LinuxHorn
Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2013
- Messages
- 284
I just wanted to drop off my 2 cents on the game. I played quite a bit of ball back in the day as a running back (having played with Vince in middle and high school). I've been in the "patience" camp as it pertains to Charlie Strong turning Texas around. I know he was/is fighting an uphill battle given the environment and players he was left in the MB fiasco. I always viewed this as getting worse before it got better and we were 2-3 years minimum away from competing with the big boys. What happened yesterday, in some ways, was expected but it still hurts when you sit through it. While we played like a deuce from a great dane, they were simply the better team (returning something like 18 starters I think). It was obvious they were a much more cohesive unit. I know we were playing young guys and we were going into South Bend for our first game. I expected a lot of mistakes. I was ok with getting it out the way early for conference play where we can salvage the season. Here are my quick notes from the game:
DEFENSE
- Malik anybody? Dude flashed so much potential. He is living up to the hype in game 1. There were a lot of freshman mistakes and he could've been much better in pass coverage, but he definitely gives you something to look forward to on defense. He's also a very natural leader. His quick interview post game showed his maturation.
- Duke and Dylan. Dylan and Duke. By the time you finish reading this sentence, Notre Dame is already 5 - 10 yards behind them moonwalking into the endzone. I praise Dylan for his hard work. He turned walk on status into scholarship player. I also condemn him because he just doesn't have the playmaking ability we need in a safety. He was consistently late to the party and is the last line of defense. Thomas is a senior and we should expect more from him. He's consistently getting beat deep. He rarely keeps the WR in front of him.
- We should be concerned about the DL. They got zero push. Zaire had enough time to go to the sideline, make some mai tai's, pass them out to the team, and then come back in to complete passes in the middle of the field all day long. He was never under any real pressure.
- Bedford's soft 2 deep zone was supposed to keep everything in front. That didn't work out too well. A lot of guys were out of position, but the middle of the field was consistently open. Once a RB was pass the LOS, he was instantly in the secondary.
- Bonney had a tough night as well. I believe we should start playing guys like Boyd and live with the growing pains. Upperclassmen should be better. Period.
OFFENSE
- Swoopes is who we thought he was. Nothing more. Nothing less. Physically, he's slow. Mentally, he's slow at decision making. He holds the ball far too long. He's a great kid, but he's not the future at QB. He can be a serviceable backup.
- Heard. We don't know much about him yet given his short stint on the field. He did look quick on his feet. I believe that hit he took was a little more than wind knocked out of him based on re-watching it. Once he got up, he looked a bit shaken. The coaches can say what they want, but I personally believe they didn't put him back in for health reasons. Anything else is pure insanity. While he also may not be the answer to our QB problems, he is a different option. I'm just tired of seeing Swoopes repeat the same mistakes over and over after a full year of being the starter. It's time to live with Heards mistakes if he can at least show growth
- OL. Sigh. Wickline's seat should be warming up. He shouldn't get a pass. The OL looks worse than Colt McCoy circa 2007. No matter how much switching he does on the oline, they look the same. Turrible, just turrible. Starting 2 true freshman tells you a lot about the veterans. At least those freshman showed some signs of ability. Other times, they looked like true freshmen making their first start.
- It's elementary Watson! I've seen enough to know he should not be the OC for Texas. I waited a long time to pass judgement, but there were A LOT of signs last night that suggest he isn't. His play calling are like picking names out of a hat. You get a beautiful pitch and catch from Swoopes/Burt and your next 2 plays are right up the middle back to back? No misdirection at all. It's 3rd and short and you have 1 route within 5 yards. We all know our weaknesses. It's his job to play to our strengths. He doesn't. He makes things much more complicated than they need to be. He hit lightening in a bottle with Bridgewater, but most successful college qb's are playing in a more simplified offense which allows them to use their athletic ability and cut down on overthinking things. One read, two read, check down, run.
- I see a lot of potential in the RB's. Gray is running harder through tackles. Foreman and Warren flashed potential as well. Get them a serviceable OL and we may have something
- We didn't really throw (er...complete) a lot of passes. It was a combination of poor oline play, Swoopes holding on to the ball, and WR's not getting open. John Burt did flash some potential. Bright future ahead.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The punter was up and down, but did show us his big leg. If he can become consistent, he will be a plus.
- Traylor has improved special teams coverage. That's all we can ask of him in that regard.
- It's good to know Rose is capable of hitting from 50+
While this was not a great start, a lot of it was expected. My biggest concerns going forward is the OL, QB play, and offensive play calling. Why? Because I don't know if they will change much throughout the season. CS sticking with Watson who's sticking with Swoopes is destined for failure. Strong mentioned last night in his press conference he wasn't paying much attention to that side of the ball because he was trying to fix the defense. News flash coach, your offense is much more of a problem than the defense and you are responsible for BOTH! I like Strong and want him to succeed at Texas for a variety of reasons. I also think it's time for him to put a lot more focus on that side of the ball and start making some changes. He can't bet his career on "Watson" at the roulette table.
Rant over! Enjoy your Sunday/Monday fellas.
DEFENSE
- Malik anybody? Dude flashed so much potential. He is living up to the hype in game 1. There were a lot of freshman mistakes and he could've been much better in pass coverage, but he definitely gives you something to look forward to on defense. He's also a very natural leader. His quick interview post game showed his maturation.
- Duke and Dylan. Dylan and Duke. By the time you finish reading this sentence, Notre Dame is already 5 - 10 yards behind them moonwalking into the endzone. I praise Dylan for his hard work. He turned walk on status into scholarship player. I also condemn him because he just doesn't have the playmaking ability we need in a safety. He was consistently late to the party and is the last line of defense. Thomas is a senior and we should expect more from him. He's consistently getting beat deep. He rarely keeps the WR in front of him.
- We should be concerned about the DL. They got zero push. Zaire had enough time to go to the sideline, make some mai tai's, pass them out to the team, and then come back in to complete passes in the middle of the field all day long. He was never under any real pressure.
- Bedford's soft 2 deep zone was supposed to keep everything in front. That didn't work out too well. A lot of guys were out of position, but the middle of the field was consistently open. Once a RB was pass the LOS, he was instantly in the secondary.
- Bonney had a tough night as well. I believe we should start playing guys like Boyd and live with the growing pains. Upperclassmen should be better. Period.
OFFENSE
- Swoopes is who we thought he was. Nothing more. Nothing less. Physically, he's slow. Mentally, he's slow at decision making. He holds the ball far too long. He's a great kid, but he's not the future at QB. He can be a serviceable backup.
- Heard. We don't know much about him yet given his short stint on the field. He did look quick on his feet. I believe that hit he took was a little more than wind knocked out of him based on re-watching it. Once he got up, he looked a bit shaken. The coaches can say what they want, but I personally believe they didn't put him back in for health reasons. Anything else is pure insanity. While he also may not be the answer to our QB problems, he is a different option. I'm just tired of seeing Swoopes repeat the same mistakes over and over after a full year of being the starter. It's time to live with Heards mistakes if he can at least show growth
- OL. Sigh. Wickline's seat should be warming up. He shouldn't get a pass. The OL looks worse than Colt McCoy circa 2007. No matter how much switching he does on the oline, they look the same. Turrible, just turrible. Starting 2 true freshman tells you a lot about the veterans. At least those freshman showed some signs of ability. Other times, they looked like true freshmen making their first start.
- It's elementary Watson! I've seen enough to know he should not be the OC for Texas. I waited a long time to pass judgement, but there were A LOT of signs last night that suggest he isn't. His play calling are like picking names out of a hat. You get a beautiful pitch and catch from Swoopes/Burt and your next 2 plays are right up the middle back to back? No misdirection at all. It's 3rd and short and you have 1 route within 5 yards. We all know our weaknesses. It's his job to play to our strengths. He doesn't. He makes things much more complicated than they need to be. He hit lightening in a bottle with Bridgewater, but most successful college qb's are playing in a more simplified offense which allows them to use their athletic ability and cut down on overthinking things. One read, two read, check down, run.
- I see a lot of potential in the RB's. Gray is running harder through tackles. Foreman and Warren flashed potential as well. Get them a serviceable OL and we may have something
- We didn't really throw (er...complete) a lot of passes. It was a combination of poor oline play, Swoopes holding on to the ball, and WR's not getting open. John Burt did flash some potential. Bright future ahead.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The punter was up and down, but did show us his big leg. If he can become consistent, he will be a plus.
- Traylor has improved special teams coverage. That's all we can ask of him in that regard.
- It's good to know Rose is capable of hitting from 50+
While this was not a great start, a lot of it was expected. My biggest concerns going forward is the OL, QB play, and offensive play calling. Why? Because I don't know if they will change much throughout the season. CS sticking with Watson who's sticking with Swoopes is destined for failure. Strong mentioned last night in his press conference he wasn't paying much attention to that side of the ball because he was trying to fix the defense. News flash coach, your offense is much more of a problem than the defense and you are responsible for BOTH! I like Strong and want him to succeed at Texas for a variety of reasons. I also think it's time for him to put a lot more focus on that side of the ball and start making some changes. He can't bet his career on "Watson" at the roulette table.
Rant over! Enjoy your Sunday/Monday fellas.
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