Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (The contract for my No.1 expires soon)
- Thread starter Ketchum
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@Ketchum you're killing it in this thread. This is the most I've seen you post in a long time. Thanks for the insight. Love the idea of Harbaugh with Gilbert, Mattox, and Traylor running the offense. Let him hire an assistant HC like Tim Brewster to help the transition to the college game and I think we have a recipe for success. Harbaugh atleast knows what's going on enough to overrule Gilbert and run the ball on 3rd and 2 when you know you have to go for it on 4th down anyway. Could be beautiful. Plus he has insight on how to run a big time machine NFL and Jim at Michigan. One more thing watch his PC after the loss to the Jets. That's how a PC goes when you lose.
In the end I will be happy with Herman though!
In the end I will be happy with Herman though!
It's Petersen, not Peterson
Petersen doesn't run a spread system. He doesn't run a Pro style system. He runs a numbers game system.
How does it differ from some of the spread passing, pro style or zone-read types of offenses that are dominating the college landscape today? They simply run plays. They don't have an offense. The lack of a system is the kind of system Petersen likes to run.
His system whether at Boise State or at the Washington Huskies has remained the same. He runs a numbers game. He believes that athletic disadvantages can be neutralized simply by outnumbering your opponent at the point of attack. He wants to create situations where there are more blockers than defenders wherever it is that he wants to put the ball and he is willing to pull the levers of "formation" and "tempo" to do it.
How to create those advantages is they key question.
Petersen believes strongly in keeping his options open once he gets to the line of scrimmage both in terms of play calls and alignment of personnel. One of the reasons that you see so many formations and so much shifting of formations pre-snap is because Petersen and his players are reacting to whatever it is they see from the defense in order to gain an advantage.
By shifting a TE in motion away from the strong side of the defense over to the weak side, he can effectively create a new rushing gap for a ball carrier to run through where there isn't an extra defender. Pretty easy stuff and, frankly, pretty easy for the defense to adjust to. But, when Petersen has three players change their position pre-snap and then puts another guy in motion, the number of moving pieces are harder for the defense to follow and allow Petersen a better chance at creating an undefended gap for a ball carrier.
He is simply looking for leverage on every play. I don't think Texas fans are going to want to see this type of offense. Heck, even the Huskies fans were wondering what the heck he was doing back in 2015. But he wins and that is the key.
Oh I know, I have lunch with a Regent from Baylor who I've known for a long time. He's a current federal judge in Dallas and he's pissed at Texas. I just have to keep eating when the talk turns to football.
I do steal your "good grief" once in awhile. You have permission to use my LOL(who i think i copied from Eric).
I think he would be a star as well. I just hope we don't expect the whole Michigan and Jim H turnaround at Texas if we did get John
I would love to see what kind of staff he could put together. A solid mix of pro and college coaches could turn the heads of a LOT of people.
Just some thoughts...on Herman..Isn't his QB at Houston who make the offense go a senior...I have also read that coaches in the know feel he would be a great coach. If the players as a whole know he is leaving wouldn't this effect their play .
Charlie has done this? You don't win an effin super bowl by accident or being a less than really, really good coach. C'mon man.
The conference is mediocre at best. Why are some so concerned about the conference.
Are you suggesting Michigan wouldn't be successful in the B12?
Damn good post.
I'm in complete agreement with @Ketchum about John Harbaugh that he's a potential home run hire, he has the highest ceiling and sadly our admin/BMDs don't have the foresight to develop the less obvious Harbaugh opportunity.
Of those 3 persons: Not who they are, but what do they do, and how knowledgeable are they of the situation?
You have to love when someone throws out a total fantasy option and then it's on the school and BMDs if they can't make it happen. I have nothing against Harbaugh but Texas would likely have to pay him 8-9 million minimum and he hasn't been around the college game in almost two decades
Only on this board is Texas grabbing one of the highest paid coaches in the entire NFL who is still young enough and likely in high demand NFL wise for many more years a real option.
HIs brother is happier in the college game than in the pros. His brother sees that.
Seemingly the only people that believe it is a complete fantasy are the people that don't know him.
Herman doesn't belong in the same thought pattern as Harbaugh.
I think the big one is that there were a group of people that nearly had Nick Saban lined up for the taking, at least in their minds, and they were c-blocked by a variety of circumstances.
Not only that, but they were completely shut out once Patterson set up a committee that never received updates and he stopped answering the phone to everyone, from the folks in Dallas to the folks in Houston to the guy in San Antonio.
I think my conspiracy theory is that there was a bit of a gamble made in keeping Perrin around because powerful men believed that this possible Strong failure loomed and without an AD who believes he's totally in charge, they can potentially finish the business that was started in Mack's last year without a lick of interference.
Of course, the Saban dream is dead and I'm not sure who the coach would be that would fulfill the previous destiny and I don't know how Fenves would fit into any of that, so my theory somewhat falls apart without those answers.
two media members that cover the team. one is an exec at a company he does business with.
You have to love when someone that has potentially never interacted with a person or anyone that person knows, yet acts adamantly that he knows more than someone who has interacted with said person multiple times and does know people that know that person well.
Is it a long-shot? Yes, for several reasons.
Is it a crackhead's fantasy dream? No, not hardly.
That wasn't my point. The point was if your going to act like other coaches arent guarantees and come with questions then it's pretty absurd to act like a guy who hasn't been around the college game in almost 2 decades and has zero connections in recruting to Texas or anywhere else has no question marks.
His brother had also been very successful in college as a head coach at Stanford before going back to the NFL and got done dirty by the 49ers and left the league with an obvious bad taste in his mouth. He also went back to college due to a special opportunity to coach his alma mater and at a place where his dad coached. He didn't just leave to specifically get back to college. It's also widely speculated he will at some point go back to the league.
I'm not saying Harbaugh is a bad option but he certainly comes with some reservations and having spent most all of his career in the pros it's kinda funny to suggests he has no risks. Make a call but people are setting their expectations up for misery if they think UT can pull one of the highest paid coaches in the NFL away from the league. It's just not likely
Good question but maybe we should look at the bigger picture....
The Big 12 is full of high powered offenses and soft defenses. What would Harbaugh bring on both sides of the ball? He's had several elite defenses at Baltimore, would he bring the same level of defensive excellence that would break the cycle of shootouts we currently face? Would a top defense along with a balanced offense that has a power running game, play action, downfield passing and owns time of possession be a game changer in the Big 12?
There are many winning formulas. Why do we have to stick to the typical Big 12 formula?
This goes to prove what a brilliant football mind I possess.
Big Ed has stated for months the belief here that the Horns are stacked with talent for our next coach could be complete hooey.
You at least have to consider that yet another of Charlie's shortcomings is his ability to judge high screwl athletes.
I don't see a lot of talent in Charlie's recruits - there are exceptions for sure but overall these boys look really average.
a. That's a pretty popular thought for a lot of people. No need to pat yourself too firmly.
b. The long-term evidence suggests that his evaluation skills are outstanding. He has a million other issues, but this is a strength.
c. Development of talent, not raw talent is the biggest issue as of today.
Yeah, NOW there are a few considering my point, but Big Ed was among the very first. A good example is you are just now pondering it.a. That's a pretty popular thought for a lot of people. No need to pat yourself too firmly.
REALLY - so, you're trying to have it both ways - the majority of the 2015 Class may less than we were led to believe but Charlie has great evaluation skills. Hmmmm.
I'll be pissed if we don't at least wave 7-10 mill in Harbaugh's face. We soooooooooo need to "get back to where we once belonged"....at the top of the heap, and that guy would get us there! Of course, any one of the next 4 {particularly Peterson} on the list would be a good bet as well. Hook 'em!
Interesting takes as usual, Ketch. When Mack was let go, I said this was my Top-3 list:
1.) Nick Saban
2.) Jon Gruden
3.) John Harbaugh
A lot of people questioned whether I should have included Harbaugh on the list, especially after I argued that he was indicating interest behind the scenes. But I saw the same qualities in him that you did, which is why I'm glad to see him on top of your list now.
I agree that Gruden has one of the best gigs in sports and is unlikely to leave it. But if he did indicate interest, where would you rank him (apologies if you addressed this earlier; I'm far too busy today to read through all eight pages)?
As to your other picks: Chip Kelly is a non-starter with the brass, though I agree with you that he at least should be considered seriously. Dabo, in my opinion, is too much like Mack (great recruiter, average coach, wins big when he has a stellar QB). I like Petersen a lot, but I don't think his pro-style offense would be a good fit in the B12.
My list today looks like this, though I'm open to revising it:
1.) John Harbaugh (if he's willing to adapt to the spread)
2.) Jon Gruden (same stipulation)
3.) Tom Herman (the guy I really want, though I see his potential downsides)
1.) Nick Saban
2.) Jon Gruden
3.) John Harbaugh
A lot of people questioned whether I should have included Harbaugh on the list, especially after I argued that he was indicating interest behind the scenes. But I saw the same qualities in him that you did, which is why I'm glad to see him on top of your list now.
I agree that Gruden has one of the best gigs in sports and is unlikely to leave it. But if he did indicate interest, where would you rank him (apologies if you addressed this earlier; I'm far too busy today to read through all eight pages)?
As to your other picks: Chip Kelly is a non-starter with the brass, though I agree with you that he at least should be considered seriously. Dabo, in my opinion, is too much like Mack (great recruiter, average coach, wins big when he has a stellar QB). I like Petersen a lot, but I don't think his pro-style offense would be a good fit in the B12.
My list today looks like this, though I'm open to revising it:
1.) John Harbaugh (if he's willing to adapt to the spread)
2.) Jon Gruden (same stipulation)
3.) Tom Herman (the guy I really want, though I see his potential downsides)
Let me clarify, I don't think a coach of his stature says "wow, what an honor, Texas is calling" and leaves a highly successful NFL career because "we're Texas."
You have to admit it's bold thinking and while highly unlikely to happen it's worth pursuing if there's a real chance to get an elite coach. If his agent tells us he wants to remain an NFL head coach his entire career then there's no changing that and we move on.....but if he's entertained the thought that he's already been an NFL success, won a super bowl and relishes in a new challenge at the collegiate level then he just might listen and give it real consideration. That's our only hope, that college coaching is something he wants to try.
If that's the case then you don't have to pay $8-$9 million because if he's willing to make the career change then you're not bidding against NFL franchises for his signature. You'd have to put together a base + incentives package that gets him to $7M, equivalent to what Michigan pays his brother.
The likelihood is small, but not zero, and the upside is huge. Seems worth it.
Now, if some fans or BMDs start saying Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, Urban Meyer or Nick Saban....that's flat out delusional.
a. Are you speaking in third person a lot these days?
b. I suggested that he was going to be to Texas what Will Muschamp was to Florida more than a year ago.... sooooo
c. The last five NFL Drafts fly in the face of what you are suggesting, as do several examples on the current team.
Ha. Was talking with my wife yesterday and she asked who I thought UT would hire, I told I don't know but maybe they should try Peyton Manning.
I don't disagree with your thoughts, however, there are only 2 coaches that are sure things in college football - Saban & Meyer. After that, you can throw a few names around but you can probably find something on everyone - lack of hardware, lack of experience, not coaching in P5, etc. John Harbaugh is a great coach. There is no one right answer here besides Saban or Meyer...so you ultimately have look at each guy's ledger and see which guys has the most upside with the smallest downside. Harbaugh looks pretty good to me.
Rough weeekend at SMU, but Herman could still do great at Texas. Herman out-couched Stoops earlier this season and OU has a good shot to win the Big 12. He would help Shane take the next step and Texas has the personal to run the power spread (especially if Foreman stays). He's a lights out recruiter. Why make this harder than it needs to be?
More than a week. They had Kansas the week before. And a bye the week before that.
We have never been happy as a fan base. Maybe for 15 mins in 2005 after the Rose Bowl
