Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Possible insight on UT's next OC?)

[I Hear Voices]

He’s not in the top 90% of the big 12 as far as coaching. I wanted Shaka when we fired Barnes, posted he would be great after seeing him make an improvement mid season. Lost faith when he required a team to be sub par to achieve goals. Absolutely nothing with politics. That’s what ketch is hanging on to. Shaka is not a good coach he simply got lucky and that doesn’t last forever. It’s even more glaring when you have everything at your disposal and routinely fail. This is more of a lay up that sting yet ketch sticks with him and it’s for one reason..... it’s not sports related which is actually hurting this site more than being a fan boy looch (FYI ketch and looch are actually friends) true story.

I also wanted Shaka several years before Barnes was fired. Honestly, his or Ketchum’s
political preferences do not sway me one way or the other in my assessment of his performance. Not getting the job done should be the most important thing. And he’s not getting in done in my opinion.

And back when Shaka spoke out, I applauded him because I thought he was right to say what he did.

 

[sodiumacetate]

"Constrained by a micro managing HC," one source said. Well he should be familiar then..

That's the opposite of what Tom wants to do. He apparently hates the idea of having to call plays, and would rather have an OC that can handle that so he can focus on the team as a whole on gameday.

 

[UT Bondman]

I also wanted Shaka several years before Barnes was fired. Honestly, his or Ketchum’s
political preferences do not sway me one way or the other in my assessment of his performance. Not getting the job done should be the most important thing. And he’s not getting in done in my opinion.

And back when Shaka spoke out, I applauded him because I thought he was right to say what he did.

As an actual damn good coach once said, you are what your record says you are. Which means that Smart is a sub-.500 P5 coach that has never won his conference despite having several NBA lottery picks AND has a lousy NCAA tournament record. Also, the one coach that I can remember that managed to lose a tournament game despite having a four point lead with 5 seconds to go...

 

[SamTexas]

That's the opposite of what Tom wants to do. He apparently hates the idea of having to call plays, and would rather have an OC that can handle that so he can focus on the team as a whole on gameday.

Harrell May have came if TH didn’t meddle in the offense..

 

[longhorn4444]

No. 9 - The List: Top 10 Texas Football Players of the Decade ...

This was not nearly as much fun putting together as I thought it might be.

Read it and weep.

1. P Michael Dickson
2. DT Malcom Brown
3. DB Kenny Vaccaro
4. RB D’Onta Foreman
5. LB Jordan Hicks
6. WR Devin Duvernay
7. QB Sam Ehlinger
8. OT Connor Williams
9. DE Alex Okafor
10. DE Sam Acho

Tough list to make. Just curious, where would you place Justin Tucker? I read that he is the most accurate kicker in NFL history.

 

[sodiumacetate]

Harrell May have came if TH didn’t meddle in the offense..

Harrell would have come had he been offered the job.

 

[daflonghorn]

OU sucks

The truth you speak

 

[sodiumacetate]

Herman not calling plays.

Well we all know that's not an issue. Herman doesn't want to be the playcaller from the sodeline and only started doing it when Beck proved to be inadequate at it. Herman wants to be more like Malzahn, Meyer, or Gundy and less like Leach or Riley. Malzahn also has a history of being forced back into calling plays some years because of poor performances by his OC's.

 

[TD TX TD VY]

Acho way too low. Hicks too high.

 

[lightthetower0510]

Jesus and you double down on Shaka. Aside from his one great half season the dude hasn’t been in the top 75% and I don’t give a shit what he did at VCU (a school with less opportunity). He had all tools at his disposal and has sucked ass. I don’t care what race or political affiliation he has. You didn’t extend the same rope to strong because you didn’t know his political views and that’s why my annual subscription can’t end fast enough.

Jesus.

 

[bamahorn1]

People think Herman is going to make Yurcich call plays that resemble this years offense because they believe Herman is the most arrogant guy on the planet and is a nazi boss.

When in reality he’s like a lot of coaches who will welcome a new playcaller, and embrace a fresh set of ideas that have proven to be successful while maintaining a few non-negotiables for his team. Herman is always going to want to be physical in the run game, utilize the qbs mobility and play complimentary football. As long as Herman and the new Oc can agree to those and work together , there’s a chance this works out. Also a chance it doesn’t. But in reality is as close as a sure thing you’re going to find.

Ash is a stand up double as dc
Yurcich would be a homerun.

Also Herman still has to build out the rest of the staff so potential for our coaching staff to be massively upgraded all around. Or just slightly . Time will tell but I’m excited as hell. Also, there are no more silver bullets for Tom. If things don’t workout over the next couple of years he will be gone. No more upgrades available. This is a good thing.

LOVE the optimism and I agree. Hell, experience under Gundy on offense would seem to be a good thing, and posters splitting hairs on why he left as he progressed in his craft shouldn’t be viewed as necessarily bad either.
Very respectable observers view this potential hire positively. Too much on the line for Herman to take this decision lightly. Arrogant at times, but he is not ignorant and I HOPE he gets this right. Hook ‘em

 

[FrancoBevo]

I don’t know how much Yurcich had to do suck eye success this year but I’d be willing to see how he does in Austin. The way Suck eye offense puts their playmakers in space is a thing of beauty. I know suck eye has a very talented roster and those guys would likely succeed anywhere, but you still have to acknowledge that the scheme helps them out a lot.

 

[BigSkyHorn]

Youre lying out of your ass and you got busted. Or you’re too stupid. Either way, not a good look. I posted clips from our game with okie state this year and even gave time stamps where no intelligent person could ascertain Gundy is calling the plays. Too bad you’re not one of them. Being wrong sucks. So is getting busted as a fraud.

Me thinks the Doc just gave a “nut rub” to the face on this reply - kinda like Ja Morant did to Love. Only difference he finished the job. Spill kit needed on isle 5!

 

[EdSimmonsPants]

I'm rooting for Shaka to get this thing going in the direction he was hired to take it, but I can't say that I believe.

I can't remember the last time I did.

Hope springs eternal, but Shaka is hopeless, IMO.

 

[Hookempop]

Harrell May have came if TH didn’t meddle in the offense..

harrell wasn’t a fit, I’m glad he didn’t come.

 

[Ketchum]

When I saw Dickson as your #1, I thought you were trolling...

But then I saw the rest of the list and agreed.

unreal.

You're telling me...

It was quite humbling.

 

[Ketchum]

What about Q Diggs

I considered Quandre, but he was never an All-American and I don't believe he was first-team All-Big 12.

 

[Ketchum]

Was I suppose to feel relieved by the Yurcich section? I feel less at ease after reading it...

I'm not sure there was an intention to make you feel one way or another.

 

[Ketchum]

If Texas gets yurich, rate the hire on a one to ten scale

7.5

 

[Ketchum]

That all-decade top 10 players list.
Oof
No Gary Johnson, Poona, or Omenihu though?

Poona received consideration.

Gary Johnson?

 

[EdSimmonsPants]

I'd simply say a person can still fail at something and still be damn good at what they do.

I'd say this speaks more to reputation than to X's and O's coaching. How can a coach who is in the top 1% of his field never have an offensive identity? Why would said coach move to his "big job" and completely abandon his previous teams identity (i.e. disciplined relentless pressing team)? Sorry, I can't buy that we have seen much evidence that Shaka is indeed a damn good, or even good coach at Texas.

 

[Ketchum]

So a person can be a damn good coach and still not great?

Yes.

 

[Ketchum]

I have never seen a missed dunk get more run than the Morant attempt. I don’t get it. Was it incredibly athletic yes but there was no finish so let it go

ok?

 

[Ketchum]

So Herman will relinquish the reigns to Yurcich, opposite of Gundy approach?

That's the plan, to a degree.

 

[Ketchum]

Merry Xmas to you Ketch. Really have enjoyed this site year over year. Thanks.

Merry Christmas. Thanks for the kind words. Here's to an exceptional 2020.

 

[sy1804]

You can change the assistants and you can change the players, but at this point you cannot change the fact that Shaka Smart hasn't earned an ounce of benefit of the doubt and Saturday was a perfect example of that.

With conference play starting soon, it's the cloud that follows the program to a degree. When on earth can Texas fans watch the basketball team without feeling like a trapdoor of doom will open up underneath them at a moment when they have started to believe?

I'm rooting for Shaka to get this thing going in the direction he was hired to take it, but I can't say that I believe.

I can't remember the last time I did.

NM beyond this above excellent quote !!!!

 

[Ketchum]

So @Ketchum, any info on Yurcichs’ leaving little OSU? Was he ran off by Gundy as some claim or leave on his own terms?

sounds like it was a little of both.

 

[Ketchum]

I am a little drunk... but why isn’t Justin Tucker on the top 10 list ??

He could have easily made it. I paid a lot of respect to guys that earned AA honors.

 

[Ketchum]

Like you list top players last 10 years. Some suggestions for changes:

2. Ehlinger
3. Williams
4. Hicks

What do you think?

Hook'Em

The quarterback position is so valuable, you could make the case, but those other two players were All-Americans at some point in their careers and Sam hasn't been All-Conference.

 

[Ketchum]

Well Ketch you do have a heart after all and even if no one tells you we appreciate you appreciating us as well. Even if it wasn’t a thank you for my Christmas Wish too you and your family lol. Ketch you’re a stand up guy.

Thank you. Have a blessed holidays.

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum how many movies would you say you go see in a theater per year?

I am just curious, it seems like you get the chance to see a lot of them. As a fellow parent of twins, I don't know how you find the time. I'm envious.

Probably 20-25?

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum .... Merry Christmas to you and yours, first off.... and now I must admit that I never liked the Shaka Smart hire and @DustinMcComas and I had a discussion on Twitter about it. He was a one trick pony and has faltered ever since he got here. It’s time for the admin and CDC to cut the ties that bind, shake hands as friends, and start putting together a basketball program worthy of the University of Texas. To be the state flagship school with the resources we have and building new world class facilities.... damn, we need to just go hire a Coach that can deliver with the talent at hand and keep the recruitment going. It is embarrassing for this school to have coaches in football, baseball, and basketball that have the salaries they have and do not produce. CDC should tell all three that no more contract extensions, and no more raises, until the payoff on the field equals what has already been paid out. I am getting to think that coaching is just a higher art form of stealing from colleges. Rant over and Merry Christmas.

Fair rant. Merry Christmas.

 

[Ketchum]

Big gap between the top two and the rest of the field.

Really?

 

[Ketchum]

Ketch is trolling us with the Shaka stuff.

I'm just not influenced with the same bias.

 

[Ketchum]

Like usual probably somewhere in the middle.

I’m hoping Herman finally learned his defensive staff was out classed by the better offenses in this league and learned his offensive staff was out classed by the better defenses in the league. Not a way to win the conference.

Herman wasn’t happy with his team this year and he’s making some steps to fix .

I hope it works. But there’s a chance it won’t and the buck will stop with Tom and we will find another schmuck to be our coach. People are capable of learning from failure and I’m hoping Herman is one is them.

That's completely fair, @Dr. Leo Marvin