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Get Ready to Analogize

Posted by LonghornScott on October 21st, 2009 under Football


Here we go again

According to Chip Brown at Orangebloods.com, Mack Brown had this to say in reference to the last two weeks on offense:

“It’s really hard when you’re reckless, and Colorado did the same thing,” Brown said. “They were blitzing or twisting every play. And we put up with it for the Colorado game, knowing we had this package for Oklahoma.”


As well as this in his Monday Q&A with members of the media:

“As you all were killing us last week over the run game, we just had to keep our mouths shut, knowing we had some things that were good for this game. It just stops the blitz.”

I read this Monday and have been thinking about it since.  Mack’s demeanor and candidness have changed a lot since Muschamp’s arrival.  Accordingly, I no longer take what he says with a grain of salt.  Some Longhorn Fans have read these comments and it has made them respond, “Yes!  They get it!  They see that we are struggling and they’re going to fix it!” and it has given them hope for the offense the rest of the season.  For me there’s a lot more to the story here.

In lab tests, rats that were exposed to the Texas offensive strategies for decadal time periods experienced psychological waves of  disbelief, annoyance, confusion, hope, brief elation, extreme anger, and prolonged resignation.  Last year made me question if we weren’t seeing a real breakthrough from our staff… I was in the hope and brief elation upswing of the cycle again… yay!  The comments above helped me get into extreme anger and I’d like to think that prolonged resignation is just a stiff drink or two away.

Mack’s comments are like a sharp stick to the eye for me: they reveal a complete lack of awareness of the need for a complete offense.  Seemingly, offensive strategy consists of a series of specialized tricks.  Each package has a few plays and is designed to do a few specific things.  We are akin to a chef with a box full of recipes but who doesn’t understand how to really combine ingredients.  “What’s that… the tomato soup is too acidic?  Well here! I have this recipe for flan that works good when you don’t want something acidic!  Flan… Yummy!  He ate the flan! I’m gonna stick with cooking flan.”

“Here’s the thing, Greg.
You should really be on Hell’s Kitchen instead.”

We have a couple of offensive packages that we have been playing as our base offense for a year.  We don’t have a way to punish a team for an all out blitz built into those packages.  We don’t consider that part of our basic needs in our offense.  That requires a special new package.  Let that soak in for a moment while I distract you with another hyperbolic analogy.

Sometimes in a movie when a character is confronted they’ll say, “What’s that!” and point.  When the target turns in response, a classic sucker punch is executed to perfection.  Greg Davis would call this the “What’s That? Sucker Punch Package”.  It might include plays such as “Watch Out for that Train” and “I Was Just Swatting a Mosquito on Your Face”.  If you work on enough sucker punches it might be difficult for an opponent to prepare for them all.  But after your first few fights, word is going to get around.  Eventually your opponents are just going to start throwing haymakers right off the bat.  Incredibly reckless of them.  Better go back to your “Ducking the Haymaker” package.  They probably won’t ever come up with a plan to stop that.  Surely they wouldn’t kick, right?

I was not anticipating that response. Uncool, dude.

Imagine if you really believed that a series of sucker punches could be used as a complete fighting system.  If you used a move too frequently, it would eventually backfire.  However, in the meantime you would want to get as much run out of that move as you could.  You may even do strange things like land an open palm to someone’s ear then never use that move again (savin’ that one for a rainy day, bro).  Your repertoire of moves would look schizophrenic over time to an outside observer.  If you were strong and fast enough you could probably win most of your fights.  Occasionally you’d run into a wrestler or Thai boxer who would clock your ass and you’d rethink everything.  But you would never really understand how to fight.  You would never really develop a full fighting system.

Some of you may point to our offense under Vince Young as evidence of a complete offensive system.  It’s the closest we’ve gotten.  That’s because teams had to respect the broken play at all times and if they didn’t Vince would embarrass thoroughly.  With Vince you had to defend the whole field even if theoretically you didn’t need to.  Misdirection doesn’t work because it’s a distraction, it works because there is more than one credible threat to the defense at a time.  And misdirection doesn’t work long if you don’t keep those threats credible.  See our zone read minus Vince Young for clarification.

Or more to the greater point: an offensive system is not just a collection of situational packages.  It must have completeness.  You must force defenses to make decisions each play and punish them severely if they make the same decision too often.  It means having the stretch, the counter and the bootleg.  The deep pass, the draw, and the screen.  The iso and the play-action pass.  You don’t have to have each ingredient in each package, but for each ingredient you add there should be at least one complementing ingredient in that package.  There should be plays that make each other more credible.  This isn’t a special adjustment you make, it’s part of the basic philosophy of sound offensive football.  It’s also the reason why our chef has so much trouble designing our menu each year.

Our waitstaff and ambiance are saving our ass.

So back to our current football team:  I don’t have a problem with the pre-snap motion package we ran against Oklahoma, it was good for a few pickups because Oklahoma has never seen it.  I do have a big problem with that being our counter-measure to teams blitzing us too often. First of all, the notion that you would sandbag a counter-measure to blitzes, twists, or stunts is crazy in it’s own right.  But assuming you were in that ridiculous psychology, it’s completely asinine to believe that the package we rolled out against Oklahoma in the first half is appropriate in that role. It announces itself as a new and separate package with it’s pre-snap motion (which we never run that out of the package that we are trying to enhance)!

It’s just further evidence of our lack of understanding of how our offense looks to an opposing defense. Our chef is telling us, “Don’t even worry about that whole tomato soup thing man, because we had this flan all cooked up and just waitin’ for the next time someone didn’t like the tomato soup! Just waitin’ bro!  Look at ‘em out there. Looking at the flan all confused like.  See… now what I’m sayin’ is this is the perfect time for a sucker punch, bro. The old flying flan fist maneuver I learned on the streets of Madrid!” We are making some personnel changes and going to a different package to emphasize the run and deep ball.  Yummy!

Before you dig in, make sure to check your blindside.

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64 Responses

  1. SydneyCarton said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Probably the best article explaining the philosophical problems our of offense I’ve ever encountered. Well done. Curious to see how the defenders will react to this article and attempt to discredit your reasoning. Well done.

  2. The General said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Well said and depressing as hell.

    You want to see something else that is depressing? Last year we excelled at execution in the 3 step drop short passing game, especially attacking the seams. We weren’t especially good at running the ball or throwing deep. This year we scrap that, try to execute in the lateral and outside short passing game, and it doesn’t work.

    So, we are redesigning our offense mid season to run the ball and throw deep.

    I can has logic?

  3. wisconsinhornybadger said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:02 am

    agreed

  4. TaylorTRoom said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:14 am

    Great, great post. An excellent job of explaining the difference between a strategy and a collection of random tactics.

  5. 98 said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:24 am

    I hate Greg Davis’s offensive philosophy more than a soggy burger but this addition of certain packages might help explain how we have been as consistent as anyone else in the country in having an offense that scores the bare minimum to win games. There is not as much as a drop off when we loose star players as other colleges experience. We dont tailor make our offense to the talents of the players we have but we tailor make some offensive packages to help us get over our lack of offensive strategy.

    this again is because we donot have a recruiting strategy where we recruit players that fit our offense.

    than again i might be wrong.

  6. Whaley said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:35 am

    No, you’re right, 98..

  7. MilkmanDan said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:39 am

    I have spent season after season mumbling to myself and anyone that will listen that “our offensive scheme is incoherent” and “we have no plays that build off one another”.

    Thanks for stating it so clearly, now I just have to mumble this URL instead.

  8. admin said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Use bit.ly, MMD.

  9. parlinhall said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:41 am

    “Eventually your opponents are just going to start throwing haymakers right off the bat. Incredibly reckless of them. Better go back to your “Ducking the Haymaker” package. They probably won’t ever come up with a plan to stop that. Surely they wouldn’t kick, right?”

    Great analysis and writing.

  10. TomCollins9 said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:50 am

    I’m hungry.

  11. nordberg said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:51 am

    “What in the fuck are you trying to say, Milkman?”
    “God dammit… barking carnival dot come slash two thousand and nine slash ten slash twenty one slash…”
    “Fine, fuck. Whatever man. You win.”

  12. milksteak said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:55 am

    It definitely scares me that we are rolling out a less explosive offense just in time to play the strongest offenses on our schedule.

    On second thought, could we even get less explosive?

  13. Another dipshit poster said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:57 am

    Another great addition to the most thoughtful sports related website in existence.

  14. Blueshorn said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    Excellent post.

    The bottom line is, Greg Davis is a fucking moron. Unfortunately, he’s our fucking moron because Mack is fucking clueless. We’ll put up with this bullshit until Boom takes over.

  15. Obvious said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    Hate to see how the author would whine if we weren’t 6-0 with the top scoring team in the nation.

    Did the idiot watch last season, when the offense carried our team to 12-1? Or the seasons before when our offense has consistantly carried our defense? Obviously NOT.

    Why isn’t the author an OC at a top program? It’s obvious.

  16. Scipio Tex said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    Great job, LHS. You nailed a lot of my philosophical criticism of our offense over the years.

    The beauty of Vince Young at QB was that his feet and improvisation were a built-in counterpunch. He linked an amalgamation of packages with his diversity. He also forced us to commit to a base offense – at its core, the zone read/QB draw – and build everything off of that. Yards per attempt sky rocketed, we developed a deep passing game with little effort, and any RB lucky enough to stand next to him saw a 1.5 yards per carry increase in their average.

    Colt isn’t Vince, but if we want to hit our potential as an offense, we’ve got to commit to some sort of running game with QB involvement and build our menu off of that. Letting opposing DL line up in a track stance and come has to be punished in the natural order of our offense (and in audibles) not just as a special game package one off.

  17. Bobby_Batronic said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Knock, knock. Who’s there? Trick or treat. Wildhorn.

  18. ransomstoddard said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    If one more person says ‘we had a pretty good offensive system when Vince was here, McCoy just can’t run it’, I’m going to poke out my eyes. Good grief.

    The opening quote by Mack is just stunning. They really truly don’t get it.

  19. Scipio Tex said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Obvious -

    What would our current record be if our defense wasn’t playing lights out? 5-1? 4-2?

    Do you believe in optimization? Or do you judge a standard of play purely based off of a W or L and individual unit evaluation doesn’t come into it? Clearly, our coaches disagree with you. We just benched three offensive starters and we’re altering our philosophy.

    Last season the offensive output was great. Now, it’s not. We’re explaining why so you don’t have to resort to the mysticism that the average fan relies on.

    Obviously, we couldn’t be more pleased with our defense and special teams and several of us have expressed that in the most positive terms. If you’re looking for stadium cheers or naming the defense, you’re in the wrong place.

  20. BatesHorn said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Excellent Post.

    Because I know baseball, watching Greg Davis is like watching a pitcher/catcher combo that doesn’t understand how to set a batter up.

    It’s like a rookie just throwing random pitches, even if he’s got good stuff, because he doesn’t understand what a particular hitter’s tendencies are, the holes in his swing, and how to use his strengths to be successful, ultimately he falls behind in the count, hitter sits fastball, annnnnnd some lucky person in left field get’s a freebie.

    Compared to vintage Maddux who would work batter’s to their tendencies, get them 1-2, turnaround, tell Chipper Jones to expect an easy roll over, jam a fastball inside and watch the out.

    Greg Davis has good stuff talentwise. He’s got no concept of how to put it together to take advantage of opponents. Vince Young was his Mariano Riveria. When your stuff is THAT GOOD, you don’t need anything else.

  21. Vasherized said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    This post should come with an analgesic.

    Great stuff, LonghornScott. A perfectly apt metaphor for the disconnect between our scheme and personnel.

    At least it took a near loss as opposed to an actual loss against OU for the staff to instigate changes we’ve all seen as necessary over the last month in order for this offense to take flight.

  22. TaylorTRoom said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    Obvious posted, “Hate to see how the author would whine if we weren’t 6-0 with the top scoring team in the nation.”

    In Big 12 play, we are 5th in scoring. That would be 10th without the 28 points scored by the defense and special teams against CU and Tech.

    In Big 12 play, Colt is 9th in passing efficiency.

    Our offense has issues.

  23. Levander Williams said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    Good stuff, LS.

    A corollary to this is like having a drill that only can make a hole of one size. When you need a different sized hole, our guys toss the first one onto the workbench and look for another drill that makes larger/smaller holes.

    Or maybe an awl.

    Or a hammer & a piece of rebar.

    Anyway, the point is that other guys realize that you can open up the chuck & use a smaller or larger bit as needed.

  24. HeHateTheBubbleScreen said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Well, the problem isn’t just Greg’s complete inability to string together a cohesive offensive plan. It’s also that his little gimmick and gadgets don’t take advantage of our player’s natural abilities and talent level.

    I’m sorry, but how in the world is throwing a lateral pass to the sidelines while making a 4.4 fast receiver stand still with no blocking help in front of him a smart use of his talent? How does that utilize his size, speed, and skills? It gets even worse when you realize that we run that freaking play 20 times a game and at some of the most mind bogglingly bad times.

    How is having your quick, speedy, and talented RB line up directly next to the QB and running the zone read over and over an effective use of his skills? Especially when you’ve told your QB to not run whatsoever and thus he’s not an effective threat to the defense on that play?

    I have been really enjoying Cedric Benson play for the Bengals in the NFL this year. He’s in the Top 5 in rushing yards this season. So, I started thinking back to his time here at Texas and why he was so effective. Cedric wasn’t faster than Monroe, Newton, McGee, and certainly not Whittaker. While he did have some shake and bake to him, I don’t believe he had the balance or moves that some of those guys have. I don’t think he had the burst of those guys either. So why in the hell was he so damn effective for us and why is he so damn effective in the NFL right now?

    Because the coaches are utilizing his skills correctly and setting him up to succeed. Whenever Cedric lines up next to Carson Palmer in the backfield, it’s when the Bengals go 4 or 5 wide. And Cedric ALWAYS stays in to block. When he gets to run the ball? He’s SIX FREAKING YARDS DEEP in the backfield. SIX! By the time he takes the hand off and hits the hole it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t have an ultra quick burst, or that he doesn’t have amazing top end speed, or that he might not be the guy with the most moves. He’s already built up his speed and it only takes one good block to get him 4-5 yards past the line of scrimmage. If he gets two or three he rips off a huge gainer.

    And guess what else? The Bengals stick with it! Even with Palmer and Chad OchoCinco and that great passing game, Ced still gets the rock 20-25 times a game. And when he’s having success (like Cody Johnson or Fozzy did were at times last Saturday)? They don’t yank his ass and stick in some new guy and break the rhythm he’s got going (like putting in Vondrell for one play or going to the Wildhorn to watch it completely fail).

    We have no offensive identity, but we also don’t put players in a position to succeed. Our play calling completely nullifies their athleticism and talent and it’s why our offense constantly “plays down” to opponents.

  25. dogtown said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    Basically, our base packages dont have constraint plays built into them.

    http://smartfootball.blogspot.com/2008/01/constraint-theory-of-offense.html

  26. ballrific said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    I named our offense this past weekend at the game. I thanked Greg Davis for the “shit sandwich” a number of times out loud. Shit sandwich served cold. that fat moron.

    I re-watched the game and on one of our “bubble screens”, the ou SAFETY just ran right around shipley trying to block. Then the next 2 yd dink, he just went around him to make the tackle. I wanna see that shitty play ran with Malcom out there bashin heads. We might get positive yardage then.

  27. horn in ca said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    could not agree more with original post and the latest HeHateTheBubbleScreen said:

    The shame is there are enough options on our sidelines to keep every DC and mlb on our schedule scratching their proverbial heads and other parts, if would would use their natural gifts and talents (since I think that is why we recruited them in the first place to the 40 acres) to the fullest. As has been stated you can set up many plays to exploit tendencies and on the flip side when plays work keep using them till they don’t.

    At least we are 6-0 and as been stated the bummer is i think this could have been a team for the ages. And still could and should finish very strongly and play for MNC

  28. Blueshorn said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    Dear Obvious,

    Please drop into the BC Forum and read CloseToJumping’s thread titled “The Longhorn Internet Poster Moron Test.” You can find it here:

    http://barkingcarnival.fantake.com/forums/topic.php?id=224

  29. Doperbo said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    I see you trying to sideswipe my Dreamwagon.

    Nice work, btw. But too confusing.

    The team is a Happy Days episode. Ritchie is Major. He is driving the boat pulling Fonzie (John Chiles) when he jumps the shark – who is Will Muschamp. Tolleson is the water. Kennedy represents the ramp. Mack is the collective angst of the crowd, he/they are afraid that Will will eat Chiles due to his predatory nature and Chiles’ lack of lateral quickness. Coach Sherman is a large yellow buoy. Darrell Royal remains calm- he’s Mr. C, and also Merlin – and since he lives backwards through time, he knows it will all work out in the end. Uncle Jesse is represented by the girls in bikinis. Lache Seastrunk is the sand. Ralph Malph represents Bill Little, but he remains silent with a single white tear painted on his face. He is the loss of innocence. Potsie is the One Ring that ties them all together. The skis are the spirit of Ahmad Brooks. Greg Davis is an uncredited off camera manatee.

  30. topo gigio said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    Longhorn Scott and all Barkers –

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for launching Barking Carnival!

    It is easily the most intelligent and entertaining sports reading I have had the pleasure of reading on the web. I can hardly stand to read mainstream media (newspapers, magazines) any longer — they inform little and entertain less. As a bonus, the intellectualishiness of the site seems to raise the game of the discussion boards, with exceptions ;-)

    Keep up the excellent work. I hope you are all getting rich from the viagara text ads on this site.

    Hook ‘em,
    Topo Gigio

  31. patronsaint said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    doperbo. couldn’t have said it better.

    also, this obviously was linked on shaggybevo, which is unfortunate. the unwashed masses do have a point though. discussing optimization is fine. discussing termination does require a little perspective about all the 50 point games we’ve had.

  32. The General said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    The team is a Happy Days episode. Ritchie is Major. He is driving the boat pulling Fonzie (John Chiles) when he jumps the shark – who is Will Muschamp. Tolleson is the water. Kennedy represents the ramp. Mack is the collective angst of the crowd, he/they are afraid that Will will eat Chiles due to his predatory nature and Chiles’ lack of lateral quickness. Coach Sherman is a large yellow buoy. Darrell Royal remains calm- he’s Mr. C, and also Merlin – and since he lives backwards through time, he knows it will all work out in the end. Uncle Jesse is represented by the girls in bikinis. Lache Seastrunk is the sand. Ralph Malph represents Bill Little, but he remains silent with a single white tear painted on his face. He is the loss of innocence. Potsie is the One Ring that ties them all together. The skis are the spirit of Ahmad Brooks. Greg Davis is an uncredited off camera manatee.

    This may be the best analogical description of our offense.

    Re: The Vince Young offense worked because it took nearly all decision making away from GD. Every play was a Vince run/pass or run/handoff option where Vince made the decision. Watch the MNC game sometime. Every drive killing play we had did not follow the above formula (stuff like screen to Ramonce, end around, etc).

  33. UT Horn said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    That is some top grade bull shit right there. You guys are comical.

  34. parlin said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    LW: “Anyway, the point is that other guys realize that you can open up the chuck & use a smaller or larger bit as needed.”

    The trick? Have Colt run directly to the shop door and step outside just as you’re doing so.

  35. Hawkman said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    Doperbo,

    You had almost written the perfect country and western song but you didn’t say anything about Bob Stoops, Joe Jamail, Earl Campbell, Blake Gideon or Craig Curry…

  36. UT'06Maryland said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    I agree, with Doperbo being the master of analogy. Followed by Scipio, HJ, CTJ and all the rest. Best blog-ever.Its white hot.Just keeps building upon their past qualities.Thousands of people read this blog-I think.

  37. Ricky Williams said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    I still got it bitches.

  38. tearaway20 said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    I feel worse. Depressed even. Yet somehow better for the clarity. Thanks, man.

  39. Doperbo said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    In the interest of full disclosure:

    I fully support LHS as having authored the most accurate offensive analogy to date.

    Strictly speaking, Uncle Jesse and the One Ring are not part of the historical Happy Days canon. Though they are implied heavily.

  40. Roach said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Clearly you didn’t see that toss back to Colt out of the Wild horn. Didn’t you see how GD set up that play all year by having Colt run out of bounds whenever we ran that package? Tell me that isn’t a fine example of a constraint play. You overlook the Colt and you will pay!!!!! You are clearly wrong!!!!! I have no idea how OU ever anticipated that play!!!!! What a defense!!!!! How could they possibly have lost 3 games (by only five points mind you to ranked teams)!!!!

    (Note to the stupid: Sarcasm intended)

  41. Colby said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    Anyone know if ESPN will be showing a replay of the game? My fucking DVR missed the last half of the fourth quarter because of all the play reviews and incomplete passes.

  42. blackscholes said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    I just stepped around/over Doperbo sprawled in the chip and cookie aisle surrounded by a carnage of empty Dorito and Oreo wrappers, mumbling “Chachi, I forget fucking Chachi … Shipley, yeah, that’s the ticket”, as the security dude gingerly edged his way.

    This is the best thing I read all day, for any number of reasons.

  43. Otis Campbell said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    I always saw our offense as more of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Mack as Andy, whistling and clapping hard. Greg as Barney, trying in vain to get his one bullet loaded in his pistol. And Major as Opie, learning life lessons every week while seeking his Pa’s approval.

  44. CrazyJoeDavola said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    Is it fair to say that at OC, we have a complete dumbass who somehow manages to out-think himself?

  45. ex68mustang said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 4:56 pm

    I’d like to know why Mack is getting a free pass for using “you all” rather than “y’all.”

  46. exuLt said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Big D! Little o! Do left! Do right! Sis boom bah!

    Bulwark Defense

  47. sizzlechest said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    Cunt.

  48. exuLt said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    Pussy.

  49. jinx said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    Boy, that escalated quickly… I mean, that really got out of hand fast.

  50. mashtun said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    Thank you for posting this article. You have said exactly what I have been thinking since these Mack Brown notes came out.

    This is my first post here. You see, I tried posting a similar critique of Brown on Orangebloods yesterday only to find myself drowned in a pile of hostile zombie greg davis believers. I cancelled my subscription today and will be getting my Horns news and commentary from this site now. Thank you.

    As to Brown–you’ve hit the nail on the head. A good offense should not have to completely shock an opponent with an entirely new offensive concept each time it plays. In a well-schemed offense, if there is enough diversity (including deception and straightforward plays) in its packages–run preferably from the same or similar formations–that should be enough to keep opposing defenses at bay. That is the simple beauty of play action, for instance, as the Colts run it. We should have been practicing such a complete offense in the weeks leading up to OU so that we could have run effectively against them.

  51. Joel and the 'bots said:

    October 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    This week’s invention exchange is a sarcasm meter. Please turn it on when some wag writes about being undefeated so far.

    Sheesh.

  52. DougNTexas said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 am

    If OU’s defenders had better hands and If Our QB was not as good at tackling defensive backs in the open field OU would have kicked our ass by 20 points despite a great effort by our defense. I thought we were back in the early years of Mack Brown with the Big Three Saturday. Our passing game was back in full Junior High mode gaining about 2 yards a throw. Thank God we have a great Defense. It’s the same ol crap season after season. We beat the crap out of the Wyoming’s of the world,out talenting them, and hang on for dear life against average to better then average teams. It is sheer crazy to play football in a 10 yard box. Actually it is usually five yards or less.
    That is why the OU defensive backs were jumping the routes Saturday. they only have to defend three yards of real estate. A pump pass and a double move Saturday would have done wonders. Looking off the receiver also helps. Throwing deep 5 to 10 times a game also helps back up the safeties. That helps the running backs cause they no longer run against 8 or 9 in the box.
    Speaking of the running backs, by the time they make it to the line of scrimmage teams usually have 5 or 6 players ready to meet and greet with them.

  53. nordberg said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 7:00 am

    “As to Brown–you’ve hit the nail on the head. A good offense should not have to completely shock an opponent with an entirely new offensive concept each time it plays. In a well-schemed offense, if there is enough diversity (including deception and straightforward plays) in its packages–run preferably from the same or similar formations–that should be enough to keep opposing defenses at bay. That is the simple beauty of play action, for instance, as the Colts run it. We should have been practicing such a complete offense in the weeks leading up to OU so that we could have run effectively against them.”

    Yes. This.

  54. LonghornScott said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 am

    Thanks for all the replies and discussion. Obviously there are always going to be some fans who read a post like mine as a bitter tirade, but that’s really not the intent. Overall, I am extremely excited to watch this team from week to week… this defense is this best longhorn unit I’ve ever seen. I will say that I don’t think that any of our struggles on offense come from laziness. Flipping over your playbook from year to year (sometimes mid-season) to try to find the magic packages is a major undertaking and frankly it’s impressive that we are able to have our players execute at a competent level in that paradigm. It’s a shame that we haven’t pieced together the components of those packages better so that we could have more continuity in a system. Our players could develop a greater understanding and higher execution level in a few packages that make sense and we would only need to tailor from year to year to take advantage of personnel. As an aside, I think that part of the reason why Greg perceives himself as having gotten better at “adjustments” in recent years is because he has a lot more experience with different packages to draw upon.

  55. 1983 said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 7:30 am

    You must not have seen me.

    Seriously, though, this may be the 2nd best defense we have had in the last 30 years. Good post, and I didn’t read it as a tirade. It summed of a lot of our frustrations over the years well.

  56. Art Vandelay said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Doperbo = Bill Hicks + Lyme disease

  57. Obvious said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 am

    “Last season the offensive output was great. Now, it’s not. We’re explaining why so you don’t have to resort to the mysticism that the average fan relies on.”

    Scipio,

    I will say to you what I said to the OP; if you really think you understand it better than Davis, why aren’t you the OC at a major program pulling down a half mil a year? You are here instead? “Working” for free?

    Who coached last years offense, that you admit was “great”? Now, this year, you think Davis needs your advice? Too funny.

  58. magnusbleuveigner said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 am

    Obvious,

    Do you agree with everything every President has done? By your logic you have to.

    This site is for the Founding Fathers, you’re a measly ignorant loyalist.

  59. hp said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am

    “The bottom line is, Greg Davis is a fucking moron. Unfortunately, he’s our fucking moron because Mack is fucking clueless. We’ll put up with this bullshit until Boom takes over.”

    so we’re absolutely certain coach Muschamp isn’t Tressel/Saban just wants his offense to not turn over the ball, ultra conservative? We have no idea what kind of offense he would run.

  60. Levander Williams said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 am

    “so we’re absolutely certain coach Muschamp isn’t Tressel/Saban just wants his offense to not turn over the ball, ultra conservative? We have no idea what kind of offense he would run.”

    If we ran the ball with the authority, dedication and success that Saban requires (and appears to have achieved) at Alabama, I’d be perfectly fine with this approach.

  61. Obvious said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    magnusbleuveigner said:
    October 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 am

    “Obvious,

    Do you agree with everything every President has done? By your logic you have to.

    This site is for the Founding Fathers, you’re a measly ignorant loyalist.”

    I get to vote for the president. You don’t get to vote for Texas coaches. Dodds doesn’t care what you think about Mack, and Mack doesn’t care what you think about Davis. Your opinion means nothing. Your whines fall on deaf ears.

    As for the founding fathers, they didnt sit around and whine, they took action. What action are you taking? Besides whining?

    How did Sabans four and five star players look against the two star players at Utah last January? Good D? Ran the ball with authority? Ball control? Too funny.

  62. Levander Williams said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    “How did Sabans four and five star players look against the two star players at Utah last January? Good D? Ran the ball with authority? Ball control? Too funny.”

    Silly me. Here I am thinking that it’s October 2009.

  63. Doperbo said:

    October 22nd, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    The “You’re not a coach” crowd make me happy. They remind me of the Krishnas on the drag, all deluded and cute.

  64. Barking Carnival — Blog — Piling On said:

    November 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    [...] do I have to add to the brilliant analyses posted, in a more timely fashion, by LonghornScott, Scipio and others? A pretty picture, documenting an ugly [...]

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  • GoHornsGo90 commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   58 minutes ago

    Barnes’ three “strengths”:

    Defense, rebounding, recruiting.

    This team just proved the first two are non-existent (out-rebounded by 25; fucking KIDDING me?) and the last one is over-hyped as well. Every ESPN basketball recruiting analyst who actually had Bradley ahead of Wall should be taken out back and executed Inglourious Basterds style.

    I hate Turgeon and I

  • skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   1 hour, 42 minutes ago

    a Good System will usually beat a talented team that does not play together and are thinking instead of playing basketball ,over a season the system wins more then they will give away.
    A team that is scared to make a mistake and thinks before they react is going to lose to a confident but

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 16 minutes ago

    Nordberg,

    Ironic indeed……teachable moment, I guess….

    NY Horn,

    I hope your drunk, because Izzo ain’t coming to Texas……Why don’t we just get Coach K. I mean Coach G came from Duke, they have to be dying to get out of Durham….

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 20 minutes ago

    Egg, that’s fine, but at what point do you blame Barnes? Seriously, man. You’ve thrown players under the bus left and right, but at a certain point, doesn’t the buck stop somewhere. I know you’re more of an NBA guy so it begins and ends with players there, but we need fucking

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 20 minutes ago

    Egg, that’s fine, but at what point do you blame Barnes? Seriously, man. You’ve thrown players under the bus left and right, but at a certain point, doesn’t the buck stop somewhere. I know you’re more of an NBA guy so it begins and ends with players there, but we need fucking

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 21 minutes ago

    Trips,

    I hear ya. I’m frustrated as well. I guess I just don’t prescribe to such a black and white characterization of the situation. I do know that no matter what happened in the huddle, JCB made a dumb play. If Rick didn’t explain or remind him of the situation, then I

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 29 minutes ago

    Pat, know I don’t, but I’ve had coaches draw up plays to free up the best foul shooter and then tell that guy they’d put their foot up his ass if they passed the ball. It’s funny, but as a fans of football we nitpick blitz pickup and shit like that. Shit that’s

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 29 minutes ago

    Pat, you know I don’t, but I’ve had coaches draw up plays to free up the best foul shooter and then tell that guy they’d put their foot up his ass if they passed the ball. It’s funny, but as a fans of football we nitpick blitz pickup and shit like that. Shit

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 29 minutes ago

    Pat, you know I don’t, but I’ve had coaches draw up plays to free up the best foul shooter and then tell that guy they’d put their foot up his ass if they passed the ball. It’s funny, but as fans of football we nitpick blitz pickup and shit like that. Shit that’s

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 31 minutes ago

    Shitty season…..Rick needs to hire some offensive help and someone needs to say it to him. Deloss?

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 34 minutes ago

    Trips,

    Do you know that he didn’t? JCB has made bad decision all season, why would this be any different. Barnes coached a shitastic game, but on the teams I was the best FT shooter, I never game up the ball unless it was an uncontested layup…..It’s not hard and it doesn’t take a

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 34 minutes ago

    mcpayne, yes, you don’t leave that shit to chance. You don’t let your guys break the huddle or dead ball not knowing precisely what’s expected from them. Barnes doesn’t get 2 mil for coaching PE where he’s hoping the right guy gets fouled.

  • uthookem commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 36 minutes ago

    mpayne, I’d agree with you if J’Covan had been playing all season and had been in situations to make that decision. Like, you know, against Baylor, when he played all of 3 fucking minutes thanks to rick.

    So yes, it is rick’s fault.

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 36 minutes ago

    With 15 seconds left, out of a dead ball, most coaches would make it perfectly clear who they wanted to be fouled.

  • uthookem commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 39 minutes ago

    Stupid decisions by Brown are one of the reasons he sat on the bench for most of the season…lack of coaching maybe, or just a lack of basketball IQ?

    Oh well, if Brown doesn’t go off in the 2nd half, we aren’t even playing in OT. Too bad he didn’t get much of a chance

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 39 minutes ago

    Pat, if you were making 2 million a year, would you leave that up to chance?

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 40 minutes ago

    Actually, if your a PG and the best FT shooter on the team and played basketball your entire life, you’d pretty much know not to give up the ball if you had any brains…..Such a dumb play…..

  • D W commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 41 minutes ago

    Oh, and a stupid decision by Brown in giving up the ball to Johnson.

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 41 minutes ago

    Be nice if we’d coached our 90 percent foul shooter not to give the ball up.

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 42 minutes ago

    Ransom,

    1 for 2, that was not shitty defense……

  • Mister Mike commented on the blog post State of the Union – NU Basketball, Part 1 (or Why We Are Where We Are)   3 hours, 42 minutes ago

    Well if you had read it all the way, you would’ve noticed this little tidbit:

    In the second part I’ll do my best to give an outline of what exactly is wrong with the program, what we can do to fix it, and then what will probably happen TO fix it.

    So to answer your question:

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • uthookem commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 42 minutes ago

    The line kills us, as it should have.

    Fuck Rick Barnes, as this was the worst coaching I have seen in all my years of watching UT sports.

    This saved us from Kentucky, but I feel bad for Damo, he was a hell of a Longhorn.

    Hook ‘em!

    And FUCK RICK BARNES!

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 42 minutes ago

    Feel bad for Damion…..Dexter and Mason, not so much….

  • D W commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 42 minutes ago

    So the season ends with missed free throws and shitty defense by Bradley. Pretty fitting.

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 43 minutes ago

    Yup……We knew that FTs would get us….

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 44 minutes ago

    F’n Gary’s been awful tonight….

  • uthookem commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 44 minutes ago

    GJ at the line…big heart needed!

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 44 minutes ago

    Why does Brown give it up there?

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 45 minutes ago

    Bilas explaining why we’re not a smart team…Oh good, I want Gary at the line…

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest Open thread   3 hours, 45 minutes ago

    The good news is that now I know to fill out the census, so i’m not going to jail…not for that anyway.