Texas - UTSA GAME THREAD

[Sangre Naranjada]

Totally agree on improvement from last year. You credit PK. I believe its more Gary Patterson. I dont really care who improved it but last year was far below whats acceptable for Texas.

I believe it is some combination of:
1) players maturing in the defensive scheme, leading to
2) better and more consistent execution
3) coaching, with credit to both PK and GP, plus every defensive position coach
4) same defensive scheme for the 2nd year, making it easier to teach and retain concepts, and to execute assignments without thinking about them, which leads back to point #1

 

[SabreHorn]

Wrong,

I am grateful #70 is a "team player" and works very hard to improve. I am sure he is capable of being a dominator, but he has yet to arrive. Based on last year and three games this year, he remains the worst OL I have seen in the Burnt Orange & White. Awful footwork, slow, and unable to get where he is supposed to be. When in Longhorn history or any other major program have you seen coaches place TWO TEs to help him block or to trap to help him?

I will rarely call a current player out on this forum, but I cannot for the life of me understand why he's on the field. As I said yesterday, I have given up that you may actually block someone, let's just try getting in their way.

 

[Statalyzer]

We were having some angst in the first half but none of us ever thought the game was in question.

I mean, I was pretty sure we'd come back and win, but this team lost at home to Kansas last year (who this UTSA team would probably hammer), and I've seen A&M and K- State lose to similar competition this year, so I wasn't taking anything for granted.

 

[BLucky]

Ruled that ball hit the ground, which it did so the illegal touching became moot.

Again... couldn't see it sitting in the stands. Illegal touching would have rendered catch/ no catch moot. Either way it worked out.

 

[MeatHeadHorn]

Greg Davis or no, sometimes you are just playing for the right to punt from slightly better field position.

Fair, but if it’s 3rd and 6, let’s not run a 4 yard hitch in middle of Defense and make a bad throw. All I’m asking

 

[BLucky]

Galindo - can’t stand him

passing game - UTSA completed what felt like 20 slants and I don’t know if we threw one.

one was dropped that would’ve had them inside the 10 at first and goal.

Don’t know why we struggled at times to continue drives with short passing game unless it’s not Sark’s style. Card takes chances deep to no avail.

it was frustrating until the pick 6.
Gotta fix the D bc Tech will prob do the same as UTSA passing.

Hope Ewers is back soon.

This...

 

[Chop]

Jones and Karic didn’t perform up to expectations last year.

This year, Jones appears to be exceeding expectations.

Haven’t noticed much about Karic yet this year, but he has blocked well as an extra TE in those weird formations.

 

[SabreHorn]

Jones appears to be exceeding expectations.

This is probably true for me, since I thought there is no way in hell he would see the field. I wish him the best, but I also wish he would block very now and then. Whatever you are seeing, is escaping me.

 

[Chop]

Well, the Alabama pass rush coming over the opposing offensive RT has been, and will continue to, devastate opposing offenses. Jones held it in check pretty well. Even more so for UTSA and La-Monroe.

Nobody's naming him all-American or even all-Conference, but IMHO he's looking quite a bit better this year than what we've seen at OT for a number of years. We've been awful blocking at the OT positions for a long time. This year's O-line is pretty good.

Betcha we get a lot more sacks and QB pressures than opposing teams get on us...

Also, Bijan's long TD run was off the right side, and a TD run was off-tackle, right off Jones. He ain't Jerry Sizemore, but he's ok.

 

[moondog_LFZ]

Again... couldn't see it sitting in the stands. Illegal touching would have rendered catch/ no catch moot. Either way it worked out.

If pushed out by the defensive player he can come back in and catch the ball. And it appeared that he was indeed pushed out of bounds.

 

[horninchicago]

I mean, I was pretty sure we'd come back and win, but this team lost at home to Kansas last year (who this UTSA team would probably hammer), and I've seen A&M and K- State lose to similar competition this year, so I wasn't taking anything for granted.

Well, like I said, I think we saw something different in the team's attitude this year and not folding up under adversity. Don't get me wrong, we discussed Kansas.

 

[nashhorn]

he remains the worst OL I have seen in the Burnt Orange & White.

Ouch, now that’s harsh. Can’t name them but I remember some pass blockers that were so bad they couldn’t even be credited with a whiff.

 

[mchammer]

Well, like I said, I think we saw something different in the team's attitude this year and not folding up under adversity. Don't get me wrong, we discussed Kansas.

2 games in a row where intensity cranked up in the 2nd half despite adversity in the 1st half. This is miraculous compared to some games last year.

 

[Your Wrong]

Wrong,

I am grateful #70 is a "team player" and works very hard to improve. I am sure he is capable of being a dominator, but he has yet to arrive. Based on last year and three games this year, he remains the worst OL I have seen in the Burnt Orange & White. Awful footwork, slow, and unable to get where he is supposed to be. When in Longhorn history or any other major program have you seen coaches place TWO TEs to help him block or to trap to help him?

I will rarely call a current player out on this forum, but I cannot for the life of me understand why he's on the field. As I said yesterday, I have given up that you may actually block someone, let's just try getting in their way.

If you truly believe this (i can’t tell, it’s the internet), then I’ve found it to be very enlightening and helpful when I’m not thinking clearly to get my head out my rear.

There have not been two TEs to help him block Jack. But go ahead and make stuff up. Let’s also ignore advanced line stats that say last year was the best run blocking line in years of which he was probably the most physically dominant. They were decent in passing situations but very poor in early/play action situations.

Just for context, the Big 12 was home to premier edge rushers and guys who created negative plays many of whom reside in the nfl now. I guess OSU led the country in TFLs because they played Jones every week. Suppose all those other teams we played, 6 in the top 37 in the country for TFLs all feasted on Jones. Never mind that 8 of our 12 opponents had fewer TFLs versus us than their season average and 2 of the other 4 were within 1 of their average. But that confuses me since we have world renowned holder of the ball too long Hudson Card to potentially skew those numbers.

My guess is the vast majority of this board would struggle a little bit more under inconsistent and too often changing work conditions.

Out of curiosity, if Jones were to be drafted, what would you think?

By the way, I’m partially funnin here but damn serious when I say the narrative on last years Oline is way off base.

 

[Your Wrong]

I believe it is some combination of:
1) players maturing in the defensive scheme, leading to
2) better and more consistent execution
3) coaching, with credit to both PK and GP, plus every defensive position coach
4) same defensive scheme for the 2nd year, making it easier to teach and retain concepts, and to execute assignments without thinking about them, which leads back to point #1

There may be other reasons, but these are all very likely correct.

 

[SabreHorn]

1) You are correct that Sark has not run the formation listed yet this year. He did, however, run it multiple times last year when Jones was at LT.

2) If indeed Jones was to get drafted, I would follow his career closely because (for me) that would mean that our OL coach (1) did a piss poor job; (2) he failed to develop under Sark's staff; (3) he made great strides the rest of this year; (4) some team feels they have the time and resources to do what The University of Texas could not.

I sincerely hope that #3 is the correct answer. In my opinion, he is right now a Tom Osborne dream. Unfortunately he doesn't have three more years to develop, but fortunately Sark doesn't have someone providing him an injection with his breakfast every morning.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

Fair, but if it’s 3rd and 6, let’s not run a 4 yard hitch in middle of Defense and make a bad throw. All I’m asking

I was primarily addressing the 3rd and long situations, so yes, I grant this point without objection.

 

[Your Wrong]

1) You are correct that Sark has not run the formation listed yet this year. He did, however, run it multiple times last year when Jones was at LT.
.

Well obviously you have your opinion and are satisfied with it.

I am sure we did run that formation last year. Half the sacks (estimated) that Jones gave up were the result of some confusion. Not acceptable but understandable given the circumstances. Casey Thompson was the only QB that I saw (looked at about a dozen) that was sacked more on play action than dropbacks. Most weren’t even close to half. That should tell you something. On straight pass plays we wouldn’t go two TEs on one side and I’d venture to say you’d never do that for pass pro, but you certainly might run some play action out of it. The majority of our pass pro did not include a TE helping. In actuality, I’d say oddly so.

Anyway I will leave you be on the topic.

 

[Horn6721]

So Wrong you agree with Sabre's point that Sark ran that formation last year?

 

[Your Wrong]

So Wrong you agree with Sabre's point that Sark ran that formation last year?

Actually I don’t know but wouldn’t be surprised by it. I do remember a play versus BU on the right side when two TEs got blown up. Do not recall whether they lined up next to each other though.

 

[mb227]

Is there ANY aspect of the game that they AREN’T kicking our ***????????

Clearly Texas was winning the heading for the half-time beer exit from the stands

 

[mb227]

Double!!

You picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue...

 

[mb227]

Bijan now with 9.2 yds/car.
Card now has about the same # yards rushing as UTSA QB

#DijonMustardson

 

[mb227]

Game ball to Bijan!!!!

excuse me sir...that is #DijonMustardson to you.

 

[Statalyzer]

Let’s also ignore advanced line stats that say last year was the best run blocking line in years

Faint praise even if true.

 

[1sahorn]

Just watched replay of game. Kudos to UTSA for a gutsy performance. It's a 4 point game with 0:30 left in the 3rd qtr. They played sans #1 RB. #2 RB knocked out in 2nd half. Harris overthrow receiver & we get a pick 6. Franklin drops a sure 1st down pass on 4th down. Harris gets injured. Game! The Runners played fearlessly. Hats off to Coach Traylor & his Band of Birds.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

I hope Traylor's boys go undefeated the rest of the way. That's a good team.

 

[Your Wrong]

Faint praise even if true.

Top 4 rushers at 5.8 ypc or greater in 2021.

NFLer and National Champion Selvin Young 4.8 per carry in 2005. Henry Melton at 5.0. In 2006 with JC in charge, he led the team at 5.3 per carry.

2021 cannot all be attributed to the greatness of Bijan or Roschon. Historically I would be very surprised if you could find any Texas team that had its top 4 rushers at 5.8 or above. We were a very solid run blocking line last year. Less so as a pass blocking unit. But your right in regards to it not being a real high standard.

 

[Chop]

2 games in a row where intensity cranked up in the 2nd half despite adversity in the 1st half. This is miraculous compared to some games last year.

And that's why he's known as "Second Half Steve"!

 

[Chinstrap]

I do think it’s mental. If he can overcome some of his issues, there’s a chance he can overcome others. His story is not fully told.

I don't think anyone on this board has deemed him as done, but do accept that he is a "works in progress" to some extent AND is a pretty darn good quarterback as of now. But the mental issue is what makes for the great quarterbacks. It is the "it's" factor possessed by the great quarterbacks who have worn the Texas jersey in the past. He is going to be compared to one of the best Texas quarterbacks to come along since Colt. Ewers gets the ball out X times faster. Just look at the speed of development of the flat pass, and success of the play, by Ewers in the Bama game vs last Saturday. And Ewers does throw a better deep ball. As to Card holding the ball too long, part of it is that he does not see the field and find the open receivers as well as Ewers. Ewers sees them all, makes a good decision and gets the ball out in a hurry. His entire throwing motion is fast.

I am very glad that Card is on the team, that he gets to play a lot and that Sark can develop the hell out of him. He is a good quarterback, but he is up against the real deal. I think. I hope. Go buy Sark a cup of coffee and see if he agrees with me. I would love to know.