Game week thread: ND

[clob94]

Sooooo here we are. This is it. Year 3 of our staff and our program under CS and there's a lot of new faces on the field and the sidelines. I'm just as nervous as the rest of you and I'm not sure what to make of it all. With our oline banged up, a veteran qb starting that is not your typical veteran, a true freshman that's looking to get ample playing time, a brand new offense, and a top 10 opponent coming into Austin on Sunday night- in prime time- on every tv set on the planet---- what's to worry about?
Amiright?






I came on here a little over 2 years ago blasting the hire of Steve Patterson as our AD. At the time, in my opinion, this was a massive mistake. Not going to beat that dead horse as he did make a fantastic hire with Shaka, but at the time, in my opinion, that was all he did that I approved of. I've stated time and again that coach strong is an awesome individual- a great dude- just not what I envisioned as our head coach.
Year 1 I had us at "best" 6-6. We went 6-6 and then got blasted by arkysaw.
Last year I said we were a 5-7 team. The two wrong predictions I made were us beating Iowa st and losing to the land thieves-- I think we all agree those were surprise games to most of us- and if anyone thought Iowa st would beat us let alone shut us out, you're flat out lying--
Based on what I've seen (limited I grant you), and given what's transpired around the conference (I'm looking at you waco) I'm looking for a 7-5 regular season.

Throw all the rotten tomatoes, rocks, insults and hate at me that you want-- that's what I see. Will we be better? Yes. The question is "How much better?".

Tough to say. The pieces are in place. We've got 2 horse rbs. We've got some better play on OL BUT, we can't stay healthy thus far. Alarming, the amount of things that have gone wrong with our OL, wouldn't you agree? We've got one qb that has had 3 different OC's in 3 years. Think his life is easy? He has zero confidence and even less moxy. He's afraid to be decisive and is paralyzed in many situations because he's pressing. This leads to bad throws and broken plays. We've got another qb who "gets" it on Tuesday, but by Thursday he's playing like a fish again. It's frustrating to everyone.

Keys to our success:
1. Play calling. We've got enough talent to move the chains. So in my mind, this comes down to Sterling making play calls that FIT the situation. Who doesn't love a little razzle dazzle from time to time, but don't get cute. A good OC knows what his kids can do and can't do- but more importantly, don't get up in your own head. Don't over think sh!t. Keep it down and distance relative and we've got a good shot at moving the chains and keeping the D rested.
2. OL health. Keep this kids healthy. If they are healthy, we can run the football and shorten a lot of games. We don't want to out score people. We won't be dropping 50 on anyone this year except maybe Kansas. We've got two thumpers in the backfield. Let them thump. There's no reason both of those kids don't have 200+ carries. Shorten the first half by running the ball and then wear their D down in the 2nd half by POUNDING it at them.
3. Turnovers- last year we were +11 in this category. We need to be +12 this year. Think about that for a sec. We were in the top 15 in turn overs. What if we'd have had nebraska's turn over margin (-6 I believe). How bad would last year have been if not for +11 Turnovers?
4. LBs. Our DL is not our strength. Our backers must be. We MUST have all world type play from these guys to be successful. If I have to go into depth about this, then I've already lost you.
5. Play calling (again). Ya I know, but we should see a good chunk of 3rd and shorts this year. (Hopefully) And on 3rd and short, Sterling's got to time that play action perfectly. Make them put 8 in the box and burn them. Otherwise, choke them out with the run.
6. Don't get blown out. Sounds pretty "duh" right? Seriously...... don't get blown out. Especially week one. Want to see all our work, sweat, blood, confidence burned down in less than 4 hours? Go out and drop a deuce against the Irish. Fragile- the best way to describe this teams balancing act of confidence and realism. Young kids get discouraged easily..... and if we sh!t the bed week one, just pack it in. Don't believe me? Look at last year. ND- bed sh!t. Tcu- bed sh!t. Iowa st- worst bed sh!t ever. Wvu- bed sh!t. If Baylor had a qb....
So we can't come out and get whipped. Vegas has us at 3 point dogs. God, the objective dude in me says bet $1,000,000 on ND..... but the Longhorn in me says a 3 point loss to a top 10 blue blood ain't the worst thing ever.

In closing, this isn't where we wanted to be in year 3. Missing bowl games at UT is never acceptable. Ever. That being said, if we can avoid stepping on our d!ck in Berkley, going to stillwater and eeking out a win, finally beating kstate IN Manhatten, and not sh!tting the bed in Lubbock, we should be back in a bowl game. It ain't going to be the cotton bowl, but we will show improvement.

Now, let me put on my hazmat suit and climb into my plexiglass closet before you pelt me with fecal matter.

 

[TexExSpur]

If they do everything you stat in your last paragraph, they're going to win at least 9 games.


I have them at 7-5 as well.

 

[Joe M]

So what's up with that OL. Shackleford really the only one at risk of not playing?

 

[TexExSpur]

So what's up with that OL. Shackleford really the only one at risk of not playing?

I'm trying to find out if he practiced on Saturday. They didn't get the day off!

 

[Scholz]

Sunday notes:

Maybe Texas senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes gets the majority of snaps this season. There is a chance freshman quarterback Shane Buechele will receive a lot of playing time. It is possible Jerrod Heard brings a new dimension to this offense in a Wildcat package. Heck, even if Texas coach Charlie Strong decided to line up defensive tackle Poona Ford behind center, this year’s quarterback will not be the most important player in Sterlin Gilbert’s offense.

It is all about running backs D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren.

Oh, we will talk a lot about Swoopes and Buechele this year.

There have been plenty debates about Swoopes the past two weeks. Honestly, there have probably been too many stories written about ping-pong tournaments in Moncrief this summer. From everything we have been told, Buechele is seemingly ready to take on China in table tennis during the next Olympics. It seems like a matter of time before Longhorn fans stop asking for practice updates and demand daily ping-pong tournament information.

Sarcasm aside, whenever Strong has been asked about the quarterbacks, or this offense, the discussion leads to Foreman and Warren. It is clear he believes no matter who plays quarterback, his running backs will carry the workload. In Strong's ideal world, these guys are getting the most touches, and his quarterback simply makes occasional throws to keep teams honest. Every old-school coach wants a running game that wears down an opposing offense while keeping his defense fresh on the sidelines.

That will be Foreman and Warren’s role this season.

“I hope we can do really well,” Warren said. “We’ll see what we do. I feel like we should be able to do it with our offensive line and running backs. I feel like the amount of reps our running backs have gotten in fall camp, and practice, is going to allow us to rotate in as much as possible, which will keep everybody fresh. I think that can allow us to have a lot of rushing yards.”

Foreman is expected to guide Texas’ rushing attack.

Last season, Foreman was “just a guy” during Texas’ first four games. Three carries for 5 yards against Notre Dame. Six carries for 23 yards and touchdown against Rice. Nine carries for 47 yards and one touchdown against Cal. Seven carries for 15 yards against Oklahoma State. Then Texas played TCU.

Most Longhorn fans remember the embarrassing 50-7 loss, a game where Texas trailed 30-0 after the first quarter. Nevertheless, Foreman rushed 18 times for 112 yards during that defeat.

“On my way out onto the field, I told Johnathan (Gray), ‘I really feel like today is going to be a good day for me,'" Foreman said. “I don’t know why. I had a really positive energy that day. I went out there and I had a 100 yards that game. I think it just took off from there. Once I seen I could do it, I was like this is something I got to repeat. I wanted to keep doing it.”

Foreman rushed nine times for 117 yards during a win against Oklahoma. He rushed for 43 yards against Kansas State, but sustained a foot injury during that win. Foreman was limited to six yards on two carries the following week against Iowa State, but finished with 157 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Kansas, plus 147 rushing yards and one touchdown against West Virginia. Foreman had season-ending surgery on his pinkie finger after the West Virginia loss in November.

He finished as the Longhorns’ leading rusher with 681 yards and five rushing touchdowns, which was second-most on the team, and had four 100-yard games. Foreman and Warren were named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List entering this season. The award is given to the nation’s top running back.

Foreman enjoyed some success last season, but refuses to buy into the “you are not going to surprise anyone this year” narrative.

“I feel like that there’s still people who don’t really know who I am,” Foreman. “I feel I don’t like taking that much credit for myself. People are going to be game planning for me … I still feel like I’m under the radar in a way. That helps me to motivate myself every day to go out there and work to prove what I have.”

Warren was forced to wait behind Foreman and Gray to get his opportunity.

After Foreman sustained his season-ending injury, he started against Texas Tech on Thanksgiving Day. Warren set the UT single-game freshman rushing record with 276 rushing yards, breaking Cedric Benson’s previous mark of 213 yards in 2001. He also set the UT single-game freshman record with four rushing touchdowns in that game, earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. In the season finale, Warren rushed 28 times for 106 yards during a win against Baylor.

“I think the Texas Tech game was just the luck of the draw,” Warren said. “I feel like I hadn’t played much that season, so I came in with barely any touches, so I was pretty fresh. I feel like I was able to do a lot more with what I had. I feel like the line at that point in the season, was just really good in run blocking. I feel like people didn’t expect me to do as well as I did, I guess. It was just one of those things.”

One thing Warren would love to see is carries split between Texas' running backs this season.

“If we decided we want to run the ball that much, I definitely think we can get a 1,000-yard rusher,” Warren said. “If we split carries like I think we should, I think we can get three, four backs up to 700 yards … Just to keep the pounding on the back throughout the season to a minimum. There’s no reason to take unnecessary hits if you get the ball 20 times and it’s only the first half. You take all those hits so early in the game and then there’s 12 games in the season. It’s a long season.”

If Strong gets his way, Foreman and Warren will make it a long season for opposing defenses, regardless of who is playing quarterback.

Warren on Foreman as a runner

“D'Onta is actually really explosive. He goes from zero to top speed really fast. It doesn’t take him much time at all. He finds holes that I would never ever find. I don’t know how he does it. He is really strong and fast. He’s a crazy athlete. He studies the game because he wants to be a coach. He studies the game and goes about it like a coach. I think that’s what helps him most.”

Foreman on Warren as a runner

“Chris is just big and powerful. When he runs the ball, people just bounce off of him. He hits the hole, and nobody wants to tackle him. Nobody wants to tackle either one of us, but he’s bigger than me, so I know they really don’t want to tackle him.”

Warren on what he likes about Swoopes

"Just his steady improvement. His consistency definitely has gotten better. I think his overall confidence has also improved. I think that what’s good with him."

Foreman on what he likes about Swoopes

“Just the way he’s grown. When I talk to Tyrone, you can see him in his competitiveness and just trying to go out there and make all the right throws. He's changed so much, just with the passes he makes, the accuracy. I really like what he’s doing. I really think in this offense, it caters to his style of play.”

Warren on what he likes about Buechele

“Just his calmness coming in. He came in pretty calm, not too confident. I said that wrong. He was confident, but not overconfident. He knew his place, and he just came in ready to work, and he worked. I enjoy that.”

Foreman on what he likes about Buechele

“He can do everything. I mess with him all the time about the stuff he can do. Ping-pong, pool. I’ve seen him dribble a football. Sometime he is playing with me and tries to rap sometimes in front of me. It’s crazy. He can do everything. I tell him all the time. What can’t you do? I played basketball with Buechele, too, during the summer time, and he can shoot. I’m like, ‘You can do everything. I’m trying to be like you one day.’ That’s what I like about him. He has a competitive chip. Ever time you go out there, you can’t really tell he’s a freshman. He goes out there and throws really good balls."

Foreman on why Swoopes deserves another chance

“I love Tyrone. I always tell people I don’t see what Tyrone was so bad at. When Tyrone was here, he had a lot of different coordinators. A lot of different coaches. I really feels like he really likes coach Gilbert. Everyone does. He has a lot of intensity. I feel like he’s just grown a lot, and he knows this is his last chance, really.”


Scattershooting on the Longhorns ...

… If Charlie doesn’t name his starting quarterback on Monday, he’s just trolling all of us very well. In advance, well done, Charlie.

… Speaking of Monday, I’m curious as to how many times we’ll see “or” on the release of the first depth chart?

… As I think back, I think the worst part of this month’s camp for Texas is that not a single defensive lineman emerged as a player to watch because of his on-fire play. It feels like a rather ominous note.

… How many points will be needed to win against the Irish? I’m going to say 27. If the number goes above 30, that’s likely a big problem for Texas.

 

[kwsusmc]

As a biased Domer, I believe your post is realistic and objective. I believe Bevo will be much improved this year. And I expect a much tighter game.

Bevo O-line vs ND D Line
Advantage ND
ND is built to stop the run, lots of size experience and depth. ND LBers are going to be better than last year. Yes, losing Jaylon Smith is a huge loss. But, Morgan is a huge upgrade over Schmidt, James Onwalu is a experienced starter and Greer Martini and Bilal or Coney(?) Are very athletic and have been in the system.

Where Im concerned is Safety and pass rush. ND has no real/proven pass rush. Trumbetti is a speed rusher who sometimes gets swallowed up in the run game. The other player expected to provide a pass rush is a true frosh D Hayes, though he was a 5*****star, and has shown explosiveness in camp. Safeties are thin, one has had a ACL in each knee each of the past two years. The other a true Frosh who was beating out a 5th year former 5star senior.

Corners Im very sure of and will be good.

ND O-line vs Bevo D-Line

Advantage ND though much closer than the other way.

NDs O-line is massive, experienced and athletic. Even though ND is replacing 3 starters, 2 have game experience and the other has been in the system for four years. This is the most talented and deep unit on the team.

QB, edge ND. Both are dynamic explosive and experienced players. Zaire has beaten LSU, Texas and left up over UVA was on pace for 120 yds rushing and ND went up 14 points the play after Zaire went out. ND was taking control until a RS soph with no real playing time came in and struggled, until his last drive to win the game. Something he did often last year. Wins over UVA, Temple, BC and had ND on last minute drives to take the lead or tie the team against Clemson and Stanford.

NDs WR Corps is young and inexperienced, but very talented, deep fast and with good size.

NDs RBs with the return of Folston, a north south one cut runner who turns 0 to 1 yd runs into 4 or 5 yd runs is back this year. Adams is a home run threat Everytime he touches the ball, elite speed and very good size. Williams(?) Was showing himself in camp. A tremendous amount of potential. But one of high driving five. Not sure of his status.

TEs are big and strong and athletic. Wiesher and Smythe have had very good camps. Then there are two big blocking TEs used as FB/HB hybrids in Latua and Matuska.

CJ Sanders is dynamic shifty and fast return man who scored on both a KR and PR last year. He is expected to be a dangerous slot receiver.

Last year NDs 3 losses came against the final year ranked #2, #3, and #4 teams.

Bevo's strengths are a power running game and uptempo attack. Running at NDs front 7 is running into NDs strength. This is the key to the game, if as I believe ND controls the Bevo running game. ND will pull away, somewhat and win this game.

ND wins, but in a tougher more competitive game not decided until the 4th qtr.

Just my opinions, hope for a good argument back and forth here. Good luck except Sunday, hope all players leave the game healthy. Go beat Ou.

 

[clob94]

I'm waiting on metcalf and swvahorn to come on here and tell me I ruined their entire fall.


Look, we have a shot to jump up and surprise some people IF all the pieces fall into place. But sh!t just hasn't been falling into place for us of late.

 

[CoachEmUp64]

Fair assessment Clob. I think we go 8-4 this year

 

[clob94]

Fair assessment Clob. I think we go 8-4 this year

Coach, I see what you're saying and I have a pretty good idea (I think) of the game I think we will lose and the game you think we will win.

 

[2300 Nueces]

I have to say that I am not optimistic with TS as our QB. I am only slightly more optimistic with Bueshcelle. I think this QB situation like last year has the potential to blow up on CS. Not many want another embarrassment to ND on national TV even when many believe it's preventable by starting the guy who is seen as a better manager of the game. If TS chokes right out of the gate (think turnover or 3 & out), this could get ugly fast.

Sidenote, it drove me crazy when Mack would not put VY on the field. I saw that he knew how to have success by tucking the ball and running when needed and was not afraid to take chances and succeed.

 

[bornation44]

does anyone know what the over/under is for the game right now?

 

[clob94]

does anyone know what the over/under is for the game right now?

60. Up from 59.5

 

[Blackcat00]

I think Texas is going to surprise a ton of people. The locker room, depth, talent hasn't been this good in years. I have them winning 8-9 games.

 

[clob94]

I think Texas is going to surprise a ton of people. The locker room, depth, talent hasn't been this good in years. I have them winning 8-9 games.

List the 9

 

[MiccoMacey]

Notre Dame - 36
Texas - 21

 

[clob94]

Notre Dame - 36
Texas - 21

If we lose by double digits it's a whippin.

 

[horn01]

If I had to pick nine wins (in order of most obvious)
KU
UTEP
ISU
KState
WVU
Cal
TTU
BU
OU

A few notes
-Texas should win the first four on the list easily. This is not going to be a resurgent year for KSU.
-WVU is in Austin.
- I wasn't impressed with Cal on Friday night. It was a hard game to take much away from, but I think we will put 40+ points on them.
-TTU will be the same team they always are. Slow them down even a little and its a win.
-BU still has most of their skill players. They also lost most of their O line and have obvious locker room issues that will blow up quickly if the team falters.
-OU lost plenty on defense and Shepard.

 

[clob94]

Let me see what happens after the ND game and I will be back to address you.

 

[TexExSpur]

Games I think they'll win:
UTEP
CAL
BU
ISU
WVU
KU

That's 6

Coin flips:
@TECH
@KSU
@Pokes

Games I have them losing:
OU
TCU
ND


I think everything has to bounce their way to get 9 wins.

 

[LonghornSoldier]

List the 9

ND, whoever is the second game of the year, Cal, blow u, okie lite, Baylor, Kansas, ISU, Tech and K-State..., we lose to TCU.. but that is 10 wins right there.

 

[bornation44]

thanks. I thought that I had read earlier that it was 60 for over/under

 

[Son of Wasatch]

The optimist in me:

Texas loses bookend games Loss to ND and a loss to FSU in the playoffs.

The realist in me.

Texas loses to Notre Dame, blOwU, and Tech and we win our bowl game. 10 wins on the season. And a top 5 team going into next Season.

 

[Joe M]

News on ND from BK's presser today:

- The other 4 that were arrested will not be suspended by Kelly, but the administration could come in at any time and levy a penalty after they review all the information. So it's a wait and see, no one really knows about their status for the game on Sunday.

-Max Redfield's (the starting safety that was already dismissed from the team) presumed replacement was going to be true freshman Devin Studstill. But Kelly indicated that 6th yr senior Avery Sebastian would get the nod over Studstill because of his lingering hamstring issue. Most fans aren't thrilled with that turn of events.

-Andrew Trumbetti will start at WDE. The projected starter Jay Hayes has a high ankle sprain and his time will most likely be very limited come Sunday. Hayes is bigger and a run stopper, whereas Trumbetti is more of a pass rusher. Trumbetti hasn't been consistent which is why he hasn't played more.

 

[horn01]

Gilbert's media availability:
-Says it will not be a true two QB system
-Says the person they have chosen to start has been the most consistent in practice and they will go from there.

The practice reports have all basically said Swoopes is making better decisions (but also not moving the chains as effectively). Buchele is having up and down days. I don't know if making better choices but being unable to throw an accurate pass is better, but apparently the coaches do.
Looks like we are about to see Swoopes experiment 3.0. I know they have to say the starter is not on a short leash and give the kid as much support as possible, I just hope they are being realistic about his ceiling and don't leave Buchele on the sideline if the game starts to get away one stalled drive at a time.

 

[RoboCocks21]

I predict foreman and warren running over a few people

 

[bschroed21]

Clob, in your visits to practice, could you tell if Duverney is as electric as we all hope he can be? Game changer?

 

[clob94]

Clob, in your visits to practice, could you tell if Duverney is as electric as we all hope he can be? Game changer?

I didn't have a roster with me and as I stated after my first visit, I can still remember the name and jersey number of everyone I ever played with, but learning another round of 100 or so names and numbers is just beyond my scope of possibility at my age.
I watched for individuals that stood out in the trenches- players that caught my eye with speed, and how our QBs looked against our secondary.

Sorry bud, maybe next time.

 

[Belldozer1]

Having not seen any team play yet it's hard for me to make any definitive predictions. Perhaps after the first week I'll have a better feel.

 

[RoboCocks21]

It's Wednesday! Sunday can't come quick enough!

 

[TexExSpur]

Gotta do a little bird killin' before Sunday!

 

[clob94]

Opening day tomorrow?

 

[TexExSpur]

Opening day tomorrow?

Yes sir

 

[swVAHorn]

I'm waiting on metcalf and swvahorn to come on here and tell me I ruined their entire fall.


Look, we have a shot to jump up and surprise some people IF all the pieces fall into place. But sh!t just hasn't been falling into place for us of late.

I was thinking the bottom would be 8 wins but I can see what you are saying clob. Hey I like a true honest opinion on someone who knows football and has seen the team practice up close and personal like you. I may not like what I hear but I want to hear it. I never thought this team was going undefeated to the playoffs but I want steady improvement and next year on I want it to be about championships.

If Texas gets blown out or gets shutout by Iowa F'n State I will be upset though. Not going to lie.

 

[Scholz]

Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert met with the media following Tuesday evening's practice, and the focus of the press conference focused on ... what else? ... quarterbacks.

Gilbert was asked right off the bat if he would be the one to spill the beans on Sunday night's starter against Notre Dame, but he immediately shut down the chance of any big revelation, saying everyone will find out on Sunday.

If you're looking for hints, there really weren't any to be found. Gilbert praised both quarterbacks and said both Tyrone Swoopes and Shane Buechele have performed well in the spring and in fall camp.

Gilbert did echo the thoughts of Charlie Strong at Strong's Monday press conference, when the Texas head coach stated a decision had pretty much made who would start. But like Strong, Gilbert wasn't about to tip his hand. From the sound of things, one quarterback has separated from the other. I'll leave it up to you all to wager a guess as to who won the battle.

"Just about being consistent, being progressive, execute," Gilbert said of one quarterback's efforts to win the starting job. "It's like any offense, if you execute it at a high level and do it at a high level, then the majority of the time then you're the guy, you're the person who is going to be able to do it at the end of the day. We look for the same at every position, just as we do the quarterback position."

So apparently at least one QB has been executing at a high level ... well that's certainly a positive.

--- Perhaps the most interesting comment offered up by Gilbert was his declaration that they basically have a starter, and they're not planning to have a scheduled rotation. Charlie Strong said the same thing on Monday, but later followed it up with a comment that they could rotate in the non-starter fairly early in the game. Gilbert sounds like he's like to settle on one guy, and have that guy fully take charge and lead the way.

"We don't really view it as a two quarterback system. We're going to have a starter, then we'll go from there," Gilbert said.

--- When asked if Buechele picked up the offense faster than Swoopes because of Buechele's experience running a wide open offense in high school, Gilbert said playing in a spread probably did help, but added that with Swoopes having experience at collegiate level "they probably match up." ... "They've just done a great job, both of those guys, with their knowledge, with their learning, with their wisdom."

--- Should he be named the starter, Swoopes will have his share of skeptics after an up-and-down career at Texas, but Gilbert had high praise for his senior when asked about Swoopes' confidence level.

"He is a guy that walks around here with his chin up and his head held high. What he is, is a big, strong confident, great young man. That's what he is every day," Gilbert said. "When he comes in that meeting room, that's what we expect him to be. It's like I just told him a while ago, 'Be what you are every day when you get up, which is big, which is strong, which is confident, which is a great football player.' When he wakes up in the morning, that's what he is. When he shows up over here, that's what he is. When he goes to the classroom, that's what he is. Our expectations of him are high. His leadership, his experience, what his value to this football team is, is huge."

Are those the words of a coach trying to praise a veteran who has won the job? Or are they words of a coach trying to build up a senior who was beaten out for the top spot? Hard to say, but I'm sure there will be plenty of varying opinions.

--- With only five days remaining until the season-opener against Notre Dame, Gilbert seems comfortable and confident with where the offense is. He didn't want to put a number on how far along the team is with a full offensive installation, instead saying the only goal is to score more than the opponent, no matter how it gets done.

"I don't know if I'd put a percentage on it. At the end of the day, every time we get on the field, we'll do what it takes to win. You never know exactly what that is going to be each time you step on the field ... whatever it takes for us to have one more than they have, that's what we'll do," Gilbert said. "Our ultimate goal, we've obviously got a base of what we do and how we do it, and we're going to go out and do and execute those things and see what path that takes us down.

--- Gilbert said both Jerrod Heard and Kai Locksley "absolutely will contribute this fall" as wide receivers.

--- When asked if all the coaches were on the same page about the starting quarterback, Gilbert's response was simple: "100 percent."

--- Texas has had a rough go of it with offensive line injuries in fall camp. Center Zach Shackelford, tackle Tristan Nickelson and guard Patrick Vahe have all been recovering from ankle injuries. Gilbert mentioned that Nickelson and Shackelford got some reps on Tuesday. No mention of Vahe, which would seem to indicate he was held out of action.

Of note, I was talking to someone this week about the offensive line injuries, and a couple interesting points were brought up by a person close to the UT team.

If Shackelford is unable to go at center, having to start an inexperienced player like Jake McMillon may not be a huge setback. From the day he stepped foot on campus as a true freshman, McMillon has quietly earned rave reviews from his teammates behind the scenes for his strength and tenacity. Those traits could serve him well against a good Notre Dame front. As for making OL calls, one person told me that shouldn't be a problem since the schemes Texas is running aren't as complex as they have been in previous years, and on pass plays the quarterbacks will be releasing the ball much quicker.

On Vahe, him apparently not practicing on Tuesday isn't ideal, but he is a "veteran" at this stage, so it could be a case where the coaches are bringing him back slowly and he could be inserted late in the week without a lot of actual Notre Dame prep.

--- Gilbert will be on the field on Sunday. He said it's still undecided where the rest of the offensive staff will be.

--- Sunday will certainly be the biggest stage to date of Gilbert's young coaching career. He understands there is pressure on him to get the Texas offense on track, and he said he and the entire staff have been working towards this moment since the day he was hired.

"It's been on my shoulders since I got here. You just show up and just work. We've been counting those days down since we got here. Some people just started counting in the last week. We've been counting since we've been here," Gilbert said. "It's been about work since our feet hit the ground here. It's been about installing this offense. It's been about changing an attitude, getting our alignment with coach Strong and his core values, which is an equal alignment."

They've put in the work in the spring, the offseason and fall camp. Now it's time for coaches and players to execute.

"We'll roll out there with our guys, a prepared football team and excited football team that will be highly motivated," Gilbert said. "We'll come out there, it's those guys' jobs to go out and execute, it's those guys' jobs to go play. From the sideline, we'll just call it, and they'll ball it."

 

[clob94]

I'm reading body language and I'm seeing some nervous coaches. I watched both charlie and sterling and after 3 years of watching charlie, I've picked up on some of his idiosyncratic non verbals. He nervous.
I'm still learning Sterling's body language, and perhaps my biases have corrupted my objectivity but he looks unsettled.
I'm thinking sterling is like "well, we're going to put TS out there and hope he floats but if he sinks, then we gotta throw SB out there and hope we don't ruin him."
I just don't see the quiet confidence, the blood in the smile- the cat that's about to swallow the canary body language. I'm not expecting charlie to walk out there looking like he wants to punch a baby- no need to give ND any locker room material- but I get the feeling if the staff was 100% confident in who we were rolling out there they would just own it.

The cloak and dagger routine just seems a little over the top to me.