*****GAME THREAD: #7 TEXAS LONGHORNS vs. IOWA STATE CYCLONES*****

[Drb522]

You mean the guy who has 1/4 of the team's interceptions (tied for the lead) and leads all DBs with total tackles?

Dylan Haines made some interceptions too. I mean, sometimes the opposing qb can make errant passes

 

[Drb522]

I do agree that Taffe doesn't makes the list of "athletically gifted safeties". I am curious who is on @Drb522's list.

Williams for sure. Catalon seems to be hindered from previous injury. He doesn’t seem like half the player he was at Arkansas.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

I’d say Williams is more athletic than Taafe

That's racist.

I kid, I kid, I Kid

 

[BWilk55]

Williams for sure. Catalon seems to be hindered from previous injury. He doesn’t seem like half the player he was at Arkansas.

Okay, I figured that would be the one answer provided. Williams is probably the most athletic safety we have on campus right now and he has the highest ceiling. Problem is, he is a true freshmen and has multiple times given up TDs or long passes by not being assignment sound. I think that is why we see so much of Taffe and Jerrin Thompson. Not the most athletic but they are more consistent in covering the proper assignment.

That is our limitation at DB right now. Our most athletic player is too inexperienced to play right now. Once he develops, along with other young DBs and those coming next year, I'd bet our coverage schemes and approach start to look different and a lot more aggresive.

 

[Drb522]

That's racist.

I kid, I kid, I Kid

Okay, I figured that would be the one answer provided. Williams is probably the most athletic safety we have on campus right now and he has the highest ceiling. Problem is, he is a true freshmen and has multiple times given up TDs or long passes by not being assignment sound. I think that is why we see so much of Taffe and Jerrin Thompson. Not the most athletic but they are more consistent in covering the proper assignment.

That is our limitation at DB right now. Our most athletic player is too inexperienced to play right now. Once he develops, along with other young DBs and those coming next year, I'd bet our coverage schemes and approach start to look different and a lot more aggresive.

so what’s worse? Being assignment sound and just beaten? Or not being assignment sound and athletic enough to make up for it at times. And don’t tell me that Taafe has interceptions. I’ve seen the overthrows and tipped passes. I’ve also seen him take bad angles and allow wr’s over the top. Play the better athlete and let them grow/learn.

And I’m white, so I’m not picking on the white dude because he’s white. He just sucks

 

[BWilk55]

so what’s worse? Being assignment sound and just beaten? Or not being assignment sound and athletic enough to make up for it at times. And don’t tell me that Taafe has interceptions. I’ve seen the overthrows and tipped passes. I’ve also seen him take bad angles and allow wr’s over the top. Play the better athlete and let them grow/learn.

And I’m white, so I’m not picking on the white dude because he’s white. He just sucks

Both players have pros and cons at this point. The coaching staff seems to think Taaffes pros outweight the cons.

I think by the end of spring ball, D Will becomes the starter at the position.

 

[lshorn79]

 

[Wayne]

Yes, force them to take the quick slant AND the first down on 3rd and short. That’ll show them.

I prefer them giving up a first down than a touchdown. Slant and go is a TD playing up without safety help.

 

[Drb522]

I prefer them giving up a first down than a touchdown. Slant and go is a TD playing up without safety help.

I prefer making them earn a first down and possibly getting a sack. Why keep giving them a fresh set of downs? Just because you’re scared they beat you over the top.

 

[Baron]

I prefer making them earn a first down and possibly getting a sack. Why keep giving them a fresh set of downs? Just because you’re scared they beat you over the top.

The slant is the most difficult pass to defend. I'm surprised it's not a staple of every program.

 

[Drb522]

The slant is the most difficult pass to defend. I'm surprised it's not a staple of every program.

Jam them inside and make them complete a lower percentage pass outside. Or you could just stand back and watch them catch the slant uncontested and tackle them after they make the easiest catch in football

 

[UT1983]

I will take door number one.

 

[tejasrulz]

Both players have pros and cons at this point. The coaching staff seems to think Taaffes pros outweight the cons.

I think by the end of spring ball, D Will becomes the starter at the position.

Don't you understand yet that the majority of this board knows way more than our coaches?

 

[Baron]

Jam them inside and make them complete a lower percentage pass outside. Or you could just stand back and watch them catch the slant uncontested and tackle them after they make the easiest catch in football

But then you have to put a safety over the top which opens up the deep middle of the field.

 

[BWilk55]

But then you have to put a safety over the top which opens up the deep middle of the field.

Rod Babers was discussing the slants issue with Ian Boyd on the Inside Texas podcast they released yesterday.

In short he said Texas isn't the Baltimore Ravens defense of the 2000s, they have to give up something right now based on current talent and personnel.

Earlier this week they also discussed Blake Gideon Vs. Michael Taaffe which I thought was funny after our convos here.

 

[Drb522]

But then you have to put a safety over the top which opens up the deep middle of the field.

Always make the offense have to throw the lower percentage pass. Dont stand back and watch them complete a slant for first down.

 

[BWilk55]

Always make the offense have to throw the lower percentage pass. Dont stand back and watch them complete a slant for first down.

Go routes are 50/50 balls usually, but the gain is massive and could be a long TD. A slant is 80/20, but the gain is 5 yards. I don't think "always make the offense have to throw the lower percentage pass" is exactly a football mantra.

That said, DBs were covering tighter against Tech. Perhaps because we weren't worried as much about the QB/WRs. Time will tell if that is a sign of things changing for the DBs overall.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

I prefer making them earn a first down and possibly getting a sack. Why keep giving them a fresh set of downs? Just because you’re scared they beat you over the top.

A first down doesn't show up on the scoreboard

 

[Drb522]

A first down doesn't show up on the scoreboard

Enough first downs lead to points. You don’t just score on big plays?

 

[TXFF]

Go routes are 50/50 balls usually, but the gain is massive and could be a long TD. A slant is 80/20, but the gain is 5 yards. I don't think "always make the offense have to throw the lower percentage pass" is exactly a football mantra.

That said, DBs were covering tighter against Tech. Perhaps because we weren't worried as much about the QB/WRs. Time will tell if that is a sign of things changing for the DBs overall.

I would assume in this age of analytics, that teams know precisely how fast opposing wide receivers are, how fast their DBs and safeties are, and play coverage accordingly.