View from the Cheap Seats-UTEP

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View from the Cheap Seats-Texas @ El Paso

Miners come to town

 

What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on in Austin?   This game featured the #1 and #2 QBs from the 2023 recruiting class.   One might have expected an aerial circus; one would have been disappointed.   Sark/TEXAS only threw the ball 25 times against 53 rushes.   That stat is somewhat skewed due to Arch pulling the ball down and running.   Still, in a game that should have created the opportunity for Arch to get his passing on track and boost his confidence, he had the worst day for a Longhorn QB in some time.   We hate to bag on the kid, as by all accounts, he is a great young man.  It is what it is, though.   Arch is struggling and cannot seem to find a comfortable rhythm, while his play caller is not helping at all.   One example of a play that is a staple of Sark’s offense has been the WR screen.   A play designed around a quick pass outside with the idea that if a WR can get one block and/or make one defender miss, he’s off for a big gain.    We did not see that play called until late in the third or early fourth quarter, despite UTEP playing off coverage.    Clearly, the game plan was to force-feed the ball to Ryan Wingo, an uber-talented WR.   The problem is that Ryan and Arch cannot seem to get on the same page.  

Sark’s offense is also predicated on numerous shifts and motions, which serve two purposes.  First, it forces a defense to show its coverage, as well as work to create mismatches in the scheme, which can be exploited through play calling.   When it’s going well, it is a beauty to behold.   This week, Sark seemed content to line up and run base offense with little misdirection.   One play that worked exceptionally well in the first two weeks, a staple of the Sark offense, is the TE screen, often called as the QB rolls right and then throws back left.  That play and others like it were nonexistent this weekend.   A Cheap Seats pet peeve, late in the 3rd quarter, early in the 4th, we saw Arch on a called QB run.   WHY?????

For the 3rd season in a row, TEXAS is leaning hard on Coach Pete Kwiakowski’s outstanding defense to carry the day.   And once again, they delivered.  The defense was suffocating, forcing five punts, three turnovers on downs, and recording 2 Interceptions.   This, while limiting UTEP to an FG through 57 minutes of the game, only allowing a late TD with backups on the field.  This season, the team's success will be determined by its defense, and they are a pleasure to watch.

Glass half empty

Arch is clearly struggling, misfiring on even easy passes.   In 2 of 3 games this season, Arch has not been the best QB on the field.   Keep in mind, we are talking about the pre-season Heisman favorite.  The offensive line remains a work in progress.   Red Zone TD scoring a paltry 3 TDs on 6 attempts, 2 Arch rushing TDs, and a pass to Ryan Wingo with 2 FG & an INT.   Texas' offense was handed the ball twice on turnovers, but only managed to create 3 points.  The team must capitalize on such opportunities.  While the number of penalties has been reduced from last week, they came at the worst possible times, including negating the best punt return of the day.  1st play of the game saw our RB2 (RB1 being held out due to a lingering injury) go down and not return.   We would finish the day with RB5, who had a very nice game.   Not only was Arch still in the game late in the 3rd, early in the 4th, but Sark called a QB run.  What was he thinking?   On the subject of highly questionable play calling, you are not going to get Arch on track by handing the ball off.   Yes, still early in the season, but in three weeks, we’ll open conference play.   There is reason to be concerned as starting in October, the caliber of play is going to be significantly better.   Per ESPN, today we do not project as a playoff team, we would agree with that.   We miss the Longhorn Network.

Glass half full

Defense, Defense, Defense.   Coach PK and crew are doing the job at championship levels.  Our Aussie punter and Ryan Niblett on punt returns are a pleasure to watch.  On two of the three turnovers on downs the defense forced, the Texas offense turned them into touchdowns.    A short list this week.

 

Stats that matter

• 11-25    Arch’s passing line, which included a 10 straight incompletion stretch, putrid.
• 3 of 6, Red Zone TD scoring.   Continues to be an issue
• 5 of 16, Offense on 3rd down attempts.  TEXAS simply cannot sustain drives
• 2 of 5,   Offense on 4th down attempts.
• 4 of 15, Defense, this is how you win
• 0 of 3, Defense stuffed UTEPs 4th down tries
• 7 for 78, Penalties which seemed to come at critical times, compounding the problem.
• 2 for 3     Two turnovers/INTs is good but TEXAS only turned that into 3 points, not good
• 2 for 3      Two of the three times TEXAS’ D held

 

Offensive Player of the Game

James Simon,  RB 5.   Came into the 2nd half of the game, carried 17 times for a net of 67 yards.

Co-Defensive Players of the Game

Leona Lefu led the team in tackles, including a tackle for loss, and Jelani McDonald, who was 2nd in tackles, recorded an interception.

Special Teams Player of the Game

Ryan Niblett had 3 punt returns for 72 yards, a 24-yard average, and his best return was called back from a dumb penalty.

On Deck-Sam Houston State

The Bearkats come to town riding a 3-game losing streak this season, and are projected to finish at or near the bottom of Conference USA.   The game will be on the SEC network again.  We hope to see Arch with 30-35 passing attempts in 3 quarters, then take a seat.   In fact we hope no starter plays in the 4th quarter.   3 weeks to get ready to travel to the Swamp to play the Gators.

Game Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJemykVh7EA