To be sung to the
tune of,
“How do You Solve a Problem like Maria”
— Rodgers and Hammerstein
Over the summer, I asked a friend if he agreed that Todd Orlando was overrated. He said no. I haven’t asked him that question since the LSU game. Why taunt him? After all, I feel bad too.
Here are some facts about the Longhorn defense versus LSU as summarized by Paul Wadlington, aka Scipio Texas on the “Inside Texas” blog
LSU QB Joe Burrow was 31 of 39 for 471 yards passing.
LSU converted 50% of their 3rd downs. On par with the rate Orlando surrendered last year in Big 12 play, where Texas surpassed only conference winless Kansas in money down defense.
All three LSU primary receivers went >100 yards receiving. Jefferson: 9-163-3td. Marshall: 6-123-1td. Chase: 8-147-0. Jefferson was in single coverage on his game sealing 3rd and 17 zero blitz 61 yard touchdown catch. Of course, so was every other Tiger receiver.
LSU had only 11 meaningful possessions. They scored on 8 of them.
The Texas defense was never placed in a bad spot the entire game. LSU’s average starting position was their own 23 yard line.
In the second half, in a game played in 98 degree heat, Texas dominated time of possession: 20:38 minutes to LSU’s 9:22.
Due to the Longhorn O dominating Time of Possession, LSU ran only 68 plays. But had 573 yards of offense. That’s 8.4 yards per play.
****
In Texas’ last six games against spread offenses, Orlando’s defense has surrendered an average of 538 yards and 40.5 points.
So here I am – less than three weeks removed from predicting 11-1 and eight days away from our lads facing Oklahoma State’s spread offense – sounding the alarm on Texas’ 2019 season. Unless Tom Herman does something fast about his defense and defensive coordinator, our dreams of a Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff berth are just that – dreams.
That being said, I guess the Horns could give up an average of 33 points and 451 yards a game and still win the Big 12 and make the CFP like Oklahoma did last year.
Briefly
I’m saying right now on this here blog that Roschon Johnson is a running back forever more.
The Texas offense played magnificently against LSU. The O scored on every position of the second half.
9 plays, 86 yards, TD
7 plays, 75 yards, TD
7 plays, 75 yards, TD
10 plays, 46 yards, FG
8 plays, 75 yards, TD
If only on third and 17 . . . Oh Orlando.
Glad we don’t play Maryland this year.
Hope I don’t jinx him but punter Ryan Bujcevski is having a good year averaging 42.5 yards per punt.
A reader wrote me a note this week that was highly critical of my man Collin Johnson’s performance versus LSU. While he did have trouble getting separation from LSU’s future NFL defensive backs in the first half, he caught three crucial passes for 49 yards in the second when Texas scored on every possession. That’s a pretty fare 16.3 yards per reception by the way.
On to Rice.
Speaking of Rice, you youngsters (anyone under the age of 60) might be surprised to learn that Texas has played Rice 94 times starting in 1914.
It used to be a big deal when Texas played Rice in Houston. It was a convenient opportunity for Houston alums to see the Longhorns play when the Horns were only on television two or three times a year. You youngsters might also be surprised to learn that the first Texas-Rice game to be televised was in 1984. The game was a big social event for Houstonians. Kind of like Georgia versus Florida, the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party. Kind of.
The 1970 Rice game was an especially big deal to yours truly
Texas – Rice October 1970
