Media/$9.95-er postgame analysis articles (Week 6)

[satyanash 14,477]

Collecting all the post-game analysis articles, including those behind paywalls, regarding the blOU game here:

(Bobby Burton) Snap Judgments: Winning an all-time great game

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I've seen at least 35 Texas-OU games, either in person or on the TV. Very few of those have been "great" games. Yes, more often than not they are games where people play up and do something out of this world. Where you can throw the records out the window, but I'm telling you this was a great, great game IMO. Think about it. There have only been a few, truly great ones. This absolutely qualifies. It's up there with Colt and gang in 2008.

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I have to mention Cameron Dicker here at the top of the article. Going into the kick, I had no clue whether he'd make it. None. Equal parts optimism and pessimism. But he did. And he friggin' nailed it. It was a no-doubter from the second it left his foot. True and right down the middle.

**

Oklahoma’s offense is an explosive play waiting to happen. The fact that Kyler Murray can run so effectively is just a dimension that that sort of offense has never had. That's how you come back form 21 points down in the fourth quarter. But Murray was far from perfect. He threw the pick and he fumbled. In contrast, Sam Ehlinger did NOT turn the ball over. And while Ehlinger may not have the wheels of Murray, he absolutely played the game of his life. Ehlinger, again, was money on almost every third down throughout the entire game. And his ability in the run game gave Oklahoma fits. So much so, that I can't believe Coach Tom Herman didn't run Ehlinger on third-and-short before opting instead of a pass with five minutes left in the game, which was incomplete and gave the Sooners the ball back. That playcall alone probably deserves it own topic. But today is a day for a victory. And that's what Ehlinger brought home.

**

Herman actually came out calling plays aggressively. LJ Humphrey threw two passes. Ehlinger went deep. Herman's play-calling, and Texas' execution on offense set the tone for the first three quarters of the game.

**

Brandon Jones bit more than once on long passes by the Sooners. The Sooners put real pressure on Jones to either cover the bubble screen or cover deep. Jones chose incorrectly more than once and the Sooners made him pay.

**

Tre Watson's touchdown catch was a great read by Ehlinger. But more surprising was the fourth-down call of a swing pass to Watson the very play before the TD. That's another example of an aggressive play-call from Herman. And it contrasts directly with the decision by Lincoln Riley to kick the field goal in a fourth-and-short situation to start the second quarter. More proof you have to be aggressive in this game.

**

Keaontay Ingram provided his usual spark to the running game. And if it weren't for a spate of holding calls in the fourth quarter, Texas may have fed Ingram the ball even more.

**

For the second consecutive game, I didn't see the Texas receivers drop a single "catchable" ball. And Andrew Beck's fingertip grab on a ball near the ground that set up the fourth-and-short may have been the play of the first half. That play was the difference between points on the board and a punt.

**

BJ Foster's sack of Murray early in the fourth quarter was outstanding. He was chipped by the back, but Foster kept his wits and even though he went to the ground, he effected Murray and ultimately grabbed him around the ankles. Foster also timed the blitz about as well as a Texas safety has in years. It was a big-time play.

**

For the second straight week, Charles Omenihu had a series where he dominated the opponent. He had a sack and a tackle for loss in the second quarter which ultimately resulted in an OU punt.

**

There were so many plays - good and bad - that I could go over. But here's the bottom line: Texas won. Texas won a GREAT game. 48-45 Longhorns.

**

P.S. How confident would you have been if Josh Rowland was kicking that last field goal instead?

Jeff Howe: Texas hangs on to take Red River thriller over Oklahoma, 48-45

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DALLAS — Whether they’re back or not is up for national pundits to decide. The fact is Texas, through six games of the 2018 season, is good and the No. 19 Longhorns made their biggest statement of the Tom Herman era with a 48-45 upset victory over No. 7 Oklahoma in the 113th edition of the AT&T Red River Showdown on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.

Texas (5-1, 3-0 in the Big 12) physically dominated the Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1) through three quarters, scoring on seven of the offense’s first nine possessions while forcing two critical turnovers that led to 10 points for the Longhorns. Oklahoma came roaring back with a 21-point fourth quarter, but a 9-play, 52-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard Cameron Dicker field goal to break a tie and give the Longhorns the victory.

By knocking off the Sooners, ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 5 in the Amway Coaches Poll, Texas defeated their highest-ranked opponent since a 20-13 win over No. 5 Nebraska on Oct. 16, 2010. More important, the win makes Herman’s bunch a legitimate contender for the Big 12 title as perhaps the team to beat in the conference the rest of the way.

The victory also snaps a run in the series where Oklahoma won six of eight meetings. The two rivals have now split the last six meetings with Herman becoming the third Texas head coach to beat Oklahoma this decade joining Mack Brown (2013) and Charlie Strong (2015).

Herman avoided becoming the first Texas head coach since David McWilliams to begin his tenure on the Forty Acres with a 0-2 record in the Red River series by way of his squad denying the Sooners a chance to get back in the game in the third quarter.

With the Oklahoma deficit down to a touchdown and the Oklahoma end of the Cotton Bowl alive and rowdy for one of the few times on the afternoon, Breckyn Hager was in the right place at the right time. Hager recovered a Kyler Murray fumble at the Oklahoma 23-yard line, giving Texas the ball back when it looked like the Sooners were ready to seize momentum with 8:20 to go in the third quarter.

The Longhorns only needed five plays to cover the rest of the distance to the end zone. The ensuing drive ended with a 2-yard Sam Ehlinger touchdown run to get the game back to a two-score lead in favor of the Longhorns, 38-24, and following an Oklahoma three-and-out, a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ehlinger to Lil'Jordan Humphrey gave the Longhorns a three-touchdown lead, 45-24, heading into the fourth quarter.

Texas needed the sequence and the cushion due to Murray leading an Oklahoma rally with three fourth-quarter touchdown drives, the last ending with Trey Sermon 7-yard touchdown run to tie the game, 45-45, with 2:38 to play in regulation. That’s when Ehlinger took the Longhorns down the field and ended the offense’s final drive of the game with Dicker's field goal with nine seconds left on the clock.

The start of the second half went much like the first half. A 31-yard run by Keaontay Ingram on a third-and-1 early in the opening drive and a physical 19-yard tunnel screen from Ehlinger to Humphrey where the junior pushed the pile for an extra few yards were the highlights on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard Ehlinger touchdown run to put the Longhorns ahead, 31-17.

When facing Oklahoma, however, it’s only a matter of time before the Sooners strike up the band on a big play. That’s what happened on their third play of the second half as Kyler Murray found Marquise Brown behind the Texas coverage for a 77-yard touchdown to cut the lead to a touchdown, 31-24. While the Texas defense eventually stepped up, it looked like an old-fashioned shootout was going to break out when the game started. Thank goodness for the Longhorns that Ehlinger and Co. brought plenty of ammunition with them up IH-35.

Murray ended a 6-play, 65-yard scoring drive that featured a brilliant opening script by Lincoln Riley with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brown. A well-executed tunnel screen from Ehlinger to Humphrey for 29 yards and a bomb down the sideline from Ehlinger to Collin Johnson for 36 yards highlighted a 5-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard jump pass out of the Wildcat from Humphrey to Johnson to tie the game, 7-7.

Brandon Jones made the first momentum-shifting play of the game when he read a deep pass by Murray over the middle of the field and stepped in front of an open Oklahoma receiver for an interception. Even though the Longhorns settled for a 44-yard field goal by Dicker on their ensuing drive, they didn’t trail again in the first half. A 10-10 game early in the second quarter saw Texas break the tie on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Facing a third-and-20 at the Oklahoma 49, Ehlinger found Andrew Beck over the middle for an 18-yard gain for one of the biggest plays of the half as it set up a 3-yard swing pass from Ehlinger to Tre Watson to convert a fourth-and-2 at the Oklahoma 31.

One play later, Ehlinger hit Watson a wheel route out of the backfield for the 28-yard go-ahead score with 10:18 on the clock. A sack and a tackle for loss by Charles Omenihu led to a three-and-out on the ensuing Oklahoma series. The offense then went on a physical 8-play, 75-yard drive with fifth rushing attempt of the series and the final 48 rushing yards on the march were a 9-yard touchdown run by Ehlinger with Ingram providing a critical block to spring him free and into the end zone.

Although the Sooners fought back to make it a one-score game at intermission, 24-17 after a 5-yard scoring toss from Murray to CeeDee Lamb ended an 11-play, 82-yard drive, the first half belonged to the Texas offense. Along with scoring on their first four possessions, the Longhorns scored touchdowns on both of their trips in the red zone, held the edge in total yards at the break (241-234) and averaged 8.9 yards per play over the first quarters of action (Oklahoma, entering the game averaging that per-play production on the season, was limited to 6.9 yards per play in the first half).

With a huge win in the bag, Texas will be back in action next weekend with a 2:30 kick against Baylor at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

InsideTexas: Five Thoughts on Texas vs. OU

 

1. OU Sucks.

2. OU Sucks.

3. OU Sucks.

4. OU Sucks.

5. OU Sucks.

Edited October 6, 2018 by satyanash

[satyanash 14,477]

(Ian Boyd) 5 Quick thoughts: Red River Shootout

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We knew Texas would have a good chance to attack a vulnerable (and somehow overrated) Oklahoma defense, and also that they'd have their hands full keeping an explosive Sooner offense at check. I'm not sure if anyone foresaw that outcome though, in which the Longhorns were in position to start shoveling dirt on the Sooners before they emerged from the ground like John C Reilly to re-engage the Horns.

The four minute offense that has served Texas so well this season almost let them down spectacularly in this game, but then they put it away with a strong finishing drive that set up Cameron Dicker's 40-yard game winner. I doubt any Texas fan felt ultra confident at the end of that game but for everything to rest on Oklahoma's ability to stop the Longhorn offense was a scenario that Texas would have accepted before the game and that Sooners would have run screaming away from.

Quick thought no. 1: Always gotta play it close...

Didn't love the blitz call that allowed that Kyler Murray 67-7ard TD scramble. Beyond that the Longhorns played the game much like Iowa State, dropping back a lot and daring Murray to beat them by running around. He finished with 10 carries for 25 yards that included a few sacks, some of which were classic "boom or bust" plays of the sort that his small frame but lightning speed tends to create.

Additionally, the frequent holding calls on the Texas OL in the fourth quarter were brutal and quite possibly cost Texas the blowout victory they had been building towards (and nearly the game itself). The Sooners had life breathed into their defense by the explosive plays that the OU offense was generating in that quarter...only for it to be deflated when Sam Ehlinger started throwing towards Collin Johnson again. The narrative in Norman after this game will unquestionably be centered around when and how the Sooners should part ways with Mike Stoops, who's been an ace up Texas' sleeve for the last several years of this game.

Lincoln Riley did a good job of keeping some of his play designs stored up, some of their calls down the stretch were quite clever such as the TD to Lee Morris. Oklahoma scored on a bubble route off zone-read from Murray, a fake bubble screen that allowed Ceedee Lamb to run uncovered into the end zone, a switch/wheel route to Marquise Brown when P.J. Locke was caught checking the sideline, and then the late score to Morris that came on another sucker screen play.

The Sooners are all about clever play designs that get their speedy skill players open in space and that's actually been true dating back well before Lincoln Riley came to even the early Bob Stoops days. Usually if you survive the early calls they run out and then you have a chance to out-execute them down the stretch if you aren't already down by 20+, but Riley had some in the tank for this contest. Anyways, a slightly better Texas team just buries the Sooners but no one is going to be crying about mistakes in a big win.

Quick thought no. 2: Sam Ehlinger > Kyler Murray

Kyler made a few big plays in the passing game and of course the one fantastic scramble, but most of his yardage came off executing Riley's designs to set up wide open receivers that don't lack for athleticism. At times Murray was clearly rattled, missing sideline throws high, committing two bad turnovers, and going down to a DB that was laying on the ground and grabbed his leg.

Meanwhile, Ehlinger was ascendant. 24-35 with 314 yards at 9 ypa. Two TD passes, ZERO INTs. Then he added another 18 carries for 84 yards at 4.7 ypc (after removing sack yardage from the one sack) with three rushing TDs and five short-yardage conversions on the ground. Add in his reception and you're over 400 yards of offense and five TDs. On the day Texas went 6-14 on third down (and 2-2 on 4th) while the Sooners were 3-8 (and 1-1).

Ehlinger was composed, took care of the football, made the plays that were there, and took delight in running through a notoriously soft defense. The Longhorns knew where to get after the Sooners and executed the plan at a high level save for the horrible 4th quarter drives thwarted by holding calls combined with a desire to play it safe with a big lead. He hit several big throws on third down and a few big shots down the field that were needed to break open the game.

The Sooners regularly seemed discombobulated when Riley's play designs didn't line things up for them on a silver platter, if not for their team speed on offense this contest still would have been the blowout it was shaping into. You want to see a cleaner fourth quarter but you take the team that can execute in crunch time and knows how to take care of the ball and build a winning drive.

"...I'm looking forward to the next three years." That was a line from Ehlinger in the post-game presser after the very narrow 2017 defeat. You could tell he'd just put a mammoth effort into the game and couldn't be more frustrated with the outcome and you could sense how the frustration was going to be channeled. From that moment on I've become suspicious that he'll graduate with a winning record against the Sooners.

Quick thought 3: Collin Johnson and Lil'Jordan Humphrey came to eat

You knew that Texas was going to bring a lot of fight into this game when, on their initial drive, Collin Johnson had his altercation with the freshman DB for OU (Brendan Radley-Hiles) who was supposed to have brought some swagger and physicality to the Sooner secondary. Bookie (Radley-Hiles) knocked off Johnson's helmet and in return was escorted to the sideline by the bigger Collin and had his own helmet knocked off.

Collin Johnson came to eat ridiculous fried food and beast Sooner DBs, and he saved the meal for after the game. His six catches for 81 yards and a score doesn't really capture the domination he exhibited out on the sideline. On multiple short-yardage plays his slants on the outside were as close to automatic as the QB stretch play on short-yardage. Meanwhile Lil'Jordan Humphrey was running wild in the seams, particularly from the boundary where they regularly aligned him with Collin Johnson to overload the Sooners' weak side in coverage. Nine receptions for 133 yards and a score along with a passing TD on an inspired wildcat jump pass play to end the first drive.

He's clearly the receiver Ehlinger feels most comfortable with in go-to situations, particularly on option routes in the seams where Humphrey is nearly unguardable (and likely making himself some money). Like I've noted since before the year, he's essentially an extra-quick flex TE and they've been using him accordingly.

Beyond that, Texas also did a lot of damage in this game throwing bubble screens on RPOs where those guys (as well as Devin Duvernay and Andrew Beck) were able to punish the undersized Sooner secondary with blocks. LJH and Johnson against the Sooner DBs was a particular matchup in this game that Texas needed to exploit and they did so in a major way.

Quick thought no. 4: Texas won that game on 3rd and 20 and 3rd and 21

On the former play Ehlinger hit Andrew Beck over the middle on a seam route in which he was tackled just a yard short of the first. Texas hurried to the line to run QB stretch, the Sooners called a timeout to get into a play-call, and then they unexpectedly picked up 4th and 1 throwing a RB swing pass off QB power. That was early in the game but it was a crushing blow for the Sooners who were struggling to get into a rhythm on offense and for an OU defense that needed confidence.

Later in the game they did it again, throwing a tunnel screen to Lil'Jordan Humphrey that resulted in half the Texas OL basically picking Humphrey up and carrying him to within a yard of the first down marker. Again they hurried to the line in a formation to call QB stretch, again OU blew a timeout, and then this time Texas ran straight QB power with no swing pass to easily pick up the first down.

Granted the final drive to kick the FG was crucial, and it should have been needless, but I think the Sooners lost the game on those two plays. If you can't get off the field on third and a mile you're cooked, and if you have a FB playing QB and can set up multiple short-yardage scenarios in crucial game situations, you're in good shape.

Quick thought no. 5: OU sucks!

They are who we thought they were. They're soft on the back end and undisciplined up front on defense, prone to creating vicious cycles in which either play off the other and allow teams to pour points on. Their offense is explosive and well coordinated but rarely faces adversity, feasts on mistakes, and aren't as physical or mentally tough as their reputation suggests.

Kyler Murray has always played on the stacked team save for a few games in College Station that went notably awry. His turnovers were bad and he's contact shy in the pocket, prone to trying to scramble for time or options and seemingly incapable of stepping up in the pocket. He reminds me of Jason White. Their backs ran hard but the Texas DL often wrecked things up front with penetration.

It's entirely likely that these two teams will meet again in the other stadium in the Metroplex at the end of the season. The Longhorns should be totally unafraid of that matchup, they are the tougher team and better at executing in key situations without needing their HC to get them into the perfect play. What's more, Texas can play a lot better on defense than they showed in that game and will be better on that side of the ball at the end of the year as the young DBs that were all over the field today continue to grow and learn on the job. The march to a Big 12 title and the cutting of Breckyn Hager's locks continues.

In the meantime...time to redeem this GIF, Texas is back.

 

[satyanash 14,477]

Jake Trotter: What Texas' win over Oklahoma means

No. 19 Texas 48, No. 7 Oklahoma 45

Texas took quite the counterpunch. But after blowing a three-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, the Longhorns found a way to get into field goal range. Then, true freshman kicker Cameron Dicker became a Red River legend, nailing a 40-yarder in the final seconds to deliver Texas its biggest victory this decade. Sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger played a marvelous game, and was never more clutch than on the final drive, passing for 25 yards and rushing for 13. Until an improbable late flurry from Kyler Murray and the Sooners, Texas was in command of the game the entire day. Now, the Longhorns are in control of the Big 12 title race. And in Tom Herman's second season, on the verge of truly, finally being back. -- Jake Trotter

Oklahoma very nearly mounted the biggest comeback in Red River history. Instead, its defense couldn't mount one final stop after coming alive late, and Texas converted a game-winning 40-yard field goal in the final seconds. In the end, Murray's electrifying fourth-quarter explosion, which led to three OU touchdowns in just over 3 minutes of game clock, couldn't make up for the rest of the game, which the Longhorns thoroughly dominated. Despite forcing three punts late, coordinator Mike Stoops' otherwise pillowy defense couldn't stand up blocks, tackle in space or force even a single turnover. Ehlinger, meanwhile, outplayed Murray, whose two ill-advised turnovers led to 10 Texas points. With no marquee wins to date, the Sooners' playoff hopes are now on life support. They could, however, get another shot at the Longhorns in the Big 12 championship game. -- Trotter

[satyanash 14,477]

Ian Boyd was getting a TON of shit from blOU fans on Twitter. Needless to say, he's feeling a little vindicated today.

 

[satyanash 14,477]

Chip Brown: Good, Bad, Ugly from Texas' 48-45 win over Oklahoma

DALLAS — The Longhorns weren’t about to let a Golden Hat Trophy celebration get away two years in a row. Not after dominating the Sooners for three and a half quarters and holding a 45-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Last year, Texas took a 24-23 lead with 8:01 left, only to lose 29-24. Not this time. Despite a furious rally led by OU quarterback Kyler Murray, when Texas finally had to have a drive to points, Sam Ehlinger and these resilient Longhorns came through.

Texas took the ball 52 yards in nine plays, converting second-and-11 thanks to an OU pass interference penalty and converting third-and-3 from the OU 36 on a 4-yard run by Ehlinger. After Ehlinger could pick up only 1 yard on third-and-2 from the OU 24, Texas coach Tom Herman let the clock wind down to :09 on the clock and called timeout. Freshman kicker Cameron Dicker drilled a 40-yard field goal with five seconds left, and a couple desperation plays by the Sooners resulted in their third turnover of the game (compared to zero turnovers by the Horns) as Texas took down No. 7 Oklahoma 48-45.

The Longhorns have won five in a row with a home game against Baylor next week. Here’s the Good, Bad and Ugly from the Longhorns’ 48-45 victory over Oklahoma …

THE GOOD

Sam Ehlinger, after his late-game turnover problems in Week 1 against Maryland, has been money. Ehlinger, who was 24 of 35 passing for 314 yards and two touchdowns with 19 carries for 72 yards and three more TDs, has gone five games without an interception and outplayed Kyler Murray for that very reason. Murray turned the ball over twice — on an interception by Brandon Jones and on a fumble recovered by Breckyn Hager — and the Longhorns converted those into 10 critical points.

Longhorns scored on 7 of their first 9 drives today (6 TDs, 1 FG). And one of those non-scoring possessions was one play to run out the final 28 seconds of the first half. B.J. Foster went airborne as he was being cut-blocked and ended up rolling into Kyler Murray for an 8-yard sack on third-and-14 early in the fourth quarter, forcing a punt. Foster finished with two tackles for loss.

Charles Omenihu also had a sack as part of two tackles for loss in which he almost single-handedly caused an OU three-and-out. Brandon Jones led Texas with nine tackles, followed by Caden Sterns. Keaontay Ingram led Texas in rushing with 13 carries for 86 yards (6.6 ypc). He got up slowly, holding his right knee, in the fourth quarter, but returned to the game. Andrew Beck had three catches for 29 yards, including an 18-yarder on third-and-20 that allowed Texas to for it (and make it) on fourth-and-2 in OU territory en route to a touchdown. Tre Watson had six carries for 19 yards (3.2 ypc) but had a couple big receptions among three catches for 30 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown catch on a wheel route with 10:18 left in the second quarter, putting Texas up 17-10 on Oklahoma.

LONGHORNS GO UP 45-24 LATE IN THIRD QUARTER: Texas started sending OU fans to the exits after Sam Ehlinger’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey with 56 seconds left in the third quarter put Texas up 45-24. Texas converted third-and-6 from its own 34 on a 10-yard pass from Ehlinger to Collin Johnson to keep the drive alive. Ingram ran three times for 15 yards on the drive. And Ehlinger also completed passes of 9 yards to John Burt to the OU 44 and 29 yards to Humphrey to the OU 15.

TEXAS TURNS MURRAY FUMBLE INTO A TOUCHDOWN: Kyler Murray tried to use his right hand, while holding the ball, to brace himself while making a spin to evade pressure from Gary Johnson and dropped the ball. Breckyn Hager pounced on it at the OU 23 with 8:20 left in the third quarter. Texas converted third-and-4 on a 10-yard pass to Collin Johnson to the OU 5, and the second of two straight Ehlinger stretch runs to the right resulted in a 2-yard TD run that put Texas up 38-24 with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

TEXAS OPENS THIRD QUARTER WITH 11-PLAY TD DRIVE: Facing third-and-21 after an 11-yard sack of Sam Ehlinger, Tom Herman went back to a screen pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey (that Herman used successfully for 29 yards in the first quarter) and picked up 19 to the OU 27 and then went for it on fourth-and-2 (following an OU timeout) and picked it up on a 7-yard run by Ehlinger. Facing third-and-10 from the OU 15, Ehlinger hit Humphrey — his favorite third-down target — for 15 yards to the OU 5, setting up another QB power to the right for Ehlinger’s second TD run of the day behind another crushing block by Keaontay Ingram on Parnell Motley. The 11-play, 75-yard drive took 4:34 and put Texas up 31-17 with 10:26 left in the third quarter. After that TD drive, Sam Ehlinger was 13 of 16 passing for 199 yards and a touchdown. On UT’s first drive of the third quarter, Keaontay Ingram bounced to the outside and ran for 31 yards to the OU 35 on third-and-1 from the UT 34. That carry gave Ingram 60 yards on six attempts (10 ypc).

EIGHT-PLAY TD DRIVE AFTER THREE-AND-OUT PUTS UT UP 24-10: The Longhorns did a little will-imposing to start and finish the drive as Ehlinger ran for 14 on the first play, followed by runs of 4, 7 and 14 by Keaontay Ingram to the OU 36. Ehlinger hit Collin Johnson for 19 yards on second-and-10 to the OU 17 after Johnson spun away from OU’s Tre Brown and picked up an extra 9 yards. Lil'Jordan Humphrey took a flip from Ingram on a reverse and threw an 8-yard pass to Ehlinger to the OU 9, setting up a 9-yard touchdown run by Ehlinger behind a crushing block by Ingram on OU’s Brown, putting Texas up 24-10 with Charles Omenihu single-handedly dominated a three-and-out in the second quarter, posting a 10-yard sack of Kyler Murray on first down and dropping Murray for a 1-yard loss on second down. A Murray scramble on third-and-21 from the OU 14 came up short, forcing a punt.

TEXAS GOES ON 10-PLAY TD DRIVE TO GO UP 17-10: The Longhorns overcame first-and-20 (thanks to a holding call on Zach Shackelford). Sam Ehlinger hit tight end Andrew Beck for 18 yards on third-and-20, and Texas went for it on fourth-and-2. Texas snapped the ball, and Ehlinger run a QB power to the left and appeared to have some room, but officials blew the play dead, because OU had apparently called timeout before the snap. Ehlinger then threw a swing pass to Tre Watson to the right for 3 yards and a first down at the OU 28. Then, Ehlinger found Watson open down the right sideline on a wheel route for a 28-yard TD pass, putting Texas up, 17-10, with 10:18 left in the second quarter. B.J. Foster stuffed OU RB Marcelius Sutton for a 1-yard loss on third-and-1 from the UT 14, forcing a 32-yard field goal by Austin Seibert, which tied the game 10-10 with

INTERCEPTION BY JONES LEADS TO FG: OU’s Kyler Murray never saw Brandon Jones when he attempted a deep seam to Myles Pease, and Jones made the easy interception and returned it 19 yards to the OU 44. A personal foul on Murray for an illegal block below the knees moved the ball to the OU 29. Running plays by Ehlinger and Keaontay Ingram went for a combined minus-1 yard, and Ehlinger could manage only a 3-yard pass to Devin Duvernay on third down, setting up a 44-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker, putting Texas up 10-7 midway through the first quarter.

HUMPHREY PASS TO JOHNSON TIES GAME 7-7: After OU took just six plays to score on its opening drive, the Longhorns needed only five, capped by a direct snap to Lil’Jordan Humphrey on first-and-goal from the 2. Humphrey took a step as if he was running the ball, then jumped up and threw a lob to wide-open Collin Johnson for the touchdown. The scoring drive included a 29-yard screen pass to Humphrey on UT’s first offensive play, followed by a perfect, 36-yard strike down the right sideline from Sam Ellinger to Collin Johnson at the OU 9. Texas overcame two penalties on the drive — a delay of game to start the drive and an illegal formation (five men in the backfield) at the OU 5. But a pass interference flag on Parnell Motley against Collin Johnson in the end zone on second-and-goal from the 10, set up Humphrey’s TD pass.

A screen pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey on UT’s first offensive play went for 29 yards. Two minutes into the game, officials reviewed what was initially called a 28-yard touchdown catch by tight end Grant Calcaterra and determined he didn’t maintain control of the ball to the ground — thanks to a massive hit by Kris Boyd.

THE BAD

Texas gave up a 21-point lead after giving up three straight touchdown drives in a total of 3:16. The Sooners went 54 yards for a TD in 2:00; 67 yards for a TD in 11 seconds (on Murray’s scoring run); and went 57 yards for a TD in 1:05. Texas still had too many penalties — six for 43 yards — but not as many as OU, which had seven for 73 yards. Ryan Bujcevski could muster only a 22-yard punt to the OU 33 with 5:22 left in the game. Kyler Murray ran for a 67-yard touchdown on the next play, cutting Texas’ lead to 45-38 with 5:11 left.

After an incredible, 11-play touchdown drive by Texas to open the second half, P.J. Locke and Davante Davis ran into each other in man coverage on a wheel-post combo route (pick play), causing Locke to lose his coverage of Marquise Brown on a 77-yard touchdown pass that cut Texas’ lead to 31-24 with 9:15 left in the third quarter. Texas gave up an 11-play, 82-yard drive that took 4:44 off the clock and included conversions of fourth-and-3 from the UT 29 and third-and-7 from the UT 14. The Sooners scored with 28 seconds left in the half on a 5-yard TD pass from Murray to a wide-open CeeDee Lamb that cut Texas’ lead to 24-17. After the play, Brandon Jones looked at P.J. Locke with his hands out to the side, as if to say, that was your man.

A holding call on Zach Shackelford wiped out what would’ve been a 10-yard run by Sam Ehlinger to the OU 29. Instead, Texas faced first-and-20 from the OU 49. Shackelford had another holding penalty later in the game that wiped out a nice run by Keaontay Ingram. After two drives, Texas had four rushing attempts for 9 yards.

OU GOES UP 7-0 ON SIX-PLAY DRIVE: OU needed just six plays to 65 yards for a touchdown in 2:40 to open the game. QB Kyler Murray went 3-of-4 passing on the drive for 44 yards, including a 4-yard TD pass to Marquise Brown. Murray had run of 9 yards, and Trey Sermon had a run of 12 yards on the drive.

UGLY

How open Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb got on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds left in the half.

[MrPhlegm 3,413]

Thanks for these, it's like reading the Sunday Dallas Morning News with a hangover while eating pancakes and sausage before checking out of the hotel and driving back to Austin.

[satyanash 14,477]

 

[Billy Pilgrim 1,960]

4 minutes ago, satyanash said:

 

Both Beck and Ingram had fantastic blocks on all of Sam’s rushing touchdowns 

[FORTY NINE TO ZERO 2,652]

the blocking and tackling are by far the biggest improvements since the strong regime. 

[SuperSurly 21]

Thanks, Satyanash - repped!

[Zavala 1,384]

WOOOO

THANKS FOR THIS 

FCB

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,547]

DALLAS — In Tom Herman’s eyes, the play that sticks out is not a winning kick or a Kyler Murray fumble or one of Sam Ehlinger’s many fine moments. No, what stands out most to him in reflecting on No. 19 Texas’ 48-45 upset of No. 7 Oklahoma was a third-and-long.

And it’s easy to see why. Herman’s physical brand of Texas football, the precise identity he’s aimed for from Day 1, is truly coming into focus. One play showed that Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.

Texas faced third-and-21 on its opening drive of the second half. Ehlinger had just taken a sack back to Oklahoma’s 46-yard line, a rare mistake on an otherwise brilliant day. Texas kept it simple with a tunnel screen to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Herman figured he’d pick up a few yards and then Texas would punt and hope to pin OU inside its 10. It was a well-blocked screen, but Oklahoma nickel back Brendan Radley-Hiles met Humphrey and hit him low at the 38. But Humphrey stayed up.

Texas tight end Cade Brewer got an arm around Humphrey and tried to give him some push. In ran linemen Zach Shackelford, Samuel Cosmi and Elijah Rodriguez to propel them. Humphrey honestly had no idea who was behind him.

“Just kept running,” he said. “Just kept moving my feet.”

Suddenly, it was a scrum of five Longhorns against five Sooners defenders. And the Sooners didn’t stand a chance. They all kept moving, overwhelmed by forward momentum. When Humphrey finally fell down, he’d traveled 19 yards to the 27.

“That, to me, was the play of the game,” Herman said.

What Texas did after that — Ehlinger converted a fourth down and found the end zone four plays later to make it 31-17 — was important. But the how is really what matters. Texas won that play and won this Red River game by overwhelming with sheer brutality.

“That’s a culture play for us,” Humphrey said. “It really shows our culture.”

In this game, power beat speed. Oklahoma’s biggest plays were a 77-yard bomb to Marquise Brown, a 67-yard dash by Murray. Texas’ biggest plays were a 3-yard fourth-down conversion, a 2-yard run at the goal line. And when the Sooners came all the way back from down 21, Texas finished it in fitting fashion, grinding out a nine-play, 52-yard drive to set up Cameron Dicker’s winning field goal.

That’s long been the tradition in this rivalry game. The more physical team usually wins the fight and leaves with the golden hat. Some not-very-good Texas teams have gritted their way to upset wins against superior Oklahoma teams in recent years. It most recently happened in 2015. It almost happened in Herman’s debut last season. This one felt different, at least for three quarters.

The truth is Texas (5-1, 3-0 Big 12) beat Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1) the same way it beat TCU and USC, so maybe we should’ve seen this coming. The manner in which Texas pounded those foes in the second half and pushed them at the point of attack was an unexpected revelation. But not to Herman and his players. This is exactly who they want to be.

“We want to be the most physical team in the Big 12,” Texas safety Brandon Jones said. “We strive to do that every week.”

And that was evident again Saturday. Oklahoma defenders were standing around with their hands on their hips late in the third quarter, stuck on the field for 19 more plays than Lincoln Riley’s offense got to run that quarter. Yes, that Oklahoma defense was already shoddy. But on this day, Texas’ offense played with a level of efficiency and dominance that hasn’t been seen in a long time.

Ehlinger has never been better than he is right now. He’s the personification of Herman’s intended culture, a tough and savvy 235-pound playmaker who’s not nervous in big games. Each one of the 84 yards he churned out over his 18 carries seemed critical. He’s exactly what this team needs, and he hasn’t turned it over in four weeks.

Texas’ defense transformed quickly under Todd Orlando last season. It has had no trouble executing this sharp and brutal blueprint. For Herman’s offense, this has been a much more difficult process and a tough one to watch at times. But like Humphrey’s 19-yard fight, that positive forward momentum is starting to pile up.

Still, let the fourth quarter be a lesson. Because if Texas was drunk with power, up 45-24 after three quarters, the final period was sobering. Murray and the Sooners played out their 21-point comeback perfectly and forced Texas to nervously try to win on a 40-yard kick by a true freshman. For Texas, it shouldn’t have come to that.

And that feels indicative of where Texas stands today. Good enough and tough enough to play with anybody. Not good enough to whoop anybody for a full four quarters. This remains a work in progress, even after five consecutive wins, and that final quarter should put all the hype in perspective.

When it was all over, some Texas players gave Herman a Gatorade bath. The jug hit the head coach on the back of his head. They really haven’t practiced that ritual much at Texas lately. They’re still learning how to win these games.

But what they pulled off together Saturday sent a clear message: Herman’s vision for how to win big at Texas is beginning to come to life.

(Photo by William Purnell / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

[KYHorn 17,015]

I wonder if Vahe realizes he managed to do absolutely nothing on this and most plays.

[satyanash 14,477]

InsideTexas Report Card -- OU

Quote

Wow, what a game---what college football means to the entire nation. There is just something about a rival game that brings out the best of all of us. Can I get a "thank you" from everybody that muttered how much they love this football team during the contest. I've been to hell and back with this game of football and I still get goose bumps watching good players make great plays when their team needs them the most. Watching all the critical third and fourth downs converted speaks volumes about how prepared this bunch was to produce for their family. I still think losing to your rival is one of life's toughest lessons and biggest heartbreaks to digest. Not so fast this time.

I know we didn't make every throw, catch, run, or block when the chips were down but it damn sure felt like we did. Guys did things better than they ever have. It was that important and it showed. On every damn one of us. Here are the grades:

Effort----team---A+ SOLID---@ScipioTex

11---Sam---A-

5---Watson---B+

26---Ingram---A-

1---Burt---A-

6---Duvernay---A-

9---Johnson---A-

13---Heard---A-

84---Humphrey---A-

47---Beck---A-

80---Brewer---A-

52---Cosmi---A-

56---Shack---B+

66---Anderson---A-

72---Rodriguez---B+

77---Vahe---B+

Bits and pieces:

Sam played extremely well. I noticed the look in his eyes several times---confident and happy. Much different than last year---no confusion, no sense of urgency, and not one frigging ounce of indecision.  Ingram is so much more than our best runner. Sam's three td's and one fourth down run illustrate Ingram's lead blocking is so not a pampered freshman 

Beck had his best game receiving and blocking. He was instrumental in this win.  CJ and LJH are big time talents that produced for the entire 60 minutes. Standing applause for both several times and I don't usually have that reaction. Sam Cosmi is going to be all Big 12 as a freshman. Coach Hand won't mention/talk about it but he can't help or hide that slight grin that appears when Sam's name is brought up. 

Shack's a better player this year---more consistent snaps and fewer really bad plays. Anderson is a quality LT that only needs to become a better drive blocker to be outstanding.  Has anybody had a terrific year and been talked about less than Duvernay? He belongs. Rodriguez is probably our most important offensive player---his performance remains consistent at both OC and OG. He's a solid performer. 

Vahe might never be a pass pro magician but he's a dandy run blocker. Sam Cosmi is poetry in motion when he pulls on the counter or swings outside on a screen. He can run and his body control is outstanding. I hope Kerstetter isn't dinged up. I know coaches hate to break up a system that's running on all cylinders but he needs to be considered a starter each week to remain sharp mentally and physically.

That good ol' Baylor line is next and they are in our way.

**********************************************************************************************

If you think being a DC is hard on any given Saturday try sugarcoating how your bunch played well despite giving up 45 points to your rival in the press conference days after the game. I'm sure Orlando will point out the good plays (sacks and turnovers) but the simple truth is not many of our defensive guys played as well as they know they can. Speed makes the game extremely difficult but I doubt a single defender would blame his not playing his best on OU's ability to run. 

We didn't defeat many blocks. We didn't tackle well at all. We missed too many assignments everywhere but the DL. Our pass rush didn't dictate any rapid heart rate. We lost contain too often. We missed filling the correct gaps at the second level. We failed to scrape correctly too often. Worst of all we got blocked and missed tackles at an alarming rate. It is hard to explain why our backend can't get properly aligned and ready to play coverage this far into the season. I will leave it at that. 

We ran fresh out of gas at too many positions. I blame that on the staff. Rotation is not your enemy if conducted with a purpose in mind. When your defenders all look like they are running uphill against the wind it's your job to get fresh bodies into the fight---and realize you should have done that every quarter. Here are the grades:

90---Omenihu---B+

60---Hager---B

49---Graham---B-

42---Bimage---B-

97---Nelson---B+

94---Wilbon---B-

55---Christmas---B-

33---Johnson---C+

45---Wheeler---C

2---Boyd---B+

7---Sterns---B-

11---Locke---C

18---Davis---B+

25---Foster---B

We didn't play well enough to win on defense this week. The good news is the offense did. We need help in several areas going forward. The DL needs to go back to slashing and creating havoc regardless of the QB. We can't play conservative---it's not our style. We have a nice two deep rotation that probably goes 75-25. 60-40 might be nice number as the bumps and bruises multiply each week.

We just don't have a LB that has instincts to play the position in this league. We have one that can usually swash-buckle his way to the ball and make eye-opening plays at times. Yesterday wasn't his finest hour by a longshot. The other LB is just not developed for a Big 12 success. Except for the nickel position LB is by far the weakest position group on the team. We need to recruit this position very well because the answer must not be on campus right now---otherwise, we would be playing them right now. 

It's head-scratching how we bust so many coverages (three td's yesterday directly) because it's always the same cast of characters back there every game. With two DB coaches one would think they could get covering the wheel route and switch routes rules in place. Maybe a switch in personnel could solve the nagging problem. It's a huge problem that hasn't gone away. It ain't lack of talent. This group needs to apologize this week against them bears. They owe the offense.

 

[ClubWhatever 12,120]

Does that little short yankee shit who wears a fedora hat still have a radio show in Oklahoma City?  What’s the station?   Asking for a friend.  

[Zavala 1,384]

Breddy good take. poor guy has jello brains though from that hit against Texas.

 

[closetojumping 62,565]

Klatt is the best color man in college football and I don’t think it is close. 

[Magus Ossis 2,797]

7 hours ago, Xian said:

the blocking and tackling are by far the biggest improvements since the strong regime. 

It’s amazing what has been the “secret” to resurrecting our football program:

1. Bothering to evaluate talent and pursue players desireable to other programs

2. Conditioning to allow playing a full game

3. Avoid turnovers

4. Give effort every play

5. Block

6. Tackle 

[hookem48 4,687]

6 hours ago, KYHorn said:

I wonder if Vahe realizes he managed to do absolutely nothing on this and most plays.

I posted this in the oline thread, anything you want to know about Vahe you see on this play.

[Bruh Man 3,160]

8 hours ago, Xian said:

the blocking and tackling are by far the biggest improvements since the strong regime. 

tackling has been hit or miss to me the last two games. blocking has been superb. even pass blocking was really good vs maryland. i hope we can impose our will on teams like baylor and tech moving forward.

[Tired of Lurking 637]

It was a screen pass. Are you referring to him releasing the lineman, which is what he's supposed to do, or not potentially being called for a block in the back if he goes and contacts people that were ahead of him?

Yes, he looks silly trailing behind without engaging anyone. But that's a pretty harsh criticism for a four-year starter who has yet to ever really be threatened by anyone behind him. I would actually look at the missed assignment on the Caleb Kelly blitz in the 2nd quarter as a more egregious example. But nobody bats 1.000 in college football, and it's pretty foolish and disingenuous for anyone to say someone "does nothing most plays."

[hookem48 4,687]

1 minute ago, Tired of Lurking said:

It was a screen pass. Are you referring to him releasing the lineman, which is what he's supposed to do, or not potentially being called for a block in the back if he goes and contacts people that were ahead of him?

Yes, he looks silly trailing behind without engaging anyone. But that's a pretty harsh criticism for a four-year starter who has yet to ever really be threatened by anyone behind him. I would actually look at the missed assignment on the Caleb Kelly blitz in the 2nd quarter as a more egregious example. But nobody bats 1.000 in college football, and it's pretty foolish and disingenuous for anyone to say someone "does nothing most plays."

we're talking about him being the only player on the field not doing a damn thing, how come no one else got called for blocking in the back? Vahe's lack of effort on many many plays is pathetic and it doesn't matter that everyone behind him sucks worse than him.

[Liquor and Poker 3,659]

InsideTexas’ 5 thoughts absolutely worth $9.95. 

[satyanash 14,477]

Scipio Tex: Texas-OU Post Mortem

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Enjoy the win. Texas opened as a 8 point underdog for a reason. While a fervent Sooner rally and a late sputtering Longhorn offense gave us all a shared empty sick feeling, like our guts were inhabited by a Kyler Murray sized loss gnome looking to claw out like the baby from Alien, there are no bad wins in Texas-OU. None. Old-timers, please chime in and have my back on this one. There are no bad wins in Texas-OU. Particularly ones that are this freaking awesome. 

That feeling we all had when we thought the win was slipping away is the proof of it. Once you understand that, enlightenment dawns cleaner than a Kauai sunrise. When the sporting stakes are that high, the concept of a bad win against OU doesn't exist. It can't. That proof of our empty sick stomachs just moments after giddy bliss followed by relief and joy is nearly mathematical in its certainty. The win is the thing. What did exist was a hell of a Longhorn offensive effort. The best of the season by far. 

The Longhorns has four possessions in the 1st half of the Texas-OU game. They scored on all four, amassing three touchdowns (on three 75 yard drives) and a field goal (after a Kyler Murray interception to Brandon Jones). It was the most effective offense of the 2018 season and while OU's physically soft defense had a lot to do with that, it was a far cry from what we rolled out last week against Kansas State (they weren't exactly brimming with athletes in Manhattan, folks). Credit game plan, play calling, the players on the field executing, and a lot of mental toughness to start fast, keep the pedal on the metal, experience some deep adversity, then coolly find the composure to score the game winner and hit 6th street later tonight like the Rat Pack hit the Sands in '61. The Texas team gets better with these kinds of wins against a significant opponent. Sam Ehlinger and this offense now know when they're up against it, they can expect to win. 

Take off your hat to the (sometimes deservedly) maligned Texas offensive coaching staff. The offensive braintrust was aggressive throwing the ball on early downs (Sam was 9 of 10 for 142 in Q1), clearly game planned around the same lack of physicality and tackling in the OU back end that we perceived in our IT previews, and they unleashed Sam expertly as a situational runner with some nice wrinkles and smart play calls against a profoundly average Sooner DL. They also didn't obsess unduly over time of possession. Texas just ran good offense and tried to light the scoreboard up. It was clear that #11 had wide latitude for most of the game to check us into good plays and CJ and LJH rewarded that trust by repeatedly abusing OU's yappy, Charmin soft defensive backs. Sooner DBs love to chatter and they're welcome in the produce section. Because none of them could bust a grapefruit. I haven't seen that much shoe diving since a Jimmy Choo delivery truck tipped over in front of the Tri-Delt house. 

The offensive onslaught renewed in the second half when Texas methodically scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions (23 yard drive after a Murray fumble, a 82 yard drive, another 75 yard drive) while the staff stayed aggressive throwing the ball downfield and smartly checking to runs against honest boxes. Texas went up 45-21 and some bold Longhorns even began to speculate about the possibility of a blowout. Naturally, adversity struck. 

Texas didn't really get that conservative on offense so much as have inopportune penalties that killed drives - and none of those penalties were particularly debatable. E-Rod tackled a guy, Cosmi had a clear hold outside and Shack had a unnecessary hold that erased a 12 yard Tre Watson scamper. Another series went against our aggressive game type when we stubbornly ran into a loaded box, threw at a five man box on 2nd down and Ehlinger threw an inaccurate ball on 3rd down out of a weak rolling pocket that divided the field in half. That was our worst play-calling series. But if Texas has 12 real possessions and only one pisses me off from a play-calling/recognition stand point, that's amazing offensive football. 

OU may indeed suck, but the Longhorn puckering across the country when the game evened at 45 sounded like a Big Tex sized slurpee straw. So what happened? The Texas offense coolly reasserted itself, got back to business, and drove 52 yards on 9 plays while bleeding almost every last tick of the game clock. Dicker calmly kicker'd and you know the rest. Texas secured a win over our most hated rival (get your Aggie talk out of here) in a game for the ages, scored the most points in series history, whipped a Top 7 team on national television in front of errybody, staked a lead in the Big 12 race, and left little doubt that Herman's tough program culture is taking root. I bet some recruits even watched. 

Enjoy. This. Win. I love all of you lunatics, even the ones on the game thread who need to be shaken by the front of your shirt. Texas-OU isn't about style points. That said, let's sort of assess some style points now...

QB

Sam Ehlinger's best game as a Longhorn QB. 24 of 35 for 314 yards passing, 2 TDs. 19 carries, 72 yards rushing, 3 TDs. He totaled 386 yards of offense and five touchdowns, made some terrific adjustments to Mike Stoops schemery (such as it is), and played without a turnover in a game that was decided by two QBs who played brilliantly, but only one of them turned it over twice, leading to 10 Texas points. Sam bludgeoned the Sooners on draws and power sweeps and repeatedly tossed dimes on substantial downfield throws while completing 68.6% of his attempts. His pocket poise was consistent. That's as complete a dual threat performance as you could want and he did a wonderful job of rewarding the staff's confidence in him. That will only beget more rope and leeway in the offense and maybe that's going to result in the doughnut finally coming off of the scoring bat. Once known as a error-prone freshman, to date, sophomore Sam Ehlinger is the best ball protecting QB in the Big 12 and has the longest interception free streak in Longhorn passing history. Not bad. 

RB

Tre Watson gave us some great snaps, particularly as a pass catcher, scoring a TD on an easy flip (that has been there all year, ahem!) and converting a key 3rd down. He maximized his runs and ran hard in there. He's not blessed by God with Keaontay's burst and slipperiness, but I absolutely love Watson. He's a Longhorn for life in my book. Keontay was nothing short of special on his touches. His 31 yard pop highlighted his vision and explosiveness, but his best work was turning carries blocked for 1-2 into 4-5 yard gains that kept Texas ahead of the chains. 13 carries, 86 yards, 6.6 per carry and only one negative run (for -1). He's a deft inside runner given his size and frame and will only get better. I like his work load and how Texas has winnowed down the backfield snaps to mainly #5 and #26. 

WR/TE

In the preview, I stated that CJ and LJH had an opportunity to control the game with their physicality and size against the Sooner DB group. That they did. CJ caught 6 balls for 81 yards and a touchdown while also drawing two key PIs (including on the game winning drive) and LJH balled out with 9-133-1 td and a touchdown pass. They repeatedly broke tackles in the secondary, moved the chains, ran good routes (the contrast over time from Maryland to now is stark) and generally wreaked havoc. Anytime an offense gets 15 catches, 214 yards receiving, 3 TDs and draws multiple penalties from its two main receiving options, it's doing work. 

Duvernay had a tremendous game impact with his key 18 yard reception the game-winning drive. I don't know that he's ever going to be a natural enough receiver to ever have the career we expected from the former five star, but he's clearly accepted his #3 WR role. John Burt sighting! Welcome back, John. 1 catch, 9 yards. Amazing how we've pared down our WR rotation isn't it? 

Maybe Beck's best game as a Longhorn. He made some terrific, timely catches, including a key 3rd down conversion on a scoring drive and a 19 yard catch on 3rd and 20 that set up a 4th down conversion, and had some of his best blocking of his career. The Sooner DBs having the physicality of a flight attendant may have played a role in his blocking acumen, but props to the staff for getting big on their little and for Beck getting after it. 

OL 

Big picture, these guys played their asses off. Ehlinger largely had fine protection, they did a nice job getting some push up front on obvious running power goal line situations, and they made OU's DL say no mas on a few drives. Unfortunately, the three holding penalties really hurt Texas late. And their only surrendered sack came on a Vahe mental error that allowed a free OU blitzer. Still, a blitz heavy OU defense only had 3 tackles for loss. That's getting it done. 

During the game, I was giving our friend the esteemed @UTexasfootball some grief that he'd better rate Sam Cosmi a full A given how he kept reaching OU's playside DE on our Ehlinger runs and dominating in pass pro, but naturally Cosmi committed a holding penalty immediately thereafter proving that Coach always wins and I'd best shut up. Shack played largely good ball in his return. His first holding call was mysterious, the second well-deserved. He wore out OU's big boys for the most part, in combination with Vahe. 

There's no way this offense rolls as it did without their performance. That it was marred late by some bad penalties doesn't erase 48 points on the board and lot of plays featuring Crimson DL looking for a white towel to throw in. Winning performance. 

Final

Enjoy the win. Enjoy 5-1. Enjoy beating OU. And enjoy the fact that when someone asked Breckyn Hager if "Texas is back", he said this. Hook 'em.

**************************************************************************************************

OU has a really good offense. That was obvious coming in, more obvious during the game, and really obvious on the re-watch. The OL is high quality, Murray is a unique freak, the RBs are very solid and the wide receivers and tight end are very good - though probably not quite as dominant in a vacuum as the scheme makes them. Riley puts them in fantastic situations and they are constantly mind screwing the opposing teams coverage by constantly muddying assignments, shifting personnel, using unconventional backfield action and creating easy reads for the QB. They're a handful, they install a lot of stuff, play fast, and it's impressive that they can execute all of it. 

They haven't missed a beat from last year and while Kyler Murray lacks Baker Mayfield's experience and lightning ability to process coverages, he's a polished thrower and his speed and elusiveness add an element of dynamism that inspires the sort of fear that elite dual threat guys can inspire in opponents. While Murray's skills can't translate a level up (good choice on baseball, Kyler), it's deadly at the college level. Nothing more terrifying for a DC than a dual threat QB with long speed who can also kill you downfield from the pocket. 

I thought the Texas defense played three quarters of very competitive defense, once you adjust for opponent quality. Then it all fell apart in the 4th quarter. Was the culprit fatigue? Yes. Was it a loss of poise? Yes. Did our secondary lose its mind and forget how to tackle, cover or even line up in a proper football stance? Yes. I'll give this to the Texas linebackers though - they were consistently bad all game. No 4th quarter slide for them. Here were Oklahoma's three 4th quarter "drives" for touchdowns:

6-54, TD, 2:00
1-67, TD, 0:11
3-57, TD, 1:05

At some points during this stretch, I jumped up and screamed,"Have you all lost your f'ing minds?" I believe the defensive response was a 35 yard completion to Tre Sermon, a 15 yard run for Tre Sermon through a ten foot hole, followed by a TD run where Sermon trampled two guys. Three drives. 10 plays. 178 yards. 3 touchdowns. 3:16 elapsed. Todd Orlando probably watched the 4th quarter film yesterday like Nicolas Cage watching the snuff film in 8mm. 

As predicted, Todd Orlando flooded the field with defensive backs to keep a cap OU's downfield passes and contain Murray's scrambles with team speed and for three quarters it worked. We bent, but didn't break and OU's 24 points on the scoreboard through three quarters was evidence of that fact. OU had no deep single score throws...until Marquise Brown exploited a Keystone Kops 4th quarter coverage 77 yards for a jogging touchdown. And Kyler Murray had 25 yards rushing at 2 yards per carry through three quarters until his 67 yard jaunt that featured a sideline tight rope where, based on our tackling, it's possible that Murray actually willed himself invisible for significant stretches of the run. 

Todd Orlando isn't happy with the 4th quarter collapse. I'm not happy with the 4th quarter collapse. Fans aren't happy with the collapse. But it happened and we still won. Beats the alternative. I think OU had a lot to do with it as the formula of pressure times fatigue divided by exposure of weak links started spitting out unfavorable integers, but truthfully it also revealed some stuff about this defense that's not changing without improvement, replacement or both. 

DL

I thought Charles Omenihu and Chris Nelson had some good play. Omenihu gave us some hard pass rushes in the first half that yielded a sack, a pressure and a tackle for loss. He's now our leading season sack leader with four. Nelson had some good run stuffs inside and drew a holding penalty. He was a non-factor pass rusher, but I think that was understood going in. Unfortunately, on several occasions, the Texas DL confused containment with standing around looking at Kyler. Containment means pass rushing with some control and awareness, but still going really hard up the field to affect windows and make the passer reset his feet. It doesn't mean locking out, standing, and watching. We were fairly aggressive in personnel rotations but I thought we sorely missed Roach as a quality spark with his hand down. OU did a good job of containing Hager's penetration and there were some clear plays where they doubled him and beat him up to slow him down. 

We needed more from Bimage, Wilbon, Graham and Christmas. Understanding that OU's OL is good and we're outnumbered up front, the idea is still to give us 20-25 maniacal snaps, four or five at a time. They should be pursuing the football like a dog on a rabbit. Not catching and watching. There's nothing to save yourself for when you're coming in off the bench. 

LB

We would have been better replacing Wheeler with a scarecrow wearing a Tommy Nobis Fathead. The Mummy was in full effect. Gary Johnson was mesmerized by OU's play action, backfield movement and kept letting OU's OL get a piece of him on 2nd level releases. When you run a 4.5 at MLB, at least guess somewhere fast. Paralyzation robs you of what makes you special. GJ excels at see-ball, chase-ball and Lincoln Riley excels at making players like Gary see decoy balls all over the field. #33 short-circuited. 

I would have also liked to have seen McCulloch more, particularly as legs tired over time. You don't have to put in a nickel to accomplish that. It's not hard devise a dime package, particularly if you sit Wheeler. As I've written before, Shark's best attribute is actually his strength and pop - he can hold up against big boys just fine. 

DB

I have zero problem with how Kris Boyd or Davante Davis played against a quality OU receiving corps. Kris was quiet except when jumping all over screens, which is how I like my Boyd best. That was one benefit of having a lot of safety coverage over the top. Davante gave up some cushion throws to Lamb, got more comfortable and then locked down pretty well. They weren't perfect - particularly tackling in the 4th quarter- but both played winning football.

PJ Locke gave up a free 77 yard TD because he was still adjusting his equipment at the snap of the football, while lined up at the same depth as another Longhorn DB and then ran the same self-pick play that he performed against Maryland. Surreal. Beyond that obvious raspberry, he missed several tackles and there were times where it wasn't particularly clear to me whether he was guarding a man or an area in coverage. 

Caden Sterns had his worst game as a freshman starter. Makes sense given his responsibilities, the stage and opponent. He'll be better for it. A gifted freshman DB's mistakes won't necessarily show up in pure coverage, but they will show up in tackling, angles and anticipation. That's what happened with Caden. I expect a rally game against Baylor. BJ Foster had an up and down game where he made several terrific plays (he swim moved an OU OT 100 pounds heavier than him on 3rd and 1 to force a punt on his stunt) and several tough ones (he blew two egregious tackles in the 4th and lost composure in coverage). Like Sterns, I have no concerns. Young DBs need to get blooded. 

Brandon Jones largely played three good quarters, securing a gimme INT and leading the team in tackles. He had two hard open field tackles that particularly impressed me. But he fell apart in the 4th, too. I'm not sure what happened and how the panic and fatigue escalated so quickly in that period, but it's worth the staff identifying and thinking about. Everything can't be call-matching with the opposing OC. We have to have some sort of base comfort coverage, where even if it's predictable, our guys all know what to do and can execute. 

Special Teams

Buj is a problem. This isn't an inexperience issue. 36 yard punts aren't cutting it. Those hidden yards accrue over time and change games. A freshman Michael Dickson showed his talent, even when he made ball-handling mistakes or shanked. Buj has not yet shown any. Dicker the kicker was terrific and of course the game's hero. After a rough couple of games, he was a perfect 2 for 2, drilling a 44 yard field goal and a pressure-packed game-winning 40 yard effort to seal the game. Amazing poise for a true freshman. In that situation, I would have thrown up on myself and shanked the ball into a fryer full of fried Snickers outside of the stadium. Our kick coverage teams didn't make any major mistakes, but did lose lane discipline on an OU return that forced Dicker to make the tackle. 

Overall

We love the Longhorn offense this week because they kicked ass and ultimately won the game. We're angry at the Texas defense because they collapsed in the 4th quarter and made us all experience some butterflies the size of condors late. I won't excuse the D, but they drew arguably the best offense in college football. The Texas offense drew an absolutely mediocre Oklahoma defense, with a coordinator who isn't getting the job done. The helmets all said OU, but it was like playing two different opponents. 

The Texas defense will have the opportunity to grow from this experience and while we'll see more explosive offenses, none of them are going to bring the same combination of stresses that this OU offense can bring to bear. We hope. 5-1, Hook 'em.

Bobby Burton: Texas-Oklahoma Grades

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Quarterback

Did Sam Ehlinger make any mistakes against the Sooners? Maybe one. And that was taking a delay of game on the very first snap from scrimmage. Outside of that, it's hard to fault the Texas sophomore for anything else. His passes were accurate, especially on third downs, and even on a key fourth down. He was smart with the ball and didn't give the Sooners any turnovers. And he ran effectively, too. Ehlinger was 24 of 35 for 314 yards and two TDs in the air and rushed 19 times for 72 yards and three TDs on the ground. For good measure, he also caught a pass in the red zone to set up one of his own TD runs. Ehlinger played about as good as you can ask of a QB. No, he wasn't perfect. He short-hopped more than one pass. But he never made that one mistake, and he was nails when it counted all game long. It was a complete game in the truest sense of the word.

Grade: A+

Running backs

While Keaontay Ingram and Tre Watson each had their moments in the run game, and Watson's TD catch put the Horns ahead for the first time in the game, it's neither of those aspects that gets the most notoriety from me. Instead, it was their blocking. Ingram absolutely obliterated linebackers as a blocker in the red zone. I mean, he throttled them with regularity. Both Watson and Ingram both more than held their own in pass protection, too. So while Ingram certainly deserves credit for breaking a couple of big runs, and Watson's three catches were significant, it's the little things that pushed this group to a higher grade than you might think by just looking at the stat line.

Grade: A-

Wide Receivers

No dropped passes. None. Several contested catches, even on third downs where there was a flag thrown for defensive holding. This wide receiver group is determined to go down as one of the best groups the Horns have ever had. I know that sounds outrageous, but their play the last five weeks has been on a different level than anything we've seen since Jordan Shipley. Lil'Jordan Humphrey took two receiver screens for big yardage, grabbed two key third-down conversions and scored a touchdown among his nine catches for 133 yards. Collin Johnson made a nice catch on a deep ball on the game's first possession and also had two key third down catches. And let's not forget Devin Duvernay, whose catch and run in the fourth quarter got Texas into Oklahoma territory and eventually set up the game winning field goal. We also had a John Burt sighting. Burt made a nice catch by coming back to the ball.

Grade: A+

Tight Ends

Andrew Beck's catch on third-and-20 changed the game. It was a fingertip grab that gave Texas fourth-and-short where the Horns ultimately succeeded and scored points. Beck also made multiple gap-opening blocks in the red zone and on multiple short-yardage plays. Beck may be somewhat limited physically as a pass catcher, but the fifth-year senior is more than holding up his end of the scholarship bargain. Cade Brewer saw limited action as a reserve but did contribute on a couple of third down blocks himself.

Grade: A-

Offensive Line

Ask me for this grade through the first three quarters and you'd get the highest grade I would have ever given this unit. But then came the fourth quarter, and multiple holding calls, more than one of them by Zach Shackelford that was absolutely unnecessary and the grade starts to drop. And there were a couple breakdowns in pass protection by Pat Vahe earlier in the game. But that has come to be expected. Sam Cosmi continues to play at a high level in the run game. His blocking on the goal line made a real difference as did Calvin Anderson's blocking in pass protection. I can't remember Anderson's man getting a hand on Ehlinger all game long.

Grade: B+

Offense

In a game where the Horns had to get out of the gates fast, they did just that. Texas scored on seven of its first eight possessions, and six of those were touchdowns. Texas accumulated more than 500 total yards of offense and scored 48 points. Ad the Horns didn't turn the ball over either. No interceptions, no fumbles. They also executed when it mattered the very most, the last drive of the game, even overcoming a first-and-20 situation. While it wasn't a perfect performance because the Horns didn't dominate in the fourth quarter, it was more than what I ever could have expected. Texas dominated the first three quarters and that allowed the Horns to milk the clock and eventually still come out with the win.

Grade: A
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Defensive line

The Texas defensive front had all of 2.5 tackles for loss the entire game, and two of those came from Charles Omenihu on the very same series midway through the second quarter. Breckyn Hager picked up a huge fumble recovery. But the Texas defensive front rarely got pressure on Kyler Murray and didn't do much in the way of stopping the run. Chris Nelson did not record a tackle or even an assisted tackle, although it was his pressure around Murray that allowed Hager to recover the fumble, and Nelson also drew a key holding penalty on a big play. Look, Oklahoma gashed Texas for 222 rushing yards. But it was the fourth quarter where the Horns really struggled.

Grade: C-

Linebackers

Anthony Wheeler was just not quite fast enough to keep Kyler Murray in the pocket or to contain OU's rushing attack. Gary Johnson was often assigned to spy on Murray and did a good enough job, but he also struggled against the run and was a relative non-factor in pass defense. Jeffrey McCulloch played sparingly and did not make a big play. Of course, the Sooners' offense makes a lot of linebackers look a day late and a dollar short. Still, the Horns could have used more from Wheeler and Johnson.

Grade: C-

Secondary

In a game where the Horns get 45 points scored on them, you'd think the secondary was a major part of the problem, as in deserving of an F. But they really weren't outside of one poor play allowed over the top by P.J. Locke and Brandon Jones, who bit for a fake on a bubble screen and gave the Sooner's a long TD. Jones led the team in tackles and also made a huge interception in the first half. B.J. Foster made a couple of terrific plays, including one on a deep pass and another on a well-timed blitz that ended in a sack. The Sooners did not test Kris Boyd or Davante Davis all that much, choosing instead to attack the Horns' safeties. Caden Sterns did not have a great day and neither did Jones.

Grade: B-

Defense

Giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter would almost always spell disaster. So would giving up more than 500 yards of total offense. But the two turnovers were likely the difference in the game. If the Horns hadn't won, this grade would be an F. But given that the Horns won this rivalry shootout, anything other than a passing grade and going on to the next test would be unthinkable. Beating OU is always worth at least this grade.

Grade: C-

Special teams

Cameron Dicker hit the game-winner right down the middle. He also connected on his only other opportunity which gave Texas a 10-7 lead. Punting by Ryan Bujcevski was hit or miss but never "horrible". The kick and punt return units never really got much of an opportunity to do make a difference. The coverage units performed similarly, although the Horns did not get a penalty on a kick return whereas the Sooners were flagged for one that ultimately put them in a bad field position. But this grade is all about the guy who made the field goal when it mattered the most. All Hail, Dicker the Kicker.

Grade: A

 

[satyanash 14,477]

Bobby Burton: Sunday thoughts

The win feels just as good this morning as it did yesterday afternoon. The Horns at times dominated Oklahoma yesterday by mixing the run and pass in equal measure. It was not until the fourth quarter when the Texas offense started having its problems, most of them of the self-inflicted penalty variety. And that’s my question this morning. Did the Sooners finally figure out how to defend the Horns in the fourth, or did Texas take its foot off the gas? I think it was a little of both.

First, Texas’ offense is not one that likes to play behind the chains. So any penalty, even the five-yard variety, effects what Tom Herman likes to do, which is to get his team into third-and-makeable situations. Sure, Texas can overcome those penalties sometimes. But Herman wants and needs to connect in the 80-90 percent range when the Horns are playing an offense like Oklahoma’s. The Sooners started slanting their linemen more frequently in the fourth, they committed more players to the box. Zach Shackelford, Sam Cosmi and Elijah Rodriguez were all penalized in the final quarter for holds and all of them were the appropriate calls by officials.

So, yes, I think the Sooners figured a little something out on the Horns. But I don’t necessarily think Texas would have reacted similarly without the 21-point lead. Likely by design, Texas completely abandoned the middle of the field in the fourth quarter until the final drive, where Sam Ehlinger hooked up with Devin Duvernay for an 18-yard catch and run to put Texas into Sooner territory. (If you go back and watch that play, make sure you watch Duvernay the whole way. His sly move to get open after initially being covered may have been one of the bigger plays of the game and certainly one of the most under-appreciated.)

As Texas goes forward, the Horns need to keep dominating as long as they can. It’s one thing to milk the clock, it’s another to sit on the ball. Texas did way too much sitting on the ball. These are all things the Horns can and should address, but it becomes particularly important when there are teams left on the schedule that can score in absolute bunches.

**

In the fourth quarter, Texas gave up three TDs on the final five plays that the Sooners ran. The Murray run was huge. It was almost as if Ehlinger threw a pick six because it took no time off the clock whatsoever. The Horns’ D looked and played shell-shocked in the 4th. The Sooners’ offensive skill position speed is elite. It’s the best in the conference, so they obviously contributed to the difficulty. But I felt like Texas went into prevent mode, pushing its safeties even further back and thus allowing for more space for Murray and company to operate.

If Texas plays OU again this season in the Big 12 championship game, it’ll be interesting to see just how Tom Herman and Todd Orlando choose to gameplan the Sooners because both sides of scrimmage have some things they could consider changing up.

**

The lack of a pass rush generated by the Texas defensive front is becoming a very real problem. Texas simply is not generating one without bringing the blitz. And it’s creating too much pressure on the back end of the defense.

**

The Texas run game is light years ahead of where it was a year ago. I think it’s for a couple of reasons, and not just the obvious one. Yes, we all know the OL is much, much better. The addition of new blood in the program and a new coach have paid immense dividends. But it’s not just the OL. The TE blocking is significantly better with Andrew Beck. So is the RB blocking. Tre Watson and Keaontay Ingram are both better blockers than their predecessors. Put it all together and you have improvement across the board. And that, along with better running from Ehlinger and the backs, is why Texas all of a sudden has a real run game.

**

Next up is Baylor. The Bears beat K-State in Waco on a last-second field goal 37-34. The Bears’ offense is starting to come into its own. QB Charlie Brewer is accurate and savvy. He’s also mobile and can move the chains with his feet. His group of receivers are probably the second fastest in the conference behind only OU with Denzel Mims a possible future first-round selection. It should be an interesting game to watch, because the Bears harbor their own hopes of being “back”.

**

Outside of the win yesterday, the best news I can give you is that the Horns emerged from the game relatively injury free. As of right now, I don’t know of a single player who sustained an injury that will keep them out of next week’s game. That is a rare, rare occurrence in this game.