Bye Week Post-Mortem: Offense, Defense, Special Teams
by Scipio Tex on Oct 11, 2010 4:19 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns and Other Football
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PrintThe Longhorn took the field against nothingness last Saturday and acquitted themselves well.
When you win a game 87-4, it's hard to find much to complain about.
Sure, some critics, some "haters", some detractors, will point out that a bye week means no opponent and that the Longhorns' effort in DKR this weekend was ultimately pointless, but I will celebrate victories wherever I find them.
Offense
Part of our initial strategy was to tire nihility out with the horizontal passing game. By making air move back and forth quickly, side-to-side, one creates the potential for exhaustion as well as the side benefit of a gentle breeze. Although some of you have criticized Greg Davis for not understanding that air is mostly oxygen and that oxygen never lacks for itself, why don't you stick the Periodic Table of Elements up your know-it-all asses?
The first lateral pass to Kirkendoll went for -2 yards as James allowed his momentum to carry him out of bounds, but after stern coaching by Bobby Kennedy, pointing out that there was little risk of being hit as there are no defenders, Kirkendoll took the same exact play on 2nd and 12 upfield for 17 yards. First down, Longhorns.
Message sent.
Kirk rose after tripping, ripped off his chinstrap, and then taunted that which is insubstantial, proving that the Longhorns were there to play a physical brand of football. Of course, he did draw a penalty for taunting and that made it 2nd and 27, but the ensuing DJ Monroe draw play went the distance after he careened off of two OL who had stopped in the hole to rest. This sort of playmaking and balance is why DJ must see the field more.
7-0 Longhorns. The air seemed to go right out of the air.
Most importantly, Davis demonstrated what his offense can and will do when the players will execute against no defense. Oblivion simply had no answers as we began to rattle off yardage in 10, 15, 25 yard chunks.
QB
Gilbert looked good. He was 15 of 20 for 299 and four touchdowns and a pick. I don't really understand the interception and replays have not been helpful, but it appears that he may have startled a groundskeeper with an errant throw. I don't see that he can be blamed for drops, trips, or receivers alligator-arming a deep post when they hear imaginary footsteps. He identified that Bye Week was in Cover 0 throughout the game and he got us into the right play when the 0-0-0 defense played perceived alignment games. From a critical perspective: one of the sacks was definitely on him - Garrett really needs to learn to step up in the pocket against no pass rush - and I was disappointed in the grounding call. He needs to be aware when he's scrambling after not feeling pressure.
RB
Good, physical running from all of our backs. DJ Monroe scored on all three of his runs, staking us to a decisive 21-0 early lead, but regrettably, was responsible for a safety when he took a rocket pitch into the Longhorn end zone after a sweet spin move that disoriented him. He was pulled for not knowing the playbook and his failure to pass protect effectively against theoretical blitzers. Johnson and Whitaker averaged over 7 yards per carry, mostly falling over Greg Smith when he tried to cut block the vacuum's DE. If these guys will pick their feet up, they could have had some big runs.
WR/TE
A few drops, but very solid stuff for the most part. I'd still like to see more blocking from them. Mike Davis and Goodwin would have sprung Malcolm Williams on the stop route if they'd gone after nullity with more fervor. Malcolm mistook their half-jog for a whistle and ran to the sideline for a Cool Zone vest, thus killing a potentially big play. Barrett Matthews and Greg Smith colliding pre-snap on goal line was unfortunate. Some of that is on play design.
OL
Disappointed in the false starts, obviously. I thought they pass protected well, surrendering truly only one sack when David Snow snapped the ball over Garrett's head.
Huge holes in the running game. Power football is back!
It was disappointing to see RBs run out bounds on the inside zone run, but maybe they're just not seeing the daylight when the OL falls down and creates a pile up at the LOS. Britt Mitchell struggled at times, but chipping the phantom on the edge with Cody Johnson proved to be a solid in-game adjustment. Listen - we put 87 points on the board. The OL played a big part in that.
These guys had an amazing 149 pancakes. After that, they showed up to the game ready to play.
Defense
Coming in, I was concerned about the pace of the Sartre Nothingness Offense and it's ability to make a defense question not only its philosophical alignment, but it's very existence. We answered the call.
Indeed, we do exist.
DL
DT depth has been a weakness, but these guys really came through. They played on the other side of the LOS the entire game. It was also good to see Taylor Bible get his first action though I would have liked to have seen him deal with this syllogism better:
Nothing is better than eternal happiness.
A ham sandwich is better than nothing.
Therefore, a ham sandwich is better than eternal happiness.
Bible somehow ate this syllogistic sandwich, which I didn't even think was possible.
Sam Acho answered this syllogism with his own devastating critique, flaying the Sartre Offense for its irresponsible Marxism and cynical sophistry. I felt it was crucial to stopping the Sartre offense ground game, such as it is, or is not.
LB
We had trouble adjusting to tempo and Muschamp needs to do a better job of getting the signals in, but that's also on the LBs. Obviously, nullity didn't make us pay with big plays, but it was disappointing to see our guys still shifting as the play clock expired.
The personal fouls are getting to be unacceptable. Four in one game, even one in which the defense is dominating, is unacceptable. No word on the head linesman's health yet, but we wish him the best.
DB
I understand that the targeting rules leave little room for error, but Vaccaro has to pull up when nothing is helpless.
Chykie Brown gave up a 41 yard catch and I still can't understand how. I don't just mean in a football sense, but in a space-time continuum sense. This is really where Muschamp's lack of schooling in physics kills this defense. I'm a little tired of the free pass this guy gets. Neils Bohr doesn't give up that play in a thousand years.
Special Teams
Why did DJ Monroe take a knee on all of the kickoffs? Starting on our 20 is unacceptable for a team this fast.
Obviously, quite disappointing to have Aaron Williams bounce a ball off of his shoulder pad, off his head, and out the back of the end zone for the second safety, but those are the breaks. Curtis Brown was perfect in his fielding, even if he caught one of the punts in his face mask eye hole. Again - why the fair catching?
Justin Tucker drilled a 37 yard field goal. I'm not interested in second guessing the coaches, but what's the rationale for kicking that? The numbers suggest that we convert that 4th and 1.
Overall
I'm happy with what I saw from this team. We looked deeply into the void, and the void began to look back through us.
Then we played the void in football and kicked the shit out of it.
So stop with your juvenile pre-game staredowns, void.
Next, we travel to another void. Nebraska.
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Well, I didn’t know you wanted to get involved in the discussion, mister helper.
by Sam Kinison on Oct 11, 2010 4:36 PM CDT reply actions
7-0 Longhorns. The air seemed to go right out of the air.
Awesomeness. And Chykie still gets smoked.
Next, we travel to another void. Nebraska.
Might as well have a Runza while you’re there. The fries are excellent, too.
by parlin on Oct 11, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions
I noted a lot of checkdowns to EBS on long yardage downs, however IIRC, the post game pressers indicated to my discerning ear that whenever Gilbert sees no men in the box, he is instinctively trained to checksdown to the short flats which are obviously being conceded.
by Arriviste on Oct 11, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions
I thought Gideon was instrumental in getting the defense lined up to stop nothing.
by Horncasting on Oct 11, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions
“Actually, air is mostly nitrogen.”
OUR air, anyway. Don’t be so Earth-centric!
by alan, esq on Oct 11, 2010 4:57 PM CDT reply actions
“These guys had an amazing 149 pancakes. After that, they showed up to the game ready to play.”
!!!
by dr i on Oct 11, 2010 4:58 PM CDT reply actions
The margin of victory would have been bigger against the gaseous manifestation if not for OU sucking so hard from the north.
by triplehorn on Oct 11, 2010 4:59 PM CDT reply actions
All that practice of our guards pulling out and then blocking air really paid off this week.
by nobis60 on Oct 11, 2010 5:01 PM CDT reply actions
Also on this:
“This is really where Muschamp’s lack of schooling in physics kills this defense. I’m a little tired of the free pass this guy gets. Neils Bohr doesn’t give up that play in a thousand years.”
I think Muschamp needs a “Ball Hawking” t-shirt instead of a “Ball Hawk” one. I see Stephen Hawking in a flying wheelchair with a mechanical claw underneath snatching the ball out of the air. Somebody please photoshop that for me.
by tdwalsh on Oct 11, 2010 5:03 PM CDT reply actions
Holy shit, they REALLY don’t lilke this on Orangebloods.
“So let me get this straight, I’m supposed to laugh at a bs fluff piece from some internet dork that is not even legitimate enough to call himself a journalist that basically clowns on my favorite football team. Making fun of them playing against air.
I feel stupid for even clicking on that site because I know they just cater to people that suck at life and like to hang out and be miserable with each other. Neither of those groups I’m trying to be included with."
OK, for starters, I don’t need to hang out with anyone to be miserable.
by nordberg on Oct 11, 2010 5:08 PM CDT reply actions
53 Veer -
If that were true, the Woman’s Channel would be called Nitrogen.
Arriviste -
Well played.
Horncasting -
Gutty intangibles.
And the makers of Seinfeld particularly enjoyed a game against nothing almost as much as a show about nothing.
tdwalsh -
Ball Hawking. That image wins today’s internet. We need this photoshop, badly.
by Scipio Tex on Oct 11, 2010 5:09 PM CDT reply actions
Dammit. I wanted to be the ass who pointed out that air is mostly nitrogen.
by WeAreVince on Oct 11, 2010 5:21 PM CDT reply actions
Lucky for us, ACE was on hand to snap this shot of the game.
by Sailor Ripley on Oct 11, 2010 6:16 PM CDT reply actions
“I feel stupid for even clicking on that site because…”
Nawww, clicking on “that” site got nothin’ to do with it – just normal self-awareness explains it all.
by Tex Long on Oct 11, 2010 6:26 PM CDT reply actions
Scip, another gem. I’m surprised there was no LOST reference to your metaphysics.
Sailor, that’s the balls. Greg Davis is already shitting his pants thinking about single blocking Nothingness’ bullrushing Buck.
by jc25 on Oct 11, 2010 6:29 PM CDT reply actions
The best post of the year, possibly any year.
Thanks Scipio Tex for your awesomeness.
by michael fazende on Oct 11, 2010 6:33 PM CDT reply actions
“These guys had an amazing 149 pancakes. After that, they showed up to the game ready to play”
—LOL!
by SlickStreet on Oct 11, 2010 7:26 PM CDT reply actions
Hell no. Mack took al the time outs with him to the dressing room for souvenirs….
by derryl on Oct 11, 2010 7:34 PM CDT reply actions
Saturday’s performance was analogous to conquests in my college days with many a Tri-Omicron…
by horninexile on Oct 11, 2010 8:26 PM CDT reply actions
Hilarious. Thanks for the laughs.
BTW – How was the crowd? Did we really bring it or did it seem like the stadium was empty?
by The Horn Identity on Oct 11, 2010 9:14 PM CDT reply actions
Say what you will but our extra blocking services/Tight Ends played out of their minds this week!! Two receptions for 19 yards!! Wow, I best ASJ is really regretting his decision now!
by Currently in Rehab on Oct 11, 2010 9:23 PM CDT reply actions
Nothing is better than this. I mean, this is better than nothing. Eff!
by hornshornshorns on Oct 11, 2010 9:37 PM CDT reply actions
From Mack’s press conference today….“we really haven’t changed anything about our offense since Colt was here….we always wanted to be balanced and to have a more meta-physical running team”
Practice makes perfect.
by Glass Joe on Oct 11, 2010 9:38 PM CDT reply actions
Watching the 2002 Texas v NE replay, at the moment. Do you think the NCAA would give us a waiver to bring in Ricky and Ced, and a couple of offensive linemen, to boot? It’s just a game after all. While we are at it, what about suiting up a couple of defensive linemen just for the rotation? I don’t think Mr. and Mrs. Acho would mind, do you? Anyone else?
Your thoughts?
by java on Oct 11, 2010 9:48 PM CDT reply actions
thanks for the write up but I can’t take all the sunshine pumping. I’m left with even more questions than answers.
what about all the penalties?
illegal substitution and delay of game; what are we checking to? Why can’t we play a base defense against Air?
why do we defer every time we win the toss? that was the longest coin toss ceremony ever.
what about the injuries in the second half playing starters up by 50?
why not challenge the lost fumble? I know the replay doesn’t show anything but none of them did all day. Typical big 12 officiating.
the fake field goal was a disaster as well.
I’m still puzzled by Mack’s halftime comments. Who was he giving credit to? How can a void of existence contain such talent and how does he recognize it ? If I can’t then do I exist?
by Mackovic's wine celler gimp on Oct 11, 2010 9:54 PM CDT reply actions
I had forgotten about the so-called offensive pass interference call against Roy Williams with 1:45 left. Homefield advantage – I don’t think so!
by java on Oct 11, 2010 9:54 PM CDT reply actions
And then, Vasher’s interception when Big Red decided to go for the win, rather than kick the field goal and go into overtime. Thank you, ESPN3.
by java on Oct 11, 2010 9:57 PM CDT reply actions
Christ java, are we pining for the offensive glory days of 2002 now?
by nordberg on Oct 11, 2010 10:12 PM CDT reply actions
Did we mismanage the non existing clock?
Someone on shaggybevo posted the 2009 BigXII championship game highlights. I hadn’t watched it since it aired.
I remembered the added second, of course, but forgot that we got there because of mismanaged timeouts. Are our time management problems chronic or are these two isolated incidents?
by PatronSaint on Oct 11, 2010 10:50 PM CDT reply actions
One of the nihilists has a surprising resemblance to Bo Pelini.
by Matt on Oct 11, 2010 11:47 PM CDT reply actions
Thanks, ACE. That is awesome. I have copied it and will use it in the future whenever defense and the hard sciences overlap. Nothing like a little Ball Hawking.
by tdwalsh on Oct 12, 2010 12:13 AM CDT reply actions
I was dissappointed that we once again got cute right before half time and nearly gave away some free points to the void.
I miss the days when Mack would just sit on the ball and go to halftime.
by bateshorn on Oct 12, 2010 6:39 AM CDT reply actions
So stop with your juvenile pre-game staredowns, void.
To be fair, Gideon kind of started it.
by Magnificent Bastard on Oct 12, 2010 7:44 AM CDT reply actions
Obviously, the solution to our run game is to start Tre Newton. Did you seem him out there? He was MUCH better at executing his runs, and he averaged 1.5 yards more (per carry) than the other two backs. Plus, I think Foz is out next week after getting hurt during the Bye.
by Fan Chant on Oct 12, 2010 8:38 AM CDT reply actions
“Are our time management problems chronic or are these two isolated incidents?”
Oh they are chronic. In the early days Mack would take timeouts at the end of the half only to take a knee at midfield versus throwing deep. Now it’s a cornucopia of a shovel pass into the heart of the defense, taking timeouts into half as souvenirs, or not taking any defensive timeouts so to provide your offense with enough time to score…. because you don’t want to leave time on the clock for the other team to score after the subsequent three and out by your offense.
by Art Vandelay on Oct 12, 2010 9:02 AM CDT reply actions
"So let me get this straight, I’m supposed to laugh at a bs fluff piece from some internet dork that is not even legitimate enough to call himself a journalist that basically clowns on my favorite football team. Making fun of them playing against air.
I feel stupid for even clicking on that site because I know they just cater to people that suck at life and like to hang out and be miserable with each other. Neither of those groups I’m trying to be included with."
This is the first time I have wanted to re-subscribe to Orangebloods since I cancelled.
by The General on Oct 12, 2010 9:29 AM CDT reply actions
Well done, Scip. But this guy makes a valid point:
So let me get this straight, I’m supposed to laugh at a bs fluff piece from some internet dork that is not even legitimate enough to call himself a journalist
He’s right. You are even lower than Geoff Ketchum, who, while he may not actually be a journalist, is at least legitimate enough to call himself a journalist.
by BrickHorn on Oct 12, 2010 9:56 AM CDT reply actions
I may have missed it, but is there any mention of how many explosives the offense had?
I can’t tell how well they did unless I know how many explosives they had.
And did we have more than our opponents did? That’s how we know we’re better than them.
The score is a poor metric.
by LurkerintheDark on Oct 12, 2010 10:17 AM CDT reply actions
an absolutely wonderful piece with visuals that we can just choose snipppets from our first 5 games to fully populate. And it is that tie to reality that really hurts.
by Spastic Synapse on Oct 12, 2010 11:00 AM CDT reply actions
The void only had one explosive play. Mannnnnnn it was a big one!
by Magnificent Bastard on Oct 12, 2010 11:41 AM CDT reply actions
This decisive victory against the bye makes me speculate about the possible advantages of scheduling more byes. How would strength of schedule balance against wins? Does any of the BCS computer rankings include margin of victory?
You know, the odds are in our favor of going undefeated if we schedule a whole season of byes. And that would almost guarantee that we end up playing Boise State in the BCS championship game. Hook’em!
by exuLt on Oct 12, 2010 12:18 PM CDT reply actions
Man this was hilarious, Scip.
I had to stick my hand down my throat in my Poli Sci class to keep from bursting out laughing during the professor’s lecture on global terrorism.
I assume Nkwopara got carried off by the breeze when Greg was tiring out the void with the sideways passing game?
by Blake B on Oct 12, 2010 1:22 PM CDT reply actions
This is supposed to be funny? I wouldn’t laugh at this crap if it was about blowU. The writer is an idiot and so are are all those that have left comments.
by D-Tex on Oct 13, 2010 5:13 AM CDT reply actions
How did our wide receiver/kick returner in waiting (Desean Hales) look on the sideline? Is he ready to play?
by Cincohorn on Oct 13, 2010 5:20 AM CDT reply actions
And the D no doubt stands for dimwit. Idiots indeed. I doubt that you even know the definition, you lock-stepping closed minded alma mater chauvinist, you.
by exuLt on Oct 13, 2010 8:28 AM CDT reply actions
Can I simply say what a reduction to find someone who really is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know the way to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people must learn this and perceive this side of the story. I cant believe youre no more popular because you positively have the gift.
by Greg Kemmis on Sep 11, 2011 4:33 AM CDT reply actions
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