I like to pride myself on being able to view game film with a pretty decent eye on what teams consider strengths and weaknesses.
I had been recording uf and TX games for about half of the season and I had a chance to break down the Texas team and not the Nebraska game as I actually watched that one right after ours just to see who we were going to have to play.
Ok not going to beat around the bush texas runs a spread attack which actually looking at the stats they are more balanced than BAMA but their dedication to the run game is an afterthought. Mostly they run either to catch teams off guard but make no mistake about it they pass in order to run.
Again we face a team with a running QB who is faster but his runs are not usaully by design they come from either pressure or when everyone takes off in man coverage and a land opens he takes off. While this is a definite worry it should be defended by one of our LB's either Ro Mac or Nico in the Nickel with one of them fully assigned to covering his ability to take off. Negating his ability to hurt us there forces him to stay in the pocket and the OL is not the best one we have faced to say the least.
I took particular time in watching the TX a&m and Ok games not basing any of my thoughts off the nebraska game but one cannot help to look at that game as a recipe to beating them. In both of the other 2 games what I mentioned above about containing McCoy was what appeared to be exactly how they tried to attack them and in both cases texas had their worst showing other than the latter game.
No surprise here Shipley is the version of our JJ and while he is not blazing fast he does sure seem to get left alone WAY too much. he reminds me of Cooper from florida in he has the ability to just find a way to get lost and can beat bump and run pretty easy. Covering him is the key and make the other guys make the catches. I would say that in the WR department we are mirror images. 1 really really good guy and 2-3 others who can and will make plays. On offense of course the biggest difference is the OL and running game.
While texas really is not a running team they have the backs but again they are bred (OL) to pass block and they are not as committed to running and setting the pace. They like the big play, bubble screens and quick passes that set their run up later. I do take pleasure in thinking our OL is much better at both aspects of this and while we have played stiffer competition it leads me to believe this will not be the best front 4 we have faced not even 2nd or 3rd to be honest. Hands down our OL holds the edge here.
Where texas holds the edge whether we want to believe it or not is McCoy, no if, and's or but's about it. McCoy is the reason texas is in the NC game and given that he is what a 4 year starter there is just that chemistry that G Mac is just now starting to build and he is only in his first year. I will admit G Mac has played pretty dang well the last 4-5 games really since the ucheat game he started getting better and in that game he did okay but they took the 3rd qtr and we had some drops as well. Either way you look at it McCoy is the better passer in accuracy but G Mac certainly holds his own in the category but texas takes it on experience and running threat. It is close at the end of the season real close after the SECCG and for all intents and purposes G Mac is playing better against tougher defenses.
Running game, okay no need to even compare. BAMA hands down.
What sets this game apart is the defenses and this is where Championships are won and lost. Well that and the OL...
Texas has a decent defense especially up front but not looking at the Nebraska game to be fair to all and not the SECCG (not that it matters) but our defense could and probably is he best one we have EVER fielded including the 92 defense. That whipping we put on the defending NC's sure looked alot like the 92 NC game against the U.
The biggest difference in these two defenses is BAMA does not allow teams to run and should texas decide that's the way they want to try and win this game...... Well let just say the won't because honestly they won't. What is true and proven is the secondary for BAMA is light years ahead of where they were last year and the emergence or finally getting it for MJ is why IMO... Being able to slide our best CB into coverage is HUGE and guess what Shipley lines up at the slot and thats where our best coverman happens to live in the Nickel.. Interesting matchup to say the least. I would certainly double Shipley if he is not in the slot matched up with Javy otherwise I truly believe Javy can handle him pretty well.
The huge gap comes with BAMA having the ability to run or pass at any given moment. Sure I know ANY team can do it but to do both EQUALLY well is what gives our opponents fits and in this game I see nothing different. Texas fans seem to think their front 7 will shut our run game down and in theory that sounds great but it will not take long for them to realize why MI is headed to New York if they want to try and take that approach all game. What will happen is they will try and stop the run in their base defense but make no mistake the guy running the show on defense is not the typical texas guy and they actually have a very good one in muschamps.
No offense to texas and their front 7 but their defense is maybe 4th best that we have faced all year. Florida, lswho, Ol Sis and usc had better and VT is pretty close to texas defense. Texas has some good ones up in their front 7 but mainly Kindle (I think that was his name if not its close) he is the man for them. Much like every defense we have faced they live off of what he is able to do up front in the pass rush. The rest of their defense is solid from what I can see but again they don't exactly face teams who can and are able to run like BAMA very often if at all. Keeping them on the field is key and making them guess what's next will be a must. A few wildcats and plowing between the tackles could go a LONG ways come 2nd half.
Sorry this is long but it gives what I think a pretty good overview of texas and how we match up and what they do in several games I have watched. Like I said I did not even consider the Nebraska game but one has to wonder was that a fluke game or did Bo Pellini give CNS the recipe to beat them? I also wonder since they were good friends and probably still are would CNS be inclined to make a visit or at least call CBP and ask him some really good questions on what he thought....
Oh well either way jsut like most of our spread team games this game will fall squarely on the defense and our ability to get pressure from every angle. Not having a run game or should I say not trying to run like BAMA leads me to believe getting the pocket to close and not running past McCoy with our DE's much like the florida game will have HUGE payoff's.... Guess we shall see but with our defense I sure like our chances~!~
I had been recording uf and TX games for about half of the season and I had a chance to break down the Texas team and not the Nebraska game as I actually watched that one right after ours just to see who we were going to have to play.
Ok not going to beat around the bush texas runs a spread attack which actually looking at the stats they are more balanced than BAMA but their dedication to the run game is an afterthought. Mostly they run either to catch teams off guard but make no mistake about it they pass in order to run.
Again we face a team with a running QB who is faster but his runs are not usaully by design they come from either pressure or when everyone takes off in man coverage and a land opens he takes off. While this is a definite worry it should be defended by one of our LB's either Ro Mac or Nico in the Nickel with one of them fully assigned to covering his ability to take off. Negating his ability to hurt us there forces him to stay in the pocket and the OL is not the best one we have faced to say the least.
I took particular time in watching the TX a&m and Ok games not basing any of my thoughts off the nebraska game but one cannot help to look at that game as a recipe to beating them. In both of the other 2 games what I mentioned above about containing McCoy was what appeared to be exactly how they tried to attack them and in both cases texas had their worst showing other than the latter game.
No surprise here Shipley is the version of our JJ and while he is not blazing fast he does sure seem to get left alone WAY too much. he reminds me of Cooper from florida in he has the ability to just find a way to get lost and can beat bump and run pretty easy. Covering him is the key and make the other guys make the catches. I would say that in the WR department we are mirror images. 1 really really good guy and 2-3 others who can and will make plays. On offense of course the biggest difference is the OL and running game.
While texas really is not a running team they have the backs but again they are bred (OL) to pass block and they are not as committed to running and setting the pace. They like the big play, bubble screens and quick passes that set their run up later. I do take pleasure in thinking our OL is much better at both aspects of this and while we have played stiffer competition it leads me to believe this will not be the best front 4 we have faced not even 2nd or 3rd to be honest. Hands down our OL holds the edge here.
Where texas holds the edge whether we want to believe it or not is McCoy, no if, and's or but's about it. McCoy is the reason texas is in the NC game and given that he is what a 4 year starter there is just that chemistry that G Mac is just now starting to build and he is only in his first year. I will admit G Mac has played pretty dang well the last 4-5 games really since the ucheat game he started getting better and in that game he did okay but they took the 3rd qtr and we had some drops as well. Either way you look at it McCoy is the better passer in accuracy but G Mac certainly holds his own in the category but texas takes it on experience and running threat. It is close at the end of the season real close after the SECCG and for all intents and purposes G Mac is playing better against tougher defenses.
Running game, okay no need to even compare. BAMA hands down.
What sets this game apart is the defenses and this is where Championships are won and lost. Well that and the OL...
Texas has a decent defense especially up front but not looking at the Nebraska game to be fair to all and not the SECCG (not that it matters) but our defense could and probably is he best one we have EVER fielded including the 92 defense. That whipping we put on the defending NC's sure looked alot like the 92 NC game against the U.
The biggest difference in these two defenses is BAMA does not allow teams to run and should texas decide that's the way they want to try and win this game...... Well let just say the won't because honestly they won't. What is true and proven is the secondary for BAMA is light years ahead of where they were last year and the emergence or finally getting it for MJ is why IMO... Being able to slide our best CB into coverage is HUGE and guess what Shipley lines up at the slot and thats where our best coverman happens to live in the Nickel.. Interesting matchup to say the least. I would certainly double Shipley if he is not in the slot matched up with Javy otherwise I truly believe Javy can handle him pretty well.
The huge gap comes with BAMA having the ability to run or pass at any given moment. Sure I know ANY team can do it but to do both EQUALLY well is what gives our opponents fits and in this game I see nothing different. Texas fans seem to think their front 7 will shut our run game down and in theory that sounds great but it will not take long for them to realize why MI is headed to New York if they want to try and take that approach all game. What will happen is they will try and stop the run in their base defense but make no mistake the guy running the show on defense is not the typical texas guy and they actually have a very good one in muschamps.
No offense to texas and their front 7 but their defense is maybe 4th best that we have faced all year. Florida, lswho, Ol Sis and usc had better and VT is pretty close to texas defense. Texas has some good ones up in their front 7 but mainly Kindle (I think that was his name if not its close) he is the man for them. Much like every defense we have faced they live off of what he is able to do up front in the pass rush. The rest of their defense is solid from what I can see but again they don't exactly face teams who can and are able to run like BAMA very often if at all. Keeping them on the field is key and making them guess what's next will be a must. A few wildcats and plowing between the tackles could go a LONG ways come 2nd half.
Sorry this is long but it gives what I think a pretty good overview of texas and how we match up and what they do in several games I have watched. Like I said I did not even consider the Nebraska game but one has to wonder was that a fluke game or did Bo Pellini give CNS the recipe to beat them? I also wonder since they were good friends and probably still are would CNS be inclined to make a visit or at least call CBP and ask him some really good questions on what he thought....
Oh well either way jsut like most of our spread team games this game will fall squarely on the defense and our ability to get pressure from every angle. Not having a run game or should I say not trying to run like BAMA leads me to believe getting the pocket to close and not running past McCoy with our DE's much like the florida game will have HUGE payoff's.... Guess we shall see but with our defense I sure like our chances~!~
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