I think the game ball for the game and the season goes to Greg Robinson. He found the scheme that sets the front four loose, and allows the LB's to run to the ball. He uses the blitz wisely, and keeps the coverage sensible, not crazy mad scientist Diazist. Only ten points scored by ttu's offense (fake kick counts against special teams). The front four's pressure won this game, imho.
I stand corrected. Nine points is correct. I am eating half a serving of crow myself. Two weeks ago, just before the osu game I predicted UT would win. This week I weakened and picked ttu. Ok, I know I can't have it both ways. Crow can be very tasty after large helpings of turkey and dressing!
Yes, only 6 points count against the defense, as the D had stopped them before the half with hardly much time to have faced one more TT series, when the special teams again acted stupid. 10 points were straight on the special team.
One only wonders how this season would have played out if Robinson had been put in charge of the defense in February/March as he should have been.
That was a great defensive performance--just the kind of defensive play you want to see leading into the Baylor game next week
The Tech series that followed the roughing call was also aided by some really boneheaded penalties by the Texas D...the roughing the passer call after another defensive stand didn't help matters. I'm trying to remember if that was the same series that also had the late hit out of bounds flag or if that came a little later in the 4th quarter...
In reply to: "PS how the heck did some of our fans think that call was a good occasion to boo? We just flat-out tackled Erxleben after the punt, that was a really easy call." Stat - this play was a good Dad coaching moment with 21 year son - he was angry with the call - like a lot of our ignorant fans... I explained to young grasshopper the rule on punts... punter is protected like the QB, pointed out our bone-headed special teams player practically sacked Erxleben and that we deserved the penalty. I also pointed out to him our special teams have been largely UNspecial this season with a lot of dumb plays, penalties and long run backs by the other team. Caryhorn - most excellent post... ~6 ~ or even if it was 16 points against the Kingsberry Circus Offense that is tech is just HUGE. I thought that D played it guts out last night. Funny but I was thinking toward the end of the game who is the MVP this season - first started thinking of players and then it occurred to me it is not a player but a coach - Greg Robinson. The Horns have won 7 of their last 8 games and I fear it would have been far less wins than what Robinson was able to do with that D - 3 games into the season, poor tackling and under great duress. to Coach Robinson!!!
By the way, Robinson standing Jeffcoat up and freeing him to find the open lane to the qb is genius. Jeffcoat seems to have an instinct for this. He not only had three sacks but multiple hurries. If our front four can put that kind of intense pressure on Baylor, we have a chance.
Defense played outstanding. Special teams were horrific. Case played a bad game as he couldn't seem to settle down. Joe and M Brown ran like they were on a mission. I had picked Tech to win, but I'm happy to be wrong.
Robinson is far and away the MVP of the season. At 1-2 I had a hard time seeing a path to 6 wins let alone 8 and Robinson completely changed the identity of this defense.
I knew we were going to beat Tech short of a 3 turnover game from Case. Tech's D is horrible and I figured we'd wear them down as we did. Still think Ship has the best arm on the team. If Case had an arm just equal to Ship we'd be a lot better. That out and up Case missed to Davis was just criminal. How do you miss a guy by 5 yards that's wide open for a TD? I thought the play calling was good last night. Davis got behind his man a few times, and that 2nd TD to Davis was a perfect pick play by Ship. Just enough to get him open, but not enough to get called. Berg ran hard and breaking tackles. OLine was on. I don't think Case ever took a sack and run blocking was solid. I liked the QB sneak on 4th and short instead of a handoff. Very solid game except kicking. Whoever is #17 should be ashamed of himself. On that fake punt he just kind of walked around and he was the only guy that had a shot at breaking that up. We should just quit trying to block punts. It just hurts us more then it helps. Oh and Johnson stepped out of bounds before that fumble. Stupid announcers never saw it. Coaching staff in the booth should have told Mack to challenge. Course it wouldn't have mattered as replay officials are worse then the announcers.
Outside of the brain farts on special teams and defense (the passer roughing) and the usual passing game issues with Case, the inability of Overstreet and Swoops to generate anything is of some concern. Since both have shown better efforts against stronger defenses, all I can assume is Major must have told them to cover the ball up and go down when hit.
Too bad those big defensive recruits weren't at this game instead of the OK State game. Great job by the defense last night!
Defense looked great against a really bad team. unfortunately I still remember how they got dominated a week ago against OSU. If Texas beats Baylor and wins the bowl game they can finish with 10 wins. That is a big IF though.
I don't think it had anything to do with Major, Overstreet just couldn't find the hole when it was there.
of course, they COULD use the punt penalty as film of how to wrap up and drive your tackle to the ground...from where I was sitting (have not seen the game on TV yet), it at least seemed like he used good technique. Yeah, I know...it was still
As caryhorn mentioned, I think the key was the use of Jeffcoat in Robinson's "spinner" package. Tech tried to adjust for him and that just freed up other pass rushers.
