Post Game Random Thoughts - TT vs UT

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by Godz40acres, Nov 28, 2015.

  1. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    [​IMG]

    I'm now officially bald. No more hair. Gone. That's what scratching and pulling it will do when watching our offensive play selections for much of the first half of this game.

    I thought we had this game. Then I knew we didn't. Then I thought we did. Then I knew we didn't. I must have changed what's left of my mind 8 or 9 times. We lost. I was upset. But, I loved how we got back in it, stayed in it, and kept fighting to end. That was refreshing (though it doesn't mitigate the loss).

    Texas set a new NCAA record for most single game substitutions due to injuries - 84.

    Seriously, in addition to lacking RB Gray, RB Foreman and OG Vahe to start the game, we lost:
    1. QB Heard
    2. RB Johnson
    3. TE Bluiett
    4. DT Jackson
    5. DT Ridgeway
    6. LB Jefferson
    7. LB Jinkens
    8. DB Haines
    Seven outta eight starters - five of which were in the first half. DE Davis, DE Hughes, DT Ford, and DB Hill were each injured 42 times but were able to re-enter the game. Okay, 42 may be a stretch, but they did miss quite a few plays.

    And we only lost by 3? To the 3rd most prolific offensive team in the nation?

    Tech was the country's best on 3rd down conversions with a 53% rate. We held them to 4-13 and 0-1 on 4th down. That's pretty good (but their 665 yards isn't, or course).

    Concerning Charlie Strong... I've read the bunches of other threads that discuss his firing vs staying and I "get" both arguments. For the record (so you can assault me and steal my lunch money after he's fired) I am still a strong Strong supporter and believe he will do great things here IF given the time. How much time? I stated months ago that year 3 would be good/very good and year 4 should see us in the NC hunt.

    @Detective Shilala made a good post in another thread:

    Oh, one last thing...

    Way to go, Frogs! Suck it, Biles!!

    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 13
  2. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    Agreed!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  3. NB_LONGHORN

    NB_LONGHORN 500+ Posts

  4. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    +1
     
    • Like Like x 2
  5. Detective Shilala

    Detective Shilala 2,500+ Posts

    I am in for one more year too. If he turns out to be the wrong guy for UT we'll know for sure after one more season. And if next year is more of the same, I will not fret because, whenever he leaves this place the next guy will have a better foundation to work with. (And every year there is another Tom Herman out there, people. Relax.)
    I think we know what the bottom is with Charlie. Now lets see if he can finally get some traction. I think whenever he does start to get traction, there could be a dramatic turnaround.
    But first, he has got to make some really solid hires in the offseason. It all comes down to what he does in the off-season.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. ProdigalHorn

    ProdigalHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Agreed. I loved the fight that they showed. I thought the defense really competed hard until Tech finally realized the weakness was a depleted front 7 with LBs that aren't good in run support. I thought the team had a solid approach to stopping what Tech normally does well. Offensively I thought Heard was doing some pretty good things until he got hurt.

    Definitely need to see what this group will do with a better OC and a year of maturity.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  7. rickysrun

    rickysrun 2,500+ Posts

    To me, it would be a shame not to give Charlie one more year. I'll admit he has made some mistakes with coordinators, but **** if he is not a good evaluator of football talent. Now give him a half a chance to develop it.

    This x 1000. No doubt charlie has made terrible mistakes and this job was probably bigger than he expected, but he has a proven track record as a head coach and developing high school players into NFL draft picks. I would rather keep Charlie for another year. Assuming Charlie is back, what he decides to do at the OC position will tell us everything about his intentions. Go score Cumbie or Meacham and we can all do our touchdown dance...bring a Watson clone and we can go pack up Charlie's office.

    With Foreman, Warren and Burt all you need is a semi competent OC to average 40+ points/game. Go find him, pay him, and get this train rolling again!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  8. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Well said Godz.

    Some on this board see injuries and the destruction they do to a football team as unacceptable "excuses" used by Coach Strong's supporters. These same folks would somehow think that a racecar that has two flat tires somehow should still win the race if the driver of the car just drives with more skill or heart, etc.

    That many injuries change a team at so many levels. Every offensive and defensive call is effected by the particular personnel on the field, and their individual abilities. Blitz calls, pass routes, timing routes, coverage calls, etc etc etc.

    It is amazing we stayed within three points. I was extremely proud of this team for the enormous heart they showed: from the starters who were left at the end, to the 3rd and 4th teamers who were forced into the game by injuries. Kudos to every doggone one of them.

    There is no shortage of guts, fight and heart on this team. Experience, depth, and maturity are in short supply; and when this changes in the next year or two, this bunch will be unstoppable.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  9. Creek

    Creek 1,000+ Posts

    We just got beat by a sorry Tech team that couldn't stop water running up hill. We couldn't stop water running up a mountain. I understand about injuries, everyone has them. Never saw that many under Mack. Texas should go no worse than 9-2 or 8-3 every year period, otherwise you are not Texas. Strong should of been gone after Arkansas.
     
  10. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    Well, let me cast the first dissenting vote on this thread.

    If Strong stays, he will win eight or nine games, minimum, in 2016. So would any other coach, if not more. Then, in 2017, another eight or nine. Perhaps ten. Perhaps.

    The failure to win this year (in particular) and last -- the nine blowouts, the record-setting ineptitipude, the failure to seize the opportunity to turn the program around after OU -- has everything to do with coaching. We have heard every excuse in the book but it still doesn't justify the performance seen by this team. Frankly, I don't believe that anything can.

    There is one common denominator: Coaching. Based on the performance we have seen over the first two years...let me repeat that: "Based on the performance we have seen over the first two years," I cannot find any reasonable justification for a third year...for any coach. "Because he deserves a third year" doesn't work for me,

    For those of you on the fence, I call your attention the Holloween night, 2015, in Ames, Iowa. In a game we had to win, against a very weak opponent, coming off the huge upset of OU and the validation against KSU, we didn't even show up. We were blown out and didn't score a point. That was all about coaching.

    Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I would prefer that Texas is not one of the programs that does not learn...
     
    • Like Like x 6
  11. crizistre

    crizistre 500+ Posts

    100% agree with dukesteer. To me the IowaSt game summed up Charlie Strong as the Texas coach. It was the one game this year that Texas had absolutely no business losing....and it was a collosal drubbing by a vastly inferior opponent. I'm sorry, but a big time coach would have NEVER lost that game
     
    • Like Like x 2
  12. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    ISU should have never happened as well as Tech should have never happened. However even "Big Time Coaches" will eventually lose to vastly inferior teams. It happens on every level and is part of the "fun" of the game.

    Strong needs coaching help as well as program management help. 2016 will be his last chance to show he can hire the right coaches and make vast strides in his program management.
     
  13. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    I know this is a cop out but I can see both sides and could easily come down on either side, i err on side of giving him a third year because the message of only two years would be really bad and dont discount the argument that it would be racial and how that would affect recruiting. Dont misunderstand me, I think that is a false argument but it will be made if he is fired after just two years
     
    • Like Like x 3
  14. Detective Shilala

    Detective Shilala 2,500+ Posts

    I agree with you FWHORN. Cutting him loose after only 2 years sends a really bad message about the coaching job at UT. Not sure it would be interpreted as racial, and if it was that would be untrue. It would speak volumes to an entitled fanbase with pain-in-the-*** donors and the politically unstable nature of UT Athletics, and all of that of course, would all be true.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  15. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    A coach should not be hired because of his ethnicity, nor should a coach not be relieved of his duties, or given any preferential treatment, because of his ethnicity.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  16. Detective Shilala

    Detective Shilala 2,500+ Posts

    What are you trying to imply? Or what should we infer from your statement?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. OldHippie

    OldHippie 2,500+ Posts

    I say give him the 5 years his contract promised him. That will allow these current true freshmen to become true seniors and Charlie will have a team full of his recruits. If this current bunch of true freshmen is a sign of things to come, I think the team will be pretty good by then. I don't think long term goals should be derailed by short term impatience.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2015
  18. car54

    car54 1,000+ Posts

    I agree that Charlie may get us to 8 or 9 wins a season, with an occasional 10 win season thrown in; but he will not get us a conference title or into the MNC play -offs. The question will be, will we fire him like we did Mack or settle for being an also ran.?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  19. Clean

    Clean 5,000+ Posts

    UT needs to give Strong a third year just to be fair. What first rate coach is going to come here if we fire Strong after just two seasons?

    That said, I do think Patterson made a mistake. Red McCombs called it and everybody called him a racist for speaking the truth.
     
  20. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Guys,

    If Texas is winning 9-10 games per year but still has the large swings as this year (but with more wins), it will be clear it is due to coaching. Yes, you can fire a coach who wins 8 or 9 wins (10 would be a stretch).
     
  21. wadster

    wadster 5,000+ Posts

    If Chip Kelly is available you go get him. Period. Can you imagine his offense with Texas based players. It's a match made in heaven. I would like to think Charlie could be successful with a new OC, but damn, the defense has sucked and not just Thurs night. It's sucked all year. I just don't think Charlie is the guy.

    If Charlie does stay, go get Cumbie. Hate to have 3 OCs in 3 years, but Norvell was never hired for that job and Wickline clearly is not the guy or he'd be calling plays right now.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  22. vitamin.C

    vitamin.C First Time Poster

    I agree with the OP and I think Charlie Strong can get it done.

    The first year was understandable, Coming into year 2, I felt it would be about the same as year 1, but I thought guys like Swoopes, Daje, J Gray and the Oline would play better/have more impact to make up for the loss of upperclassmen, but they didnt.

    I think with the lack of upperclassmen talent and injuries forced Charlie to play tons of inexperienced underclassmen. They showed their potential, and potential is just that, not always active. They showed their youth and pretty much found ways to lose.

    Year 3, I believe they start finding ways to win. Games like Cal, Ok State and Tech would be wins. They could have been wins this year, and sitting at 7 wins seems like a worlds difference. Next year I think they have a great shot at winning against Cal, Ok State, Tech, Iowa State, WV and possibly TCU due to their loss of Boykin and 2 key WRs. Looking at an 8-10 win season. Notre Dame, Baylor and Oklahoma being the toughest games.

    Year 4, it all comes together and make a serious run at the playoffs and a Championship.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  23. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    It is amazing to me how many on this Board (in particular) believe that any HC making $5,000,000/year "deserves" a third year given what we have observed over the first 24 games.

    I can only conclude that for many of those individuals -- who are certainly entitled to their opinions, "any level of performance," any, including perhaps even a record of 0-24, might still merit a third year.

    I'm willing to bet that none of you -- zero percent -- would have predicted going into ND that, on 11/28/15, we would be 4-7 in Strong's second year and talking about nine blowouts.

    I'm not so generous, or optimistic.
     
  24. AC

    AC 2,500+ Posts

    Sorry, but if every UT fan had this kind of patience the last 50 years we might, might have one National Championship instead of 4. Charlie will get another year, it will probably be his last chance, and by the looks of the heart and Freshman talent on this team that will be the year he does turn this around. He is recruiting a JUCO Quarterback Jared Evans, plus Buechelle but Evans will have two years of CC experience. I think he is among the best couple of JUCO QB's in the Country. This could look like a different team next year, if we sign Jared Evans.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  25. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    If he is given another year, regardless if it is for the politically correct crowd, or the crowd that thinks he's a really nice guy, or he has good core values, or "Texas isn't that kind", he has taken two years of money plus the Loserville buyout cash, none of which he has earned to date other than beating OU. So how about Strong and his staff renegotiate their contracts on a performance basis - no base pay, total incentive based. Earn it this time!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  26. AC

    AC 2,500+ Posts

    OK, but he is attempting to earn it right now. The results have not proven out on the field yet. Yet. But that does not mean they never will. Just be patient, if he makes smart offseason moves and gets some better quarterbacks in Austin and has another good or even great recruiting class the results will show in 2016. There are signs that Texas has great Freshman and RS Freshman talent. They need a QB and some added depth. I think personally Norvel should go and perhaps Robinson and Watson, but keep everyone else. If I were CS I would hire Major Applewhite away from UH for my next OC. But I am not, just saying. If the offseason moves are not smart and losses mount next year (6-6 or 7-5). Then clearly CS must go.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  27. rickysrun

    rickysrun 2,500+ Posts

    Chip Kelly. The fat tub of **** who got oregon into hot water then bolted to F up the Eagles. There's plenty of good offensife minds that won't let their enormous ego get in the way. F Chip Kelly, keep him a million Miles from the 40 acres. The last thing Texas needs after 6 years of futility is sanctions.
     
  28. LonghornDave

    LonghornDave 1,000+ Posts

    +2
     
  29. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    It amazes me how some will be pleased if CS improves us to 8 wins next year. Nevermind we ran our last coach off 3 years prior for only finishing 9-4 and 8-5 his last two seasons. CS was not brought in here and paid $15 mil over 3 years to get back to the win total he replaced.
     
  30. Creek

    Creek 1,000+ Posts

    The message if he is fired is Perform or Gtho. That is the message the new coach should have as well. If that scares off some Coaches fine, they can coach at AtM.
    It is also what the University expects from its Students. Why put up with failure from a coach, when they won't put up with it from their students?
    Sorry but the football is getting worse and 4-7 isn't acceptable at any power 5 conference school- certainly not at Texas.

    The Pro's have this mindset of Performance. We need to run this program hard, otherwise we get soft players and soft fans.
    I personally haven't seen any improvement over the last coach on any measure. This " discipline" thing Strong sold people on isn't happening. We have a lot of Quit and Stupid penalties, lots of fatigue related injuries etc. If you care about these Student athletes at all, you would agree they deserve better coaching.
     
    • Like Like x 2

Share This Page