With 24 hours to marinate on a 56-point win in the season opener, now is as good of a time as any to talk about the few areas of the team that didn't quite click on all cylinders.
Run blocking and pass rush.
Understand that there's no real reason to make a mole hill into a potential mountain, but if a mountain emerges out of the mole hill at some point later this season, we can't ignore that we saw some mole hills in week one. I say such a thing while acknowledging that the Big 12 seemed to expose itself over the weekend as a potential collection of teams that won't be able to do much if a few moles are expanding in the neighborhood.
Those acknowledgements out of the way, it's okay to admit that there were areas of the team that can get better in a 56-point win without it sounding like you're being overly negative or focusing only on the negative. It's one of the reasons why I didn't really dive into the topic immediately after the game. Considering all of the surrounding context, focusing on so much positive felt like the correct reading of the room.
The next day? Well, I suppose it comes down to the standards by which we're going to judge the performance. With a Big 12 Championship the bar for the season, you'll have to forgive me if I spend some focus inspecting the few areas of concern.
Let's start with the run blocking.
It's not that the run blocking was terrible. This wasn't Texas playing North Texas back in the day and being unable to block an undersized nose tackle. It's just that the team didn't consistently control the line of scrimmage in a way that allowed any of the Texas running backs to consistently get to the second level of the defense. Outside of a long run by Roschon Johnson that was overturned because of a holding call and a 29-yard run by Bijan Robinson, the Texas running back rotation rushed for 91 yards on 21 carries (4.33 YPC) throughout the rest of the game. Neither Johnson nor returning junior starter Keaontay Ingram rushed for more than 5.0 YPC, which means that last night's small sample size represents a downward turn from the numbers that were posted a season ago.
Is it worth freaking out over?
No. Full stop.
On top of it being a first game, the entire right side of the line was breaking itself in to such an extent that the coaches seemed determined to force-feed the ball to that side of the field in an effort to learn as much as possible able the Christian Jones/Denzel Okafor tandem. The end result? They were okay. Yet, while it's true that they didn't dominate a weak UTEP defensive line, they also didn't commit the kind of glaring mistakes such as penalties or isolated busts that led to disaster plays.
Is it worth keeping an eye on moving forward? Of course. Full stop.
Over on the defensive side of the ball, the Longhorns didn't put a lot of pressure on UTEP quarterbacks if we're going to keep it real. Other than Alfred Collins' sack in the third quarter and Marcus Tillman's sack that was officially counted but disallowed at the same time because of a late hit penalty on Tillman, the Texas pass rush didn't get home very much.
Former Texas defensive lineman Tim Crowder had a fairly rationally-minded approach to the proceedings .
Two things...
a. It feels like giving UTEP too much benefit of the doubt to suggest that a team that didn't take much of anything away from the Longhorns was able to, in fact, take away the pass rush with proper planning and execution. I'd contend Texas should have been able to overwhelm UTEP in every area.
b. The same thing was said about this defensive line in 2019 ALL season. Throughout the year, all we heard was that sacks and pressures weren't good ways to judge a pass rush. You know who says stuff like that? Teams without good pass rushes.
Of course, it must be noted that new Texas defensive coordinator Chris Ash played it close to the vest in terms of creative usage of his defense. Texas mostly seemed to stay base and it dominated without needing to go with any exotics. Still, a problem that didn't have any answers a year ago didn't have any in week one, either. We can't spend the off-season asking about where this team is going to get its pass rush from and then when they don't get much of one against a poor opponent, dismiss it as a total issue.
Is it worth freaking out over?
No. Full stop.
Is it worth keeping an eye on moving forward? Of course. Full stop.
No. 2 - Back to the positives ...
It feels like this point kind of got lost in the shuffle on Saturday night, but it seems worth repeating that one of the things that stood out the most on Saturday was just how well-coached the team looked in its first live showing.
In addition to all of the glowing stats, my eyeballs told me the following about both sides of the ball ...
a. The layering of the passing game with regards to the depths of routes looked exactly the way you want it to. At no point last night did I ask myself why players were in exactly the same places on the field or why routes were being run at questionable depths or whether the personnel on the field was idea for the situation. Herman might disagree with me, but that feels new.
b. Everything about the defense was sound. The tackling was sound. The scheme was sound. Everyone's technique seemed sound.
It feels like from a coaching standpoint, this staff got almost all of the details right and that is notable when you consider Herman fired 70 percent of his staff because too often the details were horribly wrong last season.
No. 3 - Story-time with Uncle Ketch ...
I've never told this story. I'm fairly certain of it.
Back at McCallum High School in 1993, we had a senior linebacker get into a skirmish during the spring game and by the time he was done embarrassing everyone, he had thrown his helmet all the way across the field like he was Bob Lilly at the end of Super Bowl V, thrown his entire uniform off in the middle of the field and walked out in front of a horrified group of McCallum football supporters, not to mention the entire freshmen, JV and varsity team members.
He was toast, right?
Well, not quite. I entered Coach Pat Honeycutt's office that night as one of his captains to discuss the matter alone with him. Coach Honeycutt was livid. As he lashed out about what happened and swore that this particular player would never play for the school again, I waited for the heat to die down and then I talked with him about a way to keep the player on the team. I promised him that I would get the player to fall on the sword. I promised I could help make it right and that he would never have a problem with this player again.
Against his better judgment, he relented. I was able to convince the linebacker in question to apologize and he become a model citizen. Months later, the player in question was voted as a captain by the rest of his teammates.
Story's over, right? Happy ending!
Not quite.
A month after being voted captain, the linebacker in question caused such a commotion after a loss to LBJ (we blew a 21-0 lead) that our bus was pulled over on the side of the road on 290 on the way back to the field house after the game because the player quit on the bus and essentially threatened to fight one or all of the coaches.
The truth of the matter is that in this very specific instance, we should have cut this player loose. The moment he quit on us after the LBJ game, our entire season went to hell. We didn't win another game. Honeycutt eventually went on to become a bit of a local icon as a coach at McCallum once he was able to get the mess he inherited out of his program, especially my senior class. When this story occurred, he was in his second year as a head coach and was still learning his trade, especially as it relates to handling situations like that one.
It never happened again. Ever. Not that I know of, anyway. Fool him once, I suppose, but not twice.
Obviously, I bring this situation up in light of the situation with B.J. Foster. Honestly, I'm not sure what the answer is for Herman. I'm not sure if the players will view the situation as the act of betrayal that some view it to be or if they'll view it as something that is easily forgivable. Once upon a time, I was the roughly same age and excused away some horrible behavior because I selfishly wanted to keep a good talent on the team.
What I do know is that Herman is trying to establish a culture that is different than the one that has existed for quite some time. Part of what he is trying to establish is a complete 180-degree turn away from the concept of quitting on your teammates and coaches in the middle of a 56-point win because you're so selfish about your own needs in the moment that you walk away from all of your responsibilities.
It's easy for me to Monday Morning Quarterback this thing because I don't have to live with the consequences, but as someone that views himself as a man of principles, one of my principles would be making that kind of act one that can't be easily returned from. Is that fair? Man, I don't know that I can say that. But, if I'm constantly preaching accountability and mental fortitude, I don't know how I could possibly let every member of the program see me allow such an act to exist without major consequences.
Personally, I hope it works out for Foster. I want every kid on this roster to reach his potential. I want every kid as talented as Foster to realize his or her dreams.
So, does Herman. I truly believe that.
However, without being overly dramatic (if possible), Herman has to decide if this is a line that he can allow anyone to ever cross.
This isn't a decision for the captains of his team. These are young kids and they'll almost certainly be drowning in confirmation bias, just like I was back in 1993 when I was determined to soften a situation that might not have warranted any softening.
Is this a situation that can be softened to the point that Herman can swallow allowing it?
That needs to be Herman's call and Herman's call, alone.
No. 4 - About Spencer Rattler and the Sooners ...
That Oklahoma offense is good. Don't believe otherwise.
Just like with Texas, it just looked like OU had offensive firepower all over the place.
True freshman running back Seth McGowin looks like a godsend for them with the loss of Kennedy Brooks before the season.
It might be the first one to 50 when these two teams play.
No. 5 - The Big Five ...
Here's a list of my top five players from Saturday night.
1. Sam Ehlinger - Let's not take him for granted. He was awesome on Saturday.
2. Josh Moore - I bet Herman tells us that he's excited about Moore on Monday!
3. Josh Thompson - Best player on the defense in the first half.
4. Joseph Ossai - His play at the point of attack went seemingly unnoticed, but it seemed like he was around the ball on every play. The sacks weren't there, but the overall dominant play was.
5. D'Shawn Jamison - Big 12 coaches are going to figure out fast that they need to kick away from him ... or else.
No. 6 - Good grief, the Big 12 is bad ...
There's no real way to spin Iowa State getting doubled up by Louisiana, Arkansas State beating Kansas State or Coastal Carolina beating Kansas in the same weekend.
In Ames, Manhattan and Lawrence, no less.
Can't do it.
Hell, I can't even really spin Houston Baptist throwing for 572 yards as a team against Texas Tech and having a chance to tie Tech with a two-point conversion attempt late in the game.
All of it happened in one weekend. Texas should batter these teams later in the season, home or on the road.
Should.
No. 7 – BUY or SELL …
(Buy) I'm not sure that opportunity ever truly existed, but the league's street cred right now is awful.
(Buy) I only say this because our sourcing didn't suggest that the reaction from the Texas coaches was one that was nuclear.
(Buy) Of course. I would imagine it won't just be the Cyclones that end up being much more competitive against Texas than the dregs on the schedule. After all, Iowa State always seems to have at least one pre-season stinker inside of it each year.
(Buy) Sure, I'll go with that. I suppose I'm giving them Savion Byrd in that situation.
(Sell) I think he took a lot of Jake Smith's production. If Smith is healthy, he'll be at the front of the line. That being said, Moore will play a lot.
(Buy) After seeing the Big 12 this weekend, sure why not?
(Buy) Yup.
(Sell) You know 8-8 can often get you into the NFL playoffs, right?
(Buy) Correct. I'm not saying it's right, but bias of the more recent outcome has proven to be a big deal in the playoff discussion.
(Sell) I think Texas leadership would view having a conference it could push around as a major win at this point.
No. 8 - Scattershooting on the world of sports ...
... Football is back!
... Football is back (Part II)
... I'm pretty sure that DeShon Elliott hit Cleveland's Kareem Hunt so hard on Sunday that I can only think of horrible metaphors to describe it
... I feel dirty having Kyler Murray on my fantasy team.
... Congrats to Brandon Jones on a stellar 10-tackle debut with the Dolphins on Sunday. Malcolm Roach looked damn good as well with the Saints next to former Texas star Malcom Brown.
... We really have to stop underrating Russell Wilson.
... Wait, Mitchell Trubisky did what to the Lions?
... My goodness, Lamar Jackson was as awesome on Sunday as Baker Mayfield was unimpressive.
... Devante Adams and Aaron Rodgers did a bigger number on my fantasy team than they did to the Vikings.
... I hate the Florida Marlins.
... Some dude named Alec Mills threw a no-hitter for the Cubs. Cool, I guess.
... I'm okay with the cancellation of Conor McGregor.
... I don't know what to do with the Rockets, but Russell Westbrook being heckled by Rajon Rondo's brother to the point that Rondo's brother had to be escorted out of the building will stay with me forever. Westbrook has such a weird legacy at this point in his career.
... Kwahi is going to keep the Clippers from losing game seven, right?
... Welcome back, Premier League. It almost feels like you never left.
No. 9 - The List: Top 10 Daggers to the heart the LHN could have selected ...
I thought Andre Ware did a really solid job in his first night as lead analyst of Texas football on the Longhorn Network, but there's no getting around the irony of having one of the greatest all-time tormentors of Texas football in the role of lead analyst.
In fact, I loved the fact that the Longhorn Network addressed the fact that Ware has a complicated history with Texas football, which includes a couple of humiliating beatdowns, both on the road and at home.
It has inspired me to channel my inner-Letterman and come up with a Top 10 list of choices that would have been worse than Ware from an irony standpoint.
10. Aaron Rodgers
9. Marcell Dareus
8. Michael Crabtree
7. Any member of the 1990 Miami Hurricanes
6. Kyler Murray
5. Baker Mayfield
4. Brian Bozworth
3. Bob Stoops
2. Martellus/Michael Bennett
1. Barry Switzer
No.10 - And finally...
I saw this, thought it was cool and that it warranted having its own section. I really wish the school would do more to honor him.
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