Did anyone but me notice during the Rice game telecast that Todd Orlando: a) looked like he hadn’t slept in a few days or b) hadn’t taken his antipsychotic medication? I don’t know, maybe I just can’t get used to men under 50 no longer shaving on a daily basis. Anyway, it would be understandable if Orlando hasn’t slept much lately and when he does sleep if he has the recurring dream that I so often have of being on the way to a final exam for a class you haven’t been to all semester.
In case you haven’t heard, Oklahoma State runs a spread offense averaging 49 points per game this year and is ranked 12th nationally in total offense. And – as noted on these pages last week – that Todd Orlando’s defense, in the last six games against spread offenses, has surrendered an average of 538 yards and 40.5 points per game.
So do Longhorn fans have any reason to believe that the Texas defense will suddenly be improved against Oklahoma State on Saturday? I’ll believe it when I see it. The best breakdown of Orlando’s defense I’ve heard or read was by my man Paul Wadlington aka Scipio Texas at InsideTexas.com
Summarizing Scipio’s breakdown, Orlando is playing the game “Battleship” against the opponents play caller, guessing which plays will be run and then running his players blindly to predetermined spots to defend. This, as opposed to training his players how to play cornerback, safety, and linebacker etc., recognize plays and react. When Orlando guesses wrong – which has been often – you see receivers running wide open and running backs darting through gaping holes.
It seems to me that the question about the defense going into the Oklahoma State game is, whether Orlando continues to play “Battleship” or will this be the game be where he takes a new approach to defending the spread offense.
On a positive note regarding the Oklahoma State game, Sam Ehlinger and the Texas offense are humming. Ehlinger is third in the country in passing touchdowns, and 11th in passing yards per game. Pretty great considering he sat out half of the third quarter and all of the fourth against Rice and most of the fourth quarter versus Louisiana Tech. And Ehlinger and the offense put up five touchdowns (four of them on Ehlinger passes) and 530 yards on an LSU defense that still manages to be 34th in the country in total defense despite being dominated by Texas.
My Hat’s Off to “The Man”
Using my father’s phrasing that I love so much, “Do we all agree that right now Mike Gundy is a better coach than Tom Herman?
I do. Herman may have a higher ceiling in the long run but right now Gundy is a better coach. He is 124-59 from 2004 through last week at Oklahoma State. In 2014-2018 he is 37-15. He has one conference championship (2011) and in 2013 was jipped out of another by officiating in OSU’s game with Oklahoma. Oh, and he’s riding a four-game winning streak and has won seven of the last nine versus Texas.
He’s compiled this strong record at Oklahoma State where he rarely has the luxury of four, much less five star recruits.
You may not like his haircut but he’s a good coach.
My Call
Riding another strong performance by Sam Ehlinger and the offense, Texas wins tomorrow night 44-41.
Hook ‘Em!
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Private inquiries have been made about how my first date with Connie turned out back the fall of 1976. Connie was referenced in my column a couple of weeks ago “First Dates and Hopeless Romantics.”
Well, to tell you the truth, there is a story there that you would probably find even more entertaining than “First Dates and Hopeless Romantics.” Maybe I’ll tell the story, maybe not. Believe me, the story is “G” rated, but it’s still a tough call for me as to how much I want reveal about some of my 21-year-old behavior.
W.E
