SB Nation User Blog: Robertpz

I sure hope OU doesn't lose another game...

Robertpz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:45:48 -0000

Do you know what year was the last time OU lost 4 games in a football season? Wait for it...wait for it...wait...for...it...that's right...2005! What happened that year is about as obvious as the backstory on the connection between Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley. Anyway, we just had the ESPNU college press conferences on at my work (FOX Sports at Bush airport if you ever fly thru) and Bob Stoops was on. They flashed up the last 5 years of OU football records & a moment of clarity struck me! Forget 2012...all the signs point towards 2009! :)

Hook 'em!

What a difference a year makes for the Longhorns!

Robertpz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:24:45 -0000

This time last year, give or take a few days, Longhorns fans were scratching their heads after losing on a last-second TD to the Texas Tech Red Raiders closing out an improbable 3-1 mark against Top 15 opponents in four-straight weeks. Scratching turned to praying as all we could do is hope that OU might be able to beat Tech and then somehow allow us to go to the Big 12 title game & then on to the BCS Title game. Of course, we know how all of that ended…

Now, we are on top of the world (or at least in our hearts & minds) while the world itself has us #3. We are unbeaten, having vanquished all that have come before us in this 2009 campaign - The once formidable OU football team now resembles a beaten stepchild sitting in the corner sucking it’s thumb praying for the nightmares to end; Mizzou and Tech wish they had their 2008 quarterbacks and receivers to return them to a happier time & place; Oklahoma State is still Oklahoma State showing so much promise & potential on paper, yet still getting fitted for their burger place employee uniform at season’s end; and the Big 12 North representative spot for the conference championship game is more undecided than Brett Favre’s 2010 football season.

Critics point to our weak schedule and how the promise of Big 12 dominance in 2009 has not come true. However, 2008 taught us that it really doesn’t matter how many rank teams you beat, it just matters that you finish perfect. And so far, Coach Brown is staying true to plan. While Colt isn’t the Colt of last year, he is leading a team that is just as good if not better on defense than on offense. The reality is that if we remain perfect, our opponent will be Florida or Alabama, both of which command respect from an opponent’s defense more so than a willingness to turn into a Conference USA shoot-out.

Sorry Boise State, TCU, and Cincy, the ultimate perfection in 2009 belongs to Texas and it’s fans! Come this Thanksgiving, Longhorns' fans may finally have something in the past four years to be thankful for!

Hook 'em!

Can we stop talking about the Aggies now?

Robertpz — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:02:43 -0000

With their loss to Colorado, I hope that everyone can take a deep breath of reality and realize TAMU is just an average team. Now while we shouldn't take any team lightly, I also don't think we should go all "Lou Holtz" and make a team more than they are. We have three games left before the Big 12 Championship and we need to use them to get ready to play Florida or Alabama. The defense is clicking on all cylinders and Colt finally discovered how throwing more than 20 yards down the field can pay off. Keep getting Cody and Fozzy better & find the last remaining key to our BCS puzzle which is the running the ball effectively. Get that in place, and nobody will be able to stop our well-rounded attack.

Hook 'em!

PS I got my Big 12 Championship tickets...have you?

Best Halloween ever & riddle me the Aggies?

Robertpz — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:37:19 -0000

The atmosphere was solid as we sat right next to the student section near the end zone. It made it even more refreshing watching the students start to bail halfway thru the 3rd quarter. Fans were nice throughout the game as I was one of four Longhorns (or at least wearing the attire publicly) in our section. Guess they figured with the history of the UT/OSU series the past few years, you have to be careful what you say!

My main observation I noticed in the first half from the UT offense is that they ran more 5 WR sets than I have seen this season so clearly they were going to try and take advantage of mismatches with passing, however, I also think that left Colt way too open for some sacks and pressures than I would have liked. I am still puzzled why he doesn't pass it down the field more often as he missed some open WRs by dumping it short. Either way, a win is a win and our defense is going to be what wins us the BCS this year!

On a side note - What is the flavor of the month mentality with Texas A&M all of a sudden? You look at their schedule and they have lost the games they should have and won the games they should have (if you flip KSU and TT). I don't know why everyone thinks A&M has grown into some sort of dark horse team? If they can keep it to within 2 TDs of OU, then I will worry. If they get blown out like they should going against a more talented team, then they are what we thought they were. And don't hand me rivalry game. Mack will have Texas ready for the Thanksgiving Day game & they will be out for blood as they don't want to leave any doubt. I just find it humorous that all of a sudden TAMU is getting some "oohs" and "aahs" for doing what an average team is supppose to do.

Hook 'em!

OSU/UT predictions?

Robertpz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:22:36 -0000

The Texas defense is one of the best in the country. Plenty of posts on BON support that sentiment so there is no reason to restate facts. OSU is coming in a reverse poor man's version of Texas - Their offense is solid and their defense is shakey. The only major difference is that we have the skilled position players to take a good offense to great in nothing flat whereas the OSU defense is what it is. With that said, adding in the fact that Texas can literally score from anywhere at any point of the game, but subtracting for a rowdy home crowd on a Halloween night in Stillwater, and you get a 45-24 Texas win. And one step closer to Pasadena!

Hook 'em!

PS Since it will be a "blackout" in Stillwater in terms of the student section, I am now conflicted as to my gameday attire of my black #20 Campbell Jersey & may have to make a gametime decision! I hope the only thing perplexing about my weekend in Stillwater is fashion and not the football being played Saturday night!

Unofficial "Where's everyone tailgating in Stillwater?" Thread

Robertpz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:17:33 -0000

I know I am no where near the top of the food chain on this blog, but I thought I would start this to see where any BONers may be tailgating or where the place to be is before the game? My buddy and I will be hitting the area by 3pmish. Would be nice to put some faces to names on this thing! If not, have fun because I know we will!

Hook 'em!

The rest of the Longhorns' schedule looks stormy...

Robertpz — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:07:14 -0000

My prediction of Thunder & Lightening aka Johnson & Whitaker being what the Longhorns needed to get over their offensive slump came true! I hope that Mack Brown and the coaching staff finally settle on their running game rotation & let these guys do some damage to get Colt the passing opportunities he needs. A little DJ every once in awhile is not a big deal, but Fozzy and Cody are going to be what we need down the stretch. For Texas, the run has to set up the pass. We have five games to finish strong before the Big 12 Championship and the BCS Title game. Using those five games to get our running game consistent may indeed be what we need against Florida or Alabama.

On a side note - I will be in Stillwater next Saturday for the game. Any word on tailgating or places to meet up before the game? Let me know!

Hook 'em!

I have seen the future of our running game...

Robertpz — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:32:00 -0000

I am sure there is someone lurking on the site just ready to spring the answer on me to my question, however, I am puzzled as to why Cody Johnson is not the featured back for the Longhorns or at least #2 in a two-back system? Now don't get me wrong. I understand & recognize the purpose & the talent that both Fozzy, Tre, DJ, and Vondy possess. Each one of them is a virtual clone of the other. Heck, I loved Eric Metcalf just as much as the next guy back in the day. Yet, unless someone in the Science Department at UT knows how to "Voltron-up" the four smaller backs to make one bigger one, it doesn't make sense to bring Cody out only when we are inside the ten yard line. Almost every time he touches the ball, he produces yards & holds onto the ball; he is a much better pass blocker than Fozzy, Tre, Vondy, and DJ; he seems to bowl over players in his path; and he brings back memories of when the Longhorns use to be able to pound the ball with a burst of speed to go with his tank of a body. The whole Jamal-era of 8 carries for nothing & one carry for 80 yards is frustrating to watch unfold in the small trifecta we have on the team at present. Cody was a key part of the second half and was able to help with some of the pass rush of the OU defense. Anyway, I don't mean to gripe about a huge win especially when two Top 10 schools lost. It's just that while the defense has me salivating every time they walk onto the field, the offense is lacking. And to me, it starts with the running game and the tools we already possess to make it better...

Hook 'em!

Mack Brown just verified my prediction for OU/UT game...

Robertpz — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:08:50 -0000

The first five games Texas should/did win by sheer talent vs. certain formations & production from certain players. With that said, Mack & the coaches gave Colt the opportunity (and the mandate) to sit in the pocket and make plays to showcase any NFL potential he might have as a quarterback (and to not show OU too much). Clearly, that came with mixed results, however, he did what he was suppose to do. Thru the first five games, Colt only ran for less than 75 yards vs. last year in the same number of games he ran for over 300 yards. Now that those five games over, the gloves come off with a gambit of ranked teams facing the Longhorns over the next month. Colt will now have the freedom to do what he needs to do to help Texas win. I predict a new "old Colt" will make his debut today. You will see the running and throwing style that propelled him into the Heisman finalists last year & had people talking Heisman this year. When posed with the question by a ESPN reporter this morning, Mack just said on College Gameday that you will some things that haven't happened in the first five games when it comes to Colt and the rest of the team. All this as I was typing this post!

While that excites me, I still think defense will be the difference maker. The 2009 Texas Longhorns team can literally score from any part of the game. And when it comes to national titles, that is a key to being champion. I'll take the under and go with Texas winning 28-17! Hook 'em!

I wonder if Shipley is a Judds' fan?

Robertpz — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:31:50 -0000

“Why Not Me?” - The more I think about what the ESPN announcers said towards the end of the UT/CU game, the more I am starting to see the light - Why shouldn't Jordan Shipley be in the mix for the Heisman? Right now, he leads all Div I WRs with 47 receptions; he is 3rd in yardage; and he has 3 WR TDs & 2 special teams TDs. The yardage is misleading because the two WRs (GT's Thomas and UGA's Green have both played six games to Jordan's five). With that said, Jordan is tops in two out of three categories less than halfway into the season. Moreover, who can argue that Jordan isn't one of the more feared punt returners in the NCAA right now? Aside from Green, what team comes to mind with a bonafide "this team loses if this WR is shutdown" besides Texas and Shipley? Unless there is some six-year player rule I am not aware of, Shipley AND Colt both deserve the consideration & support of the school to put both players into the PR mix. Now while there could be a danger of a Leinhart/Bush-type splitting of the votes, I think that by Thanksgiving, it should be clearer as to which player is having a more Heisman-like season between Colt and Jordan. At that point, you have to put your chips behind the one with the better chance. I think Colt McCoy will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the Texas Longhorns & if he picks up a notch against the rank teams he is facing over the next three weeks, then Colt should be leading the Heisman pack. However, if Colt thinks Jordan is first option for him in the passing game, why should we as Longhorns’ fans think any less of Jordan's chance to represent us on the national stage? I’m just sayin’….

Hook ‘em!