Game Recap: Texas 17 - Iowa State 7 (by Aaron Carrara)

[Harrison Wier]

AMES, IA — The last time Texas travelled to Ames, Iowa the Longhorns managed just 204 yards of total offense and zero points on the scoreboard in a 24-0 shutout at Jack Trice Stadium.  It was Halloween night in 2015 and there were no tricks involved. The Longhorns were simply outplayed.  The loss was the first ever to the Cyclones on the road and the second to then-head coach Paul Rhoads in 5 years.

The Longhorns (2-2, 1-0) and starting quarterback Shane Buechele didn’t put up huge offensive numbers in the 17-7 victory over Iowa State (2-2, 0-1) on Thursday night, but instead rode the backs of Todd Orlando’s defense en route to their first road and conference win of the season.

After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, the Texas defense made its presence known early, holding the Cyclones to 4 yards on 3 plays in the game’s opening drive.  The defense would continue to heat up, pressuring quarterback Jacob Park and forcing 3 interceptions on the night.  DeShon Elliott picked off Park twice for his 3rd and 4th interceptions in four games, while Kris Boyd grabbed his first of the season in the second quarter.

The Longhorns found the end zone on their first offensive possession, courtesy of an 11 yard Chris Warren scamper made possible by an extension of downs via an Iowa State unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Texas would add to its lead at the 5:29 mark in the second quarter when Shane Buechele hit freshman running back Toneil Carter in stride for 22 yards and the score.

At the half the Longhorns led the Cyclones 14-0.

The first score of the second half came with 2:05 left in the 3rd quarter, when Iowa State’s Park found Matthew Eaton for an 11 yard touchdown, the first points of the game for the Cyclones.

After three quarters of play the Longhorns led Iowa State 14-7.

Texas kicker Josh Rowland would connect on a 49 yard field goal with 13:25 remaining in the 4th quarter, giving the Longhorns a 17-7 lead.  Texas would hold the Cyclone offense in check for the remainder of the game and secure a 17-7 road win in Ames.

While the win wasn’t picture perfect, it was just that – a win.  A win Texas desperately needed to salvage its season and potentially turn things around as the meat of the schedule approaches.


“We’re going to celebrate this win. Winning college football games is really hard. Really hard.  Winning on the road, in conference, on a Thursday night is even harder.  And we’re going to celebrate it tonight,” said head coach Tom Herman.



Texas deserves the celebration but it will be short-lived, as the Longhorns will immediately begin preparing for Kansas State next Saturday in Austin.

Stat facts

• The Longhorns held Iowa State to just 10 yards rushing and 256 yards of total offense.
  
• The Texas rushing woes continued, with Texas’ leading rusher gaining 44 yards on 16 carries (Chris Warren III). Texas rushed 5 players 52 times for a total of 141 yards (averaging 2.7 yards per carry).
  
• Shane Buechele threw for 171 yards and a touchdown in his first game back as the starter since suffering a shoulder injury.
  
• Li’lJ Humphrey led the Texas receiving corps on the night with 4 receptions for 36 yards.
  
• Texas was penalized 10 times for 76 yards.
  
• The Longhorns turned the ball over twice in the game (1-INT, 1-FUM).
  

Takeaway

The offensive identity of this team still remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the defense has turned the corner and continues to keep the Longhorns in football games.  Tonight’s win was devoid of a base running game again, which will inevitably catch up to the Longhorns sooner or later as they face stronger Big 12 competition.  Connor Williams’ absence on the offensive line is noticeable, as Tristian Nickelson continues to be overmatched at the left tackle position.  The Longhorns are thin at line depth and will have to grind it out and improve play moving forward, as Williams could be out for the long haul.

 

[Daniel Seahorn]

It ain’t getting any easier from here on out. Next 3 games: Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State. Offense better put its big boy pants on and fast. 

 

[Aaron Carrara]

The players were hyped after the game and deservedly so.  A road win is a road win, but agreed, Daniel.  The offense can’t hide behind the defense all season.  At some point they are going to have to hold their own.  Right now that looks like it could take some time - time they don’t necessarily have.

 

[JMagana]

You think they (coaches too) didn't take Iowa St that serious considering they just had an epic game with USC? It seems life they can't make up their minds to establish the run. I don't get it.

At the presser I can see Herman saying they need to run the ball better. 

 

[Epictetus]

Did you see what ISU got net yards rushing... all of 10 yards.
Horns had TOP of 40:31 to 19:29
With a very tepid offense.
Imagine if they had any kind of offense... I mean early, middle and late, not just end of 4th qtrs.

John Bianco tweeted the following...

Over past 3 games... this defense has yielded 1.6 yds per carry -- 75 rushes for just 123 yards. Total.

He did not add, but I'll add here... for those 3 games:
Includes a shutout.
Up to the final minute of second half, had shut out USC in that second half.
Gave up just 7 tonight.

Past three games, including USC, a total of 34 pts.  11.33 per game.

Prior to tonight, first three games, ISU scored in every quarter, avg 41.3 ppg.

Two more weeks and one more game to figure out the offense.

Question: how do so many teams get receivers open and we barley can?
Also, seems Ehlinger can get the ball to Johnson. A lot.
I wish Ehlinger could get one more start. Before OU. Which means...
Oh, well.

 

[mctmatt]

Texas did come away with the win, but it was very ugly and I think these next three opponents will expose in much greater detail our weaknesses. The Defense is the shining light for this team and it will be interesting to see how well they play against much better offensive teams like OU and Okie light.

The offense is just one huge work in progress that will only be improved with much better recruiting of linemen and running backs.  I also thinks this applies to the QB position as Tom is wanting a QB that is a running threat and someone who emotionally will just take over a game and put the offense on his back and take them to the end zone.  I don't think Tom see Shane as his 4 year starter but just the best option for QB right now as he will make the fewest mistakes.  The bottom line, the focus has to be on recruiting Offensive Linemen  and quality depth in the offensive line and I think that might take at least 2 more years before that is resolved .

 

[okiehorn]

Did you see what ISU got net yards rushing... all of 10 yards.
Horns had TOP of 40:31 to 19:29
With a very tepid offense.
Imagine if they had any kind of offense... I mean early, middle and late, not just end of 4th qtrs.

John Bianco tweeted the following...

Over past 3 games... this defense has yielded 1.6 yds per carry -- 75 rushes for just 123 yards. Total.

He did not add, but I'll add here... for those 3 games:
Includes a shutout.
Up to the final minute of second half, had shut out USC in that second half.
Gave up just 7 tonight.

Past three games, including USC, a total of 34 pts.  11.33 per game.

Prior to tonight, first three games, ISU scored in every quarter, avg 41.3 ppg.

Two more weeks and one more game to figure out the offense.

Question: how do so many teams get receivers open and we barley can?
Also, seems Ehlinger can get the ball to Johnson. A lot.
I wish Ehlinger could get one more start. Before OU. Which means...
Oh, well.

quick answer, either shane is just missing the WR or we were all dead wrong about how Deep we are at the position...... I'm gonna go with missed reads

 

[DMAC]

Question: how do so many teams get receivers open and we barley can?
Also, seems Ehlinger can get the ball to Johnson. A lot.
I wish Ehlinger could get one more start. Before OU. Which means...
Oh, well.

quick answer, either shane is just missing the WR or we were all dead wrong about how Deep we are at the position...... I'm gonna go with missed reads

Dropping 8 guys into coverage and rushing 3 most of the game.  QB needs to run it which Shane did or wait until receivers break off routes and come back or improvise.

 

[okiehorn]

Dropping 8 guys into coverage and rushing 3 most of the game.  QB needs to run it which Shane did or wait until receivers break off routes and come back or improvise.

i agree but I'm saying the WR had to have been breaking off and getting open with the amount of time Shane had the first half. I Was a huge shane supporter but man I just don't know anymore.... He may not have had a line the 2nd half but they had little to no penalties all the first half and UT still couldn't get it done. I'm not wise enough to figure it out but I hope Herman does.

 

[DMAC]

i agree but I'm saying the WR had to have been breaking off and getting open with the amount of time Shane had the first half. I Was a huge shane supporter but man I just don't know anymore.... He may not have had a line the 2nd half but they had little to no penalties all the first half and UT still couldn't get it done. I'm not wise enough to figure it out but I hope Herman does.

I said in the game thread during the first half.  Sam would have done better.  Iowa State was daring the QB to run.  If only we had a QB that could pass like Shane and run like Heard.  Shane looked rusty as well which didnt help.  Our OL needs to improve its run blocking or we are screwed the next 3 games,  Wtaching Tristan on the line is demoralizing.

 

[TexCoyote]

I am happy with the Dub. Iowa State is pretty good. They will win some games. That guy is doing a good job there. Hard to win in Ames. In years past, we played good against a rank team in USC and then the next week we would lay an egg and take two steps back. Last night was what I think we are all looking for. Show improvement. Show organization. Show heart. Show fight. Be physical. We did all that. Tom Herman is going to lead us back to where we once were and where we all want to be. It's going to take time. Herman is going to keep recruiting at a top level and bringing the horses in. Within the next couple of years, he will have us in a position to be in the playoff running.

Be patient my friends.

Ooooooooooo- Coyote out.

 

[DMAC]

I am happy with the Dub. Iowa State is pretty good. They will win some games. That guy is doing a good job there. Hard to win in Ames. In years past, we played good against a rank team in USC and then the next week we would lay an egg and take two steps back. Last night was what I think we are all looking for. Show improvement. Show organization. Show heart. Show fight. Be physical. We did all that. Tom Herman is going to lead us back to where we once were and where we all want to be. It's going to take time. Herman is going to keep recruiting at a top level and bringing the horses in. Within the next couple of years, he will have us in a position to be in the playoff running.

Be patient my friends.

Ooooooooooo- Coyote out.

I agree the win is great.  What worries me is the lack decent depth at OL, along with the transfers (Delance, Hodges) as well the subpar year for OL recruiting.  We better find some JUCO OL or it will take a couple of years to rebuild this line.

 

[okiehorn]

I said in the game thread during the first half.  Sam would have done better.  Iowa State was daring the QB to run.  If only we had a QB that could pass like Shane and run like Heard.  Shane looked rusty as well which didnt help.  Our OL needs to improve its run blocking or we are screwed the next 3 games,  Wtaching Tristan on the line is demoralizing.

Yes may be screwed but we are better than Baylor and they played HoeU tough. in 2 weeks ill be watching to see If ISU gives them fits like I think they will. our pass rush and pass coverage was great last night and HoeU secondary is terrible! Saying this all to say I think with the Defense momentum will allow us to play with anyone the next 3 games. I think we both agree there

 

[oldhorn2]

no sense guessing on this. Ryan will disect the film and show us a lot.

 

[oldhorn2]

When Herman came here I said what I expected/hoped to see was improvement as the season wore on. I am seeing that.Sadly, I fear the defensive coaching is too damned good. I doubt we have Orlando next year.

 

[DMAC]

When Herman came here I said what I expected/hoped to see was improvement as the season wore on. I am seeing that.Sadly, I fear the defensive coaching is too damned good. I doubt we have Orlando next year.

Posted this in another thread.  Orlando interviewed for 2 HC gigs, one being UH and another I believe.  He will get hired away its inevitable.  

Our rush defense currently ranks #16 in FBS

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/24


RANK


TEAM


G


OPP RUSH


OPP RUSH YDS


YDS/RUSH


OPP RUSH TDS


YPG


16


Texas


4


118


386


3.27


4


96.5



The one offset is the Maryland game which we gave up 260+ yards.  The last three games we are


RANK


TEAM


G


OPP RUSH


OPP RUSH YDS


YDS/RUSH


OPP RUSH TDS


YPG


1


Texas


3


73


120


1.64


0


40



The defense has been amazing.

 

[Hiwood]

its hard to believe this is the same defense that looked lost in the Maryland game

 

[North Texas Golfer]

quick answer, either shane is just missing the WR or we were all dead wrong about how Deep we are at the position...... I'm gonna go with missed reads

I'm not sure that it's an either/or thing. Shane probably missed some reads but I also don't think we are near as deep at WR as we think we are. 

 

[BevoBlake]

I agree the win is great.  What worries me is the lack decent depth at OL, along with the transfers (Delance, Hodges) as well the subpar year for OL recruiting.  We better find some JUCO OL or it will take a couple of years to rebuild this line.

This. Iowa State is a better football team than some would like to credit. I'm satisfied with the W but I left with as many concerns as I had against USC. 

1.) Shane survived ISU but he may not Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Our line, very simply, has to be better. I don't know how this offensive line gets to where it needs to be before we're trying to keep Oklahoma out of the backfield.

2.) This team has find that killer instinct. We had multiple opportunities against USC to put the game away and we had as many opportunities against ISU to put the game out of reach. I understand Herman is conservative near the end of games but we have to start putting opponents away, rather than playing to their level.