We played well in the passing game. We moved the pocket effectively against the stunting 3-3-5 and had solid protection when we decided to go empty with five wides. We threw well. We caught well. We blocked downfield well. We did well in the return game.
We didn't have a solid game plan for our linemen in the ground game. Our guards didn't have many aiming points on most running plays and there was too much reading going on against stacks that were firing or slanting every play. In all fairness it's very predictable that a big time stunt load will give any ground game some bad plays as well as give up some big plays---I'm just not sure we gave our guys a very aggressive approach of firing off the ball.
Here are the grades:
Offensive Report Card
There is definitely some good improvement in our defensive play from the past two years but it's going to take time for coach Muschamp get us where we want to be. Technique in position play has shown a large improvement. Passion has become more intense. The best compliment I can give our defense is they look like they are having fun playing the game.
We are still missing too many tackles. We give too much cushion because of inexperience and a small lack of confidence. We are taking fewer bad angles but we still make some terrible decisions that well coached players won't make. It's all about attitude---if it remains important to the individuals and we get quality coaching that stresses accountability we will become an outstanding defense.
Here are the grades:
Defensive Report Card
The Coaches Corner is available exclusively to InsideTexas.com subscribers. The forum is a place to ask questions of our resident coaches and talk about Xs and Os, schemes, gameplans, offensive and defensive theories, etc. Basically, it is a teaching and learning forum to make us all more knowledgable football fans, both in general and specifically about the Longhorn football team. Venable spent 30 years as the DC and LB coach at five Texas high schools (Lancaster, Duncanville, Pasadena Sam Rayburn, Carrollton Turner, and The Colony) before retiring in 2000. Four of his former players played at UT (Mike Williams, Steve Massey, Jimmy Johnson, and Doug Livingston) and around twenty are currently coaching in Texas high schools.