Scattershooting: Texas Tech Red Raiders at Texas Longhorns

“Trey Newton is a solid back who’s built for our scheme. Let’s ride him until he bucks us.”

I fully expect Newton to be going sideline to sideline within two years. Agreed, let’s ride him until we beat this north/south stuff out of him.

I’ve been through this thing you guys are attempting me to get into with Newton. The love, the feeling he’s the solution, the rebirth of a running game. I get all excited and think that 100 yard per game performances are right around the corner, clock will be ground, defensive lines worn down.

Then I wake up the next morning, surrounded by empty lonestar bottles and wearing a Kenny Hayter jersey.

How’s that different from any other morning?

Sometimes I bring out my throwback Victor Ike or Ivan Williams if I’m feeling saucy.

Newton looks like a serviceable back for this offense.

Funny enough (and to show the true stupidity of Texas fans) I took a walk at halftime and chatted up a a fellow Longhorn fan. We chatted about the running game, and both agreed Newton looked good. He then proceeded to question why Whaley (pronounced Wally) wasn’t in the game and that he should be in there. I told him Whaley was fat, and could not run through the tiny holes that our offensive line produces. He thought Whaley was big and strong and could make his own holes. I laughed at him.

Extra props to the defense, minus the Browns. Our offense caused the D to be out there a lot longer than they should have, and between the opening drive until we went to prevent in the fourth quarter, our D dominated.

We have three weeks to get our O Line problems figured out. The RRR is looking like a defensive struggle akin to the games in the early 80’s. The Wild Horn package looks promising, unless this is all we will do with it. Great observation, GD is why our defense was gassed in the 2nd half.

“We have three weeks to get our O Line problems figured out.”

Don’t do this to yourself.

The goddamn best part of re-watching the game was seeing Ruffin try to chest bump his players on the sidelines. There’s nothing been a man more inappropriately built for pulling that off. He kept knocking them down with his fupa.

It was like trying to chest bump a flying pear.

“the Wild Horn package looks promising”

Chances we see it in the RRS: 0%.

Anyone have a beat on why Colt is overthrowing everything? I’m not sure if anyone else remembers, but I recall him starting this habit back in the spring game.

Glad to see someone talking about GD’s running the hurry up when he should’ve been burning the clock.

Anyone else read about Collins’ possible redshirt?

@dedfischer, if you thought his chest bumping was awkward, you should’ve seen his posterior sweat.

Whether it is missed assignments or simple inability to finish blocks, the O-Line is a shambles and they will get eaten alive if things aren’t remedied by the OU game.

The most emblematic play came in the 4th quarter with Texas up 31-24 following what turned out to be Tech’s final touchdown. With a first down at the Tech 24, Greg Davis served up three straight running plays to Tre Newton. The final play was a dive play to the left side of the line on 3rd down with 2 to go.

Ulatoski and the left guard (not sure who) double teamed Tech’s undersized DT Victor Hunter (5-11, 275) and then inexplicably slid off their blocks like Hunter was a greased pig with bad breath. Hunter was left standing in the hole where he stood up Newton for no gain. We had to settle for Hunter’s FG to provide a little more breathing room.

At this point in the game, Tech’s D-line unit was completely worn down. But sloppy blocking made Hunter into a run-stopping behemoth.

Fix it.

“How’s that different from any other morning?”

This time the jersey was actually being worn by Kenny Hayter only hours earlier.

Can someone please please please tell me what happened to the o-line between last season and this?
Have opposing D-lines just matured? Has our blocking ‘scheme’ (if I could bold those conditional apostrophes, I would, just to stress how much it isn’t a scheme) been ‘figured out’? Did our boys leave their hearts back on the farm working on the combine? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON

@whoopspat – Same thing I’m wondering, considering one of the few criticisms of Colt’s game last year was that he put the ball too low, putting his receivers in a bad position to be tackled while they stoop to scoop.

@TheGuvnah – I saw the same thing, just on a different play. It was actually a play that the announcers highlighted as a great pull block by the LG and LT, when they crossed over to push their assignments out of the way to the right. They did this, very well in fact, until they gave up soon after contact, and a run that went for 4-6 was stopped from going longer because one of their assignments, no longer being blocked, was able to chase down the RB from the back. Sickening.

Chris Hall would be much better used as a substitute because he can play all the positions. It would be much tougher for the D to know where he is on any particular play (until he actually lines up). No way Hall is going to the bench, Mack loves him.

When the horns go to a more run oriented offense in the second half, the OL changes you suggest particularly make sense.

Tech should have been called for holding quite often (especially for what they did to Sergio) but their style of getting rid of the ball quickly helps keep the holding calls down.

I would actually rest Tre, Colt, Ship, Buckner, Sergio, and Lamar as much as possible in the next two games so that they are healthy for the OU game. Maybe Fozzy will be healthy enough to help in the OU game. Fozzy should be playing in the slot instead of TB. He will stay healthier and can be used like Ramonce was used.

Tre is probably not the solution for UT running game problems but he seems to be the best we have. I doubt UT is able to run very well on OU, especially in the first half.

“As Tech’s pick plays or rub plays illustrated, there is nothing wrong with pushing the officiating envelope. We need start throwing our tunnel screens past the line of scrimmage like OU does, run some rub routes like Tech, and hold until somebody flags us. Until then we’re playing offense at a competitive disadvantage. I wouldn’t be above going Denver Bronco in the running game if it means success on the ground. This is big boy football.”

Agree on the pick plays, the ultra short/quick Tech crossing pattern is great stuff. The screens to Chiles seem to be working great as is so why change it? Re: holding, I agree that we should coach WRT the way the game is actually refereed as opposed to the written rules. If the Denver Broncos reference means injuring opposition players by dirty play (eg: going after guys knees), I disagree.

Any opinions on the wild horn plays (1 big run and 1 dropped snap)? One change I would make to the formation would be to line up Colt and Chiles close to each other prior to the snap rather than moving Colt out to WR. If the D brings up a safety to stop the chiles run, then Chiles can go in motion to WR. If the D keeps their safeties back, then Colt goes in motion to WR.

@txindc – It’s not uncommon for O-linemen to be taught to double-team block and one blocker to chip-through the shoulder of the DT on his way to picking up an additional block at the second level, which sounds like what you’re talking about. I could be wrong, but I’d chalk that one up to hustle on the part of the Tech player.

But on the 3rd and 2 play Ulatoski and the guard both slid across the face of the DT and left him standing right in the hole. I had to rewind to figure out where the tackle had come from, because Hunter looked like he was completely submerged… then pop there he is, wrapping up Newton for no gain.

I expected problems with the line. They were over rated last year. What I don’t understand is what is wrong with Chykie? If you read the newsletters they’ll have you believing he’s “the best corner in the Big 12” or he’ll “make some noise during awards season.” Horseshit. How do you have coverage breakdowns against a pass only team. We looked like the Texans yesterday not even swinging a db out to Chris Johnson. Piss poor.

I played a game with a buddy while tailgating. Drink everytime you possibly see Clipper Cooper. That game got old real fast. Lots of chodes wear burnt orange. There was also another type I had the misfortune of seeing. Check it out…Cowboy boots (not a fan, but not terrible on some), faded blue jeans with big pockets and stitches that make up designs ($200) extra tight UT shirt designed to look old but obviously brand new, it was burnt orange like his tan, spikey hair as one would predict, and the standard thick leather bracelet watch. I think I was in the presence of Logan Steelcock.

WTF? I wasn’t at the game. Somebody musta busted in my house and stole my wardrobe. Those jeans gotta be drycleaned….

Actually it was Matthew McLoins

"the Wild Horn package looks promising"

Chances we see it in the RRS: 0%.

Um, I disagree. We will see it, but we will run the exact same plays from it so they will know exactly what’s coming.

I think I tailgated with a handful of Clipper Coopers. They were drunk and confused, and trying to rush me. After about six beers I broke the news to them that I’m 33 years old.

One of the tailgates inexplicably had a ski boat in the parking lot. I told my friend it must be Clippers. Can’t you see this…

Girl: What the hell is this boat doing here?
Clipper: Oh yeah, look what else I own.
Girl: Why is it here?
Clipper: We’re going wakeboarding at half-time, duh.
Clipper: I can’t wait til father dies, then I get his cigar-boat.

I’m with you. How in god’s name are Tanner and Hall playing with the first team. We certainly have other players that have proven they are better players; namely Allen and Snow along with a healthy huey. Our failure to run the ball can be directed at scheme and philosophy. We haven’t been able to run the ball since MB arrived and there were similar problems North Carolina. The only exceptions were the Ricky Williams year were the staff didn’t have time to coach horrible OL play and with vince where teams couldn’t account for two dynamic threats in the backfield. Please tell me how Alabama lost Andre Smith last year to the pros along with two other OL starters yet they are pounding the ball at will. Does anyone think this is coaching? I know its a new and novel concept.

Kindle, Williams, Houston, Thomas, Muckleroy, Robinson, and the Acho brothers are absolute beasts on defense! It’s amazing what a little bit of coaching can do on that side of the ball.

“Anyone have a beat on why Colt is overthrowing everything?”

He’s breathing through the wrong eyelid and he stopped wearing his garter belt..

It was a strange game across the board. The crowd didn’t really get full throttle until the 2nd half. Nothing close to the excitement level at the beginning of the Missouri game last year. I’m referring to before kickoff. Maybe it was the heat, or the new video (didn’t do much for me), but the energy level was good, but not great. Regarding the heat….. good gravy! Can’t we get some wind machines in the house? How ‘bout some of those misters? Five hours in a burnt orange oven sitting next to a Tech fan just isn’t right. I behaved myself until Sergio took 8 quarters of being mugged out on Taylor Potts Facebook.

Speaking of Potts I was impressed. Tough kid who made all the throws needed to make that offense go. Have you ever seen anyone more stationary in the pocket? Considering he knew there wouldn’t be any holding calls against Tech, he must have felt pretty secure on his two foot plot of land.

Someone explain why the refs feel compelled to run the ball back to the spot after every play Tech ran? Is that something that is required when Tech is on offense? You don’t see that in other games, and I didn’t see them running the ball to the spot after we ran plays, even when we ran our hurry-up. Doesn’t seem right.

Love the Acho bothers. They play fast, both have noses for the ball, and are obviously smart players. Also, not sure why some folks are surprised at the play of Tre’ Newton. I mean the guy took over some games at the highest level of high school football.

Clearly Colt was out of sync, which given that we now know he had the flu all week makes sense. Except for Jordan Shipley I thought everyone was a half step slow on offense. I thought the substitution packages were strange as well. I mean I love the speed that D.J. and Marquis bring to the field, but having them in the game ahead of Malcolm Williams? WTF? Did Malcolm make a pass at Greg Davis? Why isn’t he getting more PT! It’s infuriating!

Win and move on baby!

“How in god’s name are Tanner and Hall playing with the first team.”

I’ll take “Who’s spilled blood for UT?” for $500, Alex.

“Clearly Colt was out of sync, which given that we now know he had the flu all week makes sense.”

How does the drastic improvement in Colt’s second-half numbers compared to his first-half numbers support the conclusion that having the flu was the problem? It’s just another excuse for why we weren’t prepared on offense the first-half. Same shit, different day.

“Tre is probably not the solution for UT running game problems but he seems to be the best we have. "

He may not be Jamaal Charles or Steve Slaton, but IMO he looks like a very good solution from what we’ve seen so far. He rushed fo 5 yards or more on more than half of his carries. When we ran our typical running plays we was nails. Almost all of his below average carries came on options and when the offense went hurry up inside the 5 and it looked like our entire offense missed thier blocks.

Use Newton on the majority of carries, bring in McGee or Monroe on the option plays, Monroe on the “Wildhorn” and Cody on the short yardage. Let them all play to their strengths.

Trips you are an excellent basketball writer and you know so much more than I do. However, your OL analysis is based on faulty perceptions. I’ve viewed the 2nd half extensively. I saw the 1st half live and you couldn’t pay me to watch it again.

From the beginning of the 2nd half, until UT kicked their last FG, they ran 6 offensive series. In those series they scored TDs on the first two, went 6 plays and punted, Colt threw a tipped interception on the 3rd play of the 4th series, UT scored a TD in 6 plays after the Kindle hit and kicked a FG on the 6th series. Only on the 3rd and two leading to the FG did Hall or Tanner miss a block . Not once was Colt hurried except on the second play of the half, on a busted play and once on a naked bootleg, the 8th play of the first series and no one was open. Every other play except 3rd and 2, Tanner and Hall made their blocks successfully. And in fact they made key blocks on several of Newton’s runs including his TD run.

On the 6 play and punt series, the offensive line was not responsible for not getting another first down. A linebacker run blitz and a too short a pass to Shipley were the reasons.

The entire offense and Greg Davis deserve scorn for the first half but anyone that criticizes the OL in the second half is clueless.

but Chris Hall won “Offensive line player of the game” according to Mack

Our running game will always be set up by the pass. When GD becomes very predictable it puts our running backs in harms way.

Beaten, I agree, we picked it up a notch in the second half, but when I mention Hall and Tanner I’m talking over the course of their careers. Trey Allen and David Snow are better players right now and they need to see the field. Sorry, I should have been more clear.

I wouldn’t hold one half of football against Hall/Tanner or anyone for that matter. Snow missed some blocks in the first half and I don’t have a problem with him.

Horncasting:
Tre is doing great but he and the horns have not faced a good run defense yet. Tre has gotten most of his carries in the second half when run defenses tend to be fatigued. The Tech D line was also weakened by all the injuries at DE.

I predict that UT does not run well in the first half against OU. My definition of running well would be averaging at least 4.5 yards/run (with an 18 run medium) in the first half at OU. My prediction is that the UT OL will have trouble blocking the OU DL and that UT will have to rely on the short passing game heavily for at least the 1st half of the OU game (and probably for most of the 3rd quarter, too).

The UT run game depends on Colt to run for good yardage and that is going to be difficult against OU. The UT offense is optimized for passing (including the UT OL). One of the reasons that Tre is such a good fit for the UT O is because he is excellent in the passing game (both blocking and receiving).

I’m not criticizing Tre (he deserves to start), I just don’t think he can fix all the problems the UT run offense is going to have against OU.

“I predict that UT does not run well in the first half against OU”

And I predict the sun will come up tomorrow.

“How does the drastic improvement in Colt’s second-half numbers compared to his first-half numbers support the conclusion that having the flu was the problem? It’s just another excuse for why we weren’t prepared on offense the first-half. Same shit, different day.”

blueshorn,

I think you probably have a good point considering all the other examples of the offense (Colt) starting slow.

My point was that he didn’t look right. Looked a little lethargic. Maybe he had some of the same chicken soup that Joe Montana did at halftime of the ’79 Cotton Bowl….. except I read it was PB&J.

BeatenDeadHorse:
Thanks for the specific analysis, great stuff.

Who do you think should start:
Tanner or Tray Allen?
Hall or Snow?

Trips, I don’t agree that Snow and Allen are better. If they were, they would be on the field. I do think both are more physical than Tanner and Hall but when your bread and butter is Colt, a bad mental mistake or six could be season ending. Tanner got a bad rap in the Wyoming game. He had 3 bad plays. Unfortunately they were on consecutive plays and led to a punt from our end zone. Otherwise, he made his blocks. I’m just a OL junkie and focus on that aspect of the game. Obsessively so sometimes.

BeatenDeadHorse:
What about when you are protecting a lead or want to run the ball quite a bit, would you play Allen and Snow over Tanner and Hall? Do you consider Allen a better run blocker than Tanner? Is Snow a better run blocker than Hall?

How well do you think Greg Smith blocks? What do you think about the horns run blocking/run scheme (i.e. primarily zone running/zone blocking)?

If we were a power running offense that used the run to set up the pass, then I’d start Allen for sure and maybe Snow but not certain on that. I hate that Walters got hurt. He could really help us with the rotation. If Tanner ever came out of the game it had to briefly in the first half. Same for Hall. Smith does a fair job blocking. He has his misses.

I’m not a charter member of the Hate Greg Davis club. He has costs UT, in my opinion, at least a half dozen games in 11 years, due mainly to play calling. The most egregious was OU in 2004. Usually his brain farts only last for a half and thankfully, the first half. Since he’s been at UT Brown has won more games than any coach during the same time period and Greg Davis has been here since the beginning, I’m not going to be so presumptuous as to say his system doesn’t work.

BeatenDeadHorse:
The big picture (eg: how good Mack or GD or Muschamp are) is less interesting to me than the micro picture (eg: who blocks better on screen plays, Tanner or Allen?). It is always going to be possible to find problems in a football team’s offensive or defensive strategy. Discussing those problems (and possible solutions) is interesting to discuss.

Did you ever play or coach OL?

Kafka – I just don’t think you are giving him enough credit. On the first drive of the second half he carried the ball 4 times for 35 yards. Tech’s defense had just gotten to rest for 20+ minutes and they easily won the time of possession in the first half. Those carries were not against a tired defense.

You are probably right that it won’t solve all of the problems, but I really think we’ve found a 20 carry per game back that can average around 5.0 yards per carry, and who doesn’t have to come off of the field very often.

Horncasting:
I said that Tre is great and that he should start. Let’s see how he does against OU.

I try to figure out what offense might work against OU. UT is probably not going to be able to run well against OU in the first half even with Tre starting. UT will probably be forced to primarily throw short in the 1st half against OU. Tre will probably not average 5 YPC through the first 3 quarters vs OU.

What do you think?

You guys are giving Ulatoski a free pass. He got pistol whipped by a converted LB, an undersized DT, and a walk on. That was just in pass protection. In the run game he whiffed on blocks and got stood up at the point of attack.

Pleasant information, many thanks to the writer. It is puzzling to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is consuming. Very much thanks again and goodluck!