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GoldAppleCorps

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Everything posted by GoldAppleCorps

  1. Not necessarily, but I have spent a lifetime doing dumb shit. As I've increased in age, I find myself looking over a new proposed venture thinking, "Wait. How can this fuck up, and what's the worst that can happen when it does?". I'm looking over a team with an established leader at QB. One with not just options but good options on the OL. A defense full of athletes, and a WR room full of 6'6" speedsters. I'm venturing into a game against an overmatched opponent - but one that won a bowl game last year. It looks like everything's in place. However, experience forces me to ask, "How can this fuck up?".
  2. I've asserted all summer that the turnover on defense isn't as concerning as usual. I've said that this is because the players on this year's team are better athletes with better skills. Mike Tyson famously said, though, that everybody has a plan until they get hit. When the lights are shining, the crowd is cheering, and the defenders have to recognize the scheme across from them without a position coach nearby, we'll see if the head matches the physique. If they trust their training and play like they practiced, then they're a fearsome unit. If they question and think, they'll turn in circles like <last season's opener>. Last year, we saw an offense with a lot of talent, but that was hampered by the inability to block a pass rush. The coaches preferred to trust 2nd and 7 and 3rd and 3 rather than risk 2nd and 14 and lose the run option. The coach's choice of slot receiver tells me that they believe they can block that rush now. If that's true, then an embarrassment of riches will be unveiled. If not, 3 running backs might not be enough. Time to turn the key and see if this machine cranks up!
  3. You've clearly done a good bit of research here. I think what helps us more is that Orlando's D doesn't stand still before the play. A timing route is tough to defend, but only works when both the QB and receiver are together on the call. The QB really gets the ball out of his hands quickly in a lot of those plays against LSU. He's intelligent and experienced. He reads the defense well and throws the ball to a mark. However, if Texas is moving before and after (you'd hope) the snap, then the prospect of a quick pitch and catch diminishes. If the coverage isn't what you thought it was (a DB on the LOS suddenly retreats, etc), or if you and the WR had different ideas, then bad things happen. If the QB stops to confirm his thought, then the timing is off. I say this, but yet what's killed us in our openers two years running is defenders second guessing their role. In years' past, the complexity has led to the Texas players having to think about their roles during a play. They were usually right, but too slow getting there to be of any use. I'm hoping for defense at full speed on Saturday.
  4. It doesn't really matter if our opening opponent is better or worse. The Texas Longhorns should be a better football team. That should make all the difference. We entered the last two seasons with gaping flaws. During the season, those flaws were fixed or worked around (largely worked around). We tried to scheme around an OL that could probably run block, but couldn't pass protect. This time last season, the QB1 battle was still hotly debated. We, of course, haven't proven anything yet. Just because the OL should be better doesn't mean it will be. These things are only judged when an angry defense pounds on it. We're replacing errbody on the defense, and they should be stronger and faster. That's no guarantee that they won't still turn in circles like they were trained by Tudor Electric Football as we've seen in the previous openers. If these things are fixed, then I can look forward to a season fighting for hardware at the end. If they aren't, it will be just another "nice" season of watching football.
  5. So is our receivers room looking more like a Final Four NCAA bball team?
  6. I have no doubt Joe Burrow is a good enough QB. I further believe the receivers are likewise talented. The "OL has a tough time in pass protection" is a deal breaker. You either can pass protect or you can't. If you can't, the defense sits around 7 yards from the LOS and makes your life miserable. RBs can't run misdirection because of the swarming bodies. You can't throw quick slants because there's too many DBs in your field of vision to risk a pick 6. Once again, Texas fans are familiar with this concept. You can win games this way, living off running N/S between the tackles. However, you have to play almost flawlessly on both sides of the ball, and usually your opponent has to help out a bit. Texas fans are pinning their own hopes of offensive resurgence on continuity of the OL. The redshirted players that spent a year growing and learning rather than plugging holes in the roster. When the OL can hold for a 4 count, the playbook triples in size with the same players on the field. I see LSU and Texas as both having the same ideas both offensively and defensively. I just see the Texas offense as a year further into the system.
  7. While I agree with the sentiment and the passion, remember what offense we had last year. This wasn't the VY or Colt "fuck it, score again just to teach them their place!" offense. This was an offense that was forced to operate in a 7 yard area. The OL just wasn't good enough (and Sam usually not quite accurate enough) to threaten downfield. As a result, we had to drive the ball by mixing in and out runs with slants and QB draws. We kept the chains and the clock moving. In the 2nd half, when we had the lead, we played to kill the clock. That wasn't usually out of choice. It was out of a need not to risk cheap points to the opponent any more than necessary. We relied on a ferocious defense. We won 10 games and the Sugar Bowl last season despite not being good enough to dictate terms. Now, let's see what happens when the OL can pass protect for a 4 count and Sam can hit a seam route 20 yards in the air.
  8. It's worth noting that Sam and Joe won't likely play each other. It's our defense's job to stop Joe, and the Tigers' job to stop Sam. I'm getting the sense that Texas fans can empathize. It's been hard to follow, but it seems that LSU has tried to remake their identity several times with several coaches over the last several years. During this time, truly dangerous WR and QB are underutilized while the rest of the offense muddles through "growing pains". Every fall, the fan base points to "with an extra year" and "in the spring they" type stuff. As Texas fans, we get it. Right down to the "OMFG! Trash everything and try to be like Alabama!" vibe. We panicked too, threw away the script, ran off a MNC winning coach (not always a bad thing), and began wandering. I can tell you a million reasons why this year's Longhorn OL is going to be the one that opens up the offensive potential, but until that happens, we are what we were. My optimism comes from familiarity. LSU's offense seems to want to be what we have in the Big 12. They want tempo, multiple attack from same look, and RPO. They may work it out this season, and truly terrify the SEC with it. However, Texas is familiar with that. Our defense sees it every week, sees it in practice, and is built to stop the best in the business at it. Our DBs know that 18" of space is open, because they play against QBs that can hit that window from 20 yards out. On the flip side (the side that does indeed worry me greatly), LSU has freakish athletes. However, I'm wondering how they'll feel when the scoreboard hits in the 20's in the first half? If the OL performs as I expect, the Tigers will need to defend the entire field for a long time. I have no doubt LSU is a team full of fantastic athletes. It just looks like they're coming to Austin to try and play our game.
  9. The points have been very well covered here. Maybe we'd be talking differently if this were a player at a position with no depth, but I hope not. Stupid actions should have consequences. On a more practical note, I'd like to address the wisdom of chambering a round and THEN PUTTING A WEAPON IN YOUR WAISTBAND. Josh, c'mon man!
  10. We're going to have to acknowledge that hits to the head will end football. Right now, the sport of American football is under the microscope as causing severe brain injuries that can cripple a person for life. Insurers are terrified that this is the next asbestos or similar payout. They don't want to underwrite football and its risks. Football is responding by eliminating, to every degree possible, hits to the head and head area. If the sport did nothing, it would be trivial for a plaintiff to say, "They knew it caused problems, yet they allowed it to continue!". Intent of the player doesn't matter. Football at all levels has to show focus on removing head contact from the game, or else the game will evaporate overnight. Foster did not "target" the head, but he hit it pretty good. It was a football play, and he'd do it 10 out of 10 times again. It's an unfair punishment to the player, but we're going to have to simply accept that players unlucky enough to be placed in that position will be ejected. Otherwise, our saturdays will be spent watching "Fortnight".
  11. If the coaching staff is still liking Duvernay in the slot, that tells me they think the OL can pass protect long enough to develop his routes effectively. If that's the case (and Sam can consistently put the ball on target), this would become a very dangerous offense.
  12. No. There's a strong chance he knows what he's talking about. I just ramble as I see fit. None of my ravings may ever come to pass, but whaddya want for nothin'?
  13. and this is what has me optimistic. Almost every sports organization has Jake Fromm heralded as the best NFL ready QB everrrrrr. I don't have the intellect to argue with that. I do know that, even with a month to prepare and all the film you could possibly want, the Texas defense had him absolutely addled. In the end, he just started flinging (perfectly thrown and very pretty) footballs in the vague direction of the sideline. He was missing wide open receivers. It's obvious to me that Todd Orlando doesn't play defense fairly. The SEC QBs are taught via textbook how to read and attack a standard NFL ready defense. Todd's boys swim around pre-play, then attack like piranha fish in a 70's schlock film when the ball is snapped. The offense might be schooled in how to run routes perfectly and the QB might know how to attack a given alignment, but Orlando's schemes defy teaching. You're just going to have to figure it out as best (and as quickly) as you can once the ball is snapped.
  14. Baylor has decent skill position players and one or two superior defenders. They have lots of growth potential, which is code for saying they have holes. They practiced and conditioned this summer like everyone else. There were a lot of "if the OL improves" and "if the secondary gets better", coupled with "when we find a pass rush" after last season. Yes, the players could get better. However, Charlie Brewer was running for his life, keeping the team moving through sheer force of will and taking too many body breaking hits while doing it. It's tough for me to verbalize a credible reason why the OL or other protection will be different this season. If you give the Baylor offense a moment to operate, they're lethal. My advice is not to do that. It isn't hard to disrupt it. They have to get into the 30 point range to have a shot at winning. Against quality teams, that's a tall order. As someone who's watched Baylor plenty over the last 20 years, I can't immediately tell you who gets the ball if Charlie Brewer isn't in the game. Executive Summary: Baylor is a good but not great team. Too many stars have to align to hope for a special season, but it's possible.
  15. Devin Duvernay is a perfectly cromulent option at slot. The slot plays off the LOS, so a physical nickel or LB can't get a face-to-face jam on him at the snap. When the ball is snapped, Devin's going to be sprinting unimpeded. This is important, because he's essentially racing the pass rush. If he gets downfield faster than the defense can get to the QB, then he's almost always going to be 1 on 1 with a deep safety. Here's the ugly secret - if the deep safety's initial cut is to cover, Devin fades to the outside. If he initially cuts to support, Devin bends inside. Either way, if Sam and Devin see the same thing, the safety is helpless. The key here is "racing the pass rush". Last season, even as fast as Devin is, the OL couldn't reliably hold up against a pass rush long enough to spring him. This limited everything. LJH rode to our rescue by being a tough matchup who could win contested balls in traffic. The slot in our offense shouldn't be doing that, but thank Bevo he was there to do it. The lack of downfield threat (primarily caused by not-quite-good-enough pass protection) kept the defenders close to the LOS. Any time Ingram broke through the line on a run, he was sure to find 3 more defenders waiting for him within 7 yards. The compact nature of our offense simply prevented any long gains. Right now, the Texas WR room has an embarrassment of riches. Not only talent, but diverse talent. Speed. Size. Catch radius, etc, it's all there. If Herb Hand does his job, the receivers will get their time in the press conferences.
  16. If this is working correctly, he runs out of the slot in an effort to get deep as quickly as possible. Not simply in an exact straight line (there's rules about pulling a shaded safety away from help, etc), but largely in a straight line. Obviously, a defense has to honor this. The safeties have to get over. The LBs (or Nickels) have to cover. That straight line speed, even if the ball doesn't come his way, widens the open spaces for other receivers or RBs to enter and catch easier passes. If the play is a draw or other run, then the players running with Duvernay are 20 yards down field and spread out by the time they react, rather than 7 yards and watching the RB. Much more likely the RB eludes those tackles en route to a big gain. Duvernay's speed is a luxury that takes the top off of a defense, but only if the OL protects long enough for him to get there. That's why LJH was a better option last season. The defense wasn't going to be spread out enough by the time Sam had to throw the ball.
  17. A slot receiver typically cannot be jammed at the LOS because he's lined up a yard deeper. If Duvernay's game is still speed, having him in the slot changes a ton about how a defense would have to align. Putting him in motion would force someone to go with him or tell the QB where the zones are. After the snap, he's largely free to run unimpeded on whatever his route is without fighting past an "in your face" defender. Devin in the slot is a luxury for a fully effective offense. It presupposes Sam will have time to let the routes develop. When that happens, he can pull a defense apart by sending the secondary deeper than what they can cover - thus creating holes all over the field for other receivers. When Texas did not have the talent to pass block effectively, Duvernay was a wasted position since the defense knew he wasn't going to have the play time to get deep. LJH was a much better option to catch passes in traffic near the LOS. Keeping a defense that close to the line also prevented Texas from having 40+ yard scoring plays. If the defense knows they have to be ready to defend a 50+ yard pass, they'll be stretched enough that Ingram or Whittington can run through and around them.
  18. We're riding sky high (and with good reason) off the Sugar Bowl win over UGA. There's a strong temptation, then, to eye LSU as just a "not quite as good as Georgia, plus we're at home" team. The parallels are certainly there, however its worth remembering that Texas took UGA out of its comfort zone early with turnover and a knee-down punt that set up short fields. The game tape indicates that Texas was at least UGA's equal throughout the game player v player, but the early miscues tore a lot of Georgia's playbook out. I mention that because of exactly what sushi brought us. Ball security is a must. I'm gruntled that we have an elder leader in Sam who will be able to take the emotion out of the game and play calmly. Early points and a hot start might be hard to come by, but a temptation to press for the spectacular could put us in UGA's position. While LSU's offense consists of whatever they think about at the moment, their defense is the real deal. Schemes are one thing, but the talent and speed available are matched by very few. LSU is comfortable matching their athletes against yours on defense.
  19. I was a part time computer tech at The Logic Approach on South Lamar at the time, whilst continuing my labors as a CS student. I was listening on the radio, and got mad when they sent Phil out. No one could kick straight on into that fresh gale. Surely, letting James heave one to the endzone stood a better chance. Everything went dead silent once Phil kicked it. Then I heard, "It's goooooooooooooood!!!". I swear it took 5 seconds to register in my brain!
  20. I vote Zach Shackelford as the most important non-Sam player. I may even consider him for the most important player period. By "important", I'm giving a lot of weight to "not replaceable with our current roster". I believe this OL has a real chance at being special. I can articulate how different combinations of players would work, but they all revolve around a healthy, experienced C. Orlando's defense is a big guy causing a traffic jam at the point of attack, and a whole lot of other guys swarming. The swarming is specific. In our last two season openers, we've had some brand new players on the field having some, "Wait, was my job the curl or the flat?" moments. The constant suspensions and injuries for last season's opener thrust a lot of talented newbies on the field. Yes, Texas is replacing 8 "starters" on the defensive side. However, "starters" is only a label. There's a healthy rotation of players at every position who have seen game action and been part of this defense. We shouldn't be playing defenders who are still learning the playbook.
  21. You just cannot scheme around a bad OL. You still have to run plays and hope for the best, so you can try to limit the damage, but the OL is like an engine block. All the flashy, high powered toys just don't work at all if the block is bad. Texas fans can relate fully to the above description of the LSU OL. Suspect talent. Injuries to that talent. No continuity and constant replacements. Even when some talent is trained up, there's always a hole that the opposition targets ruthlessly. We spent many games hoping to get close enough for a FG at the end of a 19-17 game where the defense had gutted it out, but the offense wore a hole in the middle of the field. Texas is replacing several OL members. However, this is the first time that I can actually verbalize a real plan for rotations and combinations without including "he was pretty good last year in high school, so I think he'll be OK". Spring practice and summer workouts are there for a reason. It sounds like LSU had plenty to work on. Perhaps they found something. However, switching from power ISO with a bad line to quick strike with a bad line just means you're punting faster.
  22. Only guy on the roster whose girlfriend was faster than him.
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