My thoughts on the OU/Texas game

[Sejjr]

Our defense is playing at an elite level. They are not being helped at all by an inept offense. But I saw today glimpses of what Charlie Strong wants to do with this team, and I think the concept is very good. Slow down the game, render the HUHN ineffective, and play balls out defense. It can work. We just need Swoopes to take another step forward. He made some obvious improvements today with decision making and decisiveness, and I think he is poised to take another step forward. 

 

[GBT]

Is Bedford better than Manny _iaz ? Yes a 100 times better. Is he better than Robinson ? Hell NO. We win that game yesterday if Greg was our DC. We did the same thing yesterday that we did against BYU, UCLA,and Baylor. We play lights out the first half, then when the opponents' offensive coordinator adjusts at the half, we give up field position and points like crazy. Bedford seems to be great when he has a day or two to put together a game plan, but not so hot adjusting on the fly. Our defense can not give up points like we do, if we are going to have a Charlie Strong mindset of WIN WITH DEFENSE. I like Bedford, I don't like the second half results I'm seeing. .....Now special teams coach...That guy has to go !!!!! Our special teams suck and they have , not just yesterday, but ALL year. 

I hope Sejjr is right. I'd be thrilled to admit I'm wrong about Bedford. The rest of this season and especially next year will show who is right about Bedford.

 

[GBT]

Let me say I was very happy and proud of how Swoopes played. He had the bonehead pick 6, but aside from that he managed the game well. Maybe the Baylor game was just one of those days, and the norm will be what we saw yesterday minus the pick 6. Was he perfect? No, but he played well. I have been critical, so I have to give the kid props when he does well. Here is to Ty for a good effort yesterday.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

GBT...not sure what your hard-on is for Bedford, but our defensive game planning is way down the list of my concerns. How did defensive guru Gary Patterson do against BU? how have preseason Heisman candidates petty and knight look against UT? I'd also add out tackling looks a helluva lot better than before.

Agreed 1000%... Robinson wasn't bad but I lie Bedford. We don't have a loss yet that was caused by the D. The O, generally, gives the D so little hope which is tough to deal with. I know they are all saying all the right things about the ineptitude of the O... but it's gotta be tough to play so well and have the O play so inconsistently and generally not well.

 

[MikeV73]

Is Bedford better than Manny _iaz ? Yes a 100 times better. Is he better than Robinson ? Hell NO. We win that game yesterday if Greg was our DC. We did the same thing yesterday that we did against BYU, UCLA,and Baylor. We play lights out the first half, then when the opponents' offensive coordinator adjusts at the half, we give up field position and points like crazy. Bedford seems to be great when he has a day or two to put together a game plan, but not so hot adjusting on the fly. Our defense can not give up points like we do, if we are going to have a Charlie Strong mindset of WIN WITH DEFENSE. I like Bedford, I don't like the second half results I'm seeing. .....Now special teams coach...That guy has to go !!!!! Our special teams suck and they have , not just yesterday, but ALL year.

I hope Sejjr is right. I'd be thrilled to admit I'm wrong about Bedford. The rest of this season and especially next year will show who is right about Bedford.

The defense gave us a chance to win; the special teams return coverage and pick six did not. Can't put this on the defense. I think Bedford is doing an admirable job with the defense. I did find Robinsons ever present golden tan amusing. Seriously though, Robinson is a talented D coordinator but I feel Bedford is as well. Much like Strong, I will look for improvement along the way as he restocks the program with his guys.

 

[BevoBlake]

2-Texas needs to run a little more uptempo and read option. Swoopes looks very comfortable in that offense. 

I suggested that last week and some here thought I was crazy. Glad to see others realizing that the read option pass offense could do well in this program.

 

[java]

  Our defense is doing an amazing job, particularly so with original starters going down to injury.  That has played hell with our rotation.

For those of you that think Steve E. has not improved, he just played his best game as a Longhorn.  I repeat, his best game.  Either his weaknesses are being disguised, or he has finally received some developmental coaching.  The same old blame game simply will not fly any longer.

It's easy enough to find someone that needs some intense coaching this week, and if I were the coach, his fanny would still probably be picking up splinters next week, Adrian Colbert.  I am rewatching the game right now, and just confirmed what I saw in the stadium.  Colbert fell down, didn't bounce right up, and he ended up looking at the backside of the OU kick returner.  That is lazy!  Then, he cost us another 3 later in the game I believe.  He gets an F for effort.

I want players that want to be out there.  The team played hard and beat the Sooners, straight up, in almost all phases of the game, except the scoreboard.  Unfortunately that is what counts, but I'm giving a rebuilding team that is playing short-handed credit where credit is due.

ps:  There it is.  Colbert, bumping the OU player before he receives the kick.  The D did a great job to hold them to 3 after the 15 yard penalty caused by a airheaded play.  Strong was in his face so fast Colbert must have thought he was looking at Superman, and Colbert deserved it.  What a clown!

Hook 'em! 

 

[Bear19]

Excellent post Java

 

[GBT]

Java, Just because I think Bedford is not good at in game adjustments, I'm a troll ? You have watched our games, right ? You might take a look at 1st half vs 2nd half stats. You might see what I am seeing. I'm not saying Bedford is as bad as our ST coach, just not good enough to "win with defense" like Strong seems to want.

 

[primal defense]

Java, Just because I think Bedford is not good at in game adjustments, I'm a troll ? You have watched our games, right ? You might take a look at 1st half vs 2nd half stats. You might see what I am seeing. I'm not saying Bedford is as bad as our ST coach, just not good enough to "win with defense" like Strong seems to want.

I have a different scenario than you. My scenario is that Coach Bedford along with I presume the help of Coach Strong are able to game plan to where that have been able to shut down both Baylor and OU in the first half.

At halftime the offensive coaches are able to go over the weakness of the UT defense and attack.  Your right it's Coach Bedford's job to then make adjustments from their adjustments. However, my belief is once we have more of Coach Strong recruits that fit his defense that will reduce the weakness of the defense. Also, once we start building our depth we will be able to rotate players more and reduce fatigue later in the game.

 

[CCausey11]

It is the depth that is the biggest issue.  Especially after Tank went down we are super thin and can't rotate like we need to at this level.  Greatest example of this was the MS State game vs. Auburn.  Dan Mullin said the biggest thing they have now that is allowing them to compete at this level is 2 deep across the lines.  It's huge especially against a spread team like Baylor that keeps the tempo rocking.

We get depth we go from a pretty dang good defense to a badass defense!

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

I can't even believe we are talking about the D... Ahahahaha... The lone great bright spot we have and thats being dissected. 

I'd like to see some of our young WRs get the start over Marcus Johnson this week. Maybe it'll motivate him to play better than he currently is. Its mind boggling how poor our ST's is... Gotta cut down the stupid penalties(delay of game, false starts, chop blocks, personal fouls, etc)... Huge contributing factor to our losses. 

 

[Shannon Kelley]

Swoopes has grown quite a bit. He played well for the most part. I think this kid can be really good. He just hasn't had enough snaps up to this point. There is no amount of practice snaps that can get you seasoned enough to be that gamer at this position. I believe he will get there, and when he does, EVERYTHING will get exponentially better. Hang on and Hook'em

 

[Sejjr]

While I would agree that the 3rd quarter has been a weak spot for this team all year, I am not about to start blaming Bedford for it. The fact is, this team is designed to be a complimentary system, and we really started to see that in the first half this week. I think Watson called a very good game, and the individual parts started to improve with the highest level of pressure they have seen thus far. CS wants an offense that bleeds the clock, keeps his defense fresh, and keeps the opposing defense on the field for an inordinate amount of time. This is an excellent strategy to combat the HUNH and it worked perfectly against OU....except for the horrific special teams and mental lapses that continue to plague this team. Point is, this was the game where I started to believe in the identity of the offensive strategy and I think I am on board. I think the criticism of any position coach outside of ST is unwarranted at this point in the Strong tenure.  I am seeing the progress, and I believe this defense is already playing at a level that surpassed the Mack Brown era. They just have no depth and have had little to no support from the offense thus far.

 

[JimR]

I disagree re Edmonds. I think he is having a solid year. It is virtually impossible for an ILB to cover the swing pass to a RB in the flat in man coverage. OU had a great call on the 3rd and 4 after the TO. They caught us in man and ran a pick play on the LB. I agree with bcherry on this.

We need to see if Swoopes builds on his play or regresses, but I do not know how anyone could criticize him after that game. It looked like the light came on. If that is now his base level of play, and he builds on that, watch out opponents. He will be a star.

If I could change one play, it would be the holding penalty on the 73 yard run. Sure points lost.

We gave them 17 points and had a chance to win with a stop. Be proud, folks. This program is on the rise.

 

[HornSports Staff]

Remember, comments should focus on points being made by posters, not on the poster.

 

[echeese]

Is Bedford better than Manny _iaz ? Yes a 100 times better. Is he better than Robinson ? Hell NO. We win that game yesterday if Greg was our DC. We did the same thing yesterday that we did against BYU, UCLA,and Baylor. We play lights out the first half, then when the opponents' offensive coordinator adjusts at the half, we give up field position and points like crazy. Bedford seems to be great when he has a day or two to put together a game plan, but not so hot adjusting on the fly. Our defense can not give up points like we do, if we are going to have a Charlie Strong mindset of WIN WITH DEFENSE. I like Bedford, I don't like the second half results I'm seeing. .....Now special teams coach...That guy has to go !!!!! Our special teams suck and they have , not just yesterday, but ALL year. 

I hope Sejjr is right. I'd be thrilled to admit I'm wrong about Bedford. The rest of this season and especially next year will show who is right about Bedford.

Not sure I agree and I was a huge GR fan. . . ..

The D gave up 17 to OU and 21 to Baylor. . . . 14 of the Baylor points came in the 4th quarter when our D was flat worn out

Keep in mind that defensive Guru Gary Patterson just got lit up for 61.

I'd say Bedford is doing a damn good job. . .not ready to say he's GR good yet but he's certainly getting there.

 

[java]

GBT,

Let me put it this way, I don't think you are looking at the big picture.  When we started the season, we had depth on the defensive line.  That depth has been depleted by injury.  To criticize Bedford because he has no one to substitute, or will get burned if he does, just doesn't work for me.  I am a big picture person.  Why you choose to criticize the defense is baffling.  They have been put in bad situations time and again, and they have held high flying offenses well below their averages.  To each his own.

That's all I'm going to say about it, except that I am really proud of the progress most of these players have made.  Colbert can ride the pine.  The rest of the D deserves a medal for running this gauntlet of games, playing tough, and staying the course.  I was so proud to be in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday screaming Texas, Fight! after the game.  The team seemed stunned that the crowd was that appreciative after a loss, but most Texas fans know at least a little football and recognized the growth.  It was amazing to honor the team that way.  I had tears in my eyes.  Great game and great crowd.

Oh, and I love our defense!

Hook 'em!

 

[echeese]

I suggested that last week and some here thought I was crazy. Glad to see others realizing that the read option pass offense could do well in this program.

I've never doubted it could work. . .

I saw Swoopes making decisions and going with them instead of dancing so much.

I also saw him do a great job of keeping his head up when he scrambles instead of tucking the ball early. . . .. 

Clearly Swoopes today is not swoopes of BYU/UCLA. . . .young man is growing up. . .

 

[BruiseLee]

Not sure I agree and I was a huge GR fan. . . ..

The D gave up 17 to OU and 21 to Baylor. . . . 14 of the Baylor points came in the 4th quarter when our D was flat worn out

Keep in mind that defensive Guru Gary Patterson just got lit up for 61.

I'd say Bedford is doing a damn good job. . .not ready to say he's GR good yet but he's certainly getting there.

Greg Robinson was a good defensive coordinator, but I'm not quite sure he's the defensive guru y'all are making him out to be.  Our defense last year didn't hold up so well against Oklahoma State, Baylor and Oregon.