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I gave Texas football coach Tom Herman multiple opportunities before the season to say his team was facing a number of challenges. His team never had a spring practice. Herman’s seven new assistant coaches spent most of the offseason working with players on Zoom. Players showed up for voluntary workouts in June. The first two weeks of training camp were dedicated to getting players in shape. Texas had only two scrimmages prior to the regular season. They rarely had back-to-back days of full-contact practices. Players were focused on topics outside of football. There was the emotional roller coaster of not knowing if the Big 12 would have a football season. If I was fined a $1 for every time I pointed out those challenges in print or during a podcast, that tally would be more than my Modcast swear jar number.
Yet, Herman always responded to my questions by telling me how much the team accomplished during walk-throughs. He was happy with the playbook installation during winter conditioning. Herman was content with how players were learning fundamentals during Zoom meetings through the cutups that were shown by coaches. He believed the coaching staff had his players ready for the regular season. The great thing about Herman is his optimism, but that attribute is a gift and a curse.
After Herman’s team pulled off an improbable 63-56 victory against Texas Tech, arguably his biggest regular season win since defeating Oklahoma in 2018, Herman finally admitted this year’s team must overcome multiple obstacles.
Texas needs to improve in every area.
“Well, you point out the things you did well, and you go back to work on the things you didn't do well,” Herman said when I asked about his approach after seeing his team struggle in nearly every area against Texas Tech. “Obviously the tackling on defense, I felt like it was last year. With no spring ball and very limited contact and in fall camp, and then playing UTEP in our opener, I think the speed of the game got to our guys a little bit. I really do. But, that was good. All of these are really good teaching moments. We're going to celebrate the things we did well, and go back to work on the things we didn’t.”
Obviously, the most important result from Saturday’s game was the win.
Texas is 2-0 and tied for first place with Oklahoma State in the Big 12. Oklahoma was defeated by Kansas State on Saturday, and the Sooners need to work on their own issues to repeat as conference champions. The Longhorns have an opportunity to work on their issues during the upcoming bye week. If you are looking for something positive, there you go.
Nevertheless, we know Texas is not going to compete for a Big 12 championship by struggling like this in upcoming games.
Heck, Herman knows it.
Let us start with the defense.
Chris Ash, welcome to the Big 12.
Ash displayed a lot of confidence during interviews prior to this season. He said the defense was further along than he anticipated during a media conference call in late August. Ash explained how teaching Longhorn players rugby tackling would help this defense. In addition, Ash believed Texas could win with defense in the Big 12.
“We wanted to put together a system that we felt like could defend the teams in our league,” Ash said prior to the season. “And we want to make sure we had all those things from the start. Again, you know, only time will tell if we're able to accomplish that, but part of coming here, yeah, I wanted that challenge. I wanted to take that on. I wanted to prove to myself that we had the players. We could put together the scheme. We could build the culture defensively here. That we could go and play really good defense in this league.
“It doesn't have to be an all offensive league. Even though there are good coaches, good players, good systems, we play good defense here, too. I truly believe you've got to score points to win games, but you have to play really good defense to win championships. That combination is what we want to try to get here.”
Like Mike Tyson once said, everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
After the UTEP victory, Ash said he did not count many missed tackles. Well, he is going to need a calculator to count the missed tackles against Texas Tech.
Ash did not look like an upgrade from former Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando on Saturday. The tackling was poor. Ash’s 4-3 defense did not provide more of a pass rush than Orlando’s 3-4 scheme. Once again, a bad team played well against Texas. I will give Texas credit for stopping Texas Tech in overtime. The Longhorns caused and recovered a fumble that officials eventually said was an incomplete pass. Texas safety Caden Sterns sealed the victory with an interception.
If this game is the anomaly, Longhorn observers will give Ash a pass
Nonetheless, we cannot ignore the possibility that this could be a sign of things to come.
When we look at the offense, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich mysteriously stopped passing in the third quarter and wanted to run. However, I cannot bash a guy when his offense puts up 63 points. Yurcich's offense was not perfect, but those are a lot of points.
I believe receivers coach Andre Coleman deserves props for having multiple guys in his room step up in two games. Coleman has been so damn good, scholarship players and walk-ons are having an impact.
Herb Hand?
Please put the brisket down.
The offensive line has not looked good this season. Herman did express concern about the right side of the offensive line prior to the season, and he was right. Of course, the left side is not playing great either. Heck, Texas Tech rushed three players and still got to Ehlinger. The run blocking is very inconsistent.
By the way, if you think the offensive line is struggling this year, close your eyes in 2021.
Hand is not getting it done as a recruiter. He swung and missed on the Brockermeyers, which just should not have happened for obvious reasons. Hand did not obtain Reuben Fatheree, Matthew Mycoff, Jack Leyer, Ryan Lengyel, Donovan Jackson and Jaeden Roberts. Bryce Foster and Saivon Byrd are seemingly leaning elsewhere. Outside of Hayden Conner, Hand’s other commits are guys who need to be developed, which could work long-term, but it is a lot easier to succeed with elite talent.
Hand is a nice guy, but must step up in every area.
Meanwhile, we saw a bad special teams performance.
Texas Tech brilliantly exposed a weakness with a perfectly executed onside kick. The Red Raiders blocked one punt in the first half after nearly blocking one earlier. D’Shawn Jamison never got under the ball and muffed a punt that resulted in a Texas Tech score.
“The special teams thing, that's a pretty easy fix,” Herman said.
Hopefully, for Longhorn fans, Herman is right.
Texas needs to improve in every area.
Photo via HookEm.com
INDIVIDUAL NOTES (provided by UT)
SAM EHLINGER, QB
• Completed 27-of-40 passes for 262 yards and five touchdowns. Also carried the ball 16 times for 69 yards and one touchdown.
• Tallied his 100th career touchdown with a 31-yard pass to sophomore WR Joshua Moore late in the first quarter. He is the second Longhorn (Colt McCoy, 2006-09) and 13th player in Big 12 history to record 100-plus total touchdowns.
• His six touchdowns on Saturday bring him to 104 total touchdowns for his career.
• Marked his sixth career game with four-or-more passing touchdowns, the second-most in school history.
• Was also his second-straight game with five passing touchdowns. Colt McCoy (2) is the only other quarterback in school history with multiple five-plus touchdown games through the air.
• Rushed for 69 yards to surpass Colt McCoy (2006-09) for the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback in school history. Ehlinger's career total now stands at 1,593 (entered at 1,542) rushing yards.
• Scored a two-yard touchdown on Texas' first possession of the game. It was his 26th career rushing
touchdown, tying him with Marty Akins (1973-75) for the second-most by a quarterback in Texas history.
• Marked his 15th career game with both a passing and rushing touchdown, giving him sole possession of the school record. Previously, he was tied with Colt McCoy (2006-09) for that school record.
JOSHUA MOORE, WR
• Hauled in five catches for 73 yards and three touchdowns.
• The first Longhorn to catch three touchdowns in a game since Jaxon Shipley at Oklahoma State in 2012, a span of 100 games.
• Snagged a 31-yard touchdown pass out of the air from QB Sam Ehlinger in the opening quarter.
• His second touchdown was an 18-yard connection that helped Texas tie the game at 56-56 with 40 seconds remaining.
• Scored the Longhorns' touchdown in the overtime period with a 12-yard reception on a throw from Ehlinger.
BRENNAN EAGLES, WR
• Caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown, his second of the season.
• Also was on the receiving end of Sam Ehlinger's two-point conversion pass that helped Texas tie the game at 56-56 with 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
BRENDEN SCHOOLER, WR
• Caught a team-high seven passes for 58 yards and his second touchdown in as many games as a Longhorn.
• His touchdown reception was a three-yard connection with QB Sam Ehlinger late in the second quarter.
ROSCHON JOHNSON, RB
• Carried the ball 16 times for 44 yards and scored a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
• Was his fourth career rushing touchdown against Texas Tech after scoring three times on the ground as a true freshman last season.
CADEN STERNS, DB
• Logged four tackles, all solo, and sealed Texas' win in overtime with an interception on fourth down after the Longhorns scored a touchdown on the previous possession.
CHRIS BROWN, DB
• Logged the second interception of his career and returned it 22 yards to the UT 49-yard line after Texas Tech successfully recovered an onside kick attempt.
• Finished with four tackles (three solo), one tackle for loss and the interception.
CHRIS ADIMORA, DB
• Notched his first career interception and returned it 71 yards to flip the field for the UT offense after Texas Tech blocked a Longhorn punt and took over at the Texas 17-yard line.
• Finished with five tackles (four solo), two pass breakups and the interception.
TYLER OWENS, DB
• Blocked a Texas Tech punt in the early part of the third quarter that was recovered by Jahdae Barron for atouchdown, giving Texas a 38-28 advantage.
• Was Texas' sixth blocked kick since the start of the 2017 season, Tom Herman's first as head coach at Texas. Also marked UT's first blocked punt since Lorenzo Joe at TCU in 2017.
JAHDAE BARRON, DB
• Recovered a Texas Tech punt that was blocked by Tyler Owens in the early part of the third quarter and returned it two yards for a touchdown to give the Longhorns a 38-28 advantage.
• Marked UT's first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since Josh Turner returned one 34 yards for a
touchdown at Iowa State in 2011, a span of 111 games.
CAMERON DICKER, K
• Went 2-for-2 on field goal tries (43 yards, 26 yards) to post his 12th career game with multiple made field goals.
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
I watched this more than once
Another reason why we love kids
That coach is no Tom Herman
Sports On A Dime
1. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger on the moment he knew his team would win and why: “After we scored in overtime, I knew that our defense was going to go out there and get stopped. I just felt that we had all our confidence back. I think that we kind of fell asleep in the middle of the game and woke back up and realized here we are, and I think that was very mature step for us. It’s something that needed to happen.”
2. Ehlinger on the two-point conversion: "It’s kind of a special play that we put in for two-point plays. We did it against Georgia, as well as, in the Sugar Bowl...but went out there and had everybody manned up, five-man protection. Luckily, they blitzed and brought everybody, which opened up the slant window...made incredible separation and made a play."
3. I never want to see Bijan Robinson attempt to leap a defender again. The results of this play could have been very different.
4. Texas defensive lineman Keondre Coburn on the officials overturning his team’s fumble recovery in overtime and needing another stop to win: “Let me tell you, we got that fumble, I ran to the other endzone ...then they [say] one more play, so I’m like ‘oh, God!’ But it was just intense, very intense. Just that play that happened, we thought it was a fumble and the game was over, I was like ‘Thank you!’ But then we had to do another play, so it became more intensive because they could get the first down, the touchdown, and it could be game over. So, you have a lot of stuff in your mind to try and get through, while trying to play the next down.”
5. Texas Tech coach Matt Wells on what was working for Texas’s offensive to get two quick touchdowns in the end of the game and then overtime: “We let some seem routes right smoking open that usually jump starts the two-minute drill and then Ehlinger, QB draw was hurting us most of the night. We got to get off blocks and be able to defend that, but that’s how that thing got started late.”
6. The Joshua Moore redemption tour has been fun to watch this season.
7. @Ketchum had a great suggestion during our postgame show. He kept thinking about the buy or sell questions I asked during his appearance on my podcast during Texas versus Texas Tech. I thought this would be a great time to recap:
1. Roschon Johnson will finish with more carries and rushing yards than Keaontay Ingram and Bijan Robinson? – Johnson finished with 16 carries for 44 yards and one touchdown, while Ingram had 12 carries for 89 yards. Ingram ran strong late in the fourth quarter and overtime.
2. Tarik Black will finish with more receptions than Joshua Moore? – Moore had five catches for 73 yards and three touchdowns. Black did not have a catch
3. Sam Ehlinger become a top three Heisman candidate after Texas Tech? – Yes, because that comeback will mean something for Ehlinger’s popularity.
4. Mike Yurcich's offense be more valuable than Chris Ash's defense? – If it was not for Yurcich, Texas does not win this game.
5. Texas scores more than 45 points? – It dropped 63 points on the road.
6. Texas' defensive line record at least three sacks on Saturday? – The Longhorns did not record any sacks.
7. Texas hold Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman to less than 300 yards? – He completed 31-of-52 passes for 325 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Bowman is a good quarterback, but makes back-breaking mistakes.
8. Texas limit Texas Tech to 31 points or less? – The Red Raiders scored 56.
9. Cameron Dicker will make every kick on Saturday? – He did and it helped
10. Is a 2-0 start a step in the right direction for Tom Herman's program? – That remains to be seen, but it definitely beats the alternative.
8. Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley punting with three minutes to play, down by three points, having one timeout, his inconsistent defense is arguably his worst decision as a football coach. Riley rarely makes bad decisions, but that he took the ball out of Spencer Rattler’s hands in a crucial moment, which is very telling. By the way, Oklahoma has a must-win game against Iowa State on Saturday. If Oklahoma loses, it faces an uphill battle to get back to the Big 12 Championship Game with two conference setbacks.
9. I did get a chance to catch the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday, and it was nice to see Valtterri Bottas get a win. In addition, Lewis Hamilton's ability to recover after a 10 second penalty for a practice start in the wrong area once again shows how good he is, even though slight self-destructive at times.
10. Yahoo boxing writer Kevin Iole said one obstacle that could prevent a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor is getting a contract done. Iole said one boxing promoter told him that five other boxing promoters said they represented Pacquiao and wanted to make a fight. Considering Pacquiao supports so many people – he rents a large private plane and flies his friends and family from the Philippines to watch him fight in Las Vegas – I am sure there are plenty of people in Manny’s pockets. Once that situation is solved, Iole said there is another problem:
“If Pacquiao is clear, as Attar suggests, the biggest hurdle to the deal would be getting the UFC’s blessing for McGregor to take part in a boxing match.
“Yahoo Sports reached out to UFC president Dana White, but he was unavailable. Attar told Yahoo Sports, “We met with the UFC, and they are on board. We’ve done it once before, and we will do it again.”
“McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather in 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which Mayweather won by 10th-round TKO to improve his record to 50-0. That fight did 4.4 million pay-per-view sales, which is second all-time, as well as a $55.4 million gate.
“A Pacquiao-McGregor fight wouldn’t figure to be as lucrative as the Mayweather-McGregor bout was, but it would still be a massive event. Because the pay-per-view universe is larger now than it was in 2017, it can’t be ruled out that it would be a bigger fight.
“Getting anywhere close to 4 million pay-per-view buys would mean paydays in the range of $100 million for both guys. Mayweather made well over $200 million when he fought McGregor, who earned $85 million.”
https://sports.yahoo.com/mc-gregor-...-shot-despite-conors-assertion-224940527.html
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