Muschamp's 2nd half adjustments
by TheElusiveShadow on Sep 23, 2008 8:40 AM CDT
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PrintSo far this season, we've done noticeably better in the second half. The first game against FAU, after giving up over 200 yards passing in the first half, we clamped down. Against UTEP, we gave up some yards in the first half as they came out fire up, particularly in the run game, but we again shut them down, giving up no points in the second half as opposed to thirteen in the first. This past Saturday, while Rice's lone TD came in the second half, that happened when the game was finished and came off of Chiles' fumble. Most, if not all, of our seven sacks came after intermission.
Sure, critics can point to a variety of reasons why this is so. FAU's QB, Rusty Smith, was pulled relatively early in the second half as they new the game was out of reach. UTEP is just UTEP. Our sacks against Rice shouldn't be boasted about too much because our pass rushers, with such a big lead, could afford to simply pin their ears back and go blindly at the quarterback. Perhaps so. However, I think anyone watching can certainly see how this team learns as the game progresses and how Muschamp makes the necessary adjustments at halftime.
I think that's terrific. I really do, and I hope it continues. Nonetheless, I am worried that this may become a problem for us. Against the likes of Mizzou and Oklahoma, it might be suicide to wait until halftime to really get into the game defensively. Both teams have the capability of putting up points in a hurry, and if we're caught a little bit off balance to start the game, they can post 20+ points on us before we know it, making it hard on our offense to be balanced as they try to catch up. I don't want us to be forced into situations where the defense knows that we'll pass, allowing them to tee off on Colt. McCoy is brave and athletic and our O-line is improved, but do we really want him scrambling for his life again, like in 2007, desperately looking for plays to get us back in the game? I shudder at the thought. Perhaps Mizzou is incapable of that kind of defensive pressure, but I'm darn sure OU can do it.
The season is young, and so is the majority of our defense. Growing pains are expected. However, early mistakes against better competition will turn into big points. We'll likely not have the luxury of OU fumbling their own snap, like FAU did. We'll likely not have the luxury of giving up big plays and simply holding for field goals or no points at all, like against Rice.
So I'm in a bit of a conundrum. I love our defensive adjustments and intensity and applaud both Muschamp and his players for it. On the other hand, I'm feeling a bit impatient about our player developments as the Big 12 schedule, and OU in particular, inches ever closer. If we, say, give up 24 points in the first half against OU, we may be able to hold them to only 3 more in the second half. That may very well be enough points for them to beat us.
It'll be key for our defense to play a complete game once we hit that part of the schedule, which will help our offense a lot as well. We'll see if that happens, because somehow I doubt that we'll be seeing any mini-miracles from a guy like Jamaal Charles this season.
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"Get Out Of My....MIND!!"
(props to anyone who knows what brilliant sci-fi flick spawned that quote)
I was just having a conversation with a co-worker about this very topic: are we still as bad as last year or are we just young? Are we showing legitimate improvement in the secondary or are we just better conditioned than our foes in the 2nd half?
I’m an optimist when it comes to the Horns, and as such I believe that we’re young but showing improvement.
That said, I’m also a realist when I look at the rest of the competition this season.
OU is going to destroy us. The first half is going to be very, very painful to watch. Indeed, I’m still looking for some kind of athletic cup to protect my mental health as I’m forced to watch the misery which, I’m afraid, is as inevitable and as painful as my morning bowel movement.
Mizzou? Man…I don’t know. I really don’t know if they’re for real or just beating up on the little guy (much like us). Is their offensive line really that stout? Are they going to be able to contain our pass rush (which I think is pretty damn good, actually). Is their defense better than ours? This may just be a shooting match and the clock will most likely determine the winner.
TT: Just run the ball on these bastards. The clock is their enemy, and the longer we’re on the field the better off we’ll be. This YouTube vid should serve as an analogy to the Tech defense: they beg to be respected by the big boys but in the end are always the butt of the joke. Jerry Springer video (SFW)
Everyone else on the schedule: Go ahead and double up on your supply of Advil, gauze, butterfly bandages, and oxycontin (did I spell that right?).
Anyway, I will consider this season a success even if we lose 3 games (OU, TT, and MO). It will be a success if we keep the scores close, if we make the other teams sweat, and if we find ourselves wondering just how many potential All-Americans we have on the 2009 defensive squad.
Hook ’EM!!
It's Mean to Ween
Dude... it was the Bene Gesserit leader in "Dune" to Paul Artreides
That used that line. One of my favorite movies. Love your post…
But, I disagree with you on OU. I think we can hang with them and beat them… this is a rivalry game, and anything can happen. I am not saying we will beat them, but I think we can do it, and I think it will be a good game. If we beat OU, I think we beat Mizzou as well. The confidence boost will get us there. Tech is well… Tech. I think Muschamp can come up with the answers. Greg Robinson and Gene Chizik did, and Muschamp will too.
I think we could win or lose all three. Just my two cents. But they will all be worth watching
1 Peter 2:17
cmon man
Texas will not get destryoed by ou. If Texas can force a couple turovers against them, and not turn the ball over themselves…Texas can/will win.
Missouri/ Tech games will be a shoot out. Texas has a young/ talented defense. Missouri/ Tech really have medicore at best defenses.
I think Texas wins 2 out of 3 against ou,Missouri, and Tech.
cmon man
Show me where the pass defense is going to stop Sam “I leave em’ sniffin’ my pits” Bradford? I’m sorry…but I don’t have confidence in our secondary this season.
It's Mean to Ween
I think...
We are gonna get pressure on ol’s Sammy boy and and nail him a couple of times. I think that will help out the kids in the backfield of the D.
And Bombilla My friend I answered your trivia question above… I ’ll take my props now (unless I am wrong).
1 Peter 2:17
Totally
You were correct on the trivia. Now… considering OU comes up in 3 weeks, perhaps we should all be chanting the Litany Against Fear:
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
It's Mean to Ween
That and...
Get Lamarr Houston or Sergio Kindle to use a Gom-Jabbar against Sam Bradford/Demarco Murray.
1 Peter 2:17
The slow blitzer passes through the O-Line? #nt#whills
by BoddickerIsClutch on Sep 24, 2008 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Muschamp
hasn’t showed the game plan we’re going to have against ou. The game will be high scoring, but Texas can win if they can force some turnovers (I think they will, but Texas can’t have any turnovers).
That's Bullshit
…I hate that kind of cheesy sneakiness. Wouldn’t you rather be practicing your blitz packages against three or four teams in real game situations before THE game of the season?
I mean, you’re probably right, but it’s still dumb.
It's Mean to Ween
by Bombilla on Sep 23, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree 100%
The people that think we’re sleeping on different blitzes or keeping an effective Q package scheme under wraps until “big games” are kidding themselves. What you’ve seen is what you’re going to get.
Doomed. We're doomed, I say, doomed.
1. Will the Horns be intimidated?
If the young Horns become intimidated, esp. at the start, your prediction could easily come true.
2. Will the Horns acclimate to the speed of the OU game and will they be patient?
OU normally starts fast and Stoops has indicated he wanted the pace of the offense to be even faster. That quick start is a Stoops trademark, the intimidation OU’s forte. Even if they score, the Horns must be patient and hold their water. The game will come to them if they maintain their poise (and here’s where McCoy can be a great asset). If they panic, they are doomed.
3. Pressure on Bradford is the only way the game can be won unless: OU has a rash of TOs or it turns into a second-half shootout. But getting to Bradford is – and has been demonstrated – is the way to smash OU’s chestnuts. Then they are doomed, I say, doomed.
4. If the young Horns don’t panic and do adjust enough to force OU to earn everything it gets and stays in the game, Can OU stop the Horns?
For the Sooners? Nothing.
Sorry to hijack Shadow’s excellent water cooler material with stupid Dune quotes, but I do have to say that Stoops’ teams have a tendency to get all Kung Fu up on our burnt orange asses.
On paper our defenses can hold its own with OU’s offense, but, Whills, you have to agree with me that we’ve seen way too much uncontrolled enthusiasm in the form of over-pursuit resulting in missed arm tackles, going for the big hits and/or interceptions at the risk of a sure tackle, taking bad lines to the ball carrier, late hits, etc. The Kung Fu part comes in where Stoops will help us beat ourselves.
I’m not necessarily saying we ain’t got a hope in hell of winning the ballgame. All I’m saying is I ain’t drinkin’ the Muschamp kool-aid, yet (TM, realmccoy: below). Everything looks good so far, and I’m happy with the flawed performance of our young guns right now, but to quote Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies:
I don’t trust happiness. I never did, I never will.
It's Mean to Ween
Sure, happiness is a sitting duck.
If Snoops goes kung fu on us, the Horns should go Akido.
I realize the inexperience of the defense and that the Muschamp Doctrine has yet to be grounded in a serious reality.
This defense will have two more games to get much better. I think they will. For me, the first four games are a unit, one level of experience. When they hit CU at home, they will realize the level to which they really need to play. The difference between the CU game and OU will be very much like the change between the first game of the season and the second. So, what we see now won’t be what we see then imho.
But I think it still comes down to pressure on Bradford. If the Horns get that consistent push, the defense has a shot at containing them – not stopping them, mind you, containing. If the DL doesn’t have the strength to consistently do that, then it comes down to the blitz package. Here’s where Muschamp will earn his pay. We’ll see how well he can conceive a defense to stop an effective and efficient offense that goes for the throat at almost any time.
I don’t know if we can beat them. It’s a tall order this year. But I want to see the Horns compete, be aggressive and prove they are a top 10 team. I’ve given Muschamp plenty of rope; we’ll see what he does with it. I think the offenses are perhaps 5-10% apart but the Horns have the potential to have more weapons in more places; whether they can deploy is another matter. I think the defenses will be even closer by that time. I realize any number of things could happen in the meantime, but that’s how I see it now.
The negative nancy view
It may be that we’re doing so well in the second half because we’re strictly playing the pass. The line is only on pass rush duty, the linebackers can sag back into coverage (minus the Kindle man-beast bull rushes), and the backfield can take more chances with the cushy lead.
Or…it could just be that Muschamp is a BOOM MF hell of a coach.
Work in progress
I like to see the ’Horns responding to adversity (even if its manufactured or self inflicted). It makes me more confident that when they actually face true adversity against OU, Mizzou, and Tech they will at least have some experience to fall back on.
Muschamp is getting to know his guys and seeing who responds under pressure. Hats of to Chykie Brown, Aaron Williams, Henry Melton, the Acho brothers and all the others that have helped to shore up the depth of this team by playing at a high level of intensity.
We won’t be a shut down defense this year by any stretch, but what I’ve seen so far is that these guys are playing like they believe in their coach and each other. That gives me at least some hope that we can hang with our remaining opponents and give the offense a shot.
Texas defense
needs Earl Thomas and D. Beasley to step up. If those two guys can pull it together in the next two games, Texas will be fine.
The much needed adjustment
First time post, but the biggest adjustment I feel is needed is less of Earl Thomas. As a former collegiate player & HS coach (both in the secondary), Thomas is routinely out of place, or attempting to bait the quaterback when trailing his man, problem is is that Thomas is usually too many steps behind him to make a good break on the ball once it is thrown. If I’m an OC at OU, MU, or TT, I hope Texas puts him out in thier base or nickel package.
Thomas may eventually be what we all think he can be, but to this point, he hasn’t shown it. Let’s hope he makes great strides against Arkansas & Colorado. It could pay dividends in the month of October.
Like your post, Shadow
It gets to something that has nagged at me for several years: Why have there been so many games where comebacks were necessary? Without going to the archives, I can recall TCU, Nebraska and Okie State (plus the Aggie loss) in 2007; Tech and Iowa in ’06; Okie State in ’05 and A&M, Okie State, Kansas and Michigan in ’04 as games in which significant rallies were necessary.
Has there been a game in this stretch in which the Horns had a reasonable lead and ended up losing? I can’t recall one.
I think the slow starts are something inherent in the program, not something unique to this year’s defense. I don’t have an answer on my question; I’d guess this year’s slow starts defensively are partly the result of new personnel and schemes, and partly because the offense has struggled in the first quarter of all three games (relative to its later successes).
"TELL ME OF YOUR HOME WORLD, USUL"
I reckon we will find out soon enough who, if any, have properly prognosticated on the defense!
"What do you call the mouse shadow in the second moon?"
We call that one The Prophet Bombilla and he will take the kissamayahoukaoyaseech and ride as a leader of men.
Seriously, though…the 2003 OU game is still forcing my left nut to produce less semen than my right nut.
It's Mean to Ween
by Bombilla on Sep 23, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Substitute...
Helen Gaius Mohaim for Bob Stoops and Sam Bradford for Paul Arteides, talking about the Texas front seven:
Bradford: “What is in the box?”
Stoops: “Pain…”
1 Peter 2:17
Not Drinking Muschamp Kool Aid - Yet
While I love Wil’s enthusiasm too – I still see a very leaky pass defense and extremely poor tackling in the secondary. This will get us killed against Mizzou and OU at current performance level – and second half adjustments will not mean much. To his credit, the defense does seem faster and more enthusiastic this year. To me – I will judge him solely on his effectiveness against the big boys (OU,Mizzou, TT) of the Big XII and A&M. Those 4 games mean everything and all else is BS.
Unless we lose one of the others!
While I agree, but we cannot let down against the ones we should kill. Remember “We’re Texas damn it”
So all of this Herbert-worship has me wondering
Which of the Horns defenders this year most has a name that is also a killing word?
So much for Bolivia...
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