Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (So, that was some weekend, huh?)
- Thread starter Ketchum
- Start date
Is it to late to add a WR in the portal? Does the staff regret not adding a transfer OL? Which QB will be able to use there legs more with a shaky OL?
Do the right thing and take DoThe Right thing off the list… with just about …well…any movie
Is there anyway we see both QB play in most games? Play one every 3 series or Qtr? I hate anyone got hurt but the WR will be a big loss.
If this team blows it's load on Alabama and OU with losses, we'll see the season cascade into 5-7 territory. True signs of a mentally fragile team.
For all the breakdowns you have done I haven’t seen one about head coaches - if this season is what it looks like it will be even if one were optimistic (8 wins), the list of coaches with two seasons like that who have gone on to make that program a true natIonal contender is remarkably short. Year two has to be the massive turnaround Year. heck Bob Stoops 2nd year was a national championship. And we are hoping for a winning season.
And it’s actually season 9 for Sark and he’s never been very good. It doesn’t look great.
From all appearances, Aranda is a very fiery personality. Maybe this rubs off on his players to exceed expectations. But there are many less fiery coaches who have had success. Hopefully Sark is one of them. We did not see a lot of fire in coaches or team during the losing streak.
Boy that list of top
but you really did some in-depth research across the board on this week’s 10 TFTW
Great Work!
Really Great War Room- it’s going to take me awhile to digest your Top 10 movie list- My ex and I started compiling out lists of Top 10 a few years ago which may among the reason she’s now my ex, but seriously we each came up with at least 30-40 With some overlap. No real argument with you except over Do The Right Thing and Pulp Fiction- they just never did it for me the same way that Schindlers List and the original Producers did. I also loved the Departed , No Way Out, Philadelphia, Green Mile and a couple of others. which may have fallen just outside the line but I honestly don’t know which of your remaining ones they’d kick out of the 10..such a great list!
Here's the thing about Saturday's scrimmage ... I don't really care.
A lot of folks will look at the proceedings from yesterday as the first step in a process that ends in four months.
Personally, I view all of the things that we're watching this August and for the rest of the 2022 season through the prism of how well it prepares this program for the 2023 season.
The truth is that I don't believe in this team as a championship contender. Every time the word "playoff" is used in conjunction with anything this team is capable of, I make a mental note to never listen to anything that ever comes from the fingertips of the person that communicates it.
If you look closely at the 2022 Longhorns, you'll find a wildly inexperienced quarterback situation, an offensive line breaking in more young players than I can count, a defense that not only lacks playmakers but cohesiveness across all three levels and there's a kicking game that is so unproven that it would be complete blind faith to assume that everything will be just fine there when the Longhorns take the field against La-Monroe.
In order for you to lean into the 2022 Longhorns having championship upside, you basically have to ignore all of the concerns from above or believe that all of them can be solved together at once on the fly in quick order.
Maybe it all comes down to whether you believe in fairytales. Do you?
Personally, what I'm looking for with this Texas team can be paid out in four easy-to-follow steps.
1. This team is better in October than it will be in September.
2. This team is better in November than it will be in October.
3. This team is better in December/January than it will be in November.
4. No one will want to play it in December/January.
For my money, those four things would be the signs of a well-coached football team. They'd also be the signs of a young program full of 35 new players coming together over time and eventually looking like a unit capable of doing some real damage in 2023. It would also tell me that coming into the final weeks of the season the quarterback position is in exactly the kind of place this program needs it to be.
Just be to be clear, this isn't a case of me moving the goal posts on any of you as the season grows near. Take a look at what I wrote nine months ago shortly after Quinn Ewers transferred to Texas:
"Here's another quiet part that needs to be spoken freely ... if Ewers is the guy that so many people, including Ewers, believes that he is, the Longhorns will have him for the next two seasons before he departs for the NFL. Talk to anyone with an ounce of insight on Ewers and they will tell you the same thing.
“Texas has two seasons with him. Of course, injuries can happen. A meteor could hit earth. Maybe he just won't be good enough.
“However, if he's not a bust (which would be very problematic on a number of levels), he'll be cashing more than NIL checks when the 2024 season rolls around. All of this matters because it's really important that everyone understands the timelines that exist with the critical players inside this program. Just like we know that the Longhorns almost certainly only have one more season of Bijan Robinson to work with before he departs, knowing how much clock remains on the Ewers Era ... even before it officially starts ... is something everyone is better off by understanding.
“When my man Anwar Richardson wrote earlier today that the Longhorns are officially in a tear-it-all-down-built-it-back-up rebuild job, he was 100-percent right. I'm piggybacking off of his column to outline why everything the Longhorns do for the next 12 months needs to be done with one eye on the 2023 season.
“The big challenge for Sarkisian over the course of the next 12-18 months is going to be trying to get this program in a position to challenge for a conference championship at the exact moment when his potentially special starting quarterback is still on campus.
“It's that simple."
Nothing has changed since that December 19 column.
Whether it's fair to a player like Bijan Robinson or any of the other seniors in the program isn't really relevant. As William Munny told Little Bill in Unforgiven just before he shot him dead ...
The fact that building this team towards 2023 isn't in the preferred timeline of every fan that has lived the last decade-plus of football on the 40 Acres is unfortunate, but the reality is that it doesn't take a damn rocket surgeon to see that we're not talking about a group ready for prime-time.
You can either go sit in the corner and pout following a temper tantrum or you can adjust your filters on viewing this team for the next 4-5 months.
Does it really matter how the likes of Quinn Ewers, Kelvin Banks (and a bunch of other young linemen), Ja'Tavian Sanders, Byron Murphy, Barryn Sorrell and pretty much every defensive prospect from the 2022 recruiting class looks against Alabama?
Or does it matter more that in the final month of the season against Kansas State, TCU, Kansas and Baylor that the team looks much, much more capable of taking on anyone that might want a piece of it?
For the long-term future of this program, the 2022 season is probably nothing more than a stepping stone season to 2023.
Of course, I said the same thing last year about the 2021 season heading into the 2022 season, yet a complete and outright disaster of the 2022 season delayed the blueprint for a championship pathway by at least a year.
That's what this season is about from my vantage point. It's about getting to August of 2023 and having legit championship hopes that are built more on definitive growth than making a wish by throwing a nickel into a wishing fountain.
I'm not telling you not to have hope.
I'm suggesting that you be realistic with it.
If you can do that, it's going to make processing things like Saturday's practice report in a much healthier way, one that doesn't involve bridges or hammers or rising high blood pressures.
No. 2 - A possible 2023 starting line-up ...
Just close your eyes and imagine this group, full of experience going into the 2023 season ...
QB: Quinn Ewers (Junior)
RB: Keilan Robinson (Senior), Jaydon Blue (Sophomore), Johnathan Brooks (Junior) or C.J. Baxter (Freshman)
WR: Xavier Worthy (Junior)
WR: Isaiah Neyor (Senior)
WR: Troy Omeire (Junior)
TE: Ja'Tavion Sanders (Junior)
LT: Kelvin Banks (Sophomore)
LG: Hayden Conner (Junior)
C: Jake Majors (Junior)
RG: DJ Campbell (Sophomore)
RT: Cameron Williams (Sophomore)
DE: DE Barryn Sorrell (Junior)
DT: Byron Murphy (Junior)
DT: Alfred Collins (Junior)
Edge: J'Mond Tapp (Sophomore)
MLB: Jaylan Ford (Senior)
WLB: Devin Richardson (Senior)
Nickel: Jahdae Barron (Senior)
CB: Terrence Brooks (Sophomore)
CB: Ryan Watts (Junior)
S: Jerrin Thompson (Senior)
S: Kitan Crawford (Senior) or BJ Allen (Sophomore)
Keep in mind that this doesn't factor in any members of the 2023 recruiting class or additions from the transfer portal.
Just something to keep in mind.
No. 3 - The injury fall-out ...
I don't know about the rest of you, but it's a little hard to smile after learning about the injury news related to junior wide receiver Isaiah Neyor and senior offensive lineman Junior Angilau.
Both could have devastating impacts on the offense.
Let's start with Neyor, who was the unquestioned starter at the outside X-position going into the season. With his game-breaking ability out of the lineup, will the Longhorns simply turn to Casey Cain and Troy Omeire, both of whom have been working at the positions behind Neyor?
Neither has ever taken a single game snap in his career at this point and Omeire is obviously coming off of major injuries that have hindered his ability to even stay on the field for each of the last two seasons. Both have upside, especially Omeire, but my gut is that it's asking too much at the moment for either of them to be counted on as a frontline player.
Could Iowa State wide receiver Tarique Milton move from the slot in a seamless manner? That's probably the best hope at this point, but in making that move you've probably eliminated your Jordan Whittington insurance policy. Another option would be to move Agiye Hall over from the Z-position once he's back from suspension, but it's no sure thing that he ever comes back from suspension. Even if he comes back, the same question that applies to Cain and Omeire applies to Hall ... is he truly ready to take on such a huge role within the offense?
None of it is ideal.
Meanwhile, the news to Angilau potentially changes everything about what Kyle Flood was hinting that he might have done with his lineup.
Angilau's work as a center throughout camp suggested that part of getting Flood's best five linemen on the field together would have seen Angilau replacing sophomore Jake Majors at center.
At the moment, this injury seems to have locked up a position in the starting lineup for Majors.
So, what happens at guard?
Is it as simple as Hayden Conner holds down the left spot, while freshman Cole Hutson and DJ Campbell battle it out for the spot at right guard? It might very well be as simple as that, but that could mean leaving Christian Jones at the starting right tackle spot and is that really what Flood wants to do?
Flood has a couple of weeks to decide who his best three are from a foursome of Conner, Hutson, Campbell and Jones, but whatever the answer is could have a serious impact on an interior of the line that just lost its best and most experienced player.
Questions in my mind remain ...
a. Is Christian Jones safe at right tackle?
b. Who cross-trains behind Majors moving forward?
c. What do Majors' weaknesses mean to the decisions that remain at both guard spots?
d. What young player best helps Jones at right tackle and does that answer remain the same if Jones is ultimately replaced?
e. What skill set will most help Banks, who isn't going to have any experience next to him all season as a likely starting left tackle?
Believe me, I went down the well thinking about all of these questions for a while on Sunday and I don't have the answers.
For now, I would guess it looks like this ... (LT) Banks, (LG) Conner, (C) Majors (RG) Hutson/Campbell), RT (Jones)
No. 4 - Nothing but positives from camp ...
LT Kelvin Banks - It is no small thing that the player everyone is most counting on from the big batch of freshmen newcomers has been everything people had hoped he would be and more. Frankly, I'll be kind of surprised if he's not running first-team left tackle at some point this week and he never comes out of the spot.
OG - D.J. Campbell - Pretty much ditto with Banks. For Campbell to be making enough waves at guard a week into camp that Sark is already openly discussing his upside as a tackle down the road is a big deal. Nobody made Sarkisian say it out loud, he just felt good enough about the player to let it rip.
TE - Ja'Tavian Sanders - The strong play from the last 2/3 of spring has continued so far this month. The Longhorns have had some decent tight ends over the last decade, including a few that have carved out niches for themselves on Sundays, but Sanders gives the position the type of weaponry that it probably hasn't seen since Jermichael Finley's best days in 2007. This could prove to be a big deal in the red zone all season.
WR - Savion Redd - Let's not get too carried away with hyperbole, but there's no question that everyone in the program believes the Longhorns found themselves a player. For a guy that was the lowest-rated prospect in the entire class, not counting kicking game specialists, this also potentially represents no small win.
WR - Tarique Milton - He's the Jordan Whittington insurance police that the program didn't have a season ago and you have to wonder if he might also prove to be an Isaiah Neyor policy, even if he's mostly been working inside the offense from the slot for most of camp.
DT - Vernon Broughton - It seems like he's doing a little something to turn heads in practice, including a sack in the scrimmage on Saturday. I don't want to say that I had given up on him coming into this season, but he was a little outside of my brain's normal focus at the very least. Good for him!
LB - Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey - He's been everything the coaches had hoped he would be coming into workouts, which has opened up the way the coaches can use DeMarvion Overshown.
DB - Jaylon Guilbeau - Of the six true freshmen defensive backs on the roster, Guilbeau created the most buzz in the spring (not good), but has probably done it again in August (nothing but good).
RB - Jaydon Blue - The freshman tailback has very quietly been moving up the ranks in the running game and was a featured player on Saturday when Roschon Johnson went down with an ankle injury. He's going to be one to watch in the coming two weeks of practices.
No. 5 - About the quarterbacks ...
These are the things of note I'd file away when talking about the most important position on the field.
a. Steve Sarkisian might very well name his starting quarterback next week, but neither of his current options is in a place that will lead this team to a Big 12 Championship game spot. That could definitely change in the coming weeks/months, but the position is a major work in progress.
b. The biggest concern with Quinn Ewers is simply on the mental side of the game, which shouldn't shock anyone when we're talking about young quarterbacks. Everyone in the program believes it needs a little more from Ewers in this area and I believe that is info that Ewers is beginning to understand.
c. Card knows the ins and outs of the offense at this point much better than Ewers, but that hasn't led to him creating the kind of separation you'd imagine such an advantage might give.
d. Both are still making too many mistakes. Both threw picks on Saturday. Card lost a fumble in the red zone. Ewers took too many sacks, which his head coach made a point on Thursday of saying COULD NOT happen with his starter.
e. Both guys flash at times in ways that make you think either could start and thrive. Ewers is probably flashing more than Card, but also making more mistakes.
f. Neither is helped by an offensive line that is already having protection issues and that was before the subtraction of the team's best and most experienced interior lineman.
Basically ...
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No. 6 - Historical Wide Receiver Data ...
Over the course of the last few weeks, I've been updating my historical analysis of various positions from the Lone Star State based on recruiting rankings.
Today we visit the wide receivers, a position that has struggled historically to match the production values of almost every other position on the field.
(Note: Don't wear white, while reading this section because it us m-e-s-s-y.)
Let's look at the five stars.
2004 - Lance Leggett (Miami)
2007 - Terrance Toliver (LSU)
2011 - Trey Metoyer (Oklahoma)
2018 - Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)
Breakdown
* 1 of the 4 players (25.0%) was drafted by an NFL team.
* 1 of the 4 players (25.0%) played on Sundays in the NFL.
* While there were only three five-star wide receiver prospects in the history of Rivals from 2002-17, there have been a flood of five-star rankings in the last few classes: Oklahoma's Theo Wease (2019), Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2020) and current A&M receiver Evan Stewart (2022). Former A&M player Demond Demas (2020) and former Sooners Trejan Bridges (2019) are also out there in the world somewhere.
Now let's look at the high four stars:
2005 - Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma)
2006 - Adron Tennell (Oklahoma)
2007 - Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)
2008 - Jeff Fuller (Texas A&M)
2008 - Darryl Stonum (Michigan)
2010 - Mike Davis (Texas)
2010 - Darius White (Texas)
2012 - Thomas Johnson (Texas A&M)
2012 - Cayleb Jones (Texas)
2013 - Derrick Griffin (Miami)
2013 - Robbie Rhodes (Baylor)
2014 - K.D. Cannon (Baylor)
2015 - Demarkus Lodge (Mississippi)
2016 - Devin Duvernay (Texas)
2017 - CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)
2018 - Brennan Eagles (Texas)
2019 - Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
Breakdown
* 5 of the 17 players (29.4%) were drafted by NFL teams: Kelly (2nd round), Bryant (1st round) Duvernay (3rd round), Lamb (1st) and Wilson (1st). Basically, when these players hit, they hit big.
* It should be noted that Fuller, Davis and Cannon were really good college players, while Jones, Lodge and Eagles were fairly good college receivers.
Mid Four Stars
2004 - Myron Hardy (Texas)
2007 - Malcolm Williams (Texas)
2008 - Dan Buckner (Texas)
2008 - Omarius Hines (Florida)
2009 - Greg Timmons (Texas)
2010 - DeAndrew White (Alabama)
2010 - Ross Apo (BYU)
2010 - Chris Jones (Texas)
2011 - Jaxon Shipley (Texas)
2013 - Jake Oliver (Texas)
2015 - Carlos Strickland (California)
2016 - Tyrie Cleveland (Florida)
2016 - Tren'Davian Dickson (Baylor)
2016 - Dee Anderson (LSU)
2017 - Charleston Rambo (Oklahoma)
2017 - Hezekiah Jones (Texas A&M)
Breakdown
* 1 of the 16 players (6.3%) was drafted by an NFL team: Cleveland (7th round)
* 2 of the 16 players (12.5%) played on Sundays in the NFL: Cleveland and White
Low Four Stars
2004 - Lendy Holmes (Oklahoma)
2004 - George Walker (Texas)
2004 - Jordan Shipley (Texas)
2005 - Howard Morrow (Texas A&M)
2005 - David Nelson (Florida)
2006 - Phillip Payne (Texas)
2006 - Montre Webber (Texas)
2007 - Brandon Collins (Texas)
2007 - James Kirkendoll (Texas)
2008 - D.J. Grant (Texas)
2008 - Sedrick Johnson (Iowa State)
2009 - Eric Ward (Texas Tech)
2009 - Uzoma Nwachakwu (Texas A&M)
2009 - Emory Blake (Auburn)
2010 - Terrell Reese (Utah)
2010 - John Harris (Texas)
2010 - Darius Terrell (Texas)
2011 - Derek Edwards (Texas Texas)
2011 - Ty Montgomery (Stanford)
2011 - Kameel Jackson (Oklahoma)
2012 - Corey Coleman (Baylor)
2012 - Dominque Wheeler (Texas Tech)
2012 - Bralon Addison (Michigan)
2012 - Reginald Davis (Texas Tech)
2013 - Kyrion Parker (Texas A&M)
2013 - Tori Hunter Jr. (Notre Dame)
2013 - Jacorey Warrick (Texas)
2013 - Corey Robinson (Notre Dame)
2013 - Eldridge Massington (UCLA)
2013 - Ra'Shaad Samples (Oklahoma State)
2013 - Marcell Ateman (Oklahoma State)
2013 - Devin Lauderdale (Texas Tech)
2013 - Fred Ross (Mississippi State)
2013 - Quincy Abeboyejo (Mississippi)
2014 - Lorenzo Joe (Texas)
2014 - Armanti Foreman (Texas)
2014 - Keenan Brown (Oklahoma State)
2014 - Frank Iheanacho (Texas A&M)
2015 - J.F. Thomas (Texas A&M)
2015 - Blake Lynch (Baylor)
2016 - T.J. Vasher (Texas Tech)
2016 - Quartney Davis (Texas A&M)
2016 - Courtney Lark (Houston)
2016 - LC Greenwood (Oklahoma State)
2017 - Damion Miller (Texas)
2017 - K.D. Nixon (Colorado)
2017 - Mannie Natherly (LSU)
2017 - Camron Buckey (Texas A&M)
2017 - Jalen Reagor (TCU)
2017 - Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma State)
Breakdown
* 6 of the 49 players (12.2%) were drafted by NFL teams: Shipley (3rd round), Montgomery (3rd round), Coleman (1st round), Ateman (7th round), Reagor (1st round) and Wallace (4th round)
No. 7 – BUY or SELL …
(Sell) Even with the injury to Neyor, I still have to believe this is a season that sees him getting re-settled as a major college athlete than anything else.
(Sell) I don't believe that, no.
(Sell) It would be a good coaching job, though.
(Sell) I love all of those movies, but I'm pretty sure that only The Godfather 1, There Will Be Blood and Shawshank would make my personal Top 10 (see section 9).
(Sell) I'm going to hold out and suggest that one of these two players does separate by the end of camp. That makes this week a really big week.
(Buy) It wouldn't be done at every D1 school, but I don't believe the Texas program's fan base is unusual with its behavior.
(Buy) I guess. I have to say I'm a bit surprised he's not playing at a higher level.
(Buy) The guy currently is +2000 for the award, just behind Bijan Robinson (+1500) and he's never throw a pass at this level.
(Sell) The Texas Tech game concerns me, though.
(Sell) I'm still holding steady at 8.
(Sell) He's so much further than Swoopes was in the passing game, especially on the mental side, that I find it to be a silly suggestion.
(Buy) Sure, but there was last season as well.
(Sell) I'm backing off that claim ...
(Sell) I just have a hard time believing Sarkisian would make that particular gamble. That being said, it's closer than I would have thought.
(Sell) Yes, the most important thing about the 2023 season is getting Ewers to the point where he's a legit high-level player by the end of the season.
(Sell) It takes some doing, but it's not impossible.
(Buy) Pretty easy buy. It might mean that Quinn Ewers isn't on the roster, though.
(Sell) I think Tommy is just now getting his body right, but it's possible that he'd be in a position to take Christian Jones' spot.
(Sell) It has to be Ewers. He's competing for the starting quarterback job, which is far more significant than a situational linebacker.
No. 8 - Scattershooting ...
... Sam Ehlinger is back on an NFL field and looked pretty damn good against the Bills in the second half, completing 10 of 11 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Ehlinger is battling fellow former Austin Westlake star Nick Foles for the back-up job to Matt Ryan. Foles completed 7 of 11 passes for 72 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
... Shane Buechele wasn't half bad for the Chiefs on Saturday, completing 12 of 19 passes for 99 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception. He'll have to beat out Chad Henne for the back-up job.
... Here's to the first of many!
... I made it through two quarters of the Cowboys/Broncos pre-season game, but I just couldn't take it any more. Flipped over the Austin FC game and was justly rewarded.
... Not going to lie, watching Manchester United get beat 4-0 is one of the joys of life.
... Is Tuchel sure he wants this smoke?
No. 9 - The List: My Top 10 movies of all-time ...
10. The Sound of Music
9. Do The Right Thing
8. Jaws
7. Chinatown
6. There Will Be Blood
5. The Shawshank Redemption
4. Pulp Fiction
3. Casablanca
2. The Godfather I
1. The Godfather II
No. 10 - And Finally ...
One of the greats of all the all-time Texas football greats died on Saturday with the passing of 73-year-old Steve Worster.
The former two-time all-American was one of the faces of Darrell Royal's wishbone offense, along with James Street, Chris Gilbert, Jim Bertelsen and Ted Koy and was the backbone of one of the all-time great recruiting classes in 1967 that was dubbed the "Worster Bunch."
My own personal experience with Worster is that he was a kind gentleman that loves his university and its football program more than almost anything. When he was an invited guest to our Swing for 44 Golf Tournament, there really was no greater joy than watching him interact with Royal and the other members of the national championship team that were on hand that day.
His passing leaves Koy as the only remaining living member of the infamous wishbone offensive backfield.
The Longhorns universe lost more than a man over the weekend. It lost one of its historical giants.
May he forever rest in peace.
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but you really did some in-depth research across the board on this week’s 10 TFTW
Great Work!
Casablanca number One. That was a solid list. I like Do the Right Thing but it’s not close to top 10. Vertigo has to be up there. Check out Metropolis sometime. Revolutionary……. and more relevant with each passing decade. 100 years ago.
Great write up ketch. I couldn’t agree with you on section 1. This program had to knocked down and rebuilt. I can appreciate Sarkisian for having a vision and he seems to be building what he wants instead of trying paint over an existing ugly structure. Here’s to hoping he succeeds. Cheers
Truth sometimes hurts, sir.
Here's the thing about Saturday's scrimmage ... I don't really care.
A lot of folks will look at the proceedings from yesterday as the first step in a process that ends in four months.
Personally, I view all of the things that we're watching this August and for the rest of the 2022 season through the prism of how well it prepares this program for the 2023 season.
The truth is that I don't believe in this team as a championship contender. Every time the word "playoff" is used in conjunction with anything this team is capable of, I make a mental note to never listen to anything that ever comes from the fingertips of the person that communicates it.
If you look closely at the 2022 Longhorns, you'll find a wildly inexperienced quarterback situation, an offensive line breaking in more young players than I can count, a defense that not only lacks playmakers but cohesiveness across all three levels and there's a kicking game that is so unproven that it would be complete blind faith to assume that everything will be just fine there when the Longhorns take the field against La-Monroe.
In order for you to lean into the 2022 Longhorns having championship upside, you basically have to ignore all of the concerns from above or believe that all of them can be solved together at once on the fly in quick order.
Maybe it all comes down to whether you believe in fairytales. Do you?
Personally, what I'm looking for with this Texas team can be paid out in four easy-to-follow steps.
1. This team is better in October than it will be in September.
2. This team is better in November than it will be in October.
3. This team is better in December/January than it will be in November.
4. No one will want to play it in December/January.
For my money, those four things would be the signs of a well-coached football team. They'd also be the signs of a young program full of 35 new players coming together over time and eventually looking like a unit capable of doing some real damage in 2023. It would also tell me that coming into the final weeks of the season the quarterback position is in exactly the kind of place this program needs it to be.
Just be to be clear, this isn't a case of me moving the goal posts on any of you as the season grows near. Take a look at what I wrote nine months ago shortly after Quinn Ewers transferred to Texas:
"Here's another quiet part that needs to be spoken freely ... if Ewers is the guy that so many people, including Ewers, believes that he is, the Longhorns will have him for the next two seasons before he departs for the NFL. Talk to anyone with an ounce of insight on Ewers and they will tell you the same thing.
“Texas has two seasons with him. Of course, injuries can happen. A meteor could hit earth. Maybe he just won't be good enough.
“However, if he's not a bust (which would be very problematic on a number of levels), he'll be cashing more than NIL checks when the 2024 season rolls around. All of this matters because it's really important that everyone understands the timelines that exist with the critical players inside this program. Just like we know that the Longhorns almost certainly only have one more season of Bijan Robinson to work with before he departs, knowing how much clock remains on the Ewers Era ... even before it officially starts ... is something everyone is better off by understanding.
“When my man Anwar Richardson wrote earlier today that the Longhorns are officially in a tear-it-all-down-built-it-back-up rebuild job, he was 100-percent right. I'm piggybacking off of his column to outline why everything the Longhorns do for the next 12 months needs to be done with one eye on the 2023 season.
“The big challenge for Sarkisian over the course of the next 12-18 months is going to be trying to get this program in a position to challenge for a conference championship at the exact moment when his potentially special starting quarterback is still on campus.
“It's that simple."
Nothing has changed since that December 19 column.
Whether it's fair to a player like Bijan Robinson or any of the other seniors in the program isn't really relevant. As William Munny told Little Bill in Unforgiven just before he shot him dead ...
The fact that building this team towards 2023 isn't in the preferred timeline of every fan that has lived the last decade-plus of football on the 40 Acres is unfortunate, but the reality is that it doesn't take a damn rocket surgeon to see that we're not talking about a group ready for prime-time.
You can either go sit in the corner and pout following a temper tantrum or you can adjust your filters on viewing this team for the next 4-5 months.
Does it really matter how the likes of Quinn Ewers, Kelvin Banks (and a bunch of other young linemen), Ja'Tavian Sanders, Byron Murphy, Barryn Sorrell and pretty much every defensive prospect from the 2022 recruiting class looks against Alabama?
Or does it matter more that in the final month of the season against Kansas State, TCU, Kansas and Baylor that the team looks much, much more capable of taking on anyone that might want a piece of it?
For the long-term future of this program, the 2022 season is probably nothing more than a stepping stone season to 2023.
Of course, I said the same thing last year about the 2021 season heading into the 2022 season, yet a complete and outright disaster of the 2022 season delayed the blueprint for a championship pathway by at least a year.
That's what this season is about from my vantage point. It's about getting to August of 2023 and having legit championship hopes that are built more on definitive growth than making a wish by throwing a nickel into a wishing fountain.
I'm not telling you not to have hope.
I'm suggesting that you be realistic with it.
If you can do that, it's going to make processing things like Saturday's practice report in a much healthier way, one that doesn't involve bridges or hammers or rising high blood pressures.
No. 2 - A possible 2023 starting line-up ...
Just close your eyes and imagine this group, full of experience going into the 2023 season ...
QB: Quinn Ewers (Junior)
RB: Keilan Robinson (Senior), Jaydon Blue (Sophomore), Johnathan Brooks (Junior) or C.J. Baxter (Freshman)
WR: Xavier Worthy (Junior)
WR: Isaiah Neyor (Senior)
WR: Troy Omeire (Junior)
TE: Ja'Tavion Sanders (Junior)
LT: Kelvin Banks (Sophomore)
LG: Hayden Conner (Junior)
C: Jake Majors (Junior)
RG: DJ Campbell (Sophomore)
RT: Cameron Williams (Sophomore)
DE: DE Barryn Sorrell (Junior)
DT: Byron Murphy (Junior)
DT: Alfred Collins (Junior)
Edge: J'Mond Tapp (Sophomore)
MLB: Jaylan Ford (Senior)
WLB: Devin Richardson (Senior)
Nickel: Jahdae Barron (Senior)
CB: Terrence Brooks (Sophomore)
CB: Ryan Watts (Junior)
S: Jerrin Thompson (Senior)
S: Kitan Crawford (Senior) or BJ Allen (Sophomore)
Keep in mind that this doesn't factor in any members of the 2023 recruiting class or additions from the transfer portal.
Just something to keep in mind.
No. 3 - The injury fall-out ...
I don't know about the rest of you, but it's a little hard to smile after learning about the injury news related to junior wide receiver Isaiah Neyor and senior offensive lineman Junior Angilau.
Both could have devastating impacts on the offense.
Let's start with Neyor, who was the unquestioned starter at the outside X-position going into the season. With his game-breaking ability out of the lineup, will the Longhorns simply turn to Casey Cain and Troy Omeire, both of whom have been working at the positions behind Neyor?
Neither has ever taken a single game snap in his career at this point and Omeire is obviously coming off of major injuries that have hindered his ability to even stay on the field for each of the last two seasons. Both have upside, especially Omeire, but my gut is that it's asking too much at the moment for either of them to be counted on as a frontline player.
Could Iowa State wide receiver Tarique Milton move from the slot in a seamless manner? That's probably the best hope at this point, but in making that move you've probably eliminated your Jordan Whittington insurance policy. Another option would be to move Agiye Hall over from the Z-position once he's back from suspension, but it's no sure thing that he ever comes back from suspension. Even if he comes back, the same question that applies to Cain and Omeire applies to Hall ... is he truly ready to take on such a huge role within the offense?
None of it is ideal.
Meanwhile, the news to Angilau potentially changes everything about what Kyle Flood was hinting that he might have done with his lineup.
Angilau's work as a center throughout camp suggested that part of getting Flood's best five linemen on the field together would have seen Angilau replacing sophomore Jake Majors at center.
At the moment, this injury seems to have locked up a position in the starting lineup for Majors.
So, what happens at guard?
Is it as simple as Hayden Conner holds down the left spot, while freshman Cole Hutson and DJ Campbell battle it out for the spot at right guard? It might very well be as simple as that, but that could mean leaving Christian Jones at the starting right tackle spot and is that really what Flood wants to do?
Flood has a couple of weeks to decide who his best three are from a foursome of Conner, Hutson, Campbell and Jones, but whatever the answer is could have a serious impact on an interior of the line that just lost its best and most experienced player.
Questions in my mind remain ...
a. Is Christian Jones safe at right tackle?
b. Who cross-trains behind Majors moving forward?
c. What do Majors' weaknesses mean to the decisions that remain at both guard spots?
d. What young player best helps Jones at right tackle and does that answer remain the same if Jones is ultimately replaced?
e. What skill set will most help Banks, who isn't going to have any experience next to him all season as a likely starting left tackle?
Believe me, I went down the well thinking about all of these questions for a while on Sunday and I don't have the answers.
For now, I would guess it looks like this ... (LT) Banks, (LG) Conner, (C) Majors (RG) Hutson/Campbell), RT (Jones)
No. 4 - Nothing but positives from camp ...
LT Kelvin Banks - It is no small thing that the player everyone is most counting on from the big batch of freshmen newcomers has been everything people had hoped he would be and more. Frankly, I'll be kind of surprised if he's not running first-team left tackle at some point this week and he never comes out of the spot.
OG - D.J. Campbell - Pretty much ditto with Banks. For Campbell to be making enough waves at guard a week into camp that Sark is already openly discussing his upside as a tackle down the road is a big deal. Nobody made Sarkisian say it out loud, he just felt good enough about the player to let it rip.
TE - Ja'Tavian Sanders - The strong play from the last 2/3 of spring has continued so far this month. The Longhorns have had some decent tight ends over the last decade, including a few that have carved out niches for themselves on Sundays, but Sanders gives the position the type of weaponry that it probably hasn't seen since Jermichael Finley's best days in 2007. This could prove to be a big deal in the red zone all season.
WR - Savion Redd - Let's not get too carried away with hyperbole, but there's no question that everyone in the program believes the Longhorns found themselves a player. For a guy that was the lowest-rated prospect in the entire class, not counting kicking game specialists, this also potentially represents no small win.
WR - Tarique Milton - He's the Jordan Whittington insurance police that the program didn't have a season ago and you have to wonder if he might also prove to be an Isaiah Neyor policy, even if he's mostly been working inside the offense from the slot for most of camp.
DT - Vernon Broughton - It seems like he's doing a little something to turn heads in practice, including a sack in the scrimmage on Saturday. I don't want to say that I had given up on him coming into this season, but he was a little outside of my brain's normal focus at the very least. Good for him!
LB - Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey - He's been everything the coaches had hoped he would be coming into workouts, which has opened up the way the coaches can use DeMarvion Overshown.
DB - Jaylon Guilbeau - Of the six true freshmen defensive backs on the roster, Guilbeau created the most buzz in the spring (not good), but has probably done it again in August (nothing but good).
RB - Jaydon Blue - The freshman tailback has very quietly been moving up the ranks in the running game and was a featured player on Saturday when Roschon Johnson went down with an ankle injury. He's going to be one to watch in the coming two weeks of practices.
No. 5 - About the quarterbacks ...
These are the things of note I'd file away when talking about the most important position on the field.
a. Steve Sarkisian might very well name his starting quarterback next week, but neither of his current options is in a place that will lead this team to a Big 12 Championship game spot. That could definitely change in the coming weeks/months, but the position is a major work in progress.
b. The biggest concern with Quinn Ewers is simply on the mental side of the game, which shouldn't shock anyone when we're talking about young quarterbacks. Everyone in the program believes it needs a little more from Ewers in this area and I believe that is info that Ewers is beginning to understand.
c. Card knows the ins and outs of the offense at this point much better than Ewers, but that hasn't led to him creating the kind of separation you'd imagine such an advantage might give.
d. Both are still making too many mistakes. Both threw picks on Saturday. Card lost a fumble in the red zone. Ewers took too many sacks, which his head coach made a point on Thursday of saying COULD NOT happen with his starter.
e. Both guys flash at times in ways that make you think either could start and thrive. Ewers is probably flashing more than Card, but also making more mistakes.
f. Neither is helped by an offensive line that is already having protection issues and that was before the subtraction of the team's best and most experienced interior lineman.
Basically ...
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No. 6 - Historical Wide Receiver Data ...
Over the course of the last few weeks, I've been updating my historical analysis of various positions from the Lone Star State based on recruiting rankings.
Today we visit the wide receivers, a position that has struggled historically to match the production values of almost every other position on the field.
(Note: Don't wear white, while reading this section because it us m-e-s-s-y.)
Let's look at the five stars.
2004 - Lance Leggett (Miami)
2007 - Terrance Toliver (LSU)
2011 - Trey Metoyer (Oklahoma)
2018 - Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)
Breakdown
* 1 of the 4 players (25.0%) was drafted by an NFL team.
* 1 of the 4 players (25.0%) played on Sundays in the NFL.
* While there were only three five-star wide receiver prospects in the history of Rivals from 2002-17, there have been a flood of five-star rankings in the last few classes: Oklahoma's Theo Wease (2019), Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2020) and current A&M receiver Evan Stewart (2022). Former A&M player Demond Demas (2020) and former Sooners Trejan Bridges (2019) are also out there in the world somewhere.
Now let's look at the high four stars:
2005 - Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma)
2006 - Adron Tennell (Oklahoma)
2007 - Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)
2008 - Jeff Fuller (Texas A&M)
2008 - Darryl Stonum (Michigan)
2010 - Mike Davis (Texas)
2010 - Darius White (Texas)
2012 - Thomas Johnson (Texas A&M)
2012 - Cayleb Jones (Texas)
2013 - Derrick Griffin (Miami)
2013 - Robbie Rhodes (Baylor)
2014 - K.D. Cannon (Baylor)
2015 - Demarkus Lodge (Mississippi)
2016 - Devin Duvernay (Texas)
2017 - CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)
2018 - Brennan Eagles (Texas)
2019 - Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
Breakdown
* 5 of the 17 players (29.4%) were drafted by NFL teams: Kelly (2nd round), Bryant (1st round) Duvernay (3rd round), Lamb (1st) and Wilson (1st). Basically, when these players hit, they hit big.
* It should be noted that Fuller, Davis and Cannon were really good college players, while Jones, Lodge and Eagles were fairly good college receivers.
Mid Four Stars
2004 - Myron Hardy (Texas)
2007 - Malcolm Williams (Texas)
2008 - Dan Buckner (Texas)
2008 - Omarius Hines (Florida)
2009 - Greg Timmons (Texas)
2010 - DeAndrew White (Alabama)
2010 - Ross Apo (BYU)
2010 - Chris Jones (Texas)
2011 - Jaxon Shipley (Texas)
2013 - Jake Oliver (Texas)
2015 - Carlos Strickland (California)
2016 - Tyrie Cleveland (Florida)
2016 - Tren'Davian Dickson (Baylor)
2016 - Dee Anderson (LSU)
2017 - Charleston Rambo (Oklahoma)
2017 - Hezekiah Jones (Texas A&M)
Breakdown
* 1 of the 16 players (6.3%) was drafted by an NFL team: Cleveland (7th round)
* 2 of the 16 players (12.5%) played on Sundays in the NFL: Cleveland and White
Low Four Stars
2004 - Lendy Holmes (Oklahoma)
2004 - George Walker (Texas)
2004 - Jordan Shipley (Texas)
2005 - Howard Morrow (Texas A&M)
2005 - David Nelson (Florida)
2006 - Phillip Payne (Texas)
2006 - Montre Webber (Texas)
2007 - Brandon Collins (Texas)
2007 - James Kirkendoll (Texas)
2008 - D.J. Grant (Texas)
2008 - Sedrick Johnson (Iowa State)
2009 - Eric Ward (Texas Tech)
2009 - Uzoma Nwachakwu (Texas A&M)
2009 - Emory Blake (Auburn)
2010 - Terrell Reese (Utah)
2010 - John Harris (Texas)
2010 - Darius Terrell (Texas)
2011 - Derek Edwards (Texas Texas)
2011 - Ty Montgomery (Stanford)
2011 - Kameel Jackson (Oklahoma)
2012 - Corey Coleman (Baylor)
2012 - Dominque Wheeler (Texas Tech)
2012 - Bralon Addison (Michigan)
2012 - Reginald Davis (Texas Tech)
2013 - Kyrion Parker (Texas A&M)
2013 - Tori Hunter Jr. (Notre Dame)
2013 - Jacorey Warrick (Texas)
2013 - Corey Robinson (Notre Dame)
2013 - Eldridge Massington (UCLA)
2013 - Ra'Shaad Samples (Oklahoma State)
2013 - Marcell Ateman (Oklahoma State)
2013 - Devin Lauderdale (Texas Tech)
2013 - Fred Ross (Mississippi State)
2013 - Quincy Abeboyejo (Mississippi)
2014 - Lorenzo Joe (Texas)
2014 - Armanti Foreman (Texas)
2014 - Keenan Brown (Oklahoma State)
2014 - Frank Iheanacho (Texas A&M)
2015 - J.F. Thomas (Texas A&M)
2015 - Blake Lynch (Baylor)
2016 - T.J. Vasher (Texas Tech)
2016 - Quartney Davis (Texas A&M)
2016 - Courtney Lark (Houston)
2016 - LC Greenwood (Oklahoma State)
2017 - Damion Miller (Texas)
2017 - K.D. Nixon (Colorado)
2017 - Mannie Natherly (LSU)
2017 - Camron Buckey (Texas A&M)
2017 - Jalen Reagor (TCU)
2017 - Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma State)
Breakdown
* 6 of the 49 players (12.2%) were drafted by NFL teams: Shipley (3rd round), Montgomery (3rd round), Coleman (1st round), Ateman (7th round), Reagor (1st round) and Wallace (4th round)
No. 7 – BUY or SELL …
(Sell) Even with the injury to Neyor, I still have to believe this is a season that sees him getting re-settled as a major college athlete than anything else.
(Sell) I don't believe that, no.
(Sell) It would be a good coaching job, though.
(Sell) I love all of those movies, but I'm pretty sure that only The Godfather 1, There Will Be Blood and Shawshank would make my personal Top 10 (see section 9).
(Sell) I'm going to hold out and suggest that one of these two players does separate by the end of camp. That makes this week a really big week.
(Buy) It wouldn't be done at every D1 school, but I don't believe the Texas program's fan base is unusual with its behavior.
(Buy) I guess. I have to say I'm a bit surprised he's not playing at a higher level.
(Buy) The guy currently is +2000 for the award, just behind Bijan Robinson (+1500) and he's never throw a pass at this level.
(Sell) The Texas Tech game concerns me, though.
(Sell) I'm still holding steady at 8.
(Sell) He's so much further than Swoopes was in the passing game, especially on the mental side, that I find it to be a silly suggestion.
(Buy) Sure, but there was last season as well.
(Sell) I'm backing off that claim ...
(Sell) I just have a hard time believing Sarkisian would make that particular gamble. That being said, it's closer than I would have thought.
(Sell) Yes, the most important thing about the 2023 season is getting Ewers to the point where he's a legit high-level player by the end of the season.
(Sell) It takes some doing, but it's not impossible.
(Buy) Pretty easy buy. It might mean that Quinn Ewers isn't on the roster, though.
(Sell) I think Tommy is just now getting his body right, but it's possible that he'd be in a position to take Christian Jones' spot.
(Sell) It has to be Ewers. He's competing for the starting quarterback job, which is far more significant than a situational linebacker.
No. 8 - Scattershooting ...
... Sam Ehlinger is back on an NFL field and looked pretty damn good against the Bills in the second half, completing 10 of 11 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Ehlinger is battling fellow former Austin Westlake star Nick Foles for the back-up job to Matt Ryan. Foles completed 7 of 11 passes for 72 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
... Shane Buechele wasn't half bad for the Chiefs on Saturday, completing 12 of 19 passes for 99 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception. He'll have to beat out Chad Henne for the back-up job.
... Here's to the first of many!
... I made it through two quarters of the Cowboys/Broncos pre-season game, but I just couldn't take it any more. Flipped over the Austin FC game and was justly rewarded.
... Not going to lie, watching Manchester United get beat 4-0 is one of the joys of life.
... Is Tuchel sure he wants this smoke?
No. 9 - The List: My Top 10 movies of all-time ...
10. The Sound of Music
9. Do The Right Thing
8. Jaws
7. Chinatown
6. There Will Be Blood
5. The Shawshank Redemption
4. Pulp Fiction
3. Casablanca
2. The Godfather I
1. The Godfather II
No. 10 - And Finally ...
One of the greats of all the all-time Texas football greats died on Saturday with the passing of 73-year-old Steve Worster.
The former two-time all-American was one of the faces of Darrell Royal's wishbone offense, along with James Street, Chris Gilbert, Jim Bertelsen and Ted Koy and was the backbone of one of the all-time great recruiting classes in 1967 that was dubbed the "Worster Bunch."
My own personal experience with Worster is that he was a kind gentleman that loves his university and its football program more than almost anything. When he was an invited guest to our Swing for 44 Golf Tournament, there really was no greater joy than watching him interact with Royal and the other members of the national championship team that were on hand that day.
His passing leaves Koy as the only remaining living member of the infamous wishbone offensive backfield.
The Longhorns universe lost more than a man over the weekend. It lost one of its historical giants.
May he forever rest in peace.
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🙃
Chinatown is an exceptional film and have no problem with it, but (personally) enjoyed LA Confidential more out of the “LA noir” films.
I watched last year’s game against Arky this afternoon. Anybody here that gets too much preseason kool-aid needs to watch that.
I guess we can put away the idea the Card is somehow being treated unfairly because of "one bad game". Ewer's inexperience is leaving the door wide open and he's not even taking a step towards it. Is Card really ever going to be a plus player at the college level (at Texas or elsewhere)?
I don't think that was what was really on the table. The plan that has been discussed for months now was that Angilau was cross training at Center to be able to fill in for Majors if there was an injury, and that he would also get some snaps there late in games so he could have some film of him playing the position to show scouts.
The big question from the last few weeks was whether Angilau would be able to hold off Hutson for his starting spot. Hutson started the scrimmage on Saturday and Angilau was on the 2nd team, prior to the injury.
Majors has been referred to as the unquestioned leader of the offensive line.
