CHorn427

On the other side of the bracket: Notre Dame beats Gunnar Stockton-led UGA and subsequently beats PSU. On our side: Take care of business vs ASU and hope to catch an emotionally/physically drained winner of the Rose Bowl looking ahead to the title game. Of the P4 programs on the other side of the bracket, I think we match up best with ND.

I see, low reading comprehension. Checks out

Based on the way Ohio State played last night, I’d say multiple of their receivers could be a problem for Muhammad if he doesn’t play at higher level than he did yesterday. I do think that Howard is good enough to hit his receivers with reasonably accurate balls if they get a modest amount of separation. And Ohio State’s receivers are certainly better than Clemson’s. Ohio State’s WR corps is Top 2 in the country, if not #1. The one thing- Howard does have more of a penchant for throwing INTs than Klubnik. And I think Klubnik has a better clutch gene than Howard. Dillon Gabriel, on the other hand, is essentially a better version of Klubnik. Pretty similar styles

Some of the passes were placed where only the WR could catch it because the WR had gotten past Muhammad. Like I’ve said in previous replies, I have faith that he can play better and get better. However, if we’re replacing Barron with Muhammad, that’s replacing a guy who has a knack for making more plays (INTs, TFLs, etc) than giving up big plays with a guy that I’m seeing giving up more big plays than he’s making. Again, not saying improvement in the short term or long term is impossible or even unlikely. Just saying that we will be in trouble if Muhammad struggles like that vs Oregon or Ohio State.

Fair enough, but I do think his performance will be something to watch in those games. It will be what I’m most concerned about on defense for us. Really every defender on the field for us has made splash plays for us this year except Muhammad. I believe he can rise to the challenge and play better, I just hope that he does. I know a lot of the situations of him potentially looking “worse” than last year are teams targeting him more rather than throwing at Barron.

I honestly think Skattebo and ASU’s ground game is overrated. Skattebo has gone over 200 yds rushing one time on the season (against Mississippi State). Been held under 100 yds rushing 6 times this season. Dude isn’t anything our swarming defense can’t handle. ASU hasn’t seen a defense close to as good as our’s all year. now, I will for sure be pissed if this comment comes back to bite me. But if we let Skattebo run all over us and carry ASU to a W, we obviously don’t deserve to play in the later rounds of the playoffs.

That’s what I saw as well and what I’m worried about. Oregon and Ohio State have two of the best WR corps in the nation.

Do you not think it will be problematic if he plays at yesterday’s level against Oregon or Ohio State?

Are you a player or a coach for the Texas Longhorns? Then yeah, don’t look ahead. I am a fan on a fan message board- literally no consequence from me “looking ahead”. The ironic thing is you are poo-pooing me for “looking ahead” past ASU, when your whole original comment was downplaying/potentially underestimating ASU. You see the irony there, right?

Must not have read my whole comment, where I said “particularly the winner of Oregon/Ohio State”. Also, we hopefully have 2 more games after ASU. Everyone left in the bracket except ASU and Boise are more talented than Clemson and have the athletes to attack Muhammad if he doesn’t play better than he did yesterday

I agree mostly. The alarming thing is when Clemson started attacking him with back to back big gains. Hopefully it is a good thing- as Rod B and others say, sometimes the best thing that can happen is winning while playing bad. Things to coach up and fix. I think he needs to play significantly better vs Oregon or Ohio State if we get there. I do have confidence that he can play better

It’s not been just one game. Saw him get beat several times in other games in critical situations. In our regular season game vs UGA, score was 23-15 and we had them 3rd and 10. Muhammad allowed the conversion to Arian Smith. One other critical example I can think of from the season, but there have been more. He’s been good overall, not saying he’s not. But he needs to play better vs Oregon/Ohio State caliber of teams if we get there.

The teams we play next will be coming after him, particularly the winner of Oregon/tOSU if we get there. I’m worried about our defense next year if he’s the best CB we have coming back. Seems to have regressed a little from last season. Sophomore slump?

“Never let him visit anywhere”? I think you’re vastly overrating Texas’ ability to control that. Visiting more than one school is just the smart thing to do.