I’ve always considered myself a football purist of sort in that I appreciate all facets of a game.  From that perspective, this was a fun football game to watch.  I didn’t expect this team to win after I received the Brandon Sharpe news and predicted a 48-17 Tech loss before the game to TripsRight just before he roofied me with what I suspect was a Jaurez fajita marinade.  I had too many unanswered questions about this team.  This was my first opportunity to see the 2009 Red Raiders on film, which has always provided a level of transparency to me that I can’t achieve in watching a game live.  With that being said, here’s my side of the story.  I typically don’t give a shit what you think, so go ahead and argue if you like. 

Plays of the Game

The difference in the ball game basically boiled down to 2 plays, one in each half. 

1.  I really hope other conferences were watching this football game as I really felt both teams were executing at an extremely high level on the defensive side of the football in the 1st half.  The defensive lines of both teams were dictating the tempo of the game. 

The TD differential in the first half was easily accountable for in the hidden yardage of penalties, field position, and the return game.  I felt the biggest play was made by Texas punter, John Gold Justin Tucker.  While most will point to Shipley’s obvious return, Tucker warrants mention as very rarely can a punter win a football game for you.  His ability to flip the field position and force Tech to work conservatively out of their own end zone resulted in the always ideal situation of a downhill return scenario.   Tech couldn’t risk the block and went with the quick stroke allowing Jordan Shipley to play the ball on the run.  This is clutch because it makes punt coverage very difficult and easy to overrun the play, which is exactly what happened.  Shipley’s one of the best in the business at the trade, and when a punter like Gold allows him the opportunity to make plays, he’s good enough to make you pay and those guys usually have a future on Sunday.  My hats off to those fellers.  They get a Tortilla Salute and a gordito.

Eddie Jones and Roddrick Muckelroy set the tone for the Longhorns on defense.  Muckelroy played at an All American caliber in this contest, and Jones has used his 5-star talent to carve out a niche as a stunt specialist.  A young, but talented Red Raider secondary was given much needed aid by Colby Whitlock and Richard Jones.  I can’t say enough about what these guys have meant to the defensive improvement of the Tech program.  Whitlock gets some ink, but Jones might be the most underrated player on the Tech team.  He’s not all heart and has some legit talent.

2.  My intent was not to be so Nostradomic in my pre-game analyis of the Tech OL vs. UT DL when I made this comment:

“However, my one knock on Winn is that he’ll start taking plays off late in the game, so the depth these guys bring is what will give us a headache.”

I apologize Tech fans, and Sergio Kindle is the type of guy that Texas typically has on their roster.  And, he’s good enough to make you pay as well.  Tortilla Salute and gordito for The Predator.  Well done, Mr. Kindle.

While the defensive lines had their moment in the sun for the first half, the offensive lines dominated the 2nd half, which is why the level of QB play on both teams went up about 4 levels.  The lack of depth began to show on the Tech defensive front, and I shit you not, Texas fans, Charlie Tanner went IHOP on Victor Hunter for the entire 3rd quarter.   The world was also introduced to a young man I saw play in high school and never thought would crack the 3 deep at Texas.  Tre Newton can play at a high level of football, and the patience and vision he brings to Greg Davis’ zone blocking schemes actually give them a chance to succeed.  Congrats, you’ve found yourself a tailback capable of doing something more than running into the back of Adam Ulatoski.  Matt Moore shuffled bodies as usual and stopped the hemorrhaging from the 1st half to allow sufficient time for Will Muschamp to be introduced to his 2010 Sensai in Lubbock.

Congrats on the win, Longhorns, but you don’t get the belt until you beat the Aggies.  Now, don’t screw it up against OU.