Five Thoughts Following The Win Over Tulsa

[Daniel Seahorn]

Yup, I agree. Just sharing his tweet. Believe he deleted it now though 

Yeah I didn’t mean to come across rude to you. Just odd that a kid is saying stuff like that publicly when the tape is there for all to see. 

 

[okiehorn]

@Daniel Seahorn I’ll be ready for you to post the USC info later this week and hear your thoughts. I know it was against a good Stanford defense but USC offense didn’t impress me at all. It’s going to be REAL tough with the way the horns are plays but I dont think SC is nearly as good I originally thought they’d be. Crazy Texas Gaines 500+ yards but still only scores 28 points. Seems so rare. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

As much as I hate to say it, the problem on O may be with the QB. Just not seeing the leadership and he doesn't seem phased by the lack of success. I love Sam Ehlinger, I've always stuck up for him. But I love my Horns more and its time for this offense looking for a place to rest to get up and look alive.

We have the talent at WR. We have the talent at RB. We have the talent now at OL. Something isn't in sync here. I think its at QB.

 

[okiehorn]

As much as I hate to say it, the problem on O may be with the QB. Just not seeing the leadership and he doesn't seem phased by the lack of success. I love Sam Ehlinger, I've always stuck up for him. But I love my Horns more and its time for this offense looking for a place to rest to get up and look alive.

We have the talent at WR. We have the talent at RB. We have the talent now at OL. Something isn't in sync here. I think its at QB.

He was 21-27 which isn’t shabby but I agree. To slow on RPO and offense seems sluggish with him. Im afraid Herman will ride with same till he is shown the door though. Something def happened in the 2nd half, was a different offense. The bad one 

 

[doc longhorn]

After 2 games, my thinking is as follows"

1.  Herman called offensive plays for both games.  He's terrible. 

2.  When we hired Herman I expected intelligence and intuition from him.  I haven't seen it.

3.  Herman, including last year, is looking more and more like a flash in the UH pan.

4.  Does anyone remember hearing Hager's, Omenihu's or Nelson's names being called out in any play?

5.  Ingram should have started and should never have come out except to take a blow for running up and down the field.

6.  Is there only bubble screens in our playbook - no power sweeps with Ingram as the RB?

7.  I think we need to go to a 4 man DL.

8.  We cannot win championships with Ehlinger.  He tries hard but doesn't have it.

 

[Rotty22]

herman is really trying to stick with the one qb mind-set.  i think buechele should have been given some reps...

 

[mctmatt]

Ehlinger has not grown as a QB from last year to this year and that is sad. I agree with others that a change is needed but I fear Tom will not make such a change because he is smarter than everyone else and some how he would view it as him being wrong as a coach just like his choice of Beck as the OC.  I hate to say it but Tom Herman is not the answer so the quicker this all blows up the quicker we can move on to the next coach. Look at how many coaching hires most programs go thru before they find the right one. How many did Texas go thru before we hired Mack,  how many will Nebraska go thru before they find the right guy.  Hell look at Tennessee  who is still searching and A&M  has had how many since Slocum.  No we are still in a coaching search as we just have hired two since Mack.  We probably have one or two more before we find the right guy. 

 

[NWAHorn]

In an offense that relies on the RPO as much as this one does (and most college/high school offenses today), you can only be successful if your QB has quick burst ability. Because the QB is essentially trying to read what the defense is doing as the play develops, similar to the old Wishbone. While I think Sam probably does a good job on the RPO read, he lacks the quick-burst speed when he keeps it to elude anyone. Sam's biggest runs are either designed QB draws or when he scrambles. So his inability to be a real running factor on RPO plays limits what we can do offensively. Herman's offense at Houston (Greg Ward), and Ohio State (J.T. Barrett/Braxton Miller) before that, was successful because of the QBs ability to be a dual-threat. Sam is nowhere near a dual-threat at this level. This is just my opinion, but 15 games into the Herman era is proof enough, that we will continue to struggle until we find a QB that fits this system, and I don't think we have one on campus now that comes close unless it's Thompson. 

 

[Captain Hookem]

I don't know guys. The problems seem too obvious and too apparent. This team shouldn't be this bad. And Tom is kinda of acting weird.

I think there's something going on behind the scenes or underneath the surface that we don't know about. 

That's my theory. 

He is acting weird, but I think that's just due to things not working on the field like he thinks they should. He doesn't have answers right now, and then has to stand in front of a mic for 15 mns. Coaches hate to admit they don't understand the problem since it can lead to a loss of faith in leadership.

Thing is... right now people would actually like it better if he just admitted they are still working on fundamentals - not solving 'try to hard' and 'want it too much' type of problems. 

 

[HORNfromETX]

After 2 games, my thinking is as follows"

1.  Herman called offensive plays for both games.  He's terrible. 

2.  When we hired Herman I expected intelligence and intuition from him.  I haven't seen it.

3.  Herman, including last year, is looking more and more like a flash in the UH pan.

4.  Does anyone remember hearing Hager's, Omenihu's or Nelson's names being called out in any play?

5.  Ingram should have started and should never have come out except to take a blow for running up and won the field.

6.  Is there only bubble screens in our playbook - no power sweeps with Ingram as the RB?

7.  I think we need to go to a 4 man DL.

8.  We cannot win championships with Ehlinger.  He tries hard but doesn't have it.

6 and 7! All of our run plays are read options that take too long to develop. Just do straight hand off and let the RB take off. We have to get a pass rush, put 4 guys in there.

 

[utb040713]

So here's my question: what is our offensive identity? I feel like after 15 games of Herman and Beck, we should have some sort of idea. Instead I feel like we're just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. We try a couple drives with a traditional "drop back and pass" style, then a couple of drives with major emphasis on the run game, then a couple up-tempo drives, then a couple drives with nothing but bubble screens and jet sweeps until we have to punt on 4th and 18. Once we find something that works, we just move on from it and pretend we didn't learn anything from the previous drives.

There seems to be no effort in matching our on-field personnel with our gameplanning, and there seems to be no effort in sticking with an offensive identity that works. If Tim Beck hasn't figured that out by now, I have no hope that he'll figure it out before he and/or his boss get run out of town.

 

[83Dee]

It was an ugly win, very ugly. The only game I saw Texas win that was uglier was vs N Texas St in 1988. Truth be told, Texas got a very favorable call to win that game.

Maybe it's the beers but not impressed. Did I mention it was an ugly win?

Ha!  Thanks for the reference. I was at this game and UNT won... but for one of the worst calls in NCAA history.  

 

[83Dee]

View attachment 1710

Maybe try not fumbling after not going public.  

 

[prosfromdover]

Feels like everyone pretty much agrees with the problems. I still believe Orlando can make the right changes. Not so sure about Tom.

 

[83Dee]

After 2 games, my thinking is as follows"

1.  Herman called offensive plays for both games.  He's terrible. 

2.  When we hired Herman I expected intelligence and intuition from him.  I haven't seen it.

3.  Herman, including last year, is looking more and more like a flash in the UH pan.

4.  Does anyone remember hearing Hager's, Omenihu's or Nelson's names being called out in any play?

5.  Ingram should have started and should never have come out except to take a blow for running up and won the field.

6.  Is there only bubble screens in our playbook - no power sweeps with Ingram as the RB?

7.  I think we need to go to a 4 man DL.

8.  We cannot win championships with Ehlinger.  He tries hard but doesn't have it.

This was great!  May I?

1.  Bedford looked like a top DC after year 1.  I’m now a bit less sold on Orlando.  

2.  We are at a schematic disadvantage when we are on offense.  This offense stinks.  I highly doubt Herman would ever hire someone to run a scheme other than his own.  

3.  There is no shortage of things to gripe about, but talent evaluation / player rotation is high on that list.  

4.  “Just because you can run the corner gas station doesn’t mean you can be the CEO of Walmart.”  Ross Perot said this; I thought it might be relevant.  

 

[MikeV73]

Pretty good analysis.  Just thought I would mention another problem that is retarding the growth and effectiveness of our players.  I ran across a Sooners site sorta like this one.  In an article there, the writer points out that Lincoln Riley, who has been great at OU, always strives to tailor his offense to suit the natural abilities and experiences of each player.  Tom Herman, unlike Riley, expects everyone to conform to his system - and no other.  We have seen which coach has experienced success and it ain't Tom. 

Well, he is a MENSA member so no decision he makes is wrong.  All coaching hires are grand slams and if you question this you are an idiot.

 

[MikeV73]

After 2 games, my thinking is as follows"

1.  Herman called offensive plays for both games.  He's terrible. 

2.  When we hired Herman I expected intelligence and intuition from him.  I haven't seen it.

3.  Herman, including last year, is looking more and more like a flash in the UH pan.

4.  Does anyone remember hearing Hager's, Omenihu's or Nelson's names being called out in any play?

5.  Ingram should have started and should never have come out except to take a blow for running up and won the field.

6.  Is there only bubble screens in our playbook - no power sweeps with Ingram as the RB?

7.  I think we need to go to a 4 man DL.

8.  We cannot win championships with Ehlinger.  He tries hard but doesn't have it.

You are point on and should be running the football program.  High five to you, but enjoy your inability to effect out program.  You are the man!

 

[doc longhorn]

You are point on and should be running the football program.  High five to you, but enjoy your inability to effect out program.  You are the man!

Ha, ha, I think I detect some well deserved sarcasm.

 

[java]

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. 

 

[Earl Nobis Jefferson]

I’m trying to stay optimistic, but with no true offensive identity to me (again) and a defense not playing up to expectations, it’s hard to believe this team will finish much different than last year, which would be a huge disappointment.  Terrible to say that the third game of the year is critical and could determine the rest of the season, but...