Football Instanalysis from South Bend

[Matt Cotcher]

 

Submitted Today, 10:58 PM in Texas Longhorns Football

by Matt Cotcher    @mlcotcher

 

FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 38 – Texas 3

First half: Notre Dame 17 – Texas 0
Second half: Notre Dame 21 – Texas 3

First half observations

• After an easy 3^rd down conversion to Chris Brown, the Irish came up one foot shy on their second third down and paid for it by jumping offside on 4^th down.
• Johnathan Gray and Marcus Johnson both expressed their frustration with how long the sideline took to get the 3^rddown call to the field on Texas’ first drive.
• On the Irish’s first touchdown and their first down (on the first drive), Jason Hall and Dylan Haines both dropped back into such a deep zone that Zaire had a 5-yard cushion to complete a 15-yard throw. The same soft zone also allowed an easy conversion on ND’s third drive.
• Despite two three and outs to start, Dickson bailed out the offense with a 52-yard punt that rolled dead at the Notre Dame 5-yard line.
• At 14-0, the Irish are sealing the edges so well that end-around and off-tackle runs are into the defensive secondary before a Texas player has a chance at making a play.
• Jerrod Heard saw his first action on the team’s third drive, but was taken out after a solid hit on a rush. The drive started well, but was undone by a holding penalty.
• Heard was self-sacked twice (with an assist from porous OL play), then Dickson punted it for 28-yards. There are plenty of folks to blame for the first half performance. (The result was a ND field goal.)
• Midway through the 2^nd quarter, Daje Johnson seemed like the only offensive player that wanted to win.
• In the first half, Malik Zaire let the Texas D-Line rush converge, then broke the pocket by running straight upfield. There was never a ‘backer at home to stop him.
• On the final drive of the half, the third down screen called to Daje Johnson was excellent. Unfortunately it was an outlier in the first half. Then, Armanti Foreman and the offense were bailed out by a facemask penalty.
• I refuse to acknowledge Brian Kelly burning timeouts at the end of the half.

Second half observations

• The offense and defense opened the second half the same way they played the first. Special teams was a bright spot though when Kris Boyd leveled the returner after Dickson crushed a punt (plus the missed FG attempt by the Irish).
• The long completion to John Burt was a beautiful throw by Swoopes. Credit the O-Line for giving him time.
• In the 3^rd quarter, Texas was only down 14 points and needed a game-changing play from the defense with ND starting on their own 10-yard line. Instead they allowed a Zaire-to-Fuller game-killer.
• The lone bright spot on offense tonight was Daje Johnson’s effort and the number of touches he received.
• Notre Dame’s OL play + Texas’ DB play = Malik Zaire, Heisman contender
• In the first half, DB’s had to run up 5 yards to tackle a receiver in front of them. In the second half, DB’s let receivers run 5 yards past them before they reacted to the ball.
• 3^rd down defense was stressed in the offseason. Early in the 4^th quarter, Notre Dame was 5-10 on third down conversions (and they had more than 20 other first downs converted before 3^rd down).
• Whereas the first half score felt like Texas was losing (more than Notre Dame winning), at 38-3, Notre Dame has established that this result is about them too.

Top takeaways

• Texas looked like they played the game at practice speed while Notre Dame played at game speed.
• It’s a mistake to make the offensive ineptitude a Swoopes vs Heard debate. The failures on offense belong to everyone (including coaches), not just #18. That’s not excusing him because he didn’t make a difference either.

Notable Stat’s

• Texas had 4 first downs and 75 total yards at halftime. Notre Dame had 17 points.
• Tyrone Swoopes had a 33.5 passer rating in the first half, and finished at 67.3.
• Notre Dame had 30 first downs, 214 net yards rushing, and 313 yards passing.
• Total TOP: Irish – 39:10, Longhorns – 20:50
• Malik Jefferson finished with 9 tackles, including 2.5 TFL’s.
• Malik Zaire finished 19-22 for a 86% completion ratio and a 250.9 rating.

[joeywa]

I think you could've just typed the word UGLY and saved some time. 

[Matt Cotcher]

Losing 38-3 without turning the ball over is troubling.

[Sirhornsalot]

Watson has to be on the hot seat now.

 

 

 

[streettopeschel]

Watson has to be on the hot seat now.

fine, but Bedford ain't exactly Buddy Ryan 1985.

 

I'm pretty much disgusted with the whole bunch.

[J.B. TexasEx]

Losing 38-3 without turning the ball over is troubling.

My thought was it could've and should've been a helluva lot worse!

[Bear19]

I generally see the glass as half full. I can always find positive signs.

But I'll be damned if I can find anything positive out of this mess.

[Randolph Duke]

fine, but Bedford ain't exactly Buddy Ryan 1985.

 

I'm pretty much disgusted with the whole bunch.

 

Tonight it seemed more like the d was being run by Irene Ryan than Buddy Ryan.

 

[TeamMayhall]

(with all due respect) the game is based on partnerships between Coaches and players. We all know Greg Davis was not the best play caller, but he knew he had players such as VY and Colt that had the skill level to improvise if plays did not play out as they scripted. We have to take a step back and be REAL.

 

Swoopes cannot think under pressure to handle unscripted scenarios. We must move forward with a new experiment or Coaching jobs will be on the line

 

No more sugar coating patty cake..I'm literally watching the TTech game and thinking UT vs Tech might be an even match up. Come on Man!

[Randolph Duke]

I generally see the glass as half full. I can always find positive signs.

But I'll be damned if I can find anything positive out of this mess.

 

It guarantees (lots) more empty seats for the Rice and Cal games. Every empty seat helps push Steve Patterson out the door and helps us get an AD who can clean up the mess he has created.

 

The only positive I can see.

 

[streettopeschel]

Tonight it seemed more like the d was being run by Irene Ryan than Buddy Ryan.

 

not bad

[DMAC]

Says it all - http://texas.247sports.com/Article/Snap-Judgements-Texas-Longhorns-offense-is-a-mess-39209642

 

 

Snap Judgements: Texas' offense continues to be utter mess

 

Shawn Watson says it's a totally new offense.

Coach, don't piss down my leg and tell me it's raining.

The Longhorns were embarrassed by Notre Dame. The offense is a complete and utter mess. That's not new.

From quarterback play to the offensive line to the silliness of trying to force Texas into a style of play that isn't conducive to its players' strengths and abilities, this is the worst Texas offense and scheme, given its personnel, that we've ever seen.

Yes, it may even be worse than a year ago because Texas and Watson had dug its heels in and refused to actually "change" the offense based on the idea that Tyrone Swoopes can be the answer even with the offensive line being unable to block for longer than an instant.

Texas needs someone swift afoot at quarterback.

***

Having Watson calling the plays and Swoopes at the helm will likely cause Texas to either lose to Rice or at least be in a stupidly close contest next week. After that the Longhorns could get blown out against California.

That's not me being negative. Rice scored 56 points today. Cal scored 73.

Both of those outbursts came against FCS opponents. But I don't see Texas scoring 56 points against any team, not with the way the offense is currently configured.

**

Swoopes, even when he had time, was inaccurate and rattled. He made one or two nice passes all night. The stats, as bad as they are, don't even tell the complete depth of his misery.

**

I can't lay the blame the 38 points scored by Notre Dame on Texas' offense. The defense had a really bad night, too.

There's no question Texas is not as talented or experienced on defense as they were a year ago.

The Horns were exposed up the middle on the defensive line. The secondary, John Bonney and Dylan Haines, always seemed to be too late to wherever they were going.

**

The bright spots to me - the few that there were - were the freshmen.

They're legit as a group.

Malik Jefferson is a difference maker and a playmaker. He made plays in the first quarter and he also made them in the fourth.

Kris Boyd is easily the best special teams player and needs to be on the field whenever possible. There's no need for Texas to play Bryson Echols in the secondary. Put Boyd on the field and let him learn.

Breckyn Hager made a sure tackle in the fourth quarter. Anthony Wheeler saw action.

Redshirt linebacker Edwin Freeman and defensive end Derrick Roberson both saw time, as did the aforementioned Bonney, who I still feel is more safety than corner.

I saw freshman safety PJ Locke in the game, too. Freshman cornerback Davante Davis also played as did running back Chris Warren.

On the offensive line, both Connor Williams and Patrick Vahe did the best they could against more experienced players. And wide receiver John Burt made the only big offensive play of the game.

Last but not least, the punter, Michael Dickson, started off auspiciously, but he looked good and comfortable by the end of the night. Of course, Dickson got more snaps than Jerrod Heard.

**

Heard didn't play at all in the second half due to a coach's decision. He did not look great when he was in the game.

**

I can't say I understand what offensive line Joe Wickline is doing with the offensive line given the style of offense Watson prefers.

Putting Taylor Doyle and Sedrick Flowers side by side is a recipe for pass-blocking disaster in these deep drops. And Kent Perkins sliding out to tackle doesn't make it any better.

Neither Doyle nor Flowers are quick enough in these deep drops that Watson likes to call. They have to cover too much ground laterally, and they're simply not well equipped to do it.

I'd love to see Texas test a line up with either Vahe at center or Flowers on the bench.

**'

I like the Texas freshmen playing hard late in the fourth quarter. I liked Boyd's effort on special teams, plus Hager's and Jefferson's big hits. And even Roberson chasing the quarterback out of bounds on the very last drive.

**

Bryce Cottrell and Desmond Jackson both had repeated issues in the run game.

Naashon Hughes played well against the zone read and chasing the ball down the line. But when the Irish ran right at him, he had issues getting off blocks or even holding his ground.

**

The last three games Texas has scored 20 points; the other teams have scored 117.

Yes, I think it's time for a major change to the offense. And I'm not just talking about switching the quarterbacks either.

[J.B. TexasEx]

Bobby Burton nailed it.

[CharcoalPuppy]

I hope to the god of football this shit doesn't hurt our recruiting too much........ What offensive skill player would want to play at Texas after seeing that shit ? 

[Matt Cotcher]

Seeing so many freshmen on the 2-deep was a sign of trouble, butt not one that would indicate what happened last night.

 

What happened in South Bend wasn't a personnel problem.

[CharcoalPuppy]

Seeing so many freshmen on the 2-deep was a sign of trouble, butt not one that would indicate what happened last night.

 

What happened in South Bend wasn't a personnel problem.

 

Whatever the staff's game plan has been the last 3 games, sucks.

 

They couldn't execute the up-tempo aspect of the offense all night. 

 

Tyrone Swoopes problem is between his ears.

 

Please start Jerrod Heard, Charlie.

[Coal Harbour]

It wouldn't have mattered who the QB was last night.  Absolutely no time to do anything.  That being said, doubt the QB who leads this team to a conference title is on the roster.

[Matt Cotcher]

I understand the coaches decision to play Swoopes when they were still in the game. Swoopes is a better choice for a pass-oriented chance at a quick strike.

 

When the Irish hit the TD pass that made it 24-3, the coaches' thinking should have changed. Texas wasn't coming back at that point.

 

Additionally, if that's the reason they stuck with Swoopes (as given in post game), the play calls did not match that intent?

[CharcoalPuppy]

It wouldn't have mattered who the QB was last night.  Absolutely no time to do anything.  That being said, doubt the QB who leads this team to a conference title is on the roster.

 

idk about that... when Jerrod Heard came in the game they got two first downs right off the bat. If he would have played the entire game I don't think we would be sitting here with a 38-3 loss to ND. 

[CharcoalPuppy]

Jerrod Heard gives the offense the "Juice" it needs. 

[CharcoalPuppy]

It wouldn't have mattered who the QB was last night.  Absolutely no time to do anything.  That being said, doubt the QB who leads this team to a conference title is on the roster 

 

 

We would've ended up losing probably but I liked what Heard did in his limited snaps. He just didn't have a chance to get in a rhythm after he got the wind knocked out of him last night. 

[TexCoyote]

Does last nights game or the beat down by BYU piss you off more? I wouldn't be quite as pissed if there wasn't so much sunshine written and said during the offseason and I fall for it again. Why does it take so freaking long to rebuild at Texas? Other teams do it why can't we? Ark, A&M, Baylor, TCU. Why so long at Texas?

[tejasrulz]

Woke up this morning hoping last night was a bad dream but crap, it wasn't.

 

Big Strong supporter but the decisions and comments made last night by him about sticking with Swoopes put a big chink in his armor.

 

Watson should be on the hot seat. His comment last night was asinine. Charlie needs to be looking around to see who he can get as an offensive coordinator.

 

Heard should start from here on out, period. Swoopes might be a good kid but he is not a D1 QB, it's as simple as that.

[CharcoalPuppy]

Woke up this morning hoping last night was a bad dream but crap, it wasn't.

 

Big Strong supporter but the decisions and comments made last night by him about sticking with Swoopes put a big chink in his armor.

 

Watson should be on the hot seat. His comment last night was asinine. Charlie needs to be looking around to see who he can get as an offensive coordinator.

 

Heard should start from here on out, period. Swoopes might be a good kid but he is not a D1 QB, it's as simple as that

 

 " He was competing hard"  doesn't give us the best chance to win.  It's that simple.  Heard is a gamer, Swoopes isn't. 

[North Texas Golfer]

Woke up this morning hoping last night was a bad dream but crap, it wasn't.

 

Big Strong supporter but the decisions and comments made last night by him about sticking with Swoopes put a big chink in his armor.

 

Watson should be on the hot seat. His comment last night was asinine. Charlie needs to be looking around to see who he can get as an offensive coordinator.

 

Heard should start from here on out, period. Swoopes might be a good kid but he is not a D1 QB, it's as simple as that.

 

I woke up this morning wondering if my thoughts last night were just a knee jerk reaction or an overreaction. Nope.  And, like tejas, I found some of the comments from Strong, Watson, and Bedford to be quite curious or borderline stupid to say the least.