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5 Takeaways from a blowout win over Kansas

Mike Roach

Staff
Joined
Dec 5, 2013
Messages
2,021
1. It's Kansas...

As good as it was to see this team execute a blowout today it should be remembered that this is a bad team.  Possibly the worst FBS team out there.  As we neared the half it was disconcerting to see this Texas team let a bad team hang around.  There was a lot to be confident from tonight, but this means nothing as Texas enters the final 3 game stretch in which they will most likely not be favored in any of them,  The players and coaches should enjoy the performance from tonight and certainly celebrate, but it's time to get ready for the next week and start from scratch.

2. A tale of two halves

Texas had a quick start but were quickly mired in offensive struggles and defensive inconsistiency again.  Texas actually did something I'm not sure we've seen under Charlie Strong and that's look better in the 3rd quarter than any other.  Part of this was an inexplicable rotation of young backups in the secondary and offensive line.  While this was a perfect game to find out what younger players could do, I think there could have been some better timing for those decisions.  In the second half Texas went back to the well and really ignited things with a big time run from D'onta Foreman.  As the game neared the 4th quarter it suddenly looked like Texas could do no wrong as they punched it in time after time including a hilarious comedy of errors from a Kirk Johnson fumbles that resulted in a Tyrone Swoopes touchdown.  The defense clamped down and the line started to dominate at the point of attack against an undermanned Jayhawk line.  Kudos to the Texas coaches for getting their team prepared coming out of the break.

3. Jay Norvell does read my emails

After the struggles the Texas passing game endured throughout the last few weeks it was good to see Texas try some new things.  The biggest adjustment was a passing game that included the middle of the field and allowed Jerrod Heard to make easy reads and get the ball out quickly.  Hopefully they will learn going forward that the slant game is a way to get Heard into a rhythm early on with easy completions.  Texas also started to get Heard on the move and actually rolled him to the right to give him good looks and build some confidence.  John Burt once again came up big from the first snap and I really think his development is going to be fun to watch over the next few years.  I hope the offensive staff can see the success they built into the scheme tonight and carry it over into the next few games.  Jerrod Heard can become a weapon once again when utilized correctly, and Tyrone Swoopes is feeling it right now in his current role. 

4. How about the throwbacks

I'm just a young man who was born long after Freddie Steinmark made his impact on the 40 acres, but I thought the throwback uniforms and tribute to Steinmark were cool.  I guess I'm always a sucker for that sort of thing but that is still a great look and one that should probably be rolled out at least once a year.  In the age of racing ahead of the trends to have the most cutting edge uniforms I believe a connection to the University history is what distignuishes a program and steeps them in tradition.  In my opinion the Texas football program has always done a great job of keeping that history on display for their players and fans.

5. Game balls

While there are many that could go out tonight I'm going to try and imit myself.

Jerrod Heard - After a rough week in Ames Heard came out and pushed the ball downfield before making some nice passes in the intermediate game.  He ran effectively and aside from a bad fumble protected the ball

Tyrone Swoopes - The big guy just keeps getting it done as he scored from short yardage, a long run, and a deep pass.  It's really remarkable to see him continue to thrive within the framework of this team.

Deshon Elliott - 2 interceptions tonight in his debut at safety and we all got a look at what we can expect for the next 4 years.  Elliott is an athletic, rangy, instinctive safety who has a knack for making plays. 

D'Onta Foreman - After a stagnant running game in the first half, Foreman ignited the powder keg with a 93 yard run to give Texas that much needed 3rd quarter score.  He added another touchdown run on the next drive of the game and looked very good doing it.

 
STATS

PASS

Jerrod Heard 13 of 23 for 201 yds, 1 TD

Swoopes 6 of 7 for 98 yds, 1 TD

RUN

D Foreman 12-157 (13.1 ypc), 2 TD

Swoopes 4-59 (14.8 ypc), 4 TD

J Heard 9-38 (4.2)

Johnathan Gray 7-22 (3.1 ypc)

RECEIVING

John Burt 4-113 , TD

Jacorey Warrick 4-42

Ryan Newsome 3-21

Daje Johnson 3-6

DEFENSE

Tackles - Dylan Haines 6 and INT returned 36 yds (now 4th all-time at UT in INT return yards with 186)

Sacks - Peter Jinkens (1.5), Tank Jackson, Bryce Cottrell, Derick Roberson, Poona Ford, Paul Boyette (.5)

INT - DeShon Elliott (2), Dylan Haines

 
the fumble by Heard was bad but what was worse was seeing Flowers and Hutchins not blocking anybody and still not being in position to recover the fumble. these 3 senior o-linemen are the worst offensive linemen i have ever seen play at Texas. why Wickline continues to play them is beyond stupid Raulerson came in for Doyle after another penalty on him and Texas scores then Doyle plays rest of game.

Marcus Johnson should not play ahead of any healthy WR`s dropped 2 passes that were sure TD`s and his blocking attempts usually are complete whiffs. this staff keeps trying to make Daje a playmaker but he`s just a bad play waiting to happen.

can we end the J Gray getting reps ahead of D`Onta and when healthy Chris Warren Gray`s 3 yards a carry average kills drives.

 
Playing Hutchins and Flowers in the 2nd quarter was beyond stupid. It was time to go for the throat and put Kansas out of their misery! But no, our coaching staff had other ideas. SMDH. 

 
The defense gives up over 400 yards too...... Kansas... YIKES, does not bode well for WVU, Tech & Baylor.

 
I understand the criticism of Marcus Johnson....and without question..his first drop should have been caught. But on his 2nd drop, it looked to me that the defensive back grabbed one of his arms prior to the ball getting there, and pulled it far enough to prevent Marcus from getting both hands on the ball. In other words, on effort no. 2, Marcus would have needed a one handed catch in order to secure it.

So, for me, I'm giving him a pass on his 2nd miss. I still think he's a weapon that can help us if we'll continue throwing to him.

 
No doubt there was pass interference on the second. But it appeared the referee was shielded from seeing the DB grab his arm.Showed up very clearly on replay.

 
Just re-watched the Texas/Kansas game. I don't know who had a harder time in the first half; the Texas defense Or Ahmad Brooks' commentary...Sheesh

 
Just re-watched the Texas/Kansas game. I don't know who had a harder time in the first half; the Texas defense Or Ahmad Brooks' commentary...Sheesh
Agree, he didn't know about Duke wearing 28 for Steinmark, he said he was honoring Diggs who was in DKR. Noticed a few other gaffs. Otherwise, I have been impressed by his previous work for ESPN games this year. He has come a long way from the interrupting "I'm always right" windbag persona that he was on AM sports radio a few years ago.

 
Agree, he didn't know about Duke wearing 28 for Steinmark, he said he was honoring Diggs who was in DKR. Noticed a few other gaffs. Otherwise, I have been impressed by his previous work for ESPN games this year. He has come a long way from the interrupting "I'm always right" windbag persona that he was on AM sports radio a few years ago.
Literally face palmed when he said he was wearing it for Diggs. On a night when the scoreboard was re-dedicated and the team was in throw backs and he didn't know that

 
Literally face palmed when he said he was wearing it for Diggs. On a night when the scoreboard was re-dedicated and the team was in throw backs and he didn't know that
Apparently Brooks missed the advanced screening of the movie; and the pre-game ceremony on the field/end zone re-dedicating the scoreboard. Nice prep buddy.

 
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Just re-watched the Texas/Kansas game. I don't know who had a harder time in the first half; the Texas defense Or Ahmad Brooks' commentary...Sheesh
The LHN telecast was pretty bad. I almost fell out of my recliner when one of them said Bryson Echols was in at QB when it was Trey Holtz. 

 
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