I predict something like 49-21 for the OU game. What's concerning me is that it seems like the coaches are screwing with Vince. He REALLY hesitates to run now.
Good game, though I'm glad I don't have heart problems. I'm proud of the team, overall. They came close to picking up 5 turnovers - and got none. Still can't believe DJ and that other guy dropped their would-be picks. Can't really blame Tubbs... just not what he's expected to do, though it would have been nice. BJ falling for that jump ball really sucked, too. Not sure if he would have caught it... probably would have just been an incompletion, I guess. Gotta wonder if there was a problem with our cleats. Too many players fell down today, especially Horns. Can't really believe the RR are just better at staying up. Tech had a good defensive scheme, just daring Young to throw. He beat them the 1st half, but fell apart in the 2nd. That miss on BJ for what would have been 6 was really bad. I hope it's just freshman nerves, and not a Simms-like ability to panic in tough situations. No blame for the refs, here. The only real blown call they had was the 4th and 1 carry by Benson. From the stands it looked like he got it... and after watching the game tape... he definitely got it. My real problem with it... the damned pile moved far enough to make it evident. There was no *way* he didn't make that 1st down. But everything else was ok. I thought, while at the game, that they robbed us of a fumble, but watching the tape, it's at least uncertain, and perhaps even probable that he was bobbling it. Not sure if the bobble occurred after a completed catch... but you can't say it's a bad call. I was super impressed by Tech's receivers. I don't think I've ever seen a squad with so few drops. I only really saw 1 that really should have been caught. Without being particularly fast or athletic... they were quite good. Some of its the system... perhaps even most of it... but if so, they're the perfect guys for that system. On our side, I was most dismayed by our inability to consistently get pressure on Symons. Not sure what was happening there. Their O-line deserves some credit, but I think Carl Reese has to take quite a bit of heat. Worse D-lnes than ours have created more pressure on Symons. Speaking of bad decisions by Reese... what the **** was up with DJ covering their receivers? Can't blame DJ for those completions... he's a linebacker... it's the stupid DC's fault for putting him in situations where he couldn't win. Apologies? No, I already said it could be close. And specifically, I've said (either here, or on Hornfans), that I could see an upset if Tech played a good game and we had a few breaks against us. The inability to get clear turnover possibilites certainly constitutes that. Take, say, even 2 of them... and Johnson not slipping... and it would have been a 3 TD game, which is what I predicted.
Oh, one other thing. Since I brought up some of Texas' coaching mistakes, perhaps it would only be fair to bring up Leech's Great Mistake. Why the hell did they leave that much time on the clock? If he had any faith in his kicker, he should have just kneeled it until there was .04 left on the clock and dinked in the kick. Even if he didn't, that drive could have been better managed to give Texas last time. Oh, and I also feel obligated to mention the play in which the ref gave us a break. Wasn't that play where our O-lineman turned around Cedric illegal? I'm not sure if it was illegal if he just turned him around. But I'm pretty damned sure it was illegal if he pushed him forward. ON the other hand, that play never gets called and it happens all the time. Happens every goal line stand, and often once several people start trying to drag back a runner anywhere. But you seldom see it matter that much.
If Tech ever gets anything resembling a decent defence in there, look out. They could really be scary. I saw on the rivals100 website where they're having a great year recruiting. They really stand to supplant A&M as the #2 football program in the state for a long time.
Yeah, that's been true the past couple of weeks. I think that Greg Davis has overcompensated for VY's tendency to run too much. He's trying to turn VY into a Steve McNair (who buys time to pass w/his legs) rather than a Michael Vick (who beats you with his legs). Whether that's a good idea or not in the long run is open to debate... but Young isn't ready for it yet, and you're taking away his safety valve.
Drew, I'm honestly sorry. I was mad, very mad. UT did its damndest to blow its best shot at a premier bowl in years to a team they should outclass. I also had just seen tech's last drive with all those "non-calls." I was surprised how good Symons was as well, and those receivers catch everything in sight and can run after the catch. I honestly didn't expect it to be close in Austin, but congrats to Tech for not folding when it could have been 28-6 before halftime. And on the BJ jump ball by the end zone, if my eyes deceived it wouldn't shock me, but I could have swore the tech DB had his left hand on the jersey and then let go and made the pick. And regardless of that or the last drive tech scored where I saw numerous holding penalties missed, it would still have been a close game. I made that post at a time where I was angry this game was this close but relieved UT won, and I shouldn't have done that. Tech played well and they never quit: a quality I admire in a football team. I believe their offense is for real now, after doing what they did in Austin, I just hope UT changes defensive coordinators before next year, because any idiot knows not to blitz tech, you'll never get to the qb. It was a fun game, but way to close for my tastes. Tech deserves credit, they didn't fold and Symons showed me a lot. I apologize for the nature of that previous post. While I do think some pretty obvious calls were missed late in the game, it doesn't diminish Tech's heart and the way their offense embarrassed UT's defense. Red Raider fans should be excited for the future if Leach ever gets a defense while Texas fans, myself included are relieved that UT can finally go to a BCS game for the first time under Mack unless they lose to the Aggies. Drew you were right and I was wrong, and I'm sorry I made that post last night, as I said I was angry and mad that UT almost blew their best chance at a BCS bowl game under Mack. I will not underestimate Tech again. Congrats on a good game and an exciting offense.
