Things Texas Needs to Improve On...And Other Thoughts
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by user ASwaff
Today I attended my first University of Texas football game since I was in Cub Scouts. Even though it was against the University of North Texas, it was an extremely memorable event. As I watched the game, I noticed a number of things that Texas needs to improve on in order to even stand a chance of beating Ohio State University next Saturday...and I observed a few other things, too.
- Texas showed the great balance that has driven its offense the last three seasons, passing for 198 yards and rushing for 212. They had three touchdowns through the air, and four more on the ground. What it didn't show was any element of surprise. True, this was a first game and many times, teams don't want to give anything away. But almost every time Selvin Young was in the backfield, the ball was run up the middle; almost every time Jamaal Charles was in the backfield, the ball was run outside to the right. Their offense can't be this predictable against the vastly superior defense of Ohio State.
- I'm as supportive as anyone when it comes to sharing with people religious beliefs that you hold important and dear. Choosing to share them by dragging a massive cross through a crowd of 80,000 people trying to shuffle their way into a football game is not a good way to go about sharing your convictions.
- Special teams. Oh my goodness, the special teams. The Longhorns get by on punt and kick coverage, but they haven't had a good punt returner in so long I don't even remember what one looks like. In their last two games against Big 10 teams (OSU and the University of Michigan), the 'Horns have been eaten alive by kick returners. The fact that Aaron Ross has trouble even catching the punt is something that should be worked on.
- Any UT receiver not named Limas Sweed was dreadful today. Just dreadful. Sweed had five receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The rest of their receivers combined for 7 catches and 61 yards. The second leading reciever was running back Selvin Young, with 26 yards. And neither of their tight ends caught a single pass. This from a team that's heavily relied in recent years on tight ends like David Thomas and Bo Scaife. Receivers dropped easily catchable passes, and failed to get separation from UNT's weak defenders. UT needs to be able to attack OSU's depleted secondary to win the game. If the receivers play next week like they played this week, the game is already over.
- Next to the gorgeous, tanned Texas women, I look grotesquely pale. Something for me to work on.
- I flat-out hate some NCAA rules. Not allowing a school to show replays of a play that's under review? Are you kidding me with this stuff? If a ref makes his ruling based on a crowd's reaction to the replay, he has no business participating at this level. I think it would be a great way to root out crappy refs, myself.
- Texas needs to give the ball to Charles more often. Young is good; Charles is great. Selvin Young rushed for 44 yards on 12 carries today, for an average of 3.7 yards per carry. Charles rushed for 77 yards on 14 carries, for an average of 5.5 yards. Give the ball to Charles more.
- Where'd Henry Melton go? The enormous back got just five carries today, and most of them came when Charles and Young had left the game. I'd like to see Melton in on more short yardage situations, if for no other reason than to serve as a decoy.
- Last, but certainly not least...make Dr. Pepper accessible in the stadium! Honestly, how are you gonna have a football game in Texas and not have Dr. Pepper on the fountains? It's a travesty, I say!
Date
Sat 09/02/06, 10:39 pm EST
