Photo via HookEm.com
There was no need to think about the panic button after Texas' season-opening victory against Louisiana Tech. Texas allowed 413 offensive yards, but beat down Terry Bradshaw’s alma mater. Texas was defeated by LSU, but the Tigers will probably be in the college football playoffs. The Longhorns won two of three non-conference games, and their only loss was against a team led by Joe Burrow, a potential Heisman Trophy winner. After that game, Texas curb-stomped Rice, and it appeared progress had been made because the Longhorns dominated lessor opponents in back-to-back games.
The defensive issues continued against Oklahoma State. Texas won the game, but it was simply a good time to make sure the panic button had batteries. Texas struggled during a win against West Virginia, and it was time to take the panic button out of the drawer. After the defense was exposed during a loss against Oklahoma, it was time to put that button on the table, but there was probably still no need to use it.
Once Texas needed a last-minute comeback to defeat Kansas, it was officially time for the Longhorn to hold their hand above that panic button. After a 37-27 loss against TCU on Saturday, Texas' panic button should be smashed repeatedly until somebody's hand develops blisters.
The Longhorns are running out of time to salvage this season.
I am not being dramatic. This is not a weak attempt at click-bait. Knee-jerk reactions are not my thing.
Texas is currently 5-3 with four regular season games remaining. Basically, Texas needs to win four-straight games to finish 9-3, and that kind of success appears to be very optimistic right now. When the season began, most Longhorn fans thought 10 wins would be the floor. Right now, 8-4 is on the table.
Heck, that might be optimistic, too.
Kansas State – The Wildcats knocked off Oklahoma on Saturday
Iowa State – Texas will need to defeat this team on the road
Baylor – Only undefeated team in the Big 12, and it is a road game
Texas Tech – Season finale could be a shootout in Austin
Texas was still in the college football playoff race after losing against LSU. The playoff possibility was eliminated after a loss against Oklahoma. However, he Big 12 Championship was still on the table. Technically, getting back to Arlington is still a possibility, but Texas is sitting at the kid's table in this race. Baylor and Oklahoma are sitting at the big table.
I hear Houston is lovely in December.
Hello, Texas Bowl.
Nobody thought Texas would be sitting at 5-3 prior to this season. Not one media member. Longhorn fans believed nine wins was the floor. Coaches and players dismissed the possibility of having issues prior to the season, and continually pushed back on reporters who questioned the potential flaws on this team.
When asked about replacing eight starters on defense, we were told the guys coming back had plenty of experience without the starter label. When asked about the lack of inexperience among defensive backs, we were told that group was so good that they might to play eight guys at once. When asked about the run game, we heard about explosive plays in practice. When asked about the injuries to defensive backs this season, we were told nobody is losing sleep over the personnel loses.
Now, we are waiting to be told the goal is to "get these seniors to a bowl game."
During the Orangebloods postgame show on Facebook Live, @Ketchum had a tremendous observation.
He said the biggest achievement by the Longhorns this season is a seven-point loss against LSU. That is what Texas hung its hat on. In a weird way, that game was a badge of honor.
Well, if losing a close game is the biggest accomplishment of 2019, this team is not living up to anyone’s expectations, including coaches and players.
Sure, there have been injuries this year, but the majority of those players were unproven. We can only guess what kind of impact they could have had if they had stayed healthy this season. More importantly, you cannot preach “next man up” and take credit when things go well, but use injuries as an excuse when the team underperforms.
Herman said it is the responsibility of his coaches to make sure players are ready to step in, and he is correct.
“We've got a saying that it's not that kid, it’s that coach,” Herman said. “If they’re not playing at the level that we need them to play, when they don't understand it, to we've chosen the wrong guy to be out there, it's our job to coach the guys that we're going to play out there to make the plays necessary. That hasn't changed around here this year compared to any of them.”
What has changed – for the worse – is the Longhorn defense.
The Longhorns allowed 435 offensive yards on Saturday. In fact, the only team to have less than 400 yards against Texas is Rice. In seven other games, Texas has failed to slow down opposing offenses.
TCU quarterback Max Duggan had a breakout game, completing 19-of-27 passes for 273 yards, two touchdown and one interception. Duggan also rushed 13 times for 83 yards and one touchdown, plus had a passer rating of 172.3. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s passer rating against TCU was 99.1.
Herman was asked if his confidence in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando has been shaken in October, and he said no.
However, when asked a follow-up question, Herman said he did not feel good about the schematics of the defensive scheme.
He also should not feel good about Orlando’s unit continuing to underachieve this season.
Texas is allowing 465.5 yards per game. The Longhorns are still on pace to break the previous school record of 452.6 yards per game set by former coach Charlie Strong and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford in 2015.
Orlando’s defense was ranked 120th overall prior to TCU, and that is unlikely to change once all college football websites are updated on Sunday.
By the way, Texas' offense was not good, either.
That does not mean Herman is going to make any staff moves in the upcoming bye week. Nevertheless, every current member of Herman’s staff should wonder if they are in the hot seat.
Texas is struggling on offense, defense, and special teams. We have barely talked about this team’s inability to field punts, but Texas had one return for -7 yards on Saturday. The Longhorns entered Saturday’s game with the worst punt return average in the country (-0.63 yards), and they will likely hold that spot this week.
The majority of Herman’s coaches are on one-year deals. If this team does not improve in every area soon, there are going to be guys looking for jobs after the season.
Quite honestly, it might too late for some assistants.
I have said one thing numerous times during my tenure at Orangebloods, and will keep barking on this porch until I have a reason to go inside the house.
Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy said something to me years ago when I covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that still resonates. He told me the sign of a healthy coaching staff is when assistant coaches are being talked about or promoted for coordinator positions, and coordinators are in the mix to become head coaches. If you look at Dungy’s coaching tree, he had a knack for hiring talented coaches who were eventually pursued by other teams.
I mean no disrespect to anyone on this current staff, but if Herman followed Dungy’s philosophy, the majority of them are not safe after this season. I would put offensive line coach Herb Hand in the safe category, but everybody else is fighting to remain in Austin.
Here is another reason why heads might roll.
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger only has one more year remaining. Once Ehlinger is gone, Texas is back into the quarterback abyss. We do not know how good Casey Thompson will be as a starter. Ja’Quiden Jackson and Hudson Card have looked great in high school, but that does not guarantee success on the college level – just ask Jerrod Heard.
Next season might be Herman’s best chance to win a Big 12 Championship. Herman cannot have a four-year starter at quarterback and not win a conference title at Texas. Ehlinger is already one of the top 10 quarterbacks in Texas history, and Herman cannot waste this opportunity. He will need to have the best coaches for the most important season of his coaching tenure. I give Herman a lot of credit for loyalty, but he has to talk himself into making staff changes to win championships in Austin.
Back to this season.
There are four games remaining, and few signs of improvement.
Bang that panic button one more time.
The Longhorns are running out of time to salvage this season.
Photo via HookEm.com
TEAM NOTES
(From UT)
• With the loss, Texas drops to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 this season.
• Texas is now 63-26-1 against TCU all-time and 27-12 against the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth.
• The loss drops UT's record to 7-3 in true Big 12 road games under Tom Herman.
• The Longhorns are 10-4 in their last 14 Big 12 contests, dating back to the start of conference play in 2018.
• The Longhorns had two 100-yard receivers Saturday, marking the second time this season they have achieved that feat (vs. LSU, Sept. 7).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
QB Sam Ehlinger
• Completed 22-of-47 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Also carried the ball nine times for 43 yards.
• His 321 passing yards made him the first Texas QB since Colt McCoy in 2007 to throw for at least 200 yards in each of the first eight games of a season.
• Threw for more than 300 yards for the eighth time in his career, which ranks as the third-most in Texas history.
• Completed 22 passes to bring his career total to 632 to surpass Major Applewhite (1998-2001) for the second-most completions in school history.
• Racked up 321 passing yards to bring his career total to 7,585 to jump Peter Gardere (1989-92) for the fourth-most in UT history.
• Moved past Chris Simms (1999-2002) for the third-most passing touchdowns in Texas history with 59.
• Surpassed Vince Young (2003-05) for the second-most total touchdowns in school history. After Saturday, Ehlinger has now accounted for 82 in his career.
WR Devin Duvernay
• Finished with eight catches for a career-high 173 yards and one touchdown.
• Through eight games, Duvernay has caught 69 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns.
• His 69 receptions and 800 yards this season are the most by a Longhorn through eight games in school history.
• Is only the second Texas receiver in the last 20 seasons to record at least 700 receiving yards through eight games. Jordan Shipley did so in 2008 (737 yards) and 2009 (777 yards).
• Caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from QB Sam Ehlinger to mark his sixth career touchdown of longer than 40 yards. It was his longest since a 48-yarder vs. West Virginia in 2018.
• His TD catch, the 14th of his career, tied him with Wane McGarity (1995-98) and Johnny "Lam" Jones (1976-79) for the 10th-most in Texas history.
• Saturday was his fourth 100-yard game this year, and the fifth of his career. He is the 11th Texas receiver all-time with at least four 100-yard games, and only the second (Jordan Shipley, 2009) to reach the mark in eight games or less.
• It was his second 100-yard half this season. He previously hauled in 11 passes for 137 yards in the second half of UT's matchup against then-No. 6 LSU.
• Logged a 63-yard reception on Texas' second drive of the third quarter, the second-longest reception by a Longhorn this season (Brennan Eagles - 73-yard TD vs. Oklahoma State).
WR Collin Johnson
• Caught seven passes for 101 yards.
• Marked his fifth career 100-yard game and first this season. He is tied with fellow senior Devin Duvernay for the most career 100-yard games by active Longhorns.
RB Keaontay Ingram
• Finished with 92 all-purpose yards on 19 touches and scored one touchdown.
QB/RB Roschon Johnson
• Scored on a two-yard rush in the fourth quarter, marking his third-straight game with a rushing touchdown.
LB Joseph Ossai
• Finished with a career-high 10 tackles, five of which were solo stops.
• Marked his fifth-straight outing with at least eight tackles.
LB Juwan MItchell
• Finished with seven tackles and notched his third sack of the season.
DB Brandon Jones
• Matched his career high with 11 tackles and recorded an interception.
• It was his second interception of the season, and the fourth of his career.
• Saturday also marked his second-straight game with 10-plus tackles.
DL Malcolm Roach
• Finished with five tackles, a career-high four tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry.
• Marked his third career game with multiple TFLs, and his first since Texas' win over Kansas in 2017.
K Cameron Dicker
• Made two of his three field goal attempts (21 yards, 38 yards).
• Has made six of his last seven FGs and is 10-for-13 (76.9%) this season.
DB Tyler Owens
• Made his first career start.
LB Byron Vaughns
• Forced the first fumble of his career on a TCU kickoff return in the second quarter.
LB Jett Bush
• Recovered the first fumble of his career on a TCU kickoff return in the second quarter.
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
(They videos are always funnier after a win)
The moment her parents realized their daughter was not innocent (adult content)
She holds fitness classes in the morning before her afternoon nap
Charlie is not the kid to mess with
He uploaded his pictures to the cloud
Sports On A Dime
1. I did not notice this quote from TCU coach Gary Patterson until Sunday morning, but here was his response when asked about beating Texas: "I don't know… I like my job and usually when I beat Texas, I usually get to keep my job longer. Outside of that, I was just happy for the kids to be honest with you. The bottom line is, you hear it all the time, 'we're not good enough' and we just keep proving people wrong."
2. Patterson on his team’s struggles in the first half: “They really tried to confuse us. They came out in a bunch. Iowa State did this to us two years ago, so we couldn't see the formations and make early calls, and they shifted out quick. It was really a good move on their part, and it hurt us in the first half. It didn't allow us to blitz as much as we wanted to. So, you have to give Coach (Tom) Herman and his staff credit. That was a good football game, and Sam (Ehlinger) is a good football player, I'm just going to tell you guys. I've got a lot of respect for the quarterback."
3. Herman on his defense: "We're not good. We need to be better. I think the off week will help. We need to do a better job as coaches. The guys that are out there, we need to get them ready to play. We have to make plays and put them in position to do so."
4. Herman on his message to the team: “Malcolm Roach told the team that we need to come together, we need to fight. When you're in a hole like this the only way to get out of it is to fight and work harder. These things don't happen by calling magic defenses and magic offenses. They happen by coming to work every day as coaches giving everything we have to our players. Teaching them, putting them in the right places to make plays. I thought it was great. I told him, if you need any example of a team coming together after two straight losses, look no further than last year's team. We have not lost two-straight. We have lost a game. We have an open date to get back to the basics and get back to fundamentals. The only thing to do is improve.”
5. Ehlinger on the missed opportunities in the first half: “"We talk about scoring in the red zone, converting on third down are the keys to winning, and we didn't do that, so absolutely missed opportunities."
6. Texas football coach Tom Herman must have abandoned the binder on his team’s first possession. Texas faced fourth-and-1 on TCU’s 3-yard line, and I expected the Longhorns to go for it. Instead, Cameron Dicker ran on the field, making a 21-yard field goal. Instead of going for birdie, Herman was content to shoot for par on that possession. After Dicker missed a 26-yard field goal, it is hard to blame Herman for skipping “easy” field goal attempts
7. If you are looking for a bright spot, Texas linebacker Byron Vaughns is starting continues to make plays. After Texas scored on Devin Duvernay’s 47-yard touchdown reception, Vaughns caused Jalen Reagor to fumble on the ensuing kickoff. He had splash plays against Kansas. His play is getting lost by the team’s struggles.
8. Texas definitely needed receiver Brennan Eagles. Even though the staff was sympathetic to the personal issue he was dealing with this past week, Eagles still had an unexcused absence from practice, which resulted in his suspension against TCU. Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson played well, but Texas needed an extra threat on Saturday.
9. Former NFL running back Warrick Dunn is one of the best players I have covered. Dunn had a very good NFL career, but more importantly, he has consistently helped single families obtain homes. Many NFL players start charities for the tax benefits during their career. Many shut down their charities after their career ends. Dunn’s commitment to his charity makes him one of the genuine good guys.
Check out this Yahoo.com article:
While former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Warrick Dunn has long since retired from professional football, he has still found a way to bring smiles to families in Florida.
Through his nonprofit, Warrick Dunn Charities, and a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Dunn gifted single mom LaToya Reedy and her 18-year-old son a fully furnished two-bedroom home located in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
“Being a homeowner now, I can be at home,” LaToya, 39, told the newspaper after walking into the home for the first time.
Before receiving the keys to her new place, Reedy was struggling to pay the bills as a nursing assistant. For two years, she and her son, AnTrez Reedy, rotated sleeping on the bed in the bedroom they shared at her mother’s house.
“I can be at peace,” she told the Times of the special moment. “I can bring sweet memories to my house and I can have my family and my friends over. I have a home now, and that’s something that I’ve always wanted for my son, and for myself.”
“It’s been a long, hard journey,” LaToya added. “Struggle and sacrifices, but we made it.”
10. You have to respect Kevin Durant’s honest opinion
Last edited by a moderator:
