Thoughts on Sugar bowl

caryhorn

caryhorn

5,000+ Posts
Simple and obvious observations:
1) Our pass defense could not stop them. UW punted once. They drove the ball into our end of the field seemingly at will. Our blitz packages were simple, and easily defeated by Penix and the UW O line. Coach K did not design anything creative that confused Penix.
We could not sack Penix. He moves in the pocket as well as anyone I've seen. He moves quickly laterally in either direction. Avoiding blitzers seemingly effortlessly and throws accurately under pressure.
Penix is the best college QB I've seen since Joe Burrow.
Their receivers catch the ball, especially the deep ball as well as any team I've seen this year.

2) We had double digit penalties. They had 2 or three, and none in critical situations. In the fourth quarter they hit Texas players out of bounds on two occasions and neither were called. One of these was on our final drive. Had it been called it would have put us closer to the end zone and given us a few more seconds and time for one more shot into the endzone.

3) Turnovers. Baxter and Blue both lost fumbles; stopping drives and giving momentum and possession up. This likely cost the Horns points, and, IMO, cost us points which may have turned the outcome of the game.

I am deeply disappointed that we lost. But not really surprised. Penix is a sixth-year player. He played like a veteran, identifying weaknesses in coverage and recognizing blitzes quickly. Yet, We came within one play of winning the game.

At the beginning of the season, I did not think this team would advance this far.

From the coaches to the star players, to the walk-ons and practice players they have my admiration, and congratulations. In my view, this was a tremendous season. I look forward to next year with great optimism.
Hook em.
:bevo::bevo::hookem::hookem:
 
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Cary :hookem:
That was a great overview, not over looking mistakes yet reminding us of the outstanding play of Penix and WRs? Play I had never seen before.
I needed that reality check, especially that it was a tremendous season and how bright next season could be.
 
While I am disappointed I am so glad that the Longhorns won the Big12 and settle all family business with the teams that have been riding our coat tails for so long and the fans that have been insufferable. We got our revenge! Now moving to the SEC presents us with new challenges but the program is trending in the right direction and I do feel that we are set up for long term success. Congratulations to the players, coaches, and everyone that works on behalf of making the Longhorns relevant again.
 
Penix is one of the best college qbs I've ever seen. Amazingly precise and accurate. Washington's receivers are also outstanding.

Our defensive plan wasn't good enough to overcome that level of talent. Our offense was sloppy much of the game. I don't think Worthy was right, and we did not run the ball as much as we should have.

All in all, we didn't play our best game, yet barely lost to a really good team after we had a season that exceeded my expectations. We have nothing to be down hearted about.

We'll be back in the playoffs again really soon.
 
Realistically we were one year away from having the roster where it needs to be, Sark keeps stacking the talent esp aloing the LOS and we will be fine. It will be interesting to see if Ewers decides to chase the pro money or if this will be Arch's baby this fall.........congrats Horns on a great season and looking forward to this fall.

:bevo::hookem::ousucks:
 
It will be interesting to see if Ewers decides to chase the pro money or if this will be Arch's baby this fall
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It might not matter. I expect Arch to be gunning for the starting spot with another Spring to prepare. Hopefully, the QB comp is open in 2024. I could see Arch taking it.
 
Yep, there is a lot of positive to grow from for next year. There is no shame in being out gunned by better talent. Their strength played into the talent weakness of Texas and that should not have been a surprise to anyone. I have been cautiously optimistic, knowing that Texas might get riddled by the UW passing game. Their coaches had them ready for that attack. Texas should get high marks for being in the game until the very end. And they very well could have won, which would have been a comeback for all time.
Time to plug some holes and move on.
 
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So far this thread has the most sober and rational analysis of last night's game. Some people (as usual) are freaking out and calling for heads to roll.

We're on the right track. Who knows what will happen in the SEC next year, but we're in very good shape.
 
TxLawGrad said:
So far this thread has the most sober and rational analysis of last night's game. Some people (as usual) are freaking out and calling for heads to roll.

We're on the right track. Who knows what will happen in the SEC next year, but we're in very good shape.
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Texas appears to be in better shape than ou, but the history of Big XII teams going into the SEC or the B1G isn't that good.
 
I am not as worried about the $EC as Sark has built the team to compete with that conference and with a 12-team playoff, Texas should make the playoffs every year. My point was ou has to be worried, as their OL and DL are not built for the $EC (not as bad as aggy was however) but from experience, we know they will find a way to win eventually.
 
Love this thread. Isn’t it great to be back to the days about nit-picking a 12-2 CC season with a playoff berth. A season, btw, which was two last second plays from being 14-0.
 
ViperHorn said:
I am not as worried about the $EC as Sark has built the team to compete with that conference and with a 12-team playoff, Texas should make the playoffs every year. My point was ou has to be worried, as their OL and DL are not built for the $EC (not as bad as aggy was however) but from experience, we know they will find a way to win eventually.
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I’m not so sure. I may be wrong (and I have unreasonable hopes of being right) here, but I could see OU becoming something like an Arkansas or Nebraska over the next 5-10 years. I’m not sure they have what it takes to compete for talent in the NIL world.
 
TxLawGrad said:
So far this thread has the most sober and rational analysis of last night's game. Some people (as usual) are freaking out and calling for heads to roll.

We're on the right track. Who knows what will happen in the SEC next year, but we're in very good shape.
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Rational - yes.
Sober? You need to read the room.
 
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No great analysis here. I just want to say that I’m mightily impressed with the team’s resilience and persistence, particularly in the 2nd half, in spite of the misfires and turnovers. The future is bright.
Hook Em!
 
Penix, his offensive line and his receivers are as good as advertised if not better. The O-line does not miss assignments in blitz pickup. At most one man gets through and Penix just does the Jedi mind trick of I'm not the qb you’re looking for. His receivers run excellent routes and make plays on the ball. Penix was dialed in last night and he put the ball where it needed to be. I watched some highlights of four long pass plays and Penix definitely made NFL throws. The coverage by Texas db's could have been better but it really was not bad. The db got beat on the first long pass and the safety was late getting over, but Penix hit the receiver in stride about 45 yards or so downfield and the receiver didn't even need to extend his arms. Muhammed had fairly good coverage on the tip ball, but looked like he thought he could intercept it and went at it with two hands and just missed. If he extends with one he may have knocked it away. In any event he is going to be an excellent db. On another long one Watts was not in bad position, and seemed to turn to find the ball and then turned back to look at the receiver rather than play the ball. Washington receivers are strong and once the ball hits their hands it doesn't get knocked away very often. Sometimes the offense is better. Even in the 2006 Rose Bowl, Lienert completed 15 of 18 straight passes until the end against a pretty salty defensive backfield. As in that game Texas had a chance in spite of its mistakes and just didn’t convert. Sark has laid a solid foundation for the future. The o-line should be much better next year and the qb and rb rooms are solid. The wide receiver have potential to be explosive once again. Defense will be a question mark on the interior line but overall it should defend the pass better.
 
I don't think UW has more talent than Texas. Maybe at QB and OL, but not elsewhere. Texas had every chance to win that game, but the turnovers and penalties kept it from happening, not a difference in talent regardless of how good Penix is. Texas simply had a subpar game like the Blow U and Cooger High games instead of the tech and okie lite games.

Let's see how UW does next year without Penix and all the 5th, 6th year covid guys.
 
Hey everyone. Happy New Year!

I drove down to Laredo to watch the game with my Father in law. He had a brand new 58" TV, presented to him for Christmas by his three kids, including my wife. We had Don Julio Anejo and Coronitas. We ate grilled fajitas for dinner. We watched the Bama-Michigan game and thoroughly enjoyed watching a great game without emotional attachment. Then on came THE University of Texas and our anxiety kicked up a few notches. We talked about how hard it was to truly enjoy it given our emotional needs.

I won't rehash the excellent analysis by everyone except to say, my FIL, wife and I thought Penix played the best game we'd ever seen by a QB except for Vince. My wife remembered Burrow as he had made a big impression on us. But Penix throws were as if God place the ball into the hands of the receivers; as if they magically appeared; as if they passed thru their chest and jersey right into their hands. It was incredible. And his pocket presence was as incredible. I'm not sure about blitz packages and the like, but he merely took a step or two, one way or the other, kept his cool and then drilled or floated the passes that had angel's wings.

And despite the demigod performance, we were on the 12 yard line, first down with four clear pops to win the game. We were right there.

Both coaches had questionable calls under pressure. Washington choosing to run the ball instead of kneeling down. A short-pass on first down for Texas at the 12 along with maybe going to the fade well one too many times.

But we are clearly a top three team (I'd put us ahead of Alabama) and it was a great great year. Looking forward to chatting it up with everyone on Hornfans in 2024 and playing in the SEC along with the bloodbath that surely will describe the aggy game.
 
Dionysus said:
But consider who those teams are and what the reasonable expectations for them might be. I think Sark has us on a very hopeful trajectory so we should compete well in the SEC.
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That's exactly what I was thinking. I really don't know much about Mizzou. But I feel like I know aggy pretty well. Any success they've enjoyed in the SEC was success by association. Bama wins a Natty? Well then so does Aggy, all because they played them that year and belong to the same conference. It was even evident in aggy merch. Much of it had the SEC logo more or equally displayed as the aggy logo. Some redassed ag even bought a billboard in Austin with 'Welcome to SEC country' on it.
 
And on a Wed morning addition of Wed morning quarterbacking, that last play would have worked had it been a back shoulder fastball as Mitchell had oh so briefly stopped/hesitated before the fade became apparent to him. He could have run back towards the awaiting glory of a chest high game winning pass.
 
This game reminded me a lot of this year's OU-Texas game. UW had a more complete set of DL/OL and that played out (UT's interior DL is NFL good but the rest is not). UW seemed to score more easily and UT kept being plucky and scoring to keep it close. The difference between the two games is OU was lucky to drive down the field and score and win even though I don't think the best team won that game. UT made some VERY nice plays on the last two drives but was lucky to have that opportunity as they should have gotten the ball with about 24 seconds left and 80 yards to go. But, if Ewers throws that bullet to Nelson instead of going for the high point you guys win that game.

I think the best team won the game in the Sugar Bowl, barely. Penix. Damn! He had the intangibles that a guy like Gabriel had but a more live arm, more consistent, and SO ACCURATE on the deep balls. Their DL was outstanding in pass rush. I think if you have your starting RB from earlier in the season you win that game. So, very close in talent.
 
OUBubba said:
This game reminded me a lot of this year's OU-Texas game. UW had a more complete set of DL/OL and that played out (UT's interior DL is NFL good but the rest is not). UW seemed to score more easily and UT kept being plucky and scoring to keep it close. The difference between the two games is OU was lucky to drive down the field and score and win even though I don't think the best team won that game. UT made some VERY nice plays on the last two drives but was lucky to have that opportunity as they should have gotten the ball with about 24 seconds left and 80 yards to go. But, if Ewers throws that bullet to Nelson instead of going for the high point you guys win that game.

I think the best team won the game in the Sugar Bowl, barely. Penix. Damn! He had the intangibles that a guy like Gabriel had but a more live arm, more consistent, and SO ACCURATE on the deep balls. Their DL was outstanding in pass rush. I think if you have your starting RB from earlier in the season you win that game. So, very close in talent.
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How you been man?

I agree on that bullet pass. That's what I was saying above your post. I looked at that last play several times on YouTube and it was there.
 
OUBubba said:
This game reminded me a lot of this year's OU-Texas game. UW had a more complete set of DL/OL and that played out (UT's interior DL is NFL good but the rest is not). UW seemed to score more easily and UT kept being plucky and scoring to keep it close. The difference between the two games is OU was lucky to drive down the field and score and win even though I don't think the best team won that game. UT made some VERY nice plays on the last two drives but was lucky to have that opportunity as they should have gotten the ball with about 24 seconds left and 80 yards to go. But, if Ewers throws that bullet to Nelson instead of going for the high point you guys win that game.

I think the best team won the game in the Sugar Bowl, barely. Penix. Damn! He had the intangibles that a guy like Gabriel had but a more live arm, more consistent, and SO ACCURATE on the deep balls. Their DL was outstanding in pass rush. I think if you have your starting RB from earlier in the season you win that game. So, very close in talent.
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I try to be an optimist when thinking about Texas football, but if I wanted to take the pessimist path, the Sugar Bowl makes the OU game all the more frustrating. It’s clear that we were a much better team than OU this season, and somehow we lost that game.

I think the Huskies are better than us this season as well.

So, back to the bright side: we lost two games in Sark’s third year by a total of 10 points, and both of those games came down to the last several seconds. We’ve got lots of work to do in replacing key players, but the future looks bright.
 
TxLawGrad said:
I try to be an optimist when thinking about Texas football, but if I wanted to take the pessimist path, the Sugar Bowl makes the OU game all the more frustrating. It’s clear that we were a much better team than OU this season, and somehow we lost that game.

I think the Huskies are better than us this season as well.

So, back to the bright side: we lost two games in Sark’s third year by a total of 10 points, and both of those games came down to the last several seconds. We’ve got lots of work to do in replacing key players, but the future looks bright.
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Winston Wolfe has some words for you:

As I said, UT had more talent against OU but lost. It happens. Much better? I mean, there's no need to go that far. I will admit as I watched BYU urinate down their leg in a Tulsa sports bar, I was somewhat relieved to not have the rematch with UT. But, what gap may or may not exist is small.

Good season! Let's make some noise next year.
 
OUBubba said:
The difference between the two games is OU was lucky to drive down the field and score and win even though I don't think the best team won that game.
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At the time of the game, I would have agreed with your statement. However, except for tceh and oSu, everyone else in the conference basically could pass between the 20's with little opposition. Once the field was compacted, the Texas Defense grew-up and controlled except of ou.
 
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