Buzz Saw
If Texas fans aren't nervous as hell about this game, they simply haven't been paying attention. Couple of thoughts to lead off: 1) both teams are "peeking" right now and finding an identity; 2) The home team has lost the last 3 (maybe even 4) meetings.
Let's look back on the West Virginia game to help set the stage. This was (and is) a pretty bad W. Virginia team, ironically with their only significant win coming against the Okie State Cowboys. Call it an exciting game because it certainly was, but as a Texas fan I certainly don't feel like improvement is evident. However I realized we are what we are. I give them credit for clawing back, but I criticize for their usual slow start and stubborn offensive game planning. The hurry up, dink-and-dunk offense worked like a charm - the slow-down, run between the tackles game plan...not so much. So why keep forcing the subject? It's like they don't understand the meaning of "take what they give you".
But hey, at this point, a win is a win. Unless you're playing for the title game, you win your games in front of you, and don't worry about anything else. Style points are meaningless.
Oklahoma State at Texas:
Well, with all that being said we got ourselves a ho-down coming up here. As I said, these guys are playing pretty well, especially after establishing and settling in on QB Clint Cheft. You're always suspect of a team's consistency switching QBs like that, but they've won 5 straight since the loss in Morgantown. Granted, they've got their 3 toughest games left on their schedule (at Texas, Baylor at home, OU at home), but they seem to have found their groove.
I can't say I'm confident going into this game. Texas has a consistent track of record of disappointing early and clawing back late to win in dramatic fashion. The second-level defenders need to really step up here if that's going to happen this weekend. The Cowboys will try and run the ball, and why wouldn't they - and they've had success doing it against some opponents this year. A few thoughts on Texas...
- Case is not a great quarterback. I'm sorry, but he's not. Sure, he made some really pretty throws in that last game, but he also dug himself into some deep holes. He's not terribly accurate. And that's being nice. And he's a victim of schizophrenic play calling which brings me to....
- The play calling/game planning needs to be more decisive. Find the kinks, exploit the kinks, use that to open up other parts of the game. Period. You can have a game plan coming into a game and if the opponent is taking that away, well then adapt. Take. What. They. Give. You. As George Foreman said leading up to the Thrilla in Manilla, "everyone has a plan till they get hit in the mouth".
- Those injuries are big. Really big. Jonathan Gray is a great, great running back and I truly believe he can be one of the best backs in college football over the next year or two. Of course it's the position where Texas has the most depth, but it still hurts. Conversely, Whaley is a big loss. He's been playing great as of late, and as a seasoned starter, he brought leadership and experience. That loss will be felt on more than one play. Trust me, this matters.
I still believe Texas has better players, but they also had better players against Ole Miss and BYU. On one hand I find it hard to pick against Texas simply because they continue to find a way to win no matter what. On the other hand, I think Okie State will come in more aggressive, and provide the best competition to date, including the OU game. Couple that with the road team win/loss over the last 4 years and I have to pick the Cowboys...based objectively on what I've seen of late.
The OU game is farther and farther away each week - and I have to go on what I've seen. First of a long 3-game stretch for both teams.
Oklahoma Sate - 33
Texas - 27
Other Games Around the Campus:
Let's look back on the West Virginia game to help set the stage. This was (and is) a pretty bad W. Virginia team, ironically with their only significant win coming against the Okie State Cowboys. Call it an exciting game because it certainly was, but as a Texas fan I certainly don't feel like improvement is evident. However I realized we are what we are. I give them credit for clawing back, but I criticize for their usual slow start and stubborn offensive game planning. The hurry up, dink-and-dunk offense worked like a charm - the slow-down, run between the tackles game plan...not so much. So why keep forcing the subject? It's like they don't understand the meaning of "take what they give you".
But hey, at this point, a win is a win. Unless you're playing for the title game, you win your games in front of you, and don't worry about anything else. Style points are meaningless.
Oklahoma State at Texas:
Well, with all that being said we got ourselves a ho-down coming up here. As I said, these guys are playing pretty well, especially after establishing and settling in on QB Clint Cheft. You're always suspect of a team's consistency switching QBs like that, but they've won 5 straight since the loss in Morgantown. Granted, they've got their 3 toughest games left on their schedule (at Texas, Baylor at home, OU at home), but they seem to have found their groove.
I can't say I'm confident going into this game. Texas has a consistent track of record of disappointing early and clawing back late to win in dramatic fashion. The second-level defenders need to really step up here if that's going to happen this weekend. The Cowboys will try and run the ball, and why wouldn't they - and they've had success doing it against some opponents this year. A few thoughts on Texas...
- Case is not a great quarterback. I'm sorry, but he's not. Sure, he made some really pretty throws in that last game, but he also dug himself into some deep holes. He's not terribly accurate. And that's being nice. And he's a victim of schizophrenic play calling which brings me to....
- The play calling/game planning needs to be more decisive. Find the kinks, exploit the kinks, use that to open up other parts of the game. Period. You can have a game plan coming into a game and if the opponent is taking that away, well then adapt. Take. What. They. Give. You. As George Foreman said leading up to the Thrilla in Manilla, "everyone has a plan till they get hit in the mouth".
- Those injuries are big. Really big. Jonathan Gray is a great, great running back and I truly believe he can be one of the best backs in college football over the next year or two. Of course it's the position where Texas has the most depth, but it still hurts. Conversely, Whaley is a big loss. He's been playing great as of late, and as a seasoned starter, he brought leadership and experience. That loss will be felt on more than one play. Trust me, this matters.
I still believe Texas has better players, but they also had better players against Ole Miss and BYU. On one hand I find it hard to pick against Texas simply because they continue to find a way to win no matter what. On the other hand, I think Okie State will come in more aggressive, and provide the best competition to date, including the OU game. Couple that with the road team win/loss over the last 4 years and I have to pick the Cowboys...based objectively on what I've seen of late.
The OU game is farther and farther away each week - and I have to go on what I've seen. First of a long 3-game stretch for both teams.
Oklahoma Sate - 33
Texas - 27
Other Games Around the Campus:
- Proof that the name and recent history plays a big part in TV decisions - game day is at USC...with Stanford coming to town. Not a problem with Stanford, but at USC? Really? Hell, I'd say Okie State at Texas is as good as that - and I would NEVER put Texas on Game Day this year. Georgia at Auburn even? C'mon.
- Speaking of Georgia at Auburn - this would be the classic Mike Richt game to win to save his job (not that he necessarily needs it this year). Injuries are too bad for that team - and Auburn is just oozing confidence. Give me Auburn by 2 touchdowns.
- I hate to say this because I genuinely like Kingsbury, but I think the wheels may be officially off the Tech wagon. They visit Baylor this weekend (Seastrunk may rush for 250 yards). After a semi-bye week they travel to Texas. All that after coming off a really bad home loss to Kansas State. Baylor may put up 60 on them.
- Odd, "no way" pick of the weekend - Florida finding some crazy way to beat South Carolina in Columbia. I don't know...maybe it's the fajitas talking, but give me Florida in an inexplicable upset.
- Hands-down game of the weekend comes in the form of Chiefs visiting Mile High Stadium. Gotta love divisional games that have significant playoff implications. Kansas City is playing out of their minds right now, yet in such a controlled and methodical way. There's nothing flashy or "highlight reel" about them - they just win. Meanwhile Denver continues to defy the injury, coach-got-heart-surgery situations, Von Miller's love of weed, etc to will their way to victories. I'm very, very tempted to pick KC in an "upset" here, but I'm just not sure they have the horses to keep up with Denver's scoring. KC will have to continuously pressure Peyton, but there's simply too many receivers to keep up with. On the flip side, I think KC can move the ball an score quite efficiently on this defense: sounds like Bowe (speaking of weed) will be playing and Charles (Hook 'em) is one of the best in the game. But if Peyton and team are able to score quick and consistently, just don't think Smith and company can keep pace. The only real possibility I see is Reid out-coaching Del Rio, which is a real possibility. The Chiefs can win this game, I just think Denver probably puts up a few more points.
- How freaking bad is the NFC East? All of a sudden, what was looking like the Cowboys running away with this division at 8-8 has turned into a dog fight with the Eagles. And speaking of the Cowboys, I wonder if I'll still be alive when Jerr-A Jones realizes he sucks ass at managing a pro football team? A business? No doubt, I'll hire him to run it. But a football team? What more do you need to see? I think this is the year when you begin to take serious consideration into the future of your QB position.
- Great signing by the Jets to pick up Reed. It's unfortunate he didn't work out so great in Houston, but he still brings a positive presence, although he's past his prime. He can hang out and protect more with their corners. Good, low-risk/high-reward signing.
- Two big surprises at this point: Lions and Panthers. Carolina got a huge win in San Francisco last weekend which was kind of baffling given the Niners were coming off a bye. Meanwhile Detroit has a game lead over Chicago and Green Bay. And both of those teams are without their starting QBs. I have no dog in this hunt, but I would love to see Detroit win that division.
- That's some bad shit going on in Miami. That kind of stuff just can't happen at this level. Just can't.
- Right now...if I'm picking Super Bowl teams...here it is: New Orleans vs. Denver.
- Okay Obama, that's enough. Next....
- First weekend of November: we have to put our dog of 13 years down.
- Second week of November: I get an abscessed tooth/crown and have to spend 29 hours on pain killers/antibiotics trying not to go completely insane, waiting on my root canal.
- I cannot wait to see what weekend numero tres has in store....
- But it's all good. Life is good.
- The amount of "on-the-phoning" and driving is out of control. I know I've said this before to some of you, but it's really ridiculous. I spend most of my time in the car between Bee Cave/Lakeway/Westlake/Dripping Springs and I can tell you it's beyond ridiculous. I'm shocked there aren't more minor accidents. Makes me crazy....
- That storm in the Philippines and rest of Souteast Asia is some crazy shit. That ain't right. Pray for those folks.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 11:33 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home