View from the Cheap Seats-Rice

[echeese]

View from the Cheap Seats-Rice​

Slump Buster

Rice was exactly what TEXAS needed this week.   And the game had something for everyone.  If you were a glass half full type. . . .you saw Jerrod Heard's coming out party and he was everything he was hyped to be.  OTOH if you were a glass half empty type. . . . you saw a defense who's front 7 was abused only this time not by one of the best OLs in the nation but by an undersized OL featuring 3 players making their 2nd collegiate starts and an OL averaging less than 300 lbs a man.    If you were a fan of special teams, you saw the TEXAS special teams put on a show.

Let's start with the fun stuff.   There we two ELECTRIC players on display Sat night.   Senior Daje Johnson gave us a glimpse of his amazing potential with 2 punt and one kickoff return that were highlight tape material.  At the other end of the college spectrum was redshirt Freshman Jerrod Heard who registered his 1st college start in impressive fashion.  This included his 1st drive of the game, 80 yards in 8 plays underscored with a 35 yard 3rd down pass play where he tucked and ran eluding defenders along the way.   For better or worse, the 2015 TEXAS offense will go as far as Jerrod Heard takes it.  CFS certainly shook everything up this week.

Heard would open the 2nd half with a 69 yard bomb to true freshmen John Burt. . . 2 games into his college career and he's averaging over 50 yards a catch.   Of course he only has 2 catches but he is impressive.    Heard also looked respectable in the shorter passing game though we are working with a very small sample size.   Bottom line. . .Heard has seized the job and for better or worse, he will be the man barring injury going forward this season.

So let's talk overall.   Effectively the offense had 2 scoring drives, a 9 play 80 yarder to open the game and a 5 play 28 yard drive set up by a strong punt return from Duke Thomas.    TEXAS would score on a punt return, they would have a point blank (6 yard) punt return that lead to a score and a defensive TD returned off a Rice fumble by Malik Jefferson.  TEXAS' other TD was on the 1st play of the 2nd half and a 69 yard bomb to John Burt.    Thus on the 5 other drives of the game (not going to count the drive that ran the clock out at the end of the 1st) . .. TEXAS was forced to punt and the longest drive they sustained was 6 plays, 16 yards.   To say it was a feast and famine kinda night for the O would be an understatement.   Frankly part of the problem was an outstanding night from our punt return team so in a way, good problem to have.   Having to punt 5 times vs Rice. . .not good with only 11 drives.   3 of 8 on 3rd down, just isn't going to get it done.

There is no QB debate.   Heard is Da Man

Another statement many will not like, I find myself less and less impressed with J Gray and more and more impressed with D'Onte Freeman.   I wonder if Gray is trying too hard/trying to do too much and should just settle down and play.  Don't know.    If D'Andre McNeil got into the game, I missed it.  He has yet to record a reception but I have not even seen him on the field.   Perhaps my most glaring/unexpected offensive development.   Still think he represents a huge weapon as an HBack and creates mis-matches ala a faster David Thomas.   BTW, if you have not seen David Thomas' All-22 show on LHN, you are missing out.   Real football stuff and Thomas is very insightful.

Now for the "reality bites" section of the Cheap Seats.    Rice's O outscored our O (I don't give the O credit for a point blank score).  Their O scored 28, ours only got 21 and one of those was less than a 30 yard drive.   As I said before, this week was 1 impressive drive, 1 impressive play and thank you special teams.

On to the defense.  Hard to believe that last week I was called "cartoonish" for pointing out some GLARING flaws in our D.   Well guess what, this week our D wasn't facing one of the top OLs in the nation but rather a 2nd tier team with 3 members making their 2nd start.  All Rice would do is MANHANDLE our DL.

  Really glad we only face one more true "dual threat" QB from here.   We were abused by the 2 we have seen so far.   As one announcer said. .  ."lots of dirty laundry on the field". . . Feel free to make excuses but we gave up 462 yard to Rice.

Arm tackles, blown assignments, DBs lost in coverage.   Even when Jason Hall registered an INT to stuff one Rice drive at the cusp of the red zone, he fumbled the ball back to Rice and they drove the ball into score.  In fact if Rice could get out of their own way, they'd have had a shot at the upset.   14 of 21 on 3rd down. . . .5 of those 3rd downs would be 3rd and 7 or longer which were converted.   That is NOT good D.   Lots of coaching moments and we played the young guns far more in the game.  Coach'em up CFS. . . .

Thought Malik Jefferson had a great many  "coaching moments" and while he is a true talent, he and his young cohorts showed off their inexperience.    Doesn't mean I don't love the kid, doesn't mean they are not likely the best option we have today.

Next up we have Cal and OSU.   Hate to say it but season is on the line.   Cal's QB has to be licking his chops facing our secondary.   Kid is liable to be the 1st QB drafted next spring and the only plus I see today is he's nowhere near as mobile as Zaire or Jackson.    

Season is on the brink. . . let's not be Bielima and Arkie. . . dude is so worried about looking forward.  .. he got beat by MAC Toledo.   Football is an emotional game and you win or lose largely based on how you execute.  Play who is next on the schedule.  We can beat Cal if we can disrupt their passing.   But will say it now, we have no chance if we cannot bring pressure.   This might be the best passing attack we face until Dec.

Random comments:  the new College football Final show is pretty bland.  . .not a big fan of either of the hosts.  How Tenn managed to choke away their game with OU was terrible.  .shut out in the 2nd half.  Hated to see Zaire's season end, there goes ND's playoff shot.

My way too early Playoff picks

tOSU

TCU

UCLA

Bama

next 4

Mich St

Oregon

Baylor

Clemson

Editors' Note:   the Cheap Seats are written before I have read any other analysis of the game so the thoughts (good or bad) are 100% my own.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Good stuff, cheese. As always.

Bielima . . . lol. . . wonder how erotic he's feeling these days? lol Holy Toledo what was that? lol SEC! SEC! SEC! lol  . . . ok, just had to.. . 

I share your concern about the DL. We got pushed around. Literally. They moved the ball on the ground at will. The only thing that saved us was some drive-busting plays that we just happened to be in position to make. Take away a couple of Rice's miscues, and it's a different ball game.

Still, it's a W and we needed one. We needed to have some success and we got that. Now, we get the training wheels taken off. IMO, I am more fearful of the OSU game than I am the Cal game. This secondary is growing up right in front of us. Let that Call QB lick all he wants. We're going to get ours.

 

[bcherry168]

Always glad to get your views, echeese. Have to say I usually agree with you across the board.

A comment about Gray: a number of his runs were into a stacked defense. Rice apparently figured out he like to run to the left off tackle, and they stacked the defense over there when he was in the game. Heard does not have the knowledge or experience to check out of a play when that happens. Wish he were better at things like film study. He will never be a complete quarterback until he gets into the mental work of the game.

D. Foreman is a great straight ahead slashing runner. I really like what he brings to the table for us.

Jinkens is working hard, but mostly is just there. Not to fault him, but I would have a younger guy in there if possible. Just to get the experience.

Ridgeway is getting double teamed all of the time, but nobody else is able to take any advantage of that. Our front four is in sad shape, and there are no signs of it getting any better.

I can't believe that with the offense we did have and the special team play and the turnovers, and we could not beat the line against Rice at home. Vance needs to get his stuff together pretty quick or we will be lucky to win more than 2 or 3 more games.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Good stuff, Chuck

I said before on an earlier thread, statistically this defense probably won't be nearly as good as last year. It can, however, make up for its shortcomings by forcing more turnovers. That is something last year's unit didn't do. I only see the D getting better as the year progresses.

If we see the same improvement on offense with Heard, we may have a team to be excited about! Will there be bumps in the road? Of course, but I'd rather see the team playing with more hustle and "juice" (CFS's word, not mine!).  \m/

 

[DMAC]

I think Foreman is the better back for this team.  He blocks better than Gray by far on pass plays.  I think Foreman runs harder and more north and south.  I know Gray was a HS stud and he does have speed but tries to juke/dance too much IMO.  Foreman's vision and punishing style of running is a far better asset with inexperienced OL.  Plus Foreman always falls forward when he is eventually tackled getting that extra yard or two.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I think Foreman is the better back for this team.  He blocks better than Gray by far on pass plays.  I think Foreman runs harder and more north and south.  I know Gray was a HS stud and he does have speed but tries to juke/dance too much IMO.  Foreman's vision and punishing style of running is a far better asset with inexperienced OL.  Plus Foreman always falls forward when he is eventually tackled getting that extra yard or two.

People see 5 star next to Gray's name and just automatically think he's good. He's not very good. Foreman needs more touches and I would love to see Daje get a few touches in the backfield. 

 

[Johnstark23]

Really good job chuck

 

[Duke C #11]

I'll be surprised if this team stays within ten points of Cal.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Pretty much agree with what everyone is saying except....I'm not seeing what everyone is seeing with D. Foreman. He's not exactly tearing it up out there. 

 

[TeamMayhall]

Good write up Cheese

 

[primal defense]

Were going to have a bumpy season this year with all the freshman playing. I'm fine with that because the missing link which is a QB we can grow with. The most important is for the team to improve and hopefully win enough games.

The growing pains this year will pay off next as long as Heard improves. CS said he needs a another strong recruiting class and that especially means OL and DL. If recruits see a Heard and Malik as guys that they want to play with then our recruiting should be fine.

 

[echeese]

Pretty much agree with what everyone is saying except....I'm not seeing what everyone is seeing with D. Foreman. He's not exactly tearing it up out there. 

The statistical difference is marginal but I just see Foreman running harder and more likely to break a tackle. . . 

Now where J Gray needs to be used is swinging out of the backfield to catch passes, where his finesse and speed can be better utilized.