Texas ‘D’ regression is untimely
Herman blames poor tackling on lack of work in practice
AUSTIN, Texas — The defensive numbers for No. 15 Texas are bad and getting worse.
After losing to No. 5 Oklahoma on Saturday, the Longhorns rank last in the Big 12 in pass defense and total defense, and their current pace of 453.3 total yards allowed per game would break some dubious records set during the disastrous three years of the Charlie Strong era.
What shocked coach Tom Herman the most about the 34-27 defeat was how easily the Sooners pushed around, ran through or simply ran past the Longhorns (4-2, 2-1 Big 12).
Texas gave up 276 yards rushing and struggled to contain quarterback Jalen Hurts, who also threw for 235 yards. Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb left defenders flailing in his wake.
“We got exposed by some really good athletes. But we’ve got some good athletes ourselves that we need to teach how to tackle better,” Herman said Monday.
The Longhorns knew they were in for some growing pains this season with eight new starters on defense. Herman had downplayed the big changes by noting many of the new starters had seen plenty of playing time. And he said he wasn’t losing sleep as injuries started picking off more starters in the secondary; all Big-12 safety Caden Sterns didn’t play against Oklahoma.
Some of those ugly defensive statistics come after three games against some of the most explosive offenses in the country in LSU, Oklahoman and Oklahoma State.
But getting pushed around all day by the team Texas is supposed to be challenging for the Big 12 title came as a surprise.
“It was the first time we got out-physicalled on both sides of the ball that I can remember,” Herman said. “That’s not us.”
Herman blamed some of the poor tackling on his decision to limit tackling in practice the last couple of weeks.
“It was not a great decision,” Herman said. “It showed.”
There was more bad news in the secondary Monday: safety Chris Brown’s fractured forearm will need surgery and he is likely out for several weeks.
NEW MEXICO: For the second time this season, junior punter Tyson Dyer has been named to the Ray Guy Award’s “Ray’s 8”. The national award named the best eight punters of the week as “Ray’s 8”. The Ray Guy Award will announce the week seven Punter of the Week on Tuesday. Dyer punted seven times for 43.3 yards, and the only one returned was for no gain, in the Lobos’ 35-21 loss last Friday to Colorado State.
GAMES IN DUBLIN: Illinois will open the 2021 football season in Dublin against Nebraska, the university announced Monday. The game is part of the Aer Lingus College Football Series and will take place on Aug. 28, 2021, at Aviva Stadium.
Notre Dame and Navy will play in Dublin in the series’ 2020 game.
FLORIDA: Florida could be without its top two pass-rushers at South Carolina on Saturday. Coach Dan Mullen said Monday that linebacker Jon Greenard and defensive end Jabari Zuniga will be gametime decisions against the Gamecocks. Both have ankle injuries.
Florida has been beset by injuries this season, losing quarterback Feleipe Franks, dynamic receiver Kadarius Toney and several defensive starters.