Posted April 30th, 2014 by Ross
Filed under: Football, Spring Football

Here are my thoughts after watching the Longhorns at the Spring Game under Coach Strong, Clint Eastwood style.

The Good

The defense as expected was the shining star after the first drive by the offense resulted in an early touchdown. The defense line led by Caleb Bluiett (8 tackles & 2 sacks) ran roughshod over the offense line. The real test is to see if this group can excel against better offenses.

The defense backs had its share of interceptions lead by Mykkele Thompson who returned one back for a score. The QB play did not give much of an indication if this group will be up to task, but they gained a measure of confidence in the way they played.

Malcolm Brown and Jalen Overstreet showed promise in their running styles (Thunder & Lightning) in the way they attacked the defense. It was good to see these two step up as the passing game will start with a big question mark.

I liked that Coach Strong put the offense and defense on opposite sides of the field. It gave the fans the experience that one group was going against the other in a game. Charlie Strong strode across both ends of the field during the game to watch the coaches and the players actions.

The Bad

We knew that the QB play would be the most scrutinized position on the field. It was evident that Tyrone Swoopes needs more time to develop as a passer. The athleticism is evident but the decision making and the timing of his release leaves room for doubt. If the incoming Max Wittek and Jerrod Heard can take the reins, it might be better to have Swoopes be the tight end that would remind us of Jermichael Finley. I will trust this coaching staff that they will put the kids in a position where they will succeed.

The offense line needs to come together quickly. There were some key absences on the line, but the boys in the trenches need to step up. The moving pocket allowed the line some success, but ultimately these road graders need to help this stable of running backs.
The audio coming from the Godzillatron was horrible. The timing and the placement of the music was bad. The big video board will be replaced because the company that created this monster is no longer around to feed the beast or get replacement parts. I hope the Athletic Department revamps the way they use this tool for the upcoming season.

The Ugly

The practice uniforms that the kids are wearing are hideous. I am going to the give the coaching staff a break because they have been preoccupied with establishing their culture and attitude with the team. I have been an advocate of providing the players an alternate game day jersey that will energize the players and help with new recruits.

As Clint said in the famous movie, “You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig.” Will the Longhorns have the loaded gun on the field or will they be the team digging?

Share

Posted October 31st, 2013 by Ross
Filed under: Football

WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from Texas’ Thursday night game against Texas Christian.

1st Quarter (15:00) WTH Band-Aid?! I like many of the special helmets that college teams are sporting. The TCU helmet baffles me because the blood spurt/stripe depicts a Horny Toad that can squirt blood from its eyes. If you’re bleeding doesn’t it mean that you are getting your butt kicked?

1st Quarter (11:56) WTH Four Eyes?! I thought this new FOX Sports 1 broadcast team was younger and more aware of its surroundings. The announcer totally blew it when he announced “it’s good” on a TCU field goal try that went wide right.

1st Quarter (7:52) WTH Robinson?! OK… I am a believer. Coach Greg Robinson has transformed this defense into one of hell of a unit. The sack and strip by Quandre Diggs resulted in a quick touchdown run on the very next play. Be sure to check out the video of Robinson and the Beaver.

1st Quarter (5:03) WTH Headstand?! Malcolm Brown continued to impress against TCU. His determination after going head first then getting back up to get a solid three yards was impressive. The offensive line deserves a lot of credit for another strong 200+ rushing day.

1st Quarter (1:24) WTH Trickster?! Really… really?! Are you trying to be Boise State? The double pass did catch the defense sleeping. But that was the last time TCU would find the endzone for the rest of the night.

2nd Quarter (9:41) WTH Horseshoe?! What a great wheel route by Marcus Johnson to catch a nice sky-ball thrown by Case McCoy. Case connected on a lot of sky-balls for big gains. Just hope we see a little more zip on the ball when needed. Still think Case is more lucky than good.

2nd Quarter (6:08) WTH Mother Nature?! You could fit a complete football game in the time of the weather delay (3:06). I felt sorry for both bands when they made the halftime only 5 minutes long. The 48,212 in attendance definitely thinned out after this episode.

3rd Quarter (9:25) WTH Cowtown?! Three straight running plays inside the 6 yard line shows you that Coach Applewhite was stubborn on getting a rushing touchdown. What was behind the goal post after the extra point? A gaggle of TCU cowboys in the end zone were despondent that they were missing last call.

4th Quarter (4:11) WTH Burn?! The redshirt is officially burned off the freshmen QB Tyrone Swoopes. His first carry was a smooth 8 yard run for a first down. Since the play was on Sunday morning, does it officially count?

Next up for the Longhorns is the Kansas Jayhawks in Austin on November 2nd.

Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at @40AcresSports or follow me at @Horns1991. HOOK EM!!

Share
Texas FanGuide - Texas Longhorns fan app with roster, news, and team schedule

Latest Poll

Who will be the next Texas head coach?

Total Votes: 149

Loading ... Loading ...

Subscribe to the 40 Acres!

Don't miss breaking news or another story from your favorite Longhorns fan site, subscribe to our RSS(?) feed!

Become a fan of the 40 Acres on Facebook

Recent Comments