A lot of fan consternation, and I think much of the “oddity” of the UTEP game was a perfect storm of youth and X’s and O’s. UTEP runs a 3-3-5 defense, similar to the one West Virginia used to open up a can on Oklahoma last January. The sole purpose of this defense is to change which and how many players attack the line of scrimmage, and the mix of players is drawn from the 3 DL, 3 LB, and 1 or 2 safeties or rovers. On any given play, a safety, 2 LB, and 2 DL might rush, and a DL might drop into coverage. Although the alignments are completely different, this is the principle employed by the Giants’ defense in winning the Super Bowl. For a more detailed description see the quote at the bottom of this from the following website
Texas runs a zone-blocking scheme in which the offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any player in a “zone” extending forward from the line of scrimmage. The strategy UTEP used was to overload individual zones patrolled by the two Texas guards, Michael Huey (LG) and Cedric Dockery (RG) and center Chris Hall with 2 or even 3 attacking players. Most of the night, the OL handled this but, especially for Michael Huey, who was getting his first start, sometimes (and particularly in the late second and third quarters), the strategy resulted in a jailbreak and some serious pressure on Colt. The jailbreak occurred because one of the other OL did not shift over in time, or the G chose the wrong player to block initially. The 3-3-5 is tough on inexperienced zone-blocking lines because the assignments change on every play and the whole play gets fouled up if that happens. When the linemen choose right, however, half of the defense can get isolated away from the ball and we get the emergence of Fozzy Whittaker.
GD’s strategy to spread the field reduces the potential number of DIFFERENT players that can attack the line because the DB’s have to get out and cover the slot receivers or the TE and this simplifies the assignments for the OL (picking among 6 different players to block rather than 8. Ithink he used this to help Michael Huey especially, but the interior 3 linemen (which are still the weakest section in terms of pass protection). If you decide to spread the field like that, you put the game in the hands of McCoy, Cosby and Shipley rather than the RB, but the offense may seem to sputter because of the alternation of successful vs unsuccessful plays.
The 3-3-5 is vulnerable to big plays in the running game but can also make spectacular stops behind the line of scrimmage. It is the kind of gambling defense UT often sees from the patsies on the schedule because these teams know they have no chance playing it straight up as FAU tried to. Given that the adrenaline of the “big game” was likely making the UTEP players much quicker than they looked on film, the defensive gambling may have left the Horns surprised

OT Adam Ulatoski
On the performance of the offensive line to this point: I think that we have had a couple good games, but we definitely have a lot of work to do. We have to work better on running a zone and running a counter and all the different plays that we have. The last game, we had a lot of plays that were really close to being great plays, we just have to get everybody on the same page and then they’ll turn into great plays.

So this, I believe is the cause of the “confusion” Greg Davis was trying to avoid, and was an adjustment, similar to Will Muschamp’s decision to play safeties back in “quarters” and “cover 2” (more on that some other time), to the youth of the team and perhaps to Mack’s tendency to stay conservative and play lots of players.

In case you are interested-

3-3-5
The 3-3-5 alignment, sometimes known as the “Mustang” or “30-Stack,” typically relies on 3 down linemen, 3 linebackers, and 5 defensive backs: 1 free safety, 2 cornerbacks playing off the line, and 2 roving safeties that move around. The safeties take on 2nd receivers or tight ends and have to be able to come up and make tackles, usually outside the box. Generally, when running a 3-3-5 the user is trying to confuse the offense by “exchanging” different pressures in the A, B, and C gaps using the lineman, linebackers, rovers, and free safety while playing mostly zone or sometimes man coverage behind. Teams that run the 3-3-5 generally use it because they are a fast but sometimes smaller unit who wants to cause assignment issues for the opposing offense. Also, a 3-3-5 can be adjusted based on formation to a 4-3, 3-4, 4-4, Goal Line, etc. with the same starting players making it in theory a perfect counterpunch to whatever the offense is trying to do.

To effectively play the 3-3-5 the “Front 8,” especially the lineman and linebackers must be physical, stout, and tough. The lineman must be able to control their assigned gaps, get an effective pass rush, and take out double teams to free up the linebackers to make plays. The 2 outside or “Stud” linebackers must be effective at pressuring, reading and reacting to the play, and play at a low pad level as they will be taking on lineman and fullbacks while the “Mike” must be intelligent in lining up the defense in a counter to the offense’s formation as well as flowing to the ball and being able to shed blockers and make plays. The rovers or “Drillers” must be capable of pressuring, dropping back in coverage, being physical, taking on lineman, keeping contain, and coming up and making plays. The cornerbacks must be good in coverage and be physical tacklers. And finally, the free safety is the most versatile athlete on the field as on any given play he can drop in coverage, pressure the quarterback or play one of the “Mike” backers in the 3-4. In addition to this the free safety must be a physical tackler and hitter and generally your best playmaker and smartest athlete. We currently see this defense primarily used by the West Virginia Mountaineers. Implementing the front three as end, tackle, and nose. While the linebackers are referred to as Mike (Middle), Sam (Strong), and Will (Weak). While the secondary commonly consists of the Spur, Bandit, Free, Boundary, and Cover.

As someone who has worked in the mental health profession for many years, I am very disturbed by the reports that “VY mention suicide to his therapist”
Unless the therapist felt that VY was a danger to himself or others, the therapist broke the law by releasing this statement (patient/doctor confidentiality) , not to mention violtating HIPPA laws.
A persons medical/therapy records are private with the exception of the above mention reason or if a supeona has been issued by a court of law. NO ONE in the public IS allowed access to any part of a patients medical records without the patient’s consent.
If I was VY, I would find out how/why this information was released and if appropriate, sue the F**K out of someone.
Just kick a man when he is down by playing this headline on ESPN every 15 minutes.

Come on VY, we are behind you. You will be back and you will win.