Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Notre Dame game is everything)

[TexHorn27]

Bad News on the Fesh DT's we need that position to step up BIG! Hopfully when the pads come on we see a change...

 

[In Stink]

No. 4 – Things little birdies tell me ...

Here’s a smattering things I’ve heard in the last week regarding the Texas program ...

4. Another former player told me this week that expectations for the incoming freshmen defensive tackles should be tempered quite a bit for this season. “I don’t really see anyone like Patrick Hudson (in the group),” the source said.

There has been a lot of anticipation during the offseason of the 300-pound freshman defensive tackles coming in and really bolstering the play of the defensive line. As this former player indicated, that really isn't likely to happen to any significant degree. They're freshmen, and, realistically, among the tackles, odds are that only one of them is likely to emerge and make any kind of impact. Here's to Paul Boyette, Poona Ford, and Chris Nelson really elevating their level of play this season. No doubt about it, the freshmen tackles are going to have to play, but hopefully their snaps can be minimized rather than required.

 

[drunk randoke]

You edited hame to game but we'll never forhet.

 

[Ketchum]

Fix title Ketch - says Hame not Game

Man, I smooth passed out as soon as the story was posted. Thanks to whomever fixed it for me.

 

[Hotlanta Horn]

Oops... I just hame.... Then I passed out...

Sorry....

 

[Horniffied]

Good stuff. Thanks.

And you somehow managed to squeeze in both optics and narrative multiple times just in the first few thoughts. Nice.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

- A recruiting writer asked Strong if he needed to change how his approaches recruiting during Big 12 Media Days. Strong looked at the guy and said, "What do I need to change?"

- Doesn't seem like this guy will miss an extra point when it counts. Having a reliable kicker can result in one or two wins.

- Davante Davis appears to be a three-year player. We could potentially see several juniors pursue their NFL dreams after next season.

- From what I heard, Ehlinger believes he will be in the mix even if Buechele takes off. The one thing he doesn't lack is confidence.

- Jarrett Allen is clearly the real deal. Now I know why every school was willing to wait so long for him

 

[Appian_Way]

- A recruiting writer asked Strong if he needed to change how his approaches recruiting during Big 12 Media Days. Strong looked at the guy and said, "What do I need to change?"

- Doesn't seem like this guy will miss an extra point when it counts. Having a reliable kicker can result in one or two wins.

- Davante Davis appears to be a three-year player. We could potentially see several juniors pursue their NFL dreams after next season.

- From what I heard, Ehlinger believes he will be in the mix even if Buechele takes off. The one thing he doesn't lack is confidence.

- Jarrett Allen is clearly the real deal. Now I know why every school was willing to wait so long for him

People should be loading up on D Davis stock.

 

[Ketchum]

Did I miss your expansion topic?

You see the War Room?

 

[Ketchum]

I can make a case that the biggest opening game in the last 25 years was in 2005. If we hadn't won that one, we wouldn't have won the Natty. So, yes, you're being too dramatic anout this year's opener. It'll be a huge game for the Horns and Strong's career without the hype.

The biggest opening game was a 60-3 win over La-Lafayette.

ok.

 

[Ketchum]

Spell check is everything.

It was a typo in the headline.

Nothing like pouring yourself into your work, only to have a typo be the thing everyone focuses on.

 

[Keystone55]

Bad News on the Fesh DT's we need that position to step up BIG! Hopfully when the pads come on we see a change...

I think Jordan Elliott will step up and play well.

 

[Ketchum]

Wait a minute, isn't that kind of the point of this buy or sell question? Not losing is winning.

Unless you're saying we've established that Texas wins an 'X' number of games and that the new kicker doesn't increase that number by 1 this year.

Edit: Double negative.

I'm saying I didn't previously look at the schedule and have Texas losing a game because of its kicker. Now, I don't see them winning an extra game because of one, either.

 

[Jim DeLoach]

You will most likely have a rotation of the freshmen who are physically ready to play. I think the player is saying from what is seen don't expect Tommy Harris type stuff out the gate.

Understood. Thanks.

 

[Ketchum]

Ketch is trying wayyyyyyyy too hard to not be labeled a fan boy. I love this, if we beat Notre Dame and OU "a 4-1 record in the first five games of the season would likely see Strong’s rear end removed from the hot seat". Yeah, I think that would be a good thing for him as well. Thanks for pointing that out.

Ummmmm, if we are 4-1, this team is way underrated by you and they likely compete for a top 5-10 finish. Which of course is unlikely to be the case with a team this inexperienced with a true freshman at QB.

Seriously Ketch, give up the doomsday and inconsistent scenarios. This team should compete in every game, and win 8 or 9. They are going to lose a game they shouldn't, and win one they shouldn't (OU/ND). The key is they should look good doing it. My best case scenario are some nice blowouts we haven't seen since Colt left. Where the D and O hit on all cylinders, and kill whoever happens to be the opponent that week.

your post is full of silliness.

 

[Ketchum]

I see the Notre Dame game differently. We are playing a better (for now) program. We are loaded with freshmen and sophomores. We will have a QB starting the first game he walks on the field in a college uniform.

The Cal and Ok State pair of games is more important in my view.

I think the Notre Dame game is more winnable right now that Okie State. Charlie's teams just haven't played well on the road.

 

[Ketchum]

"On paper, he’ll have a team that should be able to stand toe to toe with the Irish in a way that it never could a season ago."

Explain this a little better if you could, @Ketchum. Do the "on paper" position matchups. I know ND lost some big time play makers, but I'm not sure we have any more of an advantage at any position on the field compared to last year's matchup.

The offense is improved at almost every turn.

 

[Ketchum]

Right. And I think @Ketchum would concede that fact. He made it sound like we has a couple of positions better than ND on paper this year than we did last year.

TExas has a chance to be more competitive in this game, if for no other reason than the improvement at quarterback.

 

[Ketchum]

Our CBs and RBs are better. Probably LBs as well. We'll see though.

WRs, QB and maybe OL as well.

 

[Ketchum]

Ketch

Has the Verizon plan to acquire Yahoo sent any ripples that you sense?

Not at this point.

 

[Ketchum]

"Remember when we wanted to watch Holly Holm? OK, remember when some folks wanted to see Holly Hiolm? Yeah, 0-2 since that win over Ronda changed all that really fast."



Shows how fixed the sport is. Rousey was supposed to be this big champion and hasn't stepped back in the ring to regain her title.

How does that show its fixed?

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum Care to elaborate on this little nugget? I'm assuming this doesn't mean it will be a disaster, but also means that we don't have a world beater like Hudson on the DL. In other words, we'll be ok, but not great?

Yes, at best.

 

[Ketchum]

While Strong might not be coaching for his job this season, he is coaching for the right to control the narrative moving forward. If he skates by with another .500ish record this season, he’ll return for another year because of the $10 million left on his contract as much as any other reason and every recruit in the nation will know that he’s walking on thin ice.
************************************************************************************************

Wow. Seems like a real change of philosophy for you---one i'm glad to see.

I thought you were one of the many saying "Charlie MUST win X games" or he's gone.

I've been saying all year that I believe seven gets him another season.

Did you read my column last week?

 

[Ketchum]

Agree with this. That win set the stage. The 06 opener was also big And rightly predicted a that we were not MNC material that year

The win over La-Lafayette set the stage?

Or the game against Ohio State in week TWO set the stage?

 

[Ketchum]

Agree with this. That win set the stage. The 06 opener was also big And rightly predicted a that we were not MNC material that year

which game was that?

 

[Ketchum]

This makes no sense when talking about calculating expectations. Either you incorrectly didn't factor in the probability what the shaky kicking game could cost the team in total wins, or you incorrectly aren't factoring in the added points the team will get with an upgrade at the kicking position.

As I stated previously in this thread, none of the losses I think Texas takes this season were predicated on the kicking game issues, which means that none of those games have changed into wins.

 

[Ketchum]

Ketch, re Fowler, the last report said he had to make an A and a B in two classes to get in. Is that what you're all in on?

Also, if our DT freshmen aren't ready, will we have an adequate DT rotation?

a. I've been saying I think he makes it for months now. That's what I'm saying.

b. adequate might have to do.

 

[Ketchum]

You will most likely have a rotation of the freshmen who are physically ready to play. I think the player is saying from what is seen don't expect Tommy Harris type stuff out the gate.

My guys certainly didn't think they were all physically ready to play.

 

[Ketchum]

"(Sell) I’m not sure I look at the schedule quite like that, but the good news is that Texas might not lose a game it would have otherwise won because of the kicking position."
Uh...wut?

I'm not sure what's hard to explain about this...

 

[LARC]

I think the Notre Dame game is more winnable right now that Okie State. Charlie's teams just haven't played well on the road.

They went 3-1 in true road games in 2014, including a win in stillwater.

 

[Ketchum]

Charlie needs a Chief of Staff who knows what they are doing.

100-percent agree.

 

[Ketchum]

I think if Charlie turns this thing around, the win in Waco last year will be a big one (if not the biggest) to look back on as the turning point. I walked out of that stadium thinking that was a shitload of hay that got put in the barn and he might have saved his job. The recruiting juice from that win alone was key. Do you think Texas finishes on NSD as strong with a loss? Do the Baylor transfers happen? Serious questions. That Oklahoma win will end up being bigger as well IMO.

Notre Dame is crucial no question. But to expect a win over a Top 10 with a fish QB and so many young players in week one...I think he gets some slack here from the brass barring a blowout. I think OU and TCU are MUCH bigger games this season on paper than the Irish. I know I'd trade two wins over those for a ND loss if I could before the season even starts.

Nobody cares about that Baylor win for the most part. I think everyone knows they played a Baylor team playing with both hands behind its back.

Definite * with that one.

 

[Ketchum]

I'm glad I'm not the only one high on Boyette. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see his name on one of the post season all conference teams. At the very least I think he's going to be a BIG part of the success of the Texas defense this season.

He's never been a standout in his career. I suppose its possible he becomes that kind of player, but we've seen no evidence of it.

 

[Ketchum]

You edited hame to game but we'll never forhet.

Wasn't me. Someone else saved me.

 

[Ketchum]

Good stuff. Thanks.

And you somehow managed to squeeze in both optics and narrative multiple times just in the first few thoughts. Nice.

That's how I roll.