For those of us that doubted Texas, Coach Brown not only showed us up but had some fun of his own too. I for one can say that Tech is one of the few teams that I thoroughly enjoy watching the Longhorns beat. Of course I love every Longhorn win, but Tech fans are by far some of the most annoying fans to lose to (no offense to my good buddies in Lubbock. Y’all are straight.) Resilience was the name of the game this past Saturday as Texas kept fighting back and hung in there for the last punch. Instead of escaping with a win, this young Longhorn team showed that it isn’t about to roll over and quit on this season like some had thought. That not only made fans happy but it made Mack happier than I’d see him in a long time.
These are in no particular order.
1. Mike Davis: Who knows what exactly happened last season or what caused Davis to get into a funk but there’s no question that the Mike Davis of old is back as he continues to make big time plays for the Longhorns. He may not have the best hands anyone has ever seen, but they aren’t terrible and when he’s on he’s really on. This past Saturday Davis set a new, personal career high in receiving yards by catching 4 passes for 165 yards. In addition, he also found the end zone twice, once on a 75-yard bomb and the other on a 25-yard strike, both thrown by David Ash. Texas has two great receivers on the outside with him and Shipley. And when both these guys are playing well together it opens all kinds of opportunities for Ash to sling the ball around the field.
2. David Ash: Mike Davis had a big day, no question about it. But he wouldn’t have been able to set a new career high if it weren’t for Ash’s big throws. He only attempted 19 passes but that’s really all Ash needed to do. Of the 19 throws he attempted, 11 of them were completed for a total of 264 yards. And of those 11, 3 of them were for touchdowns (2 to Davis, 1 to Shipley). You probably don’t know how relieved and happy I was to see David Ash come out Saturday and play with confidence after he was pulled last week late in the game against Kansas. The fact that he was able to make some big time throws, and some deep throws, all after watching his replacement, Case McCoy, enter the game and lead the team to victory in Lawrence told me that David is a strong competitor. Sure, he’s young and still has some throws that are off and/or leave you cringing, but his throws continue to get better and his confidence level and competiveness this year have taken a big step forward. That’s a positive sign for any young quarterback as he continues to mature as a football player and a leader.
3. Jonathan Gray At It Again: Before the game many of us were wondering how freshman running back Jonathan Gray would perform in his first start as a Longhorn and at his Dad’s Alma Mater. Once again the talented freshman stepped up to the challenge and performed like a seasoned veteran. He never found the end zone but Gray rushed for 106 yards off of 20 attempts, which was good for a 5.6 YPC average. I cannot stress enough the luxury it is to have Jonathan Gray this year. I know Malcolm Brown was listed as ‘probable’ for the game but he was never really needed in any emergency fashion and in result never saw the field.
Jonathan Gray is not only a luxury just because he can pick up yards, but more so because of the type of back he is and how he uses his talent in his running style. Jonathan Gray is the type of back that can essentially do it all. He has burst to get through holes at the line. He is small enough to get through creases at the line. He is strong enough to break tackles and continue to run after initial contact. He is quick and shifty enough to get around players. And he has a competiveness and fight of a winner. This combination of skills and talent gives Texas a big weapon on offense, especially when Malcolm Brown is hurt and Joey B just can’t get it going, like we saw this week and against Kansas last week. This freshman is the real deal and will be a big time player for years to come.
4. Carrington Byndum: ‘Defensive Player of the Game’ award goes to (yes this defense actually played well enough to have one of these awards from me after this past weekend) Carrington Byndom. I don’t know what got into him but Carrington basically said “screw it, I’m just going to play football†and then did. Up until the game on Saturday, Byndom has had an up and down season. He has seemed out of place and lost at times, and wasn’t the same player we had seen performing well last fall. That wasn’t the case Saturday. Though he didn’t force any turnovers, but he did prevent some big plays with pass break ups and also blocked a Tech field goal on special teams. It’s only one game and he still has things to work on but it was refreshing to see him show signs of his old self on Saturday.
5. Texas Stopped the Run?: Well, well, well… Whaddya know. The Longhorns didn’t allow a single running back to rush for more than 75 yards and they end up beating a ranked opponent who also happened to be ranked higher than them. Interesting how that works… Okay sure, Tech isn’t really known for running the ball. But the Longhorns defense has failed time and time again stopping the run from of spread offenses this season and there’s no question that this was an improvement and one of the factors that helped Texas win this game. I still, for the life of me, cannot figure out why this group has had so much trouble stopping the run compared to in years past. But it’s finally time to give some credit to the defense after a game. Though they didn’t force any turnovers they held a high-powered Red-Raider offense to just 22 points. That’s not only a big positive for this year’s defense, but that would be considered a positive for many Texas’ defenses of the past and many teams that play Tech.
6. Alex Okafor: With his 8th sack of the season, senior defensive end Alex Okafor broke his 2011 mark with 3 game left to go in the regular season. The defense has had problems all season long but Okafor has continued to be a consistent pass rushing force on the defensive line. I’m happy he has continued to have success this fall by getting into the opposing team’s backfield, but I’m disappointed his good season has been somewhat over shadowed by the poor play that the entire defense has shown. This guy is the real deal and will be playing on Sundays very soon.
7. LB’s Take Another Hit: If this group wasn’t already having enough problems to deal with, sophomore LB Kendall Thompson was carted off field after a nasty hit during a Tech punt return. The injury is a concussion and you can only hope that this injury will heal quickly and won’t cause any recurring injuries or lead to any other concussions down the line. Thompson was starting to make some strides and show growth after a slow start to his sophomore season on the field, and you can only wish the best for him.
As for the linebackers, this doesn’t bode well for an already thin and inexperienced group. I imagine Tevin Jackson, Dalton Santos, and even Peter JInkens will see more action while Thompson recovers.
8. Play Makers: Once again the touches for the speedsters were limited. It’s sometimes nit picky to complain after a win, but if I were running this offense I’d be spreading the ball around a little differently. This week the speedy trio (Goodwin, Monroe, D. Johnson) combined for 8 touches that resulted in a total of 28 yards. On one hand, and in Harsin’s defense, the plays for these guys may not have been working last Saturday day. But on the other hand, if I were Harsin I’d being doing anything I could to create more plays for these home run threats. I guess in the end the Longhorns stuck with what was working and rolled with Jonathan Gray and Mike Davis all day long.
9. Mack Brown: All season long Mack Brown has been under a lot of pressure, heat, and stress from the media and fans. I’ve been guilty of it and it definitely appears to have gotten to him a bit by the way he has spoken after games and in press conferences. But I was glad to see Coach Brown smiling and as happy as he has been in a long time this past weekend after he got the win. Winning a road game like this after a sloppy performance on the road the previous week is a big win for this young team and it definitely showed Mack that his team still has the ability to compete and fight for him even when many onlookers are doubting his group. I was happy for Mack and glad he was able to not only get a win but enjoy the victory as well.
10. Darrell K. Royal: This morning the most successful coach to ever lead the Longhorns at The University of Texas passed away. Though this has nothing to do with the Tech game I couldn’t post this today without mentioning Coach Royal. I had the good fortune of attending the same church as Coach Royal for as long as I’ve been alive. Though my parents (who have both worked at the church in one fashion or another) have had the opportunity to get to know Darrell and Edith over the years, I actually never talked to him all that much but I remember seeing him and his wife Edith on many different Sundays as they would enter the building before the service while smiling to everyone and saying their ‘hellos’. After the service the smiles would be back on their faces and they would both make small talk and shake hands to anyone and everyone who approached them. If you didn’t know who he was, you’d think he was just your regular, older gentleman who enjoyed life. But Darrell K. Royal was a man who instilled expectations into the Texas football program that are still expected of the team and players today. He won 3 National Championships (2 outright, 1 shared) for the university and was one of the best football coaches that college football has ever known.
Off the field and outside of the stadium, Coach Royal was also more than that. He not only was a football coach, but a coach of life. He taught his young players how to be young men and gave them lessons and teachings that stretched far beyond the white lines of the field. Today is a sad day as we mourn the loss of a truly great man while we cherish and respects to the teachings and memories he has left us. Coach Royal will be greatly missed, never forgotten, and always honored.
Rest In Peace Darrell K. Royal: July 6, 1924 – November 7, 2012
Hook’em
Next Game: Texas vs. Iowa State – November 10th, 11 A.M. at DKR in Austin, Texas
Twitter: @WesKCrochet
Email: Wes.Sports@hotmail.com
These are in no particular order.
1. Mike Davis: Who knows what exactly happened last season or what caused Davis to get into a funk but there’s no question that the Mike Davis of old is back as he continues to make big time plays for the Longhorns. He may not have the best hands anyone has ever seen, but they aren’t terrible and when he’s on he’s really on. This past Saturday Davis set a new, personal career high in receiving yards by catching 4 passes for 165 yards. In addition, he also found the end zone twice, once on a 75-yard bomb and the other on a 25-yard strike, both thrown by David Ash. Texas has two great receivers on the outside with him and Shipley. And when both these guys are playing well together it opens all kinds of opportunities for Ash to sling the ball around the field.
2. David Ash: Mike Davis had a big day, no question about it. But he wouldn’t have been able to set a new career high if it weren’t for Ash’s big throws. He only attempted 19 passes but that’s really all Ash needed to do. Of the 19 throws he attempted, 11 of them were completed for a total of 264 yards. And of those 11, 3 of them were for touchdowns (2 to Davis, 1 to Shipley). You probably don’t know how relieved and happy I was to see David Ash come out Saturday and play with confidence after he was pulled last week late in the game against Kansas. The fact that he was able to make some big time throws, and some deep throws, all after watching his replacement, Case McCoy, enter the game and lead the team to victory in Lawrence told me that David is a strong competitor. Sure, he’s young and still has some throws that are off and/or leave you cringing, but his throws continue to get better and his confidence level and competiveness this year have taken a big step forward. That’s a positive sign for any young quarterback as he continues to mature as a football player and a leader.
3. Jonathan Gray At It Again: Before the game many of us were wondering how freshman running back Jonathan Gray would perform in his first start as a Longhorn and at his Dad’s Alma Mater. Once again the talented freshman stepped up to the challenge and performed like a seasoned veteran. He never found the end zone but Gray rushed for 106 yards off of 20 attempts, which was good for a 5.6 YPC average. I cannot stress enough the luxury it is to have Jonathan Gray this year. I know Malcolm Brown was listed as ‘probable’ for the game but he was never really needed in any emergency fashion and in result never saw the field.
Jonathan Gray is not only a luxury just because he can pick up yards, but more so because of the type of back he is and how he uses his talent in his running style. Jonathan Gray is the type of back that can essentially do it all. He has burst to get through holes at the line. He is small enough to get through creases at the line. He is strong enough to break tackles and continue to run after initial contact. He is quick and shifty enough to get around players. And he has a competiveness and fight of a winner. This combination of skills and talent gives Texas a big weapon on offense, especially when Malcolm Brown is hurt and Joey B just can’t get it going, like we saw this week and against Kansas last week. This freshman is the real deal and will be a big time player for years to come.
4. Carrington Byndum: ‘Defensive Player of the Game’ award goes to (yes this defense actually played well enough to have one of these awards from me after this past weekend) Carrington Byndom. I don’t know what got into him but Carrington basically said “screw it, I’m just going to play football†and then did. Up until the game on Saturday, Byndom has had an up and down season. He has seemed out of place and lost at times, and wasn’t the same player we had seen performing well last fall. That wasn’t the case Saturday. Though he didn’t force any turnovers, but he did prevent some big plays with pass break ups and also blocked a Tech field goal on special teams. It’s only one game and he still has things to work on but it was refreshing to see him show signs of his old self on Saturday.
5. Texas Stopped the Run?: Well, well, well… Whaddya know. The Longhorns didn’t allow a single running back to rush for more than 75 yards and they end up beating a ranked opponent who also happened to be ranked higher than them. Interesting how that works… Okay sure, Tech isn’t really known for running the ball. But the Longhorns defense has failed time and time again stopping the run from of spread offenses this season and there’s no question that this was an improvement and one of the factors that helped Texas win this game. I still, for the life of me, cannot figure out why this group has had so much trouble stopping the run compared to in years past. But it’s finally time to give some credit to the defense after a game. Though they didn’t force any turnovers they held a high-powered Red-Raider offense to just 22 points. That’s not only a big positive for this year’s defense, but that would be considered a positive for many Texas’ defenses of the past and many teams that play Tech.
6. Alex Okafor: With his 8th sack of the season, senior defensive end Alex Okafor broke his 2011 mark with 3 game left to go in the regular season. The defense has had problems all season long but Okafor has continued to be a consistent pass rushing force on the defensive line. I’m happy he has continued to have success this fall by getting into the opposing team’s backfield, but I’m disappointed his good season has been somewhat over shadowed by the poor play that the entire defense has shown. This guy is the real deal and will be playing on Sundays very soon.
7. LB’s Take Another Hit: If this group wasn’t already having enough problems to deal with, sophomore LB Kendall Thompson was carted off field after a nasty hit during a Tech punt return. The injury is a concussion and you can only hope that this injury will heal quickly and won’t cause any recurring injuries or lead to any other concussions down the line. Thompson was starting to make some strides and show growth after a slow start to his sophomore season on the field, and you can only wish the best for him.
As for the linebackers, this doesn’t bode well for an already thin and inexperienced group. I imagine Tevin Jackson, Dalton Santos, and even Peter JInkens will see more action while Thompson recovers.
8. Play Makers: Once again the touches for the speedsters were limited. It’s sometimes nit picky to complain after a win, but if I were running this offense I’d be spreading the ball around a little differently. This week the speedy trio (Goodwin, Monroe, D. Johnson) combined for 8 touches that resulted in a total of 28 yards. On one hand, and in Harsin’s defense, the plays for these guys may not have been working last Saturday day. But on the other hand, if I were Harsin I’d being doing anything I could to create more plays for these home run threats. I guess in the end the Longhorns stuck with what was working and rolled with Jonathan Gray and Mike Davis all day long.
9. Mack Brown: All season long Mack Brown has been under a lot of pressure, heat, and stress from the media and fans. I’ve been guilty of it and it definitely appears to have gotten to him a bit by the way he has spoken after games and in press conferences. But I was glad to see Coach Brown smiling and as happy as he has been in a long time this past weekend after he got the win. Winning a road game like this after a sloppy performance on the road the previous week is a big win for this young team and it definitely showed Mack that his team still has the ability to compete and fight for him even when many onlookers are doubting his group. I was happy for Mack and glad he was able to not only get a win but enjoy the victory as well.
10. Darrell K. Royal: This morning the most successful coach to ever lead the Longhorns at The University of Texas passed away. Though this has nothing to do with the Tech game I couldn’t post this today without mentioning Coach Royal. I had the good fortune of attending the same church as Coach Royal for as long as I’ve been alive. Though my parents (who have both worked at the church in one fashion or another) have had the opportunity to get to know Darrell and Edith over the years, I actually never talked to him all that much but I remember seeing him and his wife Edith on many different Sundays as they would enter the building before the service while smiling to everyone and saying their ‘hellos’. After the service the smiles would be back on their faces and they would both make small talk and shake hands to anyone and everyone who approached them. If you didn’t know who he was, you’d think he was just your regular, older gentleman who enjoyed life. But Darrell K. Royal was a man who instilled expectations into the Texas football program that are still expected of the team and players today. He won 3 National Championships (2 outright, 1 shared) for the university and was one of the best football coaches that college football has ever known.
Off the field and outside of the stadium, Coach Royal was also more than that. He not only was a football coach, but a coach of life. He taught his young players how to be young men and gave them lessons and teachings that stretched far beyond the white lines of the field. Today is a sad day as we mourn the loss of a truly great man while we cherish and respects to the teachings and memories he has left us. Coach Royal will be greatly missed, never forgotten, and always honored.
Rest In Peace Darrell K. Royal: July 6, 1924 – November 7, 2012
Hook’em
Next Game: Texas vs. Iowa State – November 10th, 11 A.M. at DKR in Austin, Texas
Twitter: @WesKCrochet
Email: Wes.Sports@hotmail.com
