Game Week +1 – Nostrum Damas – UNO MAS DIA!
- Thread starter Godz40Acrez
- Start date
I was referring to his having Texas SOS at #12 when its #26 according to the link posted above. Steele is always on Texas' jock.
....AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT MEASURES. the link you acknowledge as credible is based off win/loss formula. Just sayin'
This one at 13 http://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-college-footballs-top-25-toughest-schedules-2016
This one 17th http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings
and so on.
No he's not. Which has already been pointed out to you yet you continue with this misinformation. He picked Texas to finish 5th in the Big XII with a losing record just last year.
https://www.philsteele.com/miscpages/projectedstandings/2015/2015_ProjStandings.html
Tyrone Swoopes: I spoke with a few people this week and this is what I’ve been told.
Texas is splitting their team period into “halves” and in the “first half” Swoopes is with the first team and in the “second half” Buechele is with the first team.
Also a source noted that when they install a new plan, Swoopes gets the majority of those reps.
I asked how Swoopes looks this week and was told he looks “aggressive”.
Was also told that Sterlin Gilbert has been really working to get Swoopes to play “backyard football”, to trust himself and just make the throw. One source said, “he’s telling Tyrone to throw the ball out there and trust the receivers to go up and get it”. Swoopes has notoriously struggled with hesitancy in pulling the trigger…patting the ball and not throwing guys open. They continue to push him to “just throw it”. And at least based on what we are hearing from practice this week, he’s doing that more and more.
Related to the note above, they are also impressing on him the need to trust himself. Source said, “they’re telling him if he’s unsure of something then just hand it off or tuck it and run”. Again, trying to take the “thinking” out of it and push Tyrone to believe in his abilities and play on instinct.
My personal feeling is this is exactly the kind of message Swoopes needs to hear. And hearing that he is playing “aggressive” in practice is a positive sign. Whether that aggression shows up on Sunday remains to be seen. But I will say that even for those who believe Swoopes was always a good practice player (an assertion I personally disagree with having seen him with my own eyes in practice multiple times in the past) few would argue that he was ever “aggressive” with his passing attack in practice.
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This boggles what's left of my mind. Having to constantly tell an experienced senior QB – as late as Fall Camp! – to be aggresive, trust yourself, trust the receivers, stop holding the ball, etc. should hoist every red flag ever created.
Oh, well, too late.
Texas is splitting their team period into “halves” and in the “first half” Swoopes is with the first team and in the “second half” Buechele is with the first team.
Also a source noted that when they install a new plan, Swoopes gets the majority of those reps.
I asked how Swoopes looks this week and was told he looks “aggressive”.
Was also told that Sterlin Gilbert has been really working to get Swoopes to play “backyard football”, to trust himself and just make the throw. One source said, “he’s telling Tyrone to throw the ball out there and trust the receivers to go up and get it”. Swoopes has notoriously struggled with hesitancy in pulling the trigger…patting the ball and not throwing guys open. They continue to push him to “just throw it”. And at least based on what we are hearing from practice this week, he’s doing that more and more.
Related to the note above, they are also impressing on him the need to trust himself. Source said, “they’re telling him if he’s unsure of something then just hand it off or tuck it and run”. Again, trying to take the “thinking” out of it and push Tyrone to believe in his abilities and play on instinct.
My personal feeling is this is exactly the kind of message Swoopes needs to hear. And hearing that he is playing “aggressive” in practice is a positive sign. Whether that aggression shows up on Sunday remains to be seen. But I will say that even for those who believe Swoopes was always a good practice player (an assertion I personally disagree with having seen him with my own eyes in practice multiple times in the past) few would argue that he was ever “aggressive” with his passing attack in practice.
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This boggles what's left of my mind. Having to constantly tell an experienced senior QB – as late as Fall Camp! – to be aggresive, trust yourself, trust the receivers, stop holding the ball, etc. should hoist every red flag ever created.
Oh, well, too late.
More Redshirts: Earlier this week we noted that WR Reggie Hemphell-Mapps is expected to redshirt. A source confirmed a couple other redshirts that are expected in DB, Eric Cuffee and OL, Patrick Hudson.
On Hudson I was told that while he is extremely strong, he has some work to do on his overall footwork.
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On Hudson I was told that while he is extremely strong, he has some work to do on his overall footwork.
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I want to say I don't get it, but we all get it (even though some of us refuse to admit it.) Strong doesn't want to start a freshman in that environment. Thats all this is. They are pushing Swoopes into the starting spot knowing he still has the same limitations that have lost him this job twice before. He's hesitant with decisions and has no confidence in his own arm.
Yep.
Strong said in his presser that Gilbert has 100% control of the offense. If Swoopes trots out first in this game, I'd bet my twin brother's life it was Charlie's decision.
I hope he plays well, but I'm very skeptical if he is still hesitant in PRACTICE. ND loves to throw different looks at you and try to confuse on D. Not to mention the second they realize who has walked onto the field they are going to force him to throw. Makes me wonder if they think Buchele would just have a total melt down if he started the game, and if so, why? The claimed for six months they wouldn't be afraid to start a freshman.
How To....
How to beat Notre Dame: At least for Kickoff Week, you have to attack the Irish deep. DC Brian VanGorder is now in Year 3 of his system, and after middling returns the previous two seasons, it remains to be seen if this unit can turn a corner after the departure of so many key pieces from last season's defense. – Fortuna
How to beat Texas: Against Texas, you’re going to load up to stop the run and dare quarterbacks Tyrone Swoopes and Shane Buechele to beat you in the passing game. Getting off to a fast start and early lead against the Longhorns will pay off, too. Texas is 0-11 in games when its opponent scores first under coach Charlie Strong. The Irish put all the pressure on Texas right away in last year’s meeting, and the Horns simply couldn’t handle it. – Olson
How Notre Dame beats you: Quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire are good enough to start at most other schools, and they will certainly present a number of challenges – with their arms and their legs. The problem, of course, is that there are virtually no proven pass-catchers outside of Torii Hunter Jr. Expect the Irish to rely on the ground game plenty behind what should be another strong offensive line, especially with Tarean Folston and Josh Adams proving to be very talented backs. – Fortuna
How Texas beats you: First-year offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert is the wild card in all of this. Will his scheme click right away? We do know he'll prioritize the run game and lean on powerful backs D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III to set up the rest of the offensive attack. Texas' defense wants to blitz like crazy and has some rising stars in the secondary, starting with sophomore cornerbacks Davante Davis and Holton Hill, who can stifle the Irish passing game. – Olson
[E$PN]
How to beat Notre Dame: At least for Kickoff Week, you have to attack the Irish deep. DC Brian VanGorder is now in Year 3 of his system, and after middling returns the previous two seasons, it remains to be seen if this unit can turn a corner after the departure of so many key pieces from last season's defense. – Fortuna
How to beat Texas: Against Texas, you’re going to load up to stop the run and dare quarterbacks Tyrone Swoopes and Shane Buechele to beat you in the passing game. Getting off to a fast start and early lead against the Longhorns will pay off, too. Texas is 0-11 in games when its opponent scores first under coach Charlie Strong. The Irish put all the pressure on Texas right away in last year’s meeting, and the Horns simply couldn’t handle it. – Olson
How Notre Dame beats you: Quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire are good enough to start at most other schools, and they will certainly present a number of challenges – with their arms and their legs. The problem, of course, is that there are virtually no proven pass-catchers outside of Torii Hunter Jr. Expect the Irish to rely on the ground game plenty behind what should be another strong offensive line, especially with Tarean Folston and Josh Adams proving to be very talented backs. – Fortuna
How Texas beats you: First-year offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert is the wild card in all of this. Will his scheme click right away? We do know he'll prioritize the run game and lean on powerful backs D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III to set up the rest of the offensive attack. Texas' defense wants to blitz like crazy and has some rising stars in the secondary, starting with sophomore cornerbacks Davante Davis and Holton Hill, who can stifle the Irish passing game. – Olson
[E$PN]
The Mattox Effect
With guard Patrick Vahe and tackle Connor Williams earning Freshman All-America honors and Kent Perkins serving as a veteran anchor, the Longhorn line paved the way for a running game that finished 17th nationally (224.8 yards per game).
But the Longhorns had games against Notre Dame (60 yards on 29 carries) and Iowa State (204 total yards) where the line didn’t do its part to help the offense.
There’s growth to be made and Perkins is among the players who feel new offensive line coach Matt Mattox is the man who can get the group to the next level.
Where Mattox has made the biggest difference with a line that’s expected to start two true sophomores (Vahe and Williams), a true freshman (Zach Shackelford) and a second-year junior college product (Tristan Nickelson) is how he teaches technique. The schemes are similar to things the Longhorns have seen in the past, Perkins said, but the way Mattox delivers the message has resonated with the young men in his meeting room.
“I love coach Mattox and how he’s coached us up,” Perkins said. “The technique brings me back to how (former offensive line coach Stacy) Searels used to coach us when I was a freshman, so it’s real familiar. It works in my favor, I feel like [it does for] all of us,” Perkins said. “We’ve got the technique down. It’s real simple. It’s effective.”
While Perkins will be gone following the 2016 season, the 2017 offensive line is setting up to be one of the better units in the Big 12. However, Perkins feels Mattox’s presence could allow the group to get to their destination of being considered a good offensive sooner rather than later.
That's a different feeling than Perkins had about last season. Now, he said, the Longhorns are better prepared on numerous fronts to be a more consistent, productive offensive line.
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Take the Ceiling Off
This has been an off-season of taking that next step for the Texas Longhorns. They know that the excuses – as valid as they may be – are wearing thin on a fan base that hasn't seen a bowl win in four years or hasn't seen their team in the national conversation for the past six seasons.
Of course you wouldn't know it by listening to them – in fact it has been an eerily quiet off-season for the Horns with the exception of gaining even more firepower in the Baylor football imbroglio.
"Don't give them anything to talk about" is a tenet of the Charlie Strong philosophy, learned from the coach that knew how to downplay the best – Lou Holtz.
So instead of boastful talk about taking the next step, it has been Jefferson raising the ceiling by watching endless film of last year's game in South Bend, knowing that personal achievements mean nothing in the face of five touchdown losses – that there is always something to look up to.
It is Jerrod Heard and Kai Locksley raising the ceiling by going to coaches and giving up the position they have played their whole life to fill an area of need – to help the team chase its ultimate goal –to have something to look forward to.
It is the coaching staff raising the ceiling by revamping on the fly –going against core philosophies. It is the entire team bringing a physicality to fall camp that hasn't been seen around here since... Darrell Royal?
The importance of Sunday's game isn't lost on anybody. Texas simply cannot afford another effort like they had 365 days ago.
It is time to raise the ceiling on this reclamation project... with actions on the field, not with more reassurance off of it.
[BC]
This has been an off-season of taking that next step for the Texas Longhorns. They know that the excuses – as valid as they may be – are wearing thin on a fan base that hasn't seen a bowl win in four years or hasn't seen their team in the national conversation for the past six seasons.
Of course you wouldn't know it by listening to them – in fact it has been an eerily quiet off-season for the Horns with the exception of gaining even more firepower in the Baylor football imbroglio.
"Don't give them anything to talk about" is a tenet of the Charlie Strong philosophy, learned from the coach that knew how to downplay the best – Lou Holtz.
So instead of boastful talk about taking the next step, it has been Jefferson raising the ceiling by watching endless film of last year's game in South Bend, knowing that personal achievements mean nothing in the face of five touchdown losses – that there is always something to look up to.
It is Jerrod Heard and Kai Locksley raising the ceiling by going to coaches and giving up the position they have played their whole life to fill an area of need – to help the team chase its ultimate goal –to have something to look forward to.
It is the coaching staff raising the ceiling by revamping on the fly –going against core philosophies. It is the entire team bringing a physicality to fall camp that hasn't been seen around here since... Darrell Royal?
The importance of Sunday's game isn't lost on anybody. Texas simply cannot afford another effort like they had 365 days ago.
It is time to raise the ceiling on this reclamation project... with actions on the field, not with more reassurance off of it.
[BC]
On Cowboys Break show, Cowboys staff writers said DC Rod Marinelli called Jaylon Smith one of the smartest defensive players he's ever coached.
This is a man who coached former defensive stars like Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, Urlacher, Peppers, etc.
Said in 4 months the rookie has already mentally mastered his entire defense and now is helping teach vet LB's who've played in his system.
Sounds like ND's loss of Smith goes far beyond missing his elite talent, but they also lost their defensive coach on the field.
This is a man who coached former defensive stars like Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, Urlacher, Peppers, etc.
Said in 4 months the rookie has already mentally mastered his entire defense and now is helping teach vet LB's who've played in his system.
Sounds like ND's loss of Smith goes far beyond missing his elite talent, but they also lost their defensive coach on the field.
The funny thing is Joe Schmidt was the defensive play caller & the coach on the field. Only reason he played because he had no athletic talents. Jaylon never called a play while at ND, but was really smart. Evidently BVG's scheme was so complicated Schmidt was the only one who had it mastered.
Who knows if anyone this year has it figured out?
BON's Nostrum Damas Take
Notre Dame returns only six starters from a team that was on the cusp of the College Football Playoff in 2015, despite a plague of injuries to key contributors. Statistically, Notre Dame’s 2015 defense was more average than elite and now will be tasked with replacing elite talents in the front seven such as Butkus Award winner Daylon [sic] Smith and defensive linemen Romeo Okwara and Sheldon Day. Linebacker Joe Schmidt, safeties Elijah Shumate and Matthias Farley, along with standout cornerback KeiVarea Russell will need to be replaced, too.
And that’s just the defense.
Offensively, the Fighting Irish are fortunate to return two high-level, experienced quarterbacks in Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer – both will play against Texas – as well as a more than capable backfield consisting of Josh Adams and Tarean Folston, who rushed for 889 yards in 2014, but essentially missed all of 2015 with a torn ACL he suffered against Texas. But the Irish did lose 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Prosise, their top three receivers, a group headlined by Will Fuller. Receiver Corey Robinson was also forced to retire due to concussions and expected 2016 difference maker, tight end Alize Jones, will miss the 2016 season due to academic ineligibility.
More recently, and much more publicized was the arrest of six Notre Dame players in two separate incidents – Devin Butler, Ashton White, Kevin Stepherson Jr., Te’von Coney, Dexter Williams and starting safety Max Redfield. Butler has been suspended indefinitely, while Redfield was dismissed from the team. For the other four, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said, “They will be available to play,” against Texas. That may not ultimately be the case, though, as the university will have the final say on suspensions; that is, if it concludes its investigation prior to Sunday evening.
The Irish still have enough talent to fight
Regardless of all the offseason attrition, which has been well documented, there’s reason many believe the Fighting Irish are capable of a playoff push. The current quarterback situation is, well, a really good problem to have. Notre Dame’s backfield has the capabilities of producing two 1,000-yard rushers and the offensive line, despite needing to replace three starters, is still massive and loaded with talent. The defensive line, which Charlie Strong said “will probably be the most physical front four we’ll face all season” could prove problematic for Texas, which isn’t ideal considering Texas’ rush defense isn’t expected to have its way against the Irish offensive line.
Does Notre Dame have its share of question marks? Sure. Just look at the receiving and linebacker corps, the secondary and overall lack of experienced depth. But Notre Dame is ranked preseason No. 10 for a reason.
[BON]
Junior Mitchell Becker will be handling the kickoffs as opposed to our new placekicker, Trent Domingue.
Per another poster:
Take it for what it's worth but chip is saying Shane is the QB told them last night and some players are upset about it didn't say who but then again who knows if he is telling the truth. Sunday can't get here soon enough.
Swoochele or Boops – Just Settle it Monday
Whether it’s Shane Buechele or Tyrone Swoopes, the closer it gets to kickoff the more I’m feeling that it doesn’t matter all that much.
The right call in my mind would be to go with Buechele and use Swoopes as a specialty player. That’s a role where he’s more likely to be comfortable, one he’s been in and succeeded in the past and it doesn’t put the pressure on him of starting a critical home opener in front of what could be the biggest home crowd in the history of the program.
There’s danger throwing a true freshman into the same environment. Yet men who have played and coached the game will tell you that if the competition is close you go with the younger guys.
Unless Swoopes has blown Buechele out of the water in practice over the last few weeks, common sense should rule in the favor of the Arlington Lamar product being the better option.
Everyone should wrap their head around the fact that Buechele, as true freshmen will do, is going to have moments where the game looks like it’s moving too fast and where he’ll struggle. However, the sooner that’s accepted as reality the easier it will be to accept that this is a season where the Longhorns aren’t likely to be one of the better teams in the Big 12 when it comes to how the quarterback stable stacks up.
But they don’t have to be elite at quarterback for this team to be good.
Adequate quarterback play would be a big step up from what the Longhorns have gotten the last two years. Between his feel for the game, how the offense has had a better flow to it with him in the mix (both from what I’ve seen and what others have observed behind closed doors), the intangibles the coaches have raved about and his mental makeup, it makes sense on so many levels to give Buechele the ball.
But I don’t blame Strong for having cold feet about putting a rookie behind center against a defense with one of the better defensive fronts the Longhorns will see all season.
He just can’t be wrong when making this decision. Strong has got to go with the guy who he feels gives him the best chance to win.
Many would shout from the rooftops that Swoopes isn’t the answer in that regard, but using the 6-foot-4, 249-pound Swoopes serves several purposes. The biggest of those is he’s capable of helping Texas impose its will via the power run game while being able to withstand whatever pressure will leak through an offensive line that should be many times better in late November than it is right now in early September.
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I've said this before.... Start Shane and, until he proves he can't move the chains on 3rd down or score in the red zone, let him continue to roll with the rock. There's a definite rhythm QBs want and need to be successful, especially super-competitive ones like Boo.
What he said on the radio just now is that the QB room was just told last night and that the rest of the team will be brought together today and be told the decision. If this story is true, its strange that they waited this long to tell the players. Also, as far as being upset, they implied that it was Vance Bedford who weighed in on the decision and did not agree. (quote: let Gilbert do his job, you worry about stopping the run).
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Can I get an amen, if he can't get his boys to stop the run.....None of this will matter!
IT's on the defense IMHO.
War room
We’ll open things up with a smattering of updates related to several big picture conversations.
1. In talking with a couple of folks fairly high up the food chain within the program, there’s a sense that Charlie Strong is not really on the hot seat entering the season when it comes to the decision-makers within the university, but there is an acknowledgment that Strong’s seat could begin to get hot depending on how the season goes. Every single person I’ve spoken with this week and in the last couple of weeks has projected excitement towards this season and the future under Strong. Contrary to what was believed by some a couple years ago when he was hired, Strong’s support in the wake of a slow start has not really been shaken. The people that would be the ones to pull the plug on Strong’s tenure, if it went really south, are all strongly behind him entering the season.
All of that being said, I’m reminded of what I was told two weeks ago when I approached a high-level source about the matter, and was told, “Don’t get embarrassed by Notre Dame.”
2. As I’ve reported for a number of weeks, the search for a new athletic director will not take place until the first quarter of 2017 at the earliest, which means that if things go off the rails, the athletics program does not have an ideal team in place to make a change. But I was told that not having a permanent athletic director in place will not stop decision-makers from making a change if it is believed to be in the best interest in the program.
3. I don’t know what Texas president Greg Fenves’ approval rating is, but it’s pretty damn high. In a very short amount of time, he has the earned confidence, trust and respect from just about everyone that works with him. One of the reasons why there’s not a lot of concern about the AD position is the presence of Fenves.
4. ESPN reported on Thursday that the Big 12 had narrowed its list of possible expansion candidates to the following 12 schools (with Memphis also likely to make the cut): Air Force, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Colorado State, UConn, Houston, Rice, South Florida, SMU, Temple and Tulane.
I asked one very high-level source on Thursday about the news and was told, “This was nothing more than a public rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic. If there was really an option or two that warranted serious consideration, there wouldn’t be any need for 12. None of these schools have enough support to get in and the chances of any of them having the support to get in is dwindling. This is a Bob Bowlsby production and there’s a good chance that he’ll look like a fool when this is over.” (Ketch)
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A few quick hits from speaking to sources around the team ...
QB Update: As of Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m., no official announcement has been made to the team regarding who will start versus Notre Dame. Numerous sources and indications to members of the OB staff continue to point to Tyrone Swoopes getting the opening nod at least.
OL Update:From all we're hearing, everyone is hopeful that Texas' "starting" offensive line of (L to R) Connor Williams, Patrick Vahe, Zach Shackelford, Kent Perkins and Tristan Nickelson will be healthy and intact for the opener against Notre Dame. Shackelford and Nickelson are ahead in their rehabs from Vahe and Vahe remains "being worked in" to practice. It will be important to watch all players closely should they all make the start as (Vahe especially) they have not had the ankle tested in a scrimmage or truly live 11-on-11 setting since returning to practice. All the team is doing on Thursday and Friday are light "Thursday practices."
Three practice standouts at WR this week: Jerrod Heard, Armanti Foreman and Lil'Jordan Humphrey.
DT Paul Boyette "will be fine"for the opener.
WR Lorenzo Joe is back running routes and working with trainers catching the football. He should be back in full swing by no later than Week 2 or Week 3 of the season. (Dunlap)
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The season opener between Texas and Notre Dame is a few days away, and Longhorns coach Charlie Strong has not named a starting quarterback. Coaches and players are not allowed to discuss who the starter is. Texas offensive lineman Kent Perkins said he knew who was going to start when asked about the quarterback situation earlier this week, but did not leak any information.
Here is what we do know prior to the season opener.
Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes has received more first-team reps than Shane Buechele prior to Sunday’s game against Notre Dame. It appears Swoopes is going to start against Notre Dame on Sunday. If the starter will not have a short leash, which is what Strong said during his press conference on Monday, Swoopes will likely be given every opportunity to succeed in the season opener.
Obviously, we cannot discount a change of heart by the coaching staff at the midnight hour. Even though every indication we have received points toward Swoopes starting on Sunday, there is always a chance the staff has a change of heart. So far, it does not appear that is the direction we are headed in. From everything we have heard, Swoopes will receive the majority of snaps on Sunday. However, we are not willing to eliminate anything at this moment.
Why is there so much confusion?
Well, before spring practice began, this is what Strong said about the quarterback battle: “The way that we walked out there today, you have quarterbacks, you have [Tyrone] Swoopes, you have [Jerrod] Heard, you have [Shane] Buechele coming in and [Kai] Locksley and [Matthew] Merrick, so you have five guys coming in. You will have enough reps this spring where we will know fairly quickly who our guy will be. Just the way that we practice and the tempo that we are going to practice at, I think that you will be able to see it.”
Not only was a starter not immediately announced, but Heard and Locksley are now receivers.
After spring practice began, Strong backtracked from that statement: “The competition is very good, and I don’t know by the end of spring there will be a guy. You just like the battle right now. Jerrod (Heard) is down, but Buechele and Swoopes, they’re competing, and they’re doing a very good job of just managing the offense and moving the ball. “
In fact, Strong was asked about not being able to name a starting quarterback, and the coach said things just need to play out. He said, “If it takes that we have to go into fall camp and have to pick a guy, then that’s what we will do.”
When fall camp began, Strong said he hoped to know the starter pretty soon. However, a starter was never named. After a scrimmage on August 20, it was obvious Strong had no intention of naming a starting quarterback prior to the season opener.
After a scrimmage on August 20, Strong said, “I wanted to know myself who would be the guy. I kind of know. You want to know who? It’s between us. What’s really good about that competition right now, those guys are getting the reps in. They’re both looking good. They’re both doing a lot of good things. The team, they’ll figure it out. I don’t have to stand up and make a big announcement about it.”
The lack of an official announcement is why there are still so many question marks prior to the season opener.
Even though we were the first outlet to report Swoopes was still alive in the quarterback competition, and actually far ahead of the competition, according to our sources, many within the building were ordered not to discuss the quarterback situation anymore after our initial report. I was told Strong instructed everyone in the building to discontinue any communication with the media. This should explain why practice notes, among other information, has been limited the past few weeks. The staff is focused on defeating Notre Dame, and it is looking for any advantage that can be obtained.
So far, it has been hard to discern if Swoopes and Buechele will split reps on Sunday, or one quarterback will receive the majority of snaps. Our sources have indicated Swoopes will start. However, honestly, nobody on our staff is willing to predict who will start against Notre Dame on Sunday.
Nevertheless, we are eager to see who will start against Notre Dame, and the amount of snaps each quarterback will receive. No matter who plays, everyone just wants to see what each quarterback brings to the table in Sterlin Gilbert’s offense, and know if there is a passer ready to lead this team. Nothing else will matter after Sunday’s game. (Richardson)
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Every member of Texas’ defense was forced to eat a slice of humble pie prior to this season.
The Longhorns’ staff forced their defensive player to focus on fundamentals throughout the offseason. When a team struggles defensively, and cannot get off the field on third downs because of poor tackling, going back to basics became a natural path for this team.
“I think there’s nothing wrong with that because I think for the most part, like coach (Vance) Bedford (defensive coordinator) says, you see great defenses, you don’t see big plays because they are a great tackling defensive unit,” defensive tackle Paul Boyette said. “I think for the most part, some guys might say, ‘Oh man, I know how to tackle.’ You go back and look at film, the big plays we gave up, we missed tackles. I commend our coaching staff for going back to the basics. And just helping us watch film of guys like Earl Thomas in the NFL, tracking your hip in the Seahawks defense. I think for the most part the learning this year was very good throughout camp. I commend the coaching staff for that."
Boyette said Strong emphasized pursuit drills during the offseason.
“Tracking the hip was kind of fun because I’m about 315,” Boyette said. “I really don’t track hips. For the most part, it taught me how to bend more and track the back hip of the guy. I think for the most part, our pursuit drill, coach Strong is a big defensive guy. I think our pursuit drill, he switched it up this year, going three times in a row. I think for the most part, that … Pursuit drills start in period two. It can end at period six. It has happened. If he doesn’t think we are going out and giving maximum effort, he’s going to call us back. I think for the most part, the young guys saw how the first team goes out there, we strain. But I think is we don’t go out there and set the tempo and pursuit drill, that for coach Strong lets him know we’re probably not ready to practice.
“Every day we came out there and had high levels of enthusiasm, and we’re just having fun. I think, for the most part, coach Strong understands what he has as a defensive unit this year.”
Here is what Bedford said about the return to fundamentals: “As coaches, we always talk about that after every year, whether you win or lose, you’re going to hear the same song every year, that we need to go back to basics and fundamentals, and that’s what we’re saying. We’re going back to the basics. I said that last year when I came up here and spoke. We’re still doing those things. That’s part of it. You always have to go back to the beginning, no matter if you’re winning or losing. How do you get in the stance? How do you take the first step? Where do you put your hand placement? Those are things we consistently talk about and try to get our young guys to focus on, especially these defensive linemen.
“Going back to high school, they just ran over guys. Now, that doesn’t work anymore. Because of those young guys, you have to really (focus) in on things and slow things down to almost a walk for them to understand how to play the game.” (Richardson)
We’ll open things up with a smattering of updates related to several big picture conversations.
1. In talking with a couple of folks fairly high up the food chain within the program, there’s a sense that Charlie Strong is not really on the hot seat entering the season when it comes to the decision-makers within the university, but there is an acknowledgment that Strong’s seat could begin to get hot depending on how the season goes. Every single person I’ve spoken with this week and in the last couple of weeks has projected excitement towards this season and the future under Strong. Contrary to what was believed by some a couple years ago when he was hired, Strong’s support in the wake of a slow start has not really been shaken. The people that would be the ones to pull the plug on Strong’s tenure, if it went really south, are all strongly behind him entering the season.
All of that being said, I’m reminded of what I was told two weeks ago when I approached a high-level source about the matter, and was told, “Don’t get embarrassed by Notre Dame.”
2. As I’ve reported for a number of weeks, the search for a new athletic director will not take place until the first quarter of 2017 at the earliest, which means that if things go off the rails, the athletics program does not have an ideal team in place to make a change. But I was told that not having a permanent athletic director in place will not stop decision-makers from making a change if it is believed to be in the best interest in the program.
3. I don’t know what Texas president Greg Fenves’ approval rating is, but it’s pretty damn high. In a very short amount of time, he has the earned confidence, trust and respect from just about everyone that works with him. One of the reasons why there’s not a lot of concern about the AD position is the presence of Fenves.
4. ESPN reported on Thursday that the Big 12 had narrowed its list of possible expansion candidates to the following 12 schools (with Memphis also likely to make the cut): Air Force, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Colorado State, UConn, Houston, Rice, South Florida, SMU, Temple and Tulane.
I asked one very high-level source on Thursday about the news and was told, “This was nothing more than a public rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic. If there was really an option or two that warranted serious consideration, there wouldn’t be any need for 12. None of these schools have enough support to get in and the chances of any of them having the support to get in is dwindling. This is a Bob Bowlsby production and there’s a good chance that he’ll look like a fool when this is over.” (Ketch)
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A few quick hits from speaking to sources around the team ...
QB Update: As of Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m., no official announcement has been made to the team regarding who will start versus Notre Dame. Numerous sources and indications to members of the OB staff continue to point to Tyrone Swoopes getting the opening nod at least.
OL Update:From all we're hearing, everyone is hopeful that Texas' "starting" offensive line of (L to R) Connor Williams, Patrick Vahe, Zach Shackelford, Kent Perkins and Tristan Nickelson will be healthy and intact for the opener against Notre Dame. Shackelford and Nickelson are ahead in their rehabs from Vahe and Vahe remains "being worked in" to practice. It will be important to watch all players closely should they all make the start as (Vahe especially) they have not had the ankle tested in a scrimmage or truly live 11-on-11 setting since returning to practice. All the team is doing on Thursday and Friday are light "Thursday practices."
Three practice standouts at WR this week: Jerrod Heard, Armanti Foreman and Lil'Jordan Humphrey.
DT Paul Boyette "will be fine"for the opener.
WR Lorenzo Joe is back running routes and working with trainers catching the football. He should be back in full swing by no later than Week 2 or Week 3 of the season. (Dunlap)
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The season opener between Texas and Notre Dame is a few days away, and Longhorns coach Charlie Strong has not named a starting quarterback. Coaches and players are not allowed to discuss who the starter is. Texas offensive lineman Kent Perkins said he knew who was going to start when asked about the quarterback situation earlier this week, but did not leak any information.
Here is what we do know prior to the season opener.
Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes has received more first-team reps than Shane Buechele prior to Sunday’s game against Notre Dame. It appears Swoopes is going to start against Notre Dame on Sunday. If the starter will not have a short leash, which is what Strong said during his press conference on Monday, Swoopes will likely be given every opportunity to succeed in the season opener.
Obviously, we cannot discount a change of heart by the coaching staff at the midnight hour. Even though every indication we have received points toward Swoopes starting on Sunday, there is always a chance the staff has a change of heart. So far, it does not appear that is the direction we are headed in. From everything we have heard, Swoopes will receive the majority of snaps on Sunday. However, we are not willing to eliminate anything at this moment.
Why is there so much confusion?
Well, before spring practice began, this is what Strong said about the quarterback battle: “The way that we walked out there today, you have quarterbacks, you have [Tyrone] Swoopes, you have [Jerrod] Heard, you have [Shane] Buechele coming in and [Kai] Locksley and [Matthew] Merrick, so you have five guys coming in. You will have enough reps this spring where we will know fairly quickly who our guy will be. Just the way that we practice and the tempo that we are going to practice at, I think that you will be able to see it.”
Not only was a starter not immediately announced, but Heard and Locksley are now receivers.
After spring practice began, Strong backtracked from that statement: “The competition is very good, and I don’t know by the end of spring there will be a guy. You just like the battle right now. Jerrod (Heard) is down, but Buechele and Swoopes, they’re competing, and they’re doing a very good job of just managing the offense and moving the ball. “
In fact, Strong was asked about not being able to name a starting quarterback, and the coach said things just need to play out. He said, “If it takes that we have to go into fall camp and have to pick a guy, then that’s what we will do.”
When fall camp began, Strong said he hoped to know the starter pretty soon. However, a starter was never named. After a scrimmage on August 20, it was obvious Strong had no intention of naming a starting quarterback prior to the season opener.
After a scrimmage on August 20, Strong said, “I wanted to know myself who would be the guy. I kind of know. You want to know who? It’s between us. What’s really good about that competition right now, those guys are getting the reps in. They’re both looking good. They’re both doing a lot of good things. The team, they’ll figure it out. I don’t have to stand up and make a big announcement about it.”
The lack of an official announcement is why there are still so many question marks prior to the season opener.
Even though we were the first outlet to report Swoopes was still alive in the quarterback competition, and actually far ahead of the competition, according to our sources, many within the building were ordered not to discuss the quarterback situation anymore after our initial report. I was told Strong instructed everyone in the building to discontinue any communication with the media. This should explain why practice notes, among other information, has been limited the past few weeks. The staff is focused on defeating Notre Dame, and it is looking for any advantage that can be obtained.
So far, it has been hard to discern if Swoopes and Buechele will split reps on Sunday, or one quarterback will receive the majority of snaps. Our sources have indicated Swoopes will start. However, honestly, nobody on our staff is willing to predict who will start against Notre Dame on Sunday.
Nevertheless, we are eager to see who will start against Notre Dame, and the amount of snaps each quarterback will receive. No matter who plays, everyone just wants to see what each quarterback brings to the table in Sterlin Gilbert’s offense, and know if there is a passer ready to lead this team. Nothing else will matter after Sunday’s game. (Richardson)
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Every member of Texas’ defense was forced to eat a slice of humble pie prior to this season.
The Longhorns’ staff forced their defensive player to focus on fundamentals throughout the offseason. When a team struggles defensively, and cannot get off the field on third downs because of poor tackling, going back to basics became a natural path for this team.
“I think there’s nothing wrong with that because I think for the most part, like coach (Vance) Bedford (defensive coordinator) says, you see great defenses, you don’t see big plays because they are a great tackling defensive unit,” defensive tackle Paul Boyette said. “I think for the most part, some guys might say, ‘Oh man, I know how to tackle.’ You go back and look at film, the big plays we gave up, we missed tackles. I commend our coaching staff for going back to the basics. And just helping us watch film of guys like Earl Thomas in the NFL, tracking your hip in the Seahawks defense. I think for the most part the learning this year was very good throughout camp. I commend the coaching staff for that."
Boyette said Strong emphasized pursuit drills during the offseason.
“Tracking the hip was kind of fun because I’m about 315,” Boyette said. “I really don’t track hips. For the most part, it taught me how to bend more and track the back hip of the guy. I think for the most part, our pursuit drill, coach Strong is a big defensive guy. I think our pursuit drill, he switched it up this year, going three times in a row. I think for the most part, that … Pursuit drills start in period two. It can end at period six. It has happened. If he doesn’t think we are going out and giving maximum effort, he’s going to call us back. I think for the most part, the young guys saw how the first team goes out there, we strain. But I think is we don’t go out there and set the tempo and pursuit drill, that for coach Strong lets him know we’re probably not ready to practice.
“Every day we came out there and had high levels of enthusiasm, and we’re just having fun. I think, for the most part, coach Strong understands what he has as a defensive unit this year.”
Here is what Bedford said about the return to fundamentals: “As coaches, we always talk about that after every year, whether you win or lose, you’re going to hear the same song every year, that we need to go back to basics and fundamentals, and that’s what we’re saying. We’re going back to the basics. I said that last year when I came up here and spoke. We’re still doing those things. That’s part of it. You always have to go back to the beginning, no matter if you’re winning or losing. How do you get in the stance? How do you take the first step? Where do you put your hand placement? Those are things we consistently talk about and try to get our young guys to focus on, especially these defensive linemen.
“Going back to high school, they just ran over guys. Now, that doesn’t work anymore. Because of those young guys, you have to really (focus) in on things and slow things down to almost a walk for them to understand how to play the game.” (Richardson)
Is it plausible to say that Texas returns more starters this year than ND? The Irish seem to be breaking in some new players this year contrasted by Texas returning a lot?
Starters there is no question. But our returning starters are going to be younger than their new starters in some cases. You have to remember we are projected to start, at most, five upperclassmen.
Are you talking number of returning starters or number of starts? ND will likely have less returning starters but more returning starts, as most of our returning starters are sophomores. Also, ND has a couple of guys who were out with injury during 2015 but had been starters previous to that.
Also, I see what you are trying to do here. No excuse for youth or whatever. By the way, I agree, I hate it when people start trotting out excuses prior to a game or after a loss, but don't think you are drawing me into making a point for you.
Here are some more thoughts on this. A senior who has started for three years has the same game experience as three returning sophomores. Also, thats discounting how long people have been in the program. Texas will start as many as three freshman with likely 6 getting time on the field. ND will not start a single true freshman (possibility of a freshman playing at safety).
I have a co-worker ND fan. He's wanting to make a friendly wager. I'm considering taking Texas and verifying what I believed to be the case.
Well then my advice is don't think about the game last year. ND lost a ton of talent, and most of Texas's best players weren't even on the field (Warren, Foreman, Hill, Davis). If Texas can contain ND's running game, which I'll admit is a big if, things are going to be interesting.
Yeah no joke Mr. Sensitive that's why I'm verifying what is returning for each team. Texas returns more experience thanks. Not sure why that's so hard to say.
Lets put it this way, ND is starting 17 Juniors and Seniors, Texas...less than half that. ND is the more mature team and has more overall depth. There is no way I would take Texas in this game.
