Is there any reason why we can't have a bounce back season next year similar to the one the Sooners are enjoying this year? One major difference is the Sooners protected their home field; all of their losses were on the road/neutral site. In their losses, their offense was not good (sound familiar); only scoring 13, 20, 13, 3, and 13 points (this is with Broyles and Murray at the skill positions). Obviously, Landry Jones has improved (hope Gilbert shows the same growth). They retained Broyles and Murray so advantage to OU (hopefully Davis and Brown prove a reasonable comparision to those two next year). I'm not sure how young the O-line was for OU last year (I do know that Trent Williams was a high first round draft pick). If OU can do it, why can't UT?
borna, at this point, yeah I'd take that. Seriously, I don't think we should have any illusions that next year all of a sudden we're right back at the top. Massive youth on the OL and WR, probably four sophomore starters on DL, probably at least two sophomore starters in the secondary (if not more!) Good news is that all those young guys are stud recruits - bad news is that doesn't mean they'll be world-beaters next year. I honestly think 2012 is the year this group could be scary good.
I'm at a loss to figure out what has happened with Texas this year. I'd have to think that this year is an aberration rather than a new normal. That said, I don't think comparisons to OU are real accurate here. Our team last year wasn't as bad as many imagine. If you look at Sagarin's predictor, he actually had OU ranked #8 at the end of the season. IMO, we had an excellent team last year that got decimated by offensive injuries. Our first four losses were by 3 points or less, all on the road, all to ranked teams. To be honest, I don't think our team is much if any better this year....Just not as unlucky. We are better on offense this year, but nowhere near as good on defense. I fully expect that this year is an aberration, and Texas will have a good team next year. But I think it is harder to understand and justify Texas' losses this year than OU's last year.
We could have a bounce-back year in 2011 like the Sooners are having this year, but I think it will require Mack to make some serious changes aside from a catchy new slogan or some really ball-busting practices before the bowl. I think we might need a change or two on the coaching staff. OU's problems last year had so much to do with injuries rather than coaching.
OU had a ton more injuries last year then we have had. Their O line was decimated with injuries. For us to have a BIG bounce back year, we're going to need freshman named Brown and Shipley to play and play well. Good thing is that is certainly possible. I can't wait to get those 2 to the forty. We need Shipley returning punts big time.
WE'RE SITTING ON ONE OF THE GREATEST RECRUITING CLASSES OF ALL TIME! WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN ANYBODY! Yes, we WILL BOUNCE BACK. Step away from the ledge people. Jebus!!!
I think this is an apples/oranges comparison. OU had a rash of injuries along the OL the likes of which I've never seen. We had so many combinations during the year that we could never get the offense going. That problem was only exacerbated by having to throw Landry into the mix w/zero prior snaps. Sure, by the end of the season, that excuse fell by the wayside, but the point remains the same. The only game where it looked like we just checked-out, despite all the problems, was the Tech game. I consider that a statistical outlier, though, and not indicative of the quality of our squad. Your problems, while somewhat related to OL injuries (Allen has been the only starter who's missed time, right?), have more to do w/inexperience, lack of playmakers and poor scheme. JMO. As someone said, I really feel there is little separation between OU 2009 and OU 2010. We've avoided the injury bug this season and have had some breaks go our way. That has made all the difference.
If next year we were comparable to this year's OU team, does that make this year's team comparable to last year's OU team? If so, which of our DL men will have his leg grotesquely broken in the Sun Bowl?
You better bounce a long way, because OU should be pretty darn good next year. They lose very little next year and are playing a ton of freshmen already. Playing 9 and 10 OL per game. They have to replace a few folks on defense, but they are playing freshmen and sophs over there too.
In 2009 OU lost by 5 points to 3 ranked teams then lost by 7 to Nebraska and got blown out by Tech in Lubbock, they ended 8 - 5 but OU scored 404 points in 2009, Texas has scored 187 points thru 8 games, Ouch. OU had all the injuries but returned Broyles and Murray this year. OU ended the year by shutting out OKla. State and beating Stanford in their bowl game. They did not lose any home games last year. Can Texas improve by next year? Yes but not without things changing.
Diggler - I had the same thought. Coming off a year where we could have easily won the national championship, start off highly ranked, jump to #1 after a great win over Auburn, then a tie to OU starts a free fall that basically lasted the rest of he decade. These last few games do give that same free-fall feel. I hope and suspect this fall from grace will be much shorter. Of course, I felt he same way in '84. I hope I'm right this time.
...and we're headed for the same type of bowl game nightmare. nobody on the team will want to go to a bowl game, Deloss will probably make the team go, and we will get killed by some unknown team by 30 points. of course, there is the slight possiblity we could get our act together, go 7-5 and win a bowl game, but I doubt it.
What I dont understand is this? Why do you have a 260LB RB not running downhill from the I formation or the ace packege? They give him the ball out of the gun or the pistol and run him laterally to the line of scrimmage. I think he was the right choice for RB, but you gotta let him get going downhill and then stick with it game after game so that players get used to smashing other kids brains all game long.
