Pre-Game Analysis: TEXAS @ nd

[Godz40acres]

So we enter Year 2, with Red McCombs presumably licking his chops and praying for a 4-win season (#BoosterLivesMatter) so Texas can get a proper, non-coordinator coach. But on the other end of the spectrum, we must temper all of the juice from the very selective hype videos we’ve watched and consider the reality of the 2015 Longhorns. This is a talented team with a ton of potential -- coached by a very skilled staff -- but inexperience runs rampant. There will be electrifying plays, but there will most certainly be frustrating times when elite athleticism will yield to the pitfalls of inexperience.

The season opens with a team with an enormous national fanbase, its own, very exclusive television contract, that is one of the winningest programs in college football history, has dominated in past decades, but has seen leaner times recently, and is loved and hated in nearly equal measure. Their iconic and mostly unchanged uniforms are universally recognized and their program so steeped in its own myths, it’s practically a religion. They are celebrated for balancing sports with academic rigor and, ultimately, prioritize values. And that team will play Notre Dame.

After listening to Lou Holtz: Man, Motivator, Magician, I am feeling pretty confident. I mean there were times when the Jedi Army was the only team he'd pick against UND, and they're obviously scared having preemptively cancelled the second home-and-home of this series. Close game with Notre Dame driving for a 4th quarter win. An inspired Charlie Strong puts Trey Holtz in at defensive end. He makes a game winning tackle. The Longhorns carry him off on their shoulders. Tears. Hollywood.
[Full BC article]

 

[Dionysus]

The season opens with a team with an enormous national fanbase, its own, very exclusive television contract, that is one of the winningest programs in college football history, has dominated in past decades, but has seen leaner times recently, and is loved and hated in nearly equal measure. Their iconic and mostly unchanged uniforms are universally recognized and their program so steeped in its own myths, it’s practically a religion. They are celebrated for balancing sports with academic rigor and, ultimately, prioritize values. And that team will play Notre Dame.

Perfect.

 

[LtSwtCrude]

The season opens with a team with an enormous national fanbase.... And that team will play Notre Dame.

Like how that played along...

 

[Godz40acres]

I'm sticking with my predictions on page 1. The only reason I'm giving nd 3 TDs is because our D youth will screw up. However, Charlie Bedford has had 2 weeks with them working specifically on tendencies and schemes for the domers. Like @Statalyzer said in another thread, defenses are usually ahead of offenses at the beginning of a season.

Keep in mind that nd hasn't been able to "fully" prepare for our O because no one's seen it. Yeah, we haven't gamed with it ourselves, so there should be hiccups along the way; and there have been coach/player comments that seem to indicate it's basically last year's offense, just speeded up (though I don't completely buy that). Yet, it will be much faster and, therefore, more wearing on their D. Add to that the projected "heat" and humidity that's been forecasted, for which our guys are prepared. Then multiply whatever Heard will bring when he's in there and nd will need a 45 minute half-time to cool down and make all their adjustments.

One overlooked aspect is that Brick Haley played against them just 8 months ago - he has first-hand knowledge of their offense, their linemen/blocking schemes, and QB Zaire. Sure, things change in an off season but, like Statalyzer said...

 

[LtSwtCrude]

Regards Brick Haley....
"In the video, the most significant moment comes as Haley provides some instruction for senior defensive end Shiro Davis, who loses contain and allows senior running back Johnathan Gray to bounce a run outside for a big gain. It's not the type of play that will allow the Louisiana product to keep his job after junior defensive end Bryce Cottrell played brilliantly in last week's Orange-White game." Courtesy: SBNation (April 2015) http://www.burntorangenation.com/2015/4/26/8500239/brick-haley-texas-longhorns-spring-practice

Shiro Davis now has the starter position. Can only assess that he and Cottrell are both greatly improved. Could be that the play of the D-Line may be a surprise showing overlooked by the prognosticators. Add that to an equally likely showing by this relatively new O-Line with the two freshmen... this may turn out to be good old-fashion football. Couldn't happen in a finer game if the Horns get the better of it.