Gameplan for UT

Harry · August 25, 2014

On offense:

Run the ball but throw short safe passes if you need to get first downs. Set up the play action. Use your tight end a lot in this game. UT has a huge speed advantage so run draws and misdirection to negate this.

On defense:

Stop the run at all costs. Have faith in your secondary even if they get beat at times. Force Ash to throw and put him in situations where he has to take heat. He has not taken any real contact since last year.

cogido · August 25, 2014

Durn Harry, there's only so much one guy can do, but ay God I'll get er done. Count on it !

Green Crazy · August 25, 2014

On offense:
Run the ball but throw short safe passes if you need to get first downs. Set up the play action. Use your tight end a lot in this game. UT has a huge speed advantage so run draws and misdirection to negate this.
On defense:
Stop the run at all costs. Have faith in your secondary even if they get beat at times. Force Ash to throw and put him in situations where he has to take heat. He has not taken any real contact since last year.

I imagine the offense to resemble the Georgia game from last year. Opened up a little, take some chances, but still safe.

The defense needs to focus on the run, but stay careful in the secondary early. Last year we seemed to get burned for a long pass in the first couple of series and I think texas will try that.

greenminer · August 25, 2014

on O, size them up everywhere:

Does our OL match up well with their DL?

Move our proven playmakers around to test UT's preparation for them.

beat them up if you can on the inside, then start working the ball around further and further out/down field. If they are crowding the box, call the UT dare and sling it 15+ yards to stretch them out.

on D,

Stop the run

Find a way to get to Ash. If we can't touch him, we can still find a way to disrupt his rhythm.

Stop the run.

Stay composed, even if they get a couple big plays

stop the run.

Edited August 25, 2014 by greenminer

untjim1995 · August 25, 2014

Gotta hit Ash hard. If he gets knocked out of the game, the QBs behind him are not FBS ready.

mdmeangreen · August 25, 2014

On offense:
Run the ball but throw short safe passes if you need to get first downs. Set up the play action. Use your tight end a lot in this game. UT has a huge speed advantage so run draws and misdirection to negate this.
On defense:
Stop the run at all costs. Have faith in your secondary even if they get beat at times. Force Ash to throw and put him in situations where he has to take heat. He has not taken any real contact since last year.

Excellent game plan assessment Harry, completely agree.

StealthEagle84 · August 25, 2014

My thoughts are as follows and this why I think we may have a fighting chance in this game.

If anyone has ever watched Louisville play the last few years and knows the history of Charlie Strong, you'd know he runs a very pro style offense that likes to run the football between the tackles, be physical, and use the play action pass. So yes, we must find a way to stop them from getting big chunks of yards on the ground and make Ash beat us. The thing that made Louisville click on offense the last few years was Teddy Bridgewater and guess what, Texas doesn't have a Teddy Bridgewater under center. Our defense made a living last year playing 'bend, don't break' defense. And I have never seen before a coach make the needed adjustments like Skladany did last year. There's a reason no one scored on us in the second half last year. And the bowl game was A great example. UNLV marched it down our throats on their first possession, Skladany made the need adjustments, and UNLV was essentially shut down the rest of the game. So I am confident that if we can slow them down from running the ball and not give up big chunks, the clock will run and shorten the game.

Now on the flip side, we were 19th in the nation last year in time of possession. Canales must find a way to gain positive yards every down, whether its one or two here and then 5,6,7 there. But we cannot have bad plays and move backwards. Canales is very good at finding ways to get first downs when we need them (20th in the nation in 3rd down conversions last year) but we cannot habitually get into third and long situations. So if we can find a way to get first downs, move the chains, and chew some clock and we find a way to not give up big chunks of yards on defense, we can shorten the game. If we can keep it close going into half time and continue to grind it out in the second half and keep it close, we can have a chance. For us, players start believing if we keep in close later and later into the game. For them, if we can keep close, they start to get more and more nervous as time progresses b/c they know they're supposed to win and they start thinking about all of the external factors.

I have a ton a faith in this coaching staff to come up with a good game plan. I know our kids will play hard and be in the right position. I also know that they will have the better athletes as a whole and they will have more overall depth than us. But I truly believe we can go down to Austin and give these guys hell. I expect nothing less from a Dan McCarney coached team. And maybe, just maybe we can keep it close into the fourth quarter, come up with a one or two big plays, and shock the world.

TIgreen01 · August 25, 2014

Stop the run, play sound special teams....run the clock and limit turnovers. Keep the game close into the second half and they might just self destruct.

I think their defense comes out with their hair on fire. We need to weather the storm early.

Also, Canales can be a top notch play caller when he is on (see Clemson, KSU 2x, UGA). He reminds me of Matt Simon a little...always up to the challenge against the big boys. I expect to see another well called game from him.

Edited August 25, 2014 by TIgreen01

GMG24 · August 26, 2014

Screen 1st play of game TD. Then 3 and out by D and punt return to the house. Unt 14-0 end of 1st quarter, then bleed the clock.

Ben Gooding · August 26, 2014

Punch back. Whether the score be 17-17 in the 4th Q or 44-17, punch back.

pastorgrant · August 26, 2014

Punch back. Whether the score be 17-17 in the 4th Q or 44-17, punch back.

If it's 44-17 in the fourth, it might be good to play our backups. No reason to embarrass UT more than that.

foutsrouts · August 26, 2014

If it's 44-17 in the fourth, it might be good to play our backups. No reason to embarrass UT more than that.

Yeah, I've never believed in running it up. Especially against a brand new coach.

Got5onIt · August 26, 2014

NT has a punchers chance. Limit the mental mistakes & absolutely zero turnovers. Stay within arms reach and you never know what might happen in the 4th qtr...

Army of Dad · August 26, 2014

I would normally say we play it close to the vest, but I think we need to take a deep shot first chance we get. Even if it's the first play of the game if they show a favorable look for bomb then give it to them. Even if it doesn't work it will let them know that new QB or not we will go after them if we like what we see.

Then just grind them down with our line until the next time they cheat too close.

TheColonyEagle · August 26, 2014

The First Qtr is going to be huge. Do not give up any big plays in the first quarter. If UT pops one deep 3-5 minutes into the game, that crowd will go nuts and the momentum will be hard to change.

Force a few punts and end the first qtr tied or in the lead…..the crowd (and the players) will start thinking a little…..

Gotta hold off that early swell of emotion from the stadium.

Get to the 3rd qtr close and in the words of Ron Washington, "they booty holes pucker up"