Published by David Macias
Another game where we don't play the full 60 minutes and let it be a nail biter at the end. Not breaking any news here, but we're playing to our levels competition every week - thankfully they've been ending in W's.
Think about this.
We've outscored 3 ranked opponents by 41 total points.
We've only outscored our 4 unranked opponents by 13 total points.
Whatever, we're 6-1! The last time we got to 6 wins in October was 2012, and the last time we had a 6-1 or better record was 2009 (last national title run).
While the 2nd half was quite frustrating and Shane looked more like a true backup than a guy who was battling Sam for the starting spot before the season, Shane did his job and we got the W - hats off to him.
On to the game.
UT 0 - Baylor 0
Sam gets hurt. This is what teams risk by running their QB. Sam running is what makes him a more dynamic player and in so many ways makes the offense go. However, he's also a bruiser of a runner, not a speed guy who's just trying to get to the outside or end his run with a slide. I really think we win 35 - 13 or so if he doesn't get hurt, but as a good friend of mine says, "if your aunt had nuts, she'd be your uncle".
UT 0 - Baylor 0
Sam makes a nice throw after the injury. Thankfully, Sam has the lowest grade of a shoulder sprain and we have a bye week, so he should be good to go for Okie Light next week. It couldn't have been that badly injured if he was able to throw this dart after the injury. Let's just hope it doesn't get re-injured (knock on wood).
UT 0 - Baylor 0
CJ nice hands. Shane was a little sporadic with this throws, but it's nice that he had targets like CJ and LJH to throw to. What a great hands catch here.
UT 3 - Baylor 7
QB read works with Shane initially. You can see the DE #93 go to the outside and respect the QB run, which opens a nice hole for Tre Watson. As you'll see, Baylor quickly made the adjustment to Shane being at QB and not Sam. I don't recall Shane pulling it on a QB read once, and I wonder if he didn't read any of them right OR if the coaches directed him not to pull as to not risk having to play Cam Rising or Casey Thompson.
UT 6 - Baylor 7
Baylor defense adjusts on the QB read. You can see that the DE on the near side doesn't flinch at all and assumes handoff to the RB.
UT 6 - Baylor 7
Again, QB read doesn't work as well with Shane. Here, you can see the blitzing slot corner play the handoff to the RB the entire way, and he ends up making the stop for just a 2 yard gain.
UT 6 - Baylor 7
Great run D. It's tough to see who the other two players are, but Gerald Wilbon #94 and 2 of his compadres win their match ups and all meet up for a 2 yard loss in the back field. I really enjoy how this defense is continually able to play the run while keeping 2 deep safeties for help is pass coverage.
UT 6 - Baylor 10
Keontay all day. We finally fed him more and he got his first 100 yard game as a Longhorn. I don't dislike Tre Watson, but this guy is special. I'll probably have a post of just Keontay runs at some point - stay tuned. Again, the blitzing corner is playing the handoff, but Keontay is so good at breaking tackles in the back field and he's got a burst that's unmatched by pretty much anyone on the team.
UT 6 - Baylor 10
It's not a penalty if they don't call it. It does appear to be a push off, but Baylor dude - you can't just quit on the play and not attempt to make a tackle. Also, Baylor's WR had almost the exact same amount of a push off on their first TD, so at least the refs called it evenly. This might have been Shane's best ball of the day, perfectly placed in front of CJ and on the outside shoulder. Even had CJ not pushed off, it would've been tough for the CB to make a play on it.
UT 13 - Baylor 10
Finally, LJH running in a TD from the wildcat. I think the Horns' staff has to consider this play more often from here on out with Sam nursing a shoulder injury. Note the nice (almost hold) block by Sam Cosmi #52, he gets just enough of #3 that also cause #44 to not be able to make the play, and LJH and his 6'4" frame does the rest.
UT 20 - Baylor 10
Caden. F'n. Sterns. Looking back on how the game played out, this pick and the following play were huge to lead to another 3 points. 6 point lead was all the difference in the game when Baylor got it down within the 25 at the end and had to take shots in the end zone for a TD. Sterns has such great instincts. Also, remember how I said it's nice we can play 2 deep safeties because we can play the run with so few d-lineman/LBs, it allows for a great ball hawk safety like Sterns to only have to play half the field. Brewer eyes this pass from the start. Sterns reads it, and makes a great catch on the play. What a stud.
UT 20 - Baylor 10
Huge 3rd down conversion by Jamison. Most offensive plays to Jamison have been a reverse that ended in a loss, but this little slip screen was clutch. And it is a screen, he catches the ball behind the line and Keontay and Beck are blocking from the start. Good blocking and nice speed by Jamison to create the bad angle to allow us to get a field goal and our final points of the game.
UT 23 - Baylor 10
One of the very few highlights of the 2nd half. This was shortly after the Buechele INT. Great 4 man pass rush. Hager forces the QB upfield and G Johnson does a great job of getting off his block and coming in to clean it up as the QB steps up.
UT 23 - Baylor 10
B Jones with the bad angle. This was quite frustrating, because I thought we could hold them to a field goal right here. They just had a false start to lose 5 yards to take it back to the 10. Jones just underestimates their RB's speed and takes a very bad angle. He's got to keep outside leverage and force the running back inside back to his friends. The run it in on the next play from 3rd and short, but if it's 3 and 8 or 9, I'm not so sure they convert.
I'll probably try to post a couple more "random musings" before the Okie Light game, so stay tuned and follow me on Twitter to get all the updates Follow @dmacUT.
