It’s video games like Saturday’s 34-30 loss to Oklahoma that make school soccer lovers without end skeptical of Texas. The No. 3 Longhorns got here into the Pink River Competition as 4-point favorites over the No. 12 Sooners, nevertheless it used to be obtrusive from Quinn Ewers’ opening-drive interception that it wasn’t going to be a repeat of closing 2022’s 49-0 beatdown.
Despite the fact that the Texas protection stymied Dillon Gabriel and the OU offense for many of the 2nd part and kicker Burt Auburn put the Longhorns up 3 with not up to 2 mins left, it felt like Steve Sarkisian’s workforce left an excessive amount of time at the clock, and too many issues at the board. The explanation the ones alternatives weren’t taken benefit of had extra to do with the Quicker protection than Longhorn miscues, however extra on that during a second.
The burnt orange outgained their pink opposite numbers 527 yards to 486, received the time of ownership, blocked a punt for a ranking, transformed a pretend punt, and had the Quicker protection scrambling (but no longer out of types) all of the 2nd part, however misplaced the turnover combat 3-0, did not get issues on first, and purpose from the 1, and got here away with simply 3 issues from 3 journeys to the pink zone.
Quicker kicker Zach Shmit even driven a forty five yarder that will’ve given Brent Venables’ squad a 10-point lead with 7:55 last within the fourth, and it gave the impression Oklahoma used to be fated to gag the Golden Hat. All Texas needed to do used to be get a prevent, or drive a box purpose, on OU’s ultimate ownership, to win, or pass to time beyond regulation, however Gabriel didn’t even face a 3rd down at the game-winning five-play, 75-yard march that ended with a Nic Anderson TD within the again left nook of the endzone.
The landing move from the Quicker QB used to be his first of the sport, his 2nd ranking general, and after lacking closing season’s Pink River Competition because of concussion protocol, the switch from UCF completed two yards shy of 400 general with 0 turnovers however most significantly, the win.
That mentioned, Quinn Ewers used to be the scarier quarterback. He threw six incompletions all recreation and racked up 346 yards within the air. Hadvert he most effective have shyed away from the ones a very powerful errors, Texas almost definitely wins.
Protection at a top class in school soccer
Sooner than I am getting to the Longhorns, the Quicker protection merits a large number of credit score. They have been opportunistic at the first turnover, pressured the second one two, and have been a large reason why UT needed to kick 3 box targets.
Venables did a very good activity this offseason of shoring up a facet of the ball that hasn’t been a top-25 scoring protection since 2013. Take away that blocked punt for a TD, and the Sooners most effective gave up 23 issues to a staff that got here in averaging 36.
Forward of Saturday’s recreation, Oklahoma used to be conserving combatants to ten issues consistent with recreation, and what lovers don’t understand is it’s more straightforward to place up gaudy stats than it’s to build a protection that may marginally disrupt the sport’s best possible offenses. (There’s a reason why Giant Ten groups disintegrate after they face training staffs with an oz of creativity, so I don’t need to pay attention your “What about Michigan?” arguments.)
It feels oxymoronic to mention a unit that gave up 500-plus yards performed effectively, nevertheless it’s true. Oklahoma’s fourth-quarter goalline stand wasn’t aided by way of a UT false get started or a conserving name. It used to be 4 directly stops when the staff wanted it maximum.
When Venables used to be at Clemson, the Tigers completed height 10 in scoring protection six instances, and most effective as soon as all the way through his tenure did they fail to see the highest 25, and that used to be his first yr calling the protection for Dabo Swinney. Final season used to be an purpose crisis in Norman, and the rent seemed adore it used to be heading that manner as effectively.
It felt like, for no matter reason why, the Sooners have been incapable of having stops. Whether or not it used to be the tradition of the Giant 12, a skill deficiency, or apathy, I don’t know, however the ones aren’t satisfactory excuses for a program that may draw in the needful skill for a sustainably stingy protection.
When Lincoln Riley left for USC, the shift to the opposite facet of the spectrum felt useless. Why no longer keep on with what used to be operating? Give OU AD Joe Castiglione a large number of flora for zagging, and the use of the sudden alternative to turn priorities sooner than switching meetings.
I guess it makes extra sense to carry an SEC protection to the SEC than a Giant 12 offense.
Texas, oh, Texas
This Longhorn offense is lovely. Ewers, Xavier Worthy, Jonathan Brooks, and Jordan Whittington are operating NFL-level schemes, however this workforce must be averaging 40 issues consistent with recreation, and anything else much less is malpractice. Along with the turnovers, the Longhorns have been flagged 9 instances for 70 yards Saturday and transformed a meager 5 of 14 3rd downs.
Once more, credit score Oklahoma for forged situational protection, and making well-timed, large performs, however this used to be vintage Texas hubris. Whilst it used to be an emotional competition recreation, it additionally doesn’t remove from the truth that Steve Sarkisian is rocking Astro Boy’s haircut six months shy of fifty — or that the Longhorns again and again pissed this win down their legs.
