Texas vs. Michigan - 11am on Fox

[Dewey 3286]

1 minute ago, Jkwellborn said:

Could they wind up as the lowest ranked defending champion?

LSU finished 5-5 after their last NC. Michigan was a build for one NC, they had no plans for another. You can tell by the coaches and roster they now have. 

[Bodacious Bevo 3584]

Some long thoughts after two rewatches. I'm going to refer to a lot of timestamps in Nash's condensed game replay. Open that up in another window if you want to follow along. 

Spoiler

Sark killed it. 

Spoiler

The gameplan was great. A lot of that has been said already. The announcers highlighted how we went at their backup DTs in the run game. Everyone can see we abused their LBs and second corner and avoided Will Johnson. We spread them out then took it to them once they were tired. 

A couple things I thought were interesting that I haven't seen elsewhere: 

- We went to the pony package to start the game. I really like that. We knew that Sark would spread them out laterally to start the game. Michigan knew that too. This was a great way to do the expected in an unconventional way. We also used it situationally on the second drive (6:19).

- This was a really cool way to use the QB to create window dressing post-snap (2:00). This is designed, rehearsed movements by the QB before a handoff/pitch that'll mess with a LB's reads. And that's on top of everything Sark does with formations and motion.

- We didn't RPO them nearly as much as I thought we might (6:10). 

Something basic that is important to establish before the rest of the writeup: the team came showed a very clear understanding of the game strategy. Points were at a premium because of their offense's limitation. Possess the ball. Stay out of long-distance passing downs. Make them win by passing. Literally the only errors I saw that went against that were Cam Williams's penalties. 

Our run game was good. Don't let the box score fool you. 

Spoiler

The box score says our RBs had 27 carries for 87 yards (3.3 yards per carry). 

But when you take out garbage time (when we went up 31-6), we started 17/73 for 4.3ypc. 

More importantly, I charted our RB carry success rate to be 47% on those 17 carries. That's very good. Last year, WVU was #21 in the country with a 47.25% rush success rate. We also had no runs for losses and only one for no gain. 

Great day on the ground imo - at least when we successfully handed it off. 

Xavier Worthy's replacement is Jaydon Blue, not Isaiah Bond.

Spoiler

It's early in the season but I am forming the opinion that Sark has made some subtle, but hugely important, changes to the offense that will change the short passing game. Basically, we'll throw more swing passes to RBs and fewer WR screens. Jaydon blue will take the torch from Xavier Worthy and be the guy whose gravity Sark uses to manipulate defenses (akin to Steph Curry sucking in both PnR defenders in the NBA).

Blue had one big highlight play that shows the threat of these passes perfectly: 21:42.

We only threw two WR screens. One of them in the third quarter was blown up for a loss (29:49). The other one, which is much more interesting, was a tunnel screen on an early third down (2:12). It notably used a swing to Blue as misdirection. The safety, corner, and MLB all flowed towards Blue and that let Isaiah Bond knife through the middle to a first down. 

In addition to the WR screen that was blown up, UM also did a great job defending designed RB screens (1:17, 30:14). I think that Sark is proactively evolving here. Teams have five years of college film on him now. They're going to learn how to defend our screens, whether it's a bubble to a WR or the play-action throwback to a RB. We don't have anyone as gifted as Xavier Worthy to run them or Jordan Whittington to block them. So, pivot to throwing the ball to a RB out of the backfield. It accomplishes the same objective: pulling the front seven side-to-side and the safeties in. 

This is also something that Sark can build on with counters. See the tunnel screen above. And see Blue's 7-yard TD catch on a swing pass (36:11), but watch Ryan Wingo break open as the defense breaks on Blue. That's something we can come back to with a simple pump fake later in the season. It's the gravity of a fast and quick playmaker consuming the defense's attention. 

I've posted before about how the 'Keilan' role isn't something specific to Keilan Robinson or the RB position. Sark just likes to have guys that are lethal in space (speed + breaking/juking tacklers). He'll move them around, motion them a bunch, and get them touches on short passes to the outside with the defense poorly leveraged. That was Devonte Smith at Alabama, Keilan in years 1-2 when X was our only receiver that could stretch the field, but last year it was Worthy, and this year I think it's Blue.

Blue already has 9 catches in two games, putting him on pace for 50+ in the regular season. Before this year, the most receptions for a RB under Sark were Bijan with 26 in 2021 and Brooks with 25 last year. Blue might double them up.

I'd be remisced if I didn't also give Wisner a shoutout as being capable here too (13:25). And that Quinn is awesome at these throws. Yes, that's a real skill. No, not all quarterbacks are good at them. Yes, it matters.

Quinn was awesome 

Spoiler

Quinn carried us early with third down conversions of 13, 5, and 7 yards (and another of 11 on the holding-negated TD). That gave us a 13-play drive that chewed 5:56 off the clock to start the game.

In hindsight, we were a clearly better team and would have won even if we punted after a three-and-out to open the game. But, when you talk about executing the game strategy, Quinn kept us afloat. On the second and third drives, we converted our third downs on the ground. The defense was tired and disoriented - because of Quinn. He was the reason that we dominated Michigan start to inish, rather than simply beat them.  

Here are some plays where he navigated to pocket at a really high level: 2:58, 4:04, 6:57, 16:20.

And here's a couple where he made smart decisions and followed the game strategy: 4:31, 18:38, 35:30. Quinn has grown up and learned how to win football games (which could be said for the entire team, really). 

This was an extremely impressive technical performance from Quinn. Oh my god - Quinn has good mechanics!? If he builds on this he'll win the Heisman and go 1.1.

There's still room for improvement.

Spoiler

We've yet to see many explosive plays on the ground or on deep shots to WRs. We'll need those to come at some point. The good news is that we know Sark won't give up on the deep ball. 

LB run fits are an evergreen need. It's a fundamental like tackling. Just always keep working. I was a bit worried coming into the game but we were generally good. Gbenda did have one bad fit that I forgot to timestamp. 

Our edge guys have yet to make many big plays

 

 

Edited September 8 by Bodacious Bevo

[Lhorn 4913]

26 minutes ago, Red Five said:

This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

1, 2, 4, 3? 

This is exactly the right answer 

[MontereyMX 869]

4 minutes ago, immamac said:

Looks so empty to me hahahaha loved taking this spot over just like we took over the big house yesterday. 

I estimate 13-15k. Was incredible. 

Great Job!!

[deter 314]

34 minutes ago, Red Five said:

This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

1, 2, 4, 3? 

1,1,1,1

[cmontexas 3271]

You guys are insane 2nd from left is clearly a higher tier

[InkaUtexas 25940]

3 minutes ago, cmontexas said:

You guys are insane 2nd from left is clearly a higher tier

yeah, but 1 has the height advantage to rest your beer.

[Doc Daneeka 6769]

Just now, InkaUtexas said:

yeah, but 1 has the height advantage to rest your beer.

They all do, if you’re an adult height. 

[hookemATL 11734]

Nobody gives a fuck who you want to fuck and in what order. It remains the most tired bullshit on this site. Uphauling. 

[nineliveslost 2760]

1 minute ago, hookemATL said:

Nobody gives a fuck who you want to fuck and in what order. It remains the most tired bullshit on this site. Uphauling. 

[EuroHorn 3265]

20 minutes ago, Dewey said:

LSU finished 5-5 after their last NC. Michigan was a build for one NC, they had no plans for another. You can tell by the coaches and roster they now have. 

Well that and they were sign stealing cheating fucks last year and Harbaugh knew it was time to leave 

[Hank_Hill 18807]

1 hour ago, Surly Bevo said:

 

Now if you consider teams like Penn State or LSU blue bloods then it kind of all falls apart

Nobody who knows anything should consider those teams.

[Rimbo 25935]

14 minutes ago, hookemATL said:

Nobody gives a fuck who you want to fuck and in what order. It remains the most tired bullshit on this site. Uphauling. 

[UTGrad98 2273]

28 minutes ago, hookemATL said:

Nobody gives a fuck who you want to fuck and in what order. It remains the most tired bullshit on this site. Uphauling. 

Im going to rate them even harder now

[Armybrat 40844]

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

Like....almost directly across the street.  On yesterday's hunt, I could hear the whine of the engines of the cars they were running at the track (not sure what exactly was going on) clear as a bell.  Could see the tower from my spot -- maybe 1/2 mile to the tower?

West side?

 

[Dewey 3286]

36 minutes ago, EuroHorn said:

Well that and they were sign stealing cheating fucks last year and Harbaugh knew it was time to leave 

Anything and everything and then everyone bailed and left Moore with a bag of shit. It's really kind of weird to me, then again I find Jim Harbaugh weird, but they had an opportunity to build what Bama has, UGA has, what tOSU has and instead the powers that be, for some reason, built for one season, not a decade+.

A blueblood should be recruiting stars and depth, dipping into the portal for pressing needs, not going to shit after one good season. 

Totally crazy to me and handled all wrong IMO 

[Brisketexan 105139]

21 minutes ago, Armybrat said:

West side?

 

South side of 812 - gate is literally 1000 feet before you get to COTA (if you're coming in from 130), right side of the road. Where is your place?  And more importantly, are you hip on us planting sunflowers there and shooting the hell outta the dove?

[TheRRKid 227]

Michigan fans using the excuse that they lost 13 players to the draft is tired. Georgia, Bama, and Ohio St have been sending waves of players to the league and don’t have this level of fall off. It’s a reality that the best teams must deal with and not a unique circumstance for your team. Bama sent 10 to the league and replaced their coaching staff for example 

[irishtexan 11519]

1 hour ago, Horn Under a Bad Sign said:

I think we will find out that Michigan's D is legit and that their offense isn't as bad as it looked but that our defense really is THAT good. 

 

Their offense is exactly as bad as it looked. But I think our defense is also very good.

[EuroHorn 3265]

6 hours ago, Leanderman said:

I was at the game and saw this happening.  The Texas coach in the orange jacket looked like he was desperately trying to stop the guy from planting the flag.  Lol. 

[Armybrat 40844]

3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

South side of 812 - gate is literally 1000 feet before you get to COTA (if you're coming in from 130), right side of the road. Where is your place?  And more importantly, are you hip on us planting sunflowers there and shooting the hell outta the dove?

McAngus Road…. Next door to Rastegar’s development. 
My nephews and their crowd have the dove hunting locked down.

 

 

[Armybrat 40844]

5 minutes ago, EuroHorn said:

I was at the game and saw this happening.  The Texas coach in the orange jacket looked like he was desperately trying to stop the guy from planting the flag.  Lol. 

I don’t like our players disrespecting opponents’ houses in that manner. 
It’s bush league behavior, IMO. 
The team’s performance on the field accomplished any statement of dominance very clearly.
 

[JBJ 3654]

26 minutes ago, irishtexan said:

Their offense is exactly as bad as it looked. But I think our defense is also very good.

I think they are Iowa+ this year.  ~10th defense, but ~50th offense.  They will ride the defense to a lot of wins, but also lose to someone they shouldn't because they can't comeback from behind,

Edited September 8 by JBJ

[sith_horn 2394]

1 hour ago, hookemATL said:

 Uphauling. 

             

[jdhorn92 1549]

4 hours ago, texastroubadour said:

in my TMZ voice: are they back together?

She was on the field with Sark after the game.

[hookemATL 11734]

1 minute ago, sith_horn said:

             

Don’t be an idoit. For all intentsive purposes, you know I am right. 

[thunderlounge 7832]

1 hour ago, hookemATL said:

Nobody gives a fuck who you want to fuck and in what order. It remains the most tired bullshit on this site. Uphauling. 

x

[David Dennison 18860]

1 hour ago, hookemATL said:

Nobody gives a fuck who you want to fuck and in what order. It remains the most tired bullshit on this site. Uphauling. 

Speaking of tired bullshit . . .

[Hiphopopotamos 20873]

10 minutes ago, jdhorn92 said:

She was on the field with Sark after the game.

That wasn’t his wife unless she gained all the weight he lost. 

[Surly Bevo 24908]

1 minute ago, Hiphopopotamos said:

That wasn’t his wife unless she gained all the weight he lost. 

Fake Divorce is hard

[jdhorn92 1549]

 

2 minutes ago, Hiphopopotamos said:

That wasn’t his wife unless she gained all the weight he lost. 

Gothca, he certainly has a type.  Although she seemed to be directing him immediate post game, maybe that lady was staff.

Edited September 8 by jdhorn92

[burntorangebongos 10710]

Anybody  know where I can catch a rebroadcast or have a link to the game?

[Red Five 40858]

1 minute ago, burntorangebongos said:

Anybody  know where I can catch a rebroadcast or have a link to the game?

https://www.youtube.com/@TexasClips

[TOR 5579]

2 minutes ago, burntorangebongos said:

Anybody  know where I can catch a rebroadcast or have a link to the game?

Youtube link is upthread.

[BurntOrange&White 39932]

Has Arch entered the transfer portal today since he didn't get garbage time meaningful snaps yesterday? 

[Not a cat 5657]

13 minutes ago, jdhorn92 said:

 

Gothca, he certainly has a type.  Although she seemed to be directing him immediate post game, maybe that lady was staff.

Found the katfid sock.

[Rimbo 25935]

18 minutes ago, jdhorn92 said:

 

Gothca, he certainly has a type.  Although she seemed to be directing him immediate post game, maybe that lady was staff.

she can handle my staff

[Eskimohorn 5635]

Sark was holding a lot back for UTSA.

You nailed that like we nailed your mom last night.

[Eskimohorn 5635]

Dude, I'm so glad I saw that. They were not expecting MM to just start talking football properly.

This is Texas. When Mack Brown brought his women’s coaching clinic here he was not expecting the ladies to be asking him about quarters coverage and why Greg Davis used playaction on 3rd and long.

[Ignatius 4017]

2 hours ago, hookemATL said:

It remains the most tired bullshit on this site. Uphauling. 

Using catchphrases from 1999-era HornFans that were funny for like 3 hours gives it a serious run for the money…

Edited September 8 by Ignatius

[Ignatius 4017]

1 hour ago, TheRRKid said:

Michigan fans using the excuse that they lost 13 players to the draft is tired. Georgia, Bama, and Ohio St have been sending waves of players to the league and don’t have this level of fall off. It’s a reality that the best teams must deal with and not a unique circumstance for your team. Bama sent 10 to the league and replaced their coaching staff for example 

We only sent 11 to the NFL; I guess those 2 extra players are worth 9.5 points each…

[Codaxx 5739]

1 hour ago, Dewey said:

Anything and everything and then everyone bailed and left Moore with a bag of shit. It's really kind of weird to me, then again I find Jim Harbaugh weird, but they had an opportunity to build what Bama has, UGA has, what tOSU has and instead the powers that be, for some reason, built for one season, not a decade+.

A blueblood should be recruiting stars and depth, dipping into the portal for pressing needs, not going to shit after one good season. 

Totally crazy to me and handled all wrong IMO 

Harbaugh doesn’t recruit to build college football dynasty. He is a great coach, but recruiting isn’t his thing. He is more Bill Synder, than Saban 

[Gaffords 755]

13 minutes ago, Ignatius said:

We only sent 11 to the NFL; I guess those 2 extra players are worth 9.5 points each…

This....   We lost our entire receiving room, one side of our our defensive line, and then our hard yardage back in fall camp.   Gibson will fill that role nicely with time, but until they are comfortable with his pass blocking, it's obvious that it's going to be a run when he comes in the game.

[6th Street 6403]

Polite fans, super welcoming. They took the beating well since they are the champs, and know their team is not good this year. Shook our hands as they filed out in the 2nd half 

We gave the Michigan fans the Horns down back before and after the game and they were totally dumbfounded. Had no idea how to react and just walked away. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[ousux 5597]

Don’t be an idoit. For all intentsive purposes, you know I am right. 

*porpoises

[orangebird 1079]

2 hours ago, Armybrat said:

I don’t like our players disrespecting opponents’ houses in that manner. 
It’s bush league behavior, IMO. 
The team’s performance on the field accomplished any statement of dominance very clearly.
 

+1

Look, we're Texas.  Act like we've been there before.

[Longboard Horn 40323]

[Armybrat 40844]

9 minutes ago, orangebird said:

+1

Look, we're Texas.  Act like we've been there before.

Correct….even though it has been a while.

[Vic Mackey 47038]

Fucking cornball

 

[Telegraph_it 3357]

2 minutes ago, Vic Mackey said:

Fucking cornball

 

Seemed too tall to be Hamm but maybe he has heels on. 

Edited September 9 by Telegraph_it