Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Texas roster built for success, except for one big IF)
- Thread starter Ketchum
- Start date
He's pretty unproven.If Warren stays healthy and fulfills his potential we're in for more than 5.5.
Roy's program is dirty and operates in the exact opposite realm that the NCAA is supposed to stand for. That's the larger point.
Some reading for you.
You forgot special teams, probably the most neglected area in Charlie's tenure.
a. fair enough.
b. fair enough, though they did show well on the road at Portland.
" As this NBA regular season reaches its conclusion, I just can’t ignore what Russell Westbrook has done this season. It has to be him."
I hate to argue this point, but the man isn't elevating others or his team. He'd run away if he were a top seed, but chasing stats while clinging to 7/8 seed isn't that great. I think it's interesting when other players get asked about Westbrook's triple doubles then get pissed and get a triple double proving that any great player can do it in today's NBA (LeBron did it after getting dogged by Harden/Westbrook questions). It's not a stat about winning for Westbrook. It's not the same as the Big O getting it done.
His own team boxes out and let balls fall just to get him rebound stats. He plays in blowout losses just to get that last assist. Viewed under a microscope it's less impressive. I guess it comes down to how you define MVP. I like Kawhi and Harden more for overall value to the team and elevating everyone's play. Plus I don't want to see an MVP from a team that is likely to lose in the 1st round.
I hate to argue this point, but the man isn't elevating others or his team. He'd run away if he were a top seed, but chasing stats while clinging to 7/8 seed isn't that great. I think it's interesting when other players get asked about Westbrook's triple doubles then get pissed and get a triple double proving that any great player can do it in today's NBA (LeBron did it after getting dogged by Harden/Westbrook questions). It's not a stat about winning for Westbrook. It's not the same as the Big O getting it done.
His own team boxes out and let balls fall just to get him rebound stats. He plays in blowout losses just to get that last assist. Viewed under a microscope it's less impressive. I guess it comes down to how you define MVP. I like Kawhi and Harden more for overall value to the team and elevating everyone's play. Plus I don't want to see an MVP from a team that is likely to lose in the 1st round.
1. I think a grade of 6 on QBs is fair based on last year. And I don't expect Shane to be as good as Mayfield or Rudolph next year. But I do expect significant improvement.
2. If Herman wants to max out wins this year (let alone future years) he wont be starting Zaire, contrary to your buy/sell assertion. You don't pull the starter off a team, and disrupt all the team chemistry and experience he has with the Oline and WRs, for a guy who has done less in four years, than that starter has done in one. And its not close.....which I don't mean in the snarky way, but in the way that Zaire has about thrown for about 25% the yards in four years that Shane has in one.
2. If Herman wants to max out wins this year (let alone future years) he wont be starting Zaire, contrary to your buy/sell assertion. You don't pull the starter off a team, and disrupt all the team chemistry and experience he has with the Oline and WRs, for a guy who has done less in four years, than that starter has done in one. And its not close.....which I don't mean in the snarky way, but in the way that Zaire has about thrown for about 25% the yards in four years that Shane has in one.
He said it in his press conference last week. It's on youtube. I don't think any of the mods mentioned it which was interesting.
Actually, his team's record when he has a triple double is really, really good. It's when he doesn't have triple doubles that the team flounders.
His supporting cast is merely ok and that's the reason why oit's a 6-seed type of team.
1. where do you think Shane's number will be at the end of 2017?
2. If you think your quarterback position is below levels needed and you think there's a guy that's better available, you upgrade your team, just like he did yesterday with the tight ends.
I missed it. I think he expects more excellence from that group than anywhere on the team.
- It will be interesting to see what happens with the defensive line. Maybe this will be the year of consistency.
- Gary Johnson may start over Hager. Going to be really interesting to see if Johnson can hit the ground running.
- Michael Dickson is easily a 9 on your scale.
- Zaire in Texas would be very interesting. Looks like Herman is determined to sign somebody.
- Gary Johnson may start over Hager. Going to be really interesting to see if Johnson can hit the ground running.
- Michael Dickson is easily a 9 on your scale.
- Zaire in Texas would be very interesting. Looks like Herman is determined to sign somebody.
I assume you mean on your 1-10 scale, not numbers like Tds, QBE, etc. I would expect Shane to be in the 7-7.5 range after this year/going into next season. I don't know that I can say he will be the best QB going into 2018, but I don't think anyone in the conference will be clearly better.
I expect his running to pick up this year, and really pick up in 2018. I think his completion percentage to really pick up this year. He is accurate, but it seems like he threw a lot of deep balls last year, and we all know he rarely used the middle of the field. Herman, and Shanes own experience from last year, should really change that to where he is throwing much more like Colt, ie all over the field. Lord knows we have a wide variety of quality receivers for that to happen.
I only hope he isn't throwing like Colt because our Oline and RBs are meh or injured. Not to be fatalistic, but if Warren doesn't play much, and Connor got hurt for an extended time, this offense is a box of chocolates.
ThanksWith less than two weeks to go until the Spring Game and the conclusion of UT’s spring workouts, I thought we’d take the opportunity to perform a bit of an internal audit of the Texas football team, while also discussing the talent that exists in comparison to the top talent within the Big 12.
Before we jump right into the roster discussion, here’s a look at the basic 1-10 scale I used to break the team down. It’s not scientific, but from a discussion standpoint, it creates the layers that we need.
1 – Worse than a warm body on the field
2 – Bad enough to lose to Kansas
3 – Below average
4 – Slightly below average
5 – Average
6 – Solid, but unspectacular
7 – Borderline all-Big 12
8 – Consensus all-Big 12
9 – All-American Performance
10 – Retire the number
We’ll start with the offense and then move on to the defense.
Quarterbacks
Roster: Shane Buechele (So.) and Sam Ehlinger (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: The good news is that Buechele survived last season in pretty much one piece, learning the position in a Power Five conference on the fly and without a safety net. The bad news is that he had a roller coaster season that essentially saw him record five good games and seven not-so-good games, with almost all of the good games occurring against teams with losing records.
Spring Buzz: While the Longhorns are down to two scholarship players at the position, the Texas coaches are looking under every stone for depth and potentially a player that can compete for the starting job.
Honors Candidate: None at this point
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma returns a Heisman candidate in Baker Mayfield, while Oklahoma State brings back the easy No. 2 in the conference in Mason Rudolph, but the rest of the league has at least as big of a question marks as Texas owns.
Overall grade: 6
Running Backs
Roster: Chris Warren (Jr.), Kirk Johnson (So.), Kyle Porter (So.), Tristian Houston (So.), Toneil Carter (Fr.) and Daniel Young (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Only Kyle Porter from this group was taking snaps when the Texas season ended, as Warren and Johnson were both out of action, while Carter and Young were still in high school.
Spring Buzz: Backs have been dropping like flies throughout spring drills, ironically leaving Porter once again as the only guy taking reps. D’Onta Foreman isn’t walking back through those doors.
Honors Candidate: In theory, Warren is the guy some project as a 1,000-yard type back, if he can stay healthy for more than half a season.
Around the Big 12: Foreman, Joe Mixon and Sam Perine are all gone, which leaves West Virginia’s Justin Crawford, Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill and Baylor’s Terence Williams as the top three returning backs in the league.
Overall Grade: 5.5
Wide Receiver
Roster: Armanti Foreman (Sr.), Dorian Leonard (Sr.), Lorenzo Joe (Sr.), John Burt (Jr.), Jerrod Heard (Jr.), Collin Johnson (So.), Devin Duvernay (So.), L.J. Humphrey (So.), Reggie Hemphill (RS Fr.), Davion Curtis (RS Fr.), Damion Miller (Fr.) and Jordan Pouncey (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: While the passing game was inconsistent in 2016, a number of players showcased game-breaking talent at various portions of the season. Talent was not an issue for this position group, although consistency was one.
Spring Buzz: It’s not rocket science. This is the most talented area along the offensive side of the ball and the position as a whole is waiting for the quarterbacks to catch up.
Honors Candidate: Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay both have al-Big 12 upside in their second seasons.
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma State’s James Washington is an all-American level player, but beyond him I’m not sure there’s another receiver in the conference you’d definitely take over the best players at this position in Austin.
Overall Grade: 7.5
Tight Ends
Roster: Kendall Moore (Sr.), Andrew Beck (Sr.), Garrett Gray (Jr.), Peyton Aucoin (RS FR.), Cade Brewer (Fr.) and Reese Leitao (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: The position was covered in cobwebs.
Spring Buzz: The cobwebs have been wiped away, but what remains isn’t enough to operate the position at full power. Young players and makeshift parts will have to do in year one.
Honors Candidate: None
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews caught 31 passes for 489 yards and seven touchdowns, which makes him easily the top option in a conference that doesn’t value the position.
Overall Grade: 3.5
Offensive Tackle
Roster: Tristan Nickelson (Sr.), Connor Williams (Jr.), Garrett Thomas (So.), Jean Delance (So.), Buck Major (So.), J.P. Urquidez (RS Fr.) Patrick Hudson (RS Fr.) and Sam Cosmi (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Williams made the banquet circuit as an all-American, cementing the fact that Tom Herman would arrive with at least one upperclassman cornerstone.
Spring Buzz: Williams is everything that Texas needs him to be, which is one of the elite left tackles in college football. The other tackle spot remains a bit of a question mark.
Honors Candidate: Williams can be written into a first-team all-Big 12 spot with ink, barring injuries.
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma has an anchor in junior Orlando Brown that nearly rivals what Texas has in Williams, while Kanas State’s Dalton Risner is the third tackle in the conference that ranks as an obvious choice for pre-season all-Big 12 honors. The Sooners have the best duo in the Big 12 with Brown and former Allen High standout Bobby Evans.
Overall Grade: 8
Offensive Guards/Center
Roster: Brandon Hodges (Sr.), Alex Anderson (Jr.) Elijah Rodriguez (Jr.), Patrick Vahe (Jr.), Terrell Cuney (Jr.), Jake McMillon (Jr.), Zach Shackelford (So.), Denzel Okafor (So.) and Derek Kerstetter (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: McMillon came out of nowhere to emerge as a central piece of the line, while Shackelford battled injuries and Vahe slept outside in the Charlie Strong doghouse.
Spring Buzz: McMillon is still the most important lineman on the team not named Connor Williams, while Rodriguez seems to be stepping into a solid sixth-man role in the interior line.
Honors Candidate: There’s no reason to believe that McMillon can’t develop into an all-Big 12 type of player this season.
Around the Big 12: There’s only one all-Big 12 interior lineman who returns from last season (TCU center Austin Schlottmann), but Oklahoma’s trio of Erick Wren, Ben Powers and Dru Samia rank as the top overall group in the conference.
Overall Grade: 6
No. 2 – Moving on to the defense ...
Defensive Line
Roster: Poona Ford (Sr.), Chris Nelson (Jr.), Jamari Chisholm (Jr.), Charles Omenihu (Jr.), Malcolm Roach (So.), D’Andre Christmas (So.), Gerald Wilbon (So.), Jordan Elliott (So.), Andrew Fitzgerald (RS Fr.), Chris Daniels (RS Fr.), Marcel Southall (RS Fr.), Taquan Graham (Fr.) and Max Cummins (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Outside of the pressure created by Roach and Breckyn Hager off the edge, this was a position group that struggled to consistently perform well for the defense, which proved to be its undoing on quite a few afternoons.
Spring Buzz: The move of Roach to end gives the line one sure-thing piece of the puzzle, but Tom Herman is still waiting for players in this position group to step up their games a few notches.
Honors Candidate: If Roach builds off of his play from a year ago, he could contend for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Around the Big 12: The entire conference is looking for answers along the defensive line. Outside of Roach, it’s hard to find many impact returning players. I don’t see anyone with a definite edge over the Longhorns, even with the questions that exist with this group.
Overall Grade: 6.5
Linebackers
Roster: Naashon Hughes (Sr.), Malik Jefferson (Jr.), Anthony Wheeler (Jr.), Edwin Freeman (Jr.), Breckyn Hager (Jr.), Gary Johnson (Jr.), Jeffrey McCulloch (So.), Erick Fowler (So.), Cam Townsend (So.), Demarco Boyd (RS Fr.) and Marquez Bimage (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Humpty Dumpty never quite got put back together again, as this group completely underperformed when measured against its raw talent.
Spring Buzz: The full-time move of Hager to inside linebacker and the transition of Jefferson to the weak-side backer is the first step towards this group realizing its potential. There’s not a team in the Big 12 with better material with which to work.
Honors Candidate: Jefferson and Hager could be destined for big breakout seasons.
Around the Big 12: Outside of Oklahoma’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, there’s not really a standout linebacker in the Big 12 to write home about outside of UT’s best players.
Overall Grade: 7.5
Defensive Backs
Roster: Jason Hall (Sr.), Antwuan Davis (Sr.), John Bonney (Jr.) Kris Boyd (Jr.), Holton Hill (Jr.), Davante Davis (Jr.), P.J. Locke (Jr.), DeShon Elliott (Jr.), Brandon Jones (So.), Eric Cuffee (RS Fr.), Chris Brown (RS FR.), Donovan Duvernay (RS Fr.), Josh Thompson (Fr.), Montrell Estelle (Fr.) and Kobe Boyce (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: This group was a chicken running around with its head cut off, as multiple players took steps backwards from freshman to sophomore seasons, while roles for pretty much everyone in the group remained fluid throughout the season.
Spring Buzz: It’s a work in progress, but roles are developing, the monster junior class is starting to come together and the disarray from 2016 seems to be in the rear-view mirror.
Honors Candidate: Too early to call.
Around the Big 12: Meh. OU’s Jordan Thomas and Kansas State’s D.J. Reed represent the two best returning players in the conference, but neither player ranked as an elite-level playmaker, which is to say this conference just doesn’t have a player like that among its 10 teams at this point.
Overall Grade: 6.5
No. 3 – It comes down to a few things ...
Of the nine positions on both sides of the ball, the Longhorns compare favorably with six of them and if we’re keeping it real, the tight end position doesn’t matter much within the league.
That leaves quarterback and running backs.
If those two positions deliver in the fall, there’s zero reason to believe this team can’t be among the best in the Big 12, as long as the Texas coaches hold up their end of the bargain.
No team in this conference has better defensive personnel than the Longhorns. The offensive line should be solid and there are passing game threats all over the field.
It’s all going to come down to whether the quarterback whisperer can do some whispering with his young players.
I don’t think this is any kind of major revelation, but when you run through the talent from position to position, it couldn’t be much clearer.
No. 4 – Speaking of the quarterbacks ...
It’s Shane Buechele and it’s not even close?
At this point in time, probably.
Through three weeks of practice, the returning sophomore starter hasn’t been lighting it up with regularity in workouts, but he’s much more comfortable in his skin as a quarterback at this level than freshman Sam Ehlinger.
In fact, it looks a little like it did last spring (pre-spring game) when Tyrone Swoopes was the comfortable returning player and Buechele’s head was probably spinning on a daily basis.
That’s the reminder for everyone that a lot can change between now and the second week of August, which is when Tom Herman said he wants to make a decision on his starting quarterback, but if there was a game tomorrow, who starts isn’t much of a question mark.
No. 5 – About Malik Zaire …
This is what I wrote about the former Notre Dame quarterback following the Irish’s hammering of the Longhorns in September of 2015 …
“Malik Zaire came in with nothing proven as a starting quarterback, but he certainly proved he’d be the best offensive player in a Longhorns uniform if such a thing were possible.”
Just something I thought about.
No. 6 – Four things to know about the new tight end …
Syracuse graduate transfer Kendall Moore announced his decision to play at Texas on Sunday, upgrading a position that needs a talent injection, but also a few capable bodies in a Tom Herman offense that prefers to use the position within his primary schemes.
The 6-5, 245-pound Moore has one year of eligibility remaining after receiving a medical redshirt at the end of last season. Here’s a few things to know about Moore.
Injuries have sidetracked Moore’s career, but he’s played in 37 career games and has four starts under his belt. This is a guy that’s played a lot of football.
After starting two games at tight end in each of the previous two season, Moore became a non-factor in a Dino Babers’ offense that doesn’t use the tight end position at all for the most part (six total receptions by the position in 2016).
Has some experience playing center for Syracuse, which does indicate that he’ll be able to contribute in more ways than just pass catching.
A few years ago, Moore appeared to be viewed as a major piece of Syracuse’s future at tight end, but it just never unfolded that way for a variety of reasons, constant health issues included.
No. 7 – Buy or sell …
BUY or SELL: Tom Herman would prefer to bring in a grad-transfer at QB to start in place of Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger in order to strengthen the QB room? This will give Shane and Sam another year to mature and get the QB situation back in line at Texas.
(Buy) I think it’s obvious at this point.
BUY or SELL: 30,000 for the spring game attendance?
(Sell) I’m sure the announced crowd will be in that neighborhood, but I don’t think the actual crowd will be nearly that large.
BUY or SELL: Chris Warren stays healthy the entire season?
(Sell) How could anyone buy that question at this point?
BUY or SELL: If Herman had a full year to recruit the 2017 class he would have tried to get a quarterback other than Sam Ehlinger?
(Buy) I think he likely would have recruited more than one quarterback prospect, but Herman loves everything about Ehlinger, so I have to believe he would have been a quick offer and take.
BUY or SELL: Buechele/Ehlinger would start over Greg Ward Jr. if he was on this Texas roster?
(Sell) Bwahahahaha.
BUY or SELL: Malik Zaire would be the starter if he comes to Austin?
(Buy) The only way he comes is if he’s given strong indications that he’ll be the guy. At least, that’s the way I see it.
BUY or SELL: Daniel Young is third running back by the start of the season?
(Sell) I’m not buying yet, but this isn’t impossible.
BUY or SELL: Texas doesn't receive any commitments until football season starts?
(Sell) Patience, grasshopper.
BUY or SELL: Kyle Porter and Toneil Carter rush for more combined yards than Chris Warren and Kirk Johnson?
(Sell) I think.
BUY or SELL: The 'cuse TE transfer is writing on the wall for Reese Leitao?
(Sell) One thing has nothing to do with the other. If Leitao doesn’t have a felony on his record, he’s getting in as far as I can tell. If a felony charge sticks, he won’t be at Texas.
No. 8 – Texas Baseball weekend in a gif…
No. 9 – Eternal Randomness of the Spotty Sports Mind …
… Damn the sports gods for doing Oregon’s Jordan Bell like that. That kid deserved a better ending to his Tournament story than to be remembered for two box-outs.
… Flip a coin on Gonzaga/North Carolina. I think the Zags have been slightly better in the last five games, but I really just don’t know.
… Just a reminder that while UNC plays for the national title, it’s task force looking into wide spread academic scandal can’t be wrapped up because the NCAA is broken, lacks backbone, is consumed with making money and all of its best investigator have left and never been replaced.
… As this NBA regular season reaches its conclusion, I just can’t ignore what Russell Westbrook has done this season. It has to be him.
... Golden State sent a message this week. First Houston, then San Antonio and then Houston again. The No.1 seed in the West, indeed.
... Play ball! Go Phils!
... The soccer gods couldn't let Liverpool simply enjoy a fun Saturday morning without taking its pound of flesh in the process. Get well, Sadio.
... I won't feel safe about Liverpool's top four chances until AFTER the season. Yes, I'm learning my lessons as a fan of this club.
... The next transfer window in soccer is going to be bananas.
... Cubo Torres is the hottest striker in the MLS and the Dynamo look like a legit MLS contender. What a difference one year can make!
No. 10 – And finally…
In the continued education of this aspiring soccer mind, I'll often watch random videos on Youtube of the greats of the game, wehich has given me far better insight into the careers of the best players to ever live.
On Saturday, I came across a video on Johan Cruyff.
Words cannot describe the awe he inspired. It was like watching Dr. J go behind the backboard with the scoop or Wayne Gretsky one-on-one with a goal-tender or Phil Mickelson invent something out of thin air when he's in trouble. I've seen highlights of Cruyff before, but to see his career unfold as a story was just breath-taking.
I feel like he was the soccer Chosen One.
Thanks for the vidwo on Johan Cruyff. He was simply amazing and one of the best ever, if not the best. A simply unreal talent.With less than two weeks to go until the Spring Game and the conclusion of UT’s spring workouts, I thought we’d take the opportunity to perform a bit of an internal audit of the Texas football team, while also discussing the talent that exists in comparison to the top talent within the Big 12.
Before we jump right into the roster discussion, here’s a look at the basic 1-10 scale I used to break the team down. It’s not scientific, but from a discussion standpoint, it creates the layers that we need.
1 – Worse than a warm body on the field
2 – Bad enough to lose to Kansas
3 – Below average
4 – Slightly below average
5 – Average
6 – Solid, but unspectacular
7 – Borderline all-Big 12
8 – Consensus all-Big 12
9 – All-American Performance
10 – Retire the number
We’ll start with the offense and then move on to the defense.
Quarterbacks
Roster: Shane Buechele (So.) and Sam Ehlinger (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: The good news is that Buechele survived last season in pretty much one piece, learning the position in a Power Five conference on the fly and without a safety net. The bad news is that he had a roller coaster season that essentially saw him record five good games and seven not-so-good games, with almost all of the good games occurring against teams with losing records.
Spring Buzz: While the Longhorns are down to two scholarship players at the position, the Texas coaches are looking under every stone for depth and potentially a player that can compete for the starting job.
Honors Candidate: None at this point
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma returns a Heisman candidate in Baker Mayfield, while Oklahoma State brings back the easy No. 2 in the conference in Mason Rudolph, but the rest of the league has at least as big of a question marks as Texas owns.
Overall grade: 6
Running Backs
Roster: Chris Warren (Jr.), Kirk Johnson (So.), Kyle Porter (So.), Tristian Houston (So.), Toneil Carter (Fr.) and Daniel Young (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Only Kyle Porter from this group was taking snaps when the Texas season ended, as Warren and Johnson were both out of action, while Carter and Young were still in high school.
Spring Buzz: Backs have been dropping like flies throughout spring drills, ironically leaving Porter once again as the only guy taking reps. D’Onta Foreman isn’t walking back through those doors.
Honors Candidate: In theory, Warren is the guy some project as a 1,000-yard type back, if he can stay healthy for more than half a season.
Around the Big 12: Foreman, Joe Mixon and Sam Perine are all gone, which leaves West Virginia’s Justin Crawford, Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill and Baylor’s Terence Williams as the top three returning backs in the league.
Overall Grade: 5.5
Wide Receiver
Roster: Armanti Foreman (Sr.), Dorian Leonard (Sr.), Lorenzo Joe (Sr.), John Burt (Jr.), Jerrod Heard (Jr.), Collin Johnson (So.), Devin Duvernay (So.), L.J. Humphrey (So.), Reggie Hemphill (RS Fr.), Davion Curtis (RS Fr.), Damion Miller (Fr.) and Jordan Pouncey (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: While the passing game was inconsistent in 2016, a number of players showcased game-breaking talent at various portions of the season. Talent was not an issue for this position group, although consistency was one.
Spring Buzz: It’s not rocket science. This is the most talented area along the offensive side of the ball and the position as a whole is waiting for the quarterbacks to catch up.
Honors Candidate: Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay both have al-Big 12 upside in their second seasons.
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma State’s James Washington is an all-American level player, but beyond him I’m not sure there’s another receiver in the conference you’d definitely take over the best players at this position in Austin.
Overall Grade: 7.5
Tight Ends
Roster: Kendall Moore (Sr.), Andrew Beck (Sr.), Garrett Gray (Jr.), Peyton Aucoin (RS FR.), Cade Brewer (Fr.) and Reese Leitao (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: The position was covered in cobwebs.
Spring Buzz: The cobwebs have been wiped away, but what remains isn’t enough to operate the position at full power. Young players and makeshift parts will have to do in year one.
Honors Candidate: None
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews caught 31 passes for 489 yards and seven touchdowns, which makes him easily the top option in a conference that doesn’t value the position.
Overall Grade: 3.5
Offensive Tackle
Roster: Tristan Nickelson (Sr.), Connor Williams (Jr.), Garrett Thomas (So.), Jean Delance (So.), Buck Major (So.), J.P. Urquidez (RS Fr.) Patrick Hudson (RS Fr.) and Sam Cosmi (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Williams made the banquet circuit as an all-American, cementing the fact that Tom Herman would arrive with at least one upperclassman cornerstone.
Spring Buzz: Williams is everything that Texas needs him to be, which is one of the elite left tackles in college football. The other tackle spot remains a bit of a question mark.
Honors Candidate: Williams can be written into a first-team all-Big 12 spot with ink, barring injuries.
Around the Big 12: Oklahoma has an anchor in junior Orlando Brown that nearly rivals what Texas has in Williams, while Kanas State’s Dalton Risner is the third tackle in the conference that ranks as an obvious choice for pre-season all-Big 12 honors. The Sooners have the best duo in the Big 12 with Brown and former Allen High standout Bobby Evans.
Overall Grade: 8
Offensive Guards/Center
Roster: Brandon Hodges (Sr.), Alex Anderson (Jr.) Elijah Rodriguez (Jr.), Patrick Vahe (Jr.), Terrell Cuney (Jr.), Jake McMillon (Jr.), Zach Shackelford (So.), Denzel Okafor (So.) and Derek Kerstetter (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: McMillon came out of nowhere to emerge as a central piece of the line, while Shackelford battled injuries and Vahe slept outside in the Charlie Strong doghouse.
Spring Buzz: McMillon is still the most important lineman on the team not named Connor Williams, while Rodriguez seems to be stepping into a solid sixth-man role in the interior line.
Honors Candidate: There’s no reason to believe that McMillon can’t develop into an all-Big 12 type of player this season.
Around the Big 12: There’s only one all-Big 12 interior lineman who returns from last season (TCU center Austin Schlottmann), but Oklahoma’s trio of Erick Wren, Ben Powers and Dru Samia rank as the top overall group in the conference.
Overall Grade: 6
No. 2 – Moving on to the defense ...
Defensive Line
Roster: Poona Ford (Sr.), Chris Nelson (Jr.), Jamari Chisholm (Jr.), Charles Omenihu (Jr.), Malcolm Roach (So.), D’Andre Christmas (So.), Gerald Wilbon (So.), Jordan Elliott (So.), Andrew Fitzgerald (RS Fr.), Chris Daniels (RS Fr.), Marcel Southall (RS Fr.), Taquan Graham (Fr.) and Max Cummins (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Outside of the pressure created by Roach and Breckyn Hager off the edge, this was a position group that struggled to consistently perform well for the defense, which proved to be its undoing on quite a few afternoons.
Spring Buzz: The move of Roach to end gives the line one sure-thing piece of the puzzle, but Tom Herman is still waiting for players in this position group to step up their games a few notches.
Honors Candidate: If Roach builds off of his play from a year ago, he could contend for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Around the Big 12: The entire conference is looking for answers along the defensive line. Outside of Roach, it’s hard to find many impact returning players. I don’t see anyone with a definite edge over the Longhorns, even with the questions that exist with this group.
Overall Grade: 6.5
Linebackers
Roster: Naashon Hughes (Sr.), Malik Jefferson (Jr.), Anthony Wheeler (Jr.), Edwin Freeman (Jr.), Breckyn Hager (Jr.), Gary Johnson (Jr.), Jeffrey McCulloch (So.), Erick Fowler (So.), Cam Townsend (So.), Demarco Boyd (RS Fr.) and Marquez Bimage (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: Humpty Dumpty never quite got put back together again, as this group completely underperformed when measured against its raw talent.
Spring Buzz: The full-time move of Hager to inside linebacker and the transition of Jefferson to the weak-side backer is the first step towards this group realizing its potential. There’s not a team in the Big 12 with better material with which to work.
Honors Candidate: Jefferson and Hager could be destined for big breakout seasons.
Around the Big 12: Outside of Oklahoma’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, there’s not really a standout linebacker in the Big 12 to write home about outside of UT’s best players.
Overall Grade: 7.5
Defensive Backs
Roster: Jason Hall (Sr.), Antwuan Davis (Sr.), John Bonney (Jr.) Kris Boyd (Jr.), Holton Hill (Jr.), Davante Davis (Jr.), P.J. Locke (Jr.), DeShon Elliott (Jr.), Brandon Jones (So.), Eric Cuffee (RS Fr.), Chris Brown (RS FR.), Donovan Duvernay (RS Fr.), Josh Thompson (Fr.), Montrell Estelle (Fr.) and Kobe Boyce (Fr.)
Four Months Ago: This group was a chicken running around with its head cut off, as multiple players took steps backwards from freshman to sophomore seasons, while roles for pretty much everyone in the group remained fluid throughout the season.
Spring Buzz: It’s a work in progress, but roles are developing, the monster junior class is starting to come together and the disarray from 2016 seems to be in the rear-view mirror.
Honors Candidate: Too early to call.
Around the Big 12: Meh. OU’s Jordan Thomas and Kansas State’s D.J. Reed represent the two best returning players in the conference, but neither player ranked as an elite-level playmaker, which is to say this conference just doesn’t have a player like that among its 10 teams at this point.
Overall Grade: 6.5
No. 3 – It comes down to a few things ...
Of the nine positions on both sides of the ball, the Longhorns compare favorably with six of them and if we’re keeping it real, the tight end position doesn’t matter much within the league.
That leaves quarterback and running backs.
If those two positions deliver in the fall, there’s zero reason to believe this team can’t be among the best in the Big 12, as long as the Texas coaches hold up their end of the bargain.
No team in this conference has better defensive personnel than the Longhorns. The offensive line should be solid and there are passing game threats all over the field.
It’s all going to come down to whether the quarterback whisperer can do some whispering with his young players.
I don’t think this is any kind of major revelation, but when you run through the talent from position to position, it couldn’t be much clearer.
No. 4 – Speaking of the quarterbacks ...
It’s Shane Buechele and it’s not even close?
At this point in time, probably.
Through three weeks of practice, the returning sophomore starter hasn’t been lighting it up with regularity in workouts, but he’s much more comfortable in his skin as a quarterback at this level than freshman Sam Ehlinger.
In fact, it looks a little like it did last spring (pre-spring game) when Tyrone Swoopes was the comfortable returning player and Buechele’s head was probably spinning on a daily basis.
That’s the reminder for everyone that a lot can change between now and the second week of August, which is when Tom Herman said he wants to make a decision on his starting quarterback, but if there was a game tomorrow, who starts isn’t much of a question mark.
No. 5 – About Malik Zaire …
This is what I wrote about the former Notre Dame quarterback following the Irish’s hammering of the Longhorns in September of 2015 …
“Malik Zaire came in with nothing proven as a starting quarterback, but he certainly proved he’d be the best offensive player in a Longhorns uniform if such a thing were possible.”
Just something I thought about.
No. 6 – Four things to know about the new tight end …
Syracuse graduate transfer Kendall Moore announced his decision to play at Texas on Sunday, upgrading a position that needs a talent injection, but also a few capable bodies in a Tom Herman offense that prefers to use the position within his primary schemes.
The 6-5, 245-pound Moore has one year of eligibility remaining after receiving a medical redshirt at the end of last season. Here’s a few things to know about Moore.
Injuries have sidetracked Moore’s career, but he’s played in 37 career games and has four starts under his belt. This is a guy that’s played a lot of football.
After starting two games at tight end in each of the previous two season, Moore became a non-factor in a Dino Babers’ offense that doesn’t use the tight end position at all for the most part (six total receptions by the position in 2016).
Has some experience playing center for Syracuse, which does indicate that he’ll be able to contribute in more ways than just pass catching.
A few years ago, Moore appeared to be viewed as a major piece of Syracuse’s future at tight end, but it just never unfolded that way for a variety of reasons, constant health issues included.
No. 7 – Buy or sell …
BUY or SELL: Tom Herman would prefer to bring in a grad-transfer at QB to start in place of Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger in order to strengthen the QB room? This will give Shane and Sam another year to mature and get the QB situation back in line at Texas.
(Buy) I think it’s obvious at this point.
BUY or SELL: 30,000 for the spring game attendance?
(Sell) I’m sure the announced crowd will be in that neighborhood, but I don’t think the actual crowd will be nearly that large.
BUY or SELL: Chris Warren stays healthy the entire season?
(Sell) How could anyone buy that question at this point?
BUY or SELL: If Herman had a full year to recruit the 2017 class he would have tried to get a quarterback other than Sam Ehlinger?
(Buy) I think he likely would have recruited more than one quarterback prospect, but Herman loves everything about Ehlinger, so I have to believe he would have been a quick offer and take.
BUY or SELL: Buechele/Ehlinger would start over Greg Ward Jr. if he was on this Texas roster?
(Sell) Bwahahahaha.
BUY or SELL: Malik Zaire would be the starter if he comes to Austin?
(Buy) The only way he comes is if he’s given strong indications that he’ll be the guy. At least, that’s the way I see it.
BUY or SELL: Daniel Young is third running back by the start of the season?
(Sell) I’m not buying yet, but this isn’t impossible.
BUY or SELL: Texas doesn't receive any commitments until football season starts?
(Sell) Patience, grasshopper.
BUY or SELL: Kyle Porter and Toneil Carter rush for more combined yards than Chris Warren and Kirk Johnson?
(Sell) I think.
BUY or SELL: The 'cuse TE transfer is writing on the wall for Reese Leitao?
(Sell) One thing has nothing to do with the other. If Leitao doesn’t have a felony on his record, he’s getting in as far as I can tell. If a felony charge sticks, he won’t be at Texas.
No. 8 – Texas Baseball weekend in a gif…
No. 9 – Eternal Randomness of the Spotty Sports Mind …
… Damn the sports gods for doing Oregon’s Jordan Bell like that. That kid deserved a better ending to his Tournament story than to be remembered for two box-outs.
… Flip a coin on Gonzaga/North Carolina. I think the Zags have been slightly better in the last five games, but I really just don’t know.
… Just a reminder that while UNC plays for the national title, it’s task force looking into wide spread academic scandal can’t be wrapped up because the NCAA is broken, lacks backbone, is consumed with making money and all of its best investigator have left and never been replaced.
… As this NBA regular season reaches its conclusion, I just can’t ignore what Russell Westbrook has done this season. It has to be him.
... Golden State sent a message this week. First Houston, then San Antonio and then Houston again. The No.1 seed in the West, indeed.
... Play ball! Go Phils!
... The soccer gods couldn't let Liverpool simply enjoy a fun Saturday morning without taking its pound of flesh in the process. Get well, Sadio.
... I won't feel safe about Liverpool's top four chances until AFTER the season. Yes, I'm learning my lessons as a fan of this club.
... The next transfer window in soccer is going to be bananas.
... Cubo Torres is the hottest striker in the MLS and the Dynamo look like a legit MLS contender. What a difference one year can make!
No. 10 – And finally…
In the continued education of this aspiring soccer mind, I'll often watch random videos on Youtube of the greats of the game, wehich has given me far better insight into the careers of the best players to ever live.
On Saturday, I came across a video on Johan Cruyff.
Words cannot describe the awe he inspired. It was like watching Dr. J go behind the backboard with the scoop or Wayne Gretsky one-on-one with a goal-tender or Phil Mickelson invent something out of thin air when he's in trouble. I've seen highlights of Cruyff before, but to see his career unfold as a story was just breath-taking.
I feel like he was the soccer Chosen One.
You are just on wrong side of facts with this one Ketch. I think you tend to pride yourself on taking informed/smart takes so I find it surprising you would take such an uninformed knee-jerk opinion -- especially the Roy's program is dirty part. "Be better" is overused around here, but as a college sports website operator I think you have more of an obligation to not just make slanderous comments about other schools. And the NY Times article was off on a surprising amount of stuff. I respect that publication, but that article was a hatchet job and the author didn't try to get at the truth, he went with the narrative he wanted. If you have read the full gamut of reporting on this, which I have, that would be obvious. His praising and mostly relying on the reporting of Dan Kane (the Raleigh reporter) is laughable if you've followed how Kane sourced his materials (here is a humorous story about Kane being catfished in his reporting).
College basketball, as a business, is dirty, but there is no evidence that Roy runs his program any way other than the right way (see, for example, his refusal to recruit in-state HS star John Wall a scholarship). If you would actually look at the report (which itself was flawed) the only time Roy's name comes up is where it states that after he came over to UNC in 2004 he noticed quite a few basketball players with African American History majors, and thought the major cluster pattern seemed off and told his coaches he wanted to move his players away from that. Which they did. The report does reflect poorly on some UNC programs, in particular, men's football and women's basketball. And I think Butch Davis was dirty. But there isn't anything there when it comes to basketball (at least anything the NCAA regulates). And the classes were real, real students took them (more students than student athletes), the University issued real diplomas based on kids taking them. And all of that is outside the jurisdiction of the NCAA, as prior Auburn and Univ. of Michigan matters clearly established.
Although this doesn't make it right, I'm also confident that "easy classes" like and independent study classes like UNC's go along way to keeping college athletes eligible at essentially every major D1 school (people certainly knew about "easy classes" that help you pad your GPA when I attended UT). One clear indication of this is the major clustering pattern that shows up in most D1 schools where half of a team all have the same major -- see here. I recall hearing announcers praise Carlos Boozer for getting 12 credit hours of independent study coursework over a summer when he also participated on a US college aged Olympic team (Duke had a Sociology major cluster). And I can't see, for example, much of the SEC functioning without them, although some of those schools are so bad average classes may equate to easy classes at other schools.
This is too long of an off topic post and I'll stop. But suffice to say, on a day when my other school is playing in its second straight national championship, seeing your ill-informed take on this is annoying.
McCulloch has had a quiet spring. I think he will be the breakout player this year. He'll be our all-conference player that no one is talking about. Simply great talent, very smart, and a hard worker. A potential All-American in 2018/19.
a. They've got Roach as a centerpiece. The other guys... who knows? That's why Todd Orlando is here, right?
b. JUCO kids usually take time. My money is on Hager.
c. Yes, but the rest of the special teams are close to a 3.
you're minimizing a widespread academic scandal, in my estimation.I also believe that there was more going on there than just a single season of problematic class placements.
I'm with you that the sport as a whole is guilty of the same sins. My larger point was to acknowledge that very thing, as there is generally a flippant attitude from those that want to believe that all of this exists in some sort of purity.
Not trying to ruin your good time, just exposing the hypocrisy of the sport and attitudes around it.
If we move Hager & bench him for another player, it means our new coaching staff is as dumb as Vance Bedford's. You cant take people like Roach & Hager off the field.
That's mostly fair. And agreed on the bigger issue. The "student athlete" myth for big time D1 sports is a real issue. Schools like UNC and UT have very high academic standards and a lot of bright kids don't get in. And a lot of kids that do get in (e.g., top 7%ers at UT) don't cut it and transfer out. It's not realistic to expect that athletes who would otherwise have no chance of acceptance (based on academics) will just show up to class and succeed. That would also be incredibly unfair to those kids. And who knows how each school manages to try to bridge that gap, but I have no doubt that there is differing treatment, easy classes/majors for athletes at basically every Big 5 conference school.
My biggest issue with the NCAA is that it pushes and profits off of this myth. And, here, it does not have jurisdiction over this type of academic issue, knows that, has lost on the exact issue in the past (Michigan, Auburn), and is still, 5 years later, hounding UNC and tainting the entire athletic department rather than the specific programs implicated. Of course all of this is also because UNC did its own internal investigation and voluntarily disclosed the report to the public naively thinking the transparency/falling on its sword approach was the right way to handle this.
Hate to say it, but the Big 12 is a joke of a football conference. We should've got when the gettin' was good.
