Thanks. Maybe this class will be the beginning of that kind of run. Who knows how much longer Saban is going to coach and maybe kids see that is not a long term play.
Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Not since Colt McCoy in his prime in 2008...)
- Thread starter Ketchum
- Start date
This may be the smartest thing you have said re: recruiting rankings in quite some time. People get enamored with "star rankings", but the reality is that there isn't THAT much of a difference between the majority of the players Texas signs vs. the majority of the players that other schools recruiting in the State of Texas sign. From there, you have to look at development, program fit, individual desire, etc. to see how an individual player pans out. Considering the upheaval in the program over the last several years, it's not surprising the offense is lagging behind (e.g., it will take some time for the OL to be developed the way Herman wants and fit within what they are trying to do from an overall scheme perspective...the injuries this year have set that timing back for this year, but hopefully the experience gained this year will accelerate their development going forward).
There could be no better story book ending to the MLB season. Town that was devastated by an act of God embraces the boys at MMP. The boys at MMP play their asses off for themselves and all of us and beat, as you said, baseball royalty and win our first World Series. Go 'Stros!!!
I would suggest a different rankings system than the one in place, if it is truly incomprehensible to most of your target audience.
Thanks for the breakdown on Texas’ talent. It matches what I thought my eyes were seeing. And people need to educated themselves about the talent level before they enter into a discussion to declare how bad a job Coach Dumas is doing.
Ladies and gentlemen of Orangebloods, the glass is half full.
I'm not here to sell you on a moral victory. To hell with that.
I'm not here to make you feel better about Texas losing a potentially season-defining game by letting it slip through its fingertips. To hell with that, too.
I'm here today to simply tell you how it is.
When this season started, there was one objective that stood above all others - find a quarterback. Period. After seven seasons of this program floundering at the only position in college football that really matters, the importance of answering this question emphatically, one way or another, couldn't be stressed enough.
You can't stress the importance of this matter enough because the program has remained in a holding pattern for nearly a decade, while the question remains an unsolved mystery.
Shane Buechele or Sam Ehlinger ... it didn't matter which one, but one of the two most definitely needed to emerge.
For the first 11 quarters of this season, the ship was still searching for a captain that wouldn't crash it under his helm, but in the 12th quarter of the season, the switch turned on for the true freshman from Westlake in exactly the way that a number of folks inside the program had been expecting since he arrived earlier in the year.
With 5:14 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, Ehlinger walked onto the field against USC with his team trailing by four points and the future of this program started to take off.
In the last 8+ quarters of action against USC, Kansas State and Oklahoma, here's what Ehlinger has compiled in terms of total offense: 59 of 105 for 803 passing yards, 5 touchdowns and a single interceptions, along with 223 yards rushing.
For those of you keeping score at home, Ehlinger has been rolling up more than 100 yards of total offense per quarter and in the last two games against the Wildcats and Sooners, he was the best and second-best player on the field, respectively.
I'll take it one step further. I'll go so far as to say that regardless of the mistakes that he's making, Ehlinger has produced the best 8+ quarters of continued action against quality teams that this program has seen since Colt McCoy was at his absolute best in October of 2008. With no running game help, a poor offensive line and up-and-down receiving play, the kid from Westlake that arrived exactly 20 years after the Longhorns passed over a kid named Drew Brees (because it was content with the added commitment of a guy named Major Applewhite) is starting to emerge as one of the Big 12's top impact players.
Ehlinger might not be ready for every moment he faces, but he's not afraid of any moment he's been in and this team is feeding off of his confidence.
Yes, this program has a multitude of sins that it commits every week all over the field, but the most important area of need and concern is being answered in an emphatically tremendous way.
No. 2 – The elephant in the room going into this week ...
I've been covering Texas football on a professional level for 23 years and I'm fully convinced that we're looking at the worst group of running backs and healthy offensive linemen I have ever seen in this program.
These dudes make Fozzy Whittaker and Chris Ogbonnaya look like Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell.
If you take out the San Jose State game, Sam Ehlinger has easily outgained Chris Warren and Kyle Porter, despite them having played in five times as many combined games.
The fact that both of these players lack game-breaking ability is one thing, but putting them behind a line that currently features one solid player makes this a perfect storm of horror shows colliding.
With half of the season already in the books, it's probably unlikely that these areas will improve significantly before the end of the season.
No. 3 – Understanding what a recruiting ranking means ...
It has turned into a life-long quest of mine to help everyone understand exactly what a recruiting ranking means, turning a pseudoscience into actual science, at least to the best degree that I can.
I'm unlikely to pull this off, if I'm being honest, but I'm going to continue to try ... in this column, in fact.
At its most simplistic level, here are the things you need to always remember.
a. Historical data shows that national top 75 players are on a night and day level distance apart from the rest of the pack when it comes to developing into difference-making players, the type that go on to be paid for their services after their college careers end.
b. Any prospect that isn't a national top 75-type player is much more likely to not end up as one of these types of players, with the likelihood of it happening decreasing wit every step down in the ranking levels.
It's as simple as these results from the most recently completed NFL Draft cycle, which produced these numbers (Percentage of players per recruiting tier drafted by NFL teams):
Five-star (6.1) prospects: a. 83.16-percent.
High-four star (6.0) prospects: 30.47-percent
Mid-four star (5.9) prospects: 15.79-percent
Low-four star (5.8) prospects: 16.03-percent
High-three star (5.7) prospects: 8.59-percent
Mid-three star (5.6) prospects: 6.57-percent
Low-three star (5.5) prospects: 4.37-percent
High-two star (5.4) prospects: 1.69-percent
Mid-two star (5.3) prospects: 1.35-percent
Low-two star (5.6) prospects: 1.29-percent
Imagine going to Las Vegas and volunteering to play casino games with the same possible payout as other games, but with much longer odds of winning. The goal is to get the best possible payoff with the most-likely chance at earning that return.
That's why recruiting matters. The better you recruit, the more likely you're landing a prospect who develops into an NFL player at twice, three times or four times the rates of other prospects ranked below them.
For a point of reference, let's take a look at the players on the current offensive depth chart at key positions that are struggling and the recruiting rankings/projected NFL upside they brought into the program:
Running backs
Chris Warren: 15.79-percent
Kyle Porter: 16.03-percent
Toneil Carter: 16.03-percent
Offensive linemen
Denzel Okafor - 16.03-percent
Derek Kerstetter - 8.59-percent
Tristan Nickelson - 1.35-percent
Patrick Vahe - 16.03-percent
Terrell Cuney - 6.57-percent
Zach Shackelford - 6.57-percent
The term five stars and four stars gets thrown around so much that it has created a misconception of what that kind of status means. There's not one player in the list of names above that arrived as a truly nationally-elite prospect, which means that none of them arrived with a historically projected type of NFL upside that was as high as 20-percent.
The goal in recruiting is to acquire as many of the highest upside players as possible so that the math works in your favor. If you've got a group of five national top-250 prospects, the national average says that you're probably going to get one NFL player from the group. The programs that win championships find a way to over-perform against the numbers, producing two or three NFL-level players from that same group of five.
What's hurting this program right now is that it not only isn't over-performing, but it is hasn't been hitting the national norms at these positions in a while.
Anwar Richardson wonders if he's supposed to believe that Texas is the unluckiest program in the country, but that's not really the discussion in place because there's nothing unlucky about kids with an 80-percent chance of being JAGs at best actually turning out to be JAGs. This is all about development and being able to create your own luck. Connor Williams is one of these kids that arrived with less than a 20-percent chance based on the numbers to develop into an NFL level player before he leaves college and if he's in the line-up, the Longhorns are essentially batting the national average in terms of expected development.
With this team not over-performing anywhere else on the line, taking his presence out of the line-up puts the Longhorns below the national norm at the moment, with all due respect to the fact that so many of these players are at the early stages of their individual developments. With a kid like Kerstetter, you're asking for a guy that arrived with a historical NFL development value under 10-percent to over-perform against a five-year snapshot within minutes of being on campus.
Ok, I'm going to move on. I hope this discussion made things clearer for at least one of you. One at a time, I'll continue my mission of education.
No. 4 - In case you're wondering ...
These are the following Texas players that arrived with a projected historical NFL development above 30 percent:
* Malik Jefferson (83.16-percent)
* Devin Duvernay (30.47-percent)
* Patrick Hudson (30.47-percent)
* Gary Johnson (30.47-percent)
The idea that this program is loaded with nationally elite talent that is floundering is untrue. This roster isn't anywhere near loaded with the type of talent that Mack Brown's best teams possessed, even if it does play in a conference where 90 percent of the teams would love to be working with UT's set of problems with regards to raw talent.
No. 5 – Going for it on fourth and eight ...
I get it. It's probably what I would have done.
The options in my mind in the moment broke down like this:
a. Attempt a field goal, knowing that even if you made it, you'd still need to force Oklahoma into a three-and-out and then get the ball back and potentially make a another field goal. Considering that making a field goal is a 50-50 proposition, you've got a 25-percent chance (at best) of using this scenario to win the game.
b. Go for it, knowing that you're probably looking at a 30-percent chance of success of converting, with the worst case situation being that you'd need to force an Oklahoma punt and score a touchdown in less than a minute with two timeouts.
c. Squib punt it with Ehlinger inside the 10-yard line and try to force Oklahoma into a three and out with a possible 50-yard drive task in front of you if you can force the three and out.
Honestly, people would have viewed punting from the 28-yard line as borderline crazy, but it's what I probably would have chosen to do, given the options. If I didn't have the guts to do it, I'm leaving the ball in the hands of my best player and not my inconsistent kicker.
No. 6 - Oklahoma State is everything ...
The season is on the line Saturday.
A win over Oklahoma State puts the Longhorns in a great spot to challenge for a spot in the Big 12 title game with five games to go.
A loss means the team dips below .500 with five games to go and qualifying for a bowl is probably a realistic goal.
The Texas staff has to do its best work of the season this week.
No. 7 – Buy or Sell …
BUY or SELL: UT has two OL starters next year who are NOT currently on campus?
(Sell) That's wishful, unrealistic thinking in my opinion. This is a young group and the hope has to be that with everyone returning, improvement will come from within.
BUY or SELL: Todd Orlando will FINALLY make the requisite adjustments AND PERSONNEL CHANGES in the Horn secondary to end this devastating repetition of coverage busts leading to killer passing TDs (as happened against Maryland, USC, Kansas St and OU)?
(Sell) The staff doesn't fully trust Davante Davis, at least not as much as Kris Boyd, who it only kind of trusts at this point. I think this staff is going to keep playing the guys it views as the best players and the coaches just have to coach them up to be better players.
BUY or SELL: Despite a 3-3 record, Tom Herman has done a very good job given the injuries sustained and strength of schedule being accounted for as well?
(Sell) He's done a fine job, not very fine. Nothing about 3-3 is very fine.
BUY or SELL: Someone other than Rowland kicks a FG this year?
(Sell) If Tom Herman felt like he had another option, he'd use that option. He's telling you everything you need to know by his actions.
BUY or SELL: My name is Collin Johnson and you cannot stop me coming over the middle from the slot receiver position?
(Sell) Tom Herman believes Johnson is a limited player in his development right now, limited to only a couple of routes from the outside.
BUY or SELL: Texas Tech fires Kliff Kingsbury after the season and he immediately becomes the new Texas offensive coordinator?
(Sell) Tech needs to keep Kliff and hope he eventually develops onto half the guy they want him to be. What's the other option?
BUY or SELL: We make a bowl game, call it now.
(Buy) I'm seeing a 7-5 mark.
BUY or SELL: Texas wins if Sam Ehlinger hits Duvernay in stride for a TD instead of leading him out of bounds?
(Sell) Man, you guys love to nitpick a freshman quarterback with the nit-pickiest things.
BUY or SELL: Texas recruiting turns to the trenches and completes this class with nothing but linemen (other than Cook)?
(Sell) Sorry, man.
No. 8 – If I had a vote that counts ...
1. Alabama
2. Penn State
3. Georgia
4. TCU
5. Wisconsin
6. Oklahoma
7. Ohio State
8. Oklahoma State
9. Miami
10. USC
No. 9 – Eternal Randomness of the Spotty Sports Mind …
... I'm guessing Clemson fans think their team playing on Friday nights is every bit as Mickey Mouse as Alex Dunlap thinks Texas playing on Thursday night is.
... It's Alabama and everyone else at the moment.
... Arkansas' 2-4 start is borderline erotic.
... What the hell happened to the teams from the state of Washington this week?
... TCU is damn good.
... Just when it looked like Texas Tech was turning a corner as a program, it ran into a wall. Man, I can't imagine what Orangebloods would look like in the aftermath of a loss like the one the Red Raiders had on Saturday. Actually, I can imagine ... what am I talking about?
... The Packers are F'd.
... Leonard Fournette is saving Anwar's fantasy season.
... I expect Sunday to be as it good as it gets for Adrian Peterson. Little bit of fool's gold there, IMO.
... Man, the NFL just is as average as I have ever seen it. I'm not even sure if the league has a very good team, let alone a great one.
... I think my favorite weekend of the NFL season is the week the Cowboys have a bye.
... Shout to my guy Malcolm Brown, the former Texas running back, who the current coaching staff would shank an inmate over if it meant getting him back on the 40 Acres. Not only did Brown record his first touchdown of the season with a recovered blocked punt in the end zone, but he averaged 5.7 yards per carry in support of Todd Gurley in a win for the Rams. Keep grinding, Malcolm.
... Man City not only looks like the best team in the EPL by a decent margin, but that team looks like a Champion's League threat.
... Oh, what I wouldn't give to have Naby Keita on this Liverpool team right now. I feel like Liverpool wins that game if he's pulling the strings in the middle of the field.
... The Astros are going to win the World Series, aren't they? And they'll have done so by going through baseball royalty in the Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers/Cubs. Just thinking out loud.
No. 10 – And finally …
Love the commitment of Houston Lamar defensive back D'Shawn Jamison, a guy that I think has a little Nate Vasher in him as a college prospect.
Versatility, playmaking and a belief at all times that he's the best player on the field - Jamison brings all of that to the table.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him play as a true freshman. This program won't be lacking athletes for the foreseeable future.
Here is just one of many threads on the topic
https://texas.forums.rivals.com/threads/we-dont-yet-have-the-talent.331902/page-3#post-9471300
It might require the emergence of a sixth star tier. Separate 6 stars and 5 stars from everyone else.
A four star vs. 3 star translates to a 15-20% chance of developing into an NFL drafted player vs. 8-10% for a three-star.
That's a monster difference between 30-45% and 50-85%.
Yes, it's not rocket surgery to know if we get a ton of the top national 75 we return to dominance. But there is also a way to get there by overdeveloping our four stars. I think Anwar's point is having a bunch of four stars should equate to a higher ranking with competent coaching. Trouble is like you say we only have one guy on our our line that should be there at this time. At same time RB's are being underdeveloped by our star assistant according to Herman.
This is where nuance in this discussion comes into play because he's right and wrong at the same time.
At the very most basic level, he's wrong. Texas has more raw talent in its program than 8 of the other teams out of the Big 12 and is under-performing against national numbers in player development.
However, a few things must be considered.
a. This is a very young team and what throws the discussion off balance is when you compare a program with massive stability problems to one that is fully stable. In comparing player development from TCU to Texas (for example), it's not apples to apples because the scholarship boards aren't weighted the same, even if Texas has recruited better than TCU.
This is where the massive amounts of attrition really play a part.
b. Every area on the field is not the same. I 100-percent agree with Anwar's statements with the skill positions, but that's a different discussion than what is available along the offensive line.
Again, this is where massive amounts of attrition and injuries have played a huge part.
I guess my larger point is that this isn't a one-dimensional subject matter. In order to truly understand the full situation, you have to see it from three or four dimensions.
Those are precisely my thoughts. Vasher was a nifty high school player who returned punts, kicks, played WR when Texas High needed him, all state corner, and general badass of the gridiron. I'm very pleased to get Jamison and I think he'll make waves here before he leaves.
They don't need NFL draft talent to beat 90% of the teams on their schedule.
Maryland ran all over us in week 1. Are all 5 of their OL going to the NFL? No. There are 130 FBS teams in the NCAA. Not every lineman will play in the NFL. Yet there are lines all over the country that are better prepared, schemed with than ours. This isn't a new issue either. This has been ongoing since Colt was here. It isn't just on Herman but other coaches have gotten more from less.
Then RBs and WRs. Again you don't need NFL talent all over the field to win games in college. Its about finding out who your best guys are and getting them the ball. For too many years, we've rotated guys into oblivion looking for who hast the hot hand. Other OCs will know who their playmaker is and get him the ball in space and let him work. Why can't we do that? Why do we keep rotating guys trying to find the hot hand rather than make it?
The need to develop those four-stars at twice of three times the rate is critical. If you've got a group of five of them, two or three need to develop to their full potential and not just one.
And you have to keep them in the program.
Consider the national championship offensive line as an example. Pay attention to both numbers.
LT - Johnathan Scott - 5th year senior - 60-85% historical NFL projection
LG - Kasey Studdard - 4th year junior - 30-50% historical NFL projection
C - Lyle Sendlein - 4th year junior - 15-20% historical NFL projection
RG: Will Allen - 5th year senior - 15-20% historical NFL projection
RT - Justin Blalock - 4th year junior - 60-85% historical NFL projection
Now let's look at Saturday's starting offensive line
LT - Denzel Okafor - 2nd year sophomore - 15-20% historical NFL projection
LG - Patrick Vahe - 3rd year junior - 15-20% historical NFL projection
C - Zach Shackelford - 2nd year sophomore - 6-8% historical NFL projection
RG - Terrell Cuney - 4th year junior - 6-8% historical NFL projection
RT - Derek Kerstetter - 1st year freshman - 8-10% historical NFL projectio
You guys starting to feel me?
How can people not feel the glass half full?
Our team has changed DRASTICALLY since Maryland and since Charlie left and since the meltdown of the end of Mack's tenure. If you think that change is all one person (Sam), I understand. Consider this part though - this team has a good set of young receivers that will only get better. They've got RBs that can run routes and get downfield in the passing game and bust free on returns. Not the quality of elite talent to which we are accustomed but as serviceable as RBs from many current CFB elites. We are running great misdirection plays with timed rolls by Sam. We used the freaking tight end for the first time in a long time. The Line is a very bad situation. It's not just injuries but also lack of talent, lack of depth and lack of development for the prior 3+ years. Good line play takes both talent and experience - unless you want to use some tricky dick piddly Tech offense to try to win a national championship. Bad line play is a disaster. After a few games settling in, we are serviceable but there's a long way to go. But do remember here, there's not really a decent run blocker among this crewe other than Vahe. Fix the line problems and we could compete with the elites. Tall order, but not unprecedented.
On the other side, the defense is getting good results generally. They have clear breakdowns at the safety spot and our front 7 struggles to tackle larger, more athletic QBs. Not sure, with the exception of Bama, if we are not much different than the rest of the elites on the defensive side.
Overall, lets not forget our recent past and how quickly things have actually changed. They've changed since Charlie left. They've changed since 0-1. They won 3 games, two against quality opposition. They lost to 2 teams that were in the national championship discussion - one in double OT and one in a close rivalry game that featured a comeback from a 20 point deficit. This team is playing way better as a unit than they ever did with Charlie and with a great deal more consistency. I'd argue they play a better brand of football (being short of talent obviously) than many successful Mack Brown teams. Those Mack teams squeaked out close wins against the likes of Kansas - remember the swim move? I don't see that being repeated with a Tom Herman coached team. Right now, we have a team that doesn't quit (like Mack's loaded teams did in the past, like every year under Charlie Strong). A team with an attitude (when was the last time for that?). A team that is compelling to watch on the field because they do what they say on the Texas tin - they "Fight". I'm certainly not here to defend every Xs and Os decision. Maybe the OC is not the right guy. There's no doubt about the mistakes we are making and the busted plays/penalties and poor play calls (when viewed from my armchair). That has to be cleaned up. But I'm starting to believe in this group. I think we will slot our way back into the elite stratosphere within the next 3 years, maybe sooner. The class coming in is a game changer for sure.
We have a lot of obstacles in the way. A much sounder OSU team (with senior leadership) and a TCU team that deserves also to be in the national title discussion. So predicting 7-5 seems bold. But I hope people will understand that a hard fought 7-5 where the games against top competition are competitive is a big change for us. Nick Saban's first year at Bama resulted in a 7-6 record including a loss to ULM. That Bama team did have a lot of moxy and fought hard with mediocre results. So even the greatest coaches need time to get their system instituted fully.
Our team has changed DRASTICALLY since Maryland and since Charlie left and since the meltdown of the end of Mack's tenure. If you think that change is all one person (Sam), I understand. Consider this part though - this team has a good set of young receivers that will only get better. They've got RBs that can run routes and get downfield in the passing game and bust free on returns. Not the quality of elite talent to which we are accustomed but as serviceable as RBs from many current CFB elites. We are running great misdirection plays with timed rolls by Sam. We used the freaking tight end for the first time in a long time. The Line is a very bad situation. It's not just injuries but also lack of talent, lack of depth and lack of development for the prior 3+ years. Good line play takes both talent and experience - unless you want to use some tricky dick piddly Tech offense to try to win a national championship. Bad line play is a disaster. After a few games settling in, we are serviceable but there's a long way to go. But do remember here, there's not really a decent run blocker among this crewe other than Vahe. Fix the line problems and we could compete with the elites. Tall order, but not unprecedented.
On the other side, the defense is getting good results generally. They have clear breakdowns at the safety spot and our front 7 struggles to tackle larger, more athletic QBs. Not sure, with the exception of Bama, if we are not much different than the rest of the elites on the defensive side.
Overall, lets not forget our recent past and how quickly things have actually changed. They've changed since Charlie left. They've changed since 0-1. They won 3 games, two against quality opposition. They lost to 2 teams that were in the national championship discussion - one in double OT and one in a close rivalry game that featured a comeback from a 20 point deficit. This team is playing way better as a unit than they ever did with Charlie and with a great deal more consistency. I'd argue they play a better brand of football (being short of talent obviously) than many successful Mack Brown teams. Those Mack teams squeaked out close wins against the likes of Kansas - remember the swim move? I don't see that being repeated with a Tom Herman coached team. Right now, we have a team that doesn't quit (like Mack's loaded teams did in the past, like every year under Charlie Strong). A team with an attitude (when was the last time for that?). A team that is compelling to watch on the field because they do what they say on the Texas tin - they "Fight". I'm certainly not here to defend every Xs and Os decision. Maybe the OC is not the right guy. There's no doubt about the mistakes we are making and the busted plays/penalties and poor play calls (when viewed from my armchair). That has to be cleaned up. But I'm starting to believe in this group. I think we will slot our way back into the elite stratosphere within the next 3 years, maybe sooner. The class coming in is a game changer for sure.
We have a lot of obstacles in the way. A much sounder OSU team (with senior leadership) and a TCU team that deserves also to be in the national title discussion. So predicting 7-5 seems bold. But I hope people will understand that a hard fought 7-5 where the games against top competition are competitive is a big change for us. Nick Saban's first year at Bama resulted in a 7-6 record including a loss to ULM. That Bama team did have a lot of moxy and fought hard with mediocre results. So even the greatest coaches need time to get their system instituted fully.
except I'm not hyping recruiting. I'm explaining it.
Yes, those coaches would be happy to have UT's classes, but there's nuance to that as well, as I've fully outlined.
I don't agree with you on much, but I agree here.
This wasn't going to be a 1 year fix. Recruiting is just the first step. You have to follow it with Development. Then you have to add Gameplanning.
Herman will do all three, but it takes more than 1 offseason to do Development.
Anybody who looked at this roster in August, and thought we'd win more than 6 or 7 games if we had ANY sort of injury on the O-Line, doesn't understand that football always begins in the trenches.
Since August, we've been devastated at O-Line. I think the only reason we're even competitive now is because the D-Line hasn't lost anyone yet.
Mack said you have to be 2 deep at every position. When he got us 2 deep across the roster, is when we really started winning.
So everyone needs to reset the expectation that anything beyond getting to a bowl game is gravy for the 2017 Longhorn team.
But going back to @Anwar Richardson OP about having enough talent to be an above average team, there's always context within context.
Maryland was a complete failure. It's pretty clear that the way that we have played since, we lost that game because of our own mental demons.
This really leaves losses to 2 top 10 teams in USC and OU. Both have arguably the 2 best QBs in all of football and they are damn good teams. We took both to the wire. They ARE NOT "above average". They are exceptional CFB teams and we were in both games until the end.
I don't know. We totally need to shore our team up with recruiting. There's absolutely no question. It's pretty clear that's in the works. I guess what I'm saying is, are we really playing that poorly? This was a 5-7 team last year and we absolutely played with 2 of the best teams in the country. Maybe I'm naive in that I don't think we're all that far away.
Tell you what, we need some OL. I'm not worried with our other positions because it's either own the roster or about to come through the door. If we don't start placing an emphasis on OL recruiting, the foundation will continue to have cracks in it.
It didn't help that this is a bad year for offensive line prospects in the state of Texas. It's one of the worst OL classes I've seen in 20 years.
There's been so much debate on Sam v. Shane that nobody is talking about our real issue; O-Line.
I don't think it's even fair to call out these RB's for poor play. The line Foreman ran behind last year is much better than these guys.
I also don't think you can anoint a QB savior behind this line. I love the grit of Ehlinger, and every now and then he drops a pass like that one to RHM on the sideline against OU, or the TD pass against USC. But outside of a few of those throws, I'm not liking his deep ball or really anything that isn't a short crossing route or screen play. But neither he nor Shane has had the benefit of a decent pocket and a running game this year. The only certainty in my mind is we're going to need both QB's if we're going to keep asking that position to be our run and passing game.
I don't think it's even fair to call out these RB's for poor play. The line Foreman ran behind last year is much better than these guys.
I also don't think you can anoint a QB savior behind this line. I love the grit of Ehlinger, and every now and then he drops a pass like that one to RHM on the sideline against OU, or the TD pass against USC. But outside of a few of those throws, I'm not liking his deep ball or really anything that isn't a short crossing route or screen play. But neither he nor Shane has had the benefit of a decent pocket and a running game this year. The only certainty in my mind is we're going to need both QB's if we're going to keep asking that position to be our run and passing game.
But it isn't even about them over performing. You don't need them to over perform to be average. Just to be average in NCAA would be a great thing on the OL. It isn't even about getting push on guys to open holes or things like that. Its literally to eliminate dumb mistakes. False starts, holding, unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are still all happening way to much. Just pure basic assignment playing football is being missed week after week.
You didn't address much in your post on the topic of our rotation into oblivion so guys can't get into a rhythm. Our use of playmakers since Greg Davis has been under performing at best to pretty much non-existent, except for last year where we fed D'Onta 50 times a game.
This is spot on. The only thing I'd add is that I'm not 100% certain that MD game was an aberration until I see us contain another truly mobile QB. I think those Lamar Jackson-esque QB's give us fits (they give a lot of teams fits.) I truly wish Pigrome would have stayed healthy. It would have been interesting to see him play Michigan, OH State and Wisconsin.
negative mr. guru
Campbell attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played college football for the Texas Longhorns football team from 1974 to 1977.[9] As a freshman in 1974, he played in all 11 games and rushed for 928 yards and six touchdowns on 162 attempts
We could get the top 5 OL in the nation and still not use them to their best abilities.
We ran the ball last year with no problem, even before Warren was hurt. The OL grades were worse last year than this year. Then D'Onta took the rest of the carries for the year. Even Porter ran for yards last year at a 4.5 yds/carry clip.
You can't tell me that Arizona, Army, Navy and UNLV have better lineman than we have starting now. Its not like we are playing top defenses. You have to find a way to run the ball without your QB taking the bulk of your carries or you won't have a QB very long.
If you can't scheme a running game without a running QB, then maybe you should not be the OC at Texas.
