Postgame React
by Peter Bean on Sep 16, 2007 11:44 AM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Football
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PrintBefore we dive into the report cards, let's get the overview out of the way.
The outcome was: Merely acceptable. This was an ugly game to watch and far too close for comfort. If this level of play is the baseline for the team, there are losses on the schedule ahead.
The Offensive MVP was: Ryan Bailey? I dunno. This should be Jamaal Charles' award, but the two fumbles were killers. McCoy was pretty good, but not outstanding. I need to rewatch this game to comment further on his play.
The Defensive MVP was: Marcus Griffin. Nine tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He was pretty good yesterday.
The offensive Offensive Player Of The Week was: The offensive line? I'll have to rewatch the game before commenting on individuals, but it wasn't a good afternoon for the line.
The offensive Defensive Player Of The Week was: Robert Killebrew. It is unfathomable that he's still playing as much as he is. If you want to make him feel special, Mack, have him cook the team's pregame meal. Then make sure he stays in the locker room to do the dishes.
John Chiles Watch: 0 plays. Again. Are we redshirting him? What's the latest on Sherrod Harris? Is there a plan here at all?
Vondrell McGee Watch: 1 carry, 1 yard. Charles' hasn't exactly needed the help, but it'd be nice to see what McGee could do. Maybe he's not blocking very well or something. I'm trying to figure this out.
Oklahoma Fear Factor: 10 out of 10. We've officially hit the top of the meter. 5 is the baseline. +1 for Sam Bradford isn't slowing down. +1 for rushing plays at Robert Killebrew. +1 for Brandon Foster will have to (attempt to) cover somebody. +1 for the offensive line looking average. +1 for Mack Brown seems hell bent on learning lessons the hard way this season. 10!
Heading into next week I feel: Disappointed. Rice is a functional DNP, which means whatever progress we make won't mean anything. Maybe, though, we'll get to see some young players. Right? Maybe?
--PB--
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What do you think, PB?
Will getting two of our mutual favorite players back next week (Sergio Kindle and Billy Pittman) have any measurable impact on the defense and offence, respectively? Jordan Shipley sure did prove to be a difference maker in his first game at full speed. With injuries to Jermichael and Limas, will BP prove to be a much-needed reinforcement?
And with Killebrew stinking up the orange groves, will SK finally get a chance to show us why he was the top recruit in the 2006 class?
by patienthornsfan on Sep 16, 2007 12:24 PM CDT reply actions
Killebrew
While I was swearing at him throughout the game, he actually led the starting LBs in tackles. Bobino was credited with just 1 (one!) stop. Killebrew is awful, but he's not alone. Were it up to me (and perhaps best that it isn't), I'm starting Muckelroy and Norton against Rice, and giving Kindle every opportunity to show he should start against Kansas St.
Also, are they going to find ways to get Kelson on the field more? I would think he's at least as good as Jackson. At least he's still influential on special teams...
by Ryan @ Burnt Orange Nation on Sep 16, 2007 12:28 PM CDT reply actions
Red Zone Offense
PB, assuming you'll cover some of this in your analysis... But what the hell was up with our Red Zone offense last night? I admit that I watched the game at 3am after a long day of ACL and a night out at the bars, but it seems like we were constantly within striking distance at the 20-30 yd line and unable to seal the deal.
I would still say that Defense is the glaring weakness of this year's Longhorn team. But that's a given.
by roywilliamsisgod on Sep 16, 2007 12:35 PM CDT reply actions
Texas Still #6 - Barely
Texas stays at #6 in the Coaches poll, but by the slimmest of margins.
- Texas 3-0 1,103 6
- Wisconsin 3-0 1,098 7
- California 3-0 1,093 8
Unless Texas puts together an impressive game on both sides of the ball for 4 quarters next week against Rice, we'll like slide down to 8.
Wisconsin plays Iowa at home, which lost to Iowa State last night, so they should win easily.
Cal faces woeful Arizona, should be a blowout.
A resurgent tOSU hosts Northwestern, also a blowout in the making.
And don't forget about Penn State, which is playing Michigan at the big House. If they demolish the Wolverines, they may well jump the Horns too.
What's up with the Big 10, anyway? We all thought they were over-rated before the season started, and now they 3 teams in the Top 10.
BTW, more coaches are jumping on the OU bandwagon, as they pick up a #1 vote this week, and jump WVU to land in the 4 slot. Huskers plummet to #22, and Aggies up to #16.
by patienthornsfan on Sep 16, 2007 12:35 PM CDT reply actions
Drop to #7 in the AP Poll
With tOSU nipping at our heels...
7 Texas 3-0 1169 6
8 Ohio St. 3-0 1142 10
by patienthornsfan on Sep 16, 2007 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Wisconsin
Wisconsin plays Iowa at home, which lost to Iowa State last night, so they should win easily.
That would seem true, but did you see what Hawaii did to the same UNLV team that almost beat Wisconsin.
I would argue that there are not a log of teams consistently playing better than us.
What's wrong with Finley?
I didn't realize he was hurt. I would assume we'll hear more about both he and Limas as the week progresses. I think yesterday's game was a lot like the ASU game. If you remember the coaches' theme leading up to the TCU game. It was simply "finish." Finish drives (offensively and defensively) and the game itself. I believe that yesterday's close call was another case of the Longhorns not finishing when they needed to. 5 Ryan Bailey field goals speaks for itself. But, when the game got to 23-10, one more touchdown probably would've killed the will of the Knights. That touchdown never came, and UCF got points and momentum to stay in the game. JC's second fumble of the game also prevented the 'Horns from finishing the game with a clock killing drive. Again, they showed glimpses (very brief ones, mind you) of what they are capable of. I can't help but be optimistic for next week as they get Kindle and Pittman back. My optimism grows even more due to the fact that they're playing god awful Rice. Let's hope that Texas plays an explosive (offense) and airtight (defense) first half next week, so that when the backups come out in the second half, the outcome of the game will never be in the balance.
Texas M*A*S*H* Unit
The Texas Longhorns also left Orlando a battered and bruised team. Jermichael Finley had an ice pack on his neck at the end of the game. Limas Sweed had one on his ankle. Ryan Palmer limped into the locker room after the game. Charlie Tanner twisted his knee and missed much of the contest, forcing true freshman Kyle Hix into action at right tackle.
by patienthornsfan on Sep 16, 2007 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Tanner's Knee
With Hix prematurely forced into full-time action, and Ulatoski out, could this be the reason the Offensive Line was so Offensive PB?
Tray Allen's redshirt is done for since he played in Orlando, but perhaps now we'll get to see why he was so highly touted coming out of HS?
by patienthornsfan on Sep 16, 2007 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Mack Bitching About the Refs?
I still haven't gotten to watch the game, since the video is not up on texassports.com yet. But there's a quote on Scout from Mack complaining about the calls that went against us:
Brown also said the difficulties his team faced in this game were good for his younger players to experience.
"It's good that everything that can possibly happen bad happened on the road because a lot of these guys haven't been on an away trip," said Brown. "It's hard to win on the road because you don't get calls. If we'd reviewed any more, we wouldn't of gotten them. I know that. We weren't going to get one."
Can anyone who got to see the game comment?
by patienthornsfan on Sep 16, 2007 1:01 PM CDT reply actions
one that sticks out
was a very long pass to limas that was ruled a catch. replays showed that as limas dove and hit the ground, the ball moved, but there was some question about whether his hands we under it when this happened. they overruled and said it was incomplete.
i think that was the right call, but it was tough.
don't know what else mack might be talking about.
Oh, he has no room to comment
First, UT should have had a Delay Of Game call on the fake field goal on the initial drive. The play snapped a full three seconds after the game clock showed double zeros.
Second, they correctly called the fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. Griffin was in bounds when that ball made a creepy roll staying in the field of play.
Third, they called RB Kevin Smith from UCF out at the four-yard line when breaking a huge run before leaping into the end zone. We do not have a goalline defense worth a wooden nickel.
Fourth, the Cosby (or Nate Jones, uncertain) catch in the endzone (with the interference call) was not in bounds. No foot, no toe, no shoelace touched in bounds as the call on the field was a TD. Too bad we can't score a touchdown in the redzone.
Poor calls on both sides of the ball. The Limas catch-no catch just tipified how bad these officials were according to Mack.
To boot, I am sick and tired of the players looking for the officials to help them out. During Arkansas State, TCU and UCF, the players poorly execute a play and then pout that there was no yellow hanky on the ground. Strap on the chin strap, play the game and execute. They are looking for charity calls. Stop that.
by DKRismycopilot on Sep 16, 2007 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
i thought
Jones' almost TD (which was overturned but had pass interference) was a touchdown. Neither the refs nor the announcers addressed this, but I thought that he had possession and would have come down in bounds but was pushed out, the correct call of which would have been a TD. He went up, caught it along the OB line, was pushed 2-handed by the DB, and landed out.
Not sure how the refs rule it a TD from the start, but IMO he caught it in bounds and was pushed out, which is a touchdown. Or is that just an NFL rule?
just an NFL rule
you're allowed to do it as a college defender
by Sweed4Heisman on Sep 16, 2007 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
After wathing the game again
There were a number of late hits on Colt that were not called. Maybe that's what Mack is referring to.
The Hit out of bounds
Immediately preceding their first touchdown in the 4th quarter was the most bullshit sensitive call I've ever seen. You'd have to be looking at his feet to know if he was in bounds or not and the Texas player barely touched him.
tons of UCF holding
i know holding basically occurs on every play, but UCF got away with at least 3 or 4 excessive, blatant holding calls for big gains that i saw.
and, by rule, sweed's huge catch should not have been overturned. the ruling on the field was a catch, so you need indisputable evidence to call it incomplete on replay. the replay video was doubtful that he got under it, but in no way indisputable.
but, regardless. texas should never be in a position against a C-USA team where they need to bitch about missed penalties/calls. we should be better than that.
Yeah, not a fan of that effort
So, I'm looking at the line score. Very deceptive. Plus the fact that if we are a "pass-first" team, we looked pretty balanced. Enough with the rationalization; good teams close the deal as soon as they smell blood. There was not a cut to be had with UCF.
By the way, the defensive ends need to learn to stay home on containment as well. Sure, collapse on the inside run. But the fundamentals are lost when they read only the first key. Linebackers are lost, then get dominated, then miss assignments. Thank God M. Griffin is picking up the slack, or it would have been a blood bath.
Very frustrating. I'm not really certain that a re-watch of the game would diagnose all the litany of problems with the team. Arg!
by DKRismycopilot on Sep 16, 2007 1:17 PM CDT reply actions
Ryan F'n Bailey
No doubt he's the offensive MVP. That kid is the only dependable cog in our machine. Things are bad for us, but imagine where we'd be without a reliable kicker.
thoughts
Marcus Griffin had a good game. I'd like to point that out because 1) I may never get to say that again, and 2) I hope this will be a turning point for him.
Palmer can play, Foster cannot. Yes, Foster had an interception return for a touchdown. But it was a deflection that went right to him. i could have scored on that play. Palmer has had several very athletic plays the past 2 weeks and teams seem to be picking on Foster instead now. Smart move.
Ryan Bailey's field goals looked like NFL-caliber kicks, and they were from 40+ yards as well. It looks like we're going to need that this year.
Teams dedicating a safety to Limas has really opened up the passing game to the other side with Quan and Nate. If Limas is out a few games, we may need to worry, not because shipley and pittman aren't good, but because they're not drawing double teams.
I'll echo one thing I said in the open thread, which is that this was not and will not be a wake-up call. There are only so many times we can say "maybe this will wake us up" before we realize that there's nothing to wake up. At some point, the team you play like is the team you are.
Defense
No matter who comes back to the defense this week, the Texas third string should be able to beat Rice.
The Texas D will look like world beaters this week in Austin. Rice lost its home opener to a mediocre 1-AA team (Nicholls State). So when the Horns hold Rice to just 100 yards of offense (because a good defense wouldn't give up any more), don't take too much stock in that.
Texas needs to win by 40 to hold its ranking. The other teams around them in the polls look much better right now. If OSU, Wisconsin, Penn State or Cal struggled with UCF, then everybody would be saying how those teams suck, or are overrated.
I think y'all lucked out in the rankings
Just looking at head-to-head match-ups, any of you think you'd beat California if you played them right now?
Your OL is not playing well at all, regardless of the injuries. I don't know who told Tony Hills he was pre-season all-conference/All-American, but it wasn't someone who knows OL play. Hills is terrible.
Objectively looking at your team, the only player who stands out as something special (despite the fumbles) is Jamaal Charles. He looks back to the form he showed as a freshman.
Limas Sweed?
If you don't think he is something special, you haven't been watching.
Other than that...your point is taken. Fact is that we're not living up to our ranking.
by roywilliamsisgod on Sep 16, 2007 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
California
I know California beat up on Tennessee, but did you see the game they almost lost to Colorado State? Yes, the same Colorado State that lost to Colorado. Almost all of the teams except for the top four (and you could argue about West Virginia) have had close calls. I would take UCF over Colorado State in a heartbeat.
We've struggled putting teams away this year, but who hasn't. As long as we're undefeated going into OU weekend, I will be happy. Then, who knows what will happen.
Cal v. Texas in rankings
Cal has all sorts of issues (most of them on defense - consistency against the pass, pressure on the QB, allowing big plays), but the Bears didn't really almost lose to Colorado State. Cal was up 3 scores with under 4 minutes to play; the final score was only as close as it was because of a long-bomb TD pass, recovered onside kick, and second long-bomb TD pass.
Was it an ugly, inexcusably sloppy finish to the game? Yes. But was the win ever really in doubt? Not so much. It was a classic trap game: after the emotional Tennessee win, on the road against a CSU team that's better than advertised. So even though the Bears came closer than I'd like to giving it away at the end, the real question after the final seconds ticked off the clock was this: would Cal learn from that game and play better against La. Tech? They did, winning 42-12.
Given all that, I don't think Cal would be heavily favored over the Longhorns on a neutral field, but I do think Cal has proven a little bit more at this point. The wins over Tenn. and La. Tech showed a team that's clicking a little better than Texas right now - only time will tell if both teams start consistently living up to their potential and what that will mean for their resumes.
Colorado State
Didn't CSU have the ball really late down 6? Maybe I'm not remembering it right. Either way, we were in control of both Arkansas St and UCF games and I wouldn't consider those games any more in doubt than the Cal game. I think TCU is about on par with Tennessee (having watched all three Tennessee games because my roommate is a Southern Miss fan). I am quite certain the UCF would wipe the floor with LaTech at home. If I were making a line on Cal vs. Texas on a neutral field, I would put it at even.
I don't think you can make this statement
Either way, we were in control of both Arkansas St and UCF games and I wouldn't consider those games any more in doubt than the Cal game.
You were losing the UCF game in the second half Saturday. You can't say you were 'in control' when you're down 24-23 in the 4th quarter of the game.
If you were 'in control', UCF wouldn't have been within two TDs of you at that point in the game.
aren't you an aTm fan?
How can you look at the Longhorns objectively?
guess we need an edit function on here
not sure what happened there, but my reply was posted before i finished.
anyways....
it's easy to evaluate the team objectively
you look at the player a an individual and ask if he is doing his job on each play. Tony Hills isn't coming anywhere close to doing his job.
Nate Jones is filling in well for Pittman, but the one guy who is really excelling is Charles. He's back to being the special player he was as a freshman.
As for the lack of an offense inside the red zone (which is being mentioned in some other replies), red zone is where you run the ball. IIRC, your backup who replaced Ulatoski was injured during the game, so you put a true freshman on the field to play against UCF. It's hard to run the ball when you have a kid who shouldn't be seeing the field for another year out there trying to make plays against kids who are 2-3 yrs physically more mature, not to mention the edge they have in experience.
On the otherhand
. . . .on the other hand . . . Our Radio Play by Play team has really come together. I listened to the game while at work (in the yard) and felt like I was right there in the stadium. Great job guys!
On the other hand, It was pretty clear from the beginning that this was an ambush game. When Texas played Miami way back when, that game was supposed to be a yawner as Miami had not established itself as a powerhouse yet. I recall the same thing happening against Boston College around the same time frame. Texas didn't travel to the Atlantic coast so well then and the tradition continues but this time we at least got the W.
On the other hand, it takes games with schools like Texas for the small schools to get on the map. Their coach was going to Notre Dame and that says something of his caliber. And hats off to them for risking humiliation.
On the other hand, we're doing them a huge favor and get nothing recruiting or poll-wise-in return. Texas was going to not get any brownie points for burying this team by 50, 60 or 70 points as the Okies do to their cupcake rehearsals. It would have simply added to the "What are they thinking?" mentality of booking a Sam Houston State gig.
On the other hand, it would be nice to be able to go in, take care of business--beyond the W--in games like this. These games are scheduled so that the wrinkles can be ironed out before we hit the Big 12 in October. To complete the metaphore, the laundry needs lots of ironing. We should have been playing most of our 2nd,3rd and 4th teamers by now to give us the depth we'll need going into the conference. Instead, whether it's the coaching or the composition of the team, man for man we simply do not appear to be of a high (enough)caliber or still such a work in progress that we've had to play the starting 22 for the most part just to survive.
On the other hand, as to Colt: Just Win Baby. Vince threw his fair share of interceptions during his career well. And I suspect, based on the end result of the 2005 season, it could be argued, he had a much better team around him than does Colt. We don't have a goal line running game which as a Texas old timer remembering Earl, Roosevelt, Wooster, Koy and the others, not pounding the ball in at the goal line is inexcusable. That's coaching fellas. And someone should be reprimanded for that.
On the other hand, just get through the season undefeated no matter what the scores are and we are BCS bound. I'd win'em all by one if that's what it takes.
by classof81 on Sep 16, 2007 3:46 PM CDT reply actions
Third week
But by the third week of the season, shouldn't teams be ranked where the pollstsers think they belong rather than how they've done since their preseason projection?
Take preseason rankings and compare them to where they'd be if you started them today and they'd be drastically different. Just ask Auburn, UCLA and Michigan
However, I do think Oregon is damn good.
'Horns just not a great football team...
...at this time.
The 3-0 record does help provide a bit of a silver lining.
However, the 'Horns must make vast improvement if they expect to earn their way to a BCS bowl, and have any chance at the MNC.
by Longhorn07 on Sep 16, 2007 4:20 PM CDT reply actions
Offensive MVP
The Quan. He makes it look too easy, or you'd have already mentioned him.
Peter-
How about a Report Card on the performance of this Coaching Staff? After all, they are being paid big bucks for their efforts. Meanwhile, our young men are playing their hearts out for just a scholarship.
Can we start with the decision to go for 2?
2 points
what an idiotic decision. i'm sure it was just someone doing the math wrong, but seriously. don't you have charts for this sort of thing?
BZ
If you have a copy of the game, then watch Mack after the play fails. He moves to the audience's left and comes near Akina. I couldn't tell what Akina said, but I'm pretty sure he was essentially saying the 2-pointer wasn't necessary. Rather than admitting his stupidity, Mack squints up one eye and flashes him this hate look.
Coaching staffs are teams as well. No one, including the HC, is beyond reproach. They have to feel welcome to evaluate the body of work. We're on our 4th DC in just 10 seasons.
To be fair
The last two left to be head coaches.
Who was Mac's first one? I could not find it on an internet search.
Defense in general...
I thought the secondary played relatively well. The opposing QB only completed 9 passes, and the majority of those passes were to TE/RB/FB.
(BTW, can someone please teach Palmer how to catch a football?? I am willing to pay lots of money for it....I mean its GREAT that hes playing better than Foster, but he looked as if he refused to make an INT)
Ripping our pathetic starting LBs would simply be waste of my energy...
However, I want to assess one aspect of our defense that people rarely talk about. It's our defensive line.
For past 2 games, our DL got manhandled. Lokey and Okam are supposed to be the next great UT interior defensive linemen and yet I am seeing opposing OL's just shoving these two 300 pounders out of the play??
These All-Big 12 selections have recorded about 4 tackles combined in 2 games. I understand the statistics dont explain everything, but I highly doubt they are getting doubled teamed on EVERY SINGLE PLAY.
In the beginning of the season, we thought our DL was the strongest part of our defense, but, lately, we have not been winning the battle upfront.
and I miss Orakpo more than ever...sometimes it is quite painful to watch our young DE's letting opposing RB's by...
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