It’s never easy to grade a performance like the one Texas fans saw last night, especially considering the fact that both halves of the game were polar opposite in many aspects. When grading the positions, it is highly important to take into account the expectations of the personnel available. While the final score may indicate a total failure, the individual group grades may not reflect that level of effort.
Quarterback:
With David Ash out indefinitely with an injury, Tyrone Swoopes was thrown into the fire with just a week of practice as the starter. Swoopes was expected to “drive the bus” and basically make sure he got the ball to the receivers and didn’t turn the ball over. Swoopes started out strong, going 8-8 on his first 8 pass attempts, and finished 19-30 for 171. Swoopes had very few mistakes, only throwing two or three uncatchable passes, and turned the ball over once on an interception to a linebacker disguised in coverage.
Grade: B Swoopes mostly exceeded his expectations. If not for the interception, he would have a higher grade.
Running backs:
Fair or unfair, expectations for two five star running backs are always going to be high. With an offensive line that came into the game having a total of five collective starts, the task of having an effective running game against BYU’s defense was going to be very difficult. The Texas running backs had no room for almost all of the game, with most runs only gaining three yards or fewer. There was also a rare (for the position) fumble. The positive taken from the game is how well the two backs did in assisting the offensive line in pass protection, keeping Swoopes relatively clean throughout the evening.
Grade: C- The running backs have to do better than 2.9 yards per carry, but it is very difficult to do so against 8 in the box.
Receivers:
Realistically, with a simplistic playbook weeded down to assist a young QB, the prospects of receivers putting up big numbers were pretty low. Yet, the receivers mostly did their part in catching the passes that came their way and not becoming the cause of a major change in the game. There were a few dropped passes along with a fumble, but the WR’s produced the team’s only touchdown.
Grade: C- The WRs did make their share of mistakes, but had their plus moments as well.
Offensive Line:
As mentioned before, the offensive line is basically the most inexperienced in college football. Two new faces were thrust into the starting lineup due to injury and suspension. Texas knew it would be difficult to produce on a high level. In the run game, Texas was for lack of a better word, bad. There was no push and they were playing against a loaded front from BYU. The passing game was much better. Swoopes rarely had to leave the pocket against an aggressive defense and he was only sacked three times, once in the first half while the game was still in doubt.
Grade: D There were mistakes, including the chop block that took points off of the board. But as a whole, the line played about as well as an inexperienced, underdeveloped offensive line could be expected to play against a defense as tough as BYU’s. If I could give them one grade for the passing game and one for the running game, they would be quite opposite, but I can’t.
Defensive Line:
The bright spot from this game was the defensive line. Malcolm Brown and Tank Jackson were constantly pushing the pocket. The defensive ends stayed on their assignments and rarely bought into the play fake. If not for the third quarter, this unit would have the highest possible score. Still, five sacks by the defensive line against Hill is no easy task.
Grade: B+
Linebackers:
For the first twenty minutes of the game, the linebackers looked fantastic against the multiple offense of BYU. Hill had no room to run and the Cougar’s running backs fared no better. LB’s were sticking to their assignments and the game was manageable in spite of the offense putting up a zero on the scoreboard. But the second half kickoff happened and it seemed like 2013 all over again. Missed tackles plagued the LB’s and Hill was allowed to roam free and pick up 8+ yards every time he kept the ball. Pass coverage wasn’t much better as BYU found receivers and backs open across the middle when they decided to give Hill a rest from running.
Grade: D While you certainly cannot put all of the blame on the Linebackers for the third quarter breakdown, it was apparent that they did have problems and they never recovered after that initial drive to start the second half.
Secondary:
The Texas secondary played exceptionally well for much of the night against the pass. Taysom Hill had 181 yards with 1 costly first half interception made by Diggs. But like the LB’s, poor tackling reared it’s ugly head in the third quarter. Arm tackling, diving with the shoulder, and trying to strip the ball instead of bringing down the runner allowed for far too many extra yards.
Grade: C While the numbers were good in the passing department, the third quarter was a killer for this unit.
Special Teams:
Fumbles, costly penalties, and missed field goals. That’s what most will remember about this game. Many will forget the great returns and the strong punting. Yes, there were too many negatives, but there were also positives that will keep this group from getting an F.
Grade: D
