SB Nation User Blog: longhorn543

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde kind of team

longhorn543 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:46:45 -0000

I wanted to bring this discussion out from the game thread after watching the Horns nearly blow a 17-point lead to Miami.

How can a team look so good for the first 35 minutes and so poor for the last five? And as mentioned in the thread, this isn't the first time this has happened (i.e., the Baylor game).

There have been plenty of wins going away this year, but there are a few examples of teams making large comebacks against the Horns. It seems like the team has the "ability" to lose its focus and fail to put away its opponent. As mentioned in the thread, it seems like the team plays better & more focused in closer contested games.

One solution is to abandon the clock-killing stall offense. I know running clock is important, but we've all seen teams go into the stall and it does nothing but kill the flow of their, up to that point, potent offense. Why abandon the gameplan just to kill an extra 10-15 seconds per possession?

Thoughts?

Johnson cleared to play

longhorn543 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:46:28 -0000

Gary Johnson has been cleared to play by the university. He'll take the floor next Wednesday against TCU.

As we all know, this should be a huge lift for the team. The depth of the team should immediately be better. I hope Johnson can quickly become a key asset to the team.

Go 'Horns!

Experts?

longhorn543 — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:09:59 -0000

Looking around ESPN's site earlier and saw their "Power 16" poll. The experts have the Longhorns at 4th.

I love these so-called experts that ESPN employs. These polls are supposed to reflect the best team at the current time...not where they'll end up. We've all seen these same experts call Texas' wins against Tennessee & at UCLA the two best wins of the year so far. So, if the same team has the two best wins of the year, how can they be ranked behind three other teams? Special props to Jay Bilas for having the Bruins two spots ahead of the Horns in his poll.

Just a little venting at the experts and their warped sense of perception. Hope everyone has a great holiday.

Frustration

longhorn543 — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 01:21:57 -0000

I'm seething mad right now as I'm sure all of the other users of this site are. I'm writing this before the game is even over but I don't even care if Texas somehow comes back to win this game. With every week that passes, its becoming more and more apparent that the MNC was more a result of having one of the greatest college players ever to play the game come through the program and not a result of the rebirth of the program into a consistent top 5 power. The momentum from that season is gone and several things need to be done to get it back.

The attitude of the program must change. Mack's "golly gee whiz" approach has worked for him over the years, but its obvious it doesn't do anything but help field a team that is competitive enough to be in the hunt for conference championships but not enough to put the team "over the top". It was his rep at UNC and it followed him to UT. Without VY, I think its a pretty good bet Mack is still sitting at zero conference championships. It is time for him to lose this lackadaisical attitude; its obvious that it carries over to his staff and his players and it leads to on-field performances that we saw today. Its time to stop coddling those in the program - get in their face and challenge them to step it up.

Shake up the staff. We've all vented our frustrations with the coordinators and its justified. For whatever reason, the offensive staff has been slow to adjust to life post VY. What worked then isn't going to work now. Find an identity. Try new plays, schemes, personnel. These are the basics of coaching and GD has been subpar on these fronts the past two years. The defensive staff has its issues too. Far too often UT's defense makes its opponents' look much better than they are. It continually amazes me how many times opposing offenses come out with a different look and UT's defense looks completely lost. I understand that teams have a limited time to prepare for a team and must prepare for the basic scheme of their opponent, but week after week, the defense seems completely lost unless the opponent comes out and does exactly what was expected. Does Akina even recognize the fact that teams, especially those with a bye week beforehand, are going to put in new plays and schemes. I know they can't prepare for everything, but it looks like the prepare for nothing except what they've seen on gametape. At the very least, Mack needs to dictate that his current coaches reexamine and adjust their gameplans. In reality, a new coordinator probably needs to be brought in on at least one side of the ball so that new life can be breathed into those coaching positions.

Shake up the depth chart. Brown needs to stop with this "well, such and such has put in their time and deserves to play." Well, the everyone gets to participate theory works in high school, but not at a big-time Division I program. Play the best players. Mack didn't play Matt Nordgren over VY just because he was a 5th-year senior. I know that's an extreme example, but Mack has got to realize that he's got a wealth of talent and it does him and the team a disservice to have better players sitting on the sidelines while less talented players continue to get the PT.

Get back the title of "Mr. February." This is a situation that is very subjective and probably get the most debate. Recruiting is a interesting creature. Its very difficult to determine if a high school player's skills will translate into the college game. But, it seems like other programs are continually outdueling Texas for the top recruits in the country. I understand that high school football in Texas is so loaded that Brown could fill his entire recruiting classes with 4 & 5 star recruits in-state (and usually does). But, its time to expand into the rest of the country. Teams such as USC, Florida, LSU (hell, even Illinois) are getting studs from all over the country. I know Mack has the "infrastructure" in place to recruit anyone in Texas and he must work hard not to upset the relationships he has in place with the high schools there, but its time to step out of the state a little more often and grab top talent from all over the country (he needs to throw the full court press on Pryor out of PA).

These are just one humble fan's ideas of what needs to be fixed.

J.Charles

longhorn543 — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 02:54:00 -0000

I want to preface this diary by saying that I'm proud to be a Longhorn fan today. Even in defeat, the team showed the true heart and spirit of the University of Texas. Most of the so called experts were calling for a blowout loss. The grit and determination will go a long way for the rest of this season and beyond.

With that being said, let me get to the point of this post. Many people have commented on the poor play of the veterans and/or older 1st year starters of the defense. To me, the time has also come to focus that critism on the offensive side of the ball. Its time for the coaching staff to take away some carries from Charles and let McGee, Ogbonnaya and even Chiles have some of those carries. Charles was directly responsible for two huge turnovers today. When Charles fumbled inside the 5, he cost the team at least a chip shot field goal attempt. Then, he lets an easy catch slip threw his fingers for an OU interception.

I know his stats. He's rushed for an average of over 100 yards a game (including OU). But, he's also put the ball on the ground way too many times in way too many crutial situations (anyone remember trying to put away UCF??) No one can say for sure what would have happened had these two turnovers not occured, but we all know what did happen and those two plays directly lead to OU's win today.

I'm not saying that Charles should be benched. But, with an 0-2 conference record, we all know that the team is not going to be a factor in the BCS. So, as we've said with the defense, let the kids play and get them some real time experience for next year.

OOC Schedule

longhorn543 — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:55:18 -0000

The current Michigan/Notre Dame series concludes with the 201 season. ESPN reports that Michigan is looking to schedule a home and home series with a national power from a major conference. Michigan's AD states that several teams have been in contact about the two year series.

Isn't this an opportunity that Texas has to jump on? The Ohio State games prove that a big interconference matchup like this will draw major attention and give Texas a chance for more national exposure to its program. Plus, the 2005 Rose Bowl was a great game between two storied programs that left fans of both teams (and college football fans in general) wanting more. If I was Dodds, I'd be on the horn getting these games scheduled right away.

Oh yeah...Oklahoma is the team replacing Michigan on Notre Dame's schedule.