Very reliable sources told me that Buechele was the BEST looking QB at Saturdays scrimmage.Now,that's not to say he's the best QB.But I was told under fire in live action he was making very good reads and looked better than Swoopes and Heard on THAT day.
2016 Season Running Thread
- Thread starter CoachEmUp64
- Start date
http://insidetexas.com/expectations-for-spring-ball-part-i/
Good article from IT by Chris Hall about Spring Ball.
Good article from IT by Chris Hall about Spring Ball.
You've set up a false choice here.
When Gary Patterson wants to coach his defense on particular points, he has the offense turn around and face the scout-team defense. The offense gets its uptempo practice without any real interruption, but the defense gets the on-field, real-time teaching it needs to be maximize its potential.
There really is no effective substitute for on-field, real-time teaching on defense. This film-room-only method of coaching defense is part of the reason why most defenses in this conference are mediocre to terrible. You will not find a great defense in the history of this sport that was only (or predominantly) coached in the film room.
The way they're doing things is fine for now, but this can't be a permanent change if Charlie is ever going to deliver a D here like the ones he had at Florida.
I agree that it's not a huge issue now, but the switch to Patterson's approach needs to happen before the season starts.
I agree totally. I think this is one of the reasons these teams never stop anybody. A football team is Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. It takes all 3 to be Championship level. Each one is very important. If you only worry about offense it also sends the wrong signals to the guys that play Defense and Special teams.
Charlie D Strong.
I think it'll all work out just fine.
I think it'll all work out just fine.
Dear hungry for information guys......
If you think I can just roll up into a practice and THEN post what I saw on the same day.....use your common sense. The "staff" associated with athletics reads postings on this sight, and if you report directly what you saw on the same day, by a process of elimination, they can figure out whose opening their yapper---- and there goes your ability to get into practice.
Are you picking up what I'm putting down?
If you think I can just roll up into a practice and THEN post what I saw on the same day.....use your common sense. The "staff" associated with athletics reads postings on this sight, and if you report directly what you saw on the same day, by a process of elimination, they can figure out whose opening their yapper---- and there goes your ability to get into practice.
Are you picking up what I'm putting down?
so Clob....you are saying that the staff actually reads the drivel that I and my ilk put on here?.....I am beginning to understand how dire our situation is.
Note to staff: If you have to read something, read coachemup, speedstrength and clob....and understand that I know less than Sgt Schultz.
Note to staff: If you have to read something, read coachemup, speedstrength and clob....and understand that I know less than Sgt Schultz.
Come on oldhorn, the coaching staff probably doesn't but there are elements in the SID staff that does. You know that. Anything media related to the athletic department is monitored including places like this. Is it priority numero uno? Surely not, but I'm not stupid, and neither are they and I know you're not stupid.
Clob....I was only having a little fun with that. Yeah....I realize all sports depts have somebody assigned to monitor all media, and that aint the coaching staff. Also, I appreciate what you bring to this board.
Me too Clob....we (at least oldhorn and I) think you were a great source of information last year....hell you was dead on accurate. Respect your thoughts on the Texas Longhorns very much.
Same here. Hope you know I was just screwing around in my last post, clob. I've always very much appreciated whatever insights you've been able to share.
Pull your hat down, Sterlin!
6:22 mark…
Q: When you started here, did you try and go back and watch a lot of this team from last year [Gilbert shakes head “No.”] or did you give them a clean slate?
A: Nope – clean slated ‘em all. And I’ve not done that anywhere I’ve ever been. And I told those guys that were here, “Don’t tell me anything negative or bad about these guys ‘cuz I want those guys to, you know, have a clean slate with me. When I got here, that’s what I told them: “You got a clean slate. You’ve got an opportunity if you’re not a starter, if you’ve not done something right, you know; or even if you’ve done it all right, it’s still a clean slate.”
A: Nope – clean slated ‘em all. And I’ve not done that anywhere I’ve ever been. And I told those guys that were here, “Don’t tell me anything negative or bad about these guys ‘cuz I want those guys to, you know, have a clean slate with me. When I got here, that’s what I told them: “You got a clean slate. You’ve got an opportunity if you’re not a starter, if you’ve not done something right, you know; or even if you’ve done it all right, it’s still a clean slate.”
Not good news for our QB position, IMHO. This explains why Gilbert is favoring Swoopes – ‘cuz he looks good in practice minus pressure. Before Gilbert makes his final decision for the starter, he needs to view past game videos juxtaposed with practice videos.
12:40 mark…
Q: Tyrone’s had his ups and downs since he’s been here – I’m sure you’ve seen the film. He’s one of these guys who looks good in practice but sometimes has trouble in games. How do you differentiate to know like what this guy does in practice is going to translate when the lights are on?
A: You know, that’s a good question. And, um, sometimes you don’t know what guys are going to do until those lights come on. And, um, you know, it just goes back to… some of that we won’t know until we get out there against notre dame.
A: You know, that’s a good question. And, um, sometimes you don’t know what guys are going to do until those lights come on. And, um, you know, it just goes back to… some of that we won’t know until we get out there against notre dame.
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WRs v DBs
1. Jacorey Warrick v John Bonney
2. Armanti Foreman v Holton Hill
3. John Burt v Sheroid Evans
4. Collin Johnson v Antwuan Davis
5. DeAndre McNeal v Bonny
6. Foreman v Hill
7. Dorian Leonard v Davante Davis
8. Foreman v Hill
9. Burt v Kris Boyd
10. Lorenzo Joe v PJ Locke
11. Foreman v A Davis
12. Warrick v A Davis
13. Foreman v A Davis
14. Burt v D Davis
1. Jacorey Warrick v John Bonney
2. Armanti Foreman v Holton Hill
3. John Burt v Sheroid Evans
4. Collin Johnson v Antwuan Davis
5. DeAndre McNeal v Bonny
6. Foreman v Hill
7. Dorian Leonard v Davante Davis
8. Foreman v Hill
9. Burt v Kris Boyd
10. Lorenzo Joe v PJ Locke
11. Foreman v A Davis
12. Warrick v A Davis
13. Foreman v A Davis
14. Burt v D Davis
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It is still early. And I think with the scheme change we will be better on O. But I am very worried that we still don't have a starting QB that can complete a pass.
I have always liked Buechele, but he is young. Swoopes is what he is. Limited as a passer and a guy lacking confidence or leadership or fire (in spite of all the fluff we are hearing from camp...remember we heard the same stuff last camp). And I am disappointed that Heard didn't grow this offseason. He showed flashes. He won at a high level in HS. He competed well in all star camps. And I thought he had more in him. Kai was many's favorite shiny new guy a few weeks back, I always thought he'd be a WR or a transfer. And still think that. I do like that he committed hard this offseason, and I don't think the staff should bail on him just yet. Given that the other options aren't taking over. The guy is only a RS frosh. Another year or two in the system and who knows. Maybe he could be a serviceable backup. Or maybe he could grow like say Trevone Boykin did (going from wildly inaccurate early in his career to WR to very solid QB who won games for them). I think that is his peak.
Although I really think this team is a Buechele/Ehlinger led team before it finally starts winning games. And unfortunately only one half of that equation is on campus. And if he is thrust in to a starting role early, we will have growing pains. Although we could have cancer pains if we are stuck watching Swoopes for yet another season.
It is just shocking that Strong accurately diagnosed him as a TE and wanted to move him there when he first took this job. And he hasn't been able to because HE hasn't found a warm body to replace him to take snaps under center.
Too bad Will Grier has to sit out a year and a half. He could be our savior today as a transfer.
I have always liked Buechele, but he is young. Swoopes is what he is. Limited as a passer and a guy lacking confidence or leadership or fire (in spite of all the fluff we are hearing from camp...remember we heard the same stuff last camp). And I am disappointed that Heard didn't grow this offseason. He showed flashes. He won at a high level in HS. He competed well in all star camps. And I thought he had more in him. Kai was many's favorite shiny new guy a few weeks back, I always thought he'd be a WR or a transfer. And still think that. I do like that he committed hard this offseason, and I don't think the staff should bail on him just yet. Given that the other options aren't taking over. The guy is only a RS frosh. Another year or two in the system and who knows. Maybe he could be a serviceable backup. Or maybe he could grow like say Trevone Boykin did (going from wildly inaccurate early in his career to WR to very solid QB who won games for them). I think that is his peak.
Although I really think this team is a Buechele/Ehlinger led team before it finally starts winning games. And unfortunately only one half of that equation is on campus. And if he is thrust in to a starting role early, we will have growing pains. Although we could have cancer pains if we are stuck watching Swoopes for yet another season.
It is just shocking that Strong accurately diagnosed him as a TE and wanted to move him there when he first took this job. And he hasn't been able to because HE hasn't found a warm body to replace him to take snaps under center.
Too bad Will Grier has to sit out a year and a half. He could be our savior today as a transfer.
Collin Johnson is a grown-ass man.
Warrick always seems to look good in these practice highlights. Hope he can step up and show something in games this year.
Maybe my memory is fuzzy, and I am not saying he is Tom Brady, but I dont remember Swoopes being that bad a passer. Where he was total crap to me was never deciding to run even after he saw no one open. He was so tentative in running. That drove me crazy.Seems like in the OSU game he did scripted plays and opened the game by just driving down the field.Come to think of it I am thinking about year before last. At any rate, he started several games with 7 or 8 completions. Where did that guy go? I now am at the point that I have no belief that Heard will ever "get" it. Maybe Swoopes will be able to be average enough for long enough that Shane can grow into the job.
I guarantee you he has watched game film from last year, and a lot of it. But it's different when your watching your players in someone else's system. Even though you are watching film and seeing what they are doing wrong, you still don't fault them for their mistakes. Kinda rambling here but even though he has seen game film, the players still have a clean slate.
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"Today was just day 7. It's still early. I'm still trying to figure them out and they're still trying to figure me out........."
Coach speak translation: We look like crap right now, the offense looks like crap, but I'm confident it will start clicking soon.
Coach speak translation: We look like crap right now, the offense looks like crap, but I'm confident it will start clicking soon.
Practice notes (HD):
TEAM NOTES - THE EARLY ENROLLEES:
In speaking with a source close to the team, one thing that is a certainty regarding this offense will be the man snapping the ball: Zach Shackelford.
Mature beyond his years. (The guy is still 18.) We're told Zach has turned heads on the coaching staff and in the locker room.
“He’s extremely impressive," said our inside-the-program source, who will now be referred to as ITP. "He is working on being consistent with everything. But trust me, there’s no doubt who will be the starter going forward.”
Charlie Strong and his staff have done a fantastic job recruiting the type of offensive linemen the G-Force offense (formerly known as the Briles' offense) is going to require to be successful - technically sound with just the right amount of nasty.
We fully expect Shack to make the same impact his starting freshmen predecessors - LT Connor Williams and RG Patrick Vahe - made.
The other early enrollees have also made significant strides, and as Chip has noted, both WR Collin Johnson and QB Shane Buechele have really impressed ITP, “Collin has a very similar playing style to Burt. He’s a guy who will go up and fight for every 50/50 ball, and someone who is just naturally built to excel in this offense."
Meanwhile, ITP said, "Shane (Buechele) has absorbed the offense extremely quickly and is lethally accurate with the ball.”
RUNNING GAME GETTING AFTER IT:
The QB situation is still sorting itself out and could remain muddled into fall camp, which means the running game is going to have to be a force. Chip has said he thinks Chris Warren III and D'Onta Foreman should split reps and possibly line up together in a two-back set.
ITP agrees:
“Both Warren and Foreman look great. The running game is easily the best part of this offense right now, and I expect those guys [Foreman and Warren] to each ideally get around 20 carries a game. The change of pace running backs will fight for the rest of the carries.”
Interestingly enough, ITP cited Roderick Bernard as someone who is exceeding expectations in practice. Look for him to possibly get some reps at RB moving forward.
With the team going full-pads for the first time last Saturday, you have to take this with a grain of salt, but hearing that the running backs are looking good this early really gets the blood going. Remember, multiple Baylor players said that Chris Warren was their toughest opponent to tackle, and we personally cannot wait to see what another year in the weight room has turned him into.
This is easily one of the deepest stables of running backs UT has had in a long time, which says a lot about just how good these guys are.
When we asked about who appears to be a leader on the offense, ITP said, “No one has really stepped up to be that guy. I think the offense naturally looks to its quarterback for motivation, and while Connor Williams and other guys are technically leading, everyone is still waiting on a QB to emerge.”
As for tight ends, our source indicates Caleb Bluiett is receiving quite a few reps. When asked to estimate, “He’s probably out there for around 40-50% of the snaps, some at sniffer (fullback), some running routes.”
This has to be welcomed news to a guy like 2017 Texas TE commit Major Tennison, who was able to take in Texas' practice/scrimmage this past Saturday.
TURNING TO THE DEFENSE:
The defense has a lot of work to do, but ITP commended the secondary, “They communicate really well, and I think they might be the closest group of guys on the team.
"They’re learning how to adapt to this up-tempo style practice - just like the offense. But they’re doing a really good job of flying around and making plays.”
The defense has worked primarily in the nickel.
As for corrections being made when someone messes up, ITP indicates that GAs are on the field making corrections. This may not sound like the ideal way of coaching, but our source believes that the defense isn’t suffering because of it,
“There’s not a lot of time to coach, but it’s definitely enough time," ITP said. "The GA will point out the mistake. The player will internalize it, and then it’s time to go again.”
On his overall impression of the coaching staff, ITP said, “They are all very cohesive and working together very well. Everyone is excited about the direction the team is moving.”
THE KICKING GAME:
Michael Dickson has solidified himself as the starting punter this spring, showcasing a huge leg while simultaneously placing an emphasis on making that leg more consistent.
Yet, when Nick Jordan decided to forego his fifth year, the team was left with zero scholarships kickers and no experienced replacement.
This leaves important openings at place kicker and kickoff specialist, which one of the 3 currently competing kickers hopes to secure. So far, redshirt junior Mitchell Becker appears to be leading amongst the trio, followed by the redshirt freshman Jon Coppens and redshirt sophomore Evan Moore.
A source close to the team tells us that in field goal drills Becker has gone 11/15 with a long of 53. Coppens has gone 7/14, while Moore has gone only 4/7 (Moore has had one less day of practice). According to our source, all 3 guys seem to still be working out some kinks.
For Coppens and Moore, struggles with operation times (the time between when the ball is snapped to when it is kicked) are holding them back. Ideally, the time from snap to kick should be around 1.2-1.3 seconds, but Coppens and Moore are hovering more around the 1.5-1.6 seconds mark.
Becker has consistently been around half a second quicker than Nick Rose was last year, but as a result he sometimes can rush through his motion. We were told that although these may seem like minor details, they are “sometimes more important that the actual kick itself.”
Another issue for Coppens right now is his leg strength. Our source tells us that at last Tuesday’s practice Coppens missed short from 43 and 48 yards out.
During the scrimmage last Saturday, Becker got all of the reps as the place kicker. Although it is early, it appears he has the confidence of Coach Strong.
The last thing our source indicated to us was that they have not seen one single kickoff rep at practice. We believe it is safe to assume that Becker is also leading for this position because of the other two’s struggles with their leg strength.
TEAM NOTES - THE EARLY ENROLLEES:
In speaking with a source close to the team, one thing that is a certainty regarding this offense will be the man snapping the ball: Zach Shackelford.
Mature beyond his years. (The guy is still 18.) We're told Zach has turned heads on the coaching staff and in the locker room.
“He’s extremely impressive," said our inside-the-program source, who will now be referred to as ITP. "He is working on being consistent with everything. But trust me, there’s no doubt who will be the starter going forward.”
Charlie Strong and his staff have done a fantastic job recruiting the type of offensive linemen the G-Force offense (formerly known as the Briles' offense) is going to require to be successful - technically sound with just the right amount of nasty.
We fully expect Shack to make the same impact his starting freshmen predecessors - LT Connor Williams and RG Patrick Vahe - made.
The other early enrollees have also made significant strides, and as Chip has noted, both WR Collin Johnson and QB Shane Buechele have really impressed ITP, “Collin has a very similar playing style to Burt. He’s a guy who will go up and fight for every 50/50 ball, and someone who is just naturally built to excel in this offense."
Meanwhile, ITP said, "Shane (Buechele) has absorbed the offense extremely quickly and is lethally accurate with the ball.”
RUNNING GAME GETTING AFTER IT:
The QB situation is still sorting itself out and could remain muddled into fall camp, which means the running game is going to have to be a force. Chip has said he thinks Chris Warren III and D'Onta Foreman should split reps and possibly line up together in a two-back set.
ITP agrees:
“Both Warren and Foreman look great. The running game is easily the best part of this offense right now, and I expect those guys [Foreman and Warren] to each ideally get around 20 carries a game. The change of pace running backs will fight for the rest of the carries.”
Interestingly enough, ITP cited Roderick Bernard as someone who is exceeding expectations in practice. Look for him to possibly get some reps at RB moving forward.
With the team going full-pads for the first time last Saturday, you have to take this with a grain of salt, but hearing that the running backs are looking good this early really gets the blood going. Remember, multiple Baylor players said that Chris Warren was their toughest opponent to tackle, and we personally cannot wait to see what another year in the weight room has turned him into.
This is easily one of the deepest stables of running backs UT has had in a long time, which says a lot about just how good these guys are.
When we asked about who appears to be a leader on the offense, ITP said, “No one has really stepped up to be that guy. I think the offense naturally looks to its quarterback for motivation, and while Connor Williams and other guys are technically leading, everyone is still waiting on a QB to emerge.”
As for tight ends, our source indicates Caleb Bluiett is receiving quite a few reps. When asked to estimate, “He’s probably out there for around 40-50% of the snaps, some at sniffer (fullback), some running routes.”
This has to be welcomed news to a guy like 2017 Texas TE commit Major Tennison, who was able to take in Texas' practice/scrimmage this past Saturday.
TURNING TO THE DEFENSE:
The defense has a lot of work to do, but ITP commended the secondary, “They communicate really well, and I think they might be the closest group of guys on the team.
"They’re learning how to adapt to this up-tempo style practice - just like the offense. But they’re doing a really good job of flying around and making plays.”
The defense has worked primarily in the nickel.
As for corrections being made when someone messes up, ITP indicates that GAs are on the field making corrections. This may not sound like the ideal way of coaching, but our source believes that the defense isn’t suffering because of it,
“There’s not a lot of time to coach, but it’s definitely enough time," ITP said. "The GA will point out the mistake. The player will internalize it, and then it’s time to go again.”
On his overall impression of the coaching staff, ITP said, “They are all very cohesive and working together very well. Everyone is excited about the direction the team is moving.”
THE KICKING GAME:
Michael Dickson has solidified himself as the starting punter this spring, showcasing a huge leg while simultaneously placing an emphasis on making that leg more consistent.
Yet, when Nick Jordan decided to forego his fifth year, the team was left with zero scholarships kickers and no experienced replacement.
This leaves important openings at place kicker and kickoff specialist, which one of the 3 currently competing kickers hopes to secure. So far, redshirt junior Mitchell Becker appears to be leading amongst the trio, followed by the redshirt freshman Jon Coppens and redshirt sophomore Evan Moore.
A source close to the team tells us that in field goal drills Becker has gone 11/15 with a long of 53. Coppens has gone 7/14, while Moore has gone only 4/7 (Moore has had one less day of practice). According to our source, all 3 guys seem to still be working out some kinks.
For Coppens and Moore, struggles with operation times (the time between when the ball is snapped to when it is kicked) are holding them back. Ideally, the time from snap to kick should be around 1.2-1.3 seconds, but Coppens and Moore are hovering more around the 1.5-1.6 seconds mark.
Becker has consistently been around half a second quicker than Nick Rose was last year, but as a result he sometimes can rush through his motion. We were told that although these may seem like minor details, they are “sometimes more important that the actual kick itself.”
Another issue for Coppens right now is his leg strength. Our source tells us that at last Tuesday’s practice Coppens missed short from 43 and 48 yards out.
During the scrimmage last Saturday, Becker got all of the reps as the place kicker. Although it is early, it appears he has the confidence of Coach Strong.
The last thing our source indicated to us was that they have not seen one single kickoff rep at practice. We believe it is safe to assume that Becker is also leading for this position because of the other two’s struggles with their leg strength.
if he is our starting QB against Notre Dame then it is a stage 4 problem. Swoopes is not a bad guy cancer personality wise, not like Murray for atmou, but when things go bad with him they go really, really bad. If he is our starting option that first week that means we have NO capable QB's in this staffs stable. Case McCoy was the last best QB we had and this team is 19-19 the last 3 years. The 8-5 was with case....let that sink in
Dude, don't badmouth the Gimp. He was a straight up baller.
from what I have seen the last 2 years...Case is good in my books. Anything I said bad about him I take back right now
very fair comment. We were duped by wickline....I thought wickline was our savior and it turned out he was not. I am excited to see where the O-line goes from here.
I didn't mean it in that sense.
I agree he put in his work after he got benched and is a team player.
It was in the sense of finding a word to go against "pains". I was talking about Buechele starting and us seeing "growing pains". I was trying to think of a word to play off that. Maybe I should have said "stomach pains if Swoopes starts". Because that's ultimately what I get when watching Swoopes.
No knock on him as a person. He just doesn't have enough tools in the box. Some of that is on the OCs who were calling the plays the past 2 yrs and the OL. Now I think we can see a better version of Swoopes in this offense. But he is what he is. And we have already seen it, plenty. Too inaccurate and too indecisive and shrinks when the moments get large. In fact, he puts his head down and drowns in misery instead of rising up with confidence. But the inaccuracy and indecisiveness are what really kills a QB from simply being serviceable. That other stuff is the next level leader and winner stuff.
Bottom line, if he is the starter by default to start the year. That says a lot about how the competition fell flat on their face. And if he is the starter by the end of the year, well it will be a frustrating season to watch.....think last year.
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Would you have any more confidence if it was Heard that was supposedly leading? Not that I think Swoopes is transformed, but I would like to have seen him more last year. He deserved to be benched, but Heard's play didn't warrant keeping him on the bench. I like that he bought in to his 18 wheeler package and was able to run effectively. His sophomore year he was useless as a runner because he kept trying to go around everyone instead of through them.
Only if we're going back to the VY zone read offense which we're not. Heard and Locksley would be great then. As it stands, we need someone who can throw timely and accurately. And that's not Heard. I say start with Swoopes and if he can't run Gilbert's offense, then bite the bullet and put Buechele in.
I think that's the way it will play out.
To answer the other guys question, sadly my vote is just to start Buechele from day 1. I think he physically he could use the RS year to put on some weight. I think mentally he is speeding things up to grasp this jump and will struggle at times because of it. But I think he is far and away the best FIT we have on campus for this offense. He is by far the most accurate QB we have. Which is the trait I value first and foremost in QBs nowadays. Running threats are awesome and I love having that extra stress on the D.....if the guy can complete a basic pass or two. But if the guy back there is essentially a RB...well that's why the wildcat offense died.
Ultimately I just hope one guy steps up and impresses over the next few weeks and wins the damn job. Instead of us giving it to the SR by default. If Swoopes starts to impress, then ok. But I think the staff might just settle on him because Heard/Locksley are too enigmatic and Buechele simply isn't fully ready, nor are they ready to hitch their wagon on a true frosh.
and that is why a bunch of us wanted so badly to get a grad transfer. No, he did not have to be a star but somebody that can manage a game. We thought we had found the next VY in heard but his accuracy problems along with the O-line was too much to overcome. This is early in spring and they need to get some weight and muscle on Buechele.
