Oklahoma vs. Texas (Oct. 10, 2015) Film Review

[Ryan Bridges]

I'm over-caffeinated and fired up, so let's do this. There's not a whole lot that's interesting about the touchdowns — except the fact that the Longhorns had more of them than the Sooners — but we'll start there anyway. 

This goes down as a pass because Jerrod Heard tossed it forward to Marcus Johnson, but it's essentially just a jet sweep. (The advantage of running it as a "touch pass" is that if you botch the exchange, the ball is dead because it'd be an incomplete pass.)

Outside of Johnathan Gray's cut block and Lorenzo Joe blocking downfield, none of these blocks are even good. This was all Johnson. This would have been Daje Johnson's play if he were healthy, but man, Marcus did a great impression. 

 

[BudreauReye]

I'm over-caffeinated and fired up, so let's do this. There's not a whole lot that's interesting about the touchdowns — except the fact that the Longhorns had more of them than the Sooners — but we'll start there anyway. 

This goes down as a pass because Jerrod Heard tossed it forward to Marcus Johnson, but it's essentially just a jet sweep. (The advantage of running it as a "touch pass" is that if you botch the exchange, the ball is dead because it'd be an incomplete pass.)

Outside of Johnathan Gray's cut block and Lorenzo Joe blocking downfield, none of these blocks are even good. This was all Johnson. This would have been Daje Johnson's play if he were healthy, but man, Marcus did a great impression. 

" ... There's not a whole lot that's interesting about the touchdowns ... " 

Au contraire mon frere,  I think they are very interesting in and of their own right! 

" ... This was all Johnson. This would have been Daje Johnson's play if he were healthy, but man, Marcus did a great impression."

Well ... he IS a Johnson! 

 Seriously ... thanks for posting this tonight.

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Here's QB Power, the cousin of the play I'm going to post next.

Three really nice blocks here by Caleb Bluiett, Andrew Beck and Alex De La Torre. Wash 'em down, kick 'em out, take 'em where they want to go. 

 

[BudreauReye]

Here's QB Power, the cousin of the play I'm going to post next.

Three really nice blocks here by Caleb Bluiett, Andrew Beck and Alex De La Torre. Wash 'em down, kick 'em out, take 'em where they want to go. 

Excellent job by three wanna be tight end, H-back, fullbacks! 

Good job by Joe to hustle over and cover the fumble.

 

[utisdabomb12]

One thing Norvell does that I love is the pre snap movement by the WRs. Gets the defense moving/guessing and creates holes. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

I would love to see Texas run some diamond formation looks. Daje, Foreman and De La Torre in the backfield would create some major problems. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

And here's the QB Counter Trey (not a touchdown but this was the 3rd & 10 conversion that put the game away).

Left tackle Connor Williams bangs the 2-technique inside and works up to the middle linebacker (#26). Left guard Patrick Vahe pulls and kicks out the defensive end. So in a gotta-have-it situation, Texas dials up a play where two of the most important blocks will be made by true freshmen — you know, in case there was any doubt who the best linemen on the team are. 

De La Torre also pulled around and had a crucial block. Here's the sideline view so you can see all of it.

 

[BudreauReye]

That wuz purdy! 

I can't see the numbers, but there was some good blocking at the point of attack and some good blocking and/or otherwise harassment of OU defenders downfield.

It has been a great day ... I am headed for LA LA Land ... whoever is out last, be sure and turn off the lights. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

This touchdown is so frustrating. Dylan Haines knew exactly what the route was going to be, he just had bad technique in my opinion.

Starting around the time they get to the bottom right corner of the "A" in the end zone, Haines could have closed the gap with the fullback. Get a hand on his hip and then you can keep your eyes on the quarterback and know where the fullback is. Instead Haines gives the fullback space, which forces him to keep looking back and forth between them and, of course, he loses track of the fullback. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Swoopes scored on the QB Power play earlier. Oklahoma had just become the first team to stop him in this Super Swooper/18 Wheeler package, so Texas dials up a counter.

You know it's a great play call when a receiver comes free. When two receivers come free, it's the perfect play call. 

Side note: It has come to my attention that I think Bluiett is a much better athlete and player than anyone else, so now all of you are going to have to see me defend my argument for the rest of the season and probably beyond. He doesn't look big and clumsy at all here. I'd actually say his movements are pretty smooth. HE'S 260 FREAKING POUNDS. I remember noticing how quick and smooth he was last season when he was playing defensive end, thinking "Huh, he's a pretty good athlete," and then having my mind blown when I realized how big he is. 

 

[BudreauReye]

It will be interesting to see how he does in the future ... I think he has the makings of a pretty good tight end.

 

[Ryan Bridges]

I believe Texas introduced Sprint Draw for the first time last week against TCU. They got Heard out of the pocket on sprint outs and ran QB sweeps with him, so initially the action in the backfield looks familiar.

Here they're using Eric Striker's aggressiveness against him. Notice how he runs so far upfield that he basically blocks himself. I couldn't decide how to depict the action of the offensive line, but here it is from another angle with the blocks drawn up.

And oh look, there's Bluiett sealing a linebacker inside to spring D'Onta Foreman. (Sorry, I'll try to control myself — and yeah, it's not a good block but it's effective.)

I don't know why Foreman isn't getting more carries. It's obvious to anyone that he's the better back, to the point that I'm wondering if he's in Tommie Robinson's dog house. Whatever the issue, it needs to be sorted out because it's holding the offense back. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

This is the first Texas sack. 

Texas brings five rushers and runs a combination coverage — bracket coverage on Sterling Shepard (the receiver at the bottom) with Jason Hall underneath and Antwuan Davis over top, man coverage everywhere else with a safety over the top. Just about everyone rushing Baker Mayfield wins, but it's really Peter Jinkens who forces him to move — right into the arms of Poona Ford.

This is a great example of coaching and talent working hand in hand. The bracket takes away Mayfield's first receiver, and by the time he moves to the other side (where the slot is probably open), the pressure is in his face. Can you believe Ridgeway is 314 pounds?

 

[Ryan Bridges]

This was a big 3rd & 6, the play before Texas' first touchdown. 

No read here; it's QB run all the way. Heard bounces it outside because Striker squeezes so far down. It's a good thing, too, because right tackle Tristan Nickelson falls down and doesn't get to the linebacker. This play works because of pure speed — and a safety taking a bad angle. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

This is one of the fun parts about doing film reviews — coming across plays like this.

This should look familiar because it's the exact same play from post #7, the gotta-have-it 3rd & 10 play to seal the win. Same play, same formation. 

Clearly Texas has found something with this play, so keep an eye out for it in the future. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Texas' second sack of the game.

This play was the second of consecutive corner blitzes. This will probably be Kris Boyd's job next year. Ridgeway gets a lot of push up the middle and Duke Thomas' blitz forces Mayfield right to him. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

I'm really not sure why OU didn't run more WR screens. We brought pressure the entire game. Get the ball out quick and there's a good chance we were bringing pressure from our corners too. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

There's a blown coverage assignment here but I'm not sure whose fault it is, and it ends up not mattering.



When Joe Mixon goes in motion, the player lined up over him (Hall) checks to a blitz, but no one picked him up on the other side. I would assume Thomas, who was lined up like an inside linebacker, was supposed to cover him. It doesn't matter because Oklahoma slides the protection the wrong way and Hall comes free, forcing the ball to come out. 

Jinkens on Shepard is not a matchup Texas wants, but credit to Jinkens for making a Jordan Hicks-esque play. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Vahe bringing the sort of attitude Texas' offensive line has been lacking.