3 Stars of the Game vs. Florida (Monday AM)

[CJ Vogel]

This was probably the most difficult game to choose three players to recognize that Texas has played this season. In actuality, I don't think three players were entirely deserving, but for the sake of the list, this is where we land

 

Star No. 1: TyAnthony Smith

Smith is on his way to becoming one of the best linebackers Texas has had in quite some time. Of course, playing alongside Anthony Hill Jr. has allowed Smith to play freely. You see the instincts clearly on the huge forced fumble in the 2nd quarter as well. Smith also added 1.5 tackles for loss and remains one of the better gap shooters Texas has.

 

Star No. 2: Anthony Hill Jr.

It may not have felt like Hill was as active as he typically is in a given game, but he was credited with 14 tackles on Saturday. That is six more than the next highest tackler on the field for the Longhorns. Jadan Baugh was getting to the second level frequently and Hill was there to clean it up just about every time.

 

Star No. 3: Michael Taaffe

This is where I get to maybe three stars weren't entirely deserving on Saturday, but I will give it to Taaffe. The interception was very important to give Texas a chance late in the 4th quarter. However, Taaffe had a chance to bring down Dallas Wilson on his long TD and failed to do so. Still, I am not sure I can point to many others who had as significant impact on Saturday.

 

HM1 – Ryan Wingo: Had Wingo hauled in the sideline pass that he dropped, he would have been up top in the three stars category. But he finds himself here instead, still an impactful Saturday.

HM2 – Colin Simmons: The bar is incredibly high for Simmons this year and Texas fans will want more of a guy who spoke about breaking the school sack record. But four of your six QB pressures came from Simmons, and he single handedly destroyed a Florida drive by himself in run support.

[Shivam Patel]

@CJ VogelWhat about Livingstone he had that huge catch before he got hurt?

[CJ Vogel]

2 minutes ago, Shivam Patel said:

@CJ VogelWhat about Livingstone he had that huge catch before he got hurt?

Huge catch. Would love to see more targets go his way, he has been the most consistent target for Manning and should be treated as such. But Only 1.5 quarters of play is the reason why he wasn't included.

[Here for the Wins]

Umm Ceej, you can’t put Wingo there.  Not only the drop, but he had the easiest play of the day in his midst and failed to convert.

[CJ Vogel]

7 minutes ago, Here for the Wins said:

Umm Ceej, you can’t put Wingo there.  Not only the drop, but he had the easiest play of the day in his midst and failed to convert.

You're probably rght. Still, goes to show how little people were deserving.

I guess moving forward I will leave spots open 

[alrightalrightalright]

An even weirder reminder on the absence of Brad Spence Saturday was that he was a star of the game against Sam Houston.

Taafe’s INT kept us alive but I struggle with his game prior. Didn’t pick up either fumble, not completing two tackles that resulted in TDs. Rough game.

Edited 4 hours ago by alrightalrightalright
Hook Em

[Sanka Decaf]

I'm not sure how much credit I'd give Hill for so many tackles - most of the time I saw Baugh break the line, he dragged people several more yards.  Unless there's a touchdown on every run, SOMEONE gets a tackle on each play.  Maybe CJ saw better stops from him than I remember. 

I would have given Simmons No. 2 and Hill No. 3 or even Arch No. 3, but at least give Arch an honorable mention. (I'd drop Wingo from the list).  Arch showed signs of growth and persevered despite the offensive line play.  Wingo missed a wide open receiver and made an end zone catch that any good receiver should make.  

But, nothing matters other than how this team responds on Saturday.

[Quinncent McManning, Jr.]

Taaffe can’t be on there either his whiffs on Wilson and Baugh for touchdowns. Not sure who would even be number 3. 

[hookemrj13]

Hey, Is Collin Simmons injured?

[AceHorn23]

19 minutes ago, hookemrj13 said:

Hey, Is Collin Simmons injured?

Yes

[Rocky P]

I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but you gotta put Arch at least in the honorable mentions.  Dude played his ass off.  can you imagine the game if we had someone like Ewers back there with this oline??? No knock on ewers, but he wasn't able to run for his life like that.

[Alex Butler]

I put arch in there for the toughness he showed and everything he did to keep that game even close. 

[SueVide]

When the defense was the biggest disappointment of the day (OL second), it's hard to see four of five players from the D listed here. But I guess given all phases had trouble, it would be hard to fill these boxes. 

[Keelaannn]

Arch manning for me over taaffe, sure he missed some gimmes but that man battled his ass off under duress the entire game. Matter fact i came away from the game higher on arch manning than at any point this season