I'll post my Rewatch Reactions on Monday morning just like I have the majority of the year, but I wanted to give some thoughts on the game last night today...
*I don't know if I've seen a better defensive performance from a Red Raider defense in the past eight seasons. They got Texas to 3rd down 22 times (!!!) and held them to just 7 conversions. They got two stops inside the 5 yard line to limit UT to field goals. In fact, on one of those, Tech held UT to a FG despite NINE plays inside the 10 yard line. UT had SEVEN three and outs. And on top of that, the unit got three turnovers. That's a helluva performance in a game Tech had to win. This group deserves a standing ovation.
*In the final three games of the season, the Tech defense gave up 27 or fewer points and picked up eight turnovers. David Gibbs noted three weeks ago that he thought his defense was ready to take a big leap forward, and he was absolutely right. Through the last three games, they played physical, aggressive, and with a ton of energy, particularly in the run game. Returning 10 starters next year. This group took a big step forward this season. They have a chance to take a Grand Canyon sized step forward next year.
*Dakota Allen and Jordyn Brooks, take a bow fellas. Your two starting linebackers were active, physical, and made a ton of plays all over the field last night. Allen was a complete madman last night. This duo is so underrated, and their return should excite all of you very, very much. They'll be the best returning duo at LB in the conference next year. Both of them made some plays in the flats chasing Ehlinger and closing in while he was passing to force throws out of bounds that will go under the radar.
*Justis Parker only makes big plays, and he certainly made a big one last night. Ehrlinger shouldn't have made that throw, but Parker made a great read on it, too. Eager to continue to see him grow and develop. Very few guys have a knack for finding the ball like him.
*I thought that Vaughnte Dorsey and JahShawn Johnson played as well together at safety as they have all season long. Both made some awesome closing plays around the line of scrimmage, and they never gave up any plays over the middle in pass defense.
*DaMarcus Fields had his best game since the Oklahoma State game. I thought he did a great job covering Collin Johnson and a few other Horns. He blanketed the receivers he was on most of the time.
*Let's move to offense. Was it pretty? No, it certainly was not. But they still scored 27, which is more than Oklahoma State, West Virginia, TCU, and Iowa State scored on the Horns this season. The passing game came and went in waves. This was the kind of game by this offense as a whole that I've been waiting for: Even when things weren't pretty, guys found ways to make plays.
*While McLane Carter got off to a great start on the first few series, I think we saw in the 2nd and 3rd quarters why he hasn't been starting this year. I love the fire and conviction that he plays with, how he plays and throws with some onions, but he made some throws you flat out can't make against a defense with the back seven talent that Texas does. His arm strength is gonna have to improve, too. Carter's mental makeup is great. He just needs to keep learning as a young player.
*You have to take your hat off for Nic Shimonek. He's had as rough of a last few weeks as you could think of for a starting QB. Everyone wanted him benched, and I'm certainly one of those people. And he did get benched. But you know what? He went up to his head coach late in the game and told him he was ready to go. And he led the offense to two touchdowns in the redzone to end the game and win. Good for Shimonek that he closed that contest like he did to get himself and the rest of the seniors another game. He earned that one coming off the bench last night.
*The real Keke Coutee stood up last night, too. Good to see him have a huge game after being limited the last few weeks.
*Overall, this was a win where I saw this Tech team do something I have rarely seen them do under Kliff: Respond. Their cards were down at the half, and the stakes were huge, and they fought and fought and fought until they made their biggest comeback in years. My hope is this is a sign of better things to come in 2018. Last night was an anomaly. Can this team make it the norm, RE: fighting back late?
*I don't know if I've seen a better defensive performance from a Red Raider defense in the past eight seasons. They got Texas to 3rd down 22 times (!!!) and held them to just 7 conversions. They got two stops inside the 5 yard line to limit UT to field goals. In fact, on one of those, Tech held UT to a FG despite NINE plays inside the 10 yard line. UT had SEVEN three and outs. And on top of that, the unit got three turnovers. That's a helluva performance in a game Tech had to win. This group deserves a standing ovation.
*In the final three games of the season, the Tech defense gave up 27 or fewer points and picked up eight turnovers. David Gibbs noted three weeks ago that he thought his defense was ready to take a big leap forward, and he was absolutely right. Through the last three games, they played physical, aggressive, and with a ton of energy, particularly in the run game. Returning 10 starters next year. This group took a big step forward this season. They have a chance to take a Grand Canyon sized step forward next year.
*Dakota Allen and Jordyn Brooks, take a bow fellas. Your two starting linebackers were active, physical, and made a ton of plays all over the field last night. Allen was a complete madman last night. This duo is so underrated, and their return should excite all of you very, very much. They'll be the best returning duo at LB in the conference next year. Both of them made some plays in the flats chasing Ehlinger and closing in while he was passing to force throws out of bounds that will go under the radar.
*Justis Parker only makes big plays, and he certainly made a big one last night. Ehrlinger shouldn't have made that throw, but Parker made a great read on it, too. Eager to continue to see him grow and develop. Very few guys have a knack for finding the ball like him.
*I thought that Vaughnte Dorsey and JahShawn Johnson played as well together at safety as they have all season long. Both made some awesome closing plays around the line of scrimmage, and they never gave up any plays over the middle in pass defense.
*DaMarcus Fields had his best game since the Oklahoma State game. I thought he did a great job covering Collin Johnson and a few other Horns. He blanketed the receivers he was on most of the time.
*Let's move to offense. Was it pretty? No, it certainly was not. But they still scored 27, which is more than Oklahoma State, West Virginia, TCU, and Iowa State scored on the Horns this season. The passing game came and went in waves. This was the kind of game by this offense as a whole that I've been waiting for: Even when things weren't pretty, guys found ways to make plays.
*While McLane Carter got off to a great start on the first few series, I think we saw in the 2nd and 3rd quarters why he hasn't been starting this year. I love the fire and conviction that he plays with, how he plays and throws with some onions, but he made some throws you flat out can't make against a defense with the back seven talent that Texas does. His arm strength is gonna have to improve, too. Carter's mental makeup is great. He just needs to keep learning as a young player.
*You have to take your hat off for Nic Shimonek. He's had as rough of a last few weeks as you could think of for a starting QB. Everyone wanted him benched, and I'm certainly one of those people. And he did get benched. But you know what? He went up to his head coach late in the game and told him he was ready to go. And he led the offense to two touchdowns in the redzone to end the game and win. Good for Shimonek that he closed that contest like he did to get himself and the rest of the seniors another game. He earned that one coming off the bench last night.
*The real Keke Coutee stood up last night, too. Good to see him have a huge game after being limited the last few weeks.
*Overall, this was a win where I saw this Tech team do something I have rarely seen them do under Kliff: Respond. Their cards were down at the half, and the stakes were huge, and they fought and fought and fought until they made their biggest comeback in years. My hope is this is a sign of better things to come in 2018. Last night was an anomaly. Can this team make it the norm, RE: fighting back late?
