The purpose of this exercise isn't to pump a gallon of burnt orange Kool-aid into your veins, as much as it is set to serve as a reminder that Saturday wasn't a total lost cause for the football program, even if the result made it feel that way.
So, if you're in full-on "set everything on fire" mode, this might be one you skip. Otherwise, it might just be what you need.
1. I was having a conversation with someone the other day about the game and we were 35 minutes into the conversation before either one of us mentioned the offensive line.
THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES!
After re-watching the game four-times this week, my feeling about the line was it was okay. I didn't see anyone that I felt I should rave about, but I didn't see anyone that needed to be replaced outside of Derek Kerstetter, and the coaches replaced him. Without having any idea whether this group can be okay for the rest of this season against better opponents, it does represent progress that Texas got through the opener without the offensive line looking like a dumpster fire. Baby, that's progress!
2. If you would have told me before the game that Texas would have given up 34 points on defense, I would have guessed that the Longhorns had issues at the back end of the defense, with Caden Sterns starting in one safety spot as a true freshman, and somewhat unproven Brandon Jones starting in the other spot.
While neither player was a true showstopper, both played a winning brand of football in that game and I came away thinking that the Longhorns have a chance to have one of the best pairs of safeties in the Big 12. Those two were part of what was right on Saturday.
It won't be long before Sterns IS a showstopper in games.
3. The freshman class looked legit. Sterns was a boss. BJ Foster flashed all over the field. Joshua Moore flashed. D'Shawn Jamison flashed. Keaontay Ingram flashed to the tune of six yards per carry.
I can't stress enough how good it is that it's taking no time at all for these kids to make impacts.
4. I know I mentioned the other day that Sam Ehlinger had a 157 rating going into the final quarter, only for it to fall 40 points with truly awful fourth quarter play, but when the coaches looked at film this week, they saw more things they liked than they didn't. It's possible that Ehlinger can't ever stop the evil-Brett Favre that lives inside of him, but there was play/production on the field against Maryland to feel optimistic about it.
I believe the USC game will be a defining one for him and his future as the starter.
5. The wide receivers all did their things. Lil'Jordan Humphrey played at a pace that would see him break 70 receptions and 1,000 yards receiving. Collin Johnson is on pace to make 24 monster plays this season. Devin Duvernay might have been the most impressive of the bunch, plus he's starting to remind me of Quan Cosby from a physical standpoint in that uniform.
Those guys can play anywhere and be difference makers. Texas needs to take advantage of this.
6. Tom Herman took control of the offense. It did matter.
7. Finally, the special teams were decent for an opener, as Texas won the return game battle (180 yards to 73) in a big way, received three touchbacks from Cameron Dicker and didn't have too many real haunting moments (outside of a shank in the punt game that set up a Maryland score) from any single team within the special teams group. There was more good than bad in this third phase of the game.
So, if you're in full-on "set everything on fire" mode, this might be one you skip. Otherwise, it might just be what you need.
1. I was having a conversation with someone the other day about the game and we were 35 minutes into the conversation before either one of us mentioned the offensive line.
THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES!
After re-watching the game four-times this week, my feeling about the line was it was okay. I didn't see anyone that I felt I should rave about, but I didn't see anyone that needed to be replaced outside of Derek Kerstetter, and the coaches replaced him. Without having any idea whether this group can be okay for the rest of this season against better opponents, it does represent progress that Texas got through the opener without the offensive line looking like a dumpster fire. Baby, that's progress!
2. If you would have told me before the game that Texas would have given up 34 points on defense, I would have guessed that the Longhorns had issues at the back end of the defense, with Caden Sterns starting in one safety spot as a true freshman, and somewhat unproven Brandon Jones starting in the other spot.
While neither player was a true showstopper, both played a winning brand of football in that game and I came away thinking that the Longhorns have a chance to have one of the best pairs of safeties in the Big 12. Those two were part of what was right on Saturday.
It won't be long before Sterns IS a showstopper in games.
3. The freshman class looked legit. Sterns was a boss. BJ Foster flashed all over the field. Joshua Moore flashed. D'Shawn Jamison flashed. Keaontay Ingram flashed to the tune of six yards per carry.
I can't stress enough how good it is that it's taking no time at all for these kids to make impacts.
4. I know I mentioned the other day that Sam Ehlinger had a 157 rating going into the final quarter, only for it to fall 40 points with truly awful fourth quarter play, but when the coaches looked at film this week, they saw more things they liked than they didn't. It's possible that Ehlinger can't ever stop the evil-Brett Favre that lives inside of him, but there was play/production on the field against Maryland to feel optimistic about it.
I believe the USC game will be a defining one for him and his future as the starter.
5. The wide receivers all did their things. Lil'Jordan Humphrey played at a pace that would see him break 70 receptions and 1,000 yards receiving. Collin Johnson is on pace to make 24 monster plays this season. Devin Duvernay might have been the most impressive of the bunch, plus he's starting to remind me of Quan Cosby from a physical standpoint in that uniform.
Those guys can play anywhere and be difference makers. Texas needs to take advantage of this.
6. Tom Herman took control of the offense. It did matter.
7. Finally, the special teams were decent for an opener, as Texas won the return game battle (180 yards to 73) in a big way, received three touchbacks from Cameron Dicker and didn't have too many real haunting moments (outside of a shank in the punt game that set up a Maryland score) from any single team within the special teams group. There was more good than bad in this third phase of the game.
Last edited by a moderator:
