OTF Premium Thoughts on what happened to No. 1 Texas in a 14-7, season-opening loss to No. 3 Ohio State

[HookemTexas]

On the glass half full side, pressure should be off, no more target on their back, and they can play as the hungry ones as most likely Georgia will be the favorite to win the SEC next week

[David Latiolais]

The one thing I really didn't like about Arch today, was his pocket presents. He just kind of stayed in one place he didn't step up or step to the side to give him a better angle or that allowed him to step into the throws and he throw a lot with just his arm. 

[alrightalrightalright]

As always, great write up Jeff. Hard to stomach the first paragraph, knowing the defense and running game did all it could to win.

[Rick]

Despite Arch's struggles, the penalties, and the receivers' issues, the offense played well enough to win this game. We lost because of one reason: Sark's playcalling in the red zone. The QB sneak on our first time there was a terrible call. When we ran it on the 4th play of the game, we barely made a foot. Give it to Baxter who can hit the line with a head of steam and we have a much better chance of scoring. 

The next time in the RZ, we had 3rd and 3 at the 8. We had been running the ball well on that drive. If we were going to go for it on 4th down, which we clearly were, we should have run it on 3rd down. If we don't make it but are close, we can either run or pass on 4th down. If we get stuffed on 3rd down, then we pass on 4th. Given how we had been moving the ball, I like our chances to make 3 yards on 2 runs.

 

[Jarveaux]

If the comments aren’t questioning Arch their Questioning Sark . Relax , we are going to be fine . You’re just having a sugar spike from all the koolaid you’ve drank . Our next tough game will be Florida. If we lose then make your mean comments.

[AusMOJO]

Can I just say, for all the hype about our pass rush and we didn't even get 1 sack?

[LonghornFan4Ever]

1 minute ago, AusMOJO said:

Can I just say, for all the hype about our pass rush and we didn't even get 1 sack?

That’s why I think the defense’s performance was good but not elite.  Needed more splash plays.  No sacks, no turnovers.  A few too many penalties.  Leaky coverage bailed out by drops.

[AusMOJO]

(forgot to post this with my other comment lol)

Some of our supposed top players MIA. Moore 4 targets, 2 catches for 6 yards. Wingo 8 targets 2 catches for 35 yards, etc. I know some of that was on Arch but boy was it sloppy today.

I'm looking at the stats, too. You held Ohio State to 203 total yards and 2 TD's. Yeah you  gave up that 40 yard TD play to Tate but it's not like they don't have that type of talent. But you still went out there and did your job.

How the hell do we have more first downs, more yards (336) and we only put up 7 points? Yes we had the INT, but that was it. Why was Sark so aggressive with going for it 5 TIMES on 4th down? In tough road games, is not taking the 3 points acceptable? At least come away with something?

Anyway, enough of my bitching. Love our team and coaches. Just very frustrated with the offensive performance. We're not doing this again where we have an elite D but our O can't do anything against teams with a pulse. 

Arch is going to get a ton of deserved criticism but he's still our guy no matter what. Same as it was with Ewers. 

[AusMOJO]

4 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

That’s why I think the defense’s performance was good but not elite.  Needed more splash plays.  No sacks, no turnovers.  A few too many penalties.  Leaky coverage bailed out by drops.

I'd say they were still elite, because I think our DL nullified their OL but I was just surprised with how hyped up it was that we didn't even get one sack. Besides that big play to Tate, I think they play extremely well. 

You might be right on the coverage, who knows. Won't really find out till they play Florida at the Swamp in 5 weeks. 

[HDub1995]

My hot take is I don’t think this team has any real game changers on offense. 
 

Baxter looked good but needs time still. Wisner is a good back but is not going to give you a true home run. 
 

Waiting for Wingo to live up to the billing. He oozes potential, but I don’t know. The way he runs routes bugs me. Moore is solid but I don’t see him like one of the guys we’ve had in the past (Worthy, Mitchell). Everyone else is unproven to me. 
 

Probably not my best take, but I don’t know. I just don’t feel great about the weapons on offense this year. 

[cmk4pres]

I miss QE

[817 Boxing B]

We lamented at the fact that on 4th down.. or on the goal line, if we had CJ Baxter... we beat Ohio St. We'll DAMMIT SARK...!!! Why not hand it to him when he just made 3 or 4 yards out of none the previous play!!!? Wtf did he work sooooo hard for to look as good as he did, and you NOT give him the football? Arch hesitates.. doesn't get behind the initial push.. and gets stoned. Ironically, Sayin got put in the same situation, different spot on the field... and he properly excutes the sneak, getting behind his lineman on the SNAP OF THE BALL... WHICH HE HAD CONTROL OF!!

 

Arch pissed it down his leg, and the penalties.. can't have em on the road. Definitely encouraged by the run game, but Sark needs to get his head out of his 🍑... there's too much talent here to call a game like that. Don't care if we win by 100 every game for the next 3 weeks... wake me when we go to the Swamp.

 

[Chop]

I’m not sure if I’m upset or not but every one of these losses seem more like we beat ourselves than we got beat (outside of the first Georgia game last year)

[Red Five]

9 minutes ago, HDub1995 said:

My hot take is I don’t think this team has any real game changers on offense. 

We lost Golden, Bolden, and Blue and replaced them with a transfer WR who didn't play today. And true freshmen who didn't play today. I assumed the lack of portal activity there was a positive sign. 

[burntoc]

18 minutes ago, cmk4pres said:

I miss QE

Not calling you out specifically, but do you miss Okie St Quinn, or cherry-picked memory Quinn?  I've got action on anyone who thinks Arch won't go before the 7th round whenever he chooses to leave.

Edited 4 hours ago by burntoc

[LonghornFan4Ever]

12 minutes ago, HDub1995 said:

My hot take is I don’t think this team has any real game changers on offense. 
 

Baxter looked good but needs time still. Wisner is a good back but is not going to give you a true home run. 
 

Waiting for Wingo to live up to the billing. He oozes potential, but I don’t know. The way he runs routes bugs me. Moore is solid but I don’t see him like one of the guys we’ve had in the past (Worthy, Mitchell). Everyone else is unproven to me. 
 

Probably not my best take, but I don’t know. I just don’t feel great about the weapons on offense this year. 

How, going into year five, has the offense gotten to this point with the offensive mastermind they have?  I will say the defensive recruiting has been superior to the offensive recruiting.  I was skeptical of PK after his first season and mid-way through his second season, but he has really come around the last few seasons.  Why can't the offense do the same?  I thought by year five, Texas would be averaging 40+ ppg, but it seems to be regressing every season.  I would argue the best offensive performance I've seen from Sark at Texas was in Red River in 2021 with a healthy Casey Thompson.  Makes you wonder if teams have figured him out and he still can win because the defense is fantastic and not all opponents have the talent to stop them despite knowing what's coming.

[MulletBullet3]

Knocked It out of the park Jeff. Hope we see them later in the year.

Edited 4 hours ago by MulletBullet3

[Hesity]

2 hours ago, Ricardo V said:

Gus Malzahn’s motion is killing Bama right now. Where was our motion and quick throws to the RBs and WRs?

The passes were thrown into the dirt or behind the receivers. 
 

Arch will find his swagger and we’ll be fine. Sark called a good game. 

[HookemTexas]

No sacks on a freshman QB by the defense was disappointing, especially because this rush is supposed to be elite.

[Hesity]

58 minutes ago, David Latiolais said:

The one thing I really didn't like about Arch today, was his pocket presents. He just kind of stayed in one place he didn't step up or step to the side to give him a better angle or that allowed him to step into the throws and he throw a lot with just his arm. 

I agree, which is why I’m optimistic. Arch’s pocket presence and accuracy are things we’ve seen him excel at. Hopefully just first game in the shoe jitters. 

[Rivalrygameblock]

It’s frustrating to watch a coach in his fifth year at his third HC stop unable to adjust in real-time. No excuse for Sark’s red zone issues at this point.

[OSU2000]

As a Buckeye fan (went to the game), I don’t want to play you guys in the playoffs. We lucked out with a few key penalties, was a home opener, and our back 7 played really well. Texas took away Smith and their lines played better on both O & D. Your QB will be fine. In fact, from my seat…it didn’t look like the Longhorn wideouts ran crisp routes-wasn’t a lot of daylight. Good luck and win the SEC…happy to play you again in 5 years or so. 

[cmk4pres]

31 minutes ago, burntoc said:

Not calling you out specifically, but do you miss Okie St Quinn, or cherry-picked memory Quinn?  I've got action on anyone who thinks Arch won't go before the 7th round whenever he chooses to leave.

I don't give a damn about draft position. I care about wins at UT.  QE will never get enough credit. OKst QE wasn't  as bad as today. We waited and schemed for 9 months for that sh!tshow today 

[cmk4pres]

33 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

How, going into year five, has the offense gotten to this point with the offensive mastermind they have?  I will say the defensive recruiting has been superior to the offensive recruiting.  I was skeptical of PK after his first season and mid-way through his second season, but he has really come around the last few seasons.  Why can't the offense do the same?  I thought by year five, Texas would be averaging 40+ ppg, but it seems to be regressing every season.  I would argue the best offensive performance I've seen from Sark at Texas was in Red River in 2021 with a healthy Casey Thompson.  Makes you wonder if teams have figured him out and he still can win because the defense is fantastic and not all opponents have the talent to stop them despite knowing what's coming.

This. The "offensive genius" ceap needs to die. The red zone in year 5 is the same BS every year 

[cmk4pres]

18 minutes ago, Rivalrygameblock said:

It’s frustrating to watch a coach in his fifth year at his third HC stop unable to adjust in real-time. No excuse for Sark’s red zone issues at this point.

None. Zero.