I'm going to begin by stating the obvious, our offense is horrible.  I think that Greg Davis has been exposed and will be let go at season's end.  That is the happiest part of this season for me, and it has yet to happen!  I think we can all relate to how hard it has been to watch this longhorn team play, but I wanted to pick on the defensive side of the ball a bit...as the offensive struggles have been well documented.  After the jump I'll give a few observations and ask a few questions that maybe a few here can help me out with...

Why is it that our defense doesn't make any pre-snap adjustments this season?  Last year, we would line up in our defensive set and check out what the opposing offensive set was, and adjust (audible, shift, etc.).  This year it seems opposite.  The opposing offense comes to the line, checks out our defensive alignment then gets the call from the sidelines.  We do nothing to adjust!  I remember watching last year how remarkable our defense disguised itself.  This year it's almost like the team (or the coach) doesn't care to make the adjustments.  My personal belief is that nobody realizes how bad the 2010 team misses R. Muckelroy.  But maybe someone else has some thoughts on this?  Do we just not have the personnel?  No leaders?

 

We have no speed rushers...that simple.  We have been spoiled with B. Orakpo and S. Kindle these past few years.  I will say that I believe that Sam Acho is the only person on the defensive side of the ball that has played up to his potential this season IMO.  He is the one bright spot, on an otherwise underachieving unit (besides some true freshman that have played decent).  But I noticed that once J. Jeffcoat went down with his ankle injury, our defense hasn't been the same in relation to the rush we get on a an opposing quarterback.  Is it from lack of depth or talent? 

 

I won't spend a lot of time here, but our lack of depth at DT has hurt us.  Has our DT position even recorded a sack on the season?  We have had to spin down players...just a mess.

 

Ch. Brown and B. Gideon may be my least favorite defensive longhorns of all time.  Ch. Brown was always out of position, and was by far the weakest player on our entire defense.  It would be interesting to see the % of completed passes that have went against him in the 2010 season.  It seems like every completed pass in the 2010 season was against him.  B. Gideon is my least favorite though...by far.  It all started in the Tech game with his well documented dropped interception that could have sealed the game for Texas and send them to the BCS title game.  And now, he is always making a bonehead play.  Whether he is taking the wrong angle on rush pursuit, being totally out of position in our zone coverage, or getting smoked in man coverage...the guy is just weak.  I personally can't wait for him to graduate.

 

I'll wrap this up with a question...why do we not blitz with more frequency?  I have watched every single game this season (however painful it has been), and our blitzing is bizarre to say the least.  We don't do it often enough (when compared to previous Muschamp defenses), and when we attempt to bring the house it looks ill timed and out of whack.  Why is this, or am I just wrong in my observation?

 

Thanks to all, and Hook 'Em!