Daily Short #40, August 9th, 2017: Live Football Chat Column and AMA
Let's do another chat column this morning. I'll be here until until 10:30am or so to answer as many of your questions as I can get to before hopping off to join Ketch to record a segment of OB Radio. They can be about Texas football or you can ask me anything. I'll paste all answers here in the OP so that once the chat is done, it is easy to look back through the questions and answers without wading through the thread. I'll leave the recruiting questions to Jason unless they are about a prospect I've watched. IF I DON'T GET TO YOUR QUESTION, it is either 1) because it was asked after the chat portion ended (please check in the thread for the time I call it off), 2) it has already been asked and answered or 3) it is a recruiting question that I don't know the answer to. The over/under on angry DMs/emails I receive for "ignoring my question!" is still set at 2.5, though.
LET'S GO.
Well, you know what my first answer was going to be. I've gotta say that it's been Connor Williams because he's looked like Connor Williams and there is very little not to be impressed with in his game. Others who jump out at me as having stood out during time available to us are Deshon Elliott, Malcolm Roach, Toneil Carter and Kirk Johnson (I've only seen him in one practice but he has jaw-dropping stuff).
What we know about the OL is that, outside of the right tackle, it's looking to be the best group Texas has had since I've been covering the program. So, I may see this through a different lens than someone who is anticipating pure, hot garbage in the trenches once again. While Texas does have strength in numbers at the WR position, the fact of the matter is that Herman has run an extremely balanced attack at each one of his stops where he's had playcalling/ideological duties and I don't see that changing one bit.
Barring an injury to Buechele that would thrust Sam Ehlinger into the limelight, I think that he'd certainly be the odds-on favorite to be the guy who does receive those honors. He's a terrific prospect that moves well who looks poised to be a 45% snap participant. After seeing him in full-contact drills for the first time yesterday (it was the first time we'd been around when they were really going live), I'm even more sure that he's the real deal.
The one that we've seen the most clear progress from is Patrick Hudson. He's made a quick transition from being a clunky big boy with two left feet to a big, lean man who is moving better and staying more balanced. I've always said with Hudson it is just a matter of fixing the feet because then the balance will come, and add feet and balance to the power that he inherently has, you could have a budding monster. Unfortunately, I've seen nothing to indicate much progression out of Delance or Okafor at this time, but that could come through the season. With this said, I think it's obvious that Okafor is currently ahead of Delance on the development curve.
Kind of hard to answer this question without exposing myself to a ton of hostility from those who believe Herman can do no wrong and those who just hate the "entitled media", fake news, etc. etc. etc. Plus, Herman hasn't done much that I don't generally view as positive for the program. But, since I have to answer your question, I guess the only thing where I've been like
was during the spring practice for students. It was a practice where any random dude/gal could come in and watch, but they made the media leave after the first five periods. I actually didn't even come in with the media. I just walked in like a regular fan but was spotted by the SID and was told to leave when the media left. I still can't figure out what the heck anyone was thinking with that ridiculous nonsense. If a practice is open to anyone who wants to come, it should be open to anyone who wants to come.
Yikes. I'm going to throw you guys a curveball here. IF HEALTHY AND OPERATING AT 100% in 2017, I say
Kirk Johnson
TIE - Kyle Porter and Chris Warren
Toneil Carter (if we're talking long-term potential given health I'd have him ranked at No.1 or No.2 but not as a freshman)
Tristian Houston
Daniel Young
click images to enlarge
(Chisolm has since enrolled and is working in behind Graham at the Anchor DE).
1) I rate them as a 7.5.
2) Collin Johnson. By the end of the 2017 season, there will be 2019 NFL draft buzz about him.
That is a question that is so vast and expansive that it simply can't even be answered unless you wanted me to write a novel. I wouldn't know where to start. It's like asking the difference between a lamp and a Ford F150. The most important thing, though, is that this team's offense is a proven, winning system that is based in a spread formation but emphasizes important pro-style philosophies to create mismatches and exploit defensive deficiencies and weaknesses. The fact that the offense is even based in one ideology, period, is a gigantic upgrade from the pitiful and pathetic mish-mash of philosophies Strong's coordinators tried to fraudulently pass off during his time here.
Ability to drive the ball with power and accuracy on the deeper out-patterns.
The only group that has been at a level below my expectations would be the TEs. I would have liked to have seen Leitao making more waves by now and I'm still not sure how much of an impact I believe Kendall Moore is capable of making this season.
I haven't seen any wildcat stuff, but I think it's pretty obvious that if they messed around with that kind of thing that it would be Jerrod Heard taking those snaps.
I don't have an answer for you here and I'm not sure the Texas staff does, either. Just have to move forward and live with it. If Rodriguez gets back healthy enough, he's your best option, but with a "high-ankle sprain," there's no guarantee he's going to be good to go for the start of the season. That could be a one-week deal or a five-week deal. We'll just have to see. With that said, Texas fans should feel lucky he got away with it just being an ankle sprain. With the lack of weight he was able to put on it, I was prepared for news of an ACL or broken leg.
I always watch all the players. I have to chart and grade each player on each snap as a part of my job here. As for out at practice, the guys I have enjoyed watching the most this fall are Connor Williams, Ta'Quon Graham, Kirk Johnson and Collin Johnson.
It's been brutal doing my job since 2014 (outside of the fact that it's never that brutal to have your job be to watch football).
The answer, though, is above-average with upside to be a rung below exceptional. I think the RT issue will hinder them from rising to that exceptional level. Texas fans don't realize that OL could be an overall strength of this team in 2017 if things fall the right way and development continues as it should under Warehime.
Lil'Jordan Humphrey is virtually assured of getting meaningful snaps this season if healthy, yes. I view him as the favored X-WR option behind Collin Johnson by the staff. I will admit, though, I have not taken too much notice of him in camp during portions open to us. In fact, I've been more impressed with what I've seen in these samples from Dorian Leonard who'll be vying for those same snaps behind Johnson.
Can't believe @Anwar Richardson hasn't asked Coach Herman for you guys yet at one of his post-practice PCs. He'd be a hero to the forums for cracking this mystery.
Vegas has Texas win total O/U at 7.5, and while I think that is too low for what fans should expect (and demand) out of Herman and his staff, I think you may want to slow down on the Kool-Aid. Anything less than 9 wins with this roster is unacceptable, but replicating his 13-1 season at UH from 2015 may be a tall task.
He's looked solid enough and I have absolutely zero concerns about the fact that he's likely to be a 40-45% snap participant behind Poona Ford.
McKnight
Mad Dog
Wylie
Moorer
Melvin Gordon and Michael Thomas.
Alright guys, have to hop on with Ketch for this OB Radio recording, that will wrap this week's chat column and AMA (10:20am). Thanks to all for participating. Sorry if I wasn't able to get to your question, but hopefully we can get to it next time.
Let's do another chat column this morning. I'll be here until until 10:30am or so to answer as many of your questions as I can get to before hopping off to join Ketch to record a segment of OB Radio. They can be about Texas football or you can ask me anything. I'll paste all answers here in the OP so that once the chat is done, it is easy to look back through the questions and answers without wading through the thread. I'll leave the recruiting questions to Jason unless they are about a prospect I've watched. IF I DON'T GET TO YOUR QUESTION, it is either 1) because it was asked after the chat portion ended (please check in the thread for the time I call it off), 2) it has already been asked and answered or 3) it is a recruiting question that I don't know the answer to. The over/under on angry DMs/emails I receive for "ignoring my question!" is still set at 2.5, though.
LET'S GO.
Well, you know what my first answer was going to be. I've gotta say that it's been Connor Williams because he's looked like Connor Williams and there is very little not to be impressed with in his game. Others who jump out at me as having stood out during time available to us are Deshon Elliott, Malcolm Roach, Toneil Carter and Kirk Johnson (I've only seen him in one practice but he has jaw-dropping stuff).
What we know about the OL is that, outside of the right tackle, it's looking to be the best group Texas has had since I've been covering the program. So, I may see this through a different lens than someone who is anticipating pure, hot garbage in the trenches once again. While Texas does have strength in numbers at the WR position, the fact of the matter is that Herman has run an extremely balanced attack at each one of his stops where he's had playcalling/ideological duties and I don't see that changing one bit.
Barring an injury to Buechele that would thrust Sam Ehlinger into the limelight, I think that he'd certainly be the odds-on favorite to be the guy who does receive those honors. He's a terrific prospect that moves well who looks poised to be a 45% snap participant. After seeing him in full-contact drills for the first time yesterday (it was the first time we'd been around when they were really going live), I'm even more sure that he's the real deal.
The one that we've seen the most clear progress from is Patrick Hudson. He's made a quick transition from being a clunky big boy with two left feet to a big, lean man who is moving better and staying more balanced. I've always said with Hudson it is just a matter of fixing the feet because then the balance will come, and add feet and balance to the power that he inherently has, you could have a budding monster. Unfortunately, I've seen nothing to indicate much progression out of Delance or Okafor at this time, but that could come through the season. With this said, I think it's obvious that Okafor is currently ahead of Delance on the development curve.
Kind of hard to answer this question without exposing myself to a ton of hostility from those who believe Herman can do no wrong and those who just hate the "entitled media", fake news, etc. etc. etc. Plus, Herman hasn't done much that I don't generally view as positive for the program. But, since I have to answer your question, I guess the only thing where I've been like
was during the spring practice for students. It was a practice where any random dude/gal could come in and watch, but they made the media leave after the first five periods. I actually didn't even come in with the media. I just walked in like a regular fan but was spotted by the SID and was told to leave when the media left. I still can't figure out what the heck anyone was thinking with that ridiculous nonsense. If a practice is open to anyone who wants to come, it should be open to anyone who wants to come.
Yikes. I'm going to throw you guys a curveball here. IF HEALTHY AND OPERATING AT 100% in 2017, I say
Kirk Johnson
TIE - Kyle Porter and Chris Warren
Toneil Carter (if we're talking long-term potential given health I'd have him ranked at No.1 or No.2 but not as a freshman)
Tristian Houston
Daniel Young
click images to enlarge
(Chisolm has since enrolled and is working in behind Graham at the Anchor DE).
1) I rate them as a 7.5.
2) Collin Johnson. By the end of the 2017 season, there will be 2019 NFL draft buzz about him.
That is a question that is so vast and expansive that it simply can't even be answered unless you wanted me to write a novel. I wouldn't know where to start. It's like asking the difference between a lamp and a Ford F150. The most important thing, though, is that this team's offense is a proven, winning system that is based in a spread formation but emphasizes important pro-style philosophies to create mismatches and exploit defensive deficiencies and weaknesses. The fact that the offense is even based in one ideology, period, is a gigantic upgrade from the pitiful and pathetic mish-mash of philosophies Strong's coordinators tried to fraudulently pass off during his time here.
Ability to drive the ball with power and accuracy on the deeper out-patterns.
The only group that has been at a level below my expectations would be the TEs. I would have liked to have seen Leitao making more waves by now and I'm still not sure how much of an impact I believe Kendall Moore is capable of making this season.
I haven't seen any wildcat stuff, but I think it's pretty obvious that if they messed around with that kind of thing that it would be Jerrod Heard taking those snaps.
I don't have an answer for you here and I'm not sure the Texas staff does, either. Just have to move forward and live with it. If Rodriguez gets back healthy enough, he's your best option, but with a "high-ankle sprain," there's no guarantee he's going to be good to go for the start of the season. That could be a one-week deal or a five-week deal. We'll just have to see. With that said, Texas fans should feel lucky he got away with it just being an ankle sprain. With the lack of weight he was able to put on it, I was prepared for news of an ACL or broken leg.
I always watch all the players. I have to chart and grade each player on each snap as a part of my job here. As for out at practice, the guys I have enjoyed watching the most this fall are Connor Williams, Ta'Quon Graham, Kirk Johnson and Collin Johnson.
It's been brutal doing my job since 2014 (outside of the fact that it's never that brutal to have your job be to watch football).
The answer, though, is above-average with upside to be a rung below exceptional. I think the RT issue will hinder them from rising to that exceptional level. Texas fans don't realize that OL could be an overall strength of this team in 2017 if things fall the right way and development continues as it should under Warehime.
Lil'Jordan Humphrey is virtually assured of getting meaningful snaps this season if healthy, yes. I view him as the favored X-WR option behind Collin Johnson by the staff. I will admit, though, I have not taken too much notice of him in camp during portions open to us. In fact, I've been more impressed with what I've seen in these samples from Dorian Leonard who'll be vying for those same snaps behind Johnson.
Can't believe @Anwar Richardson hasn't asked Coach Herman for you guys yet at one of his post-practice PCs. He'd be a hero to the forums for cracking this mystery.
Vegas has Texas win total O/U at 7.5, and while I think that is too low for what fans should expect (and demand) out of Herman and his staff, I think you may want to slow down on the Kool-Aid. Anything less than 9 wins with this roster is unacceptable, but replicating his 13-1 season at UH from 2015 may be a tall task.
He's looked solid enough and I have absolutely zero concerns about the fact that he's likely to be a 40-45% snap participant behind Poona Ford.
McKnight
Mad Dog
Wylie
Moorer
Melvin Gordon and Michael Thomas.
Alright guys, have to hop on with Ketch for this OB Radio recording, that will wrap this week's chat column and AMA (10:20am). Thanks to all for participating. Sorry if I wasn't able to get to your question, but hopefully we can get to it next time.
