Pre-Game Analysis: TEXAS @ nd

[NJlonghorn]

I am open to discussion if you want, can leave if thats the case.

No need to leave. Most of us here are friendly enough, so long as you have a stomach for sarsasm, crude humor, and good-natured ribbing. For example, here's what we hope happens to you and yours:

 

[amglenn1]

I would be careful putting too much stock in the numbers in that first quote. Not saying our defense is a top 5, but they had so many injuries last year, its almost impossible to evaluate where they are at. By the time we got to the end of the season, i think we were playing 9-10 true/redshirt freshman. So the team that will roll out against texas is filled full of guys that missed a lot of last season. We had 14 defensive injuries, 11 of them were season ending, plus and additional 3 suspended, so the numbers don't concern me very much.

As fast as this season, im not sure what big losses we are dealing with this year. We did lose a key defensive lineman, but other than that lost a backup DB and booted a running back, who in my opinion was only valuable returning punts. So by comparison, it has been a quite off season lol.

The loss of golson is huge, but i am curious what Zaire has, golson obviously wasn't a 100% he could beat him out, so there is something there. He did very well against a good LSU defense last year, but need to see that he can throw the ball.

 

[amglenn1]

No need to leave. Most of us here are friendly enough, so long as you have a stomach for sarsasm, crude humor, and good-natured ribbing. For example, here's what we hope happens to you and yours:

lol, that stuff is all good, it is an opponent board. although, really wondering where you found that picture...

 

[Godz40acres]

... we have some pretty good speed, jaylon smith, kavari russell, max redfield. They are pretty quick, mainly smith. That kid is a freak lol.

Agreed - Smith is special.

We graduated some quality defensive guys, so most of us are excited but a bit uneasy about how our freshmen will perform on the big stage. They were fun and inspiring during Fall Camp, but it's game time now.

 

[amglenn1]

Agreed - Smith is special.

We graduated some quality defensive guys, so most of us are excited but a bit uneasy about how our freshmen will perform on the big stage. They were fun and inspiring during Fall Camp, but it's game time now.

like i said, glad to play you guys early instead of later

 

[NJlonghorn]

lol, that stuff is all good, it is an opponent board. although, really wondering where you found that picture...

I lifted it from page 25 of the "Countdown to Kickoff" thread. Credit goes to WorsterMan, a long-time poster here, so you'll have to ask him. You don't have to hunt for him because he'll probably be back on this thread soon enough.

 

[Godz40acres]

@amglenn1 - whatever happens this year, be sure to come back next season for Round 2. It's good to have some quality posters from the opposition.

 

[amglenn1]

@amglenn1 - whatever happens this year, be sure to come back next season for Round 2. It's good to have some quality posters from the opposition.

Appreciate it man. Ill be sure to be back. I mean to find a board earlier, but just been too busy. Would love to come to the game next year, but know that wont happen.

So whats the deal with your QB, strengths/weaknesses?

 

[NJlonghorn]

So whats the deal with your QB, strengths/weaknesses?

It's really hard to say. Last year, Swoopes looked like a deer in the headlights all too often. However, our OL was decimated by graduations, expulsions and injuries -- at one point it was down to six guys total, only one of whom had been projected as a starter iirc. Plus, Swoopes had no viable backup, so the coaches had him on a tight leash.

Some of the missing pieces on the OL are back, and there are some young studs stepping in. If those guys can form a cohesive unit, giving Swoopes time to throw and freedom to run, who knows what he will be able to do. I'm cautiously optimistic that he will be above average from the get-go this year, and will improve quickly from there. If so, watch out -- we could be really good because the other pieces are in place.

 

[Godz40acres]

 

[Dionysus]

@amglenn1 Glad to have you here, appreciate the Notre Dame perspective from a passionate fan. You’ll find this to be a quality group of Longhorn junkies. Stick around and talk some college football!

 

[LtSwtCrude]

..... What are texas's biggest strength where you think they can gain advantage against ND?

Thanks and safe travels for those comin in!

Thanks for the class post and for coming on the board. Your comments are welcome.

Answer to the question... what are Texas' biggest strength where they think they gain advantage against ND?... I was thinking about that today. Strengths would be...

I think the strength is the program's ability to have what amounts to 2-deep starters, due to the process of competition for positions, and the embracing of freshmen by both coaches and players alike.

That can lead to a better 4th quarter all the way around, especially given conditioning. From what I gleaned from Coach Bedford, they aim to have the best team possible on the field in 4th quarters.

They look at "starters" as just the first players on the field. What they look for later on is who is best prepared to play like a starter late in the game.

So the program's strength could be the process of competition and conditioning that fields 'starter-level' players from beginning to end, especially in the final 15 minutes.

 

[gahornphan]

The Texas tight end(s) will play a major role in the game Saturday night. Mark it down.

 

[LtSwtCrude]

On set half-time of the Michigan-Utah game... Colin Cowherd (starts his new "The Herd" on Fox... FS1... Tue, Sept 8)... picked Notre Dame. Said they are the fastest Irish team he's seen, and that Texas is too young; and that the Irish love who they are right now, Horns not so much. Getting there.

Look forward to him covering the game on his first show three days later, stating how wrong he was. Airs 11 am Central.

 

[Godz40acres]

HornsDigest Game Predictions

CHIP BROWN

There are a lot of things that make me want to believe Texas can pull off this upset and give Charlie Strong a signature win in a high-profile game like this (and just imagine the confidence that would pour into this young team if that happened?!?!).

I can see Tyrone Swoopes playing like he did against UCLA and at Oklahoma State last year (playing well).

I can see an improved, tenacious attitude across the board helping Texas' young players not play like young players.

I can see the Horns' D-line making life hard for Irish QB Malik Zaire and some well-timed blitzes possibly leading to a turnover or two by Zaire, who has only started 1 game.

But there are still just one too many questions for me to call the upset outright because I haven't yet seen the 8 freshmen we know will be on the field for Texas (and possibly as many as 17 freshmen throughout the course of the game).

I firmly believe Texas is headed in the right direction and is going to be a much improved team in 2015. I just don't know if it will all come together Saturday - even though I think there's a possibility it could ...

NOTRE DAME 17, TEXAS 13

------------

WILLIAM WILKERSON

Texas won’t play scared.

The Longhorns won’t play young either. The environment won’t intimidate these youngins. They are a different breed.

Tyrone Swoopes will take care of the ball and not throw an interception.

However, I do think the Longhorns will struggle at times up front against this Notre Dame defensive line. The Irish are bringing everything including the kitchen sink and I think, at times, it will simply be too much for Texas.

For as good as Johnathan Gray needs to be on the ground in this one, he needs to be even better in pass protection. That’s the key for me on offense if Texas is going to have success in this one. He’s got to give Swoopes time back there.

Defensively, it’s all about the push Texas gets up front. And there is real estate to be had over ND guard Quenton Nelson, who has not played a down of meaningful football for the Irish. And it wont be just about Poona Ford, Hassan Ridgeway and company getting the best of Nelson. Don’t be surprised to see Naashon Hughes and the other Fox ends line up over him at times as well.

At the end of the day, though, I do believe Malik Zaire will make a play or two too many to give the Irish the slight edge. But Texas will leave South Bend feeling confident about what is to come.

NOTRE DAME 24, TEXAS 17

 

[LtSwtCrude]

Their stadium reminds me of the Rose Bowl. That symmetrical circumferential layout.
I rather perfer it to the luxury-box-lined, steep-layered-upper-decks of DKR. As Kyle Field. And so on.

A beautiful classic venue for football. Great treat for the guys when they play this Saturday night. The freshmen will begin their time as Longhorns in a setting that will give them a reason to be champions while here at Texas.

It starts right here. 6:30 Central. Saturday Night!! I think they will play lights out!!!

 

[NBHorn7]

 

[LtSwtCrude]

I hope Texas plays more like Utah tonight, than TCU. Utes looked sharp, fired up and ready to play. TCU looked just so-so. Rusty?

 

[amglenn1]

Thanks for the class post and for coming on the board. Your comments are welcome.

Answer to the question... what are Texas' biggest strength where they think they gain advantage against ND?... I was thinking about that today. Strengths would be...

I think the strength is the program's ability to have what amounts to 2-deep starters, due to the process of competition for positions, and the embracing of freshmen by both coaches and players alike.

That can lead to a better 4th quarter all the way around, especially given conditioning. From what I gleaned from Coach Bedford, they aim to have the best team possible on the field in 4th quarters.

They look at "starters" as just the first players on the field. What they look for later on is who is best prepared to play like a starter late in the game.

So the program's strength could be the process of competition and conditioning that fields 'starter-level' players from beginning to end, especially in the final 15 minutes.

I think due to the huge amount of injuries last year, ND has a decent amount of 2-deep starters with game experience as well. And obviously both teams are striving to have the best conditioned players, so it will be interesting in the 4 quarter to watch the rotations by both teams and see how the troubles of last year by both pay off for both this year.

 

[amglenn1]

The Texas tight end(s) will play a major role in the game Saturday night. Mark it down.

good to know, Smith is big enough to cover a tight end, but he can't be everywhere, so if they play/run opposite side of him, could be true, Tight ends have traditionally hurt us much more than big time receivers.

 

[amglenn1]

Their stadium reminds me of the Rose Bowl. That symmetrical circumferential layout.
I rather perfer it to the luxury-box-lined, steep-layered-upper-decks of DKR. As Kyle Field. And so on.

A beautiful classic venue for football. Great treat for the guys when they play this Saturday night. The freshmen will begin their time as Longhorns in a setting that will give them a reason to be champions while here at Texas.

It starts right here. 6:30 Central. Saturday Night!! I think they will play lights out!!!

It is a nice stadium, it is currently under construction for the next 3 years. So hopefully when they get done it has enough of a combination of tradition and luxury.

here is a proposed pic, plus they are addition a jumbo tron to the south side (opposite of touchdown Jesus)

 

[amglenn1]

I hope Texas plays more like Utah tonight, than TCU. Utes looked sharp, fired up and ready to play. TCU looked just so-so. Rusty?

Michigan did not look good... lol, they looked very unathletic in the parts of the game i was able to watch.

 

[caryhorn]

.) I would much rather play texas the first game of the season instead of the last, bc i think you guys are just going to get better as the season goes along. My honest opinion is that ND will win, but if this was week 9 or 10 at texas, i would be unsure

I agree with most of what you are saying here. I think being the first game our young guys will be much easier to fool, thus make mistakes on D, miss assignments, etc. and lead to big plays by ND. Also I think TS, our starting QB, can be rattled. So I am concerned about him turning the ball over if he gets hit, pressured, and panics.

So many new guys for us makes this game very unpredictable in some ways. Or you could look at this saying the new guys will predictably make miscues that turn the game. Anything could happen. That's one reason I can't wait. I am optimistic that we will make some plays and play with great enthusiasm. Get a few breaks, get a fumble or two and maybe our D will score. That could give us the momentum keep it close. If that happens, then who knows, maybe an upset in Southbend.

 

[WorsterMan]

lol, that stuff is all good, it is an opponent board. although, really wondering where you found that picture...

I Googled leprechaun images and that photo was one of the many choices.

 

[WashU-Horn]

This should be a fairly comfortable win for ND. I think their O-line and Zaire's play will win the game for them. Zaire is hard to contain with their O-line, which is very strong. I think ND wins this one 34-17.

 

[Dionysus]

That’s a beautiful stadium.

 

[Godz40acres]

Longhorns fans at Wrigley Field today...

 

[Dionysus]

Burnt Orange Media Conspiracy

 

[Godz40acres]

 

[Godz40acres]