Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (About the quarterbacks... again)

[Coach_Bass]

@Ketchum, your Thursday column should be a retrospective about how we ended up in this position with such a poor OL/DL. Poor evaluations? More recruiting competition than during Mack's tenure? Coaching carousels? Etc.

Quick little comparison of starting 5 OL composite rankings last 3 years…

2020 Playoffs
Ohio State- LT .898, LG .986, C .975, RG .987, RT .996
Clemson- LT .989, LG .909, C .802, RG .955, RT .860
Notre Dame- LT .961, LG .930, C .891, RG .983, RT .960

2019 Playoffs
LSU - LT .903, LG .910, C .823, RG .865, RT .977
Ohio State - LT .898, LG .813, C .975, RG .987, RT .866
Oklahoma- LT .891, LG .903, C .896, RG .952, RT .899

2018 Playoffs
Oklahoma- LT .926, LG .864, C .896, RG .952, RT .899
Notre Dame - LT .961, LG .948, C .912, RG .983, RT .960
Clemson- LT .989, LG .933, C .865, RG .902, RT .870

Texas:

2018- LT .771, LG .942, C .848, RG .833, RT .839
2019: LT .839, LG .875, C .848, RG .945, RT .860
2020: LT .839, LG .945, C .860, RG .904 RT .864
2021: LT .864, LG .904, C .921, RG .945, RT .860

Notable on 2021 bench- Johnson .972, Hookfin .908, Garth .906, Parr .902, Ghirmai Karic .891, Conner .887

 

[Rotarran9116]

I mean it's both.

The lack of adjustments in the last few weeks isn't completely on the players, but obviously they are a huge part of it.

The decisions that were made prior to the season weren't all the players, though.

Thats a fair answer. Thank you for remaining objective and reasonable.

 

[Sun Tzu Horn]

Ho Lee Fuk. Can we actually get this asked?

Have you ever watched one of these press conferences? The next tough question will be the first.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

Proven right? LOL.

Regardless my point is what is correct - you are being a hypocrite. When you disliked the choice you dissed Sark. When you r guy plays like shit rather than owning it your answer is “up to Sark.”

Show me where I dissed Sark. Give me the proof. I’ll stay up for this.

 

[Ketchum]

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.

Hudson Card is far from the only player in this program that has been rattled in a game this season.

There's probably five players that on the roster that can look themselves in the mirror and say they aren't one of them.

 

[4thand5TX]

I reported it previously. Sorry you missed it

I know you reported it, I just think you left out important details. Maybe the whole story wasn’t given to you?

 

[Ketchum]

Are you insinuating that he's playing bad consistently or that he needs to be super human consistently?

I'm saying he's not been very consistently good the last three games, as evidenced by the numbers.

 

[Sun Tzu Horn]

Hudson Card is far from the only player in this program that has been rattled in a game this season.

There's probably five players that on the roster that can look themselves in the mirror and say they aren't one of them.

Id like to know what the appropriate verb is if that second half from Casey wasnt “rattled”

 

[Ketchum]

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.

It takes a while for the disease to set in.

 

[texhorns12]

Have you ever watched one of these press conferences? The next tough question will be the first.

Oh I know. No chance we get this question asked. I’m surprised, but impressed ketch said to ask it. You and I both know he won’t actually ask the question.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

I know you reported it, I just think you left out important details. Maybe the whole story wasn’t given to you?

It was

 

[HookemChargers]

Still think they can get Campbell, but OU looms.

One run away from it being over. Get him and Stewart and I am thrilled. Add some guys from the portal. OL and edge rushers and I am good.

 

[Rotarran9116]

He earned his NFL pension?

Super Bowl too

 

[4thand5TX]

It was

Clearly it wasn’t. Come on now. Ask the same source how the players feel about Casey Thompson and report back to us. That will tell us a lot about the credibility of the source.

 

[Sun Tzu Horn]

Oh I know. No chance we get this question asked. I’m surprised, but impressed ketch said to ask it. You and I both know he won’t actually ask the question.

I once was having lunch with a couple of Houston reporters who covered the Astros. It was when the steroids talk was all the rage. One of them told me “I could see a syringe in Bagwell’s locker and I’d never report it because I’d never get access ever again. My career would be over.” That’s surely hyperbole, but the point remains. We never get the real stories. Certainly not the whole story. Guys are wed to the sources, their agendas, and of course their own biases.

 

[Coach_Bass]

Hudson Card is far from the only player in this program that has been rattled in a game this season.

There's probably five players that on the roster that can look themselves in the mirror and say they aren't one of them.

Definitely can’t argue with that lol. I think it means a little bit more though when it comes from the QB position. The comments from arguably your two best players in Overshown and Bijan were likely the nail in the coffin for Card. I’m still hoping he balls out for us at some point in his career too. Too early and too much skill on his high skill tape to give up hope.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

Clearly it wasn’t. Come on now. Ask the same source how the players feel about Casey Thompson and report back to us. That will tell us a lot about the credibility of the source.

A source is only credible if they match your narrative? Okay

 

[Ketchum]

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.

He closed that game strongly, but Whittington had a lot to do with that. But, CT gets credit from me.

 

[4thand5TX]

Definitely can’t argue with that lol. I think it means a little bit more though when it comes from the QB position. The comments from arguably your two best players in Overshown and Bijan were likely the nail in the coffin for Card. I’m still hoping he balls out for us at some point in his career too. Too early and too much skill on his high skill tape to give up hope.

Casey has been rattled more than Hudson this year. He gets very high and he gets very low.

 

[Sun Tzu Horn]

Definitely can’t argue with that lol. I think it means a little bit more though when it comes from the QB position. The comments from arguably your two best players in Overshown and Bijan were likely the nail in the coffin for Card. I’m still hoping he balls out for us at some point in his career too. Too early and too much skill on his high skill tape to give up hope.

Card is almost certainly done in Austin absent a change of heart giving him the job and him performing well. Im also quite sure having him lose any chance of saving a year to do a handoff Saturday is not going to sit well.

 

[Ketchum]

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

Is Texas' record any different with Card starting?

I'd argue they'd probably both be 4-3 right now.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

Is Texas' record any different with Card starting?

I'd argue they'd probably both be 4-3 right now.

Not sure he defeats TCU

 

[Ketchum]

The issues you stated in the QB position (#1 Thought) is more about the issues you stated in your #2 Thought for the week.

The QB performance has more to say about the offensive line issues than anything else. It’s been my opinion, even before the season, that as the OLine goes so does this team this year. That includes every aspect of this team not just the QBs. The success of the offense has been Sark scheming up plays but as soon as teams adjust then there are no more smoke and mirrors to cover up for the OLine. The same goes for the defense. This defense is below average (lack of edge players, lack of safety talent, average CB play, below average LB play, and average inside DLine play) but it’s deficiencies are magnified by the inconsistency of the offense driven by the bad OLine. This leads to the defense being left on the field too much and their bend-but-don’t-break philosophy leads to a complete jail break.

Finally, you stated several times over the summer that you didn’t think Texas would make the B12 title game, so why hold it against them now? I know that the B12 title game is a year in and year out expectation by fans but don’t hide behind that.

It's the how.

 

[4thand5TX]

Card is almost certainly done in Austin absent a change of heart giving him the job and him performing well. Im also quite sure having him lose any chance of saving a year to do a handoff Saturday is not going to sit well.

Disagree. This may sound strange in 2021, and considering the reaction of a certain QB on our team back in August, but not every player takes their ball and leaves when things don’t go their way.

 

[Ketchum]

Not sure he defeats TCU

I mean... he could have just posted Casey's poor numbers, right?

They won with poor quarterback play that day.

 

[Ketchum]

Man in Black belongs on the list over One and Hurt. Not only is it better all around song, it is iconic and defines his image and humanity. He was literally the man in black.

Hurt keeps climbing with each and every year. It's become a song young people know him for.

 

[Ketchum]

Casey needs to be replaced. He looked twice as bad against OSU as Card did against Arkansas. He was AWFUL. Defending his play is damaging your credibility.

Twice as bad feels like hyperbole.

 

[texhorns12]

Not sure he defeats TCU

How? Would he have handed it off to Bijan worse than Casey did? It’s very difficult to be worse than Casey was that day.

 

[DubaiBob]

. 2 - Improving the offensive line for the 2022 season ...

Sark needs to go all-in on the portal if he wants to save his job. He's starting to look more Charlie Strong than Tom Herman right now, and that's a bad inflection point on an already bad trend. He ain't gonna make it past three years if he keeps this shit up. The least he can do is show he's making an effort at changing the less favorable hand he's been dealt at Oline. Getting good freshman recruits isn't going to help at that position in 2022.

 

[Sun Tzu Horn]

I mean... he could have just posted Casey's poor numbers, right?

They won with poor quarterback play that day.

And only had to beat a QBR of 12 to beat Okie Lite. Which is essentially breathing consider what 95% of that 12 was based upon - 6 inch flips forward.

 

[Ketchum]

I know you brushed it aside…but there is. A pretty large historical book on Sark halftime adjustments. It’s bad. Real bad. Not sure how that gets brushed aside or sugar coated. At this point it’s hard to argue it’s going to change.

It's a storyline we'l all think about each week until he shows us we shouldn't.,

 

[Ketchum]

Do you think we should see card again?

It has to be a consideration if Thompson doesn't start playing consistently better.

 

[texhorns12]

It has to be a consideration if Thompson doesn't start playing consistently better.

It’s crazy to me we yanked card after one bad (albeit, REALLY bad) half of football yet Casey is going on nearly three full games of being bad and not a peep of a change or at least a 2 QB system.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

I mean... he could have just posted Casey's poor numbers, right?

They won with poor quarterback play that day.

We shall see if Sarkisian agrees with you.

 

[texhorns12]

We shall see if Sarkisian agrees with you.

These are continuously weak replies.