Maybe I am not a sophisticated football fan, but since 2010, no matter who the HC is or who the DC is, the Texas defense has looked the exact same every single year. Maybe we are better at tackling some years than others, but regardless, we never seem to be anything but a mediocre, plodding defense that never seems to make a play when we need it most.
I will then watch other teams play teams that beat us, and their defenses seem to be bigger/faster and make the plays that we didn't. NC State turned Tech inside and out defensively, forced turnovers and dominated the game. How many players on the NC State defense would have been recruited by Texas?
Also, I don't believe in football savants. I don't believe our program is "the right coach away" from being great. We have hired many coaches since 2010 and for all the pomp, none seem to look any better or worse than the guys that proceeded or followed them. Just the same thing over and over again.