To be fair, through first 4 games, we rush about 59% of the time; today 57%. I think the gameplan going into the game was, just run over their defense on the ground, control the clock, and limit the # of possessions. There was definitely no trust on the defense at all, judging from the 4th and 13 attempt in the 4th. Line of the game: 4th Down Conversions 5-5
Defense and offense both blew it tonight. Ball control works well when you can constantly run it down their throats but we weren't doing it tonight. Take away Johnathan Gray's ONE 49 yd run and we have 38 other rushes gaining 86 yards for a measly 2.26 yd/rush. You won't win ball control with 2.26 yd/rush. Everyone could see that, yet we were still sticking to it, consistently putting our offense into 3rd and long situations. It was no wonder why WVU was able to get stops. Defense blew it too by allowing Buie, their backup RB, have a career day. Everyone agrees on that. Our LBs suck. Adrian Phillips sucks. Manny Diaz has done a terrible job coaching our D. Our secondary actually did not do too bad given they were up against the most explosive passing attack in the nation. I just do not accept that our offense played well this game. Our worst offensive game against our worst defensive opponent. We are better than that.
You don't win shootouts with West Virginia, period. Like I said, West Virginia stopped UT's offense 5 times (forgot the missed FG one last time). Three of those were on drives where they came out throwing the ball instead of trying to run it down their throats (one of which was a fumble on the first play). If the offense tries to win in a shootout with West Virginia, then the defense gives up 60+ points. I have no doubt in my mind about that.
I'll stop arguing. We both agree that UT blew it. Tough loss. I was really, really hoping for this one.
Glad I caught only the 4th quarter. Christ what a let down. Whatever, I came home from a lame event, smoked a bowl and took my Boxer to Memorial Park to get over it. Good times when high!
when you have to squib kick it every time, and they almost get a touchdown from it, it's not good. what the hell happened to the kicking game? we use to have such clutch kickers. great 4 hour game, the babes were in full effect at the stadium tonight though.
**** guys, where have you been the last couple years? I wish we would have won but really proud of the guys for all the progress we've made. It really feels like we are back to a 9 and maybe 10 win team which I thought Horn Fans wouldn't take for granted anymore. The Defense wasn't great but you HAVE to keep in mind how other defenses have done that have played West Virginia. I'll tell you this, when VY was ripping defenses apart I never said we were playing bad defenses.
Marshall W69-34 James Madison W42-12 Maryland W31-21 Baylor W70-63 Those are some pretty crappy defenses. Save for Maryland, which is top 10 as of now.
Marshall avgs. 40 pst a game; W. Vir Scores 30 points more James avgs 6.75 pts a game; W. Vir Scores 36 points more Maryland avgs 17.75 pts a ga, W. Vir Scores 24 points more Baylor avgs 29.6 pts a game; W/ Vir Scores 40 points more Texas avgs 29.6 pts a game; W. Vir scores 19 points more West Virgina scores an average of 30 points more than their opponents' defensive averages vs. other teams.
Look, WVU has an amazing offense. I should know, I'm a huge fan of Holgerson. But making the argument that Marshall, James Madison, and Baylor have anything less than bad defenses is silly. This wasn't the first less than stellar performance by the UT defense, and probably won't be the last. They look like a bottom half unit, unless they start gelling here soon.
The Texas defense last year was national championship caliber. The defense this year sucks, but it's way too early and silly to be calling for Manny Diaz' head.
No disgrace losing a shootout to WV. They are damn good. That game looked like a Holiday Bowl. So much drama.
The extent of your analysis is "bad" and "silly" while repeating the names of the schools. My point in bringing up averages was to clearly show how defenses consistently do much worse than their season average when playing West Virginia.
