Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (About the quarterbacks... again)
- Thread starter Ketchum
- Start date
You are correct.
His teammates said he looked rattled. Sarkisian knows the QB position better than anyone and immediately switched QBs after Arkansas. Imagine how bad the film had to be. Either you believe Sarkisian knows what he’s doing or you think he doesn’t and is making a horrible decision by playing the lesser quarterback. If the latter is the case, start the coaching search now.
Are you insinuating that he's playing bad consistently or that he needs to be super human consistently?
If you’re not man enough to say what you’re thinking as relates to how and why I believe Casey Thompson provides Texas with the best chance of winning games this season, we don’t need to talk.
Bro you live in The H. How can you possibly be a neutral observer in the ALCS against those Red Sox douches?
I am OK with pulling for Philly on those rare occasions when they play the ‘Stros, butt love for the ‘Stros is incredibly contagious and pretty much required unless your trying to be labeled as a buttmunch by Houstonians.
I am OK with pulling for Philly on those rare occasions when they play the ‘Stros, butt love for the ‘Stros is incredibly contagious and pretty much required unless your trying to be labeled as a buttmunch by Houstonians.
Wait… who was the one taking the swing? Looks to me like the man just asked you to actually say what you meant and you wouldn’t. Where I come from that’s called being a chicken shit.
Bijan and mishaps from TCU won that game in Fort Worth. Casey wasn’t good at all. Had several plays that should’ve been interceptions.
Then he’s more mobile…..the triggering in the brain to move is part of the equation……
Thank you. I respect people who say what they mean and mean what they say. He claims to know how and why I believe in Thompson, but won’t say it. Said he doesn’t want to get banned, which means he knows his thoughts are offensive. I actually wouldn’t ban him for expressing how he feels. I’m leaning toward hitting the ignore button.
You mean the expert who gave Card the job to begin with, that you the non-expert complained about?
just gonna pick and choose which decision you like?
The last 6 quarters sure as shit haven been leadership. And a guy at best who looks shaken.
the fact is neither QB is good and w better find somebody for next year. Stat.
This. I don’t think anyone expected to really win all the games, but it’s how we are losing and some of the things I didn’t think we’d be talking about with Sark as coach. He’s not better than Herman right now. And it’s not just a talent issue. I thought we’d have more answers than questions by a good margin at this point. We don’t. That’s not great coaching.
I do believe that Casey gives them the best chance. However, IMO it looked as his hand was hurting him and would’ve like to see if Card could’ve helped out on Saturday. I feel like Sark is in a no win situation.
It’s not ALL anything, but coaching is a huge part of this crap. We shouldn’t need elite players to keep from breaking the kind of records you don’t want to break in losing, especially against this schedule of teams.
Never complained. And I was right.
Shocking. A coach protecting his player. You’ve been ding this a long time, yet buy blindly into coachspeak.
No doubt Bijan carried the load and Casey struggled that game. Some of his passes definitely could have been intercepted. However I think the fact that he rebounded at least enough to throw the game winning TD pass gave him a little hope going forward. With this team, you have to live with that positive end result even if the means to getting there wasn't quite as error free as you would've liked.
Right about what? You acted like this team would matter with the right choice at QB. Guess what - it didnt. Whether Thompson is better than Card isn’t all that meaningful. It’s IIke asking who whether the Texans should start Mills or Taylor. If your question is between these two guys your team is already DOA.
Sarkisian had a team that reacts differently in games as opposed to practice. He’s trying to figure out his players in real time.
He did make a nice pass to Whittington. I do believe he gives us the best chance right now. Wouldn’t mind seeing Card get some series though. Get some experience and see if he has the capability of leading the team in the future. 7 quarters is really a small sample size.
Coaching before this staff? I would agree with you. Tom Herman in his last two years was asleep at the wheel and more worried about woke tweets than running his team. Tom Herman in years one and two was maybe too hard too fast but he was on a semi decent path. Herb Hand and the circus of staffs did us no favors in recruiting and development save for Bijan and Hudson.
I dont blame this staff for whats happening. I sure dont like being 4-3 and I was pretty hot after these losses, but I have to give these guys time and I have to recognize we just dont have the players right now. What worries me long term is (outside of the full on SEC approach I would be happy with) how do we get the pieces we need, especially on the offensive and defensive lines? I dont know that there is an answer to that without buying what we need.
If you think this team is 4-3 because of Thompson and not the subpar defense and offensive line, I don’t know what to tell you
It’s all of the above. And if you dont see that….ffs. We just needed one decent drive from Thompson and Saturday is a win. Heck his pick 6 was the difference in the game. He does anything I the second half in Dallas its a win. These things arent mutually exclusive.
So we should believe in the guy that according to you picked the wrong QB from the get go?
That's what I said! (Volleyball)
Hello darkness, my old friend.
Seven games deep into a season that suddenly feels lost inside the abyss that often leads to either Houston or San Antonio in late December, the Texas football program is bro-hugging uncertainty at the most important position in college football.
Perhaps winning a Big 12 title was too much to expect this season. Perhaps competing for a Big 12 Championship spot when November rolls around was expecting too much as well.
If someone wants to point out that everyone is making too big of a fuss out of the Longhorns being 4-3 in the circumstances that currently exist because this team always had some personnel limitations, I might not completely agree with you, but I certainly understand the point being made.
Sill, for all of the hedging of bets over what represents a fair set of first-year expectations, there's no getting around the fact that identifying the correct quarterback choice between Casey Thompson and Hudson Card was a non-negotiable one. It has to happen.
Heading into a two-week break before heading to Waco, I can't say that I fully know what the call should be. After Hudson Card blinked against Arkansas, the obvious call was to turn to Thompson. After Thompson has somewhat blinked in the last three weeks, I'm not sure an obvious call exists.
When it comes to Thompson, there are multiple ways of viewing his current performance.
On one hand, Thompson is currently the Big 12's leading passer in efficiency and is one game removed from posting the single-best half of football that any quarterback in the history of the program has ever had against its No. 1 rival.
On the other hand, take a look at this quarter-by-quarter breakdown of the last 12 quarters of football that Thompson has played:
1st quarter vs. OSU - 7 of 11 for 119 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 154.0 rating
2nd quarter vs. OSU - 4 of 8 for 34 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 104.1 rating
3rd quarter vs. OSU - 3 of 7 for 26 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 75.3 rating
4th quarter vs. OSU - 1 of 2 for 0 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 50.0 rating
1st quarter vs. OU - 6 of 8 for 176 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 383.6 rating
2nd quarter vs. OU - 4 of 8 for 68 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 162.7 rating
3rd quarter vs. OU - 4 of 6 for 30 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 108.7 rating
4th quarter vs. OU - 6 of 12 for 114 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 155.9 rating
1st quarter vs. TCU - 4 of 7 for 36 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 100.3 rating
2nd quarter vs. TCU - 2 of 7 for 9 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 10.8 rating
3rd quarter vs. TCU - 3 of 4 for 57 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 194.7 rating
4th quarter vs. TCU - 3 of 4 for 40 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 241.5 rating
When you dig into the numbers just a little bit, you'll find that ...
a. His completion percentage from the first four games (77.7%) has dropped by more than 20 points (56.7%) since the end of the Texas Tech game.
b. There's too much inconsistency. In six of the 12 quarters of football, Thompson has posted a quarterback efficiency below 110, which represents awfulness. Three of his quarters featured ratings of better than 194.7. Three others were in the rock-solid territory.
c. He's played at least one half of football in each game that ranged from beyond terrible vs. OSU in the second half to not really all that good vs. Oklahoma in the second half and back to pretty awful in the first half against TCU.
The purpose of this column isn't to make a public cry for Thompson to be replaced. As I stated directly following the game, I'd stick with Thompson going into Baylor. Instead, the purpose of this piece of the column is to simply address one of many elephants in the room with regards to this football team.
We're kind of back into the territory where folks are going to wonder if the right quarterback is starting, which isn't where you want to be eight weeks into the season.
As for Card, I haven't heard a lot of loud whispers about discontent from Lakeway since he got the hook in the third quarter against Arkansas. He's kept his head down and seemingly been a pretty good soldier. Still, if I'm Card I'd personally have some questions about the following:
a. When Thompson had a statistically worse half of football vs. TCU than Card had in the first half against Arkansas, Card didn't sniff the field, which would have been an eye-opener for a player likely being told that he needs to prepare like he's a starter because you'll never know when he might be needed ... except apparently really poor play by Thompson isn't when he's needed.
b. Why was Sarkisian so vocally supportive of Thompson when he named Card the starter at quarterback, even to the extent of mostly talking Thompson up and publicly selling him on staying (and not transferring) instead of talking about Card on the day Card actually won the job, but hasn't done the same for Card since the job switched hands?
Right or wrong, I would absolutely feel like I'm in the process of being treated wildly different than Thompson was when the shoe was on the other foot. It would put me in a position where I'd be wondering if I truly have a future in Austin playing football.
So, here we are.
You've got one quarterback that is having an awful quarter of football once out of every two quarters in the last 12 quarters of football and another quarterback that likely wonders why he never had a chance to have 12 quarters.
Whatever happens from here on out through December, the Texas quarterback position can't look like this when we get there.
No. 2 - Improving the offensive line for the 2022 season ...
I think everyone has come to grips with the fact that the Texas offensive line is going to be a group that this program just kind of gets by with what it can from week to week.
There's no magic potion or a genie that can fix what ails this group with five games to go in the season.
On some level, the attention turns to 2022 when this group loses Derek Kerstetter (maybe the team's most important offensive lineman because of his versatility), along with guards Denzel Okafor and Tope Imade.
It leaves a core group of Christian Jones and Andrej Karic at tackle, Junior Angilau and Hayden Conner at guards and Jake Majors at center. I'm not sure there's a single player behind them that remains on the roster that looks like a major contributor for a good offensive line ... ever.
While recruiting is currently slated to add Connor Robertson and Cole Hutson from the 2022 recruiting class, neither should be expected to contribute immediately, especially for a staff that has seemed hesitant to play young players over older players up-front on offense. Even if the Longhorns find a way to land five-star lineman Devon Campbell to top off the 2022 class, the reality is that the Longhorns won't have enough up-front on paper going into the season with this group.
Texas has to achieve some level of success in the transfer portal this off-season. Simple as that. Even if it's just to improve the depth like it did at linebacker this season through the portal, the program can't afford to drop down to the level of current reserves when an injury or two demands on a next man showing up.
In fact, I'd argue that it's so important to find improvement this off-season through transfers that Steve Sarkisian can't afford to sit back and wait for whatever falls from the transfer tree. He needs to shake the tree.
The Longhorns need to have a team of analysts dedicated to the transfer market and part of their daily tasks needs to be following the success and failure of every prospect from the state of Texas that doesn't sign with the Longhorns. If there's a kid playing for UTSA, Utah, USC ... you name it .... and he hails from the Lone Star State, the Longhorns need to be letting people behind the scenes connected to those players know that they have a home if they enter the portal.
All of the schools that sign players from Texas and achieve levels of success with those players need to be treated as farm system prospects. Few states can generate hundreds of developmental prospects like the state of Texas can and the Longhorns have to be ready to take advantage of it. If that means slightly stretching the rules of the grey area into the greeeeeeey area, so be it.
Failure in the transfer market might doom the 2022 season before it ever lifts off if the offensive line issues remain unsolved.
If luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation, then the Longhorns need to start preparing right now to make their luck.
No. 3 - The Bottom Line with Arch Manning ...
Texas is in great shape for the nation's No. 1 (or No. 2) prospect in the 2023 recruiting class.
Steve Sarkisian is going to the wedding, it's just a matter of whether he's going to say vows at the wedding or stand by as a bridesmaid holding flowers. In fact, there continues to be a lot of buzz that this recruitment is turning into a Texas/Georgia battle.
One of those teams is currently ranked No. 1 and has finished the last four seasons prior to this one ranked 7th, 4th, 7th and 2nd.
The other team is Texas.
From my vantage point, this entire recruitment is going to come down to Sarkisian's ability to paint a picture for Manning that doesn't involve Texas looking like a much riskier pick than Georgia. As much as the Mannings respect Sarkisian and feel at home in Austin, a business decision will eventually be made and good business decisions often come down to minimizing risks.
Part of what has to happen in these final five games includes the Longhorns finishing the season not looking like they are absolute light years behind Georgia on the national level. I've said for months that I believe the Longhorns will land Manning if they make the Big 12 championship game and just show signs of progress in year one as part of a process headed for big things. Anything less than that makes it hard to believe that Texas will finish as anything more than the maid of honor.
No. 4 - Move over Michael Dickson?
In 2017, Michael Dickson won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter and in the process, he cemented his status as perhaps the best player the program has had in the entire decade of the 2010s.
He averaged 47.4 yards per punt, a 50+ yard punt on 42.9% of his punts and had punts downed inside of the 20 yard line on 50 percent of his kicks.
Four years later, take a look at Cameron Dicker, who is averaging 49.6 yards per punt and 50% of his kicks going 50+ yards.
The only area that trickles below Dickson's numbers is Dicker's rate of punts being downed inside the 20 yard line, which currently stands at 18.1%.
Still, who could have believed that we'd fairly be mentioning Dicker's punting exploits in the same sentence with Dickson when this season began?
He's quietly been one of the best players on the team.
No. 5 - More randomness with a day to chew on things ...
... I'd guess that DeMarvion Overshown is questionable next week coming off of a "head injury" of some variety in Saturday's game. When he does return to the line-up, I'd contend the Longhorns will be better off of if he's teamed with Jaylan Ford at linebacker instead of Luke Brockrmeyer. Teams have figured out that they can get a lot of success in running to the outside on Brockermeyer's side of the field. Whether he's not seeing plays or getting off blocks or making athletic enough plays to close down those runs at the first or second line of the defense, something is happening that is causing teams to almost go out of their way to challenge that area of the defense.
... Shout out to Ray Thornton, who had the best day of his career with three tackles for loss on Saturday. Tackles for loss have been so consistently hard to find inside this defense that Thornton suddenly ranks second on the team with 4.5 after one really nice performance.
... Speaking of solid performances, Ovie Oghoufo was even better on the rewatch than he was when I watched him live.
... Alfred Collins is now a co-leader on the team in sacks with 2.0.
... Casey Thompson is tied with three other players with the most interceptions (five) in the Big 12.
... Of players with more than 18 carries this season in the Big 12, only TCU's Zach Evans (7.9) averages more per carry than Baylor's Abram Smith (7.5). He'll be a handful in two weeks.
... Whatever we think of Oklahoma State's offense and UT's defensive performance on Saturday, much better offensive opponents await, including the league's No. 3 (West Virginia), No. 4 (Iowa State) and No. 5 (Baylor) teams in total offense.
No. 6 - Acknowledging queens on campus ...
The No. 1-ranked Texas volleyball team moved to 15-0 on the season and 6-0 in conference play this weekend with a sweep of TCU.
Maybe we are all focused on the wrong sport?
If nothing else, make sure you are following the Texas Volleyball account on Twitter. No sport on campus does it better.
No. 7 – BUY or SELL …
(Sell) The Longhorns will likely sign three in the 2022 class and I'm not sure this staff brings in four through the portal.
(Buy) See my first section of the column.
(Buy) I don't believe he's in immediate danger.
(Sell) I'm thinking they lose one of the next two and win the final three to make for an 8-4 season.
(Buy) I looked at 1993, 1997 and a host of teams from the last decade. I can't find one.
(Sell) That feels like a bridge too far, but it's concerning to see the lack of adjustments with that 0-19 stat when losing at halftime hanging in the backdrop.
(Sell) I thought Texas would be 5-2 and positioned to compete for a spot in the Big 12 title game at this point.
(Buy) This particular Rome won't be built in a year or two.
(Sell) I wouldn't be shocked if he brings everyone back.
(Sell) It's a million things and not just one or two. It's all of those things and more. This isn't an uncomplicated rebuild.
(Sell) He was hired because the feeling is that he represented an immediate upgrade over Tom Herman and that is not what the win-loss record indicates.
(Buy) I don't think they'll have any other choice.
(Sell) This team would be 4-3 and he'd have a sub 160 rating if he was the quarterback based on all of the things we witnessed over four years.
(Buy) This is a real that exists in my head when I think about someone like Devon Campbell.
No. 8 - Scattershooting on the sports weekend ...
... It feels like Texas is responsible for Oklahoma unleashing a Godzilla in Caleb Williams.
... It's going to be fascinating to see what LSU does in replacing Ed Orgeron. Is there a wow hire out there for them to make?
... Iowa rising to No. 2 in the polls and then getting dump-trucked by Purdue at home felt very predictable.
... You'll have to forgive me for being indifferent about Cincinnati as the new No. 2 team in the polls.
... Stay classy, Tennessee fans.
... So, Arkansas is just an ok football team, huh?
... I was impressed with Baylor's performance against BYU.
... That was one hell of a satisfying win for the Cowboys. Ceedee caught the game-winning touchdown and waved with the grin like the cat that ate the canary at the defensive back that shoved him in the end zone. Inject that into my veins!
... I feel for Texans fans. This team can't be easy to watch for three hours each week.
... Nice job, DeShon.
... Come on Miami, Urban was supposed to stay winless.
... This Astros/Red Sox series feels like it has a chance to be one for the ages. As a neutral observer, here's hoping for seven games of absolute bonkers.
... Bring on the NBA regular season. I'm down.
... Premier League Thoughts From The Weekend Because I'm Trying To Force Soccer Down Your Throat: Mo Salah! Mo Salah! Mo Salah! Running down the wing! Salaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, The Egyptian king! Leicester City seems to be putting it together. That dude must stay forever. Ho-hum, Chelsea won ugly. I don't know about the rest of you, but I want Newcastle relegated. Brighton in 4th place through eight games is worthy of a tip of the cap.
.... Am I crazy in thinking that if a pro athlete in an American pro sports league captained his opponent in fantasy that there would be a slew of hot takes on First Take?
No. 9 - Top 10 Johnny Cash Songs ...
With everyone on tilt following a second straight loss, I figured I might as take on the impossible and just cause a riot in the OB streets.
YOLO!
10. Mean Eyed Cat
9. One
8. Cry, Cry, Cry
7. Jackson (with June Carter)
6. Cocaine Blues
5. Ring of Fire
4. Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down
3. Hurt
2. Folsom Prison Blues
1. I Walk The Line
No. 10 - And Finally...
Rest in peace, Mr. Derrick Foreman. My heart goes out to Armanti, D'Onte and everyone that loved him.
The Orangebloods family mourns your loss.
OK so is it fool's gold or where have I seen this before? Texas hires Herman but Baylor hires Rhule, and Baylor does more with less? Now, Aranda? How do I explain this
You gotta either be a badass coach or a recruiting witch. Mack wasn’t a badass coach. Steve might be neither. So far he hasn’t been at any of his stops, although he did pull one top class at USC.
He led Texas down the field with threw a 31 yard TD pass to Worthy with 1:23 remaining to tie the game. Then the Texas defense gave up a TD. So, he led Texas on one decent drive and the defense gave up 55 points and 662 yards of offense. I can’t do this tonight. Good night.
