the way is saw it saturday, UT vs WVU

Well, that was pretty terrible to watch.  So to blow off some steam, I will try to break it down.

David Ash, another great performance.  Made all the right reads, all the right throws.  Looks like a 5th year senior out there.  The receivers dropped a few balls that would have extended drives.  I have no idea why we are having snapping issues.  That last one probably costs us the game, well the missed field goal, but it put us in a position to need a field goal.  Git rid of the "wild horn", very little success, and David Ash is too clutch to ever be off the field.  Git rid of the goofy 5 player shifts before the play.  Just line up and run it.  Please, please stop doing the speed sweeps against smaller and faster front 7's.  When you have size, you use it.  Go up the middle, set up the play action.  Not enough shots down field.

Defense had some great stands.  Scored a touchdown.  Critical fumble recovery at the end of the game.  But still getting gashed up the middle.  Kenny is a man child, but he isn't a linebacker.  I lost count how many times Kenny was brought up into the 3rd linebacker spot.  That's not good.  That last touchdown had WVU's front 5 dominate our front 7.  We have serious linebacker issues, that's why every play is either a big stop at the line by the front 4 or a big gain and tackles being made by the DB's.  Had a lot of success getting to Gino, but on the last drive, the rammed it down our throats.  Hicks please get well soon.

Special teams..... makes me want to vomit.  Once again you had a few nice plays that won't make it seem as bad as it really was.  2 huge runs back to start the game.  Still don't have a field goal kicker that can make a 40 yard kick.  Not acceptable at Texas, period.  Last week I said special teams would costs us multiple games if not fixed.  Count this as the first.

At the end of the day, WVU was a better all around team.  2 months ago we all thought we would probably lose this game and we all just hoped we would keep it respectable.  Then the team showed us they were better than we thought and we all got our hopes up.  This doesn't change anything as long as we don't let this one game beat us twice.  Lots of positives, fix special teams and we probably win that game.  On to next week.  Beat OU!

Hook'em

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

Catching Up - Where Have I Been?????

Hey gang,
Sorry for the no posts in close to 5 months.  Back in March I was shooting to post every day for the month in hopes that I would get in the habit of doing it more often.  I fell short, only got 20 posts out, but all in all a decent effort.  So where have I been for the last 5 months?  Well..... where to start.

1. Most important by miles, having a baby!  We found out that we have a bundle of joy on the way, due Dec 4th.  So I guess I could just end it there since nothing tops that.  We are NOT finding out the sex so it will be a surprise to all at birth.  I really wanted to not find out.  How many times in your life do you get to look forward to something that will so alter your entire being?  The moment the doctor says boy or girl.  It will change everything.  Boy, I'm thinking fishing trips and baseball games, teaching him to "be a man", "rub dirt on it", "pick your self up", dad and son haircuts at the old man barber shop.  Girl, well, I'll admit that I'm terrified out of my mind.  The tea parties, dress up days, daddy daughter dances, all seems so fun.  It's the worrying about the boys she dates that has me already loosing sleep.

2. Finish the house in Granger.  I'm so ready to have it all done.  I'll post some before and after pics soon, but it is only a few more days of cleaning and touch up painting away.  The sign is in the yard and I literally cannot believe I may have it sold before Birdie comes (Birdie is Tyler's nickname for baby, we've all started using it now).  I've sweat and stressed over that house for 5 years and it will be such a relief to move on in life.  Lessons learned by the bucket full, if you ever think about doing a total renovation of a house, call me first.

3. Decided to go to grad school.  Thought pretty strongly about law school, took my LSAT, started getting prepared, but just didn't feel like the timing was right.  I don't know how I would be able to spend so much time away from Birdie and Linz, not now anyway.  There is only one law school in Austin, the rest are a 2 hr drive each way.  So I decided to go after my MBA since there are about half a dozen places here in town and I know that it can only help me moving forward.  I've been to 2 weeks of class so far and I am really enjoying it.  I'll be done in 2 years and my LSAT score is good for 5 so who knows.

4. Traded in the blue car for what Linz calls my "daddy" car.  Its a white X3 and so far I really enjoy driving it.  I haven't been excited about a car for over a decade so that's a good sign.

5. Had a lobster bake 4th of July.  We didn't go to Maine this year for the first time since we got married.  We were both missing Maine so bad that we decided to do a New England style 4th here in Texas.  Highlights include Bob spilling boiling lobster water on my hand and foot, the kids playing in the kiddie pools, and the dozen or so first time lobster eaters in the bunch.  I'll have to dig up some pics and get them up.

I'm sure there was a ton more, but you get the idea.  Hoping to be back on the blog wagon soon.

cool, no worries, it is what it is

G