Context

By deferring to the second half, the Buckeyes received the ball to start the game and the Longhorns found themselves struggling to possess the football after a three and out to start the game, followed by a stalled seven play drive on their next possessions. Down 6-3 at the start of the second half, a sustained drive became imperative, if only to keep the ball away from the Ohio State offense and give the Texas defense a rest.

Ignominious beginning

The Ohio State kicker put the ball well into the endzone on his kickoff, as Jordan Shipley stumbled backing up and found himself laying on his back with the ball in his hands, leaving Colt McCoy and the Longhorn offense 80 yards from paydirt.

1st and 10 on Texas 20

Longhorns come out in their base 11 personnel, with Fozzy Whittaker earning the starting nod for the second half. McCoy hands the ball off to Whittaker on the counter play with the guard pulling. Adam Ulatoski retreats, faking the pass block, but doesn't draw the defender far enough upfield to take him out of the play. Very strange. Whittaker gains two yards.

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 The attrition continues. The Longhorn football team is a group of walking wounded. Mack Brown said Wednesday that Brian Orakpo will be a game-time decision. Chip Brown broke the story ($) that Colt McCoy spent as much time in the ice tubs as Quan Cosby did last week after leaving the Tech game with an injury. It led to McCoy hesitating to take the running lanes given to him by the Baylor defense. He also absorbed a couple big hits when blitzing defenders came free through the line. Lamarr Houston left the Baylor game after aggravating an ankle injury he has played through most of the year. Adam Ulatoski injured his elbow in the game, as well, leaving after the injury, although he remained atop the depth chart at left tackle. Chykie Brown has struggled to get back to speed, while recovering slowly from his ankle injury. Now, starting center Chris Hall injured his knee in practice this week, leaving him out of action for the Kansas game and thrusting true freshman David Snow into the starting role. After Buck Burnette's dismissal last week, that leaves tight end (if you can even call him that) Greg Smith as the backup center and the only player on the team who may need two jerseys this weekend. Talk about a team in desperate need of a bye week.

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Basketball tidbits. Just a reminder that the men's basketball season starts on Friday as the Longhorns host Stetson. That's right, it isn't just a hat. The news from the team is that Alexis Wangmene has returned from Cameroon and is practicing again. The young big man returned to his native country after the unexpected death of his mother.

After a scrimmage against Gonzaga, Rick Barnes reports that Dogus Balbay is still adjusting to his role on the team and attempting to find the proper mix of not being too agressive, but also not being passive. I believe John Wooden put it best, "Be quick, but don't hurry." Barnes says that Balbay is sometimes the Roadrunner, but spent the scrimmage being a turtle. Barnes wants something in between. One of the most important aspects of being a point guard is understanding the right tempo at which to operate. Players like Deron Wiliams and DJ Augustin are excellent at that part of the game, changing speeds, but also understanding when to press the advantage in transition and when to back it out and run the offense. Balbay's ability to do all of those things will factor greatly into how much he plays point guard, since Justin Mason and AJ Abrams are both probably better served operating off the ball.

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Though I'm not masochistic enough to want to belabor Saturday night's low points much beyond this post, I want to conclude my post-game thoughts with a look at five statistics which best illuminate what went wrong in Lubbock. I think moving forward requires some painful digesting of the what and how of Texas' (first half, in particular) failures--both as mistakes to avoid and opportunities to elevate to a higher level.

1. TEXAS TECH 1st QUARTER TIME OF POSSESSION: 12:28

"Keep Tech's offense off the field" was one of many fans' key talking points throughout the week, but the 1st Quarter could not have gone more poorly for the Longhorns in that regard. When on the final play of the first quarter Barron Batch scored a touchdown for a 12-0 Tech lead, he capped as stunning an opening five drives to the game as a Texas fan could imagine:

Did Texas Tech win the game in the first quarter? In many ways, yeah. Consider the final offensive numbers (not including the non-offensive touchdown each picked up in the second half--Texas via punt return, Tech via INT return):

If Texas didn't lose the game in the first quarter, they lost it in the first half, when Tech led by as many 19 points. Though in the second half it was Texas that eventually got on track, it was Texas Tech... that got the ball last. Absolutely crushing.

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Scipio and I agreed that tonight's podcast went well by any standard, but especially for a first go-round of 80 minutes of non-stop Texas talk. We were especially pleased so many readers tuned in live, but for those who missed the broadcast, an mp3 of the show is provided after the jump. Among the many topics covered:

• Texas' tense survival of Oklahoma State
• An interview with Seth from the outstanding Tech blog Double T Nation
• Why Will Muschamp is succeeding now with players still learning to be great
• Greg Davis' strengths and weaknesses as a coordinator
• The amazing evolution of Mack Brown... via the fortuitous loss to A&M?
  
• What Fozzy Whittaker can and can't do for the 2008 Longhorns
• Why Jim Delaney is the smartest asshole in the room

Click through the jump for the audio.

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In the wake of Texas' good-not-great win over UTEP six weeks ago, I took a look at Texas' rushing production and wondered who would step up to assist Colt McCoy. In Part 3 of our OSU preview we take a look both at the Texas running game and the Oklahoma State rush defense.

After the jump you'll fine a full charting of Texas performance rushing the ball in every game since UTEP as well as updated season totals. The preview concludes with a look at OSU's rush defense performance to date.

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Mythical Fozzy creature returns. Overshadowed by the emergence of Chris Ogbonnaya, who has secured the starting tailback role, was the return on Saturday of the mythical Fozzy creature, oft-rumored but rarely seen. To the chagrin of many, he did not sprout wings and fly over the Missouri defenders, but did pick up 20 yards on his first carry. When the running game struggled early in the season, Whittaker's return was of paramount importance to jump start the ground game. Now, with Ogbonnaya firmly entrenched, running behind his pads with power, making quick, decisive cuts, and with the offense clicking, a healthy Whittaker deepens the running back corps to provide a change of pace back.

With the precision passing game wearing down opponents with its efficiency and an increasingly effective offensive line, Whittaker can provide the depth to take advantage of worn-out defenders. And that makes this team beyond scary. Add in an increasingly healthy Vondrell McGee breaking long runs against Missouri and the Longhorns have clearly established their identity as a team that passes to soften up the defense enough to run the ball.

Vindication about Daniel, et al. In the dark days after losing Vince Young early to the NFL, many fans and media members questioned Mack Brown's decision to pursue Ryan Perrilloux and Colt McCoy. I think it's apparent how lucky Texas is that Perrilloux never set foot on campus. Any lingering remnants of those questions were buried at DKR on Saturday like the Longhorns buried the OU game ball last week. Mack Brown was right in pursuing Perrilloux and McCoy instead of the pint-sized Daniel, who has never led a second half comeback in his career. Being Texas means you only have to offer the prototypes, and Daniel wasn't. Neither were Stryker Sulak and Sean Witherspoon, who were simply blown off the field by the immensely superior Texas offense. Brown made the right decisions in each case and came away with the real Heisman contender.

I love this football team. It was a perfect, cool October night for Texas football on Saturday. And the Longhorns responded by playing the perfect half, leaving stunned Texas and Missouri fans alike. Walking around the concourses during halftime, Texas fans moved around in a stunned euphoria, attempting to contemplate the destruction they had just witnessed, unlike anything they could have hoped for or imagined. It was a raucous crowd, more than answering calls for a true home field advantage in the new stadium.

More than anything else, though, it was a day to believe. A day to accept that this football team has not only the talent to win, but the intangibles to win. The chemistry, the desire. Many mocked the team's motto for the season: "Consistently good to be great." Understandable, certainly, but it might be the best way to summarize the season so far and where it will lead. If the team continues their consistently good play, they will be a great football team. I'm ready to live the dream again. And I believe in this football team. Deeply. The best news in all this? According to Roy Miller, the Longhorns are still looking to play their best game. You can find me next to the cooler of Burnt Orange Kool-Aid drinking my fill. Then maybe a little more.

Stats are for losers. I don't help myself and neither can BRAGGonUT. We just can't quit those stats. Even if we are losers. He has some interesting ones up over at Barking Carnival. Of note are the measly 10 turnovers forced, for an average of 1.43, good for 10th in the Big 12 conference. Last year's team averaged 2.07 a game, but the numbers this season don't account for the 12 turnovers on downs forced. Several of which have come deep in Longhorn territory. Add in the inexperienced secondary and some dropped interceptions and it's easy to understand why the raw numbers don't support a ballhawking defense. Earl Thomas has been close on some balls (did you see Chase Coffman rip that ball away from him in the second half?) and I think as he gains more experience he will find himself in a better position by the half step that he needs to start picking off more balls.

Dez sez, "Gimme the rock!" A significant amount of ink will be spilled this week talking  about the strength of the OSU running game, which is legitimate considering it poses the biggest threat yet to the Texas front seven, which may or may not have injured Jared Norton available (please, please, no kamikaze Bobino). But HenryJames breaks down why Dez Bryant is so scary. How about representing a significant majority of Zac Robinson's completions (48%), yards (54%), and touchdown passes (78%)? Guy's a stud. The million dollar question is whether Muschamp can devise a scheme to slow down Bryant without allowing the OSU running backs and tight end Brandon Pettigrew to run free. My thoughts? In Muschamp I Trust.

A hectic day has kept me away from the computer, but as promised, it's time for a prediction. But first, a few potential lessons learned from last week, the digestion of which by one team more than the other could be decisive Saturday night:

• Missouri Lesson #1:  One-dimensional attack against Oklahoma State was a mistake. Commitment to the running game is essential to protect Daniels.
• Missouri Lesson #2:  One-dimensional attack against Will Muschamp will not work for four quarters.
  
• Missouri Conclusion: Try like hell to run the football. Even if it looks grim.
  
  
• Texas Lesson #1:  Greg Davis was successful in playing to win when Texas was the big underdog to a heavily favorited Oklahoma team.
  
• Texas Lesson #2:  Greg Davis historically has been at his worst when he's played conservatively/not to lose.
• Texas Conclusion:  The big concern for Texas--certainly on offense--is hesitancy/tightness/playing to avoid mistakes.
  
  
• Missouri Lesson #1:  The Tigers' strength on defense lies with their extremely physical, talented defenders up the middle.
• Missouri Lesson #2:  Colt McCoy has a tendency to telegraph where the ball is going--be it Shipley or Cosby, who are often slashing into space in the middle of the field.
• Missouri Conclusion:  Be ready both to jump quick routes on the inside and/or lay some hits Texas' can't-lose receivers won't forget.
  
  
• Texas Lesson #1:  Missouri's strength on defense lies with their extremely physical, talented defenders up the middle.
• Texas Lesson #2:  Jordan Shipley has one of the best double moves in college football.
• Texas Conclusion:  Using Missouri's aggressiveness against them with Shipley and/or a trick play will lead to 6 deep.
  
  
• PB Will Worry If:  Texas misses 3-4 key tackles leading to 1-2 long scores for Missouri.
• PB Will Worry If:  Quan or Ship or McCoy takes a hit that knocks them out of the game for any extended period of time.
• PB Will Worry If:  Greg Davis loses the attacker mentality that led to the Oklahoma shreddage.
• PB Will Worry If:  Jeremy Maclin scores on special teams.
• PB Will Cue The Eyes of Texas If:  Texas' pressure disallows Chase Daniel to stay set and make quick throws.
• PB Will Cue The Eyes of Texas If:  Will Muschamp successfully prevents any long scores (20+ yards out).
• PB Will Cue The Eyes of Texas If:  Fozzy Whittaker is healthy enough to complement OG for 15-20 snaps.
• PB Will Cue The Eyes of Texas If:  Brandon Collins and James Kirkendoll take a step forward as guys Colt trusts and for whom the defense must account.
  
• PB Will Cue The Eyes of Texas If:  Will Muschamp has a lead in the second half.

OFFICIAL PREDICTION:  TEXAS 41  MISSOURI 33

Hook 'em, Horns!  Beat Mizzou!

Greg Davis sings "Kumbaya." While all of Longhorn Nation wrings their collective hands and begins to enter into mass hysteria about the lack of production from the running backs, Greg Davis thinks he has a handle on the running back situation:

Coach Bum Phillips once said the two types of players that you don't want to have are the ones that never do what you ask them to do and the ones that only do what you ask them to do. They need to get to the point where they are in the zone and if they need to bounce the ball to the outside they will do it regardless of what the coaches told them to do. I also think they'll get better in the second half of the season as they get more carries because that's what happened last year.

I imagine there is some truth to what Davis is saying.  But it doesn't capture the reality of the situation for two reasons: 1) the offensive line missed some blocks for him on Saturday, and 2) McGee just hasn't demonstrated good feet at Texas.

While the offensive line has been excellent in pass blocking this year, only giving up three sacks, it hasn't been as impressive in the running game.  In fact, I would say it's nothing close to a strong run blocking defense. How many big holes have you seen opened up for McGee this year even against defenses that are physically outmatched? On one play Saturday, lined up in the I-formation with two tight ends, fullback Luke Tiemann was left with three Arkansas players to block. On another, McGee was almost tackled in the end zone on a pitch play when Buck Burnette (who played a poor game) and Michael Huey (missed some blocks as well), both whiffed on their assignments. So the final numbers for McGee reflect more on his blockers than they do on him.

The other problem, besides the blocking for McGee, is his feet. It may be that Davis is right and he will eventually become more comfortable in the zone blocking scheme Texas runs, but it doesn't seem likely because of his feet. When watching a running back, notice their feet first. Watching Cody Johnson, he has much better lateral movement than McGee, with the ability to plant his foot and hit the hole explosively, the main requisite for a running back in a zone blocking scheme. McGee hasn't demonstrated that ability at all, which bodes poorly for any future success at Texas. I'm not willing to write him off already, but the first four games haven't been impressive.

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Meet Greg Smith. Tight End Blaine Irby's knee injury not only ends prematurely what was shaping up to be a very solid breakthrough sophomore season, but it comes at a position on the roster without the depth to absorb the loss in stride. While through 2.5 games Irby had already caught 10 passes for 95 yards, including 2 touchdowns, his back ups include a known (blocking) commodity in senior Peter Ullman, two linemen-tight end tweeners (Ahmard Howard and Greg Smith), a redshirt freshman with zero snaps of live football experience (Ian Harris) and a redshirt sophomore heretofore listed on the squad team (Josh Marshall).

The coaches released on Sunday an Arkansas depth chart, which lists Greg Smith as the starter at tight end, backed up by Ullman, Howard, and Harris. You may recognize Smith's name as the team's deep snapper, a skill he's deployed well for Texas on the field while he's been busy bouncing around between tight end and the offensive line off of it. Now facing the worst case scenario, however, Texas coaches appear set to ask Smith to assume Irby's role as the primary tight end.

Smith is neither as athletic, nor likely to replicate with McCoy such strong rapport as had Irby, though Greg Davis reportedly was pleased with Smith's play at tight end during spring workouts, citing his "good feet for a big guy." Beyond the above, I'll withhold further commentary until we get some more information on Monday from Mack Brown's beginning-of-week visit with the press.

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