What UT Didn't Do
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by user ASwaff
After the University of Texas' first game, I wrote a brief article stating some observations I'd made about things they would need to fix in order to stand a chance against Ohio State University. Almost without exception, they did not address any of the weaknesses they showed in the first week. I want to take a quick look at the things they failed to address for the big game. (NOTE: This is not to take anything away from OSU. They played great and beat Texas cleanly. This is just something that interest me as a Longhorns fan that would like to see my team improve as the season progresses).
- "What (the offense) didn't show was any element of surprise."
I optimistically hoped that UT played conservatively against the University of North Texas in order to hide their offensive scheme. My secret fear turned out to be the more accurate assumption. During Mack Brown's tenure at UT, Greg Davis' offense has been predictable and thoroughly ineffective. Major Applewhite found some success because he audibled on almost every play, and Vince Young succeeded because he was athletic enough to run for a gain when Davis' play calls didn't work. Colt McCoy does not yet have the confidence to audible every play, and he doesn't scramble like Young. That leaves him with the same ineffective offensive scheme that Chris Simms ran at UT, but without Chris Simms' arm strength.
Texas' offense could not have been more vanilla than it was in the game against OSU. They never called a QB keeper, they ran no quick slants, they did not stretch the field, and they ran virtually no play action. With OSU keying on Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles, they didn't even run some simple play action to try and draw the defenders off. If Texas is ever going to play up to its potential without Vince Young, they are going to have to fire Greg Davis.
- "Special teams...In their last two games against Big 10 teams (OSU and the University of Michigan), the 'Horns have been eaten alive by kick returners."
UT actually managed this one pretty well. The big story, however, wasn't that UT's Aaron Ross managed to not fumble a punt. Ted Ginn returned three punts for a total of just 5 yards last night, and OSU returned just one kickoff for 15 yards. Truthfully, covering kicks and punts was about the only thing they did well all night.
- "If the receivers play next week like they played this week, the game is already over."
I really wish I hadn't been so right about this one. UT's two leading receivers were their two running backs, Young and Charles. They combined for 84 yards on 10 catches. The other three receivers who caught passes combined for 70 yards on nine receptions. All of their wide receivers combined for fewer yards than OSU's number two receiver on the game, Ginn, who had 97 yards on five catches. Quan Cosby had a fumble, passes were dropped, and UT didn't even attempt one pass to a tight end. Considering, again, the fact that UT didn't even try to stretch the field, the fact that there was a lack of diversity or creativity in receiver routes, and the fact that Limas Sweed was running straight down the sideline on almost every play (even though he's best on short slants), we come back to the main problem with UT - Greg Davis.
- "Texas needs to give the ball to Charles more often."
I still maintain that this will be true in the long term (especially if they actually start running some play action fakes), but for the game against OSU, I was wrong. Young outgained Charles by 24 yards on five fewer carries.
- "Where'd Henry Melton go?"
UT has a huge back in Melton that would be very valuable in short yardage situations, whether as a ball carrier or as a decoy. But he didn't make it to the field for a single offensive play in this game. Only once did UT put a big man in the backfield, and it was defensive tackle Derek Lokey. He was in as a blocker, and it fooled nobody. Perhaps if Melton had gotten the ball from the seven yard line instead of throwing a pass to Cosby that resulted in a fumble, we wouldn't be talking about why Texas got smoked last night.
All of this comes down to one central theme. UT has too much athletic talent to play this badly. When you consistently underachieve while consistently bringing in some of the best recruiting classes in the country, there is nobody to blame but the coaches. I have long believe that Mack Brown does not sufficiently prepare his team for major games, but at the absolute least, UT needs to get rid of Greg Davis. He has been an albatross for a number of amazing offensive players over the years, and it's time to let him go.
Date
Sun 09/10/06, 7:51 pm EST
I have to say, however, that I disagree with you about the talent. I think UT's players are just as talented as those other schools, but they LOOK average because of the way these coaches have them playing. I think that Troy Smith would look mediocre without an offensive scheme that got the ball to play makers like Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez and let them make big plays. I think that Brady Quinn would look mediocre without the spread offense he has to work with. UT has had a lot of very talented players pass through their system that have looked quite mediocre because they didn't have an effective offensive scheme, and they didn't have a coaching staff that helped them improve. It's like I've said all along. Even great players like Roy Williams, Derrick Johnson and Cedric Benson were just as good their senior year as their freshman year. Vince Young is the only one I've seen truly improve from year to year. Again, it says something about coaches that they can't take good freshmen and turn them into GREAT seniors.