View from the Cheap Seats-Maryland Tortugas

[echeese]

[SIZE=14pt]View from the Cheap Seats-Maryland[/SIZE]​

 ​

FEAR THE TORTUGA​

THUD or​

Deja Vu. . .All over again​

 ​

Pick your theme for the 1st game of the Tom Herman era which looked as bad or worse as  the Charlie Strong era we thought was gone forever.  For only the 3rd time in TEXAS' storied football history, TEXAS dropped the opener.   Despite being bigger and more talented, TEXAS got whipped along both sides of the ball.   At one point Coach Tom claimed this OL was the 2nd best he's seen since tOSU's National Title year.   We can write that off to coach speak as TEXAS is now on a 4 game losing streak.    Bottom line, the Tortugas came to town and beat up the Horns.    And make no mistake, we said before the game, Maryland doesn't suck.  They were a bowl team last year, looking to be somewhat better this year and trying to crawl into Tier II B1G status.

Even when the game was still winnable, TEXAS' D not only knocked out Maryland's QB but then forced their true freshman back up into 3rd and 19 .. . . only to give up a 20 yard reception.   What made that worse, Maryland's top WR in single coverage.  . .why????   Story of the game was miss opportunities.

Some of the key stats (at least to the Cheap Seats).   Shane had more rushing attempts than our 2 RBs combined.   Anyone else see a major problem with that?   Maryland rushed for 6.1 per carry, you ain't winning many games giving up that much yardage per play.   We ran 84 plays, they counter with 58, yet they still out gained us.   Perhaps the single biggest killer of the game, a very mis-aligned 11 penalties (including 2 on one drive from Conner Williams negating big plays) for 117 yards.

Let's hit on a few highlights, we have a GREAT group of WRs.   These guys are talented and can make plays if you get them the ball.   Saw a couple dropped balls but that is nit picking.   Shane Buechele had a good game.   Not a great game, he isn't the QB who can put a team on his back to win a game.  15 carries and 52 pass attempts is simply out of balance.   Holton Hill with a pick 6 and a blocked FG return for a TD and generally had an excellent game as a DB.   

"Why can't we get out of our own way?"​

Coach Herman's quote when asked about the 3rd and 19 followed by a horse collar tackle which put Maryland inside the red zone.   Cheap Seats agrees but then we aren't getting paid $5 million a year to coach the Longhorns.   Some of the coaching mistakes which caused us to scratch our heads.   Shane getting more rushing attempts than our 2 RBs, one of whom averaged 5.2 ypc but only got 6 carries.  Why Chris Warren wasn't used more or why Kirk Johnson wasn't utilized.   Why don't we use a jet sweep play instead of just faking off the motion? 

Not going to criticize Coach Tom for going for it on 4th down, we are going to criticize the play calls.   From the 3, we run up the middle twice then we throw 2 horizontal passes, both stopped for no gain.  Hey Coach, we have these REALLY tall WRs, throw the ball in the end zone and give them a chance.  Good coaches put their best players in a position to succeed.

4th quarter, 3 point game, you've knocked a very good Maryland QB out of the game and he's replaced by a true freshman.   3rd and 14, kid losing the clock and takes a delay penalty, 3rd and 19, Moore is their best WR and we find him in. . . . .SINGLE COVERAGE.    What in the WIDE WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS were we thinking?????     Not only could we not stop the run, we put no pressure on Maryland's QBs. 

End of the day we let their star players do star things and this D gave up 44 points (7 came on a blocked FG) while our offense only managed 2 TDs until a very late/meaningless TD to Collin Johnson.   You aren't going to beat many teams with such stats.   1-3 in the Red Zone scored vs 4-5 in the Red Zone allowed.   Can't run the ball, can't stop the run, players taking bad angles, failing to wrap up tackles or incurring dumb penalties at the worst times possible.   "Why can't we get out of our own way?"

We've got a week with San Jose State to get "healthy" before this team is on the road to face USC.   Today the Cheap Seats is hoping we don't get routed on the coast.  No way to spin this loss doesn't hurt and the Coach Tom era is off to a mis-aligned start.








Around the BigXII








Most of the BigXII opened to tomato cans but in the one small consolation, while TEXAS got their asses whipped, at least it was to a power 5 team. Baylor went out and lost to Turner Gill's Liberty Flames (ok, really odd mascot for a religious school, Flames of Hell????). Spiritual karma perhaps?#1 OU Looked good beating a tomato can. Mayfield 19-20, 3 TDs in 1 half#2 OSU Their O is awesome, can they get enough D to win the conference/make the playoffs#3 KSU Half the BigXII opened with FCS opponents, KSU looked good#4 TCU Looked good vs a FCS opponent#5 WVU Big test tonight vs Va Tech#6 TT Smoked a traditionally strong FCS power #7 TEXAS Too high you say? Possibly but Maryland better than many thought, can TEXAS make a bowl game?#8 ISU Beat their FCS opponent#9 Kansas Beat their FCS directional school opponent#10 Baylor The Flames of Hell, another FCS opponent spoils Rhules debute

 

[DMAC]

TEXAS dropped the opener.   Despite being bigger and more talented

We were man handled on both lines. 

How does 2 highly touted LB's in MJ and Anthony Wheeler in their 3rd year still not know the basics of run fits?

Either the players are not being taught properly OR they are overrated OR they are dumb as a rock OR they just don't care.  

The real problem is figuring out which of those it is.

 

[joeywa]

Good stuff Cheese. Happy to see this back, (which means we are now in football season,) but would've been happier with a W. 

Back to the drawing bird and see what adjustments the staff makes between now and Saturday. 

 

[JimsTexas]

[SIZE=14pt]View from the Cheap Seats-Maryland[/SIZE]​

 ​

FEAR THE TORTUGA​

THUD or​

Deja Vu. . .All over again​

 ​

Pick your theme for the 1st game of the Tom Herman era which looked as bad or worse as  the Charlie Strong era we thought was gone forever.  For only the 3rd time in TEXAS' storied football history, TEXAS dropped the opener.   Despite being bigger and more talented, TEXAS got whipped along both sides of the ball.   At one point Coach Tom claimed this OL was the 2nd best he's seen since tOSU's National Title year.   We can write that off to coach speak as TEXAS is now on a 4 game losing streak.    Bottom line, the Tortugas came to town and beat up the Horns.    And make no mistake, we said before the game, Maryland doesn't suck.  They were a bowl team last year, looking to be somewhat better this year and trying to crawl into Tier II B1G status.

Even when the game was still winnable, TEXAS' D not only knocked out Maryland's QB but then forced their true freshman back up into 3rd and 19 .. . . only to give up a 20 yard reception.   What made that worse, Maryland's top WR in single coverage.  . .why????   Story of the game was miss opportunities.

Some of the key stats (at least to the Cheap Seats).   Shane had more rushing attempts than our 2 RBs combined.   Anyone else see a major problem with that?   Maryland rushed for 6.1 per carry, you ain't winning many games giving up that much yardage per play.   We ran 84 plays, they counter with 58, yet they still out gained us.   Perhaps the single biggest killer of the game, a very mis-aligned 11 penalties (including 2 on one drive from Conner Williams negating big plays) for 117 yards.

Let's hit on a few highlights, we have a GREAT group of WRs.   These guys are talented and can make plays if you get them the ball.   Saw a couple dropped balls but that is nit picking.   Shane Buechele had a good game.   Not a great game, he isn't the QB who can put a team on his back to win a game.  15 carries and 52 pass attempts is simply out of balance.   Holton Hill with a pick 6 and a blocked FG return for a TD and generally had an excellent game as a DB.   

"Why can't we get out of our own way?"​

Coach Herman's quote when asked about the 3rd and 19 followed by a horse collar tackle which put Maryland inside the red zone.   Cheap Seats agrees but then we aren't getting paid $5 million a year to coach the Longhorns.   Some of the coaching mistakes which caused us to scratch our heads.   Shane getting more rushing attempts than our 2 RBs, one of whom averaged 5.2 ypc but only got 6 carries.  Why Chris Warren wasn't used more or why Kirk Johnson wasn't utilized.   Why don't we use a jet sweep play instead of just faking off the motion? 

Not going to criticize Coach Tom for going for it on 4th down, we are going to criticize the play calls.   From the 3, we run up the middle twice then we throw 2 horizontal passes, both stopped for no gain.  Hey Coach, we have these REALLY tall WRs, throw the ball in the end zone and give them a chance.  Good coaches put their best players in a position to succeed.

4th quarter, 3 point game, you've knocked a very good Maryland QB out of the game and he's replaced by a true freshman.   3rd and 14, kid losing the clock and takes a delay penalty, 3rd and 19, Moore is their best WR and we find him in. . . . .SINGLE COVERAGE.    What in the WIDE WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS were we thinking?????     Not only could we not stop the run, we put no pressure on Maryland's QBs. 

End of the day we let their star players do star things and this D gave up 44 points (7 came on a blocked FG) while our offense only managed 2 TDs until a very late/meaningless TD to Collin Johnson.   You aren't going to beat many teams with such stats.   1-3 in the Red Zone scored vs 4-5 in the Red Zone allowed.   Can't run the ball, can't stop the run, players taking bad angles, failing to wrap up tackles or incurring dumb penalties at the worst times possible.   "Why can't we get out of our own way?"

We've got a week with San Jose State to get "healthy" before this team is on the road to face USC.   Today the Cheap Seats is hoping we don't get routed on the coast.  No way to spin this loss doesn't hurt and the Coach Tom era is off to a mis-aligned start.








Around the BigXII








Most of the BigXII opened to tomato cans but in the one small consolation, while TEXAS got their asses whipped, at least it was to a power 5 team. Baylor went out and lost to Turner Gill's Liberty Flames (ok, really odd mascot for a religious school, Flames of Hell????). Spiritual karma perhaps?#1 OU Looked good beating a tomato can. Mayfield 19-20, 3 TDs in 1 half#2 OSU Their O is awesome, can they get enough D to win the conference/make the playoffs#3 KSU Half the BigXII opened with FCS opponents, KSU looked good#4 TCU Looked good vs a FCS opponent#5 WVU Big test tonight vs Va Tech#6 TT Smoked a traditionally strong FCS power #7 TEXAS Too high you say? Possibly but Maryland better than many thought, can TEXAS make a bowl game?#8 ISU Beat their FCS opponent#9 Kansas Beat their FCS directional school opponent#10 Baylor The Flames of Hell, another FCS opponent spoils Rhules debute

cheese my friend well said. This team will have to get it's act to gather  very quickly.  This is were we see how much courage  our team has to rise up and lick it'a  wounds and move on. We are going to have to get mean and play harder.  My friends y'all have a great day

 

[java]

Great analysis, cheese. 

 

[Embrey]

Nice write up echeese.  

After a night to sleep on the first game I feel objective (or as objective as I can be).  

My expectations for this season are as follows:

I want to see improvement from week to week by the coaching staff.  If Texas loses to a better team I won't be happy but I want to see preparedness, effort and a game plan that gives the boys their best opportunity to win.

I want the best players to play regardless of their age.  Last year is over.  Remember, starters from last year were 5-7.  If you started last year remember one thing - with a couple of exceptions you probably sucked.

We all know Texas picked up unknown amounts of t-shirt fans during the Golden Era from Vince to Colt et al but with these came unrealistic expectations.  I won't pretend that I have it all figured out as to why Texas has been failing but it is obvious it is systemic.  It might even go above the Head Coach's pay grade.  That being said, I hope true Longhorn fans will embrace their team and new coach - even when they fail.  I think Texas is in the process of going back to the studs on the entire program.  It is not the lockers or the other perks that money can buy that will bring the best high schoolers to Texas, it is the assuredness that Texas is going in the right direction and that they are going to compete for the conference championship soon.

I say we don't sweat the non-conference games.  I hope Texas has found its team (and its QB) by the time BIG XII play begins.

 

[echeese]

Nice write up echeese.  

After a night to sleep on the first game I feel objective (or as objective as I can be).  

My expectations for this season are as follows:

I want to see improvement from week to week by the coaching staff.  If Texas loses to a better team I won't be happy but I want to see preparedness, effort and a game plan that gives the boys their best opportunity to win.

I want the best players to play regardless of their age.  Last year is over.  Remember, starters from last year were 5-7.  If you started last year remember one thing - with a couple of exceptions you probably sucked.

We all know Texas picked up unknown amounts of t-shirt fans during the Golden Era from Vince to Colt et al but with these came unrealistic expectations.  I won't pretend that I have it all figured out as to why Texas has been failing but it is obvious it is systemic.  It might even go above the Head Coach's pay grade.  That being said, I hope true Longhorn fans will embrace their team and new coach - even when they fail.  I think Texas is in the process of going back to the studs on the entire program.  It is not the lockers or the other perks that money can buy that will bring the best high schoolers to Texas, it is the assuredness that Texas is going in the right direction and that they are going to compete for the conference championship soon.

I say we don't sweat the non-conference games.  I hope Texas has found its team (and its QB) by the time BIG XII play begins.

I think this is a really good point.   Not much turnover from last year to this in terms of starters.