The Big 12 Weekly Roundup, Week 7
by GoHornsGo90 on Oct 19, 2010 1:05 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Football
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Ah, the sunshine and beauty of everyday life has returned at last. Texas got its first win in nearly a month, and it was a huge one as they upset Nebraska, the top five-rated, consensus best team in the conference.
This is such a huge win for Texas it's almost hard to imagine.
The team can move forward now and put the first half of the season's struggles firmly in the rearview mirror. The Big 12 Conference Championship is still an obtainable goal, where the Horns could meet Nebraska in the CCG for the second year in a row. Some things will have to fall in place in the South for the Horns to get there, starting next weekend when OU (and College Gameday) travels to Columbia, MO, for a tussle with the Missouri Tigers. By the way, did you guys hear OU is number one in the first BCS rankings? Alabama lost a couple weeks ago. Ohio State lost on Saturday night. Just sayin'...
Speaking of the Tigers, I'd like to give a huge shout out to my university for spanking the Aggies on their own field—a contest I didn't see us winning on the road, and certainly not in the dominating fashion we did. All Texas fans should be cheering hard for Mizzou next weekend.
We'll get to the games after the jump.
Kansas-7 (2-4, 0-2)
Kansas State-59 (5-1, 2-1)
The Skinny: Uh, Jayhawks, are you kidding me? 59-7? At home?! Sadly, this wasn't the first time Kansas has been behind 52-0 in a game this millennium (VY's final game at DKR when Texas started "slowly" and still led 52-0 at the half). KSU only managed a field goal in the first quarter before the floodgates opened in the second and third quarters. For what it's worth, KU was able to tie the Wildcats in the fourth quarter, 7-7...so there's that. Turner Gill's tenure in Lawrence may be even shorter than I initially expected after the Jayhawks' loss to North Dakota State 6-3.
Big Man On Campus: Kansas State QB Carson Coffman didn't put up huge numbers yardage-wise, but he was a laser precise 15/16 for 184 yards and two TDs. He also added three TDs on the ground.
Texas A&M-9 (3-3, 0-2)
Missouri-30 (6-0, 2-0)
The Skinny: Big time win for the Tigers on the road, as they improve to 6-0 and start number 11 in the BCS. A&M never had a chance in a game where Mizzou's secondary locked down the Aggies' talented wideouts from the get-go and the Tiger DL constantly pressured Jerrod Johnson. The two freshman tackles, though talented, had no chance against Mizzou's experienced lineman. We've seen this one before: when Johnson is under consistent pressure and can't get in a good rhythm, much like Landry Jones, he just isn't the same caliber of player. Hopefully Will Muschamp checks out the Tigers' gameplan because Mizzou's defense is very similar to UT's, albeit a lower tier.
Offensively, Blaine Gabbert had a field day and looked like the best QB in the league. He spread the ball all over the field to various receivers and had numerous complex option-route completions that will have NFL scouts drooling. Right now, the Aggies just don't have the defensive capability to stop a consistent spread passing attack. I can only pray Greg Davis and Mack Brown will have the requisite faith in Garrett Gilbert to open it up by the final game of the regular season.
Big Man On Campus: Gabbert threw for 361 yards and three TDs in a dismantling of the Aggie defense. Co-BMOC is Missouri DE Brad Madison, who filled in nicely for superstar DE Aldon Smith (out with a broken leg) with three sacks of Jerrod Johnson.
Nebraska-13 (5-1, 1-1)
Texas-20 (4-2, 2-1)
The Skinny: What a weight off the shoulders. For the first time this season, Texas fans have something to get excited about. Did anybody else get giddy during the game just finally seeing the players enjoy playing football? I think it was the first time our players have had fun this year.
Defensively, what else needs to be said? Will Muschamp concocted the perfect gameplan to shut down the Nebraska spread option attack and even got former Heisman candidate QB Taylor Martinez benched in favor of the much-maligned Zac Lee. The Horns' defense took the magic out of "T-Magic" like a 2nd-grade kid who just got told Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny aren't real. Even with rampant injuries across the defense, including Jackson Jeffcoat, Keenan Robinson, Kenny Vaccaro, and both the Browns, the Texas defense was dominant all day and only allowed six points. A few receivers broke free in coverage, but Nebraska helped our DBs out with one of the worst receiving games in the history of college football (no less than three dropped TD passes).
On offense, you have to hand it to Greg Davis-at least for the first half. He finally unleashed Gilbert in the running game and Nebraska looked completely lost on defense. Gilbert racked up 71 yards on 11 carries, a 6.5-yard average. Compare that to Martinez, who rushed for only 21 yards on 13 carries before being pulled, a 1.6-yard average. The second half gameplan was our typical "playing-not-to-lose" nonsense, but hey, we win 20-3 if not for that Eric Hagg punt return, so there's not too much to complain about. The offensive line played their best game this year and their most physical game since, God, 2008 against Mizzou? Supposedly Greg Davis told those guys he's tired of their underperforming week in and week out, so kudos to him for pushing the right buttons and to the OL for finally playing to their potential. If they keep it up, the sky's the limit for this team. Lastly, all the RBs ran like they had just been shown Malcolm Brown highlights for a week straight. I could totally see Major doing that. As good as Brown is, they aren't too hard to find and, hell, there might not even be a repeat play. I don't want to talk about the wide receivers...
Finally, adios to Nebraska. You guys have a great core of players to build around the next few years and a star in Martinez. Good luck in the Big 10, where you'll be looking up at Ohio State instead of Texas and lose your Texas recruiting base. Honestly, I just don't get it, but whatever. See ya when we see ya.
Big Man On Campus: This isn't a game where any single player jumps out at you, so I'll just go ahead and give it to Will Muschamp and the entire Texas defense. 10.7 YPC and 145 YPG. Those WERE Martinez's numbers coming into the game. Divide both by SEVEN to get Martinez's numbers for the UT game, not to mention they got T-Magic pulled. Nebraska got outrushed by Texas, which I'm sure not even the most optimistic UT fan would have predicted.
Texas Tech-17 (3-3, 1-3)
Oklahoma State-34 (6-0, 2-0)
The Skinny: Nobody seems to be talking about undefeated OSU right now, but that'll change this weekend as they host what should be an extremely pissed off Nebraska team.
The Pokes got a great win in Lubbock last Saturday, something they haven't done in 66 years. I expected a much higher scoring game, but the Tech offense was lethargic and couldn't get much going, particularly in the second half. Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden took a week off from tearing up collegiate secondaries and only threw for one score against two picks. He did outplay Taylor Potts, who only threw for 226 yards and a TD. When a Tech QB goes for less than 250 yards passing and only one TD, I don't have high expectations for the Raiders.
Big Man On Campus: Okie Lite WR Justin Blackmon looks like the best receiver in the country right now. I'd love to have this guy on a fantasy football team, and he's only a sophomore. Homeboy put up his first 200-yard game of the season with 207 yards on 10 catches and the lone TD pass from Weeden.
Colorado-25 (3-3, 0-2)
Baylor-31 (5-2, 2-1)
The Skinny: Baylor went nuts on offense with 543 yards, including 309 on the ground, but turnovers cost the Bears and they had to intercept a Tyler Hansen pass in the endzone to hold off a Colorado team that got shut out by Mizzou last week. Jay Finley had a big day for Baylor with 143 yards and two TDs on only 14 carries.
The big story here: Baylor is one game from being bowl-eligible with five chances to get there. We can also start throwing out bets for whom is going to be the team without a conference win this year, CU or KU. Only one can win the prestigious honor, as they play each other. My money is on the Buffs.
Big Man On Campus: Who else but Robert Griffin III? RGIII went into the game with the fourth most total yards per game in the nation, and didn't disappoint. He went over 100 by land and 200 by, uhm, air, with 137 rushing yards and 234 passing yards and a TD.
Oklahoma-52 (6-0, 2-0)
Iowa State-0 (3-4, 1-2)
The Skinny: Oklahoma vindicated what would ultimately be their BCS number one ranking by tearing the Cyclones into little pieces and looking like by far the best team in the conference. When their offense is on, it's unstoppable because they combine the short pass with the run in the hurry-up so fluidly and gas the opposing defense. The defense stops coming after Jones as hard because they're winded, so OU starts taking their shots downfield under no pressure. Iowa State had no answer for the part of the game when OU was actually trying to score, so we're left with 52-0 instead of 70-0. How nice. The Sooners racked up an incredible 672 yards of offense, with basically a 1-1 split between the rushing game and the passing game. This is the difference between Texas and OU. OU protects their QBs by default-it's just how their system works. Texas protects their QBs by X-ing out the middle of the field from routes, only giving the QB one read, and telling him to checkdown to a TE seven yards short of the first down marker.
They'll have a harder time against Mizzou's defense, but they still matchup nicely with the Tigers. Missouri has slow LBs that can't cover sideline to sideline and a susceptible belly up the middle for OU to run through. They also have a very good and experienced secondary that can lock down receivers and one of the better defensive line pass rushes in the country. OU has a quick passing game that protects the QB from getting pressured and doesn't rely on long throws. You see the problem.
Big Man On Campus: Landry Jones was lights out against the ‘Clones, going 30/34 for 334 yards and three TDs. Lots of threes in there.
Power Rankings
This weekend won't go nearly as far as next weekend will in shaping my impression of the conference landscape. If you think I'm going to automatically jump back on the UT bandwagon and vault them up to number 1, think again. Or go read Orangebloods or something (Chip Brown had UT number one in his rankings-I literally laughed out loud). Texas has to earn it back for me, and one lights out performance by the defense and letting GG run isn't enough for me to jump them over teams who've earned it almost every week of the season.
Same with Missouri and Okie State, who many would expect to jump Nebraska. Sorry guys, you have to do better than beating up on Aggie and Sand Aggie to move up in my rankings. You deliver next weekend and you'll reap the benefits. Until then, be patient.
OU obviously takes the number one spot by default, but I was impressed with them in all phases of the game against an overmatched ISU team.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers
3. Missouri Tigers
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys
5. Texas Longhorns
6. Kansas State Wildcats
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders
8. Texas A&M Aggies
9. Baylor Bears
10. Iowa State Cyclones
11. Colorado Buffaloes
12. Kansas Jayhawks
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Santa and the Easter Bunny aren't real??!
Thankfully, Will Muschamp is!
"You never lose a game if the opponent doesn't score." - Darrell Royal
by BMC237 on Oct 19, 2010 2:11 PM CDT reply actions
Before you thought I had Texas too high
It’s important not to base the entire season each week on the most recent game. I think A&M will bounce back and grab an upset somewhere. Hopefully not against Texas.
you did have texas too high
they’re finally playing to their potential, though (I’d even argue for overachieving given current talent level), whereas A&M is underachieving
at this point in the season, you are what you are, and right now, A&M is an underachieving team that finds ways to lose games, be it with turnovers and penalties (OSU, Arkansas) or not showing up to play (Missouri)
I’d put us at #11, b/c I think even if we play like we did last weekend the rest of the season, we still beat Baylor.
And I still don’t see justification for Tech over Iowa State. They played head-to-head, and Tech got destroyed. What more evidence do you need that Iowa State is better this year?
correction
I’d put us at #11, b/c I think even if we play like we did last weekend the rest of the season, we still beatBaylorKansas.
If we play like we did last weekend for the rest of the season, Baylor will destroy us.
I think its pretty adequate.
If I had to bet on A&M vs any of the other teams listed below, I would take A&M
I would drop nebraska down a little lower.
as well as tech,
Baylor should be a spot or two higher.
Huh?
Mizzou’s defense is on a lower tier than Texas’? Other than history, I am not sure why you’d say such a thing. Judging from what has transpired this season, I’d saythe jury is out on which defense is better. We’ll face our first common opponent this weekend, and as you said, you should hope Mizzou’s defense is better than yours.
You must be joking
The talent level is not close to comparable. Mizzou has played basically nobody yet, and they match up horribly with Oklahoma, as I said. I’m sorry, have you seen Mizzou’s LBs play? They are one of the slowest units in the conference. You need fast LBs who can play sideline to sideline to have a chance of slowing down OU. There’s no comparison at all between Texas’ defense, which is one of the best in the country, and Mizzou’s defense, which is better than usual but has beaten up on scrubs and gotten an astounding amount of lucky breaks. Did you watch Texas play Nebraska last weekend? Do you actually think Missouri’s defense this year…hell, the best Missouri defense EVER, could wipe out that Nebraska offense like that? If you do, you’re delusional.
In case you couldn’t tell by
Speaking of the Tigers, I’d like to give a huge shout out to my university for spanking the Aggies on their own field-a contest I didn’t see us winning on the road, and certainly not in the dominating fashion we did., I go to Missouri…
Well
We won’t have to wait long to find out if you’re correct….if we shut down OK (less than 21) you can reassess….
BTW, doesn’t your presence here make your educational institution irrelevant?
Also
Gooden is slow? In general, I’d like to see all the lateral speed tests you’ve conducted to make your linebacker statement. Very scientific, I’m sure. And, FYI, Nebraska couldn’t be much more one-dimensional. And there are plenty of people, not you obviously, that think dropped passes (wide open mind you) are what kept Nebraska out of the end zone and you out of overtime and/or a loss.
I do enjoy it when
fans come in here from the “ranked high because I haven’t played anyone” category and parade their team as if they are the next national championship contender. Nebraska was doing it last week, now it’s Missouri. I won’t begin to address the flaws in your “dropped passes” statement. You get your first test against a number 1 OU (who didn’t so much as beat us as we beat ourselves) who you have never beaten under your coach, ever. We’ll chat on sunday, but you don’t need science, just eyes, to see our defense is on a different level than yours.
by PoolsideHorns on Oct 19, 2010 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Opponents...
Texas: Rice 2-5 (awful); Wyoming 2-5 (awful); Tech 3-3 (maybe okay, but lost Iowa State by 17); UCLA 3-3 (okay, but lost handily to KState); OK (great); Neb(great).
Missouri: Illinois 3-3 (okay); McNeese State 2-4 (gave LSU a three quarter test, but a joke obviously); SDSU 4-2 (good, beat Air Force); Colorado 3-3 (okay, beat Hawaii and Georgia); MiaOH 4-3 ( average mid-major); A&M 3-3 (will end up being middle of Big 12 at least).
Has Missouri played Oklahoma and Nebrasks yet? No, but we haven’t lost yo then yet either. Aside from those two opponents, i’d say SDSU is just as good as any of Texas’ opponents. Illinois, btw, could undoubtedly play with UCLA.
So our top 45 schedule, while not imposing, hasn’t been awful and we have won.
To reinforce Hobbes881
Missouri ranks #29 in total D via CFBstats; that’s giving up 325 a game and 4.6 yards per play. You’ve played some fair to middlin’ teams but you haven’t stuffed them.
By contrast Texas ranks #4 with 245 a game and 3.7 per play (the per play is #1). Comparatively speaking, Missouri’s D is worse, much worse.
The case with Missouri and OU is that both your offenses cover up your poor defenses. OU’s defense is much worse, ranked #71 (up from #92 last week) with 373.5 per game and 5.4 yards per play.
Missouri has to stop OU quickly and if you can’t stop them, then you must out score them. And you must do this quickly or you’ll be out of the game before you know it. They know this, so don’t be surprised if they try to put 35 or 42 on you in the first two quarters; they have to cover their ass.
You better be lucky the first three OU possessions. Real lucky.
Nebraska’s D will hurt you in ways you don’t imagine.
Yes, it has
But they’ve also gotten extremely lucky with some missed field goals, blocked field goals, and screwy turnovers.
I say yardage is a predictor of how good a defense is. Scoring defense is a predictor of wins. It fits Texas and Mizzou pretty well right now, but if you honestly think Texas’ defense isn’t greatly influenced by offense’s ineptitude up til now, well, you haven’t seen UT play.
I use that as a general measure of strength.
However, you’re correct about the red zone defense (#3) and scoring D (#2).
Your passing defense (#58) is much weaker than your running D (#29). That’s what drops you down the overall list.
I just use they as general assessment. For me, it gives me some idea of how strong the Tigers actually are. You’ve been in this position before and had difficulty getting over the hump. These don’t really tell the story of how well your offense and defense mesh in actual games either, whether they complement or undercut each other.
Would like to see you beat the Sooners but I already stated what needs to be done in that regards. Good luck.
Plenty of people are wrong
Horns had two drops in th endzone too. As well as leaving a scoring opportunity on the table right before the half, and kneeling at the three at the end of the game. If all that was keeping the corn from scoring every drive was drops, why weren’t the receivers getting benched instead of magic boy?
by jmptexas on Oct 19, 2010 7:35 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Gooden is fast
Gachkar, Lambert, and Ebner are molasses. No need to come onto somebody else’s site to be a condescending ass. Much less a condescending ass who’s completely wrong.
Please....
If I’ve been a troll, I have been very well-behaved. Spare me the suggestion that I’ve been condescending, the only reason you feel that way is because to you the very suggestion that Missouri belongs the same discussion as UT is absurd.
My
God. You are almost too good to believe. I didn’t know anybody like this existed as a Mizzou fan. Usually the fan base knows its place a little more. The suggestion that Missouri belongs in the same discussion as UT is absurd.
Not what I am saying
Of course Missouri doesn’t belong in the same coversation as UT on a historical basis, short or long-term. This year, probably an aberration, Missouri appears to be capable of competing against UT and OU. And, this conversation in particular, was about THIS year’s defenses. I am not a fool, I know UT has a superior football program to Missouri. I am suggesting that as a unit — perhaps due to scheme or coaching — Missouri may have a defense comparable to UT’s. If you scroll up i never said this was the case, I said the jury was out.
That's fine
And a fair statement, but I honestly don’t see why you could think Mizzou’s defense is that good from an actual observer’s perspective, other than the scoring defense ranking. Even if OU rolls up 500+ on us, I don’t see it as a great indicator because we match up so poorly with their style of offense. A&M has a good offense, but we tooled them because we match up perfectly. OU, not so much.
by GoHornsGo90 on Oct 19, 2010 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
But our corners did pretty well with Fuller 1 on 1…..and that is both encouraging and shocking.
the fact that you believe this
is a sign people shouldn’t take your football comments too seriously
your defense didn’t do a number on Fuller
Jerrod Johnson did a number on Fuller
You apparently don’t know the difference between good secondary play, and piss-poor execution by a QB.
I would say
It was a combination of three things: Mizzou’s DEs just wrecked A&M’s tackles, Jerrod Johnson was skittish and through the ball poorly, and the Mizzou CBs played well till late in the game when we were “trying” to stop the big play and keep A&M out of the game.
Jerrod was 12-17 for 181 yds, 1 TD in the 4th quarter Saturday
when we went no-huddle and pushed the tempo with 10 personnel, like we should have been doing all game.
Missouri’s defense didn’t perform well in this game so much as A&M’s gameplan was too conservative, and made it easy for Missouri to defend them. A&M’s gameplan against Missouri would have made Greg Davis proud.
Not really true at all
Missouri had the perfect gameplan and executed perfectly. Offenses are always more successful in the fourth quarter when the game is decided. The defense is on its heels and just trying to prevent the big play, which is exactly what happened. I don’t think A&M played any better at all. It happens in basically every college football game. It’s called garbage time.
by GoHornsGo90 on Oct 20, 2010 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions
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