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Topic: Longhorn Football

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utee94

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1120 on: December 04, 2023, 02:19:06 PM »
I'm looking forward to the rematch

Bama/Texas
mostly cause it will stir some folk's pot
It'll be fun to beat them twice in the same season and win the national championship, the year before joining the SEC.  I'm looking forward to it, too!

MikeDeTiger

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1121 on: December 04, 2023, 02:26:25 PM »
None of the possible outcomes would surprise me, and so I won't be however it shakes out.  I think all 4 of these teams have avenues to beating the other 3. 

For Bama/Michigan, Bama's back end just quieted a plethora of much more dangerous weapons in UGA than Michigan possesses.  I don't think Michigan can line up and play bully-ball with Alabama, so McCarthy would have to show more than I've seen, and the WRs as well.  Bama probably can't just pound away at Michigan either, but Milroe figuring out he's actually a great runner is terrible news for their opponents.  I feel like if Alabama/Milroe can just hit a handful of plays for good gains down the field they will have an edge, and I believe Milroe, for all his flaws, has shown he can do that.  Plus Alabama has cfb's highest scoring player in history in PK Will Reichard.  Granted I don't know much about Michigan's FG kicker, but I'd have to think Reichard gets the edge there. 

For Texas/Washington, both of them have the firepower to hurt each other down the field.  Worthy and Odunze are two of the best wide receivers in the game, both are likely to have several big moments, and the teams' outside weapons don't end with just that top guy.  I probably trust Penix a little more from a consistency standpoint, but not exactly a lot...he did have some dropoff down the stretch of the season, and Ewers has been more even-keel this year than last.  The reason I give Texas the edge is I believe the Longhorns can run on the Huskies some and will when they have to have it.  The Huskies proved a lot of people wrong in how strong and physical they are up front, but the Texas D-line is a far different animal than Oregon, and I don't think they're going to have much success there.  I think Texas just has more ways to win and control the clock, so I go with them. 

If Texas advances, I think they're the most balanced/complete all-around team, so I pick them over either Michigan or Alabama.  But again, it won't surprise me in the least if none of the games go like I think.

People here could accuse me of being a Texas homer and as elsewhere noted, I can see why some might think that.  But I'm really not.  I call it like I see it, and I've been generally on target with them.  I scoffed in the years people said Texas was "back" because I didn't see it, and it usually panned out that way.  I lost zero sleep in the years Texas sucked, and I had no excitement in years they showed signs of elevating themselves.  This Texas team is simply different/better than any team since the prime Mack Brown days, and thus, I continue to call it like I see it.  When they play their best, I'd favor them against anybody.  Though I think it will be Alabama again.  

utee94

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1122 on: December 04, 2023, 03:07:36 PM »
Oh I agree completely, that any of these 4 teams could beat any of the others.  

I'm kidding of course when I act like I'm assuming a Texas national championship.

I do like how we match up against the field of competitors, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what our d-line can do without the shackles of B12 referees upon them.  We already got a taste of it in Tuscaloosa, where they physically dominated Alabama's o-line.

Cincydawg

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1123 on: December 04, 2023, 03:23:50 PM »
UGA struggled in the lines against Bama, especially on defense.

MikeDeTiger

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1124 on: December 04, 2023, 03:28:05 PM »
tbf, everybody dominated Alabama's OL early in the year.  They were atrocious and Milroe was the most sacked QB, by far. 

Then they must've hired an OL coach, and Milroe opened a fortune cookie that said "You could always try moving your legs away from danger instead of just sitting there and getting obliterated."  

It could be that Texas' DL would again dominate their OL, or it could be a more even battle in the trenches this time, on that side.  I have no idea.  The fact is, since Alabama improved in that regard, they haven't played a D-line like Texas'.  UGA certainly isn't comparable to UT on the interior.  The closest thing Bama has seen would be the Aggies up front, and 1) that was still when the Bama OL was just starting to show signs that they might turn into an actual OL, and 2) I think Texas' front 4 is probably better than A&M's front 4.  

What lingers with me from that first game most of all is how the Texas OL leaned in the Tide DL late in the game.  Hardly anyone is ever able to do that to Alabama. 

Should they play again, I have no idea if the Longhorn DL will again dominate the Bama OL, but I don't see that Alabama's defensive front started far from where they are now, and Texas was just better on the OL, particularly when they had to be.  That is hard to ignore, thus, I still favor for Longhorns. 

But what do I know.  As per my rant on the B1G board, the eye test is giant pile of jack squat.  

utee94

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1125 on: December 04, 2023, 03:32:09 PM »
Eh, Milroe was plenty mobile against Texas.  His mobility is the only reason the score wasn't a lot worse.

I think it's funny when people assert Milroe was bad early in the season, and much better late.  If you look at his QBR and net passer rating throughout the season, it's all pretty consistent.  He had some peaks and valleys throughout the year, but it was well within a standard deviation of the normal distribution-- except for ONE outlier, where his stats were much worse.  That game was against... Texas, of course. 


MikeDeTiger

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1126 on: December 04, 2023, 03:35:21 PM »
UGA struggled in the lines against Bama, especially on defense.

I thought UGA's front might get pushed around some by Bama's OL.  I didn't think it would be like that.  

What surprised me the most was how consistently Bama's DL controlled and won vs. UGA's OL.  I wouldn't say UGA was "dominated" in that battle, but clearly Bama won it pretty consistently.  I liked UGA's OL as a pretty elite group.  Now I'm not as sure.  

Because I'm tired of talking about other people's teams, I'm going to take this digital space to say that for as impressive as Bama's defense was, it left me even more impressed with how average our offense made them look, until they had the good sense to knock JD5 out.  It's true that 5 scampered away from them when he felt like it, but the Tiger OL gave him all day, picked up blitzes, set edges, the whole works.  And Nabers and BTJr. flat out abused their PFF-best rated secondary, like I thought UGA would.  Maybe if Bowers and McConkey had been at full strength they would have.  Who knows.  

MikeDeTiger

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1127 on: December 04, 2023, 03:38:58 PM »
Eh, Milroe was plenty mobile against Texas.  His mobility is the only reason the score wasn't a lot worse.

I think it's funny when people assert Milroe was bad early in the season, and much better late.  If you look at his QBR and net passer rating throughout the season, it's all pretty consistent.  He had some peaks and valleys throughout the year, but it was well within a standard deviation of the normal distribution-- except for ONE outlier, where his stats were much worse.  That game was against... Texas, of course.

Probably true.  I haven't rewatched the game.  Overall early on he seemed more hesitant to run, but I did notice in tracking QB stats in about week 6 or so that his efficiency rating was high.  For as bad as he looks sometimes at mid-range throws, he's been better the entire year than my memory wants to give him credit for.

Except against Texas, I guess.  I'll probably wind up watching that again to glean some extra insights.  Plus it's probably the only tape I have of Texas' DL not getting held a ton.  

utee94

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1128 on: December 04, 2023, 04:18:44 PM »
I'll probably watch that game again, as well.  It was a fun one.


Cincydawg

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1129 on: December 04, 2023, 04:54:10 PM »
It's an excuse at this point, but their two best OLmen was injured, that probably was a factor.  Everybody has injuries.

nwms

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1130 on: December 04, 2023, 06:33:34 PM »
I'm looking forward to the rematch

Bama/Texas
mostly cause it will stir some folk's pot
i think we’re getting one.  both games are compelling and i’m looking forward to it

longhorn320

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1131 on: December 04, 2023, 10:25:22 PM »
They won't let me give blood anymore. The burnt orange color scares the hell out of the doctors.

utee94

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1132 on: December 04, 2023, 10:41:18 PM »
I was about 20 feet behind and to the left of this person when this was shot.  Fun game, great day.

longhorn320

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Re: Longhorn Football
« Reply #1133 on: December 04, 2023, 10:47:24 PM »
They won't let me give blood anymore. The burnt orange color scares the hell out of the doctors.

 

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