Texas Tough to Figure
Saturday I missed my first Texas football game in more than a year. I was stuck watching it on TV, so this will be something of a Simmons-esque column, without the humor. Because, really, there was nothing funny about the Longhorns' three-point win over UCF.
To be fair, I never had the feeling that Texas was in trouble. Even when they fell behind momentarily in the fourth quarter everything seemed under control.
But what's the deal with this football team?
Arkansas State and University of Central Florida might be better than anyone will give them credit for, but they don't have the athletes to stay on the field with Texas - unless the Longhorns fail to execute.
Ryan Bailey tied a UT single-game record with five field goals against the Knights. Good for him - bad for Texas. Two of those field goals were 19-yarders. Alright, that yardage includes 10 yards of end zone and seven yards behind the line of scrimmage to where the ball is snapped. Kicking field goals from the two-yard line can't be avoided sometimes, but twice in a game? Since last year, this team has had more problems getting in the end zone from five yards or less than any other team I've ever seen. Remember what happened last year when Texas found themselves at the goal line against Kansas State?
For want of a yard, McCoy was lost.
For want of McCoy, that game and possibly the next was lost.
For want of a win, the Big 12 South was lost.
And all for want of a yard.
The offense has the athletes, and they're executing pretty well between the twenties. McCoy completed 68 percent of his passes. Jamaal Charles rushed for 155 yards. Three receivers finished the game with more than fifty receiving yards.
And Texas won by three measly points.
A win's a win, and parity is here to stay. That's the party line, and it has some merit; but Oklahoma has no problem mopping the floor with everyone they face. As a matter of fact, half the Big 12 teams have won by 40 or more at least once this season. That list includes Kansas, Kansas State and Texas A&M.
Meanwhile, Texas is so busy preparing ahead for Oklahoma, they beat the Indians and the Knights by a combined 11 points.
Rice, Texas' ever-faithful whipping boy, is on the schedule next. Baylor beat the Owls by 25 points. Texas Tech beat them by 35. If Texas doesn't have similar success they'll keep dropping in the rankings. This week they're No.7; the No.4 Sooners have already vaulted the Longhorns, and most likely they'll be big favorites when the two meet.
Maybe Texas will be prepared for them by then.
To be fair, I never had the feeling that Texas was in trouble. Even when they fell behind momentarily in the fourth quarter everything seemed under control.
But what's the deal with this football team?
Arkansas State and University of Central Florida might be better than anyone will give them credit for, but they don't have the athletes to stay on the field with Texas - unless the Longhorns fail to execute.
Ryan Bailey tied a UT single-game record with five field goals against the Knights. Good for him - bad for Texas. Two of those field goals were 19-yarders. Alright, that yardage includes 10 yards of end zone and seven yards behind the line of scrimmage to where the ball is snapped. Kicking field goals from the two-yard line can't be avoided sometimes, but twice in a game? Since last year, this team has had more problems getting in the end zone from five yards or less than any other team I've ever seen. Remember what happened last year when Texas found themselves at the goal line against Kansas State?
For want of a yard, McCoy was lost.
For want of McCoy, that game and possibly the next was lost.
For want of a win, the Big 12 South was lost.
And all for want of a yard.
The offense has the athletes, and they're executing pretty well between the twenties. McCoy completed 68 percent of his passes. Jamaal Charles rushed for 155 yards. Three receivers finished the game with more than fifty receiving yards.
And Texas won by three measly points.
A win's a win, and parity is here to stay. That's the party line, and it has some merit; but Oklahoma has no problem mopping the floor with everyone they face. As a matter of fact, half the Big 12 teams have won by 40 or more at least once this season. That list includes Kansas, Kansas State and Texas A&M.
Meanwhile, Texas is so busy preparing ahead for Oklahoma, they beat the Indians and the Knights by a combined 11 points.
Rice, Texas' ever-faithful whipping boy, is on the schedule next. Baylor beat the Owls by 25 points. Texas Tech beat them by 35. If Texas doesn't have similar success they'll keep dropping in the rankings. This week they're No.7; the No.4 Sooners have already vaulted the Longhorns, and most likely they'll be big favorites when the two meet.
Maybe Texas will be prepared for them by then.
posted by BurntOrnge at 11:31 AM
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