ribit,
UT has lost to OU and Oklahoma State. TAMU has lost to Oklahoma State and plays Oklahoma a week from this Saturday.
TTU runs a completely different offense than UT or TAMU or practically every other team in the nation - they use a spread, multiple crossing route, short passing attack as their running game, as well as their passing game. Since TTU historically doesn't have much of a traditional running attack, the short pass IS their running game. Tech relies on the wild but organized melee of their multiple crossing routes to create space and additional yards after the catch. If you don't get a lot of pressure on their quarterback, your linebackers and secondary are going to be worn to a frazzle in a hurry. Normally, I would have thought Oklahoma's stellar defense would have been able to achieve this necessary amount of pressure on TTU's quarterback, BUT two things worked against them: (1) Tech has a good, solid running back who ran several excellent draws and caught screen passes when Oklahoma committed to the blitz, and (2) Tech's quarterback played lights out, last Saturday night. So, OU's defense was in a damned-if-I-do and damned-if-I-don't quandry all night long and they got burned. As it was, Oklahoma came very, very close to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, anyway. Tech survived by the skin of their teeth. But, survive they did ... and it was an excellent performance on their part. It just goes to show you that the Big 12 is not just a 2 or 3 team conference.
UT's team is almost all freshmen and sophomores and I think the glaring stage of the Red River Shootout caught them like Bambi in the headlights. They played a much more solid game against Oklahoma State and definitely had a chance to win that game. But, once they get some more seasoning, I believe the Longhorns will make an even better showing of themselves in the next few years to come. I am hopeful they will do well in finishing out the regular season and make it to a decent bowl game to help gain that needed seasoning that comes with big game experience.
As for the Aggies ... well ... they're Aggies ... what else can you say, eh?
B.
The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. ~ D.H. Lawrence
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