MarkInAustin

My back deck, looking over Walnut Creek and the pocket park beyond it, in northwest Austin, at 8 AM. No limbs down!

Stay warm, dry, and safe y'all.

Was Lynch good? I did not see game.

I think that Wemby looks like KD more than he looks like Wilt or Kareem. A 7'5" KD. Something I never thought I would see.

He is so much fun to watch, for me, especially on defense.

I am copying over what I wrote on the game thread. If I had read this first I would not have written what I did because it would have been pretty much a rubber stamp here. I wrote what I did on the other thread to point out how Jeff and Jordan's exchange, directly on point, fit my take on the game. So here again: I watched this game late last night from the recording I made while out to dinner with family. I have nothing specific to add, but I thought the more glaring shortcomings were on defense. Defensive focus is difficult to maintain. The second half against Vandy was an example of how well it can be done by this same team, this second half was not. In hindsight, I think Jeff's comment about lack of a strong 4 and Jordan's suggestion of a three guard lineup fit both the failures of the defense in the second half. Within the game and without hindsight there is the desire to keep enough outside shooting on the floor against a zone to keep up. In hindsight, playing three out would have likely improved the defensive intensity, as would have playing both Traore and Matas together. Would having more limited shooting options against a zone have made it worse? IDK. I think Miller will trot out these lineups situationally in other games to come and he and we will learn as the season progresses. There is this: were Wilcher or Weaver reliable shooters the whole problem would disappear because defensive intensity could be maintained without giving up outside shooting.

And for those who doubt Baker as a guard, he was rated as high as #1 IOL in America in HS. I kid you not.

If you watched Baker late in the season you saw a reliable blocker with good footwork and quickness. There is no reason at all that a wide built tackle with good footwork and quickness cannot be an excellent pass protection blocker as a guard. The Oregon St. guard only allowed one sack and he was protecting a QB with a big arm who was neither a scrambler nor very evasive. If pass pro is the be all and end all I think it will be as good or better than it was at the end of last season with what we have. I am not making that same optimistic assessment about run blocking because Campbell was sometimes a force. But the slick little RBs we got can make yardage through quick opening holes that don't stay open long. Don't worry, be happy~

The Lane Kiffin story posted above is a complication, if true. If there is an enforceable contract between Ole Miss and P.U. and it is analogous to a performance contract the typical courtroom result would be an injunction against P.U. playing for anyone else. He could not be ordered to play for Ole Miss, of course. The contract may also provide for liquidated damages, which would be another wrinkle to test. One would assume the venue and jurisdiction provisions in the contract would fix litigation in a Mississippi state court, in Oxford if that is a county seat. We may be getting a test of these "contracts" soon.

Ahmard Hall. The Big Marine played FB for VY and in the NFL for several years. But he was never a star on the best team UT has ever fielded. Y'all know the story of his closed door meeting with the team after the 12-0 loss to OU in 2004 and how they never lost again. Major Applewhite. I was not a fan of benching him in favor of Simms. Simms had the NFL skill set. Major was a leader.

This afternoon’s recruits make for a dream season for the slot receiver and the tight end[s]. Covering Coleman and Wingo if both go deep should make a shallow crossing route for [say] Mosley and Townsend a nightmare for opposing linebackers with no help over the top. Not to mention that either of two lightning quick RBs out of the backfield will have some space to operate as receivers. Of course, I am assuming a competent and efficient OL...

Kim must teach flops

I was always all in on Sean Miller but the turnaround from Tennessee is a sign of real coaching.

Do not foul their three point shooter in the act. Maybe before...

Again. Even if Texas loses this has been their best game.

ball dont lie

Clean block by Traore called as a foul.

Time for Weaver to return.

Then another appeal.

3 straight FT misses by Swain

Miller's rule error or free time out?

Swain is not a clutch foul shooter

Even if Texas loses this is how they need to play

Refs are really into it

To maintain this effort Weaver has to be on the floor. How many minutes can he play?