THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS:
Nov. 5, 2010
Vol.5, Issue 10
NO ONE LEFT TO BLAME
WHOSE FAULT IS IT?
Fans, team disappointed with 4-4 record | page 8
PARTING SHOT
KSU seniors hope to finish careers undefeated versus Longhorns | page 3
2
Friday, November 5, 2010
theLINEUP page
3
6 Cover: Corey Leamon, above: Derek Stout| Daily Texan Staff
Texas returner Curtis Brown waits to receive a punt in the Baylor game last Saturday. Brown fumbled two punts against the Bears — his recent struggles have been emblematic of the Longhorns’ special teams problems.
HE SAID IT...
‘‘
10
REGULARS
on page 3
page
There is absolutely nothing that we can see except there are too many guys dropping passes. — Mack Brown, Texas head coach
5 POWER RANKINGS 7 GAMEStoWATCH
11 MATCHups
12
15 PLAYERStoWATCH
BAD CASE OF THE DROPS While quarterback Garrett Gilbert has shown improvement the past two games, Texas’ receivers can’t hold on to the ball.
HUSKER HUBBUB For the second straight week, Nebraska is at the center of an illegal-hit review and Cornhusker head coach Bo Pelini is unhappy.
NOT-SO-SPECIAL TEAMS Without solid producers on punt or kick returns, head coach Mack Brown is turning to untested players at those positions versus KSU.
SOONER OR LATER Oklahoma’s blitz-heavy defensive strategy is paying dividends as opposing quarterbacks scramble to stay upright.
EDITOR’S NOTE
The Daily Texan’s Double Coverage is printed the Friday before every Texas football game and twice during OU week.
THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS:
od ‘ol time! Come and enjoy a go nsors & watch Enjoy free stuff from our spo er the tent!! the game on a big screen tv und
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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 10 • NOVEMBER 5, 2010
Look for The Daily Texan tent
Double Coverage Editor……………Will Anderson Design Editor…………………….Mustafa Saifuddin Photo Editor……………………………Derek Stout Copy Editors........Sydney Fitzgerald, Cristina Herrera ......................................Reese Rackets, Austin Myers Daily Texan Sports Editor………………Dan Hurwitz Writers……...................................Sameer Bhuchar, .....................................................Alexandra Carreno, ...................................................Austin Laymance, ......................................................Jordan Godwin, …………………........Laken Litman, Jonathan Parrett
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Friday, November 5, 2010
preview Texas @ Kansas St. 4-4 (2-3 Big 12) last game: 30-22 loss vs. Baylor
5-3 (2-3 Big 12) last game: 24-14 loss vs. Oklahoma St.
Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Manhattan, Kan. ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Derek Stout | Daily Texan Staff
Texas tight end Greg Smith, right, loses the ball after being hit by Baylor safety Tim Atchison. The Bears’ Antonio Johnson intercepted the bobbled pass, setting up a fourth-quarter touchdown
Dropped passes plague receivers By Jordan Godwin Daily Texan Staff In the beginning of the season, quarterback Garrett Gilbert’s wild arm hurt the Longhorns. He was inaccurate, overthrew passes and didn’t seem to have any touch on the ball whatsoever. Now that he’s found his groove and has started hitting his targets, he’s still not getting anything in return. The Texas receivers have dropped more than a dozen passes over the last two games, nearly half of Gilbert’s incomplete passes. The problem has coaches absolutely baffled. “We’ve been over it and over it and over it,” said head coach Mack Brown. “There is absolutely nothing that we can see except
there are too many guys dropping passes. James Kirkendoll makes a great catch down the sideline and then drops the other one — it makes no sense.” So this week in practice, the coaches have decided to take a new approach. Figuring that the dropped passes are a result of a lack of discipline and want-to in practice, the coaches have added a completely new level of accountability to catching passes. “Because our receivers and tight ends are dropping too many balls, from the minute they walk out on the field, we have someone counting every pass that’s thrown to them and everybody who drops one,” Brown said. “From now on, every ball that’s thrown
to a receiver or tight end is being marked down and calculated, and we’re trying to figure our why we’re having five guys drop a ball. If it was one guy dropping five balls, you can fix it easier, but it’s not. So we’re trying to get their attention.” While the coaches shook their heads in disbelief on Saturday as receivers lost pass after pass, the players were equally discontent. Some critics of the team say the dropped passes are a result of carelessness — that this 2010 team just doesn’t have the drive that fans are accustomed to seeing. But ask any Texas player, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
DROPS continues on page 15
Wildcat seniors have beaten Texas in both matchups
By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff The 22 seniors on Kansas State’s roster will take the field at Bill Snyder Stadium in their royal purple get-up for the last time Saturday — the first Big 12 school to host Senior Day this season as the Wildcats’ final three games are all on the road. It’s fitting that Texas, a team that has never beaten KState’s seniors, is the final home opponent for these Cats. After all, these players hold a special place in history as the only team in the Big 12 to not lose to Colt McCoy — the Longhorn quarterback who set the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision record for wins with 45 and had his number retired by Texas recently. While most programs have the luxury of sending their seniors off in fashion late in the season, Kansas State’s elder statesmen will suit up for the last time in front of their home crowd the
Beer
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first weekend of November, a rather unusual circumstance. Starting quarterback Carson Coffman, who was the back-up to current NFL play-caller Josh Freeman when the Wildcats beat seventh-ranked Texas 41-21 in Austin in 2007, can’t believe he’s on the brink of the team’s last home stand. “It has kind of come upon us quickly,” Coffman said. “I did not expect it to be here this fast, but it’s a great opportunity for myself and the rest of the seniors on this team. It’s our last game in this stadium and we want to go out with a win.” Knocking out Texas is something Kansas State has hung its hat on. Since the Big 12’s formation in 1996, the Wildcats have beaten the Longhorns four times, with Texas getting the better of them twice. Head coach Bill Snyder is 2-2 against Texas all time, with both
SENIORS continues on page 14
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Presented by
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DK Mem Royal oria - Texa l Sta s dium
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September 11 Wyoming
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October 23
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October 30 Baylor
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Friday, November 5, 2010
BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS
— By Sameer Bhuchar | Daily Texan Staff
7
All it took to turn the Aggies around was benching their preseason potential Heisman candidate. Jerrod Johnson sat and new quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 449 yards and four touchdowns to put the Aggies on the upswing.
2
The euphoria was short-lived for the Tigers, but their loss to Nebraska doesn’t drop them too far. Unfortunately, their shot at a Big 12 North title is effectively lost, despite an easy schedule ahead, barring any meltdown in Lincoln.
8
For the first time this season, the Wildcats’ defense played significantly better than their offense. But they still lost to Oklahoma State. However, they face a battered Texas team on Saturday at home.
3
Landry Jones threw for 453 yards and four touchdowns against Colorado, and Ryan Broyles caught 10 balls for a school-record 208 yards as part of the biggest passing day in Oklahoma history.
9
It is a good thing the Longhorns are heading out of Austin this week. With their abysmal home record of 1-3, maybe some time far away from the Lone Star State will get them a desperate win.
4
The Cowboys won in a relatively quiet fashion for such a high-scoring team last week, but with conference-leading receiver Justin Blackmon back, the Cowboys are offensively ready to take on Baylor this week.
10
A quarterback controversy seems to be brewing in Lubbock. With Potts getting benched late against Texas A&M, who knows who will be starting next week against Missouri. One thing is for sure: The controversy can’t help this disappointing team.
5
The Bears made history with their win over Texas. Their national stock is rising, as is their position in the Big 12 South. They are the third highest scoring team in the nation.
11
6
The Cyclones crack the top half of the Big 12 because they are simply doing one thing — winning. It may not be pretty, and it certainly wasn’t last week against Kansas, but they are one game away from bowl eligibility.
12
1
Roy Helu Jr. ran all over that tough Missouri defense for 301 yards, allowing Taylor Martinez to take it easy. This team has more weapons than anyone in the conference and the Cornhuskers are in good position to take the Big 12 North.
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Cody Hawkins couldn’t get the win he wanted in his first start since regaining the position. The Buffaloes are just too undermanned and underskilled to make any sort of late-season splash.
Like the Colorado Buffaloes, the Jayhawks are without a conference win. Their upcoming schedule features three ranked opponents in a row — it’s going to be a long three weeks.
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Friday, November 5, 2010
BIG 12 North notebook — By Sameer Bhuchar | Daily Texan Staff
PRESENTS
dream date 5 T H A N N UA L
Saturday, November 6th at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center All proceeds benefiting Heart House of Austin
Tickets now on sale for $10 in the West Mall from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and include a free t-shirt and drinks to those 21+ Doors open at 9 p.m. followed by a performance by Jonathan Hill and Taylor Kelley at 9:45. The auction will begin at 11 p.m. Performance by Sama’an the DJ to follow the auction.
Thanks to: Eclectic Eyewear, Hot Slice, Jimmy and Barbara Prince - Prince Fireworks, Gallery of Salons, Lorraine’s Essentials, Chili’s, Mama Fu’s, Texas Roadhouse, Blue Elephant, Fitness 360, Myo Massage, Alamo Drafthouse, T BarM Resort, Precision Camera and Video, Carvajal Co., Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf,Vangi’s Studios, Gallery of Salons, P. Terry’s and Rubby Aesthetics International.
Huskers under review for hit again this week
still on the schedule. “We can’t control how people pick us to finish. We can only This week, head coach Bo Pe- control what we do and how we lini and his Cornhuskers are at work and the goals we set,” said the center of a quarrel that has ISU safety Michael O’Connell. “To been gnawing at the team since be in this position is no surprise. the early weeks of the season — With hard work, you reap what you sow.” illegal hits. “It just seems like I was sick of it three weeks ago. Obviously, no- Converted quarterback body wants anybody to get hurt,” Pelini said. “I think they just blew helping KSU on defense it up so much.” A former high school quarterPelini’s latest outcry comes in back is one of Kansas State’s leadresponse to Missouri head coach ing tacklers. Gary Pinkel submitting a hit by Cornerback Ty Zimmerman imNebraska safety Courtney Os- pressed Wildcat head coach Bill borne on the MU quarterback Snyder so much in practice this for league review. This is the sec- offseason that he now starts at a ond week in a row the Cornhusk- position he never even played uners have been at the center of this til reaching college. debate that came to the forefront Now Zimmerman has started when the NFL announced its Kansas State’s last seven games heightened penalties against ille- and is tackling his way into gal hits two weeks ago. prominence. Pinkel said he submitted the vid“Ty has played consistently eo as a self-educational tool as op- well throughout the season,” Snyposed to an accusatory complaint. der said of Zimmerman, who rePelini said that Missouri quarter- corded a career-high 12 tackles last back Blaine Gabbert leaned into week in the Wildcats’ 24-14 loss to the helmet-to-helmet hit, and still Oklahoma State. “Ty is a young frames from the game appeared to guy that there’s still some things support Pelini’s accusation. that he’s trying to run around Nebraska linebacker and spe- pulling his pants up to figure out cial teams contributor Eric Mar- because he’s a young pup.” tin sat out the Missouri game for The “young pup” is playing a prior illegal hit. Word on wheth- more like a big dog with a bite. er Osborne will be suspended has The 6-foot-1-inch, 203-pound yet to be released. freshman ranks fifth on the team “We don’t teach anybody to do with 43 tackles, including 22 solo, that. I think sometimes things hap- an atypically high statistic for a pen in the emotion of the game, cornerback. but I don’t think anybody is out Zimmerman may be an outthere intentionally trying to hurt standing individual player, but anyone,” Pelini said. “It’s a physi- he credits the work of his seccal sport and things happen fast.” ondary coach and teammates that keep him on the fast track ISU needs one more win to improving. “I have a great coach in coach to go bowling this year [Keith] Burns and great teamLast time the Cyclones faced mates with those older guys — Nebraska, they put on a record- Tysyn and E-Man,” he said, resetting defensive performance. ferring to fellow defensive backs The Cornhuskers gave up eight Tysyn Hartman and Emmanuturnovers to Iowa State, a school el Lamur. “They’re just helping record the Blackshirts proba- week in and week out.” bly would have preferred not to have broken. For Nebraska, this Saturday’s matchup in Ames is about redemption, but for Iowa State, this BIG12 NORTH CONF. OVERALL game is another chance to reach 3-1 7-1 1. Nebraska six wins and bowl eligibility. If the 3-1 7-1 1. Missouri Cyclones can pull out at least one 3-2 5-4 win in their next three games, they 3. Iowa St. 2-3 5-3 will be heading to a second straight 4. Kansas St. postseason game for the first time 5. Colorado 0-4 3-5 since 2004-2005. The odds are in 6. Kansas 0-4 2-6 Iowa State’s favor, with Colorado
STANDINGS
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Friday, November 5, 2010 Sponsored by:
GAMEStoWATCH — By Jon Parrett | Daily Texan Staff
No. 3 TCU @ No. 5 Utah 9-0 (5-0 MWC) Last game: 48-6 win @ UNLV
8-0 (5-0 MWC) Last game: 28-23 win @ Air Force
No. 6 Alabama @ No. 10 LSU 7-1 (4-1 SEC) Last game: 41-10 win @ Tennessee
7-1 (4-1 SEC) Last game: 24-17 loss @ Auburn
No. 18 Arkansas @ No. 19 S. Carolina 6-2 (3-2 SEC) Last game: 49-14 win vs. Vanderbilt
6-2 (4-2 SEC) Last game: 38-24 win vs. Tennessee
No. 15 Arizona @ No. 13 Stanford 7-1 (4-1 Pac-10) Last game: 29-21 win @ UCLA
7-1 (4-1 Pac-10) Last game: 41-0 win @ Washington
Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah 2:30 p.m., CBS
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, La. 1:30 p.m., CBS
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C. 6 p.m., ESPN
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, Calif. 7 p.m., ABC
The Utes have been waiting all year to avenge the 55-28 trouncing the Horned Frogs handed them last season in Ft. Worth. The game pits Utah’s thirdranked scoring offense in the country — 45 points per game — against TCU’s No. 1 scoring defense, which allows 8.7 points per game. TCU has yet to be tested this season, with an average winning margin of 32 points, but the Horned Frogs haven’t won in Salt Lake City in their past three tries. Saturday’s game will be the first Mountain West Conference matchup of top 10 teams ever and carries BCS implications for both sides. Aside from fourth-ranked Boise State, the winner of this contest is the team with the best shot at busting the BCS conferences’ monopoloy of the national championship game.
The Tide are still in the hunt for the national championship after slipping in October but face perhaps the toughest stretch of games in the country, beginning with Saturday’s trip to Baton Rouge before facing Mississippi State and Auburn. Alabama running back Mark Ingram has struggled as of late, failing to eclipse 100 yards on the ground in four straight games. LSU continues to play the two-quarterback system, splitting time between Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson. It will be interesting to see how LSU coach Les Miles uses Jefferson in the passing game against the Tide’s second-ranked scoring defense — Jefferson has only thrown for more than 100 yards twice this season. The Tigers lost last week in Auburn but are still undefeated at home this year.
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallet got back on track last week against Vanderbilt, throwing for over 400 yards and three touchdowns for the second time this season. The Razorbacks shouldn’t have much trouble scoring on the Gamecocks, who give up 259.8 passing yards per game, but will need to focus their attention defensively on running back Marcus Lattimore. The freshman sensation totaled over 200 yards of offense for the second straight game last week, after sitting out a game with a sprained ankle. South Carolina has only one conference game left after this one and can capture the SEC East by winning out but expect Steve Spurriers’ Gamecocks to be focused on the task at hand in this pivotal conference battle.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck barely broke a sweat in last week’s romp over Washington and could improve his Heisman candidacy by having a good game against Arizona’s seventh-ranked scoring defense. The Cardinal is off to its best start since 1970, when the team went 8-1, and has a chance to play in its first Rose Bowl since 2000. Matt Scott stepped in for the injured Nick Foles at quarterback last week and led the Wildcats to a close win over UCLA, throwing for 319 yards and a touchdown. Wildcats head coach Mike Stoops said Foles was back to 100 percent after practicing Monday and will get the start against Stanford. Luck is getting more Heisman hype, but it was Foles who was leading the Pac-10 in passing at the time of his injury. Arizona is second in the Pac-10, but high-powered Oregon remains on the schedule.
8
LOOK AWAY, TEXAS IS O Texas faces Kansas State Saturday at 7 p.m. on
Longhorns has been depressing of late and the
on television in case you’re home. Below we pr
at what students will be doing with all their fre
* The letters and figures below are purely the w Texan staff and are simply meant to reflect the and the fans during these trying times.
Andrew Torrey | Daily Texan Staff
WHAT MACK BROWN IS THINKING
No. 14 Missouri at Texas Tech on ABC at 7 — Both teams have overhyped offenses and mediocre defenses, so this game could be close.
{
We’ve had a rough season. It’s amazing that we were playing in the national championship just nine months ago and now we’re 4-4. We’ve got some problems, but we’re gonna get ‘em fixed. I know you don’t like to lose. I don’t like to lose, either. The players and coaches don’t like to lose, either. But we’ve got four more games and can still finish the season strong. I was really proud that you stayed until the end of the Iowa State and Baylor games even though we didn’t play up to Texas standards. I know you were disappointed after those losses. I was disappointed, too. We’ve had nine consecutive 10-win seasons here at Texas and even though we won’t get our 10th in a row this year, our team needs you. I thought you stayed and fought at Iowa State and Baylor, and I thought that really helped our kids. You gave them the will to come back and fight when they were down.
Now I know it’s hard sometimes to wake up in the morning and get ready for games. I know beer doesn’t taste that great at 8 a.m. But we need you to come ready to play just like our kids do. Just like our coaches do. You are as much a part of this team as we are. I was proud you all stayed for the whole game last weekend. You helped our team fight. I know it’s hard to do when we’re not playing very well. It’s unusual. I ask you to do that for the next four weeks for these kids. They are trying. The coaches are trying. I appreciated you hanging in there and helping us as much as you could. It means a lot to our football program here at the University of Texas. So don’t worry, we’ll get our problems fixed and we’ll get back on the winning track in no time.
{
Dear Texas fans,
“Dumb and Dumber” on TBS at 7 — Yes, yes, yes. Follow two lovable idiots travel cross-country in the shaggin’ wagon and recite profound musings like, “We got no food, no jobs… our PETS’ HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!” and “I desperately want to make love to a school boy.”
Hook ‘Em, Mack Brown “Cops” on Fox at 7 — If your roommate ever walks in and asks why you’re all sweaty, you have to say, “I was watching Cops.” We were born of this classic show and grew up watching exactly what would happen if we even so much as thought about drinking beer.
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” on Bravo at 7 — Not sure how this will translate when censored, but do yourself a favor and only watch the first hour of the movie. When you get to the part where Steve Carell starts dating the woman, walk away. The dancing scene at the end will scar you for life. Andrew Torrey Daily Texan Staff
“X-Men 3” on Telemundo at 6 — En esta secuencia los heroes mutantes deben tomar una difícil decisión: mantenar sus superpoderes o tomar una droga que los puede convertir en seres normales. What better way to practice your Spanish?
9
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AN OPEN LETTER TO MACK BROWN Coach Brown,
{
{ “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” on Disney Channel at 7 — Freshmen, you know what I’m talkin’‘bout.
“Little Miss Sunshine” on E! at 7 — This movie is so money, it will be used as currency in the future. A highly dysfunctional family comes together on a bizarre road trip that leaves one cured, one dead, one talkative and one booming with confidence.
“Strange Sex” on TLC at 7 — In this episode, “Cougars and Cubs,” absorb a profile of a 73-year-old former model as she dates a 33-year-old father of two. If you enjoy that, the next episode is on people with balloon fetishes.
We love you, man. We really do and always will. When we were little pre-Mack kids, it was kind of embarrassing to be a Texas fan. Our moms stopped wearing burnt orange and our dads seriously considered swaying us toward another college. But you changed all that. You returned Texas to greatness, and watching you hold that crystal football above the crowd in 2006 seriously made the decision for a lot of us — Texas was where it was at. We came here because we believed in you, and for the past two years, you delivered. In both 2008 and 2009, you were one fluke play away from winning back-to-back national championships. We won just as much as you did throughout those good times. While other kids’ colleges sucked at football, we were bragging about ours. When they were miserable and depressed because their team lost, we beer showered ourselves in front
“The Wedding Planner” on Oxygen at 7 — Wait, nevermind, I thought that said “Wedding Singer” or “Wedding Crashers.” Always try to avoid anything with Jennifer Lopez or our 1992 Fall Intramurals Golf Champion, Matthew McConaughey.
of them. They were great times. But what has happened this season has changed everything. Freshmen are wondering what kind of curse they brought to campus. Seniors are considering fifth years because this is no way to go out. Sophomores and juniors are optimistic, but something’s got to change. We applauded the last-minute touchdown against UCLA that made it 27-12. The next week, we screamed our lungs out in Dallas against OU and nothing happened. The last two weeks, most of us showed up, only to be crushed again and again by an effortless performance. So from here on out, don’t blame us if your team loses. There are three more games at home — a daunting Oklahoma State, an expected blowout of Florida Atlantic and a potentially lifelong heartbreaker if A&M wins. We’ll see you there ... maybe.
Sincerely, Concerned Students
“Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” on Comedy Central at 6 — But I will warn you, “Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay” follows it at 8, so once those stoners finally get their sliders and the credits roll, turn that dial.
10
Friday, November 5, 2010
NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS TEAM’S RETURNERS
Where have all the Hardin House girls gone? We are looking for you and your stories! Please join us for our 75th Anniversary Reunion. Friday, July 1 – Sunday, July 3, 2011 For more info go to: www.hardinhouse.com or Facebook us! 512.472.6717
Andrew Torrey | Daily Texan Staff
Cornerback Curtis Brown sits on the sidelines during last week’s lost to Baylor. Brown muffed two punts against the Bears and has three fumbled punts on the year. By Laken Litman Daily Texan Staff During preseason, Mack Brown said that his kickoff and punt return units would be “the best he’s ever had at Texas.� He said the same thing about almost every other position, too. Last year, Texas relied on Jordan Shipley to return all punts. He was ranked in the top 20 best returners as he averaged over 13 yards per return and scored two touchdowns. In years prior, Quan Cosby, Nathan Vasher and Aaron Ross handled the job and Brown never had to worry about altering his return game plan. “They have always been natural catchers,� Brown said. “So it has not been an issue for us.� Brown thought punt returning would be an easy transition for cornerbacks Aaron Williams and Curtis Brown to make this season. And at first it was, especially for Brown, who ranks No. 15 in the nation in punt returning, averaging over 14 yards per catch. Overall though, it’s been tough, as the two have combined for five muffed punts this season. “It’s just another area that we have not done as well this year as we have in the past,� Mack Brown said. For the first time this season, Brown will try out some new players to field punts. He plans to give defensive backs Ken-
ny Vaccaro and true freshman Adrian Phillips a shot against Kansas State. Brown acknowledged that it’s a gamble entrusting punt-return duties to two newcomers, especially since the wind tends to swirl at Kansas State’s Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. But something had to be done since Curtis Brown has botched three punts and Williams two on the year. “It’s a place where the ball swirls, so it’s hard to put a new young guy out there,� the coach said. “That’s a tough scenario to put them in.� Neither Vaccaro nor Phillips has experience returning punts, but both are versatile players and proved to have good hands this week in practice. “Kenny was a great receiver in high school,� Brown said. “In fact, when we took him, we did not know whether he would be a receiver or a safety. Adrian was actually a receiver and a quarterback in high school, so he has played everywhere. I don’t think they’ll be nervous about the opportunity [to return punts this weekend].� Brown feels that one of the reasons Williams and Curtis Brown have been so sketchy in their fielding is because of what he said to them after the UCLA game. “I jumped the group for letting the ball bounce too much in
the UCLA game,� Mack Brown said. “I was all over them about catching it. They are trying so hard, and they are probably pressed in trying to catch balls they shouldn’t.� One of the two balls Curtis Brown dropped against Baylor last weekend was a 68-yarder that was headed out-of-bounds. He tried to catch it inside the 20-yardline and ended up fumbling. “I really think because I got on them so much after UCLA, that was part of the problem,� the coach said. As far as kickoff returns, last year tailback D.J. Monroe ranked second in the country, as he averaged over 33 yards per return and scored two touchdowns. This year, neither Monroe nor fellow returnee Marquise Goodwin is ranked on the top 100 mostproductive kickoff returners. Kansas State running back William Powell leads the country in kickoff returns this year, averaging 33.2 yards per return. He’s fielded 20 kicks and has scored one touchdown. The coaches need more production from this unit and the punt return squad, so Brown has added a new player to the mix as safety Christian Scott will get some kickoff reps this weekend. “If it’s not working, you have to look at changing it and getting more combinations, and we’re looking at that,� Brown said.
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MATCHups — By Austin Laymance | Daily Texan Staff
QUARTERBACK Kansas State’s Carson Coffman can put points on the board with his arm or his legs and has accounted for 15 touchdowns in 2010, with seven of those coming on the ground. Texas’ Garrett Gilbert has received little help from his offensive cast and has gone without a touchdown pass in half of the Longhorns’ games this season — he must finish drives Saturday to turn things around.
RUNNING BACK Daniel Thomas, the Wildcats’ top-notch runner, has outrushed the four Texas tailbacks by 86 yards alone and has scored three more touchdowns than the combined efforts of those backs. Cody Johnson was stuffed twice inside the 6-yard line last week against Baylor late in a critical red-zone possession, and the Longhorns must find a way to punch it in when they near the goal line.
RECEIVERS Freshman Mike Davis will get the start this week for Texas after he was one of the few Longhorn wide outs who made plays consistently against Baylor. The receiving corps must cut down on their drops and mental mistakes for Texas to turn the corner offensively Saturday. Kansas State’s Aubrey Quarles is the team’s leading receiver after missing the entire 2009 season with a leg injury.
OFFENSIVE LINE The line has taken a step back in the Longhorns’ past two games and things look even worse without starter Michael Huey, who went down with a right knee injury against Baylor and will miss the rest of the season. The Wildcats’ interior linemen are veteran players who have cleared holes for Thomas all year and are responsible for the secondranked rushing offense in the Big 12.
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Friday, November 5, 2010
DEFENSIVE LINE Texas is still searching for the right combination in the middle but the Longhorns’ edge rushers are a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks each week. The Wildcats have been outmuscled up front this year and are dead last in the nation against the run. Sam Acho must beat the Wildcat’s tackles and get to Coffman while Kheeston Randall must eat blocks to slow down Kansas State’s read-option consistently.
LINEBACKERS The Longhorns’ linebackers have been fighting nagging injuries in recent weeks and will have another tough test against a physical running team in Kansas State. Keenan Robinson needs to react quickly and find the ball in the Wildcat’s zoneread attack for Texas to slow down the nation’s 25th-ranked rushing offense. Alex Hrebec is a sure tackler for the Wildcats with active hands in pass defense.
SECONDARY The Longhorn secondary still ranks at the top of the conference statistically but this group needs to force more turnovers and eliminate the big-yardage plays for Texas to win on the road Saturday. The Wildcats secondary has not been challenged much this season because of their poor run defense but have intercepted more passes than the Longhorns and will need to force Gilbert to make quick decisions.
SPECIAL TEAMS Wildcat return man William Powell has three kickoff returns of over 50 yards, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown against Baylor — tying a school record — and leads the country in kickoff-return average. Curtis Brown continued the Longhorns woes on punt returns with two fumbled punts last week and Texas must eliminate the miscues on special teams that have killed momentum and given the offense poor field position.
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Friday, November 5, 2010
BIG 12 South notebook
Next issue: Nov. 12
Oklahoma St.
— By Alexandra Carreno | Daily Texan Staff
Oklahoma bets on blitz working against Big 12 The blitz has become the Oklahoma defense’s best friend and opponents’ worst enemy. In Oklahoma’s demolition of Colorado last Saturday, the Sooners blitzed the Buffs 20 times, or an average of one blitz every three plays for the first three quarters. “Obviously you have two less guys in coverage and you put some guys on an island,” said Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables. “It’s a high-risk, high-reward deal. Our guys responded well.” Most of their 20 blitzes featured a linebacker or two last Saturday, while the secondary also contributed with multiple pass breakups. The blitz was extremely effective against the Buffs, as their quarterback was forced to throw the ball away on numerous occasions. But if the Sooners’ defense looks to keep using the blitz, it is crucial for defensive backs to continue winning their one-on-one matchups. “We were in some stressful situations in man coverage a few different times, and our guys made some really nice plays on the ball,” Venables said. “Every game is different. Every opponent is different. It depends on what they’re giving you.” Oklahoma finishes with three of four games on the road, but the Sooners and their elite-level defense are in good position to win the Big 12 South.
Tuberville turns practice into competition for QBs Texas Tech’s starting quarterback position is up for grabs. But instead of just appointing a new starter, head coach Tommy Tuberville has decided to choose based on performance. Tuberville decided to make the week’s practices a competition of sorts. “They’ll get pretty much the same reps [in practice],” Tuberville said. “We’ll put more of a factor on whoever does the best. Play this like a game.” Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield are both in the running for Saturday’s starting job at Missouri.
Potts, a senior, made the start last Saturday against Texas A&M. The national leader in completions per game, Potts struggled in the Red Raiders’ loss. Sheffield, also a senior, was put in during the fourth quarter of the game. According to Tuberville, Sheffield “gave us energy, and we’re looking for a little bit more of that now.” Until Tuberville makes his decision, which is expected to be today, Potts plans on preparing for Saturday’s game as if he were starting. “If I’m on the field, I’m confident in myself that we have a good chance to win,” Potts said. “If that’s not the case, I’m going to be a team player and, from the sidelines, help our team win.”
Baylor snags two weekly awards in rare feat After its stunning defeat of Texas, the praise continues to pour in for Baylor. On Monday, two Baylor players were selected as Big 12 players of the week. The conference named safety Byron Landor and punter Derek Epperson Big 12 defensive player of the week and special teams player of the week, respectively. “Our players are about as resilient a bunch as I’ve ever been around,” said Baylor head coach Art Briles in a teleconference on Monday. Landor recorded a secondconsecutive game of 15 or more tackles last Saturday, including nine individual stops. Meanwhile, Epperson averaged 56.8 yards in the four punts he made against the Longhorns. Epperson is now second with 48 punts of 50 yards or more in the history of the Baylor football program. The last time the Bears had a duo named Big 12 players of the week was back in 2005.
STANDINGS Big12 South 1. Baylor 2. Oklahoma 2. Oklahoma St. 4. Texas A&M 5. Texas 6. Texas Tech
Conf. Overall 4-1 3-1 3-1 2-2 2-3 2-4
7-2 7-1 7-1 5-3 4-4 4-4
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Friday, November 5, 2010
seniors: K-State 4-2 against Longhorns since formation of Big 12 Kansas State quarterback Carson Coffman drops back to pass against Kansas on Oct. 14. Coffman was on the roster when KSU beat Texas in 2007.
Orlin Wagner Associated Press
From page 3 wins in the late ’90s. Snyder returned to coach the Wildcats before last season after spending the previous two years away from coaching, but he did not get the chance to see the Wildcats’ triumph over Texas in 2007. His predecessor, Ron Prince, instead ushered in the then-freshman with a resounding victory over Texas, which was his second in as many seasons. “I wish I had the opportunity to be with them for a longer period of time,” Snyder said. “There are a lot of good guys, fine players and fine young men as well. The quality and character of guys who took their education very seriously — it’s a good group of youngsters.” But Snyder has stacked his team with junior
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college transfers since his return to the coaching ranks, including defensive end Antonio Felder, now one of the team’s better defensive linemen after spending a year at Butler County Community College. The senior has never had the opportunity to face Texas but said his greatest memory with the Wildcats was this year’s training camp when the seniors left their mark on the program. “It was our last one so we had to be there for each other,” Felder said. “We just had to push each other and look at each other and say, ‘We are going to make it. We are going to push through it.’ That’s a good memory — us just sticking through it and being good leaders. It has carried on because the players that were leading in camp are still leading now.”
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Friday, November 5, 2010
DroPs: Kirkendoll,
Williams not able to stay consistent From page 3 “It was really tough to see all of our drops — devastating,” said receiver Malcolm Williams. “We all knew those could have helped us win the game.” Others have speculated that the problem is simply a lack of a go-to receiver. In the past, Colt McCoy had present-day NFL receivers Limas Sweed, Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley. Most people expected Kirkendoll or Williams to naturally assume the leadership role in the receiving corps, but the coaches have discovered that it’s not something that can be forced. “You can’t create it,” said offensive coordinator Greg Davis. “It’s like the chicken and the egg. You don’t ordain someone as the ‘goto’ guy, and we’re going to really work to get them open, but I have seen improvement.” Now that other, younger receivers are beginning to make their presence known, Gilbert has more options if the upperclassmen continue to drop passes. Either way, Brown admitted that his offense has been pressing of late, trying too hard to come up with explosive, game-changing plays when they can’t even get the smaller, game-helping plays.
“It hurts our momentum, and it wears on everybody,” Brown said. While Davis is convinced that the dropped passes don’t have an effect on his quarterback, he admitted that he would like to see Gilbert run more. That comes despite the fact that Davis jokingly said Gilbert looks like Ichabod Crane from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with the way he runs, legs swinging everywhere. “Did coach Davis say that again?” Gilbert said when asked about the nickname, admitting he didn’t know who Ichabod Crane was. But no matter what he looks like when he runs, Gilbert will have to do it this week. Kansas State’s pass defense ranks No. 58 in the nation, far ahead of Baylor, allowing fewer yards per game, yards per attempt, touchdowns and a much lower completion percentage than the Bears. On the other hand, their rush defense ranks dead last in the country, allowing 228.5 rushing yards per game. With the cold air turning soft hands into concrete, Gilbert will have to run. Despite the odds stacked against them, the Longhorns are confident that the offensive woes are now behind them.
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— By Austin Laymance | Daily Texan Staff
Carson Coffman, QB Coffman is in the mold of the dual-threat quarterbacks that have become so common these days in the Big 12, and the senior is making the most of his first full year under center. Coffman is second on the Wildcats in touchdowns with seven on the ground and is most dangerous in the red zone. Coffman only throws the ball about 20 to 25 times a game but when he does he is strikingly accurate — he’s completed over 66 percent of his attempts. Coffman may not have the breakaway speed of some of the conference’s elite running QBs but he makes the right decisions in the Wildcats’ zoneread scheme and will hurt undisciplined defenses, like when he exploited Kansas for three rushing scores or when he found pay dirt twice against Baylor. His reads are one of the main reasons Kansas State has been so successful inside the 20-yard line as the Wildcats have scored touchdowns on 20 of their 26 trips to the red zone.
Daniel Thomas, RB Thomas is one of the top 10 tailbacks in the nation and is a workhorse out of the backfield for the Wildcats. The senior is an all-around back who is adept at pass protection and factors into the receiving game, keeping him on the field no matter the down or distance. Thomas is four yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard mark and his 124.5 yards-per-game average ranks eighth in the country. He is an NFL-ready athlete and is no stranger to the end zone — he’s run for two scores in four of Kansas State’s eight games and notched 10 total TDs. The Wildcats will go to Thomas early and often as they look to get the ball in the hands of their biggest offensive weapon — he’s touched the rock on nearly 43 percent of KSU’s plays. Don’t be surprised if Thomas even pulls up in the backfield and throws the ball as he’s completed 3-of-4 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
William Powell, RB/KR Powell is a spark off the bench for the Wildcats and has a knack for chunkyardage plays. He’s a home run threat any time he gets his hands on the ball, whether in the kick return game or in Kansas State’s spread attack. Powell’s contribution to the Wildcats often goes beyond the box score, as he is an excellent changeof-pace back to spell Thomas and keeps opposing defenses honest when Thomas goes to the sidelines for a breather. The senior always seems to find daylight and slips through the slimmest of holes with his 5-foot-9 build. He’s quick on his feet and can explode for a big gain at any moment with a 10.6 yards-per-carry average. Powell is arguably the most dangerous return man in the Big 12 and his 33.2 yards-per-kickoff-return average is top in the nation. The former walk-on can change the momentum of a game with one play and the Longhorns’ special teamers must surround him in space.