Ten Questions for Texas Football: (3) Lessons from 2008
by Peter Bean on Sep 1, 2009 7:04 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Football
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PrintA short notice business trip to Washington D.C. kept me away from the series for a while, but with just a few days left to kickoff, we'd better get moving...
Previously in 'Ten Questions': (1) The 2009 Narrative, (2) We're Texas.
After the jump: Lessons from the 2008 season.
3. What did we learn in 2008?
So much to discuss, so little time to get it all out. Shall we bulletpoint? We shall.
- It is a mathematical certainty that Bob Stoops and Jim Tressel can never meet in a BCS Bowl game.
- More math: Asking Charlie Tanner to reach block while rushing from one's own end zone is worth two points.
- Aaron Williams' freshman season was incredibly impressive. Perhaps, though, not surprising.
- At its best, this Texas team can beat anybody, and badly.
- Will Muschamp's defenses are damn physical, and they play with heart.
- Moving away from the links now: Anyone else wonder whether the commitment to rush from under center is to 2009 what the Q Package was to 2008? There's a lesson in there...
- Colt McCoy took a lot of hits last year, and that number was down from 2007. Forget the completion percentage and throw it away from time to time.
- There's something to be said for being sportsmanlike and pulling the first teamers with an insurmountable lead. There are no bonus stickers (but are tangible downsides) to having the second teamers run-run-run-punt.
- Great special teams play can and often does play a vital role in big games. Does Texas beat OU without the Shipley return? Does it lose to Texas Tech without the punt downed on the 1? For that matter, does it make the comeback without Shipley's punt return?
- Same song, different tune: You could argue Malcolm Williams, Jordan Shipley, and Aaron Williams were Texas' three most athletic players. You could also argue they were the team's three best special teams players. I'm just sayin'.
- Big 12 officials could not identify a holding infraction if Trent Williams fashioned his shoelaces and jockstrap into a lasso, slung it over Sergio Kindle's waist, and tied him to the goal post. There is, perhaps, an adjustment for our coaches to make?
- Historian: Over a century of college football history suggests Colt McCoy will not complete 77% of his passes in 2009. Statistician: Expect some regression to the mean. PB: Texas needs more big plays.
- We saw last season how strength up front can help while the secondary gets up to speed. So long as the inverse is true, Texas' defense can be special.
What other lessons from 2008 are on your mind as the season opener draws near?
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I'm certain I missed it somewhere along the way...but...
Who is this Peter Bean fellow? Perhaps someone should tell PB that this jerk is blowing up his spot…
Very uncool, Mr. Bean…if that is your real name…
"There are three kinds of people in this world: those who are good at math, and those who aren't..."
--GA Horn--
Had to change my user handle
For reasons unrelated to BON. Will explain in more detail in a couple week or so.
You ain't hurt.
Coupla answers
Anyone else wonder whether the commitment to rush from under center is to 2009 what the Q Package was to 2008?
Yes, but the Q was a gadget. You don’t need gadgets to win.
Colt McCoy took a lot of hits last year, and that number was down from 2007. Forget the completion percentage and throw it away from time to time.
That. And block somebody. And stop having the QB run.
see #1 "The Narrative"
I think it’s really more important than how many points you score, and I think it played into why scoring that many points worked for OU.
I have n ever understood all the whining from texas fans about offensive holding
y’all act like texas never gets away with holding. Have y’all ever WATCHED your offensive line play?
While I will agree that Texas Tech’s offensive line got away with muggings that would bring criminal charges in most states last season, the whining from texas fans about holding (especially by Oklahoma players) gets old.
It was only last year.
We had the most dominant DE in the country flanked on the other side by a very good DE (plus Sergio Kindle) with one of the best DTs in the country and they overwhelmed most offensive lines. Offensive lines did what they had to do to keep their quarterbacks from getting killed, which was hold as much as they could get away with. Turns out they could get away with a lot. That’s all.
I don’t remember ever complaining about systematic holding prior to last year. We’ll see what happens this year. But I do know this: the better your D-line, the more often O-lineman need to hold. And we had a wrecking crew of a D-line last year.
(Apologies for borrowing the “Wrecking Crew” moniker, but you guys haven’t needed it for a while, so I thought I’d borrow it for a bit)
If you're going to make seemingly spurious claims...
…then you better come up with some evidence other than your vague recollection enhanced with an emphatic “it seems.” I’ll be here.
Did you not watch Orakpk v. Loadholt?
by burntorangehorn on Sep 2, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Dirtbag Coaches
The one thing I have learned from the awesome BON previews and PB’s magazine is that because of the dousche-bag voting behavior of a lot of conference coaches last year, Coach Brown’s cup should not “overfloweth with kindness.” Garrett and the second teamers should run the offense when they are in. Period and regardless of score. Even if some of these same coaches were to complain to the media, Coach Brown still has the high road because the second teamers have a lot of true and redshirt freshmen who need real game time experience.
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