiles only played QB his senior year of high school and it showed on Saturday.  He one-hopped several balls to his WR's in the limited action he saw.  So, I think there is a personnel probelm at QB too, given McCoy has Cody Carlson/frequent injury syndrome.  

Defensively, the guys should be applauded.  After the first KSU drive, their offense was DOA.  We could use some more pressure on the QB.  

Back on the ranch when I was young we'd work, work, work on weekends. The place was a good place to live but wasn't big enough to quality whatsoever as a working ranch. But like any ranch, there was always work to be done.

And when we'd take a break, my dad would often preface a list of additonal stuff I should be doing with "While you're resting..." and he meant that to be done now. This is common among ranching folk, who do discriminate between really hard work and lighter fare as well as subtle irony.

So, while we furrow our brows and knuckle GD's head, it may be worth a little perspective to return to the glorious days of yesteryear, or at least one of them: the 1999 RRS when Applewhite and Hodges Mitchell led the Horns to a 38-28 victory. The link is to Chip Brown's well written story for the DMN, so while you're resting, catch some magic from the past.

This was the post-Ricky season and in the game before the RRS, Kansas State had just obliterated Applewhite, who had six turnovers, and everyone, and I mean everyone, thought the Horns should be retired to the back 40 if not hospitalized. It was a brutal, ugly loss at home and there were no kind words for anyone. Especially the O-line, which KSU seemingly sliced through at will. It looked like a long season that mournful evening.

To complicate things, OU jumped to a quick 17-0 lead and all the anguish of the week before seemed to jump back in our throats. But then a funny thing happened. The Horns started making plays and the beleaguered and taunted QB started sticking those taunts right back at the OU fans. The defense came alive although the special teams still sucked. But you know what, Applewhite and the Horns stuck it to the crimson and cream and weren't bashful about doing it. They gathered their spriit and vanquished the enemy.

I'm not saying this will happen Saturday. What I am saying is that there are those weekends when everything goes wrong like last weekend. There will be those moments when nothing works and your players look like they're running in quicksand and everything bad that can happen happens. The other team has all the luck and you're seeing stars where there are none. And sometimes  you just gotta forget about it, just erase it as an anomaly in what has become overall a very unusual and wickedly interesting college football season even as we drew a black bean along the way.

The way to fix it - and all the polemics noted above probably do need to happen in some manner - is to make some plays and be aggressive - and play damn good defense. If there is anything I have demeaned GD and Mack for, it is their lack of aggression in big games (sans VY; he was aggressive walking on the field). Major attacked, the defense sacked and vindication come our way that October day at the turn of the century. That aggression was one of the real cures for overcoming a bad memory.

Now get back to the hard work, whether it's brain surgery or simple football emasculation.

Hook 'em

I will start by stating that I have been a Brown supporter from the start. I even gave GD the benefit of the doubt because during the Applewhite/Simms era our offense was good - even though it was predictable. Our weakness was our defense. While Brown certainly put us back on the map with regards to national relevance once again, Dodds' number one priority must be permanantly staying at the party.

For a month now we have seen the same issues with the play and the play calling, and it seems like no progress has been made. What exactly has the staff been doing to correct the problems that have been painfully obvious to most of us ? The answer can only be - who the hell knows.

One thing that has really pissed me off at this point, and caused me to seriously question Brown keeping his gig, is he has acted like a - well - uh -frankly a pussy, for lack of a better word.  Starting with the off the field issues this summer, he dispayed a gross lack of leadership that has certainly been reflected in his team.  Now, I hear him publicly admit to wondering "why we abandoned the run so soon" after the game is over. Just what is your headset connected to Mack ?

What about the obvious mis-use of talent.  This staff has absolutely screwed Drew Kelson, they are screwing Kindle and the young linebackers, they are screwing McGee, and Davis has absolutely forgotten Finley I guess.    

I don't know about everyone else but I am feeling a serious disconnect between Mack and his team. He is almost starting to seem like a glorified cheerleader that just claps on the sidelines during games, while the coordinators make all the strategic decisions.  No disrespect to Ron Prince, but the Horns simply can not return to getting outcoached by the Kansas States of the world again.  

If the LBs this year have taught us anything, it's that you can bet that as long as Mack is here he's going to stick with his guys. I think if Colt can walk and talk at the same time he'll play this saturday, and his competetive edge won't keep him out. I'm not saying that's the best thing for the team, only the reality for those calling for Chiles.

I think we can maybe learn some things from Arizona recently and go to a platooning QB system. I know a lot of people hate rotating QBs, but it may be what's necessary. I think Sherrod Harris, not Chiles, should be brought in for a few series' to add a running demension, along with his passing skills that are far superior to JC's at this point.

Perhaps the ideal situation would be for the team physician to declare McCoy "not ready" for Saturday.  But if he declares McCoy healthy and McCoy doesn't start, then Brown is sending a message (regardless of what he says by way of explanation) that (1) KS was McCoy's fault and (2) one poor game and you lose your starting position (even if you were injured, and it was raining, and the line couldn't block, and your RB couldn't run, and the interceptions were tipped balls,  and the OC has a one-page playbook). I wouldn't want to send that message.  At least start McCoy, and if he looks the least bit injured or not sharp, then take him out.

I have misgivings about Davis, but you have to take into account the current situation and define a gameplan around it. It is what it is!!

• The weakness of the offensive line has been exposed and will be exploited by others.
• Colt McCoy has great football savy and a lot of heart, but does not have the physical stamina to withstand the physical beating. Each opponent's gameplan since last year (K-State) has centered on attacking the quarterback and exploiting this weakness - blitzes, borderline late hits on every opportunity.
• The current offensive scheme does not promote an inside running game to counter the pass rush and inside blitzes. Davis tries to counter with short passes and east-west running game.
• The talent at wide receiver has never been better, but it is almost totally negated by the deficiencies listed.
• Oklahoma has the defensive talent to fully exploit these weakness better than any other opponent this year.
• Defensive coaches are the best at playing copycat and developing a defensive scheme by applying what others have exploited best. You can bet that the Oklahoma staff has developed more of the same.
• I am sure that Coach Davis fully understands the hand that he was dealt. He will try to counter the quarterback pressure by:
• simplifying the play-calling to get the ball out of Colt's hands as quick as possible - balance inside running, rollouts, screens, short passes over the middle, and a few long throws. He must create space for Colt and simpify his decisionmaking.

Accepting the facts one can only hope to win the turnover battle and special teams play to balance the playing field and squeeeeze out a victory. All said and done, It will be a monumental task and the guys will leave it all on the field, but I am afraid it will not be enough this time:

Oklahoma 45   Texas 13  HANG IN THERE HORNS!!!

I'm amazed at how many voted for Chiles to start.  Maybe that was one of them "bots" they have here on the internets.  A Chiles-voting automaton.

Anyway, you don't start Chiles against OU unless you plan on totally abandoning the forward pass.  So count me in.

As for platooning QBs, didn't some SEC team try that last year?  How did that turn out?

I voted McCoy to start but I daydream of a platoon (meaning no more of this # 12 lining up in the slot).  Chiles in a 2 back set w/ McGee and Charles, 1 TE...

...F it.  TWO TEs, and run the F out of it left, right, center.

Or whatever.  I'm not picky.  Do something creative for once or I'm not going to be able to watch (all four quarters of the beat-down).

I don't intend to be an apologist, but if you go back and watch the game again carefully, Colt didn't always make the right decisions.  There were receivers open and he was throwing into the coverage or in lanes allowing the passes to be batted down. I think this may be what Davis meant by Colt thinking too much and checking off too much with all of the options that he has in the offense. I think the successful plan for Oklahoma will be to simplify the offense, limit the choices that Colt can make and have him simply run the plays as called from upstairs with a heavy dose of running the football. I also think we will see Chiles - he wasn't being warmed up against K-State for nothing.

What I do respect about this coaching staff is that they take the heat instead of blaming the kids - not all coaches have that much class.  Of course, when you get paid $3 million per until the next decade it is easy to say the buck stops here.