Link: McCoy: Offensive line ready to rebound

[TIDE-HSV]

As a side note here, I'd mention that Utah rushed for THIRTEEN whole yards and beat Bama. I'd wager my year's salary that Texas can do better than 13 yards.

Um, is this a sign that you've given up on discussing this year's teams?

 

[texas1020]

Well, obviously, part of our strategy will be to rest our DL on the sidelines while your offense rests. However, the Bama fans know our DL rotation is three deep - and I mean who play in every game. I don't see a pass only offense tiring them out. Which, once again, comes back to your OL. I see that as being the game.

Well, I'm not thinking so much about wearing your DL out over the course of 60 minutes. I'm talking about limiting substitutions on a particular drive by going no-huddle , hurry-up, etc. If Terrence Cody, for example, gets stuck on the field while Texas keeps hitting passes for 6-8 yards a pop, I have to believe he'll get gassed pretty fast.

 

[crimsonaudio]

If Terrence Cody, for example, gets stuck on the field while Texas keeps hitting passes for 6-8 yards a pop, I have to believe he'll get gassed pretty fast.

You'd think so, but teams have tried that all year long with no real success.

 

[trenda]

As a side note here, I'd mention that Utah rushed for THIRTEEN whole yards and beat Bama. I'd wager my year's salary that Texas can do better than 13 yards.

In 1962, Houston ran for a grand total of -49 yards and lost to Bama. Guess what? On Jan. 7th, Texas will be playing the 2009/10 version of Bama defense, not 1962, 1982 or 2008.

I'd hold onto that salary if I were you. Considering that Bama held 7 of 13 teams to less than 65 yards rushing and Texas had three games where they rushed for less than 68 yards (including a woeful 18 yds against Nebraska), there's a gooood chance that the Longhorns will struggle mightily to run the ball. Granted, I wouldn't want to bet that they would have 13 or less; but, statistically, Bama's defense has been better than Nebraska's against a tougher schedule.

Just sayin' . . .

 

[markenk]

I agree completely, Texas could beat us under the condition that we expect to win and don't respect them as worthy opponents. But that will not be a factor no matter how much the fans build up the game, because our players are ridiculously focused. Every other sentence or phrase that comes out of their mouth is something like "one more game left," "still work to be done," "season isn't over yet." I don't even think Texas is preparing as hard as we are (I'm sure they are preparing hard, but it seems like our players and staff have forgotten everything but breathing, eating, and winning the national championship game).

And I've almost lost some respect for the way Mack is playing the "we're just a little ole team from Texas, we're nothing compared to the big bad boys from Bama." And saying that he wouldn't show his players all of our SECCG tape was unnecessary, a bit cheesy, and obvious hyperbole. But we know Brown's little secret. We know what happens when you don't respect your opponent and get distracted. Texas is preparing for this game like its the BCS national championship game, we're preparing for it like its Armageddon (the bibical event, not the Michael Bay film). Hearing the players speak, its like listening to an army of Saban's, which is why I'm so excited and confident in this game.

You are buying too much into the media. You may feel confident about this game, but the fact is that the game still has to be played. And don't forget - These are just young kids playing at the biggest stage in thier lives. No matter how focused they are, as you claim, they can still be affected by outside influcences. One thing I've learned is that no one knows for sure until it is over. Personally, I have a great anticipation of this game, but certainly do not share your (over)confidence.

You can proclaim that the only way we lose is if we don't show up like we did against Utah last year, or that we have superior stats compared to theirs. But the game of football is not won or lost on paper. You can throw away what happened during the season. This is a one game match, and anything can happen during the game. 10-6 Giants won against the great undefeated Pats. One thing I know for sure is that Texas will come out and fight as hard as they've ever done. I'm sure our team will do the same, and this game is going to be exciting to watch. I'm just hoping that we come out as a victor at the end, but I sure as hell am not overlooking Texas simply because we've looked great throughout the season while they have not.

 

[GMacFan]

You are buying too much into the media. You may feel confident about this game, but the fact is that the game still has to be played. And don't forget - These are just young kids playing at the biggest stage in thier lives. No matter how focused they are, as you claim, they can still be affected by outside influcences. One thing I've learned is that no one knows for sure until it is over. Personally, I have a great anticipation of this game, but certainly do not share your (over)confidence.

You can proclaim that the only way we lose is if we don't show up like we did against Utah last year, or that we have superior stats compared to theirs. But the game of football is not won or lost on paper. You can throw away what happened during the season. This is a one game match, and anything can happen during the game. 10-6 Giants won against the great undefeated Pats. One thing I know for sure is that Texas will come out and fight as hard as they've ever done. I'm sure our team will do the same, and this game is going to be exciting to watch. I'm just hoping that we come out as a victor at the end, but I sure as hell am not overlooking Texas simply because we've looked great throughout the season while they have not.

The media has nothing to do with my bias. Like I said before its numbers and careful observations and reference to the past are what we use to predict the future. Of course there will always be the unknown part, which is why I'm not assuming we win, but predicting a win. Predicting games is about understanding what factors are most important in the game and weighing them in your head.

Factors I consider important, taking in past BCSCG's among other games, are things like rushing game, the focus of our players, and the fact that Texas hasn't played a great team and struggled pretty badly against the good ones. People are quick to forgive that one game against A&M, but that was really the only good offense they've seen, unless you would count Oklahoma without Sam. Same for their offense, the only two good defenses they faced they struggled against. It would be a different story if they triumphed over some great D's, but since they haven't, what are we to assume?

We're fielding players like this http://www.tidefans.com/forums/football/99225-funny-revealing-quote-arenas.html, while Texas main chance of beating us supposedly texted Mack after he lost the Heisman and said "GAME ON," in all caps no less. And my prediction about the coach, yes its my prediction not a fact, or maybe more accurately stated as an inference, is that he's putting too much stock in the "underdog" factor and expects to win the game with it. I'd bet whatever is in my glove compartment that he expects Bama to buy in to the "poor ole Texas" thing the media and he have be fronting.

If we lose I'll be the first to admit fault in judgment, but I'm not afraid not be honest about my judgment either. I'm going with my gut on this one, and if you don't believe my prediction don't believe it.

I think its everyone else is just putting too much stock into the "underdog, don't underestimate Texas" factor. If we underestimated them, I think we would lose. But I don't see that happening.

 

[GMacFan]

GMac, on the one hand, you keep telling us to quit poor-mouthing. On the other, you post messages like this. Which is it to be?

Whatever I say last is what goes usually.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

As a side note here, I'd mention that Utah rushed for THIRTEEN whole yards and beat Bama.

Well, if you were playing last year's team I'd say you're on to something. But this ain't last year's team. Utah's team last year went undefeated. They're 9-3 and playing tomorrow night in the Poinsettia Bowl...

 

[texas1020]

You'd think so, but teams have tried that all year long with no real success.

Yes, but those teams weren't Texas. I honestly don't mean that as braggadocio, so please don't take it that way. This year's offense has its weaknesses, no doubt, but there are things it does well and with respect to those things it probably does them as well as anyone else in the country. I watch a fair amount of SEC football and I've not seen an SEC offense this year that resembles the Horns' offense in style of play. And frankly, I don't believe Bama has faced a QB who throws as well as Colt McCoy when he is on, which he usually is. That's not talking smack, because I've already said Bama's offense will pose challenges of a type Texas hasn't seen this year.

Since we're discussing Texas' OL, I do think some folks underrate Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy, of OU. Sure they get their props, but NFL scouts say either one is better than any other DT of the decade. After this year's OU game, Greg Davis (Texas' OC) said McCoy is much better than Tommie Harris, a former OU DT who made ESPN's All-Decade team. For my part, to come up with a player comparable to Suh I have to go back to LeRoy Selmon.

Both those guys had plenty of help on their respective lines. I've read here that Bama's defense is much better than Nebraska's. If you analyze their performances against a common opponent, however, Nebraska's defense looks pretty comparable. Against Virginia Tech, Bama's defense gave up 155 yds., 91 passing and 64 rushing. Nebraska gave up 278, 192 passing and 86 rushing. Of the 192 yds. passing, 81 came in the final minute on one play, where there was a breakdown in the secondary (the corner thought he had help deep; he didn't). It cost the Huskers the game. And Alabama got V Tech on a neutral field, while Nebraska had to play them in Blacksburg.

 

[Paul Wesley]

OK, I wrote a whole post about the UT O-line (no one commented on 95% of its substance), and at the end of the post, I mentioned Utah in passing. Now everybody tells me that I must have given up on the upcoming game, that we're not in 2008, that it's "silly" to mention Utah, and I might as well be talking about rushing totals from a game played in the 60's.

But be honest here for a second: If you're going to measure how Bama stacks up to Texas, especially defensively, how crazy is it to look for some parallels in a game that Bama played in a BCS bowl, THIS calendar year, with the same coaching staff, most of the same defensive players, and against a team that runs a similar offense to Texas? Yes, I understand that it's a different game under different circumstances, but ostensibly we're trying to anticipate how Texas and Bama match up, right?

Had Bama held Utah to 13 yards and won that game, how many times would that stat have shown up in the media (and on this board) this month? Thousands.

 

[BamaInMo1]

I'll certainly say that Texas can beat BAMA but if BAMA brings it's a-game against Texas then y'all will have a long row to hoe. I think our D-line will get enough pressure to keep McCoy hurrying his throws and if he tries to run he's liable to get some yards overall but he'll pay dearly for each yard.

I don't know how this game is gonna turn out but things being as they are I really like Bama's chances.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Yes, but those teams weren't Texas. I honestly don't mean that as braggadocio, so please don't take it that way. This year's offense has its weaknesses, no doubt, but there are things it does well and with respect to those things it probably does them as well as anyone else in the country. I watch a fair amount of SEC football and I've not seen an SEC offense this year that resembles the Horns' offense in style of play. And frankly, I don't believe Bama has faced a QB who throws as well as Colt McCoy when he is on, which he usually is. That's not talking smack, because I've already said Bama's offense will pose challenges of a type Texas hasn't seen this year.

Fair enough, but we're far along that stats have some meaning, and so far Alabama has faced (and beat) two teams ranked ahead of Texas in total offense (as well as the team ranked right behind Texas in total offense).

Also, for the record, Alabama has faced three QB's with a higher Passing Efficiency rating than McCoy so far. Beat all three.

Since we're discussing Texas' OL, I do think some folks underrate Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy, of OU. Sure they get their props, but NFL scouts say either one is better than any other DT of the decade. After this year's OU game, Greg Davis (Texas' OC) said McCoy is much better than Tommie Harris, a former OU DT who made ESPN's All-Decade team. For my part, to come up with a player comparable to Suh I have to go back to LeRoy Selmon.

Fair enough, but Texas will be facing what is widely regarded (from before the season until now) the best front seven in college football. If nothing else, this front seven will be as good as OU or Nebraska.

Both those guys had plenty of help on their respective lines. I've read here that Bama's defense is much better than Nebraska's. If you analyze their performances against a common opponent, however, Nebraska's defense looks pretty comparable. Against Virginia Tech, Bama's defense gave up 155 yds., 91 passing and 64 rushing. Nebraska gave up 278, 192 passing and 86 rushing. Of the 192 yds. passing, 81 came in the final minute on one play, where there was a breakdown in the secondary (the corner thought he had help deep; he didn't). It cost the Huskers the game. And Alabama got V Tech on a neutral field, while Nebraska had to play them in Blacksburg.

Yah, we held them to almost half as many total yards, but it's 'close'...

Look, if want to twist stats around, I can convince you that Baylor is better than the 1985 Chicago Bears, but the reality is in game one of the season, we shut down VT's offense, something Nebraska couldn't do after weeks of game time getting up to speed.

I don't expect a Bama blowout, but these teams aren't that evenly matched. If both teams show up playing their average game from 2009, Bama wins.

 

[Paul Wesley]

People are quick to forgive that one game against A&M, but that was really the only good offense they've seen, unless you would count Oklahoma without Sam.

For the 500th time, we didn't play OU "without Sam." Bradford returned from his shoulder injury the week before the Texas game and threw for 400 yards. He was the starter against Texas but got knocked out of the game on a corner blitz.

But if you want to put an asterisk on the Texas win and discount it because they had the temerity to knock OU's QB out, go ahead.

Hey, I just noticed the national championship countdown in the top right of my screen. 15 days and 20 hours, huh?

 

[rizolltizide]

And you're going to spout this rubbish in how many threads today?

Aw heck, he's a bow tie wearer. Cut him some slack.
:ack2:

 

[TIDE-HSV]

But if you want to put an asterisk on the Texas win and discount it because they had the temerity to knock OU's QB out, go ahead.

Is he doing any worse to you than your bringing up the fact that last year's team lost to a Utah team which only gained 13 yds on the ground? At least, he's talking about this year's team...

 

[Paul Wesley]

HSV, I've seen that same claim on about 10 different threads and it just makes no freaking sense.

You'd feel the same way if Bama had knocked out Tebow and then you had to listen to a month of "analysis" from Texas fans that said, "What games have you won? Y'all got to play Florida without Tebow."

This is how I feel when I'm arguing that we DID play OU with Bradford, and I keep getting told that we didn't:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1fKzw05Q5A]YouTube - Idiocracy Brawndo's Got Electrolytes[/ame]

Besides that, I never claimed that y'all played Utah this season. You did, however play them THIS CALENDAR YEAR, in a BCS bowl, with the same coaching staff and most of the same players. Yes, it's less relevant than a game you played yesterday, but that doesn't mean it's completely irrelevant. I'm only going back 11 months because that's how far you have to go back to find a team with an offense very similar to Texas.

I didn't use it to talk smack, I referenced the Bama vs Utah game it a long post that looked at Bama's D vs. the Texas O.

 

[texas1020]

Fair enough, but we're far along that stats have some meaning, and so far Alabama has faced (and beat) two teams ranked ahead of Texas in total offense (as well as the team ranked right behind Texas in total offense).

Also, for the record, Alabama has faced three QB's with a higher Passing Efficiency rating than McCoy so far. Beat all three.


Fair enough, but Texas will be facing what is widely regarded (from before the season until now) the best front seven in college football. If nothing else, this front seven will be as good as OU or Nebraska.


Yah, we held them to almost half as many total yards, but it's 'close'...

Look, if want to twist stats around, I can convince you that Baylor is better than the 1985 Chicago Bears, but the reality is in game one of the season, we shut down VT's offense, something Nebraska couldn't do after weeks of game time getting up to speed.

I don't expect a Bama blowout, but these teams aren't that evenly matched. If both teams show up playing their average game from 2009, Bama wins.

Alabama gave up 91 passing yds. to V Tech; Nebraska gave up 111, but for a messup on one play. Yeah, I'd say that's comparable. But if you don't want to go behind the numbers, let's just look at the point totals. V Tech scored 24 on Alabama, and just 16 on Nebraska.

 

[TideFan in AU]

OK, I wrote a whole post about the UT O-line (no one commented on 95% of its substance), and at the end of the post, I mentioned Utah in passing. Now everybody tells me that I must have given up on the upcoming game, that we're not in 2008, that it's "silly" to mention Utah, and I might as well be talking about rushing totals from a game played in the 60's.

But be honest here for a second: If you're going to measure how Bama stacks up to Texas, especially defensively, how crazy is it to look for some parallels in a game that Bama played in a BCS bowl, THIS calendar year, with the same coaching staff, most of the same defensive players, and against a team that runs a similar offense to Texas? Yes, I understand that it's a different game under different circumstances, but ostensibly we're trying to anticipate how Texas and Bama match up, right?

Had Bama held Utah to 13 yards and won that game, how many times would that stat have shown up in the media (and on this board) this month? Thousands.

No, I don't think we would have. Utah is one of those teams that even if we had won by 3 TD's, it wouldn't have mattered. It's Utah. If we were sitting here bragging about beating Utah if we did win, you and all other Texas fans would be laughing your butts off. If you're honest, you'll admit that. I'd also bet my paycheck that if we had played Utah before we played Florida last year, we would have dominated them. We mailed it in after the loss to Florida, and I'll go to my grave confident in that fact.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[TIDE-HSV]

HSV, I've seen that same claim on about 10 different threads and it just makes no freaking sense.

You'd feel the same way if Bama had knocked out Tebow and then you had to listen to a month of "analysis" from Texas fans that said, "What games have you won? Y'all got to play Florida without Tebow."

This is how I feel when I'm arguing that we DID play OU with Bradford, and I keep getting told that we didn't:

YouTube - Idiocracy Brawndo's Got Electrolytes

Pay attention. I'm just saying your bringing up a Utah game with a totally different team (as is the UT team which let TTech beat them) is silly. Please be so kind as to not try such tricks again. At least keep comparisons within the current teams, not last year's team or the year before that...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Look, I'm tired of all the Mark Twain stat game. Bottom line, your OL has to elevate its game to win this game. You two may not admit it, but most of the rest of your fans and the sports analysts agree that this is necessary. If you don't, then, barring ST and TO miracles (you've used up your miracles), then you lose the game. This thread is biting its own tail big time...