Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (The chance was there for the taking)

[Ketchum]

I guess it boils down to how you define success for a given team team. If your only standard for success is winning some sort of championship, then 90+ percent of teams will not be considered successful in any given year. That's a rational objective for a team like Alabama this year. For this years Texas team, in my mind, success depends on meeting realistiic objectives set at the beginning of the season. Although a very small minority of people had Texas winning the conference at the beginning of this season, most viewed 8+ wins as one measure that would indicate a level of success. Other objectives for success that many of us had included building the offensive and defensive lines into plus units, finding linebackers that could actually play at the P5 level, improving the pass rush ("what pass rush? "), improving team culture in a way that would lead to winning hard fought games, finding reliable kicking specialists, improving strength and conditioning and upgrading the play at QB. I would contend that Texas met or exceeded just about all of these objectives this season and therefore the season was a success based on that standard.

My definition of success for this team never changes. It is as consistent as the sun rising.

 

[Ketchum]

I think he is actually ahead of where Tom ended.

The win percentage disagrees.

 

[Ketchum]

How do you see the 8 spots going to transgers? I would like to see 2 WR 1 OL 2 LB 1 S 1 CB 1 DE.

Hard to say. Probably could look something like that, but it depends on what becomes available and what they can close with.

 

[Ketchum]

Your take is that Tom had a healthy culture at the end of his tenure. Got it...

I take it that Tom just happened to be in place during a year when cultural things out of his control occurred.

I'm not going to re-litigate the situation and how it played out, but it takes a special kind of person not to acknowledge the nuance and trickiness of the 2020 off-season.

 

[Ketchum]

When do the names of the Texas players hitting the portal start to drop? Will they wait until after the bowl game or this week?

Why do you respond to things I say with completely random questions that have nothing to do with the remarks or questions that you ask?

Why not just ask your question?

 

[Ketchum]

I would have had no issues with Hudson coming in when Quinn struggled but I believe if Quinn will work with someone that will hold him accountable this off season that he will take a huge step forward next year and that the experience he got this year was invaluable to him and did/ will facilitate more growth than most here realize next year.

So, he worked this year without people that will hold him accountable?

 

[Ketchum]

Quinn will be a lot better QB with a better pocket. A lot of his high throws was a result of not being able to step into his throws because of pocket. OL and QB performance go hand in hand. Team performance experience has a lot to do with it. TCU will be Baylor next year. OK lite, I St and WV will be bottom feeders next year. OK, Kansas, TT, Baylor, TCU middle of pack and Texas and K St will fight for title.

It reminds me of one of my critiques of him as a prospect. I questioned how he would perform in the face of pressure because he flinched on the few times he actually saw some in HS.

I was told I was being too hard on him.

I sense a trend.

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum long term question here. What happens if Ewers is still around for Arch’s 2nd season? Seems like it is pretty likely now.

Great question that I don't have an answer for.

 

[Ketchum]

Yes, but that was far before they took the ball out of his hands.

Follow up question...

How many seconds during a play should expire before an alarm goes off in a quarterback's head to potentially get rid of the ball?

 

[Ketchum]

Know how I know Ketchum calls himself "resident blockhead"? For the first time ever—after he defended his ridiculous take on Ewers—I asked myself, mostly in jest, "Can you put the site owner on 'ignore'?" 🤣

Go for it.

 

[Ketchum]

"crucified"

lulz

 

[Seminole1981]

I take it that Tom just happened to be in place during a year when cultural things out of his control occurred.

I'm not going to re-litigate the situation and how it played out, but it takes a special kind of person not to acknowledge the nuance and trickiness of the 2020 off-season.

It takes a special kind of person not to acknowledge that Tom aligned with woke culture in an attempt to benefit Tom at the expense of UT and all things decent. He would have used anything to benefit himself and his false posture along with other concerning realities resulted in Tom being Fired and UT is FAR better off without him.

 

[Ketchum]

1000% agree. Tom needed maturing for this job. He has some great coaching characteristics but needed to marinate a bit more before being thrown on the grill of all grills.

And after his experience here, he now needs tenderizing before marinade application should begin again.

TH mocking opposing team players was embarrassing. Enough said there without really taking this narrative Deep South.

Steve didn't need maturing?

 

[Ketchum]

Good 10TFTW. I love OB and have been a loyal member for over 20 years. It is an important part of my life and I hope you allow me to be a member for another 20 years.

But I do feel like the Ewers negativity craze on OB has been flamed by you. Your postgame shows first few minutes talked about the win. But the next 45 minutes was a QE bash. This was a game that he had 3 bad plays! Did he really deserve that much negativity? It was not until Anwar came on the show that it was pointed out that Ewers game performance was not a big deal with other reporters. You seemed shocked.

I know you have pointed out that Sark called all running plays because he did not trust QE, but Sark said his self in the press conference that they were having pass blocking issues.

Many OB fans have turned on Ewers so much and there is such a negative bias that QE will not be able to do anything right in some peoples eyes. He has become another Chris Sims. There have been posts about 12 reasons Ewers is a terrible QB and that he is a top 5 QB bust of all time. I feel sorry for the kid. We should all know a freshman QB is likely to not be perfect.

Again I love this site. You have created the best football site in America. But I can not help but feel you have had some bias against Ewers the past couple of weeks in your reporting.

a. Love ya.

b. Negativity craze caused by me? Can you quote that part directly?

 

[Ketchum]

Well thought out Ketch. I think you spoke some of my same thoughts. I’m just hoping Ewers figures it out soon so we can have a true QB completion with him a Arch and Murphy.

Really hoping Sark turned the corner on how to make second half adjustments from here out.

I heard and interesting comment made by Jerry Jones couple weeks ago about what they look for in a Wide Receiver either through the draft or free agency and they look for passion and Alpha personalities and that was one of the main reasons they let Amari Cooper go because his lack of passion and alpha leadership. He said their blue print was Michael Irvin and not the Amari Cooper. I think he was maybe hinting around about how quite Cee Dee Lamb is also.


I’m not sure what has happened with Worthy not being that guy, but from the looks of how he was pouting the last two games, I’m not sure Sark thinks he’s that guy anyLonger either.

It’s a shame because he does have big time talent, but you could see he was coasting on numerous plays that he could have caught, but just didn’t want to lay out for.

Good stuff, although I think Jerry is full of shit. They let Cooper go because of money.

 

[Ketchum]

Maybe it's just me and maybe it's temporary, like heartburn, but I am really struggling to respect some of Ketch's takes in a way I never did before when I disagreed with him (positively or negatively).

Ummm... you just keep making the same kind of post in this thread.

Maybe quote the parts you disagree with specifically... or find another thread.

 

[Ketchum]

Caleb Williams is listed as the eighth best quarterback in the big 12 out of nine listed for passing stats last year. He made a huge jump this year from last year. There’s no reason Quinn can’t do the same thing, especially if the offensive line continues to improve their pass blocking and his receivers drop fewer passes. The problems that you spoke about in the passing game against Baylor are not just because of Quinn, but also because of the offensive line and his receivers.

Caleb Williams had a 169.5 quarterback rating as a true freshman, so I really don't know what you're talking about.

19-4 TD/INT ratio.

And that doesn't include his rushing numbers.

 

[Ketchum]

You’re spot on with your Ewers comments. He’s fine athletically. His problem is between his ears. I know he’s young, but he needs to get with the intellectual part of the game stat.



I think most thought 8-4 was an acceptable record as a milestone in the journey versus the destination. I doubt you’re going to find anyone that’s stoked about 8-4. It’s sure as heck better than 5-7😀

We should’ve been 10-2 if we didn’t hand TT and OSU wins. Those losses sucked.

8-4 was solid.

 

[Ketchum]

I guess I’m the odd man out but watching Texas run the ball down the throats of a well coached Baylor defense got me really excited. I don’t care that Quinn never threw a pass. The offense on the last two scoring drives was like watching the 90s Cowboys impose their will on the other team.

It was a little like Super Bowl XXIII.

 

[Ketchum]

I probably wouldn’t pick it today as my all time favorite, but I never liked a movie more at the time I saw it than that one.

It's an all-timer that has stood the test of time.

 

[Boxley]

I speculate Quinn Ewers is facing true adversity for the first time in his life. I relate, I had always had school come to me pretty easily- until law school, where there was a curve and I got my rear kicked. I rallied, but it took a whole lot of introspection and finding discipline I had never needed before that point. How Ewers deals with innate talent not being everything it takes at this level to succeed will decide his future. If not, Hello Arch (not a bad backup plan).

I think Ketch has written in the past the college team with the most experience QB has a huge advantage. See TCU this year with Max Duggan. Seriously, given we had a first-year starter at QB and played a lot of true freshman on the OL, the knocks we took this year were inevitable. 8-4 was my season prediction, and we hit it. The trend is is distinctly upward, and we are built more soundly on the OL and DL than we have been since Mack Brown. The foundation is in place.

If Ewers is better next year- then we're cooking with grease- if we have have to deal with another 1st-year starter at QB- it will be a little tougher, but our OL will be much better for a first-year QB starter and our young RBs.

Grind Quinn Ewers, grind. Be mentally resilient and take your humblng and use it to get better. Do the gameplan book work, watch all the film, and focus on the QB mechanics details. If you do, greatness can be yours.

This is really the whole story.

 

[Ketchum]

Nice article @Ketchum , per usual. I couldn't stay awake last night because I have been sick as all get out the past two weeks. Not a great way to spend my birthday.

I will say you said in a couple weeks ago how teams would "lure Texas into the deep....." That has stuck with me and I smile every time I get a chance to use that line now 😄👊🏼 This was an 8 win team, we knew it but we expected a 9-10 win year so I'll call it fun times and we must enjoy the ride, even if it's bumpy 🤘🏼

Here's to feeling better from here on out. I was pretty violently ill for about 24 hours this weekend. It sucked, so I know two weeks had to have been brutal.

Hang in there, my man.

 

[Ketchum]

How about no back to back losses this season??? We didn't let any team beat us twice.

That's a definite win.

 

[Ketchum]

Great write up. Completely agree on the bar set...we have to be in the CCG for the season to be a success. Also, I think we need to get back to winning the state of Texas, which Brown was emphatic on.

It's been so long since Texas consistently won the state that I've mostly forgot about it.

 

[RicoHoward]

No, what I'm not doing is playing the pretend game for the sake of massaging feelings.

Neither am I. Maybe stop pretending Ewers is the only problem with the passing game.

 

[Ketchum]

% of regular seasons with 8+ wins

Sark - 50℅
Herman - 25%

Kind of early to start talking about "consistently" beating Herman's record, but the overall percentage is currently 64℅ to 54℅. This program had major holes in it when Sark took over. The OL was fairly putrid last year and the defense was going through it's 3rd system transition in 4 years. We knew this was not a 1 year rebuild going in. Dabo Swinney's winning percentage over his first 3 seasons was 55%.

We're just reinventing reality in the name of confirmation bias IMO.

Sark would not have been hired if those that hired him knew it would take at least three seasons to better what Herman was already doing.

 

[Ketchum]

Then 2018 season has to be a success. Played OU in Big 12 Championship game and beat Georgia in Sugar Bowl.

It was for just those reasons.

Frankly, if this team has snuck into the Sugar Bowl with an 8-4 record, I'd have given it a success on a special curve grading.

 

[Ketchum]

We didn't play a full schedule in 2020.

Not including the covid season, Herman won 8+ games in in 3 of his 5 regular seasons as a head coach, yet somehow 60% became 25% with his math.

 

[Ketchum]

It takes a special kind of person not to acknowledge that Tom aligned with woke culture in an attempt to benefit Tom at the expense of UT and all things decent. He would have used anything to benefit himself and his false posture along with other concerning realities resulted in Tom being Fied and UT is FAR better off without him.

There it is.

 

[Ketchum]

Neither am I. Maybe stop pretending Ewers is the only problem with the passing game.

who did that?

I'm not really someone that deals in such hard lines. The only thing I did over the weekend was point out that Ewers 10 points handed to Baylor nearly made the game very problematic.