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Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (Permission to Dream Colossally)

Ketch as usual great 10 thoughts. Hard to believe so many 5 star quarterbacks have been busts as you said if they are one of the best less chance they will flame out.
Your Tom Hanks list was great hard to believe how many great movies he has made. My daughter in law would say you got mail is number 1 & I never argue with her.
God bless her. Sounds like my kind of gal. ;)
 
Yes, it will go up. Maybe somewhere between the two extremes, which would still be quite a change to the offense.
Next year will be an immense change to our offense.

All the olds in DKR may need to show up to some old school Catholic Masses during the offseason. They’ll need some practice standing up and sitting down, repeatedly.

Arch will get them out of their seats.
 
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Ketch - I don’t disagree with this statement one bit generically speaking.
Let’s be clear though, if I’m forced to choose, generally speaking, between the more talented player or the overall better player, I’ll choose the latter every single time.
If talent never materializes or reaches its potential, does it really matter?

Let’s face it, there are some players that despite their “talent” (or lack of) are gamers. Colt was. Major was. Even James Brown showed some. I think one needs to really define talent and overall player…and what that timeline is.

If we’re being honest, VY proved to not be that talented of a QB at the highest level. But at the collegiate (and high school) level, he was clearly both ultra talented overall BEST player.

I can’t speak for all, but while I enjoy watching our Horns play on Sundays (for those that are so fortunate that is), I’ll take the extreme collegiate success at the expense of Sunday success, every day of the week, including Sunday and especially Saturday.

VY had to deal with a coach and OC who didn't really want him. If he was playing today he would thrive. I don't believe for one second Cam Newton or Lamar Jackson are better than VY, but their NFL teams gave them more than that ficktard Fisher did. Or Norm Chow.
 
Tom Hanks top 3:

1. Forrest Gump
2. Saving Private Ryan
3. Cast Away
 
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Less than a month ago, I wasn't ready to say that the 2024 Longhorns would beat the 2023 Longhorns on a neutral field.

That's no longer the case.

Through four weeks of the season, I find myself thinking that we're watching the second-best Texas team my eyes have seen in four decades of watching Texas football.


1. 2005
2. 2024
3. 2008
4. 2004
5. 2009/2023

This 2024 team is more talented and better on defense than the 2008 team. I'm not sure that the 2024 team is more talented than the 2004 team, but it is averaging almost twice as many yards per play than its opponents, which is the kind of absurdity that this current team is producing through four games.

Honestly, as exciting as the Texas offense is on a drive-by-drive basis behind Steve Sarkisian's play-calling, it's the defense that has me thinking that we're looking at a possible historically memorable kind of team.

When I say that the Texas passing game, especially its cornerbacks, is giving up nothing in the passing game, I mean they aren't giving up anything. Zero. Teams aren't even trying to throw at Malik Muhammad, Jahdae Barron or Jaylon Guilbeau. All three are playing like future NFL players.

The Longhorns have legit difference makers in the front six of the defense in Anthony Hill and Colin Simmons, who are on pace to combine for 12 sacks and 26 tackles for loss over 12 games, and only seem to be heating up.

Meanwhile, the deeper we get into the season, the more it becomes obvious that the Longhorns are likely going to be double-digit favorites in every game the rest of the way outside of the Georgia game next month. Outside of Carson Beck, the best quarterback that the Longhorns will see the rest of the way is likely ... Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia?

The only quarterbacks left on the schedule that are currently in the top 60 in individual passing efficiency are Georgia's Carson Beck (No. 24) and Pavia (No. 41). A&M's Marcel Reed ranks No. 61. Arkansas' Taylen Green is 90th. Kentucky's Brock Vandagriff is 91st. Oklahoma's Jackson Arnold is 100th.

In order to beat the Texas team, you're going to need to put up some points and I just don't see offenses that are going to be able to go toe to toe for 60 minutes.

I'm more bullish right now on this Texas team than I have been about any Texas team since 2005.

Enjoy every minute of it, fellas.

These are the best of times.

No. 2 - Pop-quiz ...

Do you know who the No. 4 quarterback in the country is in passing efficiency?

Hint: His jersey was sold out at DKR on Saturday.

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I don't bring any of this up as a suggestion that Manning should start over Quinn Ewers (he shouldn't), but I do bring it up to remind everyone of the type of talent we're talking about.

Take a look at the stats that have been compiled by both Ewers and Manning thus far this season ...

Ewers: 58 of 79 (73.4%) for 691 yards, 8.7 yards per attempt, 8 TD, 2 INT and a 175.2 rating

Manning: 29 of 47 (61.7%) for 576 yards, 12.3 yards per attempt, 7 TD, 2 INT and a 205.3 rating

There's a pretty obvious story about the two players that you can see in the data.

Ewers ranks ninth in the country in completion percentage (73.4%) and 34th in yards per attempt (8.75). His specialty is dealing dimes in the short and intermediate passing games. Check out his passing map via PFF for the season.

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Manning ranks third in the country in yards per attempt (12.26) and 81st in completion percentage (61.7). His specialty is attacking down the field and if you ever wondered which stat is more important, all you need to know is that Manning ranks third in passing efficiency, despite completing passes at a percentage similar to Jackson Arnold.

Check out his passing map.

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Ewers throws the ball down the field beyond 20 yards once every 11.3 throws and between 11-20 yards once every 5.6 throws.

Manning throws the ball down the field beyond 20 yards once every 4.7 throws and between 11-20 yards once every 5.8 throws.

Eventually, Manning will improve his completion percentage (Ewers has gone from 58.1% to 69.0% to 73.4% in the last three seasons), but if his downfield aggression remains at an elite level, you can get a true picture of what the Texas offense might transform into in the next two seasons once Ewers is gone and Manning takes over for good.

While Manning likely won't average more than 12 yards per completion, just know that Sark's Alabama 2020 and 2019 offenses averaged 11 yards per completion in both seasons, which is more than two yards per completion more than Ewers' passing numbers this season and nearly three yards more per completion over his career.

It's two vastly different ways of playing the quarterback position. It might very well be that taking Manning's natural aggression and turning it down just a notch or two might have the future passing game reaching optimal levels.

No. 3 - Scattershooting the day after 52-3 ...

... Colin Page ranks third on the team in rushing (92 yards) and has the highest yards per carry (5.8) of any running back on the team.

... Colin Simmons finished Saturday night with almost as many game snaps as Trey Moore (24 to 20).

... We're 1/3 of the way into the season and Trey Moore still doesn't have a tackle for loss, a sack or quarterback hit. He's clearly a good player, but he's not remotely close to being a difference maker, which has really made the rise of Simmons critically important.

... Who has been better over four games ... Michael Taaffe or Andrew Mukuba? The answer is probably Mukuba, but it's much closer than most might suspect.

... I think David Gbenda might have a future in the NFL when it's all said and done. Same with Juan Davis. Not sure I thought either was possible as recently as a month ago.

... Fact: Liona Lefau has more sacks (2) than Moore, Barryn Sorrell, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton Ethan Burke and Justice Finkley COMBINED. Lefau also leads the team in tackles for loss (4).

... The biggest loser with Manning playing on Saturday was probably Gunnar Helm. If you don't run vertical routes, you don't get much of the ball with Manning. Helm received one target all night.

... Attaboy, Michael Kern. Shut me up.

... Passing Game Targets for Texas wide receivers through 4 games:

1. Isaiah Bond (20)
2. Matthew Golden (16)
3T. Silas Bolden (11)
3T. Ryan Wingo (11)
5. Johntay Cook (8)
6. Deandre Moore (5)

No. 4 - If I had a vote that mattered ...

1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Alabama
4. Ohio State
5. Tennessee
6. Miami
7. Ole Miss
8. Oregon
9. Utah
10. Penn State

Heisman Trophy

1. Travis Hunter (Colorado)
2. Cam Ward (Miami)
3. Quinn Ewers (Texas)
4. Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
5. Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)

No. 5 – Hall of Honor thoughts ...

Ten former Texas athletes and two coaches were inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor over the weekend. A few thoughts on some of those who were inducted:

Reggie Freeman (basketball) - My favorite Texas basketball player of all time. I can still remember sitting courtside when he dropped 43 on Jerry Tarkanian's Fresno State team the Saturday after Texas beat Nebraska in the initial Big 12 Championship game. The thing that people forget about Freeman when talking about him is how he completely transformed his skill set while he was in Austin. My mind was blown when he went from a 28.6% shooter on the three-ball as a freshman to a 38.7% shooter as a sophomore. He might not have been the most efficient volume shooter of all time, but the man averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a senior and I'm not sure there's ever been anyone quite like him since he left in 1997.

Marquise Goodwin (football) - I was the only person in the recruiting industry that rated Goodwin as a state top 100 selection, but I should have trusted my gut with him ... he was an elite of elite athlete, who few thought would actually play college football. Goodwin taught me an important lesson ... don't ignore 5-star traits. They matter.

Colt McCoy (football) - If Ryan Perrilloux had signed with the Longhorns in 2005, would Colt McCoy have ended up at LSU? I'm not sure we'll ever truly know, but I know that Brad McCoy called me on National Signing Day in 2005 before his son signed his letter of intent to confirm that Perrilloux hadn't signed with Texas. Weirdly, Mack Brown called me out in the media later that day, telling everyone at a round table that I had called Mr. McCoy to try and talk him out of letting his son with Texas. I was so pissed at such a wild and baseless accusation that I told him in front of everyone that I was willing to discuss what happened that morning in specific detail, complete with me showing all incoming and outgoing calls from my phone that day. Mack kind of apologized and declined to further discuss the matter in front of the rest of the media on hand. As far as I can remember, it's the only time in three decades that anyone has ever called into question my character in such a way.

Alex Okafor (football) - Did you know that Greg Davis was Okafor's primary recruiter? Yes, Greg Davis was a better recruiter of elite defensive linemen than Bo Davis.

Omar Quintanilla (baseball) - What a freaking player. What a freaking hitter. When I think of that 2002 title team, he's one of the first names that comes to mind. He ranks among the Longhorns’ all-time career top 10 in doubles (third), extra base hits (seventh), total bases (10th) and assists (10th). If not for Spike Owen, he's probably the shortstop on the all-time Texas baseball team.

No. 6 - Former Horns Transfer Watch ...

Here are notable stat lines from former Longhorns across college football this weekend ...

QB - Hudson Card (Purdue): 7 of 17 for 56 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT (76.5 rating) in a 38-21 loss to Oregon State.

QB - Maalik Murphy (Duke): 14 of 21 for 216 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT (190.7 rating) in a 45-17 win over Middle Tennessee State.

RB - Ja'Quinden Jackson (Arkansas): 22 carries for 75 yards and 2 TDs in a 24-14 win over Auburn.

RB - Savion Red (Nevada): 10 carries for 117 yards and 2 TD in a 49-16 win over Eastern Washington.

WR - Isaiah Neyor (Nebraska): 4 receptions for 90 yards and 2 TDs in a 31-21 OT loss to Illinois.
DB - Jerrin Thompson (Auburn): Recorded a team-best 8 tackles, a sack and a pass break-up in a 24-14 loss to Arkansas.

No. 7 - Inspecting college football super blue chip quarterbacks ...

This section comes via request of @Anwar Richardson from last night's post-game show on Orangebloods Live.

We're taking a look at the success rate of 5-star and high 4-star quarterbacks from the last few years. We know that 5-star prospects get drafted at a ballpark rate of about 65% and that more than 30% of all 5-stars get drafted in the first round of the Draft.

So, how do these numbers match up with what's happening in real time? Let's find out.

2020 Five-Stars

Bryce Young (Alabama - No. 2 overall) - While he might be struggling as a former No. 1 overall player in the 2023 Draft, Young was a great college player who won the Heisman, among other awards.

D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson - No. 3 overall) - Uiagalelei looked like a player that took a step forward last season at Oregon State, but he's been absolutely dreadful since transferring to Florida State and I'm not sure if there's going to be any salvaging of what's left in his college career.

Harrison Bailey (Tennessee - No. 30 overall) - A total bust that makes Uiagalelei look like a Heisman winner, Bailey is currently the primary back-up at Louisville in his final season of play.

2021 Five-Stars

Quinn Ewers (Ohio State - No. 1 overall) - Although he hasn't proven that he warranted the No. 1 overall ranking in his class, he is one of the top quarterbacks in the country and projects as a pretty sure-fire first-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Caleb Williams (Oklahoma - No. 6 overall) - A Heisman winner and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Brock Vandagriff (Georgia - No. 8 overall) - After flaming out at Georgia, Vandagriff has yet to emerge as anything other than a JAG in his first full season as the starter at Kentucky. Maybe it's too early to draw final conclusions, but maybe not.

Ty Thompson (Oregon - No. 10 overall) - Thompson is currently the back-up quarterback for Tulane.

Sam Huard (Washington - No. 17 overall) - Has bounced around after signing with the Huskies and is currently the third-string quarterback at Utah.

2022 Five-Stars

Cade Klubnik (Clemson - No. 3 overall) - Has really started to come into his own as a second-year starter for the Tigers and currently ranks 12th in the nation in passing efficiency (181.8) and third in ESPN's QBR (93.3).

Walker Howard (LSU - No. 20 overall) - Currently the third-string back-up at Ole Miss. It's definitely starting to feel like he's going to be a Sam Huard-level bust.

2023 Five-Stars

Arch Manning (Texas - No. 1 overall) - Perhaps he's still an obvious back-up to Quinn Ewers, but Manning currently ranks as the No. 4 quarterback in the country in terms of passing efficiency (205.3)

Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee - No. 2 overall) - Ranks as the nation's No. 14 quarterback in terms of passing efficiency in his first season as a starter for as top-10 team.

Dante Moore (UCLA - No. 4 overall) - Currently the primary back-up behind Dillon Gabriel at Oregon after leaving UCLA.

Malachi Nelson (USC - No. 14 overall) - Currently the primary back-up at Boise State after departing USC following a single season.

Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma - No. 23 overall) - May or may not still be the starting quarterback for the Sooners, Arnold ranks last among starting quarterbacks in the SEC in passing efficiency (120.9)

My initial reaction when looking at the data is that there's a clear difference between being a 5-star prospect at the top of the 5-star rankings, as opposed to being a "regular" 5-star prospect.

Here's the list of players that ranked in the top 6 or higher in the overall national rankings: Bryce Young, D.J. Uiagalelei, Quinn Ewers, Caleb Williams, Cade Klubnik, Arch Manning, Nico Iamaleava and Dante Moore.

Of that group of eight, only Uiagalelei is an obvious outright bust. Two have already been drafted No. 1 overall in the NFL and I'd suggest that Ewers, Klubnik, Manning and Iamaleava all have very strong chances to eventually be first-round picks at a minimum.

On the contrary, here's a look at the 5-stars who ranked between No. 7-No. 30 overall: Harrison Bailey, Brock Vandagriff, Ty Thompson, Sam Huard, Walker Howard, Malachi Nelson and Jackson Arnold. I'm not really sure that any of us can be sure than a single player from this group is going to be a plus-starter at the high major college level, let alone ending up in eventual first-round discussions.

Basically, the players at the very top of the rankings are actually 6-star prospects and aren't the same as the others.

No. 8 – BUY or SELL …

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(Sell) I would probably rank a half-dozen others ahead of him, but he's certainly in the mix. I mean ... technically, Anthony Hill is a breakout player on the defense. Same with Malik Muhammad. Same with Jaylon Guilbeau. Same with Colin Simmons. That being said, he's more of a breakout player than Trey Moore.



(Buy) It's going to look like a kill scene from the show Dexter.



(Buy) It's possible that Georgia could be out of the SEC race by the time it leaves Austin.



(Sell) I don't think it matters.



(Sell) I can see one or both of Campbell or Williams going pro if they continue to surge and I can't give Neto any benefit of the doubt as a starter.



(Sell) I don't know why Colt said that he hadn't been back since leaving when he was in Austin for his jersey retirement during Cleveland's bye week in 2010 and he appears to have been at a Texas home game in 2014 (based on a photo of him sitting with the Longhorn Network studio crew). Maybe he smokes a lot of pot and has short-term memory issues?



(Buy) It might be my confirmation bias speaking because I love his raw talent and I'm kind of wishing it into reality.



(Sell) Sark seems to have everything under control. I don't think he has been sweating this situation at all.



(Buy) Is biscuits a metaphor for sex or money or something?



(Sell) Don't overthink this. Texas is trying to win a championship right now in 2024. There is no conundrum.



(Sell) I'm cool as long as Jaydon Blue stays healthy.



(Sell) They might make an occasional playoff appearance as one of the top 5-6 teams in the SEC, but I don't see them ever being more than that.



(Buy) Don't go out of your way to be a stupid version of Curvin Richards. Sark and this staff aren't going to put up with anyone who is remotely a headache. He needs to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness for the sideline hijinks from last night.



(Sell) I'm going to sell at this point, but it's not out of the realm of possibilities. I think we might see them go into the Portal. There were rumors last year of Boise State star Ashton Jeanty transferring to Texas back in December. Texas could land a big, proven fish if it wants to.



(Buy) It's what I'm thinking.



(Sell) I think he's going to play, but it's probably 55-45.



(Sell) My concern levels haven't changed.



(Buy/Sell/Sell) I think Ohio State might have the edge at receiver and the end of the Colorado game won't be romanticized much if Travis Hunter doesn't win the Heisman. It was a great moment for a bad team.



(Sell) I have zero concern. I can't have less than zero.



(Buy) Yes.



(Buy/Buy/Buy/Sell) The Longhorns haven't played a complete team, but how many of those even exist? I think we know exactly where Texas stands as a team right now. Full stop.

p.s. - A&M's quarterback play doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same stank breath as OU's quarterback play.

No. 9 – Scattershooting all over the place …

... SEC Thoughts Scattershots: I'm not saying that Missouri is a fraud, but the Tigers sure looked like they were in an even fistfight at home against ... Vandy. Do with that what you will. I don't know if Arkansas is good, but the Hawgs are feisty. Mississippi State is awful. Bring on Alabama vs. Georgia. I can't wait to see where both teams stand.

... Oklahoma needed to ride with Jackson Arnold and hope. I'm not sure they are a bowl team if Michael Hawkins has to play the rest of the season. He's going to be a good player in time, but once teams make adjustments to his strengths, he's going to be exposed as a very limited young player.

... What do you want me to say about the Cowboys? I have about as many words about the game as I do my surprise that it unfolded the way that it did.

... I did not expect Sam Darnold running circles around CJ Stroud on my Sunday Bingo card (drink!).

... Rest in peace, Mercury Morris.

... Anthony Joshua got knocked the hell out. Ok, Daniel Dubois, I see you.

... Yes, I will watch the WNBA playoffs. I just won't be watching on an NFL Sunday.

... I'm in a real two-week losing streak on Prize Picks.

... Is there any way to shower Shohei Ohtani with too much hyperbole? What would be too much?

... Premier League Scattershots: Man City might have won the battle by snagging a point at the death against 10-man Arsenal, but if they lose Rodri for any real length of time with a serious knee injury, we might eventually look back and say that the champs lost the war. Hey Gunnars, stop kicking the ball away. Winning games is so much better than losing them. Way to take care of business, Reds. Of course, United dropped points on Saturday after planning a parade for scoring 7 on Barnsley.

... Can't say that I saw this Barcelona resurgence coming the way that it has so far this season. In Lamine Yamal, everyone must trust.

No. 10 – The List: Tom Hanks

How have I never done a Hanks Best Movies list?

I did a "Best Performance" list a few years ago, but that wasn't the same as doing a Best Movies List ... so, here we are.

Let's do this.

Last 5 Out: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Splash, Catch Me If You Can, Bridge of Spies and Philadelphia

10. Castaway

Maybe his single best acting performance. It feels like I should have this in the top 5.

9. A League of Their Own

Almost every woman I know would kill me if I didn't have this in the top 10, including my wife.

8. The Money Pit

It's the single funniest movie that Hanks has ever made. It's a perfect comedy.



7. Apollo 13

Maybe the most underrated of his movies.

6. Forrest Gump

This is going to be No. 1 for some of you, huh?

5. Sleepless in Seattle

One of the great rom-coms of all time.

4. You've Got Mail

I don't care what any of you say ... it's probably my favorite rom-com of all time.

3. Toy Story

Should Toy Story be No.1? In 100 years, are the Toy Story movies going to be what Hanks is most remembered for? None other than Quentin Tarantino has called the first three movies a perfect movie trilogy.

2. Saving Private Ryan

Did I get this wrong? It's one of Steven Spielberg's best movies and one of the best war movies of all time. The end gets me every time.

1. Big

It's the quintessential Hanks performance in my mind after all of the decades of film that he's produced. I'm convinced that he's the only one that could have pulled the role off. Robert De Niro was originally going to play the Josh character. Can you imagine that movie?
All that being said, it breaks my heart for Baxter. I think he could have been playing like a freak show running back this season. Like legit 2,000 yards potential. Ehhh well 1500+ easily! Tough break for the Baxter beast
 
All that being said, it breaks my heart for Baxter. I think he could have been playing like a freak show running back this season. Like legit 2,000 yards potential. Ehhh well 1500+ easily! Tough break for the Baxter beast
nothing about what he has shown s so far as a college player suggests that he was anywhere close to producing that kind of season.

He needed to prove he could average 5 yards per carry this season and play injury free.
 
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I never said LB was a 2008 strength. You can check this list I posted on there.

Ok let’s start with DB. Jury is still out on the guys you mentioned (if you’ll scroll above I replied to Ketch and said that they have a chance to be as good) but a few things

1. I don’t see a player like Earl Thomas on this team in the defensive backfield. He’s a once a decade (at least) type of player and I’m sure we can agree on that. So in my mind that’s worth a lot.
2. The rest of the guys I mentioned were all drafted (some highly) and played in the NFL. Several were on the Thorpe award watch list and were all conference first or second team selections. One an all American obviously. Thats tough to beat. I fully acknowledge that my argument has the benefit of look back where as yours is more on potential but that’s a tough act to match up with. MM is a stud and i expect him to be all conference by next year (if not this year if he continues to play lights out). Other than that we are left with J Barron (extremely solid player) and a bunch of projection. If I had to guess I’d say MM and D Williams are day 1 or two picks of things continue to progress (I’m hoping) but to say “I don’t know what you’re watching” and acting like this isn’t even close is simply not true.

Alright let’s do DE now (and no I don’t think this is some Trump card..not sure where you got that)

You listed Simmons, Burke, Vasek.
I’ll see your Simmons and raise you a Sergio. Who will be better? No idea, but I’ll just let those two cancel each other out. Burke and Vasek (and let’s at least add Sorrell) compared to Melton and Acho. Melton and acho were both drafted and Melton went on to make the pro bowl. Acho was a second team Walter camp all American and 3rd team AP all American. Can Burke and Vasek do that …I sure as hell hope so but I’m just not sure. Again, you have to at least acknowledge this is a close argument and not some “wtf are you watching bro” type situation.

By the way, if I did have a Trump card it would be this. Brian Orakpo was also a DE on the 2008 team. He was pretty good right? He won the Nigurski, Lombardi and other trophies. Was a 1st team all American.

Over to you

Appreciate the back and forth

You keep changing the playing field…first you listed specific players, then you said across any classification.

Hindsight is 20/20 when looking at the 2008 team. Yeah, Thomas and Williams were studs (I absolutely loved Aaron, and was pissed that he wasn’t drafted higher), but the two Browns really were not at the same level. This 2024 team is much deeper in the secondary, with the majority of them still underclassman. Just based off current state the DB room is at least a tie between the two teams, with this year’s team having a much higher ceiling.

It’s the same with the DEs. Looking at the end state, 2008 looks pretty good. But this 2024 team has several young pups already making noise, with the youngest potentially becoming one of the best of all time for the school. That’s just my opinion, of course.🙂🤘
 
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You keep changing the playing field…first you listed specific players, then you said across any classification.

Hindsight is 20/20 when looking at the 2008 team. Yeah, Thomas and Williams were studs (I absolutely loved Aaron, and was pissed that he wasn’t drafted higher), but the two Browns really were not at the same level. This 2024 team is much deeper in the secondary, with the majority of them still underclassman. Just based off current state the DB room is at best a tie between the two teams, with this year’s team having a much higher ceiling.

It’s the same with the DEs. Looking at the end state, 2008 looks pretty good. But this 2024 team has several young pups already making noise, with the youngest potentially becoming one of the best of all time for the school. That’s just my opinion, of course.🙂🤘
I think you guys are splitting hairs. I’m not even sure how or why the debate started but if y’all really wanted to settle in list each starter side by side and then list each 2-deep side by side.

Generally speaking, I don’t see an Earl Thomas on this team nor an Orakpo (though Simmons may prove to be better over the next few years).

My gut tells me our DL was better in ‘08 but this year’s DE are much deeper.
Not sure on LB.

DB’s are deeper this year. I like Muhammad a tad better than Williams but they’re basically a wash. No match for Earl this year but more depth overall than 08.

It’s a fun debate. It sure beats comparing 2012 to 2019 for example.
 
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I never said LB was a 2008 strength. You can check this list I posted on there.

Forgot about this. You’re right. You didn’t. But in today’s game, you really can’t talk about DEs and not also include LBs to some extent. PK moves them all over the field, including on the edge.

Plus, not that it’s really relevant, but Acho, Kindle, and Melton weren’t even recruited as DEs out of high school.

Looking at the 2024 DE/LB roster combined, at worse it’s a push with the 2008 team. I'm very intrigued at what the DE and LB rotations look like in 2025.
 
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VY had to deal with a coach and OC who didn't really want him. If he was playing today he would thrive. I don't believe for one second Cam Newton or Lamar Jackson are better than VY, but their NFL teams gave them more than that ficktard Fisher did. Or Norm Chow.
I will forever be grateful for VY and I will stand by I think he’s the best college player ever. That’s bold and perhaps biased but the level of play he demonstrated in both Rose Bowls was insane. As Dan Fouts said, “he owns this place.”

But VY’s greatest strength was his size and mobility, particularly in comparison to college (and high school) boys/young men. At the NFL level, those advantages were/are minimized significantly…and this his ability read plays and make accurate passes was more critical. Those weren’t his strengths and those are musts at that level.

Again, I love VY and he’ll always be the King of Texas football. I don’t see how it’s possible in my lifetime for anyone to overtake his status. But again this is coming from the lens of his performance for Texas (not behind Texas).

Ie, I’ll take a VY over a Pat Mahomes all day (in the sense of never playing for squat at the collegiate level but crushing it at the next level).
 
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Forgot about this. You’re right. You didn’t. But in today’s game, you really can’t talk about DEs and not also include LBs to some extent. PK moves them all over the field, including on the edge.

Plus, not that it’s really relevant, but Acho, Kindle, and Melton weren’t even recruited as DEs out of high school.

Looking at the 2024 DE/LB roster combined, at worse it’s a push with the 2008 team. I'm very intrigued at what the DE and LB rotations look like in 2025.
This is where I think I just say agree to disagree. Fun conversation though. Thanks
 
2008 v. 2024 (just my opinion anyway)

QB push (although Quinn is more talented)
RB 2024 >
OL 2024 >>
TE 2008 >
WR push (man this is a tough one, more depth on 2024)

DL 2008 >>
LB 2008 >
S 2024 > (ET was a redshirt fresh and BG)
DB 2024 >

K 2008 >

Coach boom was a beast. 2008 better up front but 2024 better on the back end. 2024 offense is more explosive, better offense.
 
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2008 v. 2024 (just my opinion anyway)

QB push (although Quinn is more talented)
RB 2024 >
OL 2024 >>
TE 2008 >
WR push (man this is a tough one, more depth on 2024)

DL 2008 >>
LB 2008 >
S 2024 > (ET was a redshirt fresh and BG)
DB 2024 >

K 2008 >

Coach boom was a beast. 2008 better up front but 2024 better on the back end. 2024 offense is more explosive, better offense.
You give 2008 the TE edge?
 
2008 v. 2024 (just my opinion anyway)

QB push (although Quinn is more talented)
RB 2024 >
OL 2024 >>
TE 2008 >
WR push (man this is a tough one, more depth on 2024)

DL 2008 >>
LB 2008 >
S 2024 > (ET was a redshirt fresh and BG)
DB 2024 >

K 2008 >

Coach boom was a beast. 2008 better up front but 2024 better on the back end. 2024 offense is more explosive, better offense.
This takes looks solid except TE.
Helm is playing next level. Receiving, running and blocking. He’s doing it all.
 
It might be one of my top 10 favorite movies of all-time. One of my first real life romances occurred by meeting a girl from Lawrence at the infancy stages of the Internet.

Lots of nostalgia.
Tom Hanks has been in so many great movies, it's kind of baffling. That said, so much of this is subjective. I remember watching You've Got Mail the week it opened and not liking it at all. My enjoyment of rom-coms, especially at the time, was tied so intrinsically to how attracted I was to the girl in the movie. And I did not find Meg Ryan very hot. She didn't come close to the infatuation I felt for Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson... Having said that, the rest of your list is a good one. But man I would have to put Apollo 13 at number 1. It's just such a fantastic movie, and I can rewatch it over and over. (BTW I've always felt Forrest Gump was a bit boring and overrated)
 
He won an oscar for philidelphia, how can you leave that off the list?
 
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