Here for the Wins

I’m not sure how much it was considered versus UTEP, but there were lots of guys running routes that had not run many in live games. And the completion percentages to those 4 targets, maybe toss Baxter in there, could be an indicator too. Moore is a big deal. And maybe a bigger deal than most realized. Honestly, WR blocking may be the thing I pay least attention to but can see how Moore can be a key there based on how he plays the game.

Are you disagreeing that Hill should have made the play? And are you disagreeing that any top flight D1 school if allocating bodies in the manner OSU did on that sneak would stop it? Do we need to be better? No doubt, but this season has had 3 practices and OSU. The Oline was not great versus OSU, but they showed some life. Our playcalling did not give us a chance because Sark played in to their numbers advantage. Arch has scored rather easily several times now so that should loosen that interior. Bleed that 2nd TE into the flat a time or two and give the defense something to think about. Until you make your opponent defend outside the box, you will have issues. And right now, we don’t really know what this offense is.

So you show a video of us versus OSU in which Hill is 3 yards in the backfield and blocks himself and are convinced that’s great line play? They doubled a dude and won yes but ignored Hill and he blew it. The one for us - they had 3.5 guys over our C/RG. You aren’t winning that. We even tipped the sneak. OMG. It’s a goalline play and Banks is blocking no one. Fire him. I simply cannot believe Conner didn’t block those 3 defenders. Helm looking at his QB. Thank goodness he left for the NFL, and we don’t have to deal with that anymore.

And we’ve largely whipped our opponents short yardage efforts too for the last handful of years so where are their dominating road graders? Goalline and short yardage is about numbers. There is no one to block a Ransom or Downs. The play caller has to account for those dudes. We have added some QB run to the mix. That’s already helped. This belief that defenses get moved off the line is a fallacy. In the 8 game regular season SEC slate last year, we led the conference in yards per carry with no help from the Qb and backs generally perceived to get what was blocked. No team, in the theoretical best conference, is moving teams off the line consistently. You gave no examples on these dominating offensive fronts. We clearly value pass protection. Our tight ends are generally better pass catchers than blockers. Until proven otherwise that’s where our priority lies. I understand that’s a problem for you.

To put some numbers to this, he was 128th in big time throw percentage last year. His rate was twice as high the year before at 5.7%. Think his average depth of target is just under 10 this year so not dinking and dunking but limited big time throws, which are heavily weighted towards deep throws and less at the intermediate range. Like many guys he’s improving as he matures, at least from s statistical standpoint.

Yet somehow that C, in spite of being injured, was picked up by the defending Super Bowl champs. The team whose starting crew is considered by some to be the best unit in the NFL. That problem at G was so terrible he was drafted. For two years running, Texas had a top 3-5 ish pass blocking unit. I’d challenge you to find me any OL, but provide some support for you claim, that could claim to be top 5 in both pass protection and run blocking. I’d bet you can’t find one. And you sure as hell won’t find one in which all 5 members are equally adept at pass protection and run blocking. And even in spite of this major “problem” two of the plays on our final important drive last year were off the edges. All teams have strengths and weaknesses. And that’s for certain in every teams Oline so it’s really more about playing into your strengths. But sure let’s harp on it as a problem that probably doesn’t have a solution to satisfy you. Its still early so we don’t fully know what we do best. Funny too that message board warriors had themselves convinced that our interior run game would be improved because the “problems” were now gone.

Evaluate to a theoretical standard that doesn’t exist. How do you develop a baseline of what is poor, average or great line play? Yeah, I get it, the eye test. The reference to Ohio State was that some teams have played 3 games, some 4. We are top 3rd in pass blocking, top half in run blocking per PFF. Each player is graded to a standard. I’m not sure that is measured relative to opponents strength but I’d assume not. Now mix this with some FEI rankings. The relative strength of the defenses we’ve played to date says that’s the 32rd toughest defensive schedule. Our OFEI is 22nd. There are exactly two offenses higher than ours currently that have faced a tougher defensive schedule. Those two are Ohio State and Miami. Obviously, all this will play out over time. This early in the season the problems vary from week to week and won’t necessarily correlate to the next game. Some of those could be more inexperience than lasting problems. And some may be simply a bad game from a guy here, a guy there. I feel confident in saying the UTEP game for example was a gameplan you won’t see any other game with Baxter being a big part of that. Then he went out after one play. There’s data and enough available to say we’re ok and there are rational reasons to explain whatever shortcomings thus far. Problems? It’s still early to make that declaration.

Have you ever watched anyone else with the same fervor? Maybe go watch several other games with the same intent. In the run game, it’ll be tough on a given play for every guy to win. And I will tell you that broadcast footage is pretty limited. More context. We are 59th in run blocking grade and 42nd in pass blocking. Ohio State is top 20 in both run defensive grade and pass rush grade.

I guess if you consider the guy lined up as LT, likely covered up, blocking 5 yards downfield and engaged with the defender as legit. I’m not saying it should be called. If you can point me to the discussion saying that’s ok, I’d legitimately be interested. Technically, I’d say he’s illegally downfield and committing pass interference. Then, if we wish to discuss targeting, the rules stipulate “no player shall target….” It requires “one indicator of targeting.” It references a legal tackle and provides some indicators, which obviously is not all inclusive. It references a launch. A crouch followed by upward and forward thrust. Leading with the helmet. Lowering the head. Taaffe ran through his tackle. Both arms wrap around the receiver. The intent of the rule is not to eliminate incidental football contact. The play was bang-bang with two dudes trying to play football. There’s nothing in the rule that I see it is undoubtedly a foul.

If you’re talking Taaffee and his hit that we benefitted, then you’re advocating for not playing football. i believe some referenced that fake punt for ASU was not legit. No fake punt, likely no late game impact of that non-call.

Believe you’re missing a word or several here. It’s not like we never get calls if that’s what you’re saying. I mean we can go back to 2013 ISU or whenever that was. 1988 North Texas. Particularly teams that few feel sorry for if they get hosed.

There’s a significant piece that we don’t get the benefit of the doubt some teams do. And we’ve produced quite a few NFL defenders over the years even prior to the past two years so it’s not like our opponents overwhelmed us with their talent. We’ve had a number of borderline holds called on us and ignored on our opponents.

He had 3 years with Jones. Granted he was at tackle, but Jones had more bully moments there than possibly anyone with him or since.

For a decade they clearly worked on holding in practice so this is not surprising.

I’m not sure how accurate but good observation to consider. Confidence is huge. In my opinion, the Moore catch of a not so great throw changed things yesterday. Wingo has had several opportunities to make such a play but didn’t. Last week, Sark made no effort to get his QB in a rhythm. We didn’t have a gameplan beyond primarily working on our run game. That’s fine but understand it for what it is. Moore presents stability. He presents confidence for his Qb. Be where you’re supposed to be, be there when you’re supposed to be there. Make the easy catch. Make a difficult catch.

49-13. But this might be a game Sark tries to send a message via the final score.

This is the biggest item. Offense has 6 guys that you don’t really rotate, particularly when going well. As an example, Hill will be gone but Smith and Lefau will be plenty experienced. Similar for Burkes replacement. Sark had an aha moment years ago when Tech ran 100 plays. That plays a part too. It’s also different than offense because he can dictate tempo and player usage.

Texas Pom

To an extent I agree that we are limited but rounded routes in which a WR drifts or fades is not going to help a QB.

He’s running his routes hard generally speaking. There were two balls, one in each game, in which I’d generally expect an effort to go down and get them. That first deep ball he got bumped off the route pretty easily then couldn’t decide where to finish the route. I do think there’s some acclimation ahead.

The first deep ball was an absolute terrible job on Wingo’s part. On the ball short of him, no effort to get it. That part was poor. Look at the route again on that play. It doesn’t appear to be good. On the drop, his hands were like a 10 -year old. Not the dropping it part but how he attempted to catch it.

It wasn’t even necessarily about you. There’s just tons of talk about this regarding Arch. It seems a bit unprecedented too. Generally speaking, people have lost context. One of those being, if you miss seeing a guy or mid a throw but eventually score 7, just move past that miss because the ultimate goal was achieved. Also, there’s been no comparison to other guys. I used Nussmeier as an example. He’s thrown a ton of passes thus far. His yards per attempt is rather low 5-6 yards per attempt. They haven’t scored a ton of points. They’re having to drive the field, dinking and dunking. I don’t have proof but I’d wager he’s passing, or missing, available targets down the field too. Maybe people will back off the unreasonable standard and get to what is more normal. We have a ton of growing to do offensively. Penalties are one element to cut down. Wingo - not sure what to make of him. We’ve seen Moore get down for a ball at least twice. Wingo has passed on two attempts to do the same. He dropped an easy and has had several questionable routes. For Arch, make those throws on 3rd down to get you that next set of downs. First downs will lead to TDs.

Don’t fall for this bs. I’ve been thru the 3rd quarter. There are 3 plays in which Jesse chirped up. The first deep throw to Wingo. If you watch closely, you’ll see one WR had 3 bodies near him, Baxter was covered, another WR with two guys on him. Wingo had single coverage, got knocked off his route then did who knows what. The second one showed Livingstone getting knocked off his route so him hitting him off the break became pretty difficult. The third was a miss, but he got a completion. And we scored that drive. Theres been a hyper focus on this for whatever reason.. Nussmeier I’d wager, once again, is turning down open opportunities down the field but not much criticism. Penalties and drops were far more impactful.

What exactly do you mean here?

It’s almost like you’re taunting me with this initial line. I have read one guy lost us the game. From my seat, we had a prove it moment twice inside the 10. Sark put us into position to fail on the sneak. Then 3rd and 3. I’m generally of the opinion that if you’re going on 4th at that distance, you go run on 3rd. Yeah, yeah missed pass. Again, those are prove it moments for the Oline. And really a perfect game and venue to do it. And not to mention, the team would likely be pumped for Baxter in his return to the field to slam one home.