Quick Reaction To An Ahh Whooping: TTU 66 NT 28

It was awful

Boys and girls, that was awful. I have sat through more than my fair share of terrible NT losses. I remember going to Norman for that 79-10 loss after Stoops took umbrage at Todd Dodge saying “coaching is coaching.”

I remember Alabama walking through our squad. I remember Portland St. I remember these things and this is up there. The truth is that NT was always playing on an edge. The defense is better than last year — yes, it is, just trust me please. The Red Raiders are a good offense and the realistic game plan in this one did not involve stopping them from scoring. it was a little bit of the Abilene Christian idea( a 52-51 loss in the opener). Tech’s defense looked vulnerable and NT’s strength is and was the offense. Unfortunately, the “strength” looked like when my toddler son shows his “muscles”.

Before everything got skewed by backups, NT’s offense managed just 215 yards of offense. Chandler Morris was harassed and bullied and the wide receivers played volleyball with the passes on the way to giving up three interceptions. The INTs go on Morris’ record but the PASS GAME was resonsible. Freshman Kyle Koch had an awful afternoon as he got beat by the Tech corner on a deep out on the way to a pick six. He followed that up by getting ate up by a Morris pass that popped off his hands into the air for another interception.

The game was over at the half:

Beyond that there was terrible game planning and play-calling from the defense. This tweet credits the Tech offense but look at how we line up.

Yes, we have our linebacker taking on a guard and that TE 80 who is built like an offensive tackle take on our corner. That is a scheme issue. You can’t put guys in positions to fail and then blame them for failing. Outside of that, the defense was not great. Let’s get into the reaction:

1. The Offense Was Terrible

We mentioned the three interceptions. We mentioned how they were largely due to WR issues (Wyatt Young had one just like Koch’s) but Damon Ward, Blair Conwright, and others had drops. You cannot win while dropping passes. It is understandable (to an extent) from freshmen, but not from Conwright and Ward. They are two very experienced wideouts.

The run game was weak. The line could not get push early, and it led to long 2nd and 3rds for Morris. He was doing the checkdown game early and often. NT was fortunate to get that Wyatt Young 75-yard catch-and-run off a little wideout screen. Beyond that, the offense was shuttered. The field goal unit missed another kick, and NT looked inept outside of one long drive.

2. Defense Was Embarrassed

I can see the improvement from last year. In 2023, the team could not tackle, was out of position, and overmatched physically. This game they were close to getting the things they needed but still short. I mean, if you are an inch short or a yard short you are still short of making a play.

Last year the busted coverages and missed run fits led to some gashing plays. This game showed a team just an inch short or a step behind.

Nelson was emblematic, running step-for-step with Eakin up the sideline. He slowed slightly, tried to high point the ball but just missed. Eakin catches it and walks in the endzone. The first score saw Evan Jackson take one too many steps outside and get beat by the RPO. His help was a hair under the ball in the hole. TD.

Beyond that we had the aforementioned odd choices from DC Matt Caponi. I understand the broad strokes of the Iowa State 3-High safetey look and the value therein. Against certain competition — like for example this Tech squad with gigantic TEs — perhaps a slight adjustment for situational football is called for? NT went light and was punished.

There was good, but it was drowned out quickly in a sea of bad. NT got caught trying to make plays and Tech burned them for score after score. The first quarter saw NT competing but coming up just short. The second quarter saw them not even close to being competitive.

3. Eric Morris Laid An Egg

I don’t want to make a big deal of this but consider that in his trip up to Denton in 2018, outmatched and as a large underdog, he got whooped 58-13 by Seth Littrell’s UNT. In this one in a similar situation he got beat down by a historic margin. As a player for Tech he didn’t contribute to a beat down as large as Tech was putting on NT in the first half.

Beyond that, I do understand we should extend a little grace and understanding. The team is full of freshman at key spots and transfers with little experience. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way and I imagine Koch, et al will be doing just that.

I don’t think anyone would have minded a loss per se, but a loss like this is damaging.

4. We Move On

North Texas hosts Wyoming next week. If MGN had a theme this week, it was about the things necessary to get to the the next level include unconditionally supporting the team you love. Else, we should ask: Did you ever really love your team in the first place?

I will be watching and previewing and doing all the things as we follow North Texas football this week. All the goals for the season are in front of this team. We can lick the wounds on the way back to Denton, learn from the (awful) mistakes, and move on.

GMG