Pre-Game Analysis: TEXAS @ nd

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by Godz40acres, Aug 25, 2015.

  1. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    [​IMG]
    TEXAS vs nostrus dame

    Let's talk about the season opener.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again - we win this game! 17-7 at the half and 27-21 at the gun with 1 missed FG and 2 INTs.

    Swoopes looks really good on 3 drives, average to uh-oh on the rest. Heard struggles overall in his first series, but moves the chains twice; then looks good to promising in his other 2.

    Defense records 6 three-and-outs, 2 sacks, 1 fouth down stop, 1 INT, and 3 PBUs. Mistakes are made but, overall, we are pleased with the effort. At the office on Monday we give our Sooner co-workers a wry smile but say nothing.

    Coach Strong dons a white mock and says "unbelievable" 11 times during his post-game comments.

    30% of Horn Fans members wet themselves before kickoff. (I'm in that group.)

    Game balls are awarded to:
    Taylor Doyle - Offense
    John Bonney - Defense
    Ryan Newsome - Special Teams
    WorsterMan - Arson Teams

    NOTE: This is not meant to be a game thread - better posters can handle that - just a pre-game discussion. Thanks!
     
    • Like Like x 5
  2. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    BTW...

    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 8
  3. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    OMG - pretty optimistic - I might have a life ending heart attack with that kind of vicktree against the hated Irish in South Binge...

    I will not only wet myself, I will promise to set a 2nd sofa on fire in my backyard!!!:hookem:
     
    • Like Like x 3
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2015
  4. aUTfan

    aUTfan 2,500+ Posts

    Don't want to rain on the parade but i'm gonna temper the enthusiasm a little, i don't think we win, i think we can but the variables of experience are not in our favor and i think Notre Dame's experience over us is the difference, but i think we will probably look at maybe one play that we might say was the difference in the game and i would have to point to the qb play as the possible culprit.

    I'm just hoping that we can compete with them to the end of the game, i will deem that a success and a sign that we are progressing. and i hope im completely wrong. :)
     
    • Like Like x 2
  5. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    Projected starters for the domer game:

    QB -Tyrone Swoopes / QB2 - Jerrod Heard

    “Just because he's been in the game and he understands the system,” Charlie Strong said of Swoopes. “He's been playing it more.”

    RB - Johnathan Gray / RB2 - D'Onta Foreman

    “When those two get in the open field and they get behind their pads, I don't know if many people want to tackle them,” Strong said. “They can punish you.”

    WR - Daje Johnson, Armanti Foreman, Marcus Johnson / WR4 - John Burt

    “The good thing about it is they have to learn all four positions,” Strong said. “You can move them around to get the ball in playmaker's hands.”

    TE - Andrew Beck / TE2 - Alex De La Torre

    OL - Taylor Doyle at center, Sedrick Flowers at guard and Kent Perkins with Marcus Hutchins, Patrick Vahe and Connor Williams in contention for the other two spots.

    Strong rattled off just about every defensive lineman on the roster when speaking about players position coach Brick Haley has in his meeting room who can contribute.

    “It's a really good collection of guys there,” Strong said. “They're doing an outstanding job.”

    DL - Hassan Ridgeway, Desmond Jackson, Shiro Davis and Naashon Hughes with Paul Boyette, Poona Ford and Bryce Cottrell in relief or other packages.

    LB - Peter Jinkens and Malik Jefferson / LB2a - Edwin Freeman / LB2b - Anthony Wheeler

    CB - Duke Thomas and Kris Boyd / CB2 - Holton Hill and Bryson Echols

    NB - John Bonney / NB2 - P.J. Locke

    FS - Jason Hall / FS2 - DeShon Elliott

    SS - Dylan Haines / SS2 - Adrian Colbert

    The performances in camp of Kris Boyd, Davante Davis and Holton Hill have given the coaches a lot to think about when it comes to figuring out who will see the field first.

    “They're just long,” Strong said. “When the ball goes up in the air they're athletic enough and they can run well enough to where they get up field, get up top and go knock the ball down.”

    With less than two weeks remaining until the opener and just under a week remaining until the first depth chart is likely to be published there's still time for guys to make moves, Strong said.
    [Some parts from 247 article]
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2015
  6. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    We are all very cautiously optimistic we somehow get the perfect storm game from this team vs. ND.... but honestly most of us probably look at / approach the game as you described.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    I agree with Worsterman. It will take a perfect storm to upset the Domers in their house in the first game of the season.

    Our team is not nearly as experienced in the trenches as ND. And ND has a 1st round upper classman at linebacker who is surrounded by a tough experienced cast. I think our young guns will grow tremendously and next year we get our revenge in Austin, Texas.

    This year the O line grows up, the muddy, murky QB situation clears up, and the young defense comes of age quickly. No one will want to see this team by the end of this year and certainly not next year.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. ProdigalHorn

    ProdigalHorn 10,000+ Posts

    I don't know that it will take a perfect storm, but it will take improvement that it's hard to gauge in practice. is the O-line really that much better? Is Ty really playing with more confidence? Are the receivers really stepping up their game?

    I think that if they are, Notre Dame is ripe for an upset. I'm hearing the same pre-season ravings that we hear every single year. "I've been to the fall camp, and these guys just look special." "They look like a totally different team." "For the first time, they look ready to take that next step." Notre Dame was mediocre at best down the stretch last year, and I don't buy that they got that much better in one off-season.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  9. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Hey Prodigal, it kills me that you'd say you don't think ND got that much better in one off season and yet there are those on the board saying just how much better we have gotten in "just one off season". I'm just hoping we have! Heck I'm just hoping we get decent QB play. Every time I start to get truly optimistic my memory returns to our record setting performance v Ark. What a terrible taste that still leaves.
     
  10. ProdigalHorn

    ProdigalHorn 10,000+ Posts

    I think there's a big difference between Notre Dame's situation and ours. Notre Dame wasn't in a program transition year - they were firmly settled into their system. They'll have a QB that's younger and less experienced - even though he's shown flashes of being really good, he's also shown flashes of being really mediocre. Sounds familiar, right? I think Texas had a bigger "culture gap" that needed to be filled, and sometimes an off-season and new blood accomplishes that. Plus - and I can't overemphasize this enough - it's our freaking team and if we want to give it the benefit of the doubt and not extend the same to another team, then that's what we're going to do.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  11. LtSwtCrude

    LtSwtCrude Guest

    Know outcome, cannot.
    To win, if you must, trust always the Force. Yessssss
    . . . Herh herh herh

    [​IMG]
     
  12. LtSwtCrude

    LtSwtCrude Guest

    Damn well said! And about time! Too many above-average guru minds just have to go quantum physics with the probabilities and make it all logical and reasonable... Why extend benefit of doubt to the other guy?

    Damn well said!!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 26, 2015
  13. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Hahahaha, and I completely agree. Often at games and while watching on tube my kids will say "that's it we're done" and I smile and say "not yet" just hoping. Against all odds we can still do it.
    Hookem.
     
  14. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    Notre Dame fan here, glad to offer some unsolicited information : ) Really excited about this game, arguably the 2 greatest programs in college football history. To the question on how to beat ND, a few thoughts:

    NDs offense

    QB - talented, but unproven. He appears to be strong mentally, a "gamer" if you will, but who knows. He is a dangerous threat to run, and has a very strong arm, but his accuracy will not be near what Golson's was, and reading the defense remains an unknown.

    RBs - Talented first string (Folston), Freakish athlete 2nd string (Procise) but no history at running back, and has been injured most of preseason, so unclear if he can turn athletic talent into productivity. Freshman behind that, so as others have mentioned, if Folston gets hurt, ND is in trouble.

    WRs - Very deep, can go 5 - 7 deep and feel good about any of them. Fuller is nearing elite territory (15tds last year), but we are not talking first round unguardable elite.

    Tight End - inexperienced. We have some talent, but noone who has the whole package. Chase Hounshell is an often injured 5th year convert from the defense, and might turn out to be a nice find as an in-line blocker, but is scaring noone as a route runner. Alize Jones is an elite recruit, looks like a great pass catcher, but I don't think you can expect a freshman to do much on the blocking side.

    Offensive line -this is an elite offensive line, one of, if not the best in the country. All 5 will play on Sunday, anchored by Stanley, who likely would have been a top half of first round pick this past year if he left early.

    Overall, maybe it a bit of rose colored glasses, but ND has a ton of talent on offense if Malik Zaire can be productive. If I was Texas I would stack the box and find out. I am not a fan of Brian Kelly's playcalling (I think he is a good overall coach of the program, but needs to relinquish playcalling). The strength of this team is the offensive line, and more specifically, the run blocking capabilities. They are good in pass pro, can be elite in run blocking, and ND playcalling needs to be stubborn about running the ball, especially to protect the defense. But history would suggest, if you stack the box, we will throw. ND tends to let the defense dictate their offense, even if it means Tommy Rees and Everett Golson committing a ton of turnovers. Stack the box, get an early lead, and you have a shot.

    On defense

    Defensive backs - very strong 1/2 with Kevaire Russel and Cole Luke. After that, some depth, but talent is more average, especially with Shaun Crawford going down for the season. Safeties are talented, but have yet to be productive. Large question there.

    Linebackers - Jaylon Smith is the best player on the team, will be one of the best in the country. Manti Teo was great, Smith has significantly more upside. Outside of that, you have a solid group with depth, but no stars. Nyles Morgan has the tools, but still not the awareness, and may never have the instincts.

    Defensive line - this is our weakness, Sheldon Day is very good, probably a 2nd rounder, but after that you have a lot of question marks. Jarron Jones was a huge loss.

    On offense, I would run, run, run, play action with tempo. ND defense will want to be aggressive for a couple of reasons. We have the corners to cover one on one, and we lack the athletes to create a pass rush with only rushing 4. This makes us susceptible to the big play. Van Gorder also likes to substitute and play situational defense, which in today's uptempo world does not always work. A few big plays are very achievable, and will make this closer than us ND fans might want it to be.

    Overall, I think Strong is a solid coach, and has done the right thing with his "cleaning house", but because of that I am happy ND is facing Texas in game 1 and not game 10. I imagine the attrition over the past 18 months will be too much to overcome against a very experienced (outside of QB position) ND team. Really looking forward to this game, but do think TX will have a much better shot, maybe even favored, in Austin next year.
    [Per a domer poster on another Longhorns site]
     
  15. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    I think the Horn D is the key to the game.

    Horns D will have to stack the box a lot. Lot's of movement before the snap, create pressure, confuse, stunt & blitz often. Try to confuse and force an inexperienced QB to have to make fast decisions and use a mediocre arm to have to throw the ball to beat you. If they don't challenge that very good OL, then the ND O will impose it's will on the D and that will not end well.

    I think the Horns up tempo O can move the ball, will give ND trouble and get them tired over time. I think the Horns can score some points (perhaps enough to win) but the D will have to limit ND scores for UT to win.
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2015
  16. Irish Horn

    Irish Horn < 25 Posts

    ND has true freshmen at both kicker and punter. Both are getting rave reviews in practice, but the reality is neither has played a single down of college football. ND's best CB was suspended last year so he hasn't played a game in over 20 months, and our starting QB only has only thrown 35 passes in CFB. If Texas can stop the run and get some early stops, I think this game could be interesting.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  17. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    ... and some troll on ESPN said the team described above should be ranked 4 in the country???? If their DL is their weakness, Gray and company should rush for 200+ yards.
     
  18. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    Our Oline needs to show their DL is their weakness, make them put 8 in the box, then open up the passing game.
     
  19. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Okay, so Horns need to score, and limit ND from scoring. Got it. :smile1:
     
    • Like Like x 2
  20. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    mchammer showing what a quick study he is!:bow:
     
    • Like Like x 2
  21. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

     
    • Like Like x 2
  22. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

     
    • Like Like x 2
  23. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    Godz40 - we love all the Horn data you share from your sports and NSA sources, but dude, you post around the clock! I see 1 AM here and 4 AM on another thread and of course you post at various times during the day. When do you sleep!? :smile1:
     
    • Like Like x 1
  24. Detective Shilala

    Detective Shilala 2,500+ Posts

    Also, Limit Mistakes and Create Opportunities. That should create more points for us and less for them.
    I call this the LMCO offense and I wish Watson would adopt it.
     
  25. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    Marinate with good play calling on both sides of the ball.
     
  26. LtSwtCrude

    LtSwtCrude Guest

    As to those ticket prices... here is Sept 5 television schedule... 4 games competing for that time frame.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...football-tv-guide-schedule-fbs-2015/26525745/

    Saturday, Sept. 5 TIMES EASTERN

    Colgate at Navy, CBSSN, noon
    Illinois State at Iowa, BTN, noon
    Louisiana-Monroe at Georgia, SEC, noon
    South Dakota State at Kansas, FSN, noon
    Stanford at Northwestern, ESPN, noon
    Portland State at Washington State, Pac-12, 2
    Auburn vs. Louisville, CBS, 3:30 in Atlanta
    BYU at Nebraska, ABC, 3:30
    Florida Atlantic at Tulsa, CBSSN, 3:30
    Virginia at UCLA, FOX, 3:30
    UTEP at Arkansas, ESPNU, 3:30
    Bowling Green vs. Tennessee, SEC, 4 in Nashville
    Grambling at California, Pac-12, 5

    Arizona State vs. Texas A&M, ESPN, 7 in Houston

    Louisiana-Lafayette at Kentucky, ESPNU, 7
    Georgia Southern at West Virginia, FSN, 7:30
    New Mexico State at Florida, SEC, 7:30

    Texas at Notre Dame, NBC, 7:30

    UNLV at Northern Illinois, CBSSN, 7:30

    Alabama vs. Wisconsin, ABC, 8 in Arlington, Texas

    Eastern Washington at Oregon, Pac-12, 8

    Texas State at Florida State, ESPNews, 8 Congratulations, Bobcats!! PrimeTime ESPN Game!

    Mississippi State at Southern Miss, FS1, 10:30
    Arkansas State at USC, Pac-12, 11
    Sam Houston State at Texas Tech, FSN, TBA
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 27, 2015
  27. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    • Like Like x 4
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2015
  28. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    What a great time of year. The hot summer is fading and the Longhorns are undefeated. THERE IS HOPE! :cow:
     
    • Like Like x 2
  29. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    Extra "Like" for the use of graphics. Wayduh go, Joe!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  30. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    Thank you for your concern. The boiler in my mom's basement NSA-proof bunker is in need of "encouragement" 24/7, so I have no set sleeping pattern.
     
    • Like Like x 4

Share This Page