5 Thoughts Following Texas/USC

[bevo38]

What is strange is with 10 seconds left in the first half Herman called a timeout and decided not to play prevent defense, but then with 5 seconds left did.  Also played prevent defense with 45 left in the 4th.  I know that they like the idea of McCulloch and Hager rushing, but I thought it was too obvious that they would try to get the edge, and all Darnold had to do was step up and deliver.  I wish they would have rushed 4 with the 2 inside guys staying in front of Darnold.

As far as Warren goes, I know everyone says he should have got the ball more, but that is a lazy complaint.  Go back to the game and the actual individual situations...down and distance, defensive alignment, capabilities of the OL, and see if a Warren run would have been a "better" play.  Maybe it was a bunch of times, maybe it wasn't, I haven't watched it on replay yet.  But it sure seemed like as I was watching it live that SC was selling out to stop the run and/or get pressure on the QB.  Running Warren may not have helped.  People would have been pissed with 1st down run for 2 yards, 2nd down run for 2 yards, 3rd and 6 every time.  Maybe the only solution is a better OL and a more experienced QB that can make a defense pay.

I hate to pick on individual players, but unless the coaches somehow told him to do it, I don't see how you put Hemphill back for punts again until he earns your trust.

 

[hookemhorb]

I'm encouraged by how our defense played. If USC is as good as everyone says they are then we have a championship defense. We just need a good offense and we're back in business. With that said, let's see what happens at Ames. The D needs to keep this high level of play and the O should have a slightly easier time. This team has potential, but then so have other Texas teams. 

 

[okiehorn]

You are right QB play last nite sure does not warrent a controversy. Was a inmature freshman who contributed to the loss along with play calling.

IMO OU is a better team than USC with a better QB and Okie lite is not far behind. Defense was outstanding except when USC went uptempo

 and as usuall IMO Pac is over rated look at UCLA and Ariz.

Completely disagree to all of this, but that's okay. That's why it's a discussion board  B)

 

[texbound]

Nice writeup Daniel.  I have a question about #3, how ready is JP U. and or Garrett Thomas for backup T if Connor is down for a while?  Alex Anderson has some experience, but cant remember how he did at times. Okafor and Nickelson will get the start, but they need capable backups.  Obviously the true freshman are not ready, but they need some bodies for backup.  Sure are missing Jean Delance about now for depth across the line.  Also, any update on Cunney?

 

[Harrison Wier]

Although the defense played well, keep it into perspective. They stopped the run because they didn't have to worry about the QB being able to run. I'm holding off on the defense is back train until I see them stop a two-dimensional offense. 

 

[dillohorn]

Man!....that is just wrong. We played Georgia off the field in that game and had a 7-3 lead with just minutes to play as I remember it. Georgia was 3 and out damned near every series. Once again with the clock winding down we forced another punt ...AND ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS LET THE DAMNED THING BOUNCE AROUND AND WE TAKE A KNEE AND WIN. But no.....our guy tried to run up and field the ball at the last second and muffed it. Georgia only had to go 10 yds against a suddenly deflated defense...game and Natty over. I will never get over that game.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[Adferrum]

What is strange is with 10 seconds left in the first half Herman called a timeout and decided not to play prevent defense, but then with 5 seconds left did.  Also played prevent defense with 45 left in the 4th.  I know that they like the idea of McCulloch and Hager rushing, but I thought it was too obvious that they would try to get the edge, and all Darnold had to do was step up and deliver.  I wish they would have rushed 4 with the 2 inside guys staying in front of Darnold.

Regarding that sequence before halftime:

As far as I remember without watching it again so far we took the timeout to switch from prevent to a 'more aggressive' formation (sorry can't remember what we played from the top of my head). I think the rational here was to prevent that a running play could potentially set up a field goal or a more manageable hail mary with 10 seconds left. Remember, USC still had one timeout so could have easily run two plays. Pretty much like they did in the end. A prevent formation against that run which Coach O foresaw would have probably ended with a far greater gain and way better field position for that last play. 

On the TD play, I think its fine to play prevent, but I think they made a couple of individual mistakes here. First of all, I'm not exactly sure what Wheeler is supposed to do, but I assume its to pick up Jones out of the backfield. What he ends up doing is more of a spy on the QB which doesn't really makes sense: Instead he opens up the space behind him for that completion. Secondly, I think Hill shows bad field awareness. If he steps up to his right (which he ultimately tries but slips) directly, he could have cut of the running lane for Jones. Yet he takes a little too long to process that all his team mates are on the left side of the field. Cutting of the running lane to Jones right would most likely end the run somewhere at the 20. Third, Texas had 3 guys more down field than USC. Don't know exactly how the play was designed because I haven't seen an angle on the play showing how the defense played, but there is absolutely nobody on the right side of the field. There probably should have been some kind of zone coverage for that side. 

On that last drive in regulation, we're bringing 4 guys on the first play, almost get to Darnold, second play, we're bringing 4 guys, Malik almost gets to him but slips and he makes that jump pass. Number 7 is in man coverage from Wheeler, and coverage is pretty decent. That jump pass was just a clutch play from Darnold tbh. I agree, the secondary is sitting back pretty deep but I guess you also don't wanna get caught off-guard by a deep ball. Especially since they had no timeouts and Darnold had to throw behind the marker in order to keep the clock from rolling. Might have been smart to crowd the middle a little more on those plays and have some guys in that 10-15 yards region sitting in the zone. On the third play, I don't really know what happens. We again bring 4 on the rush. USC's Number 4 is just 3 or 4 yards beyond the LOS but there is simply nobody remotely close in coverage. From the TV pics Hager comes up way behind him, from the looks of it he was in zone coverage to the right. Everybody else seems to be in man coverage on the left side of the field. That play probably should have been stopped before the first down.

Next play, Darnold takes a shot toward the endzone/throws it away after almost getting sacked by Omenihu on a four man rush. Last play, he rolls out to his right, takes another shot towards the endzone/throws it away. My 50 cents are that the play calling wasn't really the problem on that drive. It's more a mix of Darnold stepping up big time with a couple of great plays, especially that jump pass, and our guys being half a foot step to slow to get to him in time. Just one play for us on that drive probably wins it for us  -_- . Yet, still a great game by Orlando and the D

 

[okiehorn]

Although the defense played well, keep it into perspective. They stopped the run because they didn't have to worry about the QB being able to run. I'm holding off on the defense is back train until I see them stop a two-dimensional offense. 

Harrison I came to realize you'll never actually be happy. Lol That QB you speak of is most likely going to be the #1 pick in the NFL draft. There's a reason for that. We were all in the boat saying there going to run for 300 on us and now that UT stops em and defies the odds you say it's still not quite good enough lol. Scary to think what would have happened to a CS coached Texas team against USC. I give em credit. All the credit. 

 

[Harrison Wier]

Harrison I came to realize you'll never actually be happy. Lol That QB you speak of is most likely going to be the #1 pick in the NFL draft. There's a reason for that. We were all in the boat saying there going to run for 300 on us and now that UT stops em and defies the odds you say it's still not quite good enough lol. Scary to think what would have happened to a CS coached Texas team against USC. I give em credit. All the credit. 

I'm not trying to be a downer lol. And I know Darnold is quite a capable QB. I'm simply stating that there is a reason Texas had trouble stopping Maryland. They need to plan for that. Regardless, Orlando did do a great job of game planning. 

 

[okiehorn]

I was just jerkin your chai . Your way more bright than myself but I couldn't believe what I was watching. I really believe if we had any kind of offense Texas would have walked away with it. Guess the next mobile QB we will see is mayfield of HoeU. If I'm thinkin right.  After last night im not as scared of okie state. I believe they play similar to USC. Run but deadly passing. Get pressure and same game plan and we will

be alright 

 

[Daniel Seahorn]

Nice writeup Daniel.  I have a question about #3, how ready is JP U. and or Garrett Thomas for backup T if Connor is down for a while?  Alex Anderson has some experience, but cant remember how he did at times. Okafor and Nickelson will get the start, but they need capable backups.  Obviously the true freshman are not ready, but they need some bodies for backup.  Sure are missing Jean Delance about now for depth across the line.  Also, any update on Cunney?

JP isn't anywhere near ready yet. He's a guy you check back on after 3 years in the program and see where you are at. Unsure on Thomas, haven't heard much on him in some time which usually isn't good. Depth was always an issue here so capable backups are few and far between. 

I don't expect Cuney to be a serious contributor. Garrett Graf got snaps before he did last week against SJSU.

 

[texbound]

JP isn't anywhere near ready yet. He's a guy you check back on after 3 years in the program and see where you are at. Unsure on Thomas, haven't heard much on him in some time which usually isn't good. Depth was always an issue here so capable backups are few and far between. 

I don't expect Cuney to be a serious contributor. Garrett Graf got snaps before he did last week against SJSU.

Thanks for the insight.  I was just grasping at anything positive moving forward and bracing for potential bad news.  

 

[DMAC]

*Message from Tom Herman to the team after the game is there are no moral victories but he said he was happy to see that the team showed they are willing to fight for each other.

*Two of the offensive coaches got an ear full from coach Herman. I’ll give you one guess who one of those coaches was.

*Recruits loved what they saw from Texas. Coaches inboxes are full. – (Super K)

http://texas.thefootballbrainiacs.com/2017/09/open-post-sunday-september-17th/

 

[MikeV73]

What is strange is with 10 seconds left in the first half Herman called a timeout and decided not to play prevent defense, but then with 5 seconds left did.  Also played prevent defense with 45 left in the 4th.  I know that they like the idea of McCulloch and Hager rushing, but I thought it was too obvious that they would try to get the edge, and all Darnold had to do was step up and deliver.  I wish they would have rushed 4 with the 2 inside guys staying in front of Darnold.

As far as Warren goes, I know everyone says he should have got the ball more, but that is a lazy complaint.  Go back to the game and the actual individual situations...down and distance, defensive alignment, capabilities of the OL, and see if a Warren run would have been a "better" play.  Maybe it was a bunch of times, maybe it wasn't, I haven't watched it on replay yet.  But it sure seemed like as I was watching it live that SC was selling out to stop the run and/or get pressure on the QB.  Running Warren may not have helped.  People would have been pissed with 1st down run for 2 yards, 2nd down run for 2 yards, 3rd and 6 every time.  Maybe the only solution is a better OL and a more experienced QB that can make a defense pay.

I hate to pick on individual players, but unless the coaches somehow told him to do it, I don't see how you put Hemphill back for punts again until he earns your trust.

Agree he was not terribly effective most of the game...but still should have had the ball on that goaline play instead of Ehlinger.  Or at least should have pushed Sam over the goal line ala Reggie bush years ago.

 

[RickyFlair]

Last play of first half was a mental breakdown from Wheeler. He was covering the RB. He ran with him toward the sideline and looked back at the QB and stood there while the back went back to the inside. The defensive call was good terrible execution. 

The two bad snaps were not Shacks fault. Sam signals when he's ready then the ball is snapped. The center does not snap without the signal and he can't see the QB. On both snaps Sam was looking toward the man in motion. Maybe he thought he had time but the center can snap it at any point once the QB signals they are ready. The center will vary the amount of time between the signal and the snap so the defense can't time it. If you notice the entire O line moved immediately when the ball was snapped that doesn't happen unless they hear the signal and are expecting the snap. 

There is no QB controversy if we want to win games this year. We went through hell last year while Shane cut his teeth just like most teams that start a freshman. There is zero reasons to do it again this year unless Shane is hurt. Sam hasn't done anything to take the starting job

 

[Staples09]

Was at the game last night, but couldn't get over Special Teams. How can you field two balls within the 5 yard line? Defense hell of a job most of the night, but finish the job. The prevent d at the end of the half and letting them get into field goal range we're killers. How long did we get killed on the bubble screens? Have to leave it with a good note... the trick plays were good to see, but penalty on them hurt. Texas Fight

 

[dmanderson21]

We've had several "moral" victories over the last years, so I'd like to see the team continue to grow and string multiple performances together, but it was encouraging to see the defense continue to rise up and make big plays even when the offense was non-existent for most of the game. I was expecting the defense to tire and flood gates to open and they never did. I can almost talk myself in to believing the team we saw on the field Saturday could contend for a Big 12 title next year provided they fix the offensive line. 

Also, I was texting friends in the moment saying they should've gone for 2 in the first OT. Odds were not in our favor that we'd outlast USC in an OT situation so why not go for broke? In that moment, I think the team believed they could win and I'm pretty confident they would've converted. Oh well.

Cautiously optimistic - just don't blow all the goodwill with a let down in Ames!

 

[okiehorn]

Word from here in Oklahoma all over the radio is "Texas is way better than we saw against Maryland, and WILL beat 1 of he big boys from Oklahoma"

if Orlando and company can keep the momentum which I believe they will now that they know how it feels, UT could and should be top 3 in the big 12. 2 weeks of rest and learning the offense, ISU should be ugly 

 

[oldhorn2]

Was at the game last night, but couldn't get over Special Teams. How can you field two balls within the 5 yard line? Defense hell of a job most of the night, but finish the job. The prevent d at the end of the half and letting them get into field goal range we're killers. How long did we get killed on the bubble screens? Have to leave it with a good note... the trick plays were good to see, but penalty on them hurt. Texas Fight

He fielded 3 inside the 5. The first one he made incredable moves and brought it out to the 29. That may have cost us the game because he thought he could do it every time and we paid the price.....Sort of like the guy that goes to a casino for the first time , throws a quarter in the slot and hits for a few hundred.....he then spends thousands the rest of his life only remembering that payday he hit.

I remember thinking at the time....uh...oh!...he is gonna try that over and over, and sure as hell he did.

I have to compliment the staff for removing Durveney from the KO return team after his crap showing against Maryland. They will at least "have a discussion" with Mapps. Unlike Durveney, he at least showed some aptitude for the job.

 

[Eastexhorn]

Completely disagree to all of this, but that's okay. That's why it's a discussion board  B)

RRSO in cotton bowl will tell who right.

I remember it like it was yesterday.