Season in review - how will you remember 2014?

[Matt Cotcher]

in Texas Longhorns Football By Matt Cotcher   

 @mlcotcher
 
The college football season came to conclusion on Monday night when Ohio State throttled Oregon in the first-ever College Football Playoff national championship game. As soon as the final gun sounded in Arlington, fans began discussing the prospects for 2015 - that's what fans do.

Courtesy of an early bowl game, Texas fans got a head start on the crowd and have been talking about "next season" for two weeks. In order to have any legitimate discussion about 2015, fans need to take into account the biggest story lines from 2014.

A glance in the rear view mirror shows these stories will be how last season is remembered by Longhorn faithful:


Charlie Strong’s 5 Core Values

No guns. No stealing. No drugs. Be honest. Treat women with respect.

Charlie Strong’s core value got loads of publicity, especially when the Horns’ head coach started dismissing players for violating them. There was even a meeting in Austin with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about how the core values could be implemented in the NFL.

No matter how elementary they seem, the core values became symbolic of the culture change in the Texas football program. For the first time in over a decade, a season started without Mack Brown at the helm of the Longhorns, and the core values took on the role of cleaning Brown’s house.



3-game win streak to bowl eligibility

After being shutout in Manhattan, the Longhorns were 3-5 overall, and most pegged them as dead in the water. Texas needed at least three wins in their final four games – two of which were on the road and another was against a Top 5 team.

Then this happened:




With one devastating hit, Quandre Diggs jarred the Longhorns to life. The team rode the emotional surge to a victory in Lubbock, then built off that momentum to win two more consecutive games. After the team’s third straight victory, Texas was 6-5, bowl eligible, and playing their best football of the season.



Texas defense

As inconsistent as the 2014 season was, the Texas defense turned in a strong campaign under Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford. The Texas defensive line sacked opposing quarterbacks 40 times, and the defense allowed less than 185 passing yards per game.

Jordan Hicks, Steve Edmond, and Mykkele Thompson all blossomed under the new coaching staff. Combining those players with Quandre Diggs’ and Cedric Reed’s steady production, and Malcom Brown’s application for professional football, and the Texas defense was easily the top performing unit on the team. In fact, most fans wonder if the defense would have been even better if the offense and special teams units had carried a bigger share of the load.



Injuries derail season

Full of the hope and excitement that every college football fan has in August, Texas supporters entered the season with high expectations pinned on a perilously thin depth chart. If you asked a Longhorn fan for a preseason prediction, it started with, “If David Ash stays healthy…”

The story didn’t go as planned – David Ash was concussed in the season opener, and retired due to health concerns. Center Dominic Espinosa, a vital piece of the inexperienced offensive line, broke his ankle in the second half of the North Texas game, and was also lost for the year.

Running back, defensive tackle, offensive line…the Horns' luck with injuries seemed to seep into key position groups without mercy. By midseason, Texas had a much different depth chart than they did in August.



Offensive offense

In a what-have-you-done-lately world, the Longhorns left folks with 2 forgettable offensive performances to finish the season. But focusing on only the TCU and Arkansas games doesn’t do justice to the entire body of work by the Texas offense.

Kansas State in Manhattan? Kansas in Lawrence? The 3rd quarter throughout the season?

With the exception being the game against Iowa State, the Longhorns were limited by their offense throughout the entire season. Injuries, suspensions, and dismissals all contributed to the lack of production, but when the offense averages fewer first downs, total yards and points than their opponent, it’s indicative of bigger problems.



The blame game

Fans combine some of the above subjects and assign blame to one player or a specific position group on the team. Tyrone Swoopes, and the offensive line are the most frequent targets of fans’ ire.

• Swoopes vs the OL
• Ash’s injury
• Espinosa’s injury
• The Texas defense wearing down late in games

No matter what fans choose to blame, they’re playing a chicken-egg argument while standing in quicksand. It isn’t possible to assign blame to a specific cause without recognizing that other failures contributed to that cause. 

 

[streettopeschel]

i'm trying not to, but since you asked...

hate to be 'that guy', but how we'll remember 2014 depends on what happens next.

if we show progress next year (8 or 9 wins for purposes of this discussion) and we're back to a top-10 type program in 2016 then 2014 will just be a brick in the road.

if we're still getting hammered by the top teams in the big 12 and sweating out bowl eligibility next year and heaven forbid in 2016, then this will be looked back on as 'see...i told you charlie was in over his head back in 2014'

 

[bcherry168]

Until we get a quarterback that can execute an offense at the D-1 level, our offense will remain mediocre. Even with an improved offensive line, we will be in the middle of the pack until we get a decent quarterback.

That is just the way it is.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

i'm trying not to, but since you asked...

hate to be 'that guy', but how we'll remember 2014 depends on what happens next.

if we show progress next year (8 or 9 wins for purposes of this discussion) and we're back to a top-10 type program in 2016 then 2014 will just be a brick in the road.

if we're still getting hammered by the top teams in the big 12 and sweating out bowl eligibility next year and heaven forbid in 2016, then this will be looked back on as 'see...i told you charlie was in over his head back in 2014'

That's a fair assessment. Slim would say you're riding the fence though.

 

[streettopeschel]

That's a fair assessment. Slim would say you're riding the fence though.

yeah, probably. but if the nurse doesn't wake him from his nap, he might never see this.

 

[JimsTexas]

Our football team just could not keep it going at the end of the season. I am still proud of our Longhorns and the class that CS has put to gather a solid class. Who would have thought that would happen the way other teams recruited our kids telling them we are going to be down for sometime. Yea you might say I am already pumped for next season. My friends y'all have a great day

 

[North Texas Golfer]

After watching the national championship, what I will remember how startling the difference is between where Ohio State is with their football program and where Texas is with their football program. Make no mistake about it, there is a huge talent difference right now. Hopefully, with the current recruiting class, we can began to close the gap.

 

[echeese]

i'm trying not to, but since you asked...

hate to be 'that guy', but how we'll remember 2014 depends on what happens next.

if we show progress next year (8 or 9 wins for purposes of this discussion) and we're back to a top-10 type program in 2016 then 2014 will just be a brick in the road.

if we're still getting hammered by the top teams in the big 12 and sweating out bowl eligibility next year and heaven forbid in 2016, then this will be looked back on as 'see...i told you charlie was in over his head back in 2014'

I don't see your comments as "that guy" at all (though I realize it is where you usually reside. .    )

I think it's pretty spot on. . . .

Clearly we will finish strong recruiting wise but can we "grow" at OL and QB enough to make an impact in 2015 beyond 7-6/6-7. . . 8/9 wins?

 

[Worster1]

After watching the national championship, what I will remember how startling the difference is between where Ohio State is with their football program and where Texas is with their football program. Make no mistake about it, there is a huge talent difference right now. Hopefully, with the current recruiting class, we can began to close the gap.

^^^^ This.

I had similar thoughts last night watching osu dismantle the ducks.

 

[86MEHorn]

The blame game

Fans combine some of the above subjects and assign blame to one player or a specific position group on the team. Tyrone Swoopes, and the offensive line are the most frequent targets of fans’ ire.

• Swoopes vs the OL
• Ash’s injury
• Espinosa’s injury
• The Texas defense wearing down late in games

No matter what fans choose to blame, they’re playing a chicken-egg argument while standing in quicksand. It isn’t possible to assign blame to a specific cause without recognizing that other failures contributed to that cause. 

I will break a core value and add a "bullet" to the blame game whether warranted or not.

- Shawn Watson 

 

[streettopeschel]

I will break a core value and add a "bullet" to the blame game whether warranted or not.

- Shawn Watson 

to each his own, but given the disaster that was the O-line and a QB who doesn't appear to be ready for prime time i have a hard time judging Watson one way or the other. i don't think Bill Walsh would have accomplished much with this outfit. 

 

[86MEHorn]

- Season started with a thud...Ash concussed, "Oh no, we suck again!"

- "Aggie" victory - doubled up yardage and inflicted pain on OU but "ran out of time"

- Steady progression...I had new hope!

- Then TCU and Arkansas happened

- Malik!

 

[86MEHorn]

to each his own, but given the disaster that was the O-line and a QB who doesn't appear to be ready for prime time i have a hard time judging Watson one way or the other. i don't think Bill Walsh would have accomplished much with this outfit. 

I agree, but the blame game is there. See any thread on other forums and within 10 posts, "Watson needs to go"..."we need a spread offense".

 

[streettopeschel]

I agree, but the blame game is there. See any thread on other forums and within 10 posts, "Watson needs to go"..."we need a spread offense".

gotcha. that is true.

 

[DocHorn]

i'm trying not to, but since you asked...

hate to be 'that guy', but how we'll remember 2014 depends on what happens next.

if we show progress next year (8 or 9 wins for purposes of this discussion) and we're back to a top-10 type program in 2016 then 2014 will just be a brick in the road.

if we're still getting hammered by the top teams in the big 12 and sweating out bowl eligibility next year and heaven forbid in 2016, then this will be looked back on as 'see...i told you charlie was in over his head back in 2014'

I feel the same way

I'm a Charlie fan, but we will not be consistently competitive in each game without good qb play. 

IMHO, we were in the bottom 10% of qb play in D1 this past yr, just awful. 

This past yr was a building yr, we better start seeing improvement this next yr without blowout losses.  That was particularly disturbing, I hope Charlie gets that fixed

 

[bcherry168]

I feel the same way

I'm a Charlie fan, but we will not be consistently competitive in each game without good qb play. 

IMHO, we were in the bottom 10% of qb play in D1 this past yr, just awful. 

This past yr was a building yr, we better start seeing improvement this next yr without blowout losses.  That was particularly disturbing, I hope Charlie gets that fixed

It will take longer than that. You don't find and develop good players overnight.

 

[tinman]

I just couldnt get over how poorly the offense as a whole was this year..depth just wasnt there with all the injuries and dismissals etc. I am hopeful that with an upgrade at the QB position and more experience on the o-line.... next year will be much better.

 

[Hiwood]

a painful reminder of how to not take success for granted or entitlement. a painful reminder that a program can go from national competitor to an also ran in the blink of an eye..I keep thinking that maybe I will wake up and realize it was a nightmare

Unfortunately I dont see our program as being capable of being a Final Four playoff team without a major change in personnel

I am an impatient fan, I expect better things out of UT, much better things..I am unwilling to accept anything short of a national contender