Injuries contributed no doubt. But you could also look at it like this - this is year 3 of coaching and recruiting under this coaching staff. If you’re a “good program” I can buy a bump in the road for 9 new starters. But this defense ranks as one of the worst in school history. It’s a tough lot trying to defend that - new starters or not.
Good win today.
You are kidding, right? Herman’s first recruiting class was put together with string and bubble gum after Strong quit recruiting early his last season. We were really fortunate to get the players we did, including a few diehard Longhorns like Ehlinger.
I freely admit that I am no x’s snd o’s pro, heck it’s easy to see that I’m much more of a cheerleader. That said, Herman’s first real class was BJ, Caden, and all of those other sophomore starters you saw gut it out through injuries. They are warriors, much like Ehlinger. But even warriors are not as effective when they are injured.
I saw one of them, may have been Brandon Jones knocking people down but never using one of his shoulders (left I think). I was pretty sure he was playing hurt because he knew we needed him out there that much.
The Offense: Recall the haphazard, lackluster series we saw during the first quarter. I was pretty certain that was Beck’s final exam which he flagged badly.
Now consider the cohesive offense we saw later in the game. The offense where one play set up another, the offense that drove down the field and scored. The players were the same. The opponents were the same. Who do you think was calling those plays? I would bet lots of cash that it was Herman.
Herman took responsibility because he made the hires. I think it’s a shame that Orlando had to go. Beck was in way over his head, as was Wareheim.
It’s time to quit bashing Herman. CDC isn’t looking over Herman’s shoulder. He is relieving him of some of the due diligence that is required when someone is hired for a job at a place like Texas.
Due diligence that Urban Meyer should have done when he hired Zack Smith and others. (There you go, Urban, you sanctimonious mouthpiece.)
Herman, hire the best darn offensive & defensive minds out there, and let’s roll in the W’s!!
Hook ‘em!