Five Thoughts Following The Win Over Tulsa

[MikeV73]

I really do need to go to sleep. Getting up at 4, but this is what I have to contribute. 

Sam may be fine with a little more experience. Colt didn’t look so hot his sophomore year, if I remember correctly, and believe he had a redshirt year. Sam is probably still thinking through plays which slows him down. Only time will tell. 

The 2nd half May have been called conservatively due to the 21 point lead. Big mistake. Coach got tight. 

Remember how smooth Charles was?  Ingram looks like that. I don’t know why they are playing Watson so much, unless it’s because they are trying to protect Ingram. Remember the overuse injuries Malcom Brown and our other Fr. running back got their freshman years. Overuse injuries?

Ive wondered if that wasn’t the reason. It has started a fire under Porter, though. He was one determined young man when he got in the game    He could taste that touchdown. 

Young not Porter is who we saw.  Yes, be played hard for the two plays he was given.

 

[DBut82]

Quick question regarding the defense (and maybe it's just me): Haven't we been pretty "vanilla" thru the 1st 2 games?  Sure, Orlando probably could have spiced it up, especially against Maryland, but I understand why he didn't.  I mean, we did have the lead in that game; same as with Tulsa.  And I personally think the defense has been "plain" as to not tip our hand for USC and the 4 game gauntlet we face in the next few weeks.  I really expect a herculean effort this weekend.  And if we lose, I promise it won't be the defenses's fault.

 

[83Dee]

Sam may be fine with a little more experience. Colt didn’t look so hot his sophomore year, if I remember correctly, and believe he had a redshirt year. Sam is probably still thinking through plays which slows him down. Only time will tell. 

I admire your optimistic outlook.  I think the only flaw in your comparison is that, while Colt did have some growing pains, he was always deadly accurate.  Accuracy is the single most important, and oft overlooked characteristic in a QB.  Not just hitting people so they can make the catch, but hitting them in stride so that they can get yards after reception.  

Besides late game brain farts, Ehlinger is simply inaccurate. This is why I have said all along (minority opinion no doubt) that Buechele is the better option.  Ehlinger misses open receivers, but also makes them aduust to the point that it hinders their ability to run.  

Can accuracy be improved?  Perhaps one of our resident coaches can weigh in on that question.   

 

[83Dee]

Quick question regarding the defense (and maybe it's just me): Haven't we been pretty "vanilla" thru the 1st 2 games?  Sure, Orlando probably could have spiced it up, especially against Maryland, but I understand why he didn't.  I mean, we did have the lead in that game; same as with Tulsa.  And I personally think the defense has been "plain" as to not tip our hand for USC and the 4 game gauntlet we face in the next few weeks.  I really expect a herculean effort this weekend.  And if we lose, I promise it won't be the defenses's fault.

Coming into this season, I thought our pass rush was going to be devastating.  This is probably inaccurate, but I can remember one sac so far.  Huge disappointment in my humble opinion.  

 

[drgilbert]

Quick question regarding the defense (and maybe it's just me): Haven't we been pretty "vanilla" thru the 1st 2 games?  Sure, Orlando probably could have spiced it up, especially against Maryland, but I understand why he didn't.  I mean, we did have the lead in that game; same as with Tulsa.  And I personally think the defense has been "plain" as to not tip our hand for USC and the 4 game gauntlet we face in the next few weeks.  I really expect a herculean effort this weekend.  And if we lose, I promise it won't be the defenses's fault.

I think if a coach is playing a vanilla scheme so as to not tip his hand to future opponents and loses that game then his future would be in jeopardy. You have to win the game you’re playing first and foremost 

 

[DBut82]

Coming into this season, I thought our pass rush was going to be devastating.  This is probably inaccurate, but I can remember one sac so far.  Huge disappointment in my humble opinion.  

Oh I'm definitely disappointed in our defense as well.  ESPECIALLY our pass rush; or lack thereof rather.  And I truly believe Orlando has felt we could pressure on the QB with our front 4.  And because of that, blitzing has been sparse.  But with 2 games on film and seeing the lack of pressure on opposing QB's, I fully expect Orland to dial up the pressure more often; starting this weekend against USC.  And I know it's sounds wild but I really believe we win that game.  HOOK 'EM!

 

[DBut82]

I think if a coach is playing a vanilla scheme so as to not tip his hand to future opponents and loses that game then his future would be in jeopardy. You have to win the game you’re playing first and foremost 

I get it and I agree.  BUT we were winning that game.  So the game plan in place actually worked.  And the defense as such gave the offense 3 chances in the final 6 minutes to go win that game.  While the defense did get off to a "rough" start, it's hard to pin that loss on their shoulders imo...

 

[drgilbert]

I get it and I agree.  BUT we were winning that game.  So the game plan in place actually worked.  And the defense as such gave the offense 3 chances in the final 6 minutes to go win that game.  While the defense did get off to a "rough" start, it's hard to pin that loss on their shoulders imo...

I think that game has plenty of candidates to blame for that loss. I blame Herman the most. The defense played better in the second half but they gave up too many points in the first half and couldn’t  keep the lead when we finally took it. You said we were winning that game(Maryland). We weren’t winning until the third quarter. Our defensive game plan wasn’t great. If he stayed vanilla after they took the lead then shame on him. Yes they only scored 10 points in the second half but we gave up 24 in the first. He made some adjustments but they shouldn’t have had 24 to begin with. 

 

[okiehorn]

Re-Watched the game via YouTube and found it kinda funny and weird after the Pick at very beginning of the game it was celebrated like UT just won the Natty. I realize it was Sterns first pick but a dog pile  :lol:   Love it

 

[dillohorn]

Re-Watched the game via YouTube and found it kinda funny and weird after the Pick at very beginning of the game it was celebrated like UT just won the Natty. I realize it was Sterns first pick but a dog pile  :lol:   Love it

The rest of the UT game did become a "dog pile".   

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Regarding the defensive line.....

Looking at the box score Omenihu, Graham, Hager and Nelson had 6 total tackles combined in the Tulsa game. 

 

[texasdalton]

Pathetic 6 tackles as a unit

 

[longhorn_mig]

Question...do we honestly know who's calling plays at this point? Is it Herman or Beck? Because if it's still Beck, that's just downright moronic.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

This is a win that feels a lot like a loss.

 

[MikeV73]

I think if a coach is playing a vanilla scheme so as to not tip his hand to future opponents and loses that game then his future would be in jeopardy. You have to win the game you’re playing first and foremost 

Correct.  You are either good or not.  If you are good you don’t have to hold back, you just let it go and kick ass.  Haven’t seen any beat in the QBs this season.  I thought Orlando was the master of the blitz?

 

[MikeV73]

Question...do we honestly know who's calling plays at this point? Is it Herman or Beck? Because if it's still Beck, that's just downright moronic.

And if it’s Herman that looks poor as well.  What is the deal with 1st and goal inside the 5 the last two seasons?  We leave with ZERO points multiple times last year and in the first half Saturday.  That is unacceptable.  A TD there might have destroyed Tulsa’s will and given us a really big lead early.  I will say it again:  stop the Sam up the middle kamikaze run and give it to D Young to punch in the score.  Again, 3rd and 2 from the 50 is not where you throw a bomb to the end zone.  Take two plays to run and pick up the first down, or design a decent throwing play BEYOND THE STICKS.  

 

[DMAC]

This is a win that feels a lot like a loss.

^^ Sums it up for me

 

[RPHRN83]

I think what is apparent in a coach that differentiates where we are and where we want to be is imagining  Nick Saban’s mood after a win (?) like that and Tom Herman’s. Saban would have blasted that performance and likely have destroyed the microphone. All boils down to how one measures success. Until we get someone of that caliber, we should be prepared for mid level mediocrity. Herman’s a nice enough guy who wants to win but wanting to win and doing what you have to do to win are often not related.