The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Coaches' corner: Offensive Coordinator Greg Davis
10.12.2004 | Football
General comments: Obviously, anytime you don't score it's disappointing and that is my responsibility. We wanted - from a game-plan standpoint - the game to be decided in the fourth-quarter. We felt like our strength is our offensive line, our running back, our tight ends and Vince running the zone read. We did not want to get into a ball game where we had to abandon the run. Did we play conservatively? Absolutely. But that was all part of what we felt gave us the best opportunity to win the game. Obviously, we were wrong. Through three-and-a-half quarters, we were right, in that we were in a one-possession ball game. The disappointing thing was we didn't make the plays that would put the pressure back on them. We had opportunities in the first half and we did not cash in. In terms of how many times we threw, we stayed true to what we have done this year. Obviously, we would have liked to hit a few and we would have like to hit a couple more of the verticals.
On Vince Young: It's my responsibility to get him [Vince Young] more comfortable. We have to continue to grow with the passing game. For many years, we had to continue to grow in the running game and now we are doing a good job in that area. But we have to get more production in the passing game and we have to have more plays out of the wide receivers.
On the receiving corps: I thought Limas [Sweed] stepped up in the ball game. I thought he grew in the ball game. Nate [Jones] continues to do some good things. They are inexperienced and we have got to get them some experience. We have not thrown the ball 40 times a game. If we did, they would've grown up quicker. When Roy Williams and his group came in, Major [Applewhite] and Chris [Simms] were throwing the ball 40 times a game. They were getting two games worth of looks rolled into one. We have not given them enough reps to allow them to make huge strides.
On the Missouri defense: They are a veteran defense. They a pressure-oriented defensive team. They have changed structurally a little bit and are playing well. Xzavie Jackson is an outstanding defensive end and they can play him in a lot of different places. Jason Simpson is a former linebacker that is now a safety but they still use him like a linebacker. When they go to a nickel defense, he becomes a nickel back and they bring in another safety. They run-blitz a lot and they are playing very well as a group.
