Can you live with one more rebuilding season?
Twenty-four hours after the conclusion of the Texas Spring Game, this is the question I have for every single one of you reading the column this week because while you can see the light at the end of the burnt orange tunnel for perhaps the first time in more than half a decade, the reality that awaits this team seems fairly clear to the naked eye for anyone that sees the glass as
both half full and half empty, rather than just one or the other.
Yes, the most important question that has faced the program in the last 20 years has been potentially answered with the arrival of freshman quarterback Shane Buechele, who ironically grew up in a Boomer Sooner household, yet could end up being the stagecoach driver in UT’s ride back to national relevance.
You’re going to take some bumps and bruises with a true freshman quarterback leading the charge and history suggests that seven or eight wins would represent one of the top campaigns directed by a first-year quarterback in a power conference in the last 10 years.
As I watched Buechele work with the first-team offense on Saturday, it was easy to see what the team will be working with at the most important position on the field, beginning in the season opener against Notre Dame. I’ll also contend that being able to see the quarterback picture clear as day allowed for an even clearer picture of the other serious concerns that must still be ironed out throughout the squad.
We’re talking about a team that is vulnerable up the middle on defense and will need to depend on a host of the true freshmen interior linemen that aren’t even on campus yet just to hold up over a full season.
We’re talking about a team that lacks depth in the offensive line and might not have five starters it can truly feel comfortable labeling plus-players.
We’re talking about a team with a place-kicking situation that is so ominous that it’s almost terrifying to think about which game might be otherwise won if not for a looming breakdown in this area.
Playing with a true freshman quarterback presents enough weekly hurdles by itself, but adding all of these other issues together makes for a rather obvious observation. It’s a rebuilding year. R-e-b-u-i-l-d-i-n-g.
Go ahead and set the over/under for wins at 7.5 and accept the fate, knowing that if the team goes beyond that number in wins, it’ll represent one of the more rewarding seasons for the Longhorn fan base in the last 20 years. You can look up and down the field and see that the talent in the program has increased significantly in a number of key areas on both sides of the ball.
I just think it’s talent that is a year away from making some real hay, a point I don’t believe is lost on the majority of you. The real issue with the 2016 season being a rebuilding year is that when Strong was hired, he didn’t sell himself as the guy who would have an awful team for two seasons and a decent one in year number three before seriously being able to challenge for anything of substance.
Being told you’re going to go through another failure of a season (any season at Texas that ends without a conference title or a major bowl game is a failure), while the finish line moves yet again to the season after next is a pill I can’t make you swallow. Strong enters this season with an 11-14 record and the majority of those 14 losses were bad enough that you could argue the record actually feels like 11-28.
For those of you thinking Strong is a 6-6 season away from being run out of town, I’d warn you that I’m not so sure. Those who I speak with at the top of athletic department food chain sound like they are willing to take a few more growing pains and allow for Strong to have the 2017 season, knowing that it will be the year when his first true recruiting class emerges as upperclassmen.
The sense from the decision-makers is that Strong needs another year, but the real question that has to be answered this season is whether this program is really a year away or whether Strong’s tenure in Austin will forever be one where the idea of being a year away is the program motto, with one moving of the finish line after another.
From my vantage point, there are three things that need to happen this season - steady improvement, better in-game coaching and zero embarrassing blowouts. If those three things occur, I’m more inclined to believe that this team is
actually one season away.
Regardless of what each of us believe the 2017 season can and will become, let’s not live in a fantasy land as it relates to the 2016 season.
There’s a lot to be excited about, but a season that ranks among the very best in the Big 12 almost certainly isn’t one of them.
Say it with me … r-e-b-u-i-l-d-i-n-g.
No. 2 – About the offensive line ...
After going back on Sunday and re-watching the two quarters of action, I was able to get a better feel for what happened up front with the line play on both sides of the ball and nothing I witnessed changed my previous impressions.
Starting with the offensive line, I’d say the group is exactly what I thought it would be, which is a major work in progress.
Despite working exclusively against back-ups and players that won’t so much as see a down during the season (the defensive tackles the interior worked against were walk-ons Patrick Ojeaga and Alex Mercado), the first-team line really struggled to control the line of scrimmage with any true physicality. Don’t let those run game stats blind you because I would contend there’s a lot of fool’s gold in those numbers.
The good news is that I think the Longhorns have identified their clear top five linemen coming out of the spring and those are the five in the starting line-up.
The bad news is that I couldn’t find a single reserve lineman who the coaches can feel good about putting on the field against an actual team, which means the true freshmen who are arriving in a couple of months need to get ready to play … now.
Even returning starters like Connor Williams, Patrick Vahe and Kent Perkins struggled to consistently win battles throughout the first two quarters against back-ups, with Williams struggling at times with undersized defensive end Breckyn Hager off the edge.
When watching starting line-up newcomers Zach Shackelford and Brandon Hodges, I found myself thinking Hodges was the bigger worry of the two, especially when you consider the two manned up against walk-ons Patrick Ojeaga and Alex Mercado on virtually every play.
If you believe this group is going to be an improved unit from last season, I’ll concede that point barely … I guess. My warning to everyone reading this is to temper the expectations for this unit considerably because it has as much growing up to do as the quarterback it will be protecting in the fall.
No. 3 – About the defensive line ...
Goodness gracious, those incoming freshmen from the Class of 2016 can’t get on campus soon enough.
In fact, if I’m Charlie Strong, I’d propose to the NCAA that 2017 super-everything star Marvin Wilson plays his senior season in high school for the Longhorns because he’d probably get just as many snaps on Saturdays in Austin as he’ll get on Friday nights in Houston.
Here are the observations of note from Saturday.
a. Sophomore Charles Omenihu will challenge Bryce Cottrell for the honor of being the team’s most dynamic player among defensive ends and I might give the edge to the unknown over the known at this point.
b. On a Texas team that eventually challenges for a Big 12 title, returning defensive tackles Paul Boyette and Poona Ford might play 15-20 snaps a game. Maybe. Both are solid players, but there’s nothing special about the play from either.
c. Breckyn Hager might be undersized, but he has upside off the edge as a pass rusher. I’m not sure he’ll play a lot in that role this season, but you can see the makings of a situational rusher.
d. The team is so thin up-front that the second-team defensive line on Saturday included, Hager, Quincy Vasser, Patrick Ojeaga and Alex Mercadobac.
At this point, I’m expecting every able true freshman body that isn’t completely overwhelmed by the jump in competition to be on the field. I’m just not sure there is any other choice.
You simply cannot overstate how much of a question-mark this unit is coming into the season.
No. 4 – Scattershooting on the Longhorns ...
… Consider me disappointed that the coaches didn’t have the first-team offense and defense scrimmage against each other on Saturday.
… It should be noted that the Texas offense didn’t do very much when the entire starting defense was on the field, which wasn’t very often on Saturday.
… One of the first plays in the first drive that allowed for new starting guard Brandon Hodges to make an impression occurred on a second down run play. While pulling around the center, Hodges found himself in a one-on-one situation in the hole with redshirt freshman Cameron Townsend. After being unable to get his feet underneath him with downhill momentum, Hodges was actually knocked off his feet by the 222-pound Townsend, causing the hole to clog up on Foreman, who was stopped for a no-gain after trying to find his way out of the clutter. Hodges simply has to do a better job of squaring his pads and delivering downhill blocks with some pop, especially when faced with an undersized linebacker in his path.
… On the very next play, which happened to be the play when John Burt dropped a long ball from Tyrone Swoopes, Hodges flat out whiffed on Quincy Vasser in pass protection after Vasser gave him a little swim move to the outside shoulder.
… Elijah Rodriguez and Tristan Nickelson really, really, really struggled at the two back-up tackle spots. Really. To be fair, Nickelson was a little banged up going into the scrimmage, but I can only go by what I was able to see.
… Oh boy, the defense on the Chris Warren touchdown run was Manny Diaz at BYU bad. From the tackles to the ends (hello, Quincy Vasser) to the linebackers (hello, Demarco Boyd) to the secondary (hello, John Bonney) ... it was bad. Let’s not go overboard with the hyperbole on this one. That might as well have been you and me out there playing defense.
… On the last play of the first quarter, the Longhorns had a chance to spring a big run on a third and 10, but Townsend was able to flash in front of and through Zach Shackelford’s chest as he knifed through the second level to make a tackle on D'Onta Foreman to shut the play down for a three-yard gain. Sophomore tight end Andrew Beck was beaten by Demarco Boyd in similar fashion on the play.
… Now that he’s in his second season, it’s time for Andrew Beck to start emerging as a player that warrants being on the field. Every time I noticed Beck when re-watching the game, it was for all the wrong reasons.
… Seconds after typing the last sentence, starting tight end Caleb Bluiett almost got Shane Buechele killed with a complete whiff in pass protection against Charles Omenihu. Sterlin Gilbert might want to rethink leaving the tight end on the field in a prime pass protection role because I’m not sure this team has one that can block a really dangerous player.
… DeShon Elliott’s throwing his body in front of a rumbling Chris Warren might have been the most impressive looking play in terms of want-to and desire from the entire defense on Saturday.
… I’m not sure Malik Jefferson played more than 10 snaps on Saturday and that was probably a good idea. They know what they have in their emerging linebacker and there was zero reason to risk anything with the off-season a mere hour and a half away.
… Was that the first time that the boys from Reckless Kelly have performed the national anthem? I have to say that it was really nice to hear someone perform the anthem without trying to win American Idol in the process? Nice job, fellas.
No. 5 – Texas baseball this weekend in a gif ...
No. 6 – Buy or sell …
BUY or SELL: Texas competes for a spot in the college football playoffs in 2017?
(Sell) I don’t mean to be rude because you’re in a group that consists of thousands of people, but you simply have to stop talking about the college football playoff in 2017. Until a number of steps are taken in this program, that thought needs to be retired. I mean … I kind of roll my eyes every time someone writes the words.
BUY or SELL: Jerrod Heard is at Texas for the 2016 season?
(Buy) I’d venture to say that there’s a better chance he plays a multi-purpose role with the team than there is of him transferring. I think that kid just wants to play football.
BUY or SELL: The Shane Buechele hype spins out of control by August?
(Buy) You could have written the end of April and I would have bought your question.
BUY or SELL: We should be more excited about Buechele's spring game performance than we were Jerrod's performance in the loss to Cal?
(Buy) The foundation and substance behind Buechele as a player is stronger than Heard’s, especially when comparing Heard in September of last year vs. Buechele in the spring of this year.
BUY or SELL: DeShon Elliott starts in week 1 against ND?
(Sell) I’m on the fence, but Charlie might go with experience in that game over game-changing upside.
BUY or SELL: Concerning the positions of punter/kicker (or lack there of), we will see Strong "go for it" on 4th/short more often than not?
(Buy) The kicking game, along with the Art Briles’ thirst to go for it on fourth down as a staple in the offense, will make for a lot of easy fourth down decisions.
BUY or SELL: Major Tennison did not like what he saw in the use of the TE in the spring game?
(Buy) I suppose it comes down to whether he found more value in the obvious playing time that is open or non-value in the way the position was featured. I’m going to go with the latter, but the play of Buechele has to be a positive.
BUY or SELL: So Baron Browning visited TCU this weekend instead of coming to our spring game (as expected). Second time he has been there. Buy or sell ... we lose him?
(Sell) As far as I’m concerned, it’s too early to make calls on this 2017 class. What happens on the field will greatly matter here.
BUY or SELL: The Longhorn ground game will rip the guts out of one of the following in the final 4 minutes in a close game: OU, OU-Lite, Baylor?
(Sell) It’s certainly possible, but I’m a little more cautious than a lot of people right now.
BUY or SELL: Texas kicks a FG beyond 40 yards this season?
(Buy) There won’t be many, maybe two or three, but I’ll say it happens at least once over the course of 12 or 13 games.
No. 7 – Thank you, Los Angeles Rams ...
The 2015 NFL season was a big ball of suck for fans of the Dallas Cowboys and the only bright spot that came out of a wasted season was the chance to pick fourth in the 2016 NFL Draft.
With the news that the Rams and not the Titans are on the clock at No. 1, the Cowboys are suddenly in a pretty powerful position in their spot in the selection order. Assuming the Browns draft a quarterback at No. 2, suddenly the Chargers and Cowboys are in a position to take the top two non-quarterback prospects in the entire draft.
Given their needs, the consensus seems to be that the Chargers will look to fill their OL needs with Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, the Cowboys then have a real chance to select the biggest impact player in the entire draft.
In my mind, that player is Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and if he’s on the board and the Cowboys stand pat, he needs to be the selection. No offense to Myles Jack or Joey Bosa, but Ramsey projects as one of the few All-Pro level talents in the draft and he’s just on a slightly different tier than both of those players in my estimation.
So, I’m definitely Ramsey or bust at this point, unless …
With their position in the draft, the Cowboys are going to receive some offers for the No. 4 spot and I’m open to the idea of listening for a can’t-turn-down-offer. If someone makes an offer that includes multiple first round picks and at least another second round pick, I’d at least have to consider the idea of a trade.
Outside of that, let’s just take advantage of the position and try to land a difference-maker.
No. 8 – Eternal Randomness of the Spotty Sports Mind …
… Can we just skip the entire first round of the NBA playoffs and get on with the second round? The next two weeks feel like a waste of all of our time.
… Halftime on Saturday: Golden State 60 Houston 33
… Paul George was a top five player in the world on Saturday. Man, it’s so good to see him almost all the way back from that nasty leg injury. The guy that destroyed Toronto on Saturday is the guy Kevin Durant went on the record as saying was better than Kawai Leonard a few years back. I’m not saying Durant was right then, I’m just saying that the guy we saw on Saturday is the guy he was giving his vote to.
… Prayers, well-wishes and nothing but positive thoughts for Jaxon Anthony deGrom. Fight the good fight, little man.
… Jake Arrieta is good.
… Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy have had tremendous seasons, but the best striker in the Premier League is Sergio Aguero and there’s a definite layer of separation between him and the rest of the pack.
… Nobody pulls out points in the 90+ minute quite like Leicester this season. It feels like you can set your watch to it.
… It seems like forever ago that Rashad Evans mattered in the UFC. After getting knocked out this weekend by Glover Texeria, it’s clear he’s fighting for rent money and rent money alone moving forward. Harsh sport/business.
… If I live to be 100 years old, I hope I never get hit by anyone like this.
No. 9 – Lets go Dynamo ...
There’s no love quite like new love and as it relates to my newfound obsession with the other kind of football, I reached a new level this weekend …
I attended my first soccer match on Friday night, travelling to H-Town to see the Houston Dynamo host the L.A. Galaxy.
Thanks to the amazing team that works with the Dynamo (special thanks to Orangebloods’ very own Zac Emmons), I was able to get a full tour of the stadium, along with great seats and a few other dynamite perks. Even though the home team took it on the chin on the field, I can’t say enough positive things about the experience and after spending $200 on gear for the entire family, I’m definitely a new fan of the Dynamo.
A few random thoughts …
a. NASCAR drivers are notorious for being fan-friendly, but I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything like the goodwill that the players from the Dyanmo and Galaxy showed to anyone who wanted a little bit of time. Perhaps no one was more engaging and giving with his time than the Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes, who gave the short off his back to a young fan and spent about 10 minutes talking with his family after the game.
b. One of my new favorite people in the world is the Dyanmo’s Stephanie Gonzales (@Stephggg on Twitter), who might be the nicest person I have ever met in professional sports. As a women who serves a million roles with the Dynamo, she went out of her way to make sure everyone had a great time and she took care of every single request anyone had.
c. Soccer in person is better than soccer on television, which means I will go see more games.
d. Steven Gerrard is a terrific ambassador or the game. Although it seemed like every person in the stadium wanted his attention, he had time for everyone as far as I could tell.
No. 10 - And finally…
After a weekend with a very sick wife and two very unhappy two-year olds, you guys will have to forgive me if I join my sanity in a ditch on the side of the road somewhere.
I know what I need...
