The Way I saw It Saturday UT vs OSU

Here is the way I saw Saturday's UT vs OSU game and what we need to work on.

First off, big standing ovation to David Ash.  Played like a man among boys out there.  Poise dripping off him like sweat.  Glacier water in his veins.  4th down, time running out, why waste a time out, I've got this.  Straight up swagger.

Run game is fine, no fantastic; play calling not so much.  The successful plays allowed our stronger offensive line to over power the faster OSU front 4.  Draws, stretch plays, counters were free checks to cash.  We had too many end around, speed sweeps, quick dives.  Any time the back is breaking a tackle 4 yards behind the line, that play is a fail, regardless of the outcome.  I'm more impressed by a well blocked stretch play that goes for 7 yards than a speed sweep that we luck into a 15 yard gain.  Lastly, if we want the wild horn / end around to work, every now and then we need to hand it to the dive back.  Right now, we always hand it wide, easy to prepare for, hence the low success.

Defense has become a big issue, one I have seen before on this team.... linebacker. When you see the big plays game after game with DB's getting pancaked 7 yards off the line of scrimmage, it's a linebacker issue.  They aren't shedding blocks, they aren't reading and filling gaps, the safeties sneak up to help, and BOOM, big play.  I'm seeing way too many 4-2-5 sets, we are getting gashed due to lack of beef.  Gotta roll with the 4-3-4, keep the safeties back, and trust our corners to cover.  Also, if we can't get to the QB with 4, we are going to have to bring 5, Big 12 QB's are too good to give them all day to throw.

Special teams..... wow.  DJ Monroe is the one bright light.  The bright light on the front of a train that just ran off the tracks and hit another train and somehow that light was spared and it still shines.  The squib kicks are not acceptable, the inability to have a field goal kicker that can make a 35 yarder.... unacceptable.  Get it fixed before it costs you games, as in more than one.

I'm out.  Hook'em

G