Game Week – #5 Texas at #25 Vanderbilt

[tejasrulz]

The evil spirit who used to possess Greg Davis has taken possession of Sark. We are doomed.

Never understood the hate for Greg Davis. After all, Texas had the #1 offense and win a NC under his tenure.

 

[TXFF]

Never understood the hate for Greg Davis. After all, Texas had the #1 offense and win a NC under his tenure.

Exactly. It's the same mentality that had some people asking for PK's head. Oops, careful what you wish for.

 

[Sunkist]

We are all happy with 7-1.

Seems to be 2 camps:

First - happy to be 7-1. We are fine. Yes some issues to fix but we are good.

Second - happy to be 7-1. We have issues. We have a real shot at a national championship, which doesn’t always happen, and we need to maximize that opportunity even if it meant some hard choices.

 

[TB14]

We are all happy with 7-1.

Seems to be 2 camps:

First - happy to be 7-1. We are fine. Yes some issues to fix but we are good.

Second - happy to be 7-1. We have issues. We have a real shot at a national championship, which doesn’t always happen, and we need to maximize that opportunity even if it meant some hard choices.

What choice could we make that we aren't already doing?

 

[63_Texas_1]

Never understood the hate for Greg Davis. After all, Texas had the #1 offense and win a NC under his tenure.

I think the above poster was making a funny observation in reference to Greg Davis play calling when Chris Sims was QB. I think most remember the ou game. That was a frustrating game. At the same time, Greg adapted. He let Vince be Vince. The offense of the national championship year was fun and awesome. Just trying to shed some light on this.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Agree. This affects the offense and the whole team. Not only that, it affects Dr. Pepper commercials (not needing backup).

That didn't age well, did it. Kind of a slight on Arch.

 

[texbound]

While I still think Arch is better suited to open everything up, I've come down off the ledge a little and remembered the two games last year (KST and TCU) that almost started the season. If it wasn't for a miracle catch by AD Mitchel or a great pass rush against Will Howard in OT that team wouldn't have been in the playoffs. These games happen. They just have to get better.

 

[zion3d]

We should remember that we are in the SEC and not the Big12. Bigger, better, and faster athletes every week.

Arkansas and A&M will be the most difficult games for us. We cannot play the way we have these last 2 games and expect to walk away with a win.

If Quinn struggles with those 2 teams some really hard decisions will need to be made. I am not sure that Sark would be willing to bench Quinn again. The optics of that will not be good.

 

[83Dee]

We should remember that we are in the SEC and not the Big12. Bigger, better, and faster athletes every week.

Arkansas and A&M will be the most difficult games for us. We cannot play the way we have these last 2 games and expect to walk away with a win.

If Quinn struggles with those 2 teams some really hard decisions will need to be made. I am not sure that Sark would be willing to bench Quinn again. The optics of that will not be good.

Sark treats the QB position different than all others. I'm not saying he's wrong.... it may be wise to treat the QB different than, say, a DT or WR. There's a lot of talk about Texas football being a "meritocracy" and for the most part it is. But I simply don't see it at the QB position. Sark is very hesitant to even hint that there could possibly be a change at QB.

Again, I'm not saying he's wrong to do this. Maybe you don't want a QB looking over his shoulder every time he makes a mistake. But I could mention several games in Sark's time at Texas when (in my humble opinion) a QB change seemed like an obvious decision. I guess we know who made the call to yank Hurt in the Alabama national championship game. Hint... it wasn't the Offensive Coordinator.

Good post, but if QE struggles in the Arkansas and A&M games, (two of the final 3 of the season), I'd say it's probably too late for a hard decision.



Edit - Elko holds a different view regarding making a QB change. And he has a win over LSU as a result.

 

[83Dee]

I think the above poster was making a funny observation in reference to Greg Davis play calling when Chris Sims was QB. I think most remember the ou game. That was a frustrating game. At the same time, Greg adapted. He let Vince be Vince. The offense of the national championship year was fun and awesome. Just trying to shed some light on this.

Greg Davis adapted around 2003 because Vince had such incredible running skills. And Greg developed Vince and Colt. I am not a Greg Davis hater -- he won a natty as OC for crying out loud.

But from 1997 to 2003 the proclivity to throw short sideways passes was frustrating and bizarre. We would consistently throw well short of the marker on third and long.... dumbfounding - especially when you consider some of the thoroughbred receivers we had! We also ran the ball almost exclusively sideways.... I have to say, that this year's OU and especially Vanderbilt games were an imitation of the 1997-2003 Texas offense that Rich Little would envy.

 

[83Dee]

We are all happy with 7-1.

Seems to be 2 camps:

First - happy to be 7-1. We are fine. Yes some issues to fix but we are good.

Second - happy to be 7-1. We have issues. We have a real shot at a national championship, which doesn’t always happen, and we need to maximize that opportunity even if it meant some hard choices.

Great analysis! I'm in the second camp. I don't see it as mean or negative... just analyzing the situation. Isn't that what fans do?

Coming into the year, I had confidence in a run for the natty like I seldom have. Right now I feel - if a few things aren't remedied, that we could very well miss the playoffs.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

But from 1997 to 2003 the proclivity to throw short sideways passes was frustrating and bizarre. We would consistently throw well short of the marker on third and long.... dumbfounding - especially when you consider some of the thoroughbred receivers we had! We also ran the ball almost exclusively sideways.... I have to say, that this year's OU and especially Vanderbilt games were an imitation of the 1997-2003 Texas offense that Rich Little would envy.

Just as frustrating as Carl Reese always putting LBs on the LOS. lol

 

[hookemhorb]

...
Edit - Elko holds a different view regarding making a QB change. And he has a win over LSU as a result.

I think Elko doesn't have to worry about his QBs like Sark does at this time. It's his first year and he didn't recruit any of them. He doesn't have a vested interest in them other than picking one that he feels will be his QB for the next couple of years. The rest can transfer.

I think Elko made the switch because he doesn't have the confidence in Weigman that Sark has in Ewers. Is Weigman considered an NFL QB? Ewers may or may not be but he has shown he has potential to be a good, solid QB.

Is Manning really ready to take over? Sure, he looked good against creampuff U but did you see him throw passes in the Georgia game? His best play was a scramble. Put Manning and Reed in now and they will make mistakes any first year starter would make. Granted Manning has a little more experience but does he really give us the best chance to win. I can't answer that. I'll trust Sark to decide.

I blame the OL and Ewers for the offensive woes. It's not all on Ewers though the QB gets the blame. Just my 2 cents.

 

[83Dee]

Just as frustrating at Carl Reese always putting LBs on the LOS. lol

"Mugging" he called it. First, he'd move safeties to be small linebackers (spin-down), then they would go to the LOS to wrestle with 320 pound guards and tackles.

Bulldog had some good years... but the above practice drove me nuts.

 

[83Dee]

I think Elko doesn't have to worry about his QBs like Sark does at this time. It's his first year and he didn't recruit any of them. He doesn't have a vested interest in them other than picking one that he feels will be his QB for the next couple of years. The rest can transfer.

I think Elko made the switch because he doesn't have the confidence in Weigman that Sark has in Ewers. Is Weigman considered an NFL QB? Ewers may or may not be but he has shown he has potential to be a good, solid QB.

Is Manning really ready to take over? Sure, he looked good against creampuff U but did you see him throw passes in the Georgia game? His best play was a scramble. Put Manning and Reed in now and they will make mistakes any first year starter would make. Granted Manning has a little more experience but does he really give us the best chance to win. I can't answer that. I'll trust Sark to decide.

I blame the OL and Ewers for the offensive woes. It's not all on Ewers though the QB gets the blame. Just my 2 cents.

I believe Weigman was a 5 star coming out of high school. His only rap before this season was the injury bug. I believe he (at least was) a top prospect.

 

[Sunkist]

I think Elko doesn't have to worry about his QBs like Sark does at this time. It's his first year and he didn't recruit any of them. He doesn't have a vested interest in them other than picking one that he feels will be his QB for the next couple of years. The rest can transfer.

I think Elko made the switch because he doesn't have the confidence in Weigman that Sark has in Ewers. Is Weigman considered an NFL QB? Ewers may or may not be but he has shown he has potential to be a good, solid QB.

Is Manning really ready to take over? Sure, he looked good against creampuff U but did you see him throw passes in the Georgia game? His best play was a scramble. Put Manning and Reed in now and they will make mistakes any first year starter would make. Granted Manning has a little more experience but does he really give us the best chance to win. I can't answer that. I'll trust Sark to decide.

I blame the OL and Ewers for the offensive woes. It's not all on Ewers though the QB gets the blame. Just my 2 cents.

Don’t forgot the TEs and RBs also missing a decent amount of blocks. It’s a bit of everything. We have lots of experience in all of these positions and it’s a little bit disappointing we are struggling like we have to hit full stride. Hopefully the bye week fixes health and mistakes!

 

[Baron]

QE may seem a bit hesitant, but wouldn't you after being sacked 7 times in the previous game? Add four more for the Vanderbilt game. Sounds like Flood has some work to do, not counting the penalties. The bye week is the time to get this right, unfortunately most of the coaches are going to be on the recruiting trail this week.

 

[BWilk55]

QE may seem a bit hesitant, but wouldn't you after being sacked 7 times in the previous game? Add four more for the Vanderbilt game. Sounds like Flood has some work to do, not counting the penalties. The bye week is the time to get this right, unfortunately most of the coaches are going to be on the recruiting trail this week.

Your last comment is odd? Practice days and practice time is limited, Texas will use up all the practice time available to them to work with the players. Not having a game frees up a lot of time to go out and recruit.

 

[tejasrulz]

Interesting article on the penalties and their impact during the Vandy game.

MSN

I have still yet to watch the 2nd half because I've been busy but I still plan to watch it.

 

[Baron]

Your last comment is odd? Practice days and practice time is limited, Texas will use up all the practice time available to them to work with the players. Not having a game frees up a lot of time to go out and recruit.

My reason for saying is because there are things that needs to be fixed through coaching and recruiting seems to be well in hand.