Uncle Arch understands the trepidation that you are feeling. That knot in your stomach gets a little tighter every day we get nearer Game Day. The thought of our OL going up against the Big, Bad, Mean and Ugly Bama DL has you reaching for a bottle of Pepto Bismo....I get it.
It is the IDENTICAL feeling many of you had going into Week 2 last season. And how did that turn out for you? Frankly, it turned out better than many of you thought. Ol' Uncle Arch remembers the doom and gloom predictions from many of the Orangebloods faithful. Let's take a quick stroll down memory lane.
Alabama came into Austin last season as a 21.5 point favorite...yes, your read that right...wow, still cant believe that. (The line for the game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday is ONLY 7.0...a lot has changed in just one year.) The total yards in the game was almost identical 374 to 371 and time of possession was almost identical 29:30 to 31:30.
Bama wins by ONLY 1 point. And when your review that game, Bama was extremely fortunate to make the game competitive. Here are the factors that led to Bama's win:
* An atrocious blown safety call of the clear sack of BY in the endzone, that was a game changing play for Texas.
*QE getting hurt at the end of 1st Qtr...Texas clearly had Bama on their heels during that opening Qtr.
*B Auburn shanking that short FG at Half was another momentum killer.
*And lastly, a hobbled Hudson Card gave a valiant effort despite being injured.
Eliminate any one of those factors and I think Texas wins the game. Eliminate all four and Texas wins the game by multiple TDs.
Now onto Saturday. Many of you are...AGAIN...thinking Texas has no chance especially since this game is on the road. I disagree.
1. Quinn plays the entire game, making our odds to win go WAY up. Sark wont be letting QE plant in the pocket this game and risking injury.....lesson learned from last year. Quick, short passes and moving pockets are in the game plan. Oh by the way...QE only has a half season of football under his belt due to that injury last year...calm down, he will get better.
And IF Sark feels compelled to go to the bench for a QB, I feel very comfortable with our HEALTHY back up QB's,
2. Quinn will be using to our advantage his vast array of receivers. I am convinced Bama can effectively cover two of our best receivers but they cannot and WILL NOT be able to adequately cover receivers 3, 4, and 5. Worthy and Mitchell will be targeted by Bama's secondary but who is going to cover Whittington-Neyor-Sanders? Those guys are going to put up large numbers...AND with Bama's reported injuries in the secondary I expect a BIG passing day.
3. I know many of you are concerned about our OL play against Bama....sure, we couldn't run effectively against Rice and had pass blocking issues but we had the same issues last year against Bama. We had Bijan and RoJo and couldn't run the ball and we wont this year as well. Yet, see #1 and #2 for why the offense will be effective.
4. Our defense looks improved this season and we ONLY gave up 20 to Bama last year....I suspect we can duplicate that number in Tuscaloosa with a seemingly healthy unit ready to go.
5. Bama has 9 returning starters and is the least experienced team on the field this game....I think that matters and will be the deciding factor in the game. I look for Milroe to struggle with multiple Ints and sacks. I would not be surprised to see one of the two back ups play meaningful snaps in the 2nd half of the game.
Uncle Arch has spoken....time to put down the Pepto and pick up the Shiner Bock. This will be our SEC clarion call...Texas is coming next year and our SEC brethren will know that Texas is TRULY ready to go.
It is the IDENTICAL feeling many of you had going into Week 2 last season. And how did that turn out for you? Frankly, it turned out better than many of you thought. Ol' Uncle Arch remembers the doom and gloom predictions from many of the Orangebloods faithful. Let's take a quick stroll down memory lane.
Alabama came into Austin last season as a 21.5 point favorite...yes, your read that right...wow, still cant believe that. (The line for the game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday is ONLY 7.0...a lot has changed in just one year.) The total yards in the game was almost identical 374 to 371 and time of possession was almost identical 29:30 to 31:30.
Bama wins by ONLY 1 point. And when your review that game, Bama was extremely fortunate to make the game competitive. Here are the factors that led to Bama's win:
* An atrocious blown safety call of the clear sack of BY in the endzone, that was a game changing play for Texas.
*QE getting hurt at the end of 1st Qtr...Texas clearly had Bama on their heels during that opening Qtr.
*B Auburn shanking that short FG at Half was another momentum killer.
*And lastly, a hobbled Hudson Card gave a valiant effort despite being injured.
Eliminate any one of those factors and I think Texas wins the game. Eliminate all four and Texas wins the game by multiple TDs.
Now onto Saturday. Many of you are...AGAIN...thinking Texas has no chance especially since this game is on the road. I disagree.
1. Quinn plays the entire game, making our odds to win go WAY up. Sark wont be letting QE plant in the pocket this game and risking injury.....lesson learned from last year. Quick, short passes and moving pockets are in the game plan. Oh by the way...QE only has a half season of football under his belt due to that injury last year...calm down, he will get better.
And IF Sark feels compelled to go to the bench for a QB, I feel very comfortable with our HEALTHY back up QB's,
2. Quinn will be using to our advantage his vast array of receivers. I am convinced Bama can effectively cover two of our best receivers but they cannot and WILL NOT be able to adequately cover receivers 3, 4, and 5. Worthy and Mitchell will be targeted by Bama's secondary but who is going to cover Whittington-Neyor-Sanders? Those guys are going to put up large numbers...AND with Bama's reported injuries in the secondary I expect a BIG passing day.
3. I know many of you are concerned about our OL play against Bama....sure, we couldn't run effectively against Rice and had pass blocking issues but we had the same issues last year against Bama. We had Bijan and RoJo and couldn't run the ball and we wont this year as well. Yet, see #1 and #2 for why the offense will be effective.
4. Our defense looks improved this season and we ONLY gave up 20 to Bama last year....I suspect we can duplicate that number in Tuscaloosa with a seemingly healthy unit ready to go.
5. Bama has 9 returning starters and is the least experienced team on the field this game....I think that matters and will be the deciding factor in the game. I look for Milroe to struggle with multiple Ints and sacks. I would not be surprised to see one of the two back ups play meaningful snaps in the 2nd half of the game.
Uncle Arch has spoken....time to put down the Pepto and pick up the Shiner Bock. This will be our SEC clarion call...Texas is coming next year and our SEC brethren will know that Texas is TRULY ready to go.
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