*****GAME THREAD: CFP SemiFinal - Texas vs Ohio State*****

[texbound]

We will miss this defense. Next year we will reload but this was a national championship level defense. It was better than last year’s. We will miss the safeties, Barron and interior DL.

Offensive line will be a step back. So will the defense but there are still many elite playmakers on defense.

I think the DL will be solid again. I thought there was no way they could replace Sweat and Murphy, but they did. I was very impressed with Alex January tonight. That kid is a beast. I trust the staff picked up the right guys in Brevard and Shaw . I think at least one of the 3 Fr will get time by the season end.

EDGE will be even better than this year. Sorrel will be missed at times, but Simmons will be playing a lot more snaps and will only get stronger. Burke is Burke and will be solid, but I'm hoping Moore comes back and Vasek finally stays healthy.

LBs will be very good. Hill will take it to another level and Lefau was so much improved and will only get better. I might even consider playing Jelani McDonald here at a hybrid role. Bottom line, McDonald needs to be on the field as much as possible next year.

DBs, Baron and Makuba will be missed. Their leadership, technique and heart were left on the field. From a talent standpoint, I think the S position will be Uber competitive this spring between D. Williams, Taafe, Filsaime, McDonald, Rubell, Roberson, Hicks and Jonah Williams. There is a lot of talent back there.

CBs, hopefully Muhammed comes back stronger after his sophomore slump year (it is a real thing). Lots of talent and speed to work with. I like Kobe Black to man the other CB spot and Gilbeau is starting at Star/Nickel. This room is finally deep with talent.

 

[83Dee]

We will miss this defense. Next year we will reload but this was a national championship level defense. It was better than last year’s. We will miss the safeties, Barron and interior DL.

Offensive line will be a step back. So will the defense but there are still many elite playmakers on defense.

I agree.

Guard Campbell and Safery Taafe could both return. This changes the outlook a bit. OL won’t have the same quality of depth, but I can see a starting five (below) being formidable. If Campbell returns, move Hutson to Center.

OT Goosby
OT Baker
C Robertson
G Omoezulu
G Hutson

Cruz will challenge at Center as well.

 

[83Dee]

I think the DL will be solid again. I thought there was no way they could replace Sweat and Murphy, but they did. I was very impressed with Alex January tonight. That kid is a beast. I trust the staff picked up the right guys in Brevard and Shaw . I think at least one of the 3 Fr will get time by the season end.

EDGE will be even better than this year. Sorrel will be missed at times, but Simmons will be playing a lot more snaps and will only get stronger. Burke is Burke and will be solid, but I'm hoping Moore comes back and Vasek finally stays healthy.

LBs will be very good. Hill will take it to another level and Lefau was so much improved and will only get better. I might even consider playing Jelani McDonald here at a hybrid role. Bottom line, McDonald needs to be on the field as much as possible next year.

DBs, Baron and Makuba will be missed. Their leadership, technique and heart were left on the field. From a talent standpoint, I think the S position will be Uber competitive this spring between D. Williams, Taafe, Filsaime, McDonald, Rubell, Roberson, Hicks and Jonah Williams. There is a lot of talent back there.

CBs, hopefully Muhammed comes back stronger after his sophomore slump year (it is a real thing). Lots of talent and speed to work with. I like Kobe Black to man the other CB spot and Gilbeau is starting at Star/Nickel. This room is finally deep with talent.

I agree with McDonald. But I believe he will start at safety next year. I was personally never a huge fan of spinning large players at their position down to small players at a different position. But your point is well taken, get him on the field.

 

[jrcruz1026]

The mighty Jeremiah Smith had one catch for 3 yards last night, I liked what PK was doing with the secondary rotation last night, at times he had MacDonald playing safety in place of both Taafe and Makuba but would have him cover the slot as well, it was a brilliant performance, I don’t think any media beat writer would have guessed that Smith would have such a poor outing

 

[DMAC]

If you had to pick the gotcha moment it was the end of the half 70 yard TD with 29 seconds left.

That is inexcusable.

 

[Sunkist]

We will be a top 3 team next year and def can win it all.

 

[63_Texas_1]

So 2 years in a row now and the game ends in a similar fashion. I wonder if it’s time for Sark to contemplate allowing someone else to call the plays or at least have someone that has some serious input in those critical situations? A true OC with a bright mind.

Last night was disappointing to be so close. That been said, Sark is a true OC, a great competitor and has a bright mind. I, in my comfortable recliner watching in my living room, may not agree with everything he does or the plays he calls, but Texas offense is the envy of the country. Texas is fortunate to have Sark along with his offense and play calling.

 

[tejasrulz]

Last night was disappointing to be so close. That been said, Sark is a true OC, a great competitor and has a bright mind. I, in my comfortable recliner watching in my living room, may not agree with everything he does or the plays he calls, but Texas offense is the envy of the country. Texas is fortunate to have Sark along with his offense and play calling.

Totally agree. I'm seeing on Longhorn Fan sites where some want to fire Sark, seems we have some aggyish fans ourselves! I hate losing, in anything but I try not to act a fool when I do.

I see where we are now vs where we were not too many years ago and I like the direction this team is heading in.

 

[Brad Usrey]

1st and goal on the one yard line and not scoring is inexcusable.

Hats off to OSU tonight. I hope ND wins the natty.

Hope OSU boatraces ND. We look like 2nd best team then, cause they shouldn't have scored but 14. Only team to play that tuff in CFP.

 

[Baron]

1. For all the hype that Ohio State got in the media, I think Texas gained some respect last night even though they lost.
2. I defended Quinn all year, but I am ready to move on to Arch. He just seems to bring another dimension to the offense.
3. The defense only gets better next year. Hill, Lefau and Collins will be more experienced. Derek Williams will be healthy and two five star freshman will get playing time.
4. The offensive line might take a step back, but it will be a small step.
5. The receiving corps is getting upgraded next year. Lockett, Terry III, Ffrench and McCutcheon

 

[RickyFlair]

Quinn played very well last night. He has obvious weaknesses but he gave us a chance to win last night.

Our Oline was an issue as they have been against every stout Dline. I believe we will be fine next year even losing a couple of guys.

We will miss our safeties but we have better talent waiting even though it’s less experienced. Our secondary as a whole will have to grow up quick but the talent is present to be good.

Bond was a non factor but we will bring back a ton and probably hit the portal.

Arch and Baxter will improve our run game dramatically. Our offense will be much better next year especially in the red zone. When you have a mobile QB it puts a ton of pressure on a defense.

I hate we lost but next year could be the one we’ve been waiting for.

 

[texbound]

I agree with McDonald. But I believe he will start at safety next year. I was personally never a huge fan of spinning large players at their position down to small players at a different position. But your point is well taken, get him on the field.

Yeah, I just want McDonald, D. Williams, and Filsaime on the field at the same time. All excellent athletes and fast. Throw in a little Fr J. Williams (who will see the field) and that is a lot of talent on the backend. Maybe Gilbeau can slide over to CB and McDonald can play the Nickel/Spurs. I'm not forgetting about Taafe. He is warrior, but he is limited. Good thing to have the talent.

 

[BruiseLee]

Our offense will be much better next year especially in the red zone. When you have a mobile QB it puts a ton of pressure on a defense.

What's extremely frustrating is that we had this last night, but didn't utilize it....

 

[DMAC]

I think everyone here agrees we are MUCH better with Sark. The facts speak for themselves. Two consecutive years in a row in the semifinals. It is obvious. There is no need to try to justify it with accolades etc.

That said we do still have some issues. The sweep play was a terrible call. The halftime TD was a game killer, yet we still a chance to win. These are mistakes that can be called out. Bad play calls have been reoccurring issue throughout the year. Does that mean fire Sark, of course not. Take the bad with the good. Also OSU is going to spank the Irish.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

1. For all the hype that Ohio State got in the media, I think Texas gained some respect last night even though they lost.
2. I defended Quinn all year, but I am ready to move on to Arch. He just seems to bring another dimension to the offense.
3. The defense only gets better next year. Hill, Lefau and Collins will be more experienced. Derek Williams will be healthy and two five star freshman will get playing time.
4. The offensive line might take a step back, but it will be a small step.
5. The receiving corps is getting upgraded next year. Lockett, Terry III, Ffrench and McCutcheon

We get to start things off next season with some revenge. OSU will have to break in a new QB and they lose 10 starters off that defense.

On offense, they lose Judkins, Henderson, Egbuka, Will Howard, their best OL (D.Jackson), both starting OTs (Fryar, Simmons), starting TE (G.Scott) and their starting Center (McLaughlin).

 

[83Dee]

Yeah, I just want McDonald, D. Williams, and Filsaime on the field at the same time. All excellent athletes and fast. Throw in a little Fr J. Williams (who will see the field) and that is a lot of talent on the backend. Maybe Gilbeau can slide over to CB and McDonald can play the Nickel/Spurs. I'm not forgetting about Taafe. He is warrior, but he is limited. Good thing to have the talent.

I think McDonald did train at nickel last Spring.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[BWilk55]

What's extremely frustrating is that we had this last night, but didn't utilize it....

We may never know for certain but there is some speculation Arch was concussed after his 1st half run. Would make sense with the contact he took to the head.

People noted he never got his helmet back on the sideline after that.

 

[BWilk55]

I think everyone here agrees we are MUCH better with Sark. The facts speak for themselves. Two consecutive years in a row in the semifinals. It is obvious. There is no need to try to justify it with accolades etc.

That said we do still have some issues. The sweep play was a terrible call. The halftime TD was a game killer, yet we still a chance to win. These are mistakes that can be called out. Bad play calls have been reoccurring issue throughout the year. Does that mean fire Sark, of course not. Take the bad with the good. Also OSU is going to spank the Irish.

Lots of people complaining about Sark's play calling but ignoring all the other play calls in the game (and over the season) that are amazing.

Also, I've seen quite a few people explain the sweep play as a good call in the situation. Meaning, it is a play that teams often pull out to get on the edge against a defense who has subbed in a jumbo package. That said, we were pretty screwed from the jump with it as OSU had us out leveraged to the outside across the board. Play probably should have been killed via audible or timeout.