Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (So, that was some weekend, huh?)

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum Having had another day or so to digest what I read in TTFTW, I will say you are absolutely correct.
Painfully correct.
There are too many unknowns to consider this group a championship contender this year.
Eight wins sounds great, but do the injuries from the weekend further add to the list unknowns? IMO, how can they not.
The fan base is going to have to be satisfied with watching weekly growth.

This is where elite coaching and development has to kick in. Sark and Co. have to be part of the difference made on the field.

 

[Ketchum]

I am actually positive about where we are. Good coaching staff. New roster. Improved Depth. Young athletes with potential on Ol and DL. Great QB room, RB room & OL room. Need to change the culture, mindset. That, too, is a process. BUT, this staff needs to prove they can do that - this year. No quitting. No entitlement. If they do, it will be a great year. W’s will be the byproduct.

I hear ya.

 

[Ketchum]

I can see the numbers which I find odd because quite honestly WR should be a rather easy position to evaluate. IMO, and obviously not saying this happens to all the WR who don’t pan out, but I feel like WR tend to be the position with knuckleheads. They’ve tended to be coddled and really have a lot of time on their hands generally speaking on a play by play basis.

It's funny, the word in my head before you even said it was knuckleheads.

You nailed it.

 

[Ketchum]

Wouldn’t Quinn be a RS Soph next year? I don’t think he’s a junior.

Yes.

 

[Ketchum]

A word on Card:

The fact that he’s physically gifted and has two years in the system, and can’t get separation is a complete indictment of him as a competitor.

When Casey passed him in Arkansas, he was on notice that his career was in jeopardy. If he did the work in the season/off season, this shouldn’t be the result. Or it might be he can’t translate it to live rounds.

He looked even with QE in Spring too.

This is a guy that had his own YouTube channel in anticipation of being a star at QB1. i remember him saying that he’s played in some big games at Lt when talking about the atmosphere in Arkansas. He was believed to be just shy of a 5*. and now? Serviceable back up. I thought he might have a Buechele career where he goes and proves it somewhere else. But his ceiling is way lower than I thought. really disappointing for a hometown kid that reminded people of Aaron Rodgers. I know that’s a farce. But it was said.

Is it it all his fault or does any of it fall on the quarter whisperer?

 

[Standaddy88]

I know this B/S question is a bit late @Ketchum however… this off-season feels like it is a roll coaster of emotion (more good than bad due to recruiting) however the three more bad waves seemed to be defined as (in chronological order)…. 1) Losing Mathis EDGE transfer 2) Losing Ant Hill in the midst of an unprecedented recruiting run 3) Injuries to 3 key starter-quality level players (2 of which are season ending) weeks before kick off.

Out of curiosity, if you had to rank those three downturns this off season as most to least significant of what you would have not wanted to see then what would it be?

I guess that’s not really buy or sell, so I’ll give you this more specifically… you would have taken Ant Hill commitment over the 3 injuries to current players that just happened?

If I were to guess what you would say then you would have taken the Ant Hill commitment due to the lack of rare elite talent at a need position long term considering you have been talking about how our focus needs to be all about beginning of 2023 season rather than this year, no? If so, it’s hard but I tend to agree… that said I think the 3 current player injuries that just happened very well could cost us at least one win this year potentially.

 

[Ketchum]

I know this B/S question is a bit late @Ketchum however… this off-season feels like it is a roll coaster of emotion (more good than bad due to recruiting) however the three more bad waves seemed to be defined as (in chronological order)…. 1) Losing Mathis EDGE transfer 2) Losing Ant Hill in the midst of an unprecedented recruiting run 3) Injuries to 3 key starter-quality level players (2 of which are season ending) weeks before kick off.

Out of curiosity, if you had to rank those three downturns this off season as most to least significant of what you would have not wanted to see then what would it be?

I guess that’s not really buy or sell, so I’ll give you those more specifically… you would have taken Ant Hill commitment over the 3 injuries to current players that just happened?

If I were to guess what you would say then you would have taken the Ant Hill commitment due to the lack of rare elite talent at a need position long term considering you have been talking about how our focus needs to be all about beginning of 2023 season rather than this year, no? If so, it’s hard but I tend to agree… that said I think the 3 current player injuries that just happened very well could cost us at least one win this year potentially.

Buy. I think.

 

[OldBlood]

This week's thoughts were depressing enough without #10. Koy being the only living member of that backfield was sobering since I'm way older.

 

[HllCountryHorn]

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.

@Ketchum - is the basic problem that neither one of these guys had to operate under much pressure when playing with their respective elite HS OLs/teams, and now it’s an entirely different ballgame that’s hard to adjust to?

 

[AlamocityHorn]

Chad Henne is still in the league? The Tom Brady of backup qbs.

 

[TilGabriel]

Is it it all his fault or does any of it fall on the quarter whisperer?

It‘s a great question. If I’m Card, I’m hoping for the Matt Cassell at USC treatment where I’m still being groomed to start. i have to believe that Sark is thinking the same. But he’s also got waaaay more on his plate. So it would actually fall to Milwee. Who is probably focused on the mandate: get QE ready.

but that said, I take your point, you coach the room regardless. They don’t seem to be having any sort of golden touch with Card.

but considering he got passed up on them field, it would be more 80/20 to me Card/coaching. i do agree that he’s probably not getting Sark’s personal touch. So maybe that pushes it 70/30.

But having seen the offense prior to Casey‘s hand injury, they do a good job.

I’ve heard this said: Success has many fathers. Failure is an orphan. Gilbert clearly blamed UT. I imagine Card might wind up with some hard feelings, maybe not as dramatic, and blame UT. Sark + Co will point to a long track record of dev.

we’ve had some really amazing local talent at QB. For whatever reason it never takes root for Texas. High star swings And misses. overlooking Brees, etc etc.

 

[GuyPie9]

@Ketchum if Casey Thompson was still here, he'd be starting day one all the way to the Baylor game?

 

[RLong68]

It‘s a great question. If I’m Card, I’m hoping for the Matt Cassell at USC treatment where I’m still being groomed to start. i have to believe that Sark is thinking the same. But he’s also got waaaay more on his plate. So it would actually fall to Milwee. Who is probably focused on the mandate: get QE ready.

but that said, I take your point, you coach the room regardless. They don’t seem to be having any sort of golden touch with Card.

but considering he got passed up on them field, it would be more 80/20 to me Card/coaching. i do agree that he’s probably not getting Sark’s personal touch. So maybe that pushes it 70/30.

But having seen the offense prior to Casey‘s hand injury, they do a good job.

I’ve heard this said: Success has many fathers. Failure is an orphan. Gilbert clearly blamed UT. I imagine Card might wind up with some hard feelings, maybe not as dramatic, and blame UT. Sark + Co will point to a long track record of dev.

we’ve had some really amazing local talent at QB. For whatever reason it never takes root for Texas. High star swings And misses. overlooking Brees, etc etc.

In 2022 Matt Cassel doesn’t stick with SC. Barring him winning and securing the job this season, I think think ‘22 is Card’s last with Texas as he grad transfers with what should be 3 more seasons of eligibility

 

[Uncut Degenerate]

If there was ever a season we needed a 5 star TE to breakout and be a mismatch nightmare, this was it. Sanders needs to be that dude with Neyor out.

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum - is the basic problem that neither one of these guys had to operate under much pressure when playing with their respective elite HS OLs/teams, and now it’s an entirely different ballgame that’s hard to adjust to?

That's a hard thing to put a finger on.

The issue with Ewers appears to be want to. He's just not instinctively in the playbook at all times.

 

[Ketchum]

Chad Henne is still in the league? The Tom Brady of backup qbs.

He won't go away.

 

[Ketchum]

It‘s a great question. If I’m Card, I’m hoping for the Matt Cassell at USC treatment where I’m still being groomed to start. i have to believe that Sark is thinking the same. But he’s also got waaaay more on his plate. So it would actually fall to Milwee. Who is probably focused on the mandate: get QE ready.

but that said, I take your point, you coach the room regardless. They don’t seem to be having any sort of golden touch with Card.

but considering he got passed up on them field, it would be more 80/20 to me Card/coaching. i do agree that he’s probably not getting Sark’s personal touch. So maybe that pushes it 70/30.

But having seen the offense prior to Casey‘s hand injury, they do a good job.

I’ve heard this said: Success has many fathers. Failure is an orphan. Gilbert clearly blamed UT. I imagine Card might wind up with some hard feelings, maybe not as dramatic, and blame UT. Sark + Co will point to a long track record of dev.

we’ve had some really amazing local talent at QB. For whatever reason it never takes root for Texas. High star swings And misses. overlooking Brees, etc etc.

The bottom line for me is the coach was hired to produce great quarterbacks. Don't tell me about the labor, just show me the baby.

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum if Casey Thompson was still here, he'd be starting day one all the way to the Baylor game?

At this point, yes.

 

[Ketchum]

In 2022 Matt Cassel doesn’t stick with SC. Barring him winning and securing the job this season, I think think ‘22 is Card’s last with Texas as he grad transfers with what should be 3 more seasons of eligibility

agreed

 

[Ketchum]

If there was ever a season we needed a 5 star TE to breakout and be a mismatch nightmare, this was it. Sanders needs to be that dude with Neyor out.

It's a great fall back option to have. Now they have to make sure and use it.

 

[Holy Cow]

Cool. I did it mom.

 

[Jamaicashane]

This board might flip off if I did that, but I'd probably go....

Hamilton
Lala Land
Cabaret
Mary Poppins
Les Miserables
My Fair Lady
Wizard of Oz
The Lion King
Grease
The Sound of Music

No "Fiddler on the Roof?"

 

[Fatty Goodlander]

That's a hard thing to put a finger on.

The issue with Ewers appears to be want to. He's just not instinctively in the playbook at all times.

Woof. Was this also an issue at Ohio State? If so this is not a positive trend. Perhaps he's read too many of his own press clippings.

 

[jah4550]

This article makes me want a drink. Koolaid hangover is setting in and we are over a month from first game. But I do appreciate the honest assessment over false sunshine.

 

[Ketchum]

No "Fiddler on the Roof?"

Never seen it!

 

[Ketchum]

Woof. Was this also an issue at Ohio State? If so this is not a positive trend. Perhaps he's read too many of his own press clippings.

I didn't really hear that about him at Ohio State. I think he's just learning there's an extra layer of study dedication needed at this level. Not too uncommon.

 

[Ketchum]

This article makes me want a drink. Koolaid hangover is setting in and we are over a month from first game.

over a month?

Just 19 days, my man.

 

[Jamaicashane]

Never seen it!

Please watch it. You will thank me later.

 

[jah4550]

over a month?

Just 19 days, my man.

Working from home these days is like retiring, you lose track of the days.

 

[Anwar Richardson]

You are spot on.

Other elite coaches didn't want the job.

The social justice issues at the time were very concerning for any coach coming to Texas. Band not wanting to play the Eyes of Texas? Sam getting left on the field during the song at the end of the game??? The rumors floating around about the Eyes of Texas were ugly.

They were also replacing a coach who had 4 straight bowl wins including beating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Texas expectations are here are high and might not offer any job stability.

So getting an elite coach at Texas is tough.

Very fair points

 

[Manolo]

The issue with Ewers appears to be want to. He's just not instinctively in the playbook at all times.

This is kind of a bombshell statement buried in this thread.

 

[Manolo]

At this point, yes.

This one is significant too. This is pretty gloomy for the program as a whole.

 

[Ketchum]

This is kind of a bombshell statement buried in this thread.

I've been talking about it all week.

 

[TD TX TD VY]

Is it it all his fault or does any of it fall on the quarter whisperer?

Maybe it's time to stop whispering and take it up a notch.

 

[DAMOSS33]

1. He might be, but he's mostly worked the slot in camp.

b. I fee ya.

3. I love older movies, just not sure what I'd pick to supplant those 10.

Sgt. York