1. For the first two weeks of this season, the offensive line has been a major afterthought when discussing the aftermath of both games.
That's actually a massive win for Tom Herman and Co. because it's been years since the offensive line was good enough to be serviceable, which really translates to "good enough to win" or "good enough to not be the first ting people bitch about".
I call that progress, folks, fairly significant progress at that.
The back-breaking busts and penalties haven't been present, but the caveat is that it's just been games against Maryland and Tulsa...
But, it's about to get hot in the kitchen.
Starting with USC this week, the next four games all feature teams with the kind of stout front sevens that will prove to be far bigger tests than the first two games allowed for. Herb Hand is very quietly doing a very good job and the evidence is that we're not really talking about him.
No matter what happens on Saturday, I'm guessing that will change. If the group is again serviceable, but serviceable against a team with the front seven talent that USC possesses, it will be worthy of a standing ovation.
If the first two games prove to be a bit of fool's gold, well... the conversation will sound quite different for the first time this season.
2. I would contend that for the first two weeks of the season, Texas has played like a 4-4, 5-7 or 6-6 type football team. That won't be good enough this weekend by any stretch, but they won't need to be play at a 10-2 level this weekend to win the game.
Just be 8-4 or 9-3 good.
Against a USC team that is its mirror image in a lot of ways, Texas is merely facing a slightly above average team, which is probably what Texas is. The slightly above average team that can be better than slightly above average walks out of DKR on Saturday as a 2-1 football team.
Just prove that you can be 8-4 or 9-3 good, Texas. It might not sound like a huge measuring stick, but it's a significant level from what we've seen from this team so far.
3. I do believe Texas has a quarterback edge coming into this game. That won't always be the case with J.T. Daniels, who might be a superstar very soon, but he's still a puppy and he's not fully potty-trained. You could argue that Sam Ehlinger is an untrained puppy that still pees on the rug as well, but he's been in more training classes at this point. In this game, the slim margins might matter significantly.
4. This feel like the kind of game where Texas is going to need to make a field goal and I think Tom Herman is likely scared to death of that truth.
5. With Keontay Ingram almost certainly out, the Longhorns need Tre Watson to be one of the best players on the field this weekend and it's imperative that the coaches get him in positions to create match-up advantages in space against USC linebackers.
Prediction: Texas hits Watson on a wheel-route for a big play in this game, something we haven't seen at all in the first two games.
6. Caden Sterns is the key to Todd Orlando being able to turn it loose with his blitz packages. Orlando's trust of his true freshman will be critical because if Orlando gambles and the defenses misses, it'll likely be Sterns that has to make the tackle or play that keeps USC from truly being able to make Texas pay. With Brandon Jones out of action, Sterns has to be the man. Ready or not, young man, it's your show.
7. ICYMI... the first of several free podcasts we'll start making available each week from The Yakk. Enjoy.
That's actually a massive win for Tom Herman and Co. because it's been years since the offensive line was good enough to be serviceable, which really translates to "good enough to win" or "good enough to not be the first ting people bitch about".
I call that progress, folks, fairly significant progress at that.
The back-breaking busts and penalties haven't been present, but the caveat is that it's just been games against Maryland and Tulsa...
But, it's about to get hot in the kitchen.
Starting with USC this week, the next four games all feature teams with the kind of stout front sevens that will prove to be far bigger tests than the first two games allowed for. Herb Hand is very quietly doing a very good job and the evidence is that we're not really talking about him.
No matter what happens on Saturday, I'm guessing that will change. If the group is again serviceable, but serviceable against a team with the front seven talent that USC possesses, it will be worthy of a standing ovation.
If the first two games prove to be a bit of fool's gold, well... the conversation will sound quite different for the first time this season.
2. I would contend that for the first two weeks of the season, Texas has played like a 4-4, 5-7 or 6-6 type football team. That won't be good enough this weekend by any stretch, but they won't need to be play at a 10-2 level this weekend to win the game.
Just be 8-4 or 9-3 good.
Against a USC team that is its mirror image in a lot of ways, Texas is merely facing a slightly above average team, which is probably what Texas is. The slightly above average team that can be better than slightly above average walks out of DKR on Saturday as a 2-1 football team.
Just prove that you can be 8-4 or 9-3 good, Texas. It might not sound like a huge measuring stick, but it's a significant level from what we've seen from this team so far.
3. I do believe Texas has a quarterback edge coming into this game. That won't always be the case with J.T. Daniels, who might be a superstar very soon, but he's still a puppy and he's not fully potty-trained. You could argue that Sam Ehlinger is an untrained puppy that still pees on the rug as well, but he's been in more training classes at this point. In this game, the slim margins might matter significantly.
4. This feel like the kind of game where Texas is going to need to make a field goal and I think Tom Herman is likely scared to death of that truth.
5. With Keontay Ingram almost certainly out, the Longhorns need Tre Watson to be one of the best players on the field this weekend and it's imperative that the coaches get him in positions to create match-up advantages in space against USC linebackers.
Prediction: Texas hits Watson on a wheel-route for a big play in this game, something we haven't seen at all in the first two games.
6. Caden Sterns is the key to Todd Orlando being able to turn it loose with his blitz packages. Orlando's trust of his true freshman will be critical because if Orlando gambles and the defenses misses, it'll likely be Sterns that has to make the tackle or play that keeps USC from truly being able to make Texas pay. With Brandon Jones out of action, Sterns has to be the man. Ready or not, young man, it's your show.
7. ICYMI... the first of several free podcasts we'll start making available each week from The Yakk. Enjoy.
