Game Thread FIESTA BOWL: tOSU 21, Texas 24 (01-05-09)

[EngineerHorn]

The whole Big 12 powerful offense/weak defense debate should be settled in the bowls. There weren't enough good non-conference games to come to a conclusion.

I do know that other than the Big 12, there just aren't a whole lot of good quarterbacks around the country this year. The SEC is just awful in that regard. Jevan Snead is that conference's 3rd best QB.

I know y'all are probably sick of hearing that, but that's obviously the biggest reason the conference has a lot of good offenses. And I'm not making that claim based on stats alone. Just sit back and watch these guys go through their progressions, awareness in the pocket, and throw through tight windows. Qualitatively I think the evidence is there as well.

I'm also not suggesting the Big 12 is full of good defenses, just that a good offense will make a mediocre defense look awful. Next year, with Harrell, Daniel, Freeman, and possibly Bradford leaving, the conference will come back down to earth.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

EH, no one is disputing the Big 12's cache of great QBs this year. But for three teams in the same division, let alone same conference, to be ranked in the top five in the nation in scoring offense (OU, TTU, UT), and the conference as a whole having five in the top eight (add Mizzu and OkSU), you can see why outsiders think that the Big 12 doesn't play defense.

 

[cincibuck]

The whole Big 12 powerful offense/weak defense debate should be settled in the bowls. There weren't enough good non-conference games to come to a conclusion.

I do know that other than the Big 12, there just aren't a whole lot of good quarterbacks around the country this year. The SEC is just awful in that regard. Jevan Snead is that conference's 3rd best QB.

I know y'all are probably sick of hearing that, but that's obviously the biggest reason the conference has a lot of good offenses. And I'm not making that claim based on stats alone. Just sit back and watch these guys go through their progressions, awareness in the pocket, and throw through tight windows. Qualitatively I think the evidence is there as well.

I'm also not suggesting the Big 12 is full of good defenses, just that a good offense will make a mediocre defense look awful. Next year, with Harrell, Daniel, Freeman, and possibly Bradford leaving, the conference will come back down to earth.

You don't hold OKlahoma to thirty points playing pitty pat.

 

[cincibuck]

EH, no one is disputing the Big 12's cache of great QBs this year. But for three teams in the same division, let alone same conference, to be ranked in the top five in the nation in scoring offense (OU, TTU, UT), and the conference as a whole having five in the top eight (add Mizzu and OkSU), you can see why outsiders think that the Big 12 doesn't play defense.

I'm hoping the same thing, but when the Pac 10 was accussed of same a few years back they still managed to play well in the bowls.

 

[Tlangs]

nm

 

[GoodLifeSean]

You don't hold OKlahoma to thirty points playing pitty pat.

While I agree with that I also agree that the best statistical D Texas played was number 65 Oklahoma. The only defenses we played worse than 65 were Michigan, Minnesota, and Youngstown State. The two we lost were to the #1 and #5.

I do understand realistically though that Texas played 6 of the top 25 offenses while we played 3 of the top 25 and number 26 Troy.

For an entire statistical analysis go here, if someone hasn't already posted it.

 

[generaladm]

Don't know if I agree with the blog posted above. Texas has faced most of the premier spread offenses in the nation this year(Florida and PSU excluded) and beat all but one of them. I don't think that tOSU would be wise to try and employ an offense that the longhorns are very comfortable with. I am not saying that the bucks should be looking for three yards and a cloud of dust but I wouldn't worry so much about giving the Texas defense as I would giving the bucks D a rest.

Sure throw in a wrinkle or two, its a bowl game, but as with any high scorring spread offense the best way to beat Texas is to pressure the QB, Tackle well, and keep their offense on the sideline as long as possible. In the end tOSU is still in the BCS and a top ten team...Dance with the girl that brought ya

I agree with your analysis. Ironically, in the past two bowl games, we have seen OSU move too much away from what got them there (running game). I don't think there's much danger of the Bucks abandoning the power run, but I do think employing a few short passes on the early drives could help loosen up the Texas D. If UT does come out with the LBs (and possibly safeties) tight to the line, a few quick 3-step passes (quick slant, hitch, etc.) would accomplish multiple things: 1) get the ball to our skill players in space; 2) ease the burden on Pryor by getting easy completions, and setting up short 1st down plays; 3) set up longer plays by using short routes as decoys; 4) make the D start second guessing. Of course that can be accomplished without going into a spread formation. The quick passing game has been conspicuously absent from the gameplan this season, considering we're playing a true frosh at QB. It's hard to get a feel for WR routes on TV, but it seems TP has been expected to make standard progression reads, which he is hesitant with, and often turns to his scrambling ability to create time.

Regardless of how much the strategy changes for the Fiesta Bowl, with Pryor's unique abilities, and quality at the skill positions, there will be some sort of spread offense at OSU sooner than later. Next year's WR group may prove to be more versatile than this year, and the RBs less suited to the power game. I would like to see the same scheme that Troy Smith ran in his senior year, but that's probably more of a long term goal. You wouldn't expect TP to be able to make all those reads and throws after just one year in college, but then again, we weren't expecting him to start 10 games this year. What I don't want to see is a run oriented spread-option like WVU. To me, that's a scheme to be used by teams with lesser talent. When a top tier program uses it, they are selling out the professional futures of all non-RB offensive players for 1-2 extra wins a year. Considering TP has already become mostly a pass first QB, we should see some high powered offenses for the next two years (with some I-form sprinkled in).

 

[jwinslow]

 

[Steve19]

EH, no one is disputing the Big 12's cache of great QBs this year. But for three teams in the same division, let alone same conference, to be ranked in the top five in the nation in scoring offense (OU, TTU, UT), and the conference as a whole having five in the top eight (add Mizzu and OkSU), you can see why outsiders think that the Big 12 doesn't play defense.

I watched all three of those teams this year. They are going to be surprised in bowl games by good defenses. I'm not disrespecting anyone, but Big 12 defense is really lacking this year.

 

[ohiostate=life]

I think he just popped a nad...

 

[gregorylee]

I am just amazed that they allowed him to [strike]pose[/strike] lift without a spotter.

 

[EngineerHorn]

See, I wish you wouldn't post pics of Colt without his helmet on. It's really hard to be intimidated by someone who looks like he's 12.

I watched all three of those teams this year. They are going to be surprised in bowl games by good defenses. I'm not disrespecting anyone, but Big 12 defense is really lacking this year.

Which teams? I think UT legitimately has a good (not great) defense. The only team to really torch them this year was Tech, and that was only for 32 offensive points. UT's weakness in defense this year that I alluded to a couple pages ago- short passes and YAC- is not so coincidentally Tech's philosophy on offense.

Past Texas though, you may have a point. KSU, A&M, BU, ISU, KU, NU and Mizzou all have below average to bad defenses. Tech's, OU's, and OSU's actually aren't horrible, they just aren't consistent, and I think that has a lot to do with facing a bunch of good offenses. On that same note, I think Florida will score almost at will on OU next month.

 

[jwinslow]

See, I wish you wouldn't post pics of Colt without his helmet on. It's really hard to be intimidated by someone who looks like he's 12.

Loved the milk lines earlier in this thread.

 

[FWBuckeye]

Past Texas though, you may have a point. KSU, A&M, BU, ISU, KU, NU and Mizzou all have below average to bad defenses. Tech's, OU's, and OSU's actually aren't horrible, they just aren't consistent, and I think that has a lot to do with facing a bunch of good offenses. On that same note, I think Florida will score almost at will on OU next month.

Judging by the eye test I'd have to say that the Longhorns defense looks the best of the Big 12. I'd say they are above average/good compared to the rest of the nation. Really hard to nail down exactly how good they are because of what kind of teams/quarterbacks they have played against. Debate on that topic would basically run in circles at this point. Can't really settle it until the bowls as you said.

I was surprised by how improved Tech's defense was this year, sans Oklahoma of course. They seemed to be getting a decent amount of pressure on McCoy when you guys played them.

 

[Nicknam4]

Either we win the game semi close, or we get our butts kicked.

I don't see us having a super close game, although I'd like that, if we won.