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Instanalysis - Game 6: Red River Rivalry

Matt Cotcher

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Instanalysis from the press box

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FINAL SCORE: Oklahoma 31 – Texas 26

First half: Oklahoma 17 – Texas 13
Second half: Oklahoma 14 – Texas 13

First half observations

  • The issue with the fumble/review on the first possession is that the replay doesn’t account for when the referee’s whistle was blown.
  • Three false starts on the first drive for Texas. The offense needs to help themselves and giving away 15 yards isn’t it. Add in the Delay of Game and it’s -20. Nick Rose made the FG, but that’s not the point.
  • Ross’ KO return is exactly what Charlie Strong means when he says this team doesn’t know how to win. Rose’s kicks have been solid all year and on his worst kick of the season, he kicks it short to a good returner, wiping out all the momentum built in the 3-0 lead.
  • Shipley, who is a dependable fair catch guy, blows an opportunity and it costs the Horns field position. Just like the penalties on offense – this team is making it hard on themselves.
  • The Holding penalty on Swoopes 70+ yard keeper. That’s 7 penalties on the offense in the 1st quarter. I’m not counting yardage anymore. (Although it should be noted that the keep on the read option was a good playcall – it was wide open on the first drive and Watson went right back to it.)
  • The sack on Swoopes to end the 1st quarter looked avoidable if he had stepped forward in the pocket. Swoopes did throw one away early in the quarter and prevented the lost yardage. “It’s a process.”
  • Colbert with Kick Catch Interference – mistakes continue….
  • For Swoopes and the offense to answer the pick-6 with their own TD was critical. Great 3rd down throw to Harris (especially after looking at Shipley throughout the half).
  • 3rd down efficiency has been good in the first half. When Swoopes hit Marcus Johnson late the 2Q for the first down, it capped an excellent half for the stat. That is what this offense needs.
Second half observations

  • On their 1st drive of the 3rd quarter, Oklahoma found some room to run on the perimeter of the Texas defense. There was nowhere to go between the tackles in the first half. Interested to see if that’s an adjustment they make for the 2nd stanza.
  • After a 3-and-out on the opening Texas possession of Q3, William Russ uncorks an unbelievably good punt. Maybe his best of the season, and that’s saying something.
  • Shipley’s drop on the 2nd possession of the half was a rarity. Charlie Strong talks about the importance of winning on 1st down – that was illustrated on that drive.
  • Oklahoma picks up the tempo on offense and the result is their best drive of the game and a TD that gives them an 11-point lead.
  • Another 3-and-out from the Texas offense after OU’s touchdown., but Oklahoma reverts to their slower tempo and instead of the Sooner O building momentum, the Texas defense holds.
  • On OU’s touchdown drive at the beginning of the 4th quarter, the OL and downfield blocking was tremendous. The way the Sooners looked on that drive is how most offenses have looked in the 3rd quarter against the Horns.
  • The second TD catch of the day for Harris was pretty.
  • It felt like all the simple mistakes and timeouts caught up in the final 5:00 of the game.
Two takeaways

  • Unemotionally speaking…this team is improving. It’s a painful thing, but it’s happening. The team that played the Sooners would beat the team that played North Texas.
  • Turnovers, penalties and special teams lost this game. Period.
Notable Stat’s

  • Texas had 13 more first downs, 45 more rushing yards, 205 more passing yards and held the ball for almost 16 more minutes than OU.
  • Oklahoma was 1-11 on 3rd down.
  • Texas had four trips to the red zone and only came away with two TD’s and 2 FG’s. 50% for touchdowns needs to improve.
  • Both Malcolm Brown and Tyrone Swoopes both rushed for more than 4 ypc.







 
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Agree with your write up. We are getting closer.

I am optimistic going forward. We absolutely have to fix our special teams. A little disappointed that has not been a coaching priority,apparently.

 
This was the most improvement I have seen so far for Swoopes. If Warrick had been more alert, the pick six wouldn't have happened IMO. The halftime score easily could've been 20-3, Texas. My defensive MVP was Hicks. IMO, his best game as a Horn. On offense, I'd split the MVP three ways - Swoopes, Macolm Brown and John Harris. Iowa State is dead meat next Saturday.

 
The incessant penalties were tough to to stomach - showing a lot of this team's inexperience, but it's tough to argue with the improvement shown today in the loss.  Swoopes improvised when he needed to and saw success.

I won't go overboard here but Tyrone Swoopes showed today that he has the potential to win a big game.  That's something that couldn't be said 3 weeks ago.

 
I did not get to watch the whole game but I thought Swoopes played pretty darn good. I thought the pick six was behind the receiver but heck we expect him to make bad throws from time to time. Yay we finally scored some points!! In looking across the big 12 I would say we have the best defense in our conference. If we stay the course on defense and clean up ST and have a top 25 offense next year then we will be in the playoffs.

 
I did not get to watch the whole game but I thought Swoopes played pretty darn good. I thought the pick six was behind the receiver but heck we expect him to make bad throws from time to time. Yay we finally scored some points!! In looking across the big 12 I would say we have the best defense in our conference. If we stay the course on defense and clean up ST and have a top 25 offense next year then we will be in the playoffs.


 
Lakeman, Jim lost faith but just like that girl popping up out of the pool never lost faith in her top I have faith next year we kick some butt. By the way next time she goes swimming let us know please!! 😃

 
I did not get to watch the whole game but I thought Swoopes played pretty darn good. I thought the pick six was behind the receiver but heck we expect him to make bad throws from time to time. Yay we finally scored some points!! In looking across the big 12 I would say we have the best defense in our conference. If we stay the course on defense and clean up ST and have a top 25 offense next year then we will be in the playoffs.
In the wake of a loss (especially to OU), it's important to remain optimistic and move forward

in proactive fashion. I'm reading a lot of posts tonight on this site and it appears, despite today's

loss, that morale is high and everyone feels the team is improving. That makes me feel really

good about things, optimistic about the future of UT Football.

Thanks for your good post, drgilbert! 

 
Yes, Swoopes hesitates on throws, but credit Sanchez on the pick 6 - he baited TS into making that read/throw.

 
— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011
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That doesn't seem possible.

 
In the wake of a loss (especially to OU), it's important to remain optimistic and move forward

in proactive fashion. I'm reading a lot of posts tonight on this site and it appears, despite today's

loss, that morale is high and everyone feels the team is improving. That makes me feel really

good about things, optimistic about the future of UT Football.
I was impressed with the team's mentality at today's press conference. They were extremely confident for a 2-4 team.

 
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