USC-Texas, the first half: Role reversal...
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:35 am
Wow.
USC is making way too many mistakes; uncharacteristic mistakes.
Texas is making fewer mistakes and they're getting the bounces too.
Vince Young is playing a very controlled and efficient game. Fantastic performance so far. He's not pushing it and trying to do too much.
USC is pretty much shutting down the Texas running game (except for Young's scrambles, which is to be expected) and USC is running up the gut fairly easily against the Texas defensive line.
The two key plays of the first half:
-STOOOOOPID call on that Matt Leinart QB sneak on 4th and 1 on the Texas 14. There were nine men in the box and ANY play to the outside picks up the needed yard. A play action pass there would be foolproof, but any sweep would've gained the first down. USC goes on to score there and the feel of a rout is on. This, after USC missed an easy TD on the flanker screen/bomb.
-The Reggie Bush lateral. Fuck, I wanted to kick the tv...WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, REGGIE????????
BAAAD, BAAAD decision, and of course Texas recovered the ball. USC isn't getting to enough loose balls. Of course, Texas turned that mistake around and got a FG out of it, making it a possible 10 point swing.
At that point USC still had the opportunity to create a potential blow out but too many failed opportunities breathed life into a moribund Texas offense and then it became a whole new game.
USC then went on to miss too many tackles.
Again though, Vince Young is so far playing a great game and more importantly he's avoiding the big mistake while USC is making way too many mistakes.
I've been very impressed with the poise of Young and Texas as a whole.
USC needs a lift, early. It may still very well come down to turnovers in the second half and USC definitely cannot afford to come out on the short end of that stick. They're the #1 team in the nation in forcing turnovers and even if they don't force any they sure as hell can't give up any more.
All season long the 3rd quarter has been when USC has come out and dominated following the half time adjustments and here's where Carroll and his staff have to get it done. Texas isn't going away.
Also, I'd be remiss in neglecting to mention Texas' excellent DBs. I haven't been overly impressed with Texas' front seven but they really have great speed in the secondary. Great ballhawks.
USC just MIGHT wanna put a little more initial pressure on Texas' receivers, and they sure as hell had better stay disciplined in their pass rushing schemes. Rucker and Lawrence can't keep rushing too far upfield the way they've been doing and a little more up the gut pressure on Young wouldn't hurt either.
Great turnaround by Texas, so far. USC actually needs to regain their poise and remember who they are. They can't keep making these mistakes. Texas is too good for that. In order to win this one USC will have to play a lot more efficient second half. Nothing spectacular, just solid. Make the tackles, make the reads and for gawd's sake hold on to the ball and go get it once Texas puts it on the ground...
Fuck, Texas recovering their own fumbles (and ours too) had me so pissed...
This really could end up being a great game. It looks like USC's opportunity at a blow out has now come and gone (and man, Texas was hanging by a thread there early on) and now it looks like USC had better buckle it up or they could get stomped in the second half...
USC is making way too many mistakes; uncharacteristic mistakes.
Texas is making fewer mistakes and they're getting the bounces too.
Vince Young is playing a very controlled and efficient game. Fantastic performance so far. He's not pushing it and trying to do too much.
USC is pretty much shutting down the Texas running game (except for Young's scrambles, which is to be expected) and USC is running up the gut fairly easily against the Texas defensive line.
The two key plays of the first half:
-STOOOOOPID call on that Matt Leinart QB sneak on 4th and 1 on the Texas 14. There were nine men in the box and ANY play to the outside picks up the needed yard. A play action pass there would be foolproof, but any sweep would've gained the first down. USC goes on to score there and the feel of a rout is on. This, after USC missed an easy TD on the flanker screen/bomb.
-The Reggie Bush lateral. Fuck, I wanted to kick the tv...WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, REGGIE????????
BAAAD, BAAAD decision, and of course Texas recovered the ball. USC isn't getting to enough loose balls. Of course, Texas turned that mistake around and got a FG out of it, making it a possible 10 point swing.
At that point USC still had the opportunity to create a potential blow out but too many failed opportunities breathed life into a moribund Texas offense and then it became a whole new game.
USC then went on to miss too many tackles.
Again though, Vince Young is so far playing a great game and more importantly he's avoiding the big mistake while USC is making way too many mistakes.
I've been very impressed with the poise of Young and Texas as a whole.
USC needs a lift, early. It may still very well come down to turnovers in the second half and USC definitely cannot afford to come out on the short end of that stick. They're the #1 team in the nation in forcing turnovers and even if they don't force any they sure as hell can't give up any more.
All season long the 3rd quarter has been when USC has come out and dominated following the half time adjustments and here's where Carroll and his staff have to get it done. Texas isn't going away.
Also, I'd be remiss in neglecting to mention Texas' excellent DBs. I haven't been overly impressed with Texas' front seven but they really have great speed in the secondary. Great ballhawks.
USC just MIGHT wanna put a little more initial pressure on Texas' receivers, and they sure as hell had better stay disciplined in their pass rushing schemes. Rucker and Lawrence can't keep rushing too far upfield the way they've been doing and a little more up the gut pressure on Young wouldn't hurt either.
Great turnaround by Texas, so far. USC actually needs to regain their poise and remember who they are. They can't keep making these mistakes. Texas is too good for that. In order to win this one USC will have to play a lot more efficient second half. Nothing spectacular, just solid. Make the tackles, make the reads and for gawd's sake hold on to the ball and go get it once Texas puts it on the ground...
Fuck, Texas recovering their own fumbles (and ours too) had me so pissed...
This really could end up being a great game. It looks like USC's opportunity at a blow out has now come and gone (and man, Texas was hanging by a thread there early on) and now it looks like USC had better buckle it up or they could get stomped in the second half...
