BERKELEY, Calif. – Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford is a nice guy. His stories at his weekly press conferences are somewhat amusing. Bedford enjoys giving everybody updates about his pets. There are even updates about his food preferences.
However, here is the reality.
Bedford was hired to lead this defense, and his unit has not played well the past two seasons.
Some Texas fans begrudgingly let Bedford off the hook last season when Texas had one of its worst defensive years in school history. Texas was forced to play a lot of young players, and Bedford has always verbalized his dislike of freshmen because they are unpredictable on the field. Yet, the Longhorns’ defense continues to produce predictable results, and Cal’s 50-43 victory against Texas (2-1) on Saturday was the latest example.
Over the past two seasons, Texas has lost three games when it scored 40 or more points (Cal and Texas Tech in 2015; Cal in 2016). No lead seems safe.
That is why Texas coach Charlie Strong needs to step in and make a change on defense. Maybe that means Strong takes over as the play-caller on defense. Maybe that means giving the play-calling duties to linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. Texas is entering its bye week, and if ever there was a time to make a change, this is that moment.
“I don’t blame (any) coach,” Strong said. “It’s not on him at all. It’s all about executing the game plan.”
Strong makes a lot of sense.
Nevertheless, this is the third consecutive year of hearing about this team’s need to execute the game plan. Another season of missed tackles. Texas knew everything Cal was going to throw at it, but the Longhorns could not stop the Golden Bears’ offense. Cal receiver Chad Hansen compiled 12 receptions, 196 yards and two touchdowns with ease.
Heck, Hansen was so confident going into Saturday's game, he even flashed the Horns down symbol after a touchdown.
“Yeah, you know me and my friends before the game got together and said that may be something I want to do, so yeah,” Hansen said.
Hansen was pre-planning touchdown celebrations?
Sigh.
Bedford’s defense allowed 507 yards on Saturday, and outside of holding Cal scoreless in the third quarter, his defense struggled to tackle, players looked confused, and the opposition never had a problem finding space in which to work. Cal even converted 7-of-15 third-downs.
After the game, Texas defensive tackle Paul Boyette said players on this team need to learn their assignments. It is one of several duties players have pledged to improve during the past three seasons, but with no sign of improvement.
When asked if Bedford still controls the room, Boyette said “Coach Bedford is the guru of this defense. I’m a senior. I’m a captain. I've got to lead everybody from the front seven all the way from linebackers to the back end ... Everybody just go back to the drawing boards and keep on, keep on, pushing for Big 12 play.”
It’s going to be a hard stretch if Texas continues to get pushed around on defense.
Strong faced a similar situation last season after a disappointing loss against Notre Dame in week one. Texas fans were very optimistic about the season. Former offensive coordinator Shawn Watson was supposed to deliver a new up-tempo system. However, when last year’s offense looked similar to the 2014 version, Strong demoted Watson and gave those duties to former receivers coach Jay Norvel. That led to his hiring of offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert after his team finished with only five wins.
So far, Gilbert’s offense has produced 50 points against Notre Dame, 41 against UTEP and 43 on Saturday. It is fair to say Gilbert’s unit is getting the job done, and Texas is one good defense away from being a team that can compete for a conference title.
Instead, Texas gave up 47 points against Notre Dame, seven against UTEP, and 50 on Saturday. Without Gilbert, Texas could be 1-2 heading in the bye week.
“There’s no need in pointing fingers right now,” Strong said. “We still have a lot of work to do. The good thing about it, next week we’re off. We’re going to take this film, look at it, and we’re going to make changes, and make adjustments and see what we need to do so we can play better. We should be able to play better.”
Strong is correct.
That is why there needs to be a defensive change.
Postgame Quotes And Notes
- Gilbert was asked if he wanted to go for it on fourth-and-10 late in the fourth quarter and said, “That’s a tough situation. Punting was a decision we decided to make.”
- In addition, Gilbert was asked about the pressure quarterback Shane Buechele faced on the final three plays and said he needed to watch the film.
- Texas compiled 320 rushing yards, and Gilbert said he knew his team would have the opportunity to run the ball downhill. However, he said their goal is to have more points than his opponent, and they fell short of that.
- Here is cornerback Sheroid Evans on Hansen: “We knew he was a go-to guy. We prepare for him, and we just didn’t execute as a defense, as a secondary.”
- Evans on Hansen’s touchdown reception against him: “I should have been over the top. I know that. I was playing sticks. I know better as an older guy. I should know better, too.”
- In addition, Evans wouldn’t categorize the performance from Texas’ defense as “confusion.” He said they did not execute.
- Here is linebacker Breckyn Hager's response when asked if Texas used the same stack package his team effectively ran against UTEP last week: “No sir. We made adjustments in the second half.” When asked if having him and Malcolm Roach on the field was more effective in the second half, Hager said, “We lost. Nothing was effective.”
- Boyette said it is a good thing the loss happened early. He said they have to focus on playing well in Big 12 games.
- Buecehele said his chest was feeling fine when asked about the injury after Texas’ loss.
- Texas running back D’Onta Foreman it is not giving up on his team because of one loss: “We've just got to keep working, go to practice, go to the drawing board and figure it out. Figure out what our mistakes were today. Once we do that, I feel like we’re still a really good team. This is our first away game. We've got more to come. We've just got to put everything together.”
- Strong will hold his weekly press conference on Monday, but that will be the only media access this week. Gilbert and Bedford will have the week off from the media.
Team Notes
Here are some notes from UT:
• With a 44-yard completion to Armanti Foreman in the second quarter, Tyrone Swoopes became the 13th player in school history to surpass 3,000 career passing yards. He finished the night 4-of-6 for 65 passing yards and now has 3,038 for his career.
• Tyrone Swoopes finished the game with 32 rushing yards and now has 880 for his career - sixth-most among QBs in school history.
• Jacorey Warrick’s 41-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was the longest reception of his career. It was just his second career touchdown.
• Brandon Jones blocked a punt for the second straight week in the second quarter. He is the first Longhorn to record two blocks in the same season since Mykkele Thompson in 2012. The school record for blocked punts in a season is four, most recently done by Aaron Williams in 2008.
• D’Onta Foreman went over 100 yards rushing for the sixth time in his career on Saturday. He had 21 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He has gone over 100 yards in both games he has played in this season. The 157 yards tied his career high.
• D’Onta Foreman became the 50th player in school history to reach the 1,000 career rushing yards milestone. He now stands in a tie for 47th all-time with 1,042 career yards.
• Chris Warren surpassed 100 yards for the third time in his career on Saturday night. He finished with 18 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
• Anthony Wheeler had a career-high 10 tackles in the game. His previous high was eight.
• Devin Duvernay made his first career reception in the fourth quarter.
Funniest Thing You Will See This Week
Sports On A Dime
1. Even though Texas is struggling, Oklahoma continues to have a rough season. The Houston loss was bad, but getting blown out by Ohio State was embarrassing. This could be a long season for the Sooners.
2. Clearly, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is the real deal. Jackson’s performance during Louisville’s dominating win against Florida State on Saturday may have sealed the Heisman trophy for him:
3. If you are an athletic director who does not want your job, schedule North Dakota State.
4. This might be the most exciting moment from San Francisco’s win against Los Angeles on Monday night (clearly, the game was not):
5. The majority of NFL teams that will fall to 0-2 this weekend will not make the playoffs. Here is an interesting stat by ESPN’s Mike Rodak: “Think that's premature? Consider that since the NFL instituted its current playoff format in 1990, only 12 percent of teams that began 0-2 managed to make the playoffs, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The most recent team to start a season 0-3 and earn a playoff berth was the 1998 Bills, and only two other teams have managed that feat since 1990. Among 0-4 teams, only the 1992 Chargers rebounded to find their way into the postseason.”
6. That being said, Dallas needs to run the ball against Washington on Sunday. Sure, everybody is focusing on a potential battle between Dallas receiver Dez Bryant and Washington cornerback Josh Norman, but the Cowboys’ opponent is giving up 122.6 rushing yards a game (26th in the NFL). Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott should have a breakout game against Washington.
7. Buffalo coach Rex Ryan fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after his team’s embarrassing loss against the New York Jets on Saturday? Knock yourself out, Ryan. He is a great coordinator who is a bad head coach and should be replaced after this season.
8. After all the preseason hype about Cleveland quarterback Robert Griffin III, he thought attempting to run over Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills was a good idea, especially considering his injury history. Of course, Griffin sustained what may be a season-ending shoulder injury.
9. We have all sat near this guy during a game at some point. Yes, we were happy when his drunk ass was finally escorted out of the stadium:
10. Even if I was not in California, there is no way I would have paid to watch Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith. Any Canelo fight that does not involve Triple G is not worth my time.
However, here is the reality.
Bedford was hired to lead this defense, and his unit has not played well the past two seasons.
Some Texas fans begrudgingly let Bedford off the hook last season when Texas had one of its worst defensive years in school history. Texas was forced to play a lot of young players, and Bedford has always verbalized his dislike of freshmen because they are unpredictable on the field. Yet, the Longhorns’ defense continues to produce predictable results, and Cal’s 50-43 victory against Texas (2-1) on Saturday was the latest example.
Over the past two seasons, Texas has lost three games when it scored 40 or more points (Cal and Texas Tech in 2015; Cal in 2016). No lead seems safe.
That is why Texas coach Charlie Strong needs to step in and make a change on defense. Maybe that means Strong takes over as the play-caller on defense. Maybe that means giving the play-calling duties to linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. Texas is entering its bye week, and if ever there was a time to make a change, this is that moment.
“I don’t blame (any) coach,” Strong said. “It’s not on him at all. It’s all about executing the game plan.”
Strong makes a lot of sense.
Nevertheless, this is the third consecutive year of hearing about this team’s need to execute the game plan. Another season of missed tackles. Texas knew everything Cal was going to throw at it, but the Longhorns could not stop the Golden Bears’ offense. Cal receiver Chad Hansen compiled 12 receptions, 196 yards and two touchdowns with ease.
Heck, Hansen was so confident going into Saturday's game, he even flashed the Horns down symbol after a touchdown.
“Yeah, you know me and my friends before the game got together and said that may be something I want to do, so yeah,” Hansen said.
Hansen was pre-planning touchdown celebrations?
Sigh.
Bedford’s defense allowed 507 yards on Saturday, and outside of holding Cal scoreless in the third quarter, his defense struggled to tackle, players looked confused, and the opposition never had a problem finding space in which to work. Cal even converted 7-of-15 third-downs.
After the game, Texas defensive tackle Paul Boyette said players on this team need to learn their assignments. It is one of several duties players have pledged to improve during the past three seasons, but with no sign of improvement.
When asked if Bedford still controls the room, Boyette said “Coach Bedford is the guru of this defense. I’m a senior. I’m a captain. I've got to lead everybody from the front seven all the way from linebackers to the back end ... Everybody just go back to the drawing boards and keep on, keep on, pushing for Big 12 play.”
It’s going to be a hard stretch if Texas continues to get pushed around on defense.
Strong faced a similar situation last season after a disappointing loss against Notre Dame in week one. Texas fans were very optimistic about the season. Former offensive coordinator Shawn Watson was supposed to deliver a new up-tempo system. However, when last year’s offense looked similar to the 2014 version, Strong demoted Watson and gave those duties to former receivers coach Jay Norvel. That led to his hiring of offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert after his team finished with only five wins.
So far, Gilbert’s offense has produced 50 points against Notre Dame, 41 against UTEP and 43 on Saturday. It is fair to say Gilbert’s unit is getting the job done, and Texas is one good defense away from being a team that can compete for a conference title.
Instead, Texas gave up 47 points against Notre Dame, seven against UTEP, and 50 on Saturday. Without Gilbert, Texas could be 1-2 heading in the bye week.
“There’s no need in pointing fingers right now,” Strong said. “We still have a lot of work to do. The good thing about it, next week we’re off. We’re going to take this film, look at it, and we’re going to make changes, and make adjustments and see what we need to do so we can play better. We should be able to play better.”
Strong is correct.
That is why there needs to be a defensive change.
Postgame Quotes And Notes
- Gilbert was asked if he wanted to go for it on fourth-and-10 late in the fourth quarter and said, “That’s a tough situation. Punting was a decision we decided to make.”
- In addition, Gilbert was asked about the pressure quarterback Shane Buechele faced on the final three plays and said he needed to watch the film.
- Texas compiled 320 rushing yards, and Gilbert said he knew his team would have the opportunity to run the ball downhill. However, he said their goal is to have more points than his opponent, and they fell short of that.
- Here is cornerback Sheroid Evans on Hansen: “We knew he was a go-to guy. We prepare for him, and we just didn’t execute as a defense, as a secondary.”
- Evans on Hansen’s touchdown reception against him: “I should have been over the top. I know that. I was playing sticks. I know better as an older guy. I should know better, too.”
- In addition, Evans wouldn’t categorize the performance from Texas’ defense as “confusion.” He said they did not execute.
- Here is linebacker Breckyn Hager's response when asked if Texas used the same stack package his team effectively ran against UTEP last week: “No sir. We made adjustments in the second half.” When asked if having him and Malcolm Roach on the field was more effective in the second half, Hager said, “We lost. Nothing was effective.”
- Boyette said it is a good thing the loss happened early. He said they have to focus on playing well in Big 12 games.
- Buecehele said his chest was feeling fine when asked about the injury after Texas’ loss.
- Texas running back D’Onta Foreman it is not giving up on his team because of one loss: “We've just got to keep working, go to practice, go to the drawing board and figure it out. Figure out what our mistakes were today. Once we do that, I feel like we’re still a really good team. This is our first away game. We've got more to come. We've just got to put everything together.”
- Strong will hold his weekly press conference on Monday, but that will be the only media access this week. Gilbert and Bedford will have the week off from the media.
Team Notes
Here are some notes from UT:
• With a 44-yard completion to Armanti Foreman in the second quarter, Tyrone Swoopes became the 13th player in school history to surpass 3,000 career passing yards. He finished the night 4-of-6 for 65 passing yards and now has 3,038 for his career.
• Tyrone Swoopes finished the game with 32 rushing yards and now has 880 for his career - sixth-most among QBs in school history.
• Jacorey Warrick’s 41-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was the longest reception of his career. It was just his second career touchdown.
• Brandon Jones blocked a punt for the second straight week in the second quarter. He is the first Longhorn to record two blocks in the same season since Mykkele Thompson in 2012. The school record for blocked punts in a season is four, most recently done by Aaron Williams in 2008.
• D’Onta Foreman went over 100 yards rushing for the sixth time in his career on Saturday. He had 21 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He has gone over 100 yards in both games he has played in this season. The 157 yards tied his career high.
• D’Onta Foreman became the 50th player in school history to reach the 1,000 career rushing yards milestone. He now stands in a tie for 47th all-time with 1,042 career yards.
• Chris Warren surpassed 100 yards for the third time in his career on Saturday night. He finished with 18 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
• Anthony Wheeler had a career-high 10 tackles in the game. His previous high was eight.
• Devin Duvernay made his first career reception in the fourth quarter.
Funniest Thing You Will See This Week
Sports On A Dime
1. Even though Texas is struggling, Oklahoma continues to have a rough season. The Houston loss was bad, but getting blown out by Ohio State was embarrassing. This could be a long season for the Sooners.
2. Clearly, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is the real deal. Jackson’s performance during Louisville’s dominating win against Florida State on Saturday may have sealed the Heisman trophy for him:
3. If you are an athletic director who does not want your job, schedule North Dakota State.
4. This might be the most exciting moment from San Francisco’s win against Los Angeles on Monday night (clearly, the game was not):
5. The majority of NFL teams that will fall to 0-2 this weekend will not make the playoffs. Here is an interesting stat by ESPN’s Mike Rodak: “Think that's premature? Consider that since the NFL instituted its current playoff format in 1990, only 12 percent of teams that began 0-2 managed to make the playoffs, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The most recent team to start a season 0-3 and earn a playoff berth was the 1998 Bills, and only two other teams have managed that feat since 1990. Among 0-4 teams, only the 1992 Chargers rebounded to find their way into the postseason.”
6. That being said, Dallas needs to run the ball against Washington on Sunday. Sure, everybody is focusing on a potential battle between Dallas receiver Dez Bryant and Washington cornerback Josh Norman, but the Cowboys’ opponent is giving up 122.6 rushing yards a game (26th in the NFL). Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott should have a breakout game against Washington.
7. Buffalo coach Rex Ryan fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after his team’s embarrassing loss against the New York Jets on Saturday? Knock yourself out, Ryan. He is a great coordinator who is a bad head coach and should be replaced after this season.
8. After all the preseason hype about Cleveland quarterback Robert Griffin III, he thought attempting to run over Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills was a good idea, especially considering his injury history. Of course, Griffin sustained what may be a season-ending shoulder injury.
9. We have all sat near this guy during a game at some point. Yes, we were happy when his drunk ass was finally escorted out of the stadium:
10. Even if I was not in California, there is no way I would have paid to watch Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith. Any Canelo fight that does not involve Triple G is not worth my time.
