Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (3 things Shane can do to be like Colt)

[Ketchum]

You can say Shane has plenty of talent to work with, but you also can't name me a single player on the 2016 starting offense that would start for the 2006 team. That team began the season ranked #2 in the country for a reason, just like this one begins the season unranked.

The other thing working big-time against Shane to recreate what Colt did in 2006 is the lack of a redshirt season. He did enroll early, but he is still a full year younger and a full semester behind Colt in development ahead of his first start. Don't think I need to remind anyone of the track record of UT quarterbacks who redshirted compared to those who didn't.

a. I think Burt or Collin Johnson would/could have started on that 2005 team. Jordan would have started as a freshman in 2004.

b. I think the redshirt season advantage from Colt is somewhat washed away by the early arrival of Buechele this spring. Other than scout team work and suiting up for games, it wasn't a major advantage IMO.

 

[Ketchum]

This is how I look at it when comparing the stinkers of Mack Brown to Charlie Strong. I'd define stinkers as games where you either lose by 18+ points or your offense fails to score 10 or more points in a game. Here's how they compare:

During Mack's meaningful tenure at UT from 1998-2009 (before he quit on the job and things got off the rails), in 12 seasons and 155 total games played, Mack lost 7 games by 18+ points and had 7 games where his teams failed to score 10 points.

In 2 seasons and 25 total games played, Strong has lost 9 games by 18+ points, and had 7 games where his teams failed to score 10 points.

Mack averaged one stinker every 17.2 games. Charlie has averaged one stinker every 2.8 games. In fact, Strong could go the next 10 seasons without a single stinker game and he would STILL have more than Mack had in his first 12 seasons.

great post

 

[Ketchum]

Boston is on my to do list for a trip. Would not suck.

Beats Ames.

 

[trophies2]

It's going to be like this forever.

I don't think you're right. I KNOW you are. It's sad and pathetic. I've bad mouthed Dallas and Jerry on this board, to my dad, and they don't want to hear it. I get no pleasure from it, but they're a dysfunctional organization. Not all Cowboy fans, but many have they're head in the sand. Jerry has been doing the same things since Jimmy left and hasn't learned anything. Every 11-12 win season is mirage with no real bedrock to stand on.

Honestly, I just show up for the game and that's it. I don't read anything about the team anymore. I'm pretty much indifferent, but I still love to watch the games with my Dad. That's about the only reason to watch anymore, at least for me.

 

[drunk randoke]

Beats Ames.

I've been to Ames for a game. The Arby's was exquisite.

 

[markray]

Please forgive the nostalgia from 1969, but I would love to see a Red Zone offense that looks like: RB - Foreman, Warren & (pick your #3 RB; QB - Swoopes/Heard; Formation - Wishbone.

As far as the upcoming political contest: I'm pretty sure that most of the alumni of A&M, Baylor, TCU, W.V., OK, OK State, Kansas & Kansas State will line up with "The Donald". That alone is enough to get me lined up on the other side.

 

[Ketchum]

Good stuff.

- Hopkins should have been all in. Can't go on strike for a day. Either all chips in or don't play.

Kind of got punked out, huh?

 

[markray]

Regarding the future of the Big 12; It seems a foregone conclusion that the current national order will fracture and leave us with 5 or Mega conferences. If every thing is going to change anyway, I suggest that, as it always has been, is the logical organizing principal. How does a Big 12 of Texas, OK, OK State, Missouri, Arkansas, LSU and U of H, plus (fill in with the best of the weak rest). I have included U of H because of its bright future (Tier I), and because I'm sick of the SEC cherrypicking Texas talent.

 

[Reagan Dawg]

"Am I crazy for thinking that Dicock Origi needs to be Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice striker ahead of Daniel Sturridge? He’s more consistent, has a higher work-rate and plays with as much pace as anyone in the Premier League."

Ketch - if history is an indicator, Sturridge will be healthy enough to make maybe 20 starts this year, so Origi will get plenty of time. Reds were a different team when Sturridge got back to form last spring. Hopefully the new MFs will be up to speed, and still holding out hope that our defense can rise up.

 

[evanjohnson]

4. Memphis (I’ve been surprised by the love Memphis seems to be getting)

Most sensible geography, affordable away games for teams, cheap and fun road trip, good basketball program and fan support, North Mississippi as a recruiting area especially for Bball, and not the least, FedEx is going to pay whatever it takes to get them in including developing facilities, Big12 championship game, etc. Frankly, it makes a lot of sense when you consider all of the options are pretty weak and you will need all of them to step up immensely over the next several years to preserve the conference.

 

[Ketchum]

regarding BJM, our defense was awful last year. I think a little more success is needed

and it's Charlie's defense, at least that's the major perception.

 

[Ketchum]

"Am I crazy for thinking that Dicock Origi needs to be Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice striker ahead of Daniel Sturridge? He’s more consistent, has a higher work-rate and plays with as much pace as anyone in the Premier League."

Ketch - if history is an indicator, Sturridge will be healthy enough to make maybe 20 starts this year, so Origi will get plenty of time. Reds were a different team when Sturridge got back to form last spring. Hopefully the new MFs will be up to speed, and still holding out hope that our defense can rise up.

Klopp loves him some Origi.

 

[txfight]

I've been to Ames for a game. The Arby's was exquisite.

Ames is basically Northern College Station. It's a College Town with a huge emphasis on engineering and veterinary medicine. The biggest difference is the fan base is comprised of nice people, who aren't used to winning (at football) and they pat you on the back when you show up in burnt orange and your team doesn't penetrate the 50 yard line on more than 2 possessions en route to leaving a goose egg on the scoreboard. It's like going to a game in Lincoln without all the smug, forced hospitality.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather stay in Boston or Denver when traveling to away Longhorn games. But with a game at Iowa State you can stay 30 minutes away in Des Moines, a very underrated city. Give me that over Manhattan (2 hours from KC), Lawrence (an hour from KC), Morgantown (2 hours from Pittsburgh), Stillwater (an hour from OKC) or anywhere in Utah if the Big 12 added BYU (except Park City, that place is awesome.) I'll concede that I haven't been to Morgantown and Stillwater, and maybe those are fun cities to stay in for a game. But let's not make Iowa out to be a wasteland.

And that Arby's is BADA$$!!

 

[Buda Horn]

The plus side of that for Shane is not only that he's an early enrollee, but he's in a system that probably runs 70% more total reps in practice than the Longhorns were running under Davis in '05/'06 - just a massively different approach to practice pace. Buechele was splitting snaps no worse than 50/50 through much of the Spring while Colt was getting scraps during his redshirt season. By the time Buechele takes the field against ND, I'll wager that he'll have thrown as many or more practice balls than Colt had when he took the field against tOSU. How much that will matter under live fire remains to be seen, but it's probably accurate to think of him as something between a redshirt freshman and a garden-variety thrown-into-the-fire true frosh.

Now, the surrounding talent disparity is...substantially larger.

That's a fair point about the number of practice reps that Gilbert fits into a practice compared to the number of reps that all teams in 2006 ran during a practice.

Let's just hope that Buechele gets the majority of reps during fall camp rather than giving all his reps to Swoopes/Heard before naming Buechele the starter the Monday before Notre Dame.

 

[cordpetee]

Most sensible geography, affordable away games for teams, cheap and fun road trip, good basketball program and fan support, North Mississippi as a recruiting area especially for Bball, and not the least, FedEx is going to pay whatever it takes to get them in including developing facilities, Big12 championship game, etc. Frankly, it makes a lot of sense when you consider all of the options are pretty weak and you will need all of them to step up immensely over the next several years to preserve the conference.

Good job on that Lurking 6 year drought for a first post!!

 

[lightthetower0510]

great post

Enlightening, but painful. Ugh.

 

[westsidehorn]

FYI - I think it's highly doubtful Texas would ever play any football games at UConn's stadium in Hartford. I would almost guarantee Texas would demand those games be played at Metlife Stadium for them to agree to Uconn (or at least every other trip). And the vast majority of UConn's alumni are in NYC and Greenwich/Stamford/Norwalk...it's about a 30 minute train ride from NYC and 1-1.5 hour train ride from any of the Westchester / CT towns directly to Metlife. So I'd bet most of their alumni would prefer that to the drive to (and hotel / dining options) East Hartford.

 

[tooker00]

This is how I look at it when comparing the stinkers of Mack Brown to Charlie Strong. I'd define stinkers as games where you either lose by 18+ points or your offense fails to score 10 or more points in a game. Here's how they compare:

During Mack's meaningful tenure at UT from 1998-2009 (before he quit on the job and things got off the rails), in 12 seasons and 155 total games played, Mack lost 7 games by 18+ points and had 7 games where his teams failed to score 10 points.

In 2 seasons and 25 total games played, Strong has lost 9 games by 18+ points, and had 7 games where his teams failed to score 10 points.

Mack averaged one stinker every 17.2 games. Charlie has averaged one stinker every 2.8 games. In fact, Strong could go the next 10 seasons without a single stinker game and he would STILL have more than Mack had in his first 12 seasons.

Having Ricky and Major and a decent offensive line sure helps a coach look like a winner. Strong had absolutely nothing in these areas.

 

[SyberLAN]

I was sizing up Colt and Shane by the photograph. First I compared ear level since Colt has a hat. Shane appears 2 inches shorter. Then I compared eye level. Shane is now just a half inch short. I will never compare ear level with Colt again! Seriously, Shane will need to be special to handle the pressure of true frosh starter, at QB. I think it is way too much to trot him in against ND for the first snap. If he goes 4-13 for 22 yards and 2 pics, he will have a failure alert asterisk on the boards! Colt was special as a RS Frosh. Huge difference. Shane should be getting fitted for prom. I say he plays, but doesn't start. The biggest key will be subbing in the right QB for each situation. The committee has more to offer this year. Shane very likely will get starts as the season progresses. Not Notre Dame on Sunday national TV. If I'm wrong, and he leads the offense up and down the field from the first snap, he should be considered a rare, rare find. Easy on the expectations.

As for Heard. I still sense he is in some secret doghouse, and then injured, more than he suddenly can't play QB. He's hurt for Spring and rumors have him switching positions. He's healthy, and suddenly he has value. Mentioned almost as to not have Heard lose focus. I just get a vibe he is serving out some penance for losing focus in some way. I have watched too many games from last season replayed on LHN to say he is unusable at QB.

McNeil is getting a bit of a stigma over the last year. Seems the reports are unchanging. Everybody gets a pass for the new offensive system, but still the same reports on one player.

UCONN?!?! Yeesh!! If NYC wasan attraction to join, I would look at schools closer to NYC. Which would be stupid as shyte criteria, unless in the death throws. From a business perspective, and one targeting a successful future, I would also dump anything with 'State' or 'Central' in the name. Houston would further entrench the B12 in a top 5 market. Often the improvement in a large market is better than picking up two midlevel (at best) TV markets. Would the jump in the Dallas market and SMU be more than a midlevel? Possibly. Advertisers pay big money to sell beer, pickup trucks and boner pills. What market is freakin' Lamar, Colorado?

That said, why the rush? One minute I hear a willingness to expand. Then, there is a rush to quickly choose from the less desirables. Hold on there, Dirty Harry. I'll submit within a season or two a few major teams of interest will become disenchanted with their conference. Better than anything currently considered. The cute girls won't dance with you if you are constantly seen on the floor with the wallflowers. Wow, I sure learned that one the hard way!

Hookem

 

[Derell08]

I really feel like Mcneal just needs a full game to get in a groove. Hoping Utep will be the game for him to get into a good rhythm and show he belongs. I haven't written him off just yet especially from reports and not actual game action (excluding the 2 quarters of a spring game). Really like to hear that Collin has progressed even further. The "Heard package" sounds very interesting and glad to hear they are trying to work him into getting the ball into his hands. Further more the fact that they are talking about Heard and Swoopes "Package's" tells me Shane is the starter

 

[HllCountryHorn]

This is how I look at it when comparing the stinkers of Mack Brown to Charlie Strong. I'd define stinkers as games where you either lose by 18+ points or your offense fails to score 10 or more points in a game. Here's how they compare:

During Mack's meaningful tenure at UT from 1998-2009 (before he quit on the job and things got off the rails), in 12 seasons and 155 total games played, Mack lost 7 games by 18+ points and had 7 games where his teams failed to score 10 points.

In 2 seasons and 25 total games played, Strong has lost 9 games by 18+ points, and had 7 games where his teams failed to score 10 points.

Mack averaged one stinker every 17.2 games. Charlie has averaged one stinker every 2.8 games. In fact, Strong could go the next 10 seasons without a single stinker game and he would STILL have more than Mack had in his first 12 seasons.

I think Mack was a great coach second only to DKR and Charlie's sure had more than his share of stinkers in the first two seasons, but comparing Mack's best run with Charlie's first two is hardly a fair comparison.

A closer comparison would be Mack's first two seasons here, handicapping because he also had one of the all-time UT greats at QB and a Heisman Trophy winner at RB, compared to Charlie having at QB and RB . . . well . . .

 

[evanjohnson]

Good job on that Lurking 6 year drought for a first post!!

Thanks! Seemed like an important point to make.

 

[TilGabriel]

Chad Morris will have to be on the short list.

Tom Herman too, right?

 

[Coach840]

8.......Noooooo.........Keep sumlin

 

[Ketchum]

I really feel like Mcneal just needs a full game to get in a groove.

It's more than that.

 

[Ketchum]

Tom Herman too, right?

You'd think so.

 

[RTR]

Not sure I agree after watching the UCLA and OU butt kicking we received under Mack. Those 60 point games were brutal.

To be fair to Mack UCLA was in the first half of his first year

Now I can agree with you on OU especially 2012.. that was just nauseating

 

[Derell08]

It's more than that.

elaborate

 

[RLong68]

I find Shane to be an appreciably better QB than Colt at the same true frosh year. Hell, I think Shane very likely is better as a pure QB than Colt was in '06. Shane likely won't have quite the supporting cast, but as a single player he has the superior skill set.

 

[ut engr]

I think Mack was a great coach second only to DKR and Charlie's sure had more than his share of stinkers in the first two seasons, but comparing Mack's best run with Charlie's first two is hardly a fair comparison.

A closer comparison would be Mack's first two seasons here, handicapping because he also had one of the all-time UT greats at QB and a Heisman Trophy winner at RB, compared to Charlie having at QB and RB . . . well . . .

Agree with this. I know, I know, here we go again on the comparisons, but the four last Mack years had a downward trajectory - I think most would agree with; and you'd also be right in that Mack only had 2-3 stinkers per year in 3 of those 4 (using that subjective definition). But Mack's last year had 5 stinkers. The talent level or lack thereof was awful - and then losing Ash, was just so hard to overcome.

Charlie has to raise the bar - it appears that he is on his way - here's hoping we get there sooner rather than later.

 

[RLong68]

great post

Must be nice to simply disregard 4 whole seasons in order to bolster an argument. I mean, I guess I coukd argue that Charlie's first 2 years don't count because he inherited a program put together by a HC who didn't bother to work the preceeding 4 years.

 

[TexasSwagger]

Buechele won't touch that TD/INT ratio because A) it's absurdly, absurdly good, B) he's being protected by freshmen and sophomores rather than NFL-bound seniors and C) those freshmen and sophs will be better run blockers than pass blockers and Texas will lean more heavily on the run game, particularly inside the 10 yard line.

If Buechele matches Colt's health (injured in one game and playing hurt in another) he's likely to put up a bigger yardage total as a simple function of pace, though that depends somewhat on how often the 18-Wheeler and Slash packages for Heard come into play. 8.1 yards per attempt would be a tremendous achievement for Buechele but not totally unthinkable given the downfield nature of the offense. And even with some "easy button" throws and the presence (finally) of a well-designed WR screen game, Buechele won't sniff a 68% completion rate.

Ok

I hate you for sounding so reasonable, damn you!

 

[TexasSwagger]

Boston is on my to do list for a trip. Would not suck.

Cold beer, fall colors, clam chowder, Not sucking

 

[Ketchum]

elaborate

He's got to get his shit together.

 

[Ketchum]

I find Shane to be an appreciably better QB than Colt at the same true frosh year. Hell, I think Shane very likely is better as a pure QB than Colt was in '06. Shane likely won't have quite the supporting cast, but as a single player he has the superior skill set.

how in the world could you possibly make that statement at this point?