Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (How to get to nine wins in 2016)

[baseballlonghorn]

" I wonder if the first truly good defensive lineman on the college level that Zach Shackelford is going to see is against Notre Dame?"

Ford and Boyette are not 1st team all big 12 defensive lineman by any means but come on.. they are "good" defensive lineman. My expectations are down for the front 4 until the freshmen show up and you need at least 1 out of 5 to be good as a freshmen which I believe is do-able. Poona is a lot better then given credit. The guy may not be as tall as you would want but he's slippery, has great hands, and has the motor that CS loves. Shack will no doubt face a better front 4 then we can put out but he will have gone against a couple of "good" DT's before that game.

 

[kokito]

That's the spirit! But seriously, are there really people who think that if the game remained on Saturday somehow we would be able to hide it from the national media if we get our asses handed to us? And so the move to Sunday means "oh no, now we'll never be able to escape! Thanks a lot Perrin!!" Give me a break. Makes no damn difference in whether we're going to be awesome or suck again if we play Saturday or Sunday. But if you're Texas you better accept this challenge/invitation and come to play.

Better yet, how about we as fans accept this challenge and really show up early to support our guys. More lIke the pack of rabid fans that showed up during last yrs.downpour vs. KSU. Instead of taking the usual approach of Labor Day relaxing.....that'll be a game changer and make a difference in the game

 

[Hook 'em Danno]

Solid write-up, Ketch. As great as life can be, it can be cruel and a number of your thoughts shine a spotlight on different levels of just that. What gives you hope is seeing how those impacted respond in such a positive way to adversity. If it were even possible, I find myself finding an even deeper respect for Spieth. The loss he has pales in comparison to Haruka's family (and by all accounts, the loss we all feel from this tragedy)...and Haruka's family's response has been courageous. God bless them.

 

[Ketchum]

Good read Ketch. Could it be that the Warriors are great but the rest of the league just isn't that good. At one time the NBA had several really good teams but in the last couple of years the overall quality of teams in the league has dropped.

I suppose, but their record against the top 10 teams in the league is out of this world good. They play their best against the best.

 

[Ketchum]

Solid write-up, Ketch. As great as life can be, it can be cruel and a number of your thoughts shine a spotlight on different levels of just that. What gives you hope is seeing how those impacted respond in such a positive way to adversity. If it were even possible, I find myself finding an even deeper respect for Spieth. The loss he has pales in comparison to Haruka's family (and by all accounts, the loss we all feel from this tragedy)...and Haruka's family's response has been courageous. God bless them.

I just can't imagine losing your daughter so violently and still having the grace to ask for peace and compassion. We should all be learning a lesson.

 

[Ketchum]

" I wonder if the first truly good defensive lineman on the college level that Zach Shackelford is going to see is against Notre Dame?"

Ford and Boyette are not 1st team all big 12 defensive lineman by any means but come on.. they are "good" defensive lineman. My expectations are down for the front 4 until the freshmen show up and you need at least 1 out of 5 to be good as a freshmen which I believe is do-able. Poona is a lot better then given credit. The guy may not be as tall as you would want but he's slippery, has great hands, and has the motor that CS loves. Shack will no doubt face a better front 4 then we can put out but he will have gone against a couple of "good" DT's before that game.

Except Boyette has barely practiced. And if Ford was dominating the other day, who was he dominating against?

 

[Texas919]

I would love to see Shane win the starting job. It's hard to have faith in Swoopes seeing what we've seen. I have confidence Gilbert will pick the right guy & improve our offense big time (whether it's Swoopes, Buechele, or Heard).

The death of Haruka Weiser is such a tragedy. I joined Orangebloods right after high school graduation at the age of 18. I've been a member of the board for almost 13 years. I think of all the life I experienced since then. To think she was robbed of her college years & adult life is sickening. For it to happen so far from her home & on the campus she was living/attending classes is gut wrenching. What an injustice. Can't imagine the sorrow her loved ones must be feeling. RIP Haruka Weiser

 

[Ketchum]

I find this "take a witch Dr for UT to pass for more than 2000 yrs".

Look Ketch I know it's been a long 5 season and you are no doubt beaten down by having optimistic predictions thrown back in your face by pissed off fans who claim you were only saying that to increase subscriptions.
HOWEVER, you are (and have been this spring) completely playing the idiots who always pick last years Super Bowl champ as next years, because well that's the way the season ended.

In 2014 Swoopes passed for 2500 yards. You are suggesting that the 2014 offense will be vastly superior to this years.

Last year was crazy as we dumped our whole offense after 1 game. I believe we would have had a better team if we stuck it out with Swoopes and the old offense but I understand that was not a possibility
.
Was that QB so much better in 2014 than what we will have this year?
Was that offensive system so much better to fit our personnel?
Was the Oline so much better?
Were the WR so much better?
Was the running game so much better?

You can be real without looking through orange tinted glasses.

2,000 MORE yards. Not 2,000 yards total.

 

[baseballlonghorn]

Except Boyette has barely practiced. And if Ford was dominating the other day, who was he dominating against?

I have no idea, I'm going off of game film talking about Poona being underrated. Texas babies their guys during the spring when it comes to injuries especially at positions with no depth. When fall camp rolls around, I highly doubt what Boyette is going through now would keep him out of practice. I'm sure Shack will see Poona and Boyette plenty in the fall to be as ready as a true fresh can be for game 1.

When people say the offensive line is improved, I think the reason is the potential play of Shack and Hodges is much better then what Doyle and and Flowers ever were. Add in the fact that Conner, Vahe, and Perk have another year and offseason under their belt. Then you have an OL coach that believes in instilling confidence into his players rather then whatever Wick did. We have no depth right now but the starting OL will take another step forward this year, no question.

 

[johnnystranger]

Ketch - "2,000 MORE yards. Not 2,000 yards total."

Ketch,

Well that certainly makes all the difference!!! ahahah

But this paragraph is confusing then:

"Only three times in the last five seasons has a team in the Big 12 won nine games and passed for fewer than 3,000 yards as a team, but only one team has pulled it off with fewer than 2,000 yards passing."

1700 yards + 2000 (more yards) = 3700 yards. Why are you then picking the only team with less than 2000?

You use the Kstate team to demonstrate that it we will have to be like a team that passed for less than 2000 yards with is my point. You are not discussing teams that passed for more than 3000. (only 500 more yards than Swoopes passed for in 2014)

You seem to be arguing that our offense will be a worse passing offense than the 2014 offense which passed for 2500

 

[Ketchum]

I have no idea, I'm going off of game film talking about Poona being underrated. Texas babies their guys during the spring when it comes to injuries especially at positions with no depth. When fall camp rolls around, I highly doubt what Boyette is going through now would keep him out of practice. I'm sure Shack will see Poona and Boyette plenty in the fall to be as ready as a true fresh can be for game 1.

When people say the offensive line is improved, I think the reason is the potential play of Shack and Hodges is much better then what Doyle and and Flowers ever were. Add in the fact that Conner, Vahe, and Perk have another year and offseason under their belt. Then you have an OL coach that believes in instilling confidence into his players rather then whatever Wick did. We have no depth right now but the starting OL will take another step forward this year, no question.

Yeah, having one healthy undersized linemen and no ends that can really test your tackles is the reality of the defensive line this spring. It is what it is.

I'm not buying that Shack or Hodges is anywhere nearly as good as being much better than Doyle and Flowers. I think that will be reflected in the play this season.

 

[Ketchum]

Ketch - "2,000 MORE yards. Not 2,000 yards total."

Ketch,

Well that certainly makes all the difference!!! ahahah

But this paragraph is confusing then:

"Only three times in the last five seasons has a team in the Big 12 won nine games and passed for fewer than 3,000 yards as a team, but only one team has pulled it off with fewer than 2,000 yards passing."

1700 yards + 2000 (more yards) = 3700 yards. Why are you then picking the only team with less than 2000?

You use the Kstate team to demonstrate that it we will have to be like a team that passed for less than 2000 yards with is my point. You are not discussing teams that passed for more than 3000. (only 500 more yards than Swoopes passed for in 2014)

You seem to be arguing that our offense worthan the 2014 offense which passed for 2500

I picked 2011 KSU because it won 10 games without a bunch of great pieces and had a passing offense that worked on training wheels.

 

[Dr. Leo Marvin]

I like the KSU analogy...except for the actual coaching aspect. Snyder is one of the bests when it comes to organization, discipline, game management, preparation, half time adjustments, and special teams. Charlie is nowhere close in any of those IMO. At least he hasn't shown it here at Texas.

 

[Prison Mike.]

No. 7 – On the day Jordan Spieth became the Jordan meme ...

I’m still stunned and it’s been more than three hours since the meltdown on hole No. 12 went down.

To see Jordan Spieth have a meltdown that Phil Mickelson at the US Open would blush over was just so stunning.

Stun. Stunning. Stunned.

I can’t use those words enough.

The thing that stands out to me in the aftermath is the list of icons in all sports that have gone through moments like this. It’s yet another reminder that when sports gives us the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory at the same time, it can provide memories that can’t be replicated.

Man … just … man.

Are we still blaming @MidTexHorn for this?

 

[gunner44]

Great write up Ketch..It's sad that you have gotten to the point of not even mentioning the Texas baseball team because of their inconsistent play (and let's be honest) less than acceptable results for quite sometime now. Average to good pitching and absolutely terrible hitting have been the norm for the last several years. When can you honestly say that winning the B12 tournament was a bad thing? It was last year, as it got us another year of this current staff. I'm not one to say "fire the coach" as a solution when we lose a few games in any sport, but the fire has been gone from the leader of our baseball team for too long. I've heard that Augie is on the 1st plane back to Cali as soon as Texas last game ends every year. We need someone young with some hunger and love for baseball to lead this team.

Some of my fondest memories in Texas sports was watching guys like Spike Owen/Billy Bates/Dennis Cook give their all game in and game out to make sure we won 60 games every year and made the CWS. Let's get Texas baseball back to where it needs to be. Augie has been great, but it's time to start a new era.

 

[danhorn]

Thanks for the early kind words. It'll make it easy for me to go to bed tonight.

 

[danhorn]

Great write up Ketch..It's sad that you have gotten to the point of not even mentioning the Texas baseball team because of their inconsistent play (and let's be honest) less than acceptable results for quite sometime now. Average to good pitching and absolutely terrible hitting have been the norm for the last several years. When can you honestly say that winning the B12 tournament was a bad thing? It was last year, as it got us another year of this current staff. I'm not one to say "fire the coach" as a solution when we lose a few games in any sport, but the fire has been gone from the leader of our baseball team for too long. I've heard that Augie is on the 1st plane back to Cali as soon as Texas last game ends every year. We need someone young with some hunger and love for baseball to lead this team.

Some of my fondest memories in Texas sports was watching guys like Spike Owen/Billy Bates/Dennis Cook give their all game in and game out to make sure we won 60 games every year and made the CWS. Let's get Texas baseball back to where it needs to be. Augie has been great, but it's time to start a new era.

Quit nitpicking the greatest of all-time.

 

[Ketchum]

I like the KSU analogy...except for the actual coaching aspect. Snyder is one of the bests when it comes to organization, discipline, game management, preparation, half time adjustments, and special teams. Charlie is nowhere close in any of those IMO. At least he hasn't shown it here at Texas.

 

[Ketchum]

Great write up Ketch..It's sad that you have gotten to the point of not even mentioning the Texas baseball team because of their inconsistent play (and let's be honest) less than acceptable results for quite sometime now. Average to good pitching and absolutely terrible hitting have been the norm for the last several years. When can you honestly say that winning the B12 tournament was a bad thing? It was last year, as it got us another year of this current staff. I'm not one to say "fire the coach" as a solution when we lose a few games in any sport, but the fire has been gone from the leader of our baseball team for too long. I've heard that Augie is on the 1st plane back to Cali as soon as Texas last game ends every year. We need someone young with some hunger and love for baseball to lead this team.

Some of my fondest memories in Texas sports was watching guys like Spike Owen/Billy Bates/Dennis Cook give their all game in and game out to make sure we won 60 games every year and made the CWS. Let's get Texas baseball back to where it needs to be. Augie has been great, but it's time to start a new era.

Yeah, writing about sub .500 teams winning two of three at Kansas State makes for boring copy.

 

[Ketchum]

Are we still blaming @MidTexHorn for this?

He'll have to own that forever.

 

[_PIIHB_]

I like the KSU analogy...except for the actual coaching aspect. Snyder is one of the bests when it comes to organization, discipline, game management, preparation, half time adjustments, and special teams. Charlie is nowhere close in any of those IMO. At least he hasn't shown it here at Texas.

 

[HornHammer]

Merle is imo the best there ever was.

Great list for Merle, however... As a young kid trying to play music trying to be cool, I may never forgive my dad for making me play "Okie from Muskogee." Lol.

As a kid standing @ my dad's piano you have no idea the frustration when he called that tune.

That song & Tom Petty's Breakdown...ugh!

"Going where the Lonely Go" may not be a top ten but it's close. A simple, yet iconic bass line & piano riff lead to a voice that can only be Merle's.

And after hearing my good friends band play it SO many times I believe "I'll just stay here & drink" deserves a spot.

He did a recent spot on GC Live & it's awesome if you have an opportunity to see it.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

- Saturday will give us a chance to see if Gilbert might be a witch doctor.

- I think Vahe has a chance to be a second teamer.

- It's worth checking out the replay on Manny's fight this week. He was very good.

 

[Ketchum]

- Saturday will give us a chance to see if Gilbert might be a witch doctor.

- I think Vahe has a chance to be a second teamer.

- It's worth checking out the replay on Manny's fight this week. He was very good.

I don't know. Garrett Gilbert threw four touchdowns in 2010 spring game. Look where that got me.

I agree on Vahe, but I need to see it first. He survived last year more than thrived.

Meh. F him.

 

[RLong68]

I agree on Vahe, but I need to see it first. He survived last year more than thrived.

Totally disagree. Did he look like a frosh at times? Certainly. As did Williams. But it's not as if either were simply warm bodies. When @Alex Dunlap is high on them I think that's pretty telling. Both were very good relatively speaking. I'm expecting a lot from both as should all Texas fans.

 

[Ketchum]

Totally disagree. Did he look like a frosh at times? Certainly. As did Williams. But it's not as if either were simply warm bodies. When @Alex Dunlap is high on them I think that's pretty telling. Both were very good relatively speaking. I'm expecting a lot from both as should all Texas fans.

Vahe graded out as pretty average in his first season in Alex's reviews.

Expecting a lot next season is fair, expecting a lot this season might be asking for too much too soon. Basically, you're asking for these two to play ahead of the curve faster than some of the greatest linemen that ever played here.

 

[RLong68]

Vahe graded out as pretty average in his first season in Alex's reviews.

Expecting a lot next season is fair, expecting a lot this season might be asking for too much too soon. Basically, you're asking for these two to play ahead of the curve faster than some of the greatest linemen that ever played here.

I think you are overstating things on the second part. Particularly since I haven't even referenced anyone from the past. As for the reviews, Williams also graded out about average. When you consider both were true frosh I think one can conclude that is thriving. "Surviving" would have been simply hanging while getting beat much of the time. I don't think it's overexpecting to think they can contend for all Big 12 honors.

 

[Dr. Leo Marvin]

I don't know. Garrett Gilbert threw four touchdowns in 2010 spring game. Look where that got me.

I agree on Vahe, but I need to see it first. He survived last year more than thrived.

Meh. F him.

 

[Ketchum]

I think you are overstating things on the second part. Particularly since I haven't even referenced anyone from the past. As for the reviews, Williams also graded out about average. When you consider both were true frosh I think one can conclude that is thriving. "Surviving" would have been simply hanging while getting beat much of the time. I don't think it's overexpecting to think they can contend for all Big 12 honors.

Well, in order to achieve the stature you think they can reach, they'll have to perform better than the players we know eventually reached that status at Texas.

I agree that both playing as freshman, even if at an average level, is encouraging, but it's not thriving unless we critically lower the bar for thriving.

It was a 5-7 team with one of the worst offenses in school history. But other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

 

[Texus]

2. Charlie Strong really likes this team.

Do I recall correctly that you reported that Charlie said this very thing about last year's squad prior to the season?

 

[drunk randoke]

Well, in order to achieve the stature you think they can reach, they'll have to perform better than the players we know eventually reached that status at Texas.

I agree that both playing as freshman, even if at an average level, is encouraging, but it's not thriving unless we critically lower the bar for thriving.

It was a 5-7 team with one of the worst offenses in school history. But other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

Did Suchomel hack into your account?

 

[DKR2005]

As for Baylor...

 

[wbrom42]

Spot on with Willet and Greyjoy! Lol, I knew I wanted to hate him for some reason.

 

[Ketchum]

Do I recall correctly that you reported that Charlie said this very thing about last year's squad prior to the season?

Yes, but I think this time he means it. Or maybe he just likes all of his teams once they stop having Maxck players on it. I dunno.

Fair point, though.

 

[Ketchum]

Did Suchomel hack into your account?

I'm just not as bullish on this team and for reasons that can be explain in 7 letters: QB, OL, DL, K