A resolution in this article will be “a formal expression or opinion made” to win a football game. The Texas Longhorns will be playing for a national championship against Alabama on January 7th at the Rose Bowl. I have four resolutions that the Longhorns should follow in order to win this game. We are not going to make the obvious statements that the winner will be the one that can hold on to the ball, establish the running game, control the line of scrimmage, TOP, or have the ball last. Here they are:
1. To Be First
The Longhorn’s offense all season is based on tempo. The Longhorns need to rack up first downs in this game. If you remember the Fiesta Bowl last year the offense needed a full half to get going. You will notice that [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] and [tag]Greg Davis[/tag] like to run the hurry up offense after a made first down. The Bama defense will need to pick it up and mismatches play a huge role in Texas moving the ball. The Longhorns for this entire season had 114 more first downs over their opponents.
2. To Add Wrinkles
No… we are not hoping the Longhorns age us during this game. Greg Davis needs to add some different play combinations to keep the Alabama defense guessing. We know that conventional running will not work. Greg introduced the double cross receiver run during the OU game and the shovel pass against UCF. Auburn pulled out a few rabbits to start the game against Bama. I am not suggesting trick plays but a change of pace to keep them guessing. Please Greg install the wheel route to [tag]Tre Newton[/tag] at the right time which would be fun to see. [tag]Chris Hall[/tag] and teammates please give Colt just a little time to execute a few of these plays.
3. To Have a Big Middle
The middle that I am referring to is [tag]Roddrick Muckelroy[/tag] and [tag]Lamarr Houston[/tag]. These two men need to step up big time to make Alabama one dimensional. The two closes games (biggest I would argue) of the season where we saw the Sooners rush for -16 yards and the Huskers run for 67 yards. Alabama will want to impose their will with Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson running the ball. The “Goonies” (nicknamed by Lamarr) need to have the defensive effort that we all talk about when we speak of the 2006 National Championship game.
4. To Not Be Offensive
We need to get back to the non-offensive touchdown results that we had for most of the season. The timeliness of the 2 non-offensive TD’s that we had versus Oklahoma State would suffice (I can wish?!). We need the special teams to come up with a game changing punt return, punt block or kick return to electrify the crowd. The defense stepping up with an interception or fumble return for a touchdown can make the other team question their offensive decisions which affect play calling and team confidence. We do not have to win the turnover battle – just do something with it!
Fire the cannon. Make some noise with Big Bertha. They should have let [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] light the tower orange as well. Watch the postgame celebration and relish the special group of seniors that played their last game at DKR Saturday night:
Follow along live with 40 Acres Sports on Twitter and below for our thoughts and analysis during tonight’s Texas game versus [tag]Kansas[/tag] on ABC. We’ll be live right around kickoff so join us to discuss the game bright and early at 7:00pm Saturday.
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It’s the last home game for a group of Texas seniors that could go down as the best to play for the Longhorns. The redshirt seniors have national title rings from the 2005 season but are looking to keep winning so they can earn one of their own. Quarterback [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] will become the winningest college QB ever and sixth year senior [tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag] actually has been on campus for an incredible 66 wins.
Will the seniors get their 43rd win today? Our predictions are below:
Brian – The Texas Longhorns are playing their best football of the year and the Kansas Jayhawks are playing their worst. When turmoil hits a team they either rally together or fall apart, with the allegations this week against Mark Mangino I’m guessing it’s the latter. Horns will win big with another strong defensive showing and one last special performance between senior buds McCoy and [tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag] who will connect for two scores or more. Horns clinch Big 12 South title and the seniors go out in style. Texas 45, Kansas 13
Ross – I think I have one fat finger on the pulse of this game against Kansas. I think the Longhorns will send the Jayhawks back to their alcoholic… OK, that is a little too much. The turmoil surrounding the Jayhawks may galvanize the team to rally around their embattled coach. But that would be a concern if this game was in Kansas. The Longhorns are on a mission and the defense will ruin Todd Reesing’s homecoming. Texas 38, Kansas 10
More Predictions
Follow along live with 40 Acres Sports on Twitter and below for our thoughts and analysis during today’s Texas game versus [tag]Baylor[/tag] on FSN. We’ll be live right around kickoff so join us to discuss the game bright and early at 11:00am Saturday.
Feel free to leave comments and questions using the live tool, but not all comments will be published. Read below for more notes on comments and how the live blog will work. Hook ’em!
After hurting his knee jumping to celebrate a big play last week, Texas linebacker [tag]Roddrick Muckelroy[/tag] is listed as “probable” on this week’s official injury report for [tag]Baylor[/tag]. Normally you’d think that would mean we’d almost certainly see Rod against the Bears tomorrow, but since it is Baylor it might mean a week of extra space for his tweaked knee. I expect to see him in uniform but not in the game unless it’s an emergency.
The two other names on this week’s report are more familiar as defensive tackle [tag]Calvin Howell[/tag] remains out with his concussion and true freshman offensive lineman [tag]Mason Walters[/tag]’ foot is still keeping him out. Those two players are likely to seek a medical redshirt later in their time at Texas and possibly receive an extra year of eligibility.
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 the Texas’ game against the Buffs.
The Whole Game WTH Davis?! – I know that execution has a lot to do with our running game. I can see that it is difficult to sell to a UT offense lineman that firing out and hitting your man at the snap of the ball can be as successful as back pedaling and protecting the quarterback who is completing 73% of his passes. But Coach Greg Davis needs to stop falling in love with solving a non-existent running game (62 yards with an average 1.8 yards/carry) with throwing more. Texas was up against the 111th ranked run defense in the country with Colorado which does not bode well for our next meeting against OU. If we cannot stop the opponents’ interior run blitzes (thanks for trying with the shovel pass), we will not be going very far this season.
2nd Quarter (2:55) WTH McCoy?! – I know that you are not supposed to pull on Superman’s cape, but I do not like the trend that I am seeing. This scenario is occurring way too much with Colt McCoy giving up an early turnover for the opponent to jump on for a score. I now that he was rushed out of the pocket on this play but his handling of the football caused the fumble to end up in the Buffs hands. He cannot continue this type of results if the team wants to contend for the title.
3rd Qt & 4th Qt. (13:37 & 14:13) WTH Tucker?! – I know the coaching staff loves that fact that you’re ambidextrous with your feet, but Justin Tucker (28.8 yards/avg.) you have to be able to punt better than the 25 yard & 5 yard efforts respectfully that you gave on your rugby style kicks. I know that our lack of covering skills on kickoffs makes you feel that much better about your style.
3rd Quarter (12:32) WTH Muckelroy?! – Your tip of QB Cody Hawkins pass early in the 3rd quarter ended any type of momentum that the Buffs were trying to establish in the second half. Roddrick Muckelroy was clearly the defensive MVP with 11 total tackles and 1 crucial sack to start the fourth quarter.
The Whole Game WTH Shipley?! – Not only did you single handily put your stamp on the Horn’s offense ( 11 catches for 147 yds.) with incredible catches (1st Qt. 7:33 & 2nd Qt.:46) but you changed the momentum again with your ability to take it to the house (3rd Qt. 12:29) on a 74 yard punt return (thanks for blocking referee Cooper Castleberry) to end the Buffs hopes. You can start talking about Jordan Shipley in the same breath as Michigan’s Desmond Howard when he was starting his Heisman run back in 1991.
3rd Qt. & 4th Qt. WTH Punt return unit?! – Great job by the Longhorn punting unit to set up a back breaking return for at touchdown by Jordan Shipley and a crowd raising punt block by Marquis Goodwin that resulted in Ben Wells running it in for the score. We need more great special teams next week!
4th Quarter WTH Hawkins?! – Coach Dan Hawkins changed his Colorado family and his nuclear family at the same moment with the pulling of his son Dan Hawkins for redshirt freshman Tyler Hansen. The move came along with 5 false start penalties in the quarter which added to the Buffs accumulating 20 penalties for the game which resulted in 140 penalty yards. Thanks Coach Dan for pulling the plug on your season with your son who will definitely want to join you for Halloween festivities at your house later this month.
Next up for the Longhorn football team is Oklahoma at 11am at the Cotton Bowl on October 17th.
Here’s a brief description of the first installment of the “WTH?” on UT sports. WTH? (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. This first edition covers some of the most interesting moments from Texas’ game against [tag]Texas Tech[/tag].
1st Quarter (7:02) – Texas Tech punt coverage team has the first WTH? when a short punt of 38 yards by Tech’s Donnie Carona ends up in the hands of an oncoming [tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag] who makes every TT player turn and trail Shipley for a 46 yard touchdown. WTH Raiders?!
1st Quarter (7:00) – Two seconds later Bevo asks WTH? when Jordan decides to jump over the reins that supposedly holds on to this two thousand pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal… thank you Godzillatron moment. No Texas football player has ever ventured so close to one of the most revered mascots since the Tyler Rose. WTH Shipley?
2nd Quarter (3:30) – [tag]Justin Tucker[/tag], UT punter, asks “WTH?” when he fist pounds the television/time clock referee (this is the guy that has the orange gloves and wanders aimlessly out to the middle of the field). Why the heck are you interacting with him? 28 seconds later he precedes to girlie punt the ball 19 yards to the Raiders 30 yard line out-of-bounds. WTH Tucker?!
4th Quarter (11:59) – WTH were the referees thinking? The entire 101,297 DKR crowd was wondering aloud, with a few cuss words, what ref Tom Walker and his crew was smoking when an incomplete pass to Texas Tech’s Alex Torres was turned into a personal foul, late hit on [tag]Roddrick Muckelroy[/tag]. And then they threw in a roughing the passer call to cover their asses. On top of that WTH?, the very next play, which was a 2 yard loss for Tech, the same refs missed a blatant jersey hold by the Tech offense in front of everyone. WTH Walker?!
4th Quarter (11:49) – WTH should be defined as “Where the heck is my helmet?” when QB Taylor Potts had his head handed to him by the most ferocious sack by [tag]Sergio Kindle[/tag]. Play of the night!! WTH Sergio?!
4th Quarter (3:40) – “WTH?” is what the entire Texas Tech and Texas fan base said when Mike Leach decided to call a rushing play over right tackle that netted only five yards in the middle of the field. TT down by 10 points. WTH Leach?!
Final Score: Texas 34, Texas Tech 24
Next up the University of Texas at El Paso at 2:30pm at DKR – See you there!
KXAN NBC Austin had a great highlight package of Saturday night’s opening UT win against ULM. Some great field level angles of the game and interviews with coach [tag]Mack Brown[/tag], [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag], [tag]Garrett Gilbert[/tag] and others. Don’t miss the blur that was [tag]DJ Monroe[/tag] at about the 1-minute mark.
Check it out below:
Follow along below or with @40AcresSports on Twitter for live updates on the Texas vs. Louisiana-Monroe game tonight at 6pm…
Just a few minutes before opening kickoff of Texas vs Kansas.