Remember the drama, angst, and intrigue surrounding the firing of Charlie Strong and the hiring of Tom Herman? If UT didn’t move quickly, LSU would hire Herman depriving Texas Football of the coach who would return it to national prominence for years if not a generation?
So isn’t ironic—if not downright farcical—that 14 games into Tom Herman’s tenure, to the naked eye, his team bares a remarkable resemblance to Charlie Strong’s teams at Texas. That is, unprepared and flat on too many occasions. In Herman’s 14 games at Texas, there have been four, Maryland last year and this year, and Texas Tech and TCU last year in which the Longhorns were clearly unprepared and uninspired. By my count, that’s at least three too many. There just aren’t that many games to prepare for. Obviously, the season is not doomed because of the loss to Maryland, but it’s hard not think that there is something seriously wrong with the way Herman is running his program.
Questions for Herman and the coaching staff
Why was Todd Orlando’s defense burned numerous times by the same play, the jet sweep? Defend that play effectively after the first couple of times Maryland ran it and Texas wins the game.
Herman’s stated goal for the offense all offseason was to be a down-hill running team, so why were five of the first six plays of the season four passes and a reverse?
I thought the biggest reason that Sam Ehlinger won the job over Shane Buechele was his running ability. Why didn’t you call Ehlinger’s number more often?
Keaontay Ingram averaged 6.2 yards per carry. Why didn’t he get any carries in the second half?
Coach Herman, when you were asked how big a setback the loss to Maryland was, you said not very.
Can you explain that to the large number of the Longhorn faithful who think it was a huge setback?
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Herman’s nonsensical reference to, Of Mice and Men, in his Monday press conference reminded me of the dreams I had before I figured out the right dosage for my nightly melatonin.
Speaking of dosages, my wife asked me last week if I was still taking my meds. Is that bad?
How did my offensive line do?
Pretty well. Here’s what Paul Wadlington—AKA—Scipio Tex—the smartest analyst/writer who follows the Longhorns wrote about the offensive line’s performance versus Maryland.
Clearly improved. Impossible not to see it. More cohesive, fewer busts, consistent, better effort, better technique. Pad level is still not ideal, but much improved. Calvin Anderson was extremely steady at LT, Cosmi played strong at RT replacing Kerstetter (Derek was having trouble with Cowart and Aniebonam’s power at DE) and the interior was competent, though they lack pop. They don’t get great push, but these guys are playing hard and getting after it. Shack’s holding call was totally bogus.
Herb Hand appears to have done a fine job in the offseason. USC looms as a real test. Maryland’s front was just OK, so let’s not go crazy, but if you can’t see improvement here, you’re not looking. I also thought their conditioning was good.
As with our QBs, RBs, WRs, our OL is better at certain things. We should be doing those things.
A Brief History of Longhorn teams that started 0-1 since 1973
2017
I’m sure you remember. Texas finished 7-6.
2015
Lost to Notre Dame 38-3. Finished 5-7.
1999
In the first game of Mack Brown’s second season at Texas, they lost to North Carolina St. 23-20. If memory serves, Texas had three punts blocked. The Horns went on to win 9 of their next 10, winning the Big 12 South Division before losing their last three finishing 9-5.
1991-1993
Texas lost their first game three years in a row to, Mississippi St. in 1991 under David McWilliams, and again in 1992 under John Mackovic. They lost to Colorado in 1993.
Texas finished 5-6, 6-5, and 5-5-1
1986-1989
Texas lost their season opener four years in a row to, Stanford under Fred Akers, and to Auburn, BYU, and Colorado under David McWilliams.
Texas finished 5-6, 7-5, 4-7, and 5-6
1976
Under Darrell Royal, Texas lost their opener to Boston College 14-13.
Texas finished 5-5-1. Royal retired at the end of the season.
1973
Coming off a 10-1 season including a 17-13 victory over #4 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, Texas ranked #3, lost to Miami 20-15. The Horns went on to win 8 of their next 9, winning the Southwest Conference for the sixth straight years before falling to Nebraska in the Cotton Bow.
Texas finished 8-3.
Over the 45 seasons between 1973 and 2017, Texas lost their opener 13 times. Of the 13 seasons Texas lost the opener, they finished with a losing record nine times. The four winning season records were 8-3, 6-5, 9-5, and 7-6.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. That being said, I see a trend here.
Injury update
Zach Shackelford is out for the Tulsa game with a foot injury. Backup guard Patrick Hudson was taken to the hospital with a heat related illness during Wednesday’s practice. He is also out for Tulsa. Starting safety Brandon Jones is out for the Tulsa game with an ankle injury.
The offensive line was decimated by injuries for the 2017 season so the injuries to Shackelford and Hudson have a, “not again” feel to them.
Looking Past Tulsa
The Longhorns can’t look past Tulsa but I can.
Texas has not won more than two games in a row since their six-game winning streak in 2013. Following Tulsa, the next four opponents are, USC, TCU, Kansas State, and Oklahoma. Given this coaching staff’s inability to prepare for each and every game on the schedule, don’t expect them to string three wins together before late October at the earliest. I do expect the Longhorns to beat USC.
Tulsa Predictions
Sam Ehlinger throws two touchdown passes and two interceptions. Three Texas quarterbacks get playing time.
Herman and his offensive staff grudgingly increase Keaontay Ingram’s carries from six to eleven. Trey Watson gets 12 carries. Texas rushes for 179 yards averaging 5.2 yards per rush.
The Texas defense gives up more than 400 yards of total offense including at least one jet sweep that gains 15 + yards, but gets three turnovers and holds Tulsa to 16 points. The defense also commits two personal fouls.
Texas wins 41-16.
In his post-game press conference Tom Herman says, “I told you we were good.”
HooK ‘Em,
Willie Earl
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