Here we'll do a Holidays football chat. I'll answer any questions you have. Please read the rules before asking a question.
RULES:
1) I'll answer each question ITT (until the chat is over) and also post the question and answer here in the OP so readers can find it all in one place without wading through the thread if they don't want to. The Chat will stay up as a column after the chat is over, hence the name "Chat Column."
2) No questions are off-limits, however, I will be able to give the best answers about things like Longhorns football, the NFL draft, Fantasy Football, Daily Fantasy Sports and the DFS industry, music, food, fishing and dogs.
3) Since this is a CHAT and not an interrogation, you must answer the following question before asking yours to get an answer:
Andy Warhol proposed the idea that everyone gets "15 minutes of fame" in their life. Have you had your fifteen minutes of fame, and if so, what was it?
Ready ...
Set ...
GO.
Never even interviewed by the local news about a noise ordinance or something in your neighborhood?!
If it's something that has to happen before Christmas, I think the answer will be the hire of Sterlin Gilbert. If it's something that can happen sometime after, I would say landing Jean Delance. Texas needs a type like him badly.
It'll come sooner or later I'll bet.
As for the 2016 prognosis, I could write a book on it and the things that will ultimately shape the fate of season. Here are my quick thoughts, though.
- Getting Gilbert was beyond key. I honestly feel like this was a situation where Texas really is MUCH better off having not landed it's first option in Cumbie. Three games into studying Tulsa, I'm not just intrigued by the offense, I'm actually growing to really love it, especially for the personnel Texas has both in the cupboard and on the possible radar.
- The Texas offense will be much better in 2016 because it will have a distinct and undeniable identity and purpose. The fragmented nature of the coaching hierarchy and lack of attention to detail in the old system caused much of the dysfunction that drew the ire of fans.
- I think Coach Strong needs 8 wins next season and I think he gets it. Not sure he'll get nine, but I think nine wins or more would lead to the biggest recruiting coup in 2017 that Texas has seen in many years.
The Raulerson situation was a colossal fiasco caused by Joe Wickline and allowed to fester by Charlie Strong. Since the buck stops with Strong, it's up to you to decide where to lay blame.
Here is the brief overview:
- Raulerson was clearly frustrated coming into the season that he hadn't had a real chance to start, but in my opinion understood that he was the defacto starter in 2016.
- After Doyle began to struggle, Raulerson was told no less than five times by members of the staff not named Joe Wickline that he was in line for more playing time.
- Wickline, per sources, was always telling Raulerson he needed to get "nastier" and play with more of a mean streak; which is interesting as Sedrick Flowers played LG in 2015 like he didn't want to hurt a fly.
- When playing time did not occur (even when other backups were getting mop-up duty) Raulerson began to distrust the entire staff.
- Like many juniors and seniors on the team who were not recruited by Strong, Raulerson likely had a feeling that it was only a matter of time before Strong got one of "his guys" into the program to take over his job.
- Raulerson is a Big 12 first-team academic AA and will graduate this spring, and wanted to pursue an MBA degree while finishing his time at Texas, but that costs $50K a year as opposed to the $5K a year than other masters programs at the university.
- In meeting with academic support, Raulerson received pushback about the cost of the MBA track and was encouraged to possibly get two separate one-year master's degrees over the next two seasons which was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I wish him the best of luck wherever he ends up.
I have to assume he is on the roster because it's hard to envision a JUCO QB or Shane Buechele coming in and unseating not only Heard and Swoopes but also Merrick and Locksley.
However, I will say that I'm not sure that the starting QB for Big 12 play will be Swoopes or Heard unless one or either improve dramatically within the parameters of the new system.
The new offense will call for a passer who has a little bit of a gunslinger mentality to him and can act as an extension of the staff on the field. With the number of times we've seen Swoopes and Heard's heads swimming (or simply shutting down) over one-read concepts and the like, it's impossible to project either as being a prolific passer in this offense, which is what Texas will eventually need to get the most out of it.
This offense will dink and dunk you to death, slash you up the middle and before you can blink, get behind you deep. The QB needs to be not only able to process things (and quickly), he'll need a little more fearlessness and flexibility/creativity than we've ever seen for any extended stretch under Heard or Swoopes.
- It suits the personnel very well, overall.
- It will give the opportunity to employ a fourth WR (a place where Texas has loads of decent quality depth) for up to fives times more snaps. It will also feature John Burt in the Keyarris Garrett No.1 role.
- The man-blocking, power and veer concepts suit players like Patrick Vahe and Kent Perkins immensely while somewhat diminishing a really good aspect of Connor Williams' game as the play-side tackle in outside-zone.
- As for the TE's - I wrote about that here.
- I'm not sure how it suits the QBs Texas has on campus as mentioned in an answer before. The general hope for Texas fans should be that Heard thrives within the parameters of the new system, becoming more successful and confident as a passer under Gilbert. And if not Heard, at least somebody.
It's an interesting idea. I walked around and thought about it.
- We need to cover the team and OB is better than anyone IMO in using extreme caution and sensibilities in not running anything until all parties involved, sources usually included, feel comfortable with the content. It's what you need to do when you're the runaway market leader and have an editor with editorial sensibilities that lean heavily toward a cautious approach in one Jason Suchomel.
- Clearly having the entire process under such a microscope made it worse, just like any unfavorable situation when inspected in this way, but it was an offensive coordinator search. You usually don't hear about OC-hire snafus at major programs because they generally don't happen.
- I guess the bottom line is that I can't speak for other websites, but I just know we gotta cover the team. It's a balancing act between exercising discretion, protecting sources and providing information. We work very hard and we do the best we can.
Looks like you were on to something ...
I assume you mean Hassan Ridgeway, and I continue to be told no decision has been made, although a source close to Ridgeway feels it's a shoe-in that he'll return. I think, based on 2015 film and possible injury concerns he could receive a fifth-round grade, but that is just a guess. Likely better than the late-round feedback Cedric Reed received last season.
I've learned it's hard to please all posters on OB all the time, and Robinson would probably figure about the same.
If Texas lands all those guys Matt Mattox should get an immediate statue on campus.
Couldn't see Shackelford and certainly couldn't see Uriquidez contributing right off. I believe Delance would have the opportunity to step right in, not as sure about Hudson right off the bat, but think he'd likely represent Delance-like upside and could be a beast by even his sophomore season.
Basically the same music I've listened to all my life, a lotta classical music, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, etc.
My too-early prediction for Texas in 2016 is 8 wins, but clearly reserve the right to change that at any time.
The green boxes in the player participation log just mean that it's a player in the game that didn't start the game at the position, like saying he was a substitution from the starter being in there. It's just a way to highlight when changes in personnel from the "starting" set occur.
I think theories about the Texas passing offense in 2015 are a fool's errand to analyze and not worth the time as the new attack will be dramatically different and more organized/efficient by all early indications.
I can't speak to the validity or usefulness of the article mentioned, but will say that "mending" relationships with the TXHSFB coaches would take doing something to have hurt them initially.
Strong did not come in and devote his time or resources to an all-out political campaign to gain the favor of the TXHSFB coaches the way some different sorts of figure-heads might have, but to act is if the man has come into this job and scorned every coach from San Angelo to Beaumont by not giving the impression he worships the ground they all walk on like a diplomat-coach hybrid is baseless. Strong has great fans in certain Texas high school coaches he has built relationships with when recruiting their players.
There are no players "worth starting" in a 16-team championship on the waiver wire, but I understand that you have to. Hopefully your opponent is in TE purgatory as well as most teams are this season.
Ladarius Green is probably available. He's getting back to health and will be targeted by Rivers against Oakland as the SD receiving corps has been decimated. Oakland is a Top 10 TE matchup per my proprietary matchup tool at RosterWatch. The Chargers will need to run more two-TE stuff with OL in shambles, and a more prominent receiving presence in Woodhead with Gordon shelved will open things up more in the seem as overhang players are conflicted to the flats.
Those are some well-diversified accomplishments.
I can't say I envision this scenario. I know Fowler will always keep an ear open to Texas, but just has a lot of LSU voices in that same ear. I've never had a good feel for Hudson and have never even met him. I'd put the chances of landing both guys at 15%.
... Which is technically an 85% chance of it not happening. My bad.
- I think Strong will always poke around ideas about reuniting with Hurtt, but have no direct knowledge of any impending defensive staff shakeups at this time.
- Please see earlier posts about the new offense and the current QBs and Gilbert's effect.
- Yes, it has a chance. I would have told you at this time last season that Geoff Swaim and certainly Mykelle Thompson had no chance at being drafted. I think Strong will talk very highly of Peter Jinkens and Duke Thomas to scouts, and with an excellent pro day, maybe one of them could be a late-rounder. I don't think the chances of Texas having a player drafted in 2016 are very strong, though.
Did you ask him how the water was over there?
That's tough.
Jamaal Charles
Nathan Vasher
Casey Hampton
- I'm very optimistic about Kris Boyd moving forward, but wonder where he'll fit in with Holton Hill and Davante Davis seeming to have somehow legitimately locked down the two starting corner spots for the next 2-3 years if they remain healthy. With PJ Locke seeming to figure heavily into the mix at nickel coming into the spring, Boyd will have to earn his way into playing time at one of the three corner spots. He's a dynamo on the football field, though, so perhaps he could get a look at safety, and I've always felt he'd be the perfect cheetah (sixth DB and blitzer) candidate when Texas goes to it's speed-pressure 3rd down package with Duke Thomas now gone.
- Brandon Jones is a terriffic prospect who could start Day 1 at some places, but would face hurdles at Texas. If he came to Texas and started Day 1 it would mean the Longhorns had a beast on their hands as it would likely meaning unseating Deshon Elliott.
- I've never been in a position to closely observe a more promising set of young CBs than Texas currently has on its team.
- Really like a lot of music, this one is tough. Probably the Beatles, Soundgarden and Tool.
- I still don't know what they're going to do to replace Raulerson. By default I'll guess they move Elijah Rodgriguez in to center, but that is wild speculation as I don't know if he's ever snapped a football in his life. Williams, Hodges, Rodgriguez, Vahe, Perkins.
- Will catch a lot of flack for this one but it's gotta be Trudy's.
Texas has recruited DTs, in fact, to start the season, Strong tried to sell the media on the idea that the DL and its depth would be the team's biggest strength. I think the true, glaring, wave-your-hands-the-air-and-scream issue along the defensive line is a lack of literally any quality and/or proven depth at the strong-side defensive end position.
- The team will use almost entirely man and gap-blocking principles in power and also in veer-rules if 2015 Tulsa work tells us anything.
- See the answer above about current personnel fits and thoughts about this.
- I haven't looked deeply enough at the class to have an answer I feel comfortable about yet. I have to see QBs with my own eyes and hear/feel how the ball comes off their hand with my own ears and then I will have strong opinions as usual.
- Most improved position group will be the wide receivers. They'll get a major boost in production thanks to the new system.
- Top three transfer candidates: (not based on any knowledge of their intentions, only a lack of playing time coupled with being young and having enough talent to possibly see the field elsewhere) Garrett Gray, Bryson Echols, Antwuan Davis.
Sounds like a RosterWatch cheat sheet team, congrats on making the finals. I'd get in Hurns versus the Saints. Dennis Allen is likely to give Robinson the Megatron treatment which will open up some big shots for Hurns, plus he's actually the safest option mentioned based on year-long median of over 12 points in standard. Hurns has been a stud. Close second goes to Michael Floyd.
I don't think the defense needs any changes except for its future difference-makers beginning to grow up and become stars. I'm highly confident in Strong's ability to roll out a serviceable defense at least coming into 2016 when he'll have a more seasoned array of his own players.
Thank you for your service.
Yes. I've never seen a player in his situation not have a rough time through the draft process. Unless he has a Jameis Winston-like, true "leader of men" demeanor and attitude to complement all the peripheral junk, he's going to take a hit with his stock for sure.
No, Malik was adequate in these areas of diagnosis with obvious and clear freshman mistakes. No changes in scheme were based on anything Malik Jefferson was capable or not capable of doing as he finished the season in a dead heat with Hassan Ridgeway as the best player on the defense.
The poor run D had equal parts to do with bad DL play, bad LB play and an apparent inability from the coaching staff to have its players ready to play coming out of halftime. The Texas staff in 2015 was not necessarily one that would throw opposing teams for a loop with halftime adjustments.
Yes, I believe so strongly.
- I anticipate Charles' snap counts to tick up closer to a 35-40% split with mainly Naashon Hughes with the possibility of Roberson being shifted over to the strong-side with Cottrell the only proven returning option and the fact that Roberson was used at both the SDE and the FOX during limited duty in 2015.
- I think both players will attempt to return to the program, but I don't have much faith in either contributing.
- I'm not sure there is a player the new offense helps as far getting him on the field and using him as a weapon as Deandre McNeal. I think he'll be used much more next season.
- He's done due to injury from all I know, sometimes, they don't make a huge rush to get those guys off the roster. It's been a slow fade for Norman.
- My 15 minutes of fame? That might be the hardest question yet, I've had a charmed life with some extraordinary experiences. I honestly don't know.
I will still do that, but I would like to find a game that is in HD. I tried to start on the 2004 Ohio State game and could not find a version anywhere that was a clear enough picture to do any really good work. It's crazy how much video technology and TVs have changed since 2005.
The only JUCO QB that I heard personally that Texas kicked the tires on (pretty quietly it seems) was Jerod Evans of TVCC, but Evans seems to be off the table now after signing his LOI to Virginia Tech.
I said I'd answer each question until the chat is over. : )
Hey ... I remember that. You really are famous!
I'll put his David Johnson bitterness at a 7.
Not a surgeon, but I think so.
I really like Merrick's skill set for this system as a confident QB who seems extremely sharp from all the interactions I've had with/about him. He needs to work on his delivery which is still sloppy even after a year with Shawn Watson, but he throws a catchable football and has a good enough arm. My notes from watching his high school film indicate that he'd be comfortable steering the ship in a run-pass option offense, and unlike the 2015 season, there will be TRUE elements of a RPO-system at Texas in 2016. The more I think about Merrick, the more I feel he could be a sneaky guy to watch this spring regarding how he takes to the new offense and how the staff feels about.
