View from the Cheap Seats-Jayhawks
Ugly early but Sark/TEXAS wins the 2nd half again
Embrace the Hate.
Ugly early but Sark/TEXAS wins the 2nd half again
Embrace the Hate.
The embrace the hate tour continues with another team TEXAS likely does not face again anytime soon. And former conference cellar dweller has improved greatly under Coach Lance Liepold. He would face TEXAS without QB Jalon Daniels who is the top QB in the BigXII. His absence showed. On the other side of the field, Steve Sarkesian is taking no prisoners. The mark of a great coach is being able to recognize and fix problems. Through Sark’s 1st two seasons at TEXAS, his teams were often very weak in the 2nd half of games. Well that worm has turned through 5 games of the 2023 season as TEXAS/Sark has now won their 5th second half in a row. This time they outscored Kansas 27 to 7 in the 2nd half, wearing out a good Kansas D with an impressive rushing attack and quality passing game. Which was good as TEXAS’ first half was more stumble and bumble though the Horns took a narrow 13-7 lead in the opening half.
TEXAS continues to struggle scoring touchdowns in the red zone. Did not help that Ja’Tavion Sanders went out in the 1st half when his ankle was rolled up blocking. And if we have a criticism of Sark, he often seems to want to “out cute” other teams with clever play calling instead of beating them with our strengths. A minor quibble in this game. Having said that, we wish they would show more of the All 22 camera angles on replay, you can really see how well Sark uses motions and alignment to set players up to succeed.
2nd week in a row the defense came up YUGE. Now we need to caveat the game, J Daniels, likely the best QB in the BigXII was out of the game with back spasms so the KU offense opened with a handicap. They still featured an excellent offensive line and rushing attack but their back up Bean was no Daniels. The D did get beat on a 58 yard TD strike in the passing game and give up 3 long rushes but outside of those plays, they rose to the occasion again. Including holding Kansas without a 3rd down conversion until late in the 4th and only then on a dumb penalty where they has stopped the drive. The one play KU had great success with was the triple option but that was fixed when they stopped running their best play after the 1st quarter.
Kansas was a well-coached team and in the 1st half tackled in the open field well. The old coaching adage is don’t let a dog hang around and TEXAS almost screwed that up. Still, in many ways a great game to get ready for the Red River War. Biggest defensive nit pick, lack of pass rush. This needs to improve but otherwise major props to Coach PK and crew. Kansas simply does not have the athletes or the depth to keep up with TEXAS. In an interesting note, Coach Liepold is rumored to be in the running for the Michigan State job.
Johnathan Brooks is sending a message. To Sark, to the fans, to opposing defenses and the college football world. He is a star at running back and recorded his 3rd 100 yard game in a row. This week a bit better than 100 yards as he logged 217 and 2 Touchdowns. He runs with both power and elusiveness, a running back who does not succumb to the arm tackle. That was an impressive display against a very good KU front 7. TEXAS’ offensive line deserves credit here too as they frequently were playing on the Kansas side of the line of scrimmage. By the 2nd half, the KU defense was worn out.
Ewers had a very good game as well but he finally threw an INT staring down his TE (Helm) running a crossing route. In a sign of his growth as a QB, he did not let the INT rattle him and his stats were virtually identical pre and post turnover. Quinn finished 25 of 35 for 325 yards with a TD pass and 2 rushing TDs. His first was a 30 yard scamper up the middle as KU was playing man coverage and no one was watching him. He used his legs to gain another 1st down rushing as well. Ewers mixed his targets well with plenty of easy throws and only 2 bombs away plays. Kansas clearly sold out to stop Xaiver Worthy so Ewers leaned heavily on Adonai Mitchell who turned in his best day as a Horn, 10 grabs 141 yards and a nifty TD in the corner of the end zone.
From John Bianco (Sports Information guy at TEXAS):
With Quinn Ewers throwing for 325, Jonathon Brooks rushing for 217 and Adonai Mitchell posting 141 receiving yards, it marks just the second time in UT history that the Horns had a 300 passer - 200 rusher - 100 receiver in same game
Offensive Player of the Game
Jonathan Brooks was in beast mode on the afternoon.
Honorable mentions to Quinn Ewers and Adonai Mitchell for their games
Defensive Player of the game
Jaylan Ford quietly leading the team in tackles and a tackle for loss (TFL).
Very much a team D win.
Stats that matter:
- 12-3 Sark/TEXAS’ record over the last 15 games
- 1-7 Kansas on 3rd down. And the 1 came late off a dumb penalty. KU had been #1 in the nation in this catagory
- 2-2 Jordan “Mr 1st down” Whittington, 2 receptions 2 1st downs
- 3-5 Red Zone TDs/Attempts Opening with 2 RZ FGs in the 1st half kept the game close early.
- 6-6 In their 1st 4 games, KU had only punted 6 times combined. Against TEXAS they were forced to punt 6 times.
- 661 Most offensive yards by TEXAS in the BigXII era.
On Deck
The dirt burglars in the Red River War. While just a nano behind Alabama in hype department this season, the game is actually more important to the Horns. Dallas will face the best QB on their schedule in Gabriel and their defense is playing better. With the caveat, they haven’t played anyone yet. Winner in the driver’s seat for a return trip to Dallas though we will not be shocked if these two face each other again at Jerry’s Death Star, 1st week in December. We see a similar game in many ways to KU but a game that likely goes into the 4th quarter. OU has a better offense than thee Daniel’s-less Jayhawks though not sure if their D is better, certainly deeper. This will be a battle of the 2 best teams in the BigXII. Red River War is followed by our bye week before a scrimmage with Cougar High as we will check off another team we will not face for many years.
We’re sticking with our adjusted projection, 12-1 regular season and BigXII champs.
Oh and that time of year for our FAVORITE Land Thief video. The Greatness that was the 05 game.
Fighting Mack Brown’s
UNC on the bye this week getting ready for the Orangemen of Syracuse on the 7th.
Around college football
There is no really dominate team in college football this year. Georgia survived an upset scare with Auburn to run their win steak to 22, an SEC record.
In praise of basketball schools. The weekend opened with 4 unbeaten programs all better known for being blue blood basketball programs with rare success s on the gridiron.
In the biggest basketball program game of the weekend, #17 Duke v #11 ND, Duke comes back to earth. They gave up a 98 yard drive with time running out to lose the game.
#4 TEXAS handled #24 Kansas
#15 UNC was idle and
Unranked Kentucky knocked off #22 Florida behind a 300 yard+ day by their star RB Ray Davis.
USC trounced Neon Deion and the Buffs. Caleb Williams is running away with the Heisman race early in this all offense little defense contest. He tossed 6 touchdowns in a game where neither D showed up.
Out west Oregon and Washington remain unbeaten, and with USC those 3 Pac 12 schools feature 3 of the best QBs in the nation.
In the rust belt, the usual suspects remain unbeaten with Michigan thrashing Nebraska and Penn St beating up Northwestern. tOSU on the bye this weekend.
If the Cheap Seats had a vote, Michigan would be our #1 playoff seed this year.
Our way too early playoff projections: Michigan Georgia TEXAS and a 1 loss Pac 12 champ
BigXII breakdown
We see 3 tiers in the BigXII
Top tier is TEXAS and land thieves.
2nd tier (in no real order)
KU
BYU
KSU
TCU
WVU
Bottom tier
TT
ISU
UCF
Baylor-needed a 26 point 4th quarter to beat UCF by 1
Cincinnati
Cougar High
TEXAS game highlights
Jimmy Buffett Tribute
Come Monday cuz on Monday TEXAS starts preparing for the 2nd biggest game on the schedule. And since it’s a conference game, actually a more important game than Bama. Not to mention, Monday is Come and Take It Day in Texas. Anniversary of the Battle of Gonzales, what many call the opening shots in the Texas fight for Independence.
FYI Jimmy’s 1st hit, written for his future wife, my 1st introduction to Buffett.
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