Still a weakness!

[acceleration_man]

I am really a bit puzzled at why we've seen very few downfield passes. Honestly, our offense didn't do a whole lot (except for the 1st and last drives). ST and Defense won it for us, hands down. The short crossing routes and dumps to Murphy on the edge are effective, but only to a certain degree.You saw it when TX adjusted for our short throws and we couldn't sustain a drive.

Now what really baffles me: Why didn't Prince call (or Freeman throw) a few downfield passes to keep the TX secondary from breathing down our neck at the LOS, and why, on the few occasions when Freeman has thrown one, have they all been too long? One in particular he threw yesterday into the endzone would have been a touchdown if he'd thrown it on the money.

Does Prince not yet believe in our O-line? Maybe the TX game will change his mind, and we'll see more of a downfield offense. ?? Has Prince told Freeman to be extra cautious on his downfield throws and to put it only where the receiver can get it... and Freeman is overcompensating?

I believe Josh can throw better than that, and I believe Prince is smart enough to see this problem. However, I was really surprised that we didn't see it at TX. We'll see how things to, but I have a feeling we may really need this element of our game this Sat.

[doom]

Freeman played great and is a good quarterback, but if we bombed one deep and been picked it would have set a sour tone for the rest of the game.  Don't know about you, but that emotionally neutral crap is a crock IMO.

[LimestoneOutcropping]

Why try a 40 yard, high risk bomb on the road at a top 10 team when you don't need to?

[acceleration_man]

Freeman played great and is a good quarterback, but if we bombed one deep and been picked it would have set a sour tone for the rest of the game.  Don't know about you, but that emotionally neutral crap is a crock IMO.

Why try a 40 yard, high risk bomb on the road at a top 10 team when you don't need to?

Yeah, I guess you're right. All these teams doing that "bold and daring" stuff really suck.

 

[Kat Kid]

Prediction:  You will see more down the field throws against ku.

[stormnut]

Prediction:  You will see more down the field throws against ku.

Deon Murphy goes off. Talib is there only good Corner and he will be on Jordy all day. Also look for Patton and Johnson to have monster games as well.

[McGrowlTowelZac]

Prediction:  You will see more down the field throws against ku.

QFT

[NorthChamps07]

We had virtually no vertical routes, other than three fades. Actually the ball thrown to the end zone was on the money.  The receiver, Gonzalez, was shoved out of bounds.  Those of us who sat in section 14, right where the ball was thrown,  wondered how there was no PI call.  And I think we sustain a td drive with short passes on our last offensive touchdown.  So you're kinda off on that, it was after the adjustments. FYI-We won 41-21!

I am really a bit puzzled at why we've seen very few downfield passes. Honestly, our offense didn't do a whole lot (except for the 1st and last drives). ST and Defense won it for us, hands down. The short crossing routes and dumps to Murphy on the edge are effective, but only to a certain degree.You saw it when TX adjusted for our short throws and we couldn't sustain a drive.
Now what really baffles me: Why didn't Prince call (or Freeman throw) a few downfield passes to keep the TX secondary from breathing down our neck at the LOS, and why, on the few occasions when Freeman has thrown one, have they all been too long? One in particular he threw yesterday into the endzone would have been a touchdown if he'd thrown it on the money.

Does Prince not yet believe in our O-line? Maybe the TX game will change his mind, and we'll see more of a downfield offense. ?? Has Prince told Freeman to be extra cautious on his downfield throws and to put it only where the receiver can get it... and Freeman is overcompensating?

I believe Josh can throw better than that, and I believe Prince is smart enough to see this problem. However, I was really surprised that we didn't see it at TX. We'll see how things to, but I have a feeling we may really need this element of our game this Sat.

[acceleration_man]

When you consider other QBs with strong arms we've utilized in the past (Bishop, Roberson, etc.), throwing downfield is not a new idea. And it's not like TX has some world-class amazing secondary.

To say that we didn't need to throw it downfield... easy to say after we've won handily. Not so easy to say when TX is staging a comeback, and our offense isn't moving the ball. Granted, it worked out just fine, but regardless, we need to throw/complete a few of these long throws to open up the short passes and the run game. A few well-placed bombs would give opposing defenses fits!

I expected a little (or a lot) downfield game this week. I hope you're right about next week (and I hope Freeman can put a few on the money).

[CatsNChiefs]

Prediction:  You will see more down the field throws against ku.

Possibly on the first KSU offensive play.

[AzCat]

My money's on the OL not being ready for prime time yet.  I doubt they could've kept Freeman's jersey clean if they'd been asked to hold the UT DL for 2-3 more seconds routinely. 

[acceleration_man]

Actually the ball thrown to the end zone was on the money.  The receiver, Gonzalez, was shoved out of bounds.  Those of us who sat in section 14, right where the ball was thrown,  wondered how there was no PI call.

I believe we're talking about two different plays here. I did see two passes I thought were questionable about the defender forcing out receivers (although I thought the balls were thrown a little high and outside anyway). I believe there was a pass to the right into the corner of the endzone where the ball was overthrown. The announcers thought it was a dangerous pass because there were two defenders in the area, but on the replay you could see that if Freeman had thrown it to the outside corner (rather than inside and high??), the receiver could have caught it easily. At least that's the way it looks to me.

And I think we sustain a td drive with short passes on our last offensive touchdown.  So you're kinda off on that, it was after the adjustments.

Yes, that was a nice drive to put things away (Johnson also did some damage with a few nice 5 yd. runs). I think TX was pretty deflated by that time, but it was still a nice drive, so props on that. However, I still maintain that we need a little (maybe not a lot) downfield game to give the opposing "D"s something to think about.

FYI-We won 41-21!

Yeah, I know -- it was great!   I'm not trying to be a downer... all-in-all the game was very well coached and executed. However, I'm just pointing out a concern (and a bit of preplexion) in a certain area which I believe will be crucial to winning one or more of our upcoming games. For instance, next week at ku... we'll see if ku is a team or not -- however, they've made some "special" teams plays as well, so the advantage in ST could be a wash (particularly if Watts is not in there). And if ku is moving the ball offensively on us, then we'll need to counter that.

[acceleration_man]

My money's on the OL not being ready for prime time yet.  I doubt they could've kept Freeman's jersey clean if they'd been asked to hold the UT DL for 2-3 more seconds routinely.

I thought they did remarkably well for most of the game, and there were numerous occasions were Josh would have had the time to launch one. JMO.

[doom]

My money's on the OL not being ready for prime time yet.  I doubt they could've kept Freeman's jersey clean if they'd been asked to hold the UT DL for 2-3 more seconds routinely.

I thought they did remarkably well for most of the game, and there were numerous occasions were Josh would have had the time to launch one. JMO.

By the end of 2nd and beginning of the third quarter, Josh had NO time.  Alesana was getting laid on his back again.  When they closed in on 3 pts. I thought we had lost it.  I think a nice run combo attack coupled with some effective screens for 1st downs and we've got some good bread and butter.

[Bookcat]

Talib is good..but no one can "shut down" Jordy. We'll show that on Saturday.

BTW...waht is a bad day for Jordy? only six catches and 50 yards? lol

[BBF$$Cat]

I believe the play you are referring to is when Jordy was heading to the end zone. I know my recall on this may be a little beer fuzzy but he was double covered with a defender underneath and one over the top albeit both a step behind on the coverage but to overthrow that ball, basicall throw away, was the smart call by the QB. You mention the line held up well and would have allowed the time to go deep well when you are releasing the ball with in a couple of seconds it does appear that he would have had time. Not taking anything away from the oline performance but you add a few seconds to that for the deep route and the time is not there yet, as you will notice on a few of the longer developing plays we seem to roll him out of the pocket alot to buy additional time.

I will agree that it allowed the defense to crowd the line and not open up more space for short plays to break open but we controled the tempo for the most part with ball control short plays continually had ourselves in good down and distance situations and allowed fewer opportunities to tejas by eating up clock. The game plan worked we won, did not have to have the deep ball to do it. It is fancy and sexy to talk about hitting the homerun pass but it was not needed. JMO

[Wildcat Jack]

I'm equally as baffled that people still don't understand the WCO offense is not about putting pressure deep.  It's the west coast offense, you're not gonna see the deep ball as much.

[wildcat79]

It seems to me nothing down the field  worked at Texas. No fumbles , No interceptions. We will see down the field when Freeman and the o line are capable. ku will prepare for kSU and we will then go down the field. It looks to me like the offense is expanding the offensive capabilities on a weekly basis.

[hemmy]

The only thing that worries me is why all of our down the field passes except the flee-flicker were to Gonzalez...

[michigancat]

My money's on the OL not being ready for prime time yet.  I doubt they could've kept Freeman's jersey clean if they'd been asked to hold the UT DL for 2-3 more seconds routinely. 

I would have to Q this FT.