Mother fuckers aren't dead yet!
Post Maryland game, and while most fans of the University of Texas's football program were still steeped in their lazy hatred for Tim Beck and their belief that his removal would be the panacea change needed to affect our return "back."
Smart observers realized that the offense was Herman's baby, and Herman needs a Sam like QB to be his on field surrogate...the guy in the booth with the play book is tertiary in order of importance to the effectiveness of Herman's offense, if it's even that. It was clear after Maryland that Herman and Sam hadn't gotten rolling yet, but with the improvement on the line, this roll was only a matter of time.
Tom Herman is one of the best offensive coaches in college football..some say the best..and the arguments I have heard for that position seem rather compelling.
No, what worried me after watching the Maryland game was the gashing of the defense. There was no help on the way for any of that. That was going to be what it was going to be until other players, hopefully much more capable players, would populate the roster. I didn't see the difficulties the defense has had getting ball carriers on the ground and/or getting off the field on third down ever going away...and, truly, they still haven't "gone away."
But tonight was better. That plan to utilize Gary Johnson as a spy on Purdy - to negate that pump fake bullshit he has used to win 5 straight games..to completely stop him from escaping and moving the chains on broken plays with his legs, while affording Gary and others open season on some jarring hits on the QB, shots that ended up knocking Purdy out of the game,..was all coaching...and more importantly...all Todd Orlando in his capacity as our DC and as our Linebacker's coach.
All is not forgotten - even if some of it is forgiven - but you are paid to fix shit here, sometimes on the fly or in game...to adjust and to instill a hard hitting defense that intimidates the finesse offenses of the Big 12. That's what you did tonight and I am proud of you.
Iowa State might have had the best statistical defense in the Big 12 this year, but ask Brock Purdy which defense hits the hardest and is the most intimidating.