View from the Cheap Seats-Tulsa

[echeese]

View from the Cheap Seats-Tulsa





 






A Tale of 2 halves







 
 
 
  CTH and the TEXAS crew entered last nights game in desperate of a tomato can. . . .a slump buster to come to town, collect a nice paycheck and give up a big score to make us feel better about ourselves. Look no further than a Tulsa team coming to town, a team TEXAS has never played.  Everything seemed right including great weather for TEXAS to put Maryland behind them and move closer to pre-season expectations.  For a half, things went very well.  TEXAS would score TDs on 3 of it's 1st 6 drives putting up a 21-0 score despite being stopped on 4th and goal (still think it was the right call, just not the right play) at the Tulsa 4.  Perhaps the most exciting revelation of Half #1 is play calling seems to be keeping Tulsa off balance.  Tulsa D coached by long time BigXII DC Bill Young who is an excellent DC. Early efforts have the crowd electric and jacked up.  A big crowd taking advantage of Del Conte's long over due move to turn the area around the stadium into a giant pre-game party/pep rally.  CDC seems an outstanding hire as our AD.
 
 
  TEXAS would take the opening 2nd half kickoff and go from Dr Jekell to Mr Hyde.  3 plays, 6 yards and punt, 2 plays Fumble, 4 plays punt, 5 plays punt.  So much for the 3rd quarter.  Meanwhile Tulsa would put up a TD.  TEXAS would eat up most of the 4th quarter with a 13 play 75 yard drive for a TD and a 10 play 56 yard drive to end the game.  The problem is Tulsa wasn't ready to roll over and would put up 2 TD drives of it's own.  So after winning the 1st half 21-0, TEXAS would lose the 2nd half 21-7.  Fortunately Tulsa would miss 4 FG attempts (officially 3 as 2 attempts came on the same drive kept alive by yet another TEXAS player mistake) so TEXAS eeked out a win.
 
 
  So what do we take away from last night's efforts?  Well for one thing, winning ugly better than losing pretty.  There is that.  The lack of 2nd half offense clearly took it's toll on the D which gave up 3 TD drives late in the 3rd then in the 4th.  It was clear the D was starting to get gassed which is not a good sign given the offense future opponents like OU put up.  2nd half play calling seemed to regress to Maryland levels which was disappointing after such a positive 1st half. 
 
 
PROS
 
 
  Sterns & Foster.  Not talking about the quality bedding firm, our true freshmen Safeties each recorded their 1st   INTs.  Nor would these be the only plays they would make.  We landed some studs in the secondary, going to   be fun to watch them grow up.
 
 
  22 and 24.  Say what?  The last 22 times TEXAS has turned the ball over, our Defense has only allowed 24   points.  Now that is some championship quality D.  This team goes as far as Coach Todd's guys carry us.
 
 
  Running Backs.  We actually have running backs who can make people miss.  Keaontry Ingram reminds us a tad   of Jamaal Charles and Tre Watson is a welcome addition. 
 
 
  Sam.  While his 3rd quarter fumble was ugly, his night overall was very good.  He played within himself, ran   when he needed to and had a couple of outstanding deep balls on his way to a  21 of 27, 238 yard 2 TD evening.
 
 
  Pass Blocking.  We had time to throw.  We both had similar schemes with our D, rush 3 drop 8.  Thus no sacks   recorded by either team.  Sam was flushed a few times but seemed to be able to make Tulsa pay when it   happened.
 
 
  3-15.  D's performance on 3rd downs, very good
 
 
  2 of 5.  D's performance in the red zone, obviously aided by 3 missed FGs
 
 
  Shane Buchelle.  Did you know he has more starts than any other BigXII QB and is 2nd in passing yards behind   Grier of WVU?  We didn't either but he's also shaved off the porn stash.
 
 
CONS
 
 
  2nd half play calling.  Now 2 drives started inside our own 12 while all 6 2nd half drives started inside our 25 so   we lost the field position battle in the 2nd half.  Excuses aside, we simply could not get out of our own way.    Great run by Ingram to move the ball out of the shadow of our goal posts only to come back on  a dumb holding   call.  Fumble by Sam killed another drive. 
 
 
  D got tired.  gave up 21 points in the 2nd half.  Yes some of that is the O's fault but looking at the offense teams   like OU, WVU and OSU will bring to the table, it may be a long Fall for the Horns.
 
 
  Lack of a killer instinct.  In baseball, the term would be a closer, a pitcher who takes the mound and simply   shuts out the other team.  In football it's more about attitude.  Up 3 scores with the ball to start the 2nd half,   TEXAS fails to mount a scoring drive to "put a nail in the coffin" until the 4th quarter. 
 
 
  Lack of pass rush.  Now some of that by design but without Davis and Jones, we simply do not have the   experience in the secondary to shut down WRs for 4,5 or 6 seconds.  Coach Todd used to be known for running   a pressure D.
 
 
  5-12  O's performance on 3rd down. . . .ugh.  Vs a weak team?  not a good stat.
 
 
  3-4, D's performance on 4th down, not good at all.
 
 
  4th and 2 at Tulsa's 40 and we punt?????  Oh how we long for the days of Mack Brown who LOVED to go for it   on   4th and short on the other teams end.  How demoralizing for other teams to see drives kept alive.
 
 
  Another up and down week for our Aussie punter
 
 
 
 
 
  So where do we go from here?  USC on deck.  They managed a wopping 3 points vs a Stanford team that today appears the class of the PAC 8/10/12 (how many do they have?).  Cheap Seats thinks USC will be critical to the murder's row stretch of games.  TEXAS faces USC, TCU KSU then OU in successive weeks.  With a pass rush, USC is beatable.  Glad this one's at home.  We are trying hard not to be debbie downer and a win is a win but given the 2nd half, Cheap Seats not sure where this team is or where it is going. 
 
 
RANKING THE BIGXII,
 
 
no major changes, basically 3 tiers of teams, the top of OU/TCU/WVU, the "they likely go bowling" middle and the mutts.
 
 
 
#1  OU. . . .till someone knocks them off, they will be #1.  Sucks to type
 
 
#2  TCU. . .beat up a bad SMU team
 
 
#3  WVU. . .
 
 
#4  OSU
 
 
#5 TEXAS  Yeah bit of a homer call but think we beat KSU
 
 
#6  KSU
 
 
#7  TT  Ran up 77 trying to save KK's job
 
 
#8  ISU  losing ugly
 
 
#9  F Baylor
 
 
#10  Kansas  when does basketball season start?  Though props to them for their 1st road win in 46 tries
 
 
 
 
Standard disclaimer, the Cheap Seats is written before reading or watching any of the post game breakdowns.  Opinions are exclusively ours.  Question came up this week. 

 

[java]

Good job, cheese.

I am really glad to know that the sky isn’t falling, yet. My Lord, but we are a whiny bunch. 

Any news on Wheeler?  I thought our D really suffered when he went out. In the last 2 games, Orlando has had both Wheeler & Johnson in the game at the same time for less than a half. 

Think that might make the D a little less effective, just a little?  Anyone?  Anyone at all?

We didn’t win the game the way I wanted to, but at least this was a W. Hopefully we came away healthy, and can move along with our season, which I am looking forward to watching on HDTV! 

Since I’m feeling a little better after reading The View, I am going to sleep to dream of a Burnt Orange Tower on Saturday nights this fall. 

IMHO:  Tre Watson doesn’t have the timing or the vision that Ingram has. Much more difficult to sustain drives with him, and Watson played in 2nd half. 

 

[primal defense]

Good job, cheese.

I am really glad to know that the sky isn’t falling, yet. My Lord, but we are a whiny bunch. 

Any news on Wheeler?  I thought our D really suffered when he went out. In the last 2 games, Orlando has had both Wheeler & Johnson in the game at the same time for less than a half. 

Think that might make the D a little less effective, just a little?  Anyone?  Anyone at all?

We didn’t win the game the way I wanted to, but at least this was a W. Hopefully we came away healthy, and can move along with our season, which I am looking forward to watching on HDTV! 

Since I’m feeling a little better after reading The View, I am going to sleep to dream of a Burnt Orange Tower on Saturday nights this fall. 

IMHO:  Tre Watson doesn’t have the timing or the vision that Ingram has. Much more difficult to sustain drives with him, and Watson played in 2nd half. 

So were a whiny bunch? LOL! Just because we don't appreciate that thrilling fourth quarter victory against mighty Tulsa or are we whiny because we are aren't happy about losing to a basketball school for two years in a row.

I missed the memo that Tom Herman would need to completely rebuild the program. I thought he would take Charlie Strong's four star recruits and coach em up to where we could win right away especially the offense which is his expertise. Are we whinny because we don't appreciate Herman's 8-7 record or his making excuses that he can't place any pressure on the players otherwise they will fold.

I hope your correct that we will have sweet dreams and a Burnt Orange Tower this year, but I believe you have your hand in the sand and there's a storm coming. It's not very positive that UT won Saturday and the aggies lost, but the aggies picked up some of the top recruits in Texas after the game.

 

[echeese]

Good job, cheese.

I am really glad to know that the sky isn’t falling, yet. My Lord, but we are a whiny bunch. 

Thanks

but I may not have put enough emphasis on just how poorly this team played.

Football is an emotional game more so than any other sport (well maybe boxing).   One emotion/mental state is teams that just know they can put someone away.

If not for 3 missed FGs (and one got a mulligan), we lose this game.

 

[LHornjack]

ECheese as always thanks for the editorial penmanship.

You made me feel better too....just as you say, disappointed that we didn't put them away, and show some consistency.  We just have to find a way to get better.  Agree the D got tired.

I am interested in your take, and others, on the QB situation. 

Sam's stats did look good and the Fumble could happen to anyone.  But those stagnant periods. I am just not convinced he can lead us to the promise land or Shane for that matter either.

Put me in the camp that I think we have sufficient sample size to know that neither guy can lead us to the promise land (i.e. Conference title or top 5 or 10 birth). Either can I think be adequate in a middle of the road winning program,  Either could possibly do 8-9 wins, and they could certainly do worse. Both equally have shown they can go long periods of no offense and not even a threat. Both have shown some nice plays and drives. But zero consistency.

I have no idea if Rising is the answer, I hope to the big man upstairs that he eventually is. In watching the spring game, I liked his presence and awareness and quick vision and both looking and throwing receivers open....but that does not mean he is the guy. It becomes a whole different game when you aren't wearing a black jersey that protects you from being hit.

PS...very frustrating we are the most amazing penalty ridden  team, in that it seems we always commit them at the worst possible moments to kill our drives or to keep the opponent's alive. I remember seeing Gary Johnson profusely and very demonstrably jawing at the Tulsa QB after the 4th down stop at our 5...that was a taunting waiting to happen. Just not smart. 

Also seems there is no method of D against us that is called pass interference. It just does not happen.

 

[java]

Oh, cheese, I’ve got it. We need to put the pedal to the metal and run up and down the field when we have  21 point lead. I don’t disagree. 

I just think the horse died last week & it’s time to quit beating the poor creature!