Photo via HookEm.com
Disappointing. Failure. Disaster. Embarrassing. Unacceptable. BS. Insulting. Typical.
There are many ways to label the current Texas football season. Longhorn fans might have a different label – probably with curse words. This is what happens when Texas falls to 6-4 after a preventable road loss against Iowa State. These are the frustrations when the Longhorns are out of Big 12 title contention. Sure, the math says Texas still has a chance to make the conference championship game. Using that formula, if the meteor takes out everyone on earth except Halle Berry and myself, I still have a chance.
Texas entered this season with high expectations after the Sugar Bowl victory. We were told there was talent at every position. The players were supposed to be developed. This program was expected to compete for a Big 12 title, and possibly be in the college football playoff conversation. Even if the breakthrough did not happen, nobody expected this program to take a step backwards.
As we reflect on the worst loss of Tom Herman’s tenure at Texas, here is the question that needs to be answered.
Has Tom Herman finally seen enough to make changes?
Coaching changes.
Scheme changes.
Play-calling changes.
This is not about the players.
The talent is here. Texas finished with the fourth-ranked recruiting class in 2019. Oh, the Longhorns finished with the No. 4-ranked class in 2018, too. That is more talent than Iowa State nas on its roster. More than Kansas. Definitely more than TCU. If you want to hop in the DeLorean and go back in time, Texas had more talent than Maryland last year.
However, Herman’s staff is unable to squeeze every ounce of talent out of its players. Instead, we are forced to hear excuses about injuries, or youth.
If players have not developed, that is on the coaches.
If “next man up” only applies to games against Rice, that is on the coaches.
If John Burt is getting more reps than Marcus Washington, that is on the coaches.
If defensive backs do not know how to look for the ball and avoid pass interference penalties, that is on the coaches.
If simply catching the ball and not fumbling on returns is a problem, that is on the coaches.
If running power right on every fourth-down attempt is the only option, that is on the coaches.
If nobody can simply lie to Herman by saying the binder says kick a field goal, that is on the coaches.
It appears many members of Herman’s coaching staff have maxed out. Honestly, every member of his coaching staff should check their lease agreements on Sunday. The only person who is safe on this staff is Herman, the man who signed a two-year extension after last season. Everyone else should consider sending him Tiff’s Treats on Monday.
Texas has struggled on offense, defense, and special teams this season. The offense carried this team for most of the year. However, it has struggled recently. Texas’ defense has played better in the past two games, but there are still breakdowns that should not occur. When it comes to special teams, that unit’s inability to field punts is a huge reason why Texas had horrible field position against Oklahoma.
Has Herman seen enough?
Herman could have hired the best and brightest when he took over. Instead, he chose comfort hires. As a result, Herman has a group of coaches who are not getting the most out of their players, and seemingly not putting them in a position to excel.
To be fair, Herman has hired analysts with great resumes. He has Larry Fedora and Andre Coleman as support staff members.
Of course, I can argue they should be on the coaching staff instead of doing clerical work.
Herman’s best move is to start reaching out the coaches he might want to join his staff. Force the best and brightest to say no.
As soon as the regular season finale against Texas Tech is over, Herman should set up meetings the next day with staff members he intends to let go, and let them know this is the end.
However, that is just one aspect.
Herman does not like to be second-guessed by the media about play-calling (offense and defense). Nevertheless, Texas was unable to run the ball against Iowa State, the Longhorns were unstoppable in the air before halftime, but went away from the passing game. Texas faced 2nd-and-35 from its own 37-yard line before Ehlinger threw a 30-yard pass to Brennan Eagles, followed by a 26-yard connection to Devin Duvernay. Ehlinger threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Epps, and Texas took a 21-20 lead with 5:37 remaining.
On Texas’ ensuing possession, Ehlinger rushed for no gain. Keaontay Ingram rushed for no gain. Texas went into an obvious passing down, and Ehlinger’s pass attempt to Duvernay was broken up.
Herman does not like calling plays from the sidelines because he prefers the view from the press box. If that is the case, is he ready to find someone who can call offensive plays for him?
When Texas hired Herman, it was because the administration believed he could compete for the Big 12 title, and eventually a national title. When Chris Del Conte gave Herman an extension, it was because he believed it, too. Herman was not hired to make Longhorn fans feel better about losses.
That is what Tito’s is for.
The season is over. There are two games remaining, but Longhorn fans are no longer excited about 2019. They will endure another year of watching Oklahoma compete for a playoff spot, plus send another quarterback to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, while Texas fans will be stuck watching reruns on the history channel – LHN – of the glory years.
There are many ways to label this season.
Has Tom Herman finally seen enough to make changes?
Photo via HookEm.com
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
The videos are always funnier after a win
If this is the new format for gender reveals, guys will get there early
“I wish there had been. I’d knock your head off. Don’t play with me.”
At least he did not try jumping off the roof
Sports On A Dime
1. I think Texas will need to win its next two games to be in contention for the Alamo Bowl. If not, the safe money is on the Longhorns appearing in the Texas Bowl (Houston) once again. No matter what, it will not be a New Years Six Bowl Game.
2. Herman wanted to establish the run against Iowa State, but it was a performance nobody expected. Texas rushed 26 times for 54 yards. Keaontay Ingram had eight carries for nine yards, and that includes a 7-yard run. Roschon Johnson had six carries for 18 yards. Texas running backs coach Stan Drayton needs to touch base with Bijan Robinson on Sunday and make sure he is still a solid commit.
3. Texas was able to win 10 games last year because Sam Ehlinger was great. However, Ehlinger has been good this season, and that is one reason why Texas has struggled. Prior to the season, Ketch and I were convinced Ehlinger was arguably better than Jalen Hurts. We were wrong. To be fair, it is not all on Ehlinger. The offensive line has given up too many sacks, while his receivers dropped too many passes this season. Texas cannot afford to waste Ehlinger’s senior year.
4. At least there was one highlight from Saturday:
5. I think Texas football fans will have to live with a love-hate relationship with the binder. During the second quarter, Texas faced fourth-and-2 and Iowa State’s 21-yard line. Instead of kicking the field goal, Herman decided to go for it, and Sam Ehlinger lost one yard on a run play. After Eagles’ amazing 14-yard touchdown reception before halftime, it was hard not to question if the score could have been tied at 10 heading into halftime if Cameron Dicker was given an opportunity to make a field goal. Texas fans definitely had to play the “what if?” game after a two-point loss on Saturday.
6. Oklahoma has the cheat code when it comes to transfer quarterbacks
7. After enduring a night of website issues, and frustrated Longhorn fans, I checked in with my alma mater to see if there was anything that could salvage my Saturday.
8. Richard Sherman encouraging NFL players to prepare for a strike once the CBA expires after the 2020 season is admirable, but unrealistic. NFL players are not known for saving their money, and most guys are broke a few years after their career ends. The owners know they just need to wait for players to become desperate to get paid to break the NFLPA.
9. Congratulations to Round Rock High School’s Jaaucklyn Moore for signing to play basketball for Incarnate Word this past week. She is the daughter of Dr. Leonard Moore, Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement and the George Littlefield Professor of American History at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Moore plays a major role in the lives of many UT athletes – not just football – and answers questions from recruits and their parents. Bottom line, Moore is a great guy, and props to their family for Jaaucklyn’s achievement.
10. Rumors of LeBron James’ demise have been greatly exaggerated:
Last edited by a moderator:
