40 Acres Sports

Man I wish this game was going to be on ABC.

I’m not even watching TBS yet, USC is about to get upset by Oregon State with seven seconds to go after the Beavers stop Booty and the Trojans on a two-point conversion. That would of course be huge for the Longhorns as a loss would likely drop USC well behind Texas in the human polls and behind them in the BCS as well. Definitely a big help since Nebraska getting spanked by Oklahoma State today probably going to hurt the strength of schedule.

As for this game, Texas is on the road for the second straight week against a tough opponent in [tag]Texas Tech[/tag]. Last week the Longhorns were solid but inconsistent. The offense has to punch the ball into the end zone and the defense has to stop the big play. Can the banged up Texas defense stop the Red Raiders offense? Should be a good game, hopefully Texas plays four strong quarters and wins in solid fashion.

First Quarter

• Scott Derry and Robert Killebrew both on the sideline early in a passing situation. Drew Kelson in at linebacker.
• Defensive end misses a chance at a sack. Can’t let Graham Harrell step away like that and give him a chance to throw.
• Red Raiders holding like crazy already. Got called for it on one play but getting away with it on the inside.
• Mike Leach goes for it on 4th down and the Texas defense doesn’t make them pay. Gives Harrell all day to throw and he completes a long pass.
• Tech RB takes a screen pass and there’s nobody around. Easy drive and easy TD for Tech.

Texas 0, Texas Tech 7

• Texas offense has to respond and put together a solid drive. Get some points and give Gene Chizik some time to figure out what the hell to do the next time Tech has the ball.
• A couple of good solid passing plays for the Texas offense to get started. Don’t forget about the running backs.
• First running play is the GT counter and Selvin Young has to try to bounce it wide. Nothing there.
• Colt McCoy really does throw the ball well when he’s moving around. Looks like Greg Davis knows that as he’s had a designed roll out or two already.
• Couple of actual zone read plays and looked like McCoy had room to keep it both times.
• Terrible call by the refs as none of them actually saw a fumble. Looked like Charles was clearly down. Then he recovered the ball himself while he was down again. Bad call.
• How the hell does the replay booth not freaking replay that. I say it every week, but man is replay on college football the most worthless thing of all time.
• Bad call. None of the refs actually called it a fumble till 20 seconds after the play. Charles recovered it himself, had control, and was down. Certainly close enough to review without forcing Mack Brown to call for the replay. Terrible job as usual.
• Texas defense blitzing guys and not getting any pressure at all.
• On the scoring play it looked like we sent about 7 guys after the QB and none of them got within 5 yards of him. Easy touchdown pass.

Texas 0, Texas Tech 14

• Good drive before the “fumble” last series. Offense can’t panic. Put together solid drives and see if the defense can pull their heads out.
• 3rd and 2 and we freaking throw the football. Get under center and run it down their damn throats.
• Crap. Cheap shot on Mike Griffin and now we’re another damn player short in the secondary.
• Griffin back in there. “How did Harrell get that pass off?” Because the officials don’t know how to freaking call holding. You can’t grab a guy’s jersey and hang on when he’s rushing the QB.
• Ball clearly came loose. What the hell is wrong with the announcers? Pretty close play needing review of whether he had possession.
• He bobbled the ball and never really had possession. Not sure they got the call right, but it was close. I like that all the replay guys are like 80 years old.
• Announcers are making themselves look worse and worse. First they couldn’t see anything that happened and wanted to know why there was a review. Then they thought it was clearly a fumble. Every time you watched another replay you saw something new, so clearly there was nothing clear about it.
• McCoy throws it right to Tech for a pick 6. Right freaking to him.

Texas 0, Texas Tech 21

• Plenty of time left still against this defense. Let’s get 10 – 14 back before the half and then win the damn game in the second half.

(more …)

Texas big over Tech and Baylor upsets A&M.

Should Nebraska have run the football on 3rd down?

Big game this morning for the Texas Longhorns in some frigid weather up in Lincoln. The result of this game against [tag]Nebraska[/tag] won’t have much impact on Texas’ goal of a Big 12 title but it certainly has national implications. One of Texas’ toughest remaining games and the Longhorns need as many quality wins as they can get to get some BCS computer love and rise in the rankings. Hook ’em!

• Sweet, the game is in HD. I didn’t think it was going to be. ABC has been much better this year.
• What are Musberger and Davie standing in front of? Is that just a green screen with footage from the crowd behind them? It sure was weird looking.

First Quarter

• YES!! Big return by Quan Cosby on the game’s opening kickoff takes it back close to 80 yards. It was a short and low kickoff. The guys on both sides are bundled up and it makes them look pretty slow out there.
• Some sort of end around to Jordan Shipley didn’t work at all. No need for that down on the damn five yard line at all. Crap.
• Tough looking angle for the field goal but Greg Johnson knocks in the short field goal. Horns get points but that’s a missed opportunity.

Texas 3, Nebraska 0

• Let’s see if the Horns can do a better job on the kickoff. Hunter Lawrence did a good job last week putting them in the end zone. And he kicks it out of bounds and gives Nebraska good field position. Come on freshman!
• The Shipley play actually had an opening other than the one linebacker who spotted him hiding behind the line early. Just doesn’t seem like a smart play call to pick up short yards. Have confidence in your guys to get 5 yards.
• Aaron Lewis in the game early instead of Brian Robison. Rumors had Robison in a boot this morning around the hotel. Hopefully we’ll see him later.
• Picture of Limas Sweed instead of Marlon Lucky.
• Scott Derry makes a good play on 3rd and short but can’t keep the running back short of the first down.
• There’s Robison in there on a long 3rd down. Might not be 100% and might only be available for passing situations. Tim Crowder gets in there and gets a big sack. Big play by the defense early to get the offense the ball back.
• I think it’s weird that Dr. Pepper is using a song about masturbation for their commercials.
• Vince Young at the game after all. Heard he wasn’t going to be there.
• Longhorns open the game with 4 runs before the first pass. Colt McCoy has a guy open on a deep out but overthrew the pass.
• Terrible job by McCoy. Set up the quick screen to Cosby and McCoy tries to throw it sidearm while backpedaling and doesn’t get the ball to his receiver.
• Derek Lokey just blows up his man and gets in the backfield as the RB takes the hand off.
• Bad job on the ball and even worse tackling by Deon Beasley. Then Michael Griffin knocks him off the tackle and the NU receiver runs 63 yards for the TD.

Texas 3, Nebraska 7

• Offense is not looking good so far. Starting out about the same as we did last week. Just antsy out there or something.
• Selvin Young can’t hesitate when he’s block on the QB draw. McCoy doesn’t have the speed to hesitate and still make plays. Just go block someone.
• I don’t think the football players live in Jester anymore. I know my senior year at least some of them had moved into the new San Jacinto Hall.
• Seems like all Greg Davis thinks McCoy can do is throw to heavily covered WR screens.
• Damn the wind must be blowing. Johnson looked like he got off a good punt but it went absolutely nowhere.
• Robert Killebrew is down and they’re looking at his knee or ankle. Sergio Kindle in the game for him.
• Lewis is looking like a player for us for the long term. He could end up at either defensive end or tackle but he looks solid.
• The Horns punt return team backs up the offense big time.

(more …)

Burnt Orange Nation posted a great image of all the Big 12 coaches if they were South Park characters. Click the image to see it a little bigger.

Pretty funny stuff. I’m not sure why Mack Brown looks like he’s been smoking weed all day, everyone knows only the team gets high. My favorites are Mark Mangino, Mike Leach, and Mike Gundy. Those are pretty dead on. I don’t think Dennis Franchione or Gary Pinkel look confused enough. And it kind of sucks that just like on South Park, the Big 12 coaching ranks only have one token black guy.

Part 2 discusses strengths and weaknesses, future expectations, and Mack Brown.

Part 1 discusses traveling to Lincoln and the development of Colt McCoy.

The Big 12 this year makes the Big 12 last season look like a juggernaut. Texas Tech spanked by winless Colorado, undefeated Missouri repeatedly throws the game away against the Aggies, and Oklahoma just lost Adrian Peterson for the year. The Longhorns will have to continue to win and win convincingly this year if they plan on holding off any one-loss teams from the SEC or an average Notre Dame team.

Today against [tag]Baylor[/tag] the Horns will have to battle through some injuries and beat an improving Baylor team. If the Horns play solid football and protect the football they should be able to beat the Bears on talent and depth alone.

First Quarter

• Selvin Young running down the field looking back at Quan Cosby instead of blocking on the kickoff return. Horns start off with bad field position.
• Apparently the Baylor coaches watched some Texas game film this year. Every single time a team makes a play action fake our safeties bite hard. Good fake by Baylor’s QB and the receiver runs wide open for a long TD on their first offensive play. They beat the two backups in the secondary that are starting in Deon Beasley and Matt Melton.

Baylor 7, Texas 0

• On the replay it looks like Melton didn’t bite on the play fake but just didn’t get enough depth. He flinched a little when he saw another receiver but it wasn’t the play fake.
• Longhorns getting their ass kicked right now. No fire from the offensive line at all. A three and out on the second offensive series.
• Finally a solid play for Texas. Both defensive ends got into the pocket quickly and Tim Crowder comes up with a sack.
• Looks like Baylor’s picking on Beasley. He needs to make smart plays.
• Nice call by the ref 200 yards away. Probably the right call but was way late and not from anywhere around the play.
• Huge early play for the Texas defense. 3rd and 4 for Baylor inside the 20. Texas needs to force a field goal.
• Brian Robison on the coverage as we bring a big zone blitz brings up 4th down.

Baylor 10, Texas 0

• Let’s get under center and run it down their throats.
• I don’t hate Greg Davis as much as most people, but that stat TBS just threw out there is probably a little misleading. I think the last ten years has probably been the weakest schedules Texas has ever played and they play more games and scoring is up all over the country.
• Just like the first half of the OU game, Davis is trying to be too smart in my opinion. We just came and ran three straight pass plays when our strength is clearly our running game.
• That may be the worst personal foul call I’ve ever seen. The Baylor punt returner drops the football and they call us for diving on the pile.
• Beasley looked like he was in trouble there. He made a good play on the receiver but he never turned around and looked for the football.
• It wasn’t exactly pretty but the Texas defense forces a three and out and gets the ball back. Let’s hope the offense figures out what the hell they’re doing quick.
• Good block by Neale Tweedie but the Horns are probably lucky holding wasn’t called. Texas’ tight ends have been called for a ton of those this season and that was a close one.
• Hey look what happens when we run the football?! First downs!
• And we get cute again and McCoy throws an interception. Baylor football. We need a turnover and some momentum.

(more …)

Adrian Peterson’s dad was able to watch his son play in person today for the first time since he was 12 years old. It looks like it may have been the first and last time to see Adrian play for the [tag]Oklahoma[/tag] Sooners. With about six minutes to go in the game Peterson broke a 53 yard touchdown run and when he stretched for the end zone he landed awkwardly and broke his collarbone.

Peterson is an incredibly tough runner and yet at the same time he seems to a little fragile. I don’t know if he’s a player that is always going to be hurt, if it’s overuse, or just plain bad luck but he has spent much of his OU career banged up. There’s a slim chance he could be back in time for a bowl game but the chances of him returning to Oklahoma for his senior season are close to zero.

Despite his choice to attend OU, Peterson seems like a pretty decent kid who probably had every opportunity to follow down his father’s path but chose not to. A tough way for an incredible running back to end his career, but even with the injury he’s likely a top three NFL draft pick and destined for a great pro career.