Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (The QB decisions Herman has to make... )
- Thread starter Ketchum
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He's not an alpha male just yet. This team would be vastly improved if some receivers stepped up.
and there is more to working the entire field than just sitting in an empty pocket and waiting for the deep-intermediate receiver to clear...like getting rid of the ball accurately to an open receiver Two Mississippi's earlier. Don't believe me, listen to Herman's post-game interview on FM 98.5.
I've read it twice and watched the clip for the Texans twice. I still don't understand the correlation between the clip and the Texans.
Ketch,
Please go back and watch Daniel Young's four runs. That is a grown man with some serious cuts and explosion for a bigger guy. I saw all I needed to see. He's the best RB prospect on the team, especially long term. He may not be a complete back right now, blocking etc but man I like him. He's better than Carter.
Please go back and watch Daniel Young's four runs. That is a grown man with some serious cuts and explosion for a bigger guy. I saw all I needed to see. He's the best RB prospect on the team, especially long term. He may not be a complete back right now, blocking etc but man I like him. He's better than Carter.
He doesn't see the game as wellas he needs to and he's been hesitant at working key areas of the field, especially the middle and deep middle.
Just felt like a good excuse to link some video to Smokey and the Bandit.
... I am so glad I'm not a Bengals fan because I'd claw my eyes out over Andy Dalton.
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I am a Bengals fan and have my appointment with the eye doctor tomorrow. I've also told the wife to check into buying bourbon by the case and if it comes with a liver transplant as I can't make it thru more games like that sober!
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I am a Bengals fan and have my appointment with the eye doctor tomorrow. I've also told the wife to check into buying bourbon by the case and if it comes with a liver transplant as I can't make it thru more games like that sober!
Herman describes him as the kind of guy that everyone in the room notices when he walks in, He believes he's a big-time alpha.
Neither quarterback does that especially well right now. The game is still too fast for both.
I don't think the QB thing matters too much. They both do different things that add value.
I was impressed with Sam on Saturday. He played a solid game and he didn't do anything harmful. He has an arm. He can scramble, and he keeps his eyes down the field whether stationary or running and that's great. He's got accuracy issues and he's green. Other than that, great prospect.
I like Shane to start because of his experience and his accuracy, but Sam absolutely earned the right to play, IMO. I could even see starting Sam and bringing Shane in if needed. Everyone should be happy that we have solid options.
The kicker, specifically kick offs. Rowland doesn't have a strong enough leg. In order to kick it to the goal line, he has to kick it flat and that's contributing to our poor coverage.
Pleased with the game. Shut outs are hard. We executed pretty well across the board.
USC will tell us a lot.
I was impressed with Sam on Saturday. He played a solid game and he didn't do anything harmful. He has an arm. He can scramble, and he keeps his eyes down the field whether stationary or running and that's great. He's got accuracy issues and he's green. Other than that, great prospect.
I like Shane to start because of his experience and his accuracy, but Sam absolutely earned the right to play, IMO. I could even see starting Sam and bringing Shane in if needed. Everyone should be happy that we have solid options.
The kicker, specifically kick offs. Rowland doesn't have a strong enough leg. In order to kick it to the goal line, he has to kick it flat and that's contributing to our poor coverage.
Pleased with the game. Shut outs are hard. We executed pretty well across the board.
USC will tell us a lot.
they might both pass Porter. I been a champion of Young.
He also throws an excellent ball that bounces off defenders hands and chests. Let's put all his attributes out there.
My favorite Studdard (and Sendlein) memory. We ended up staying at the team hotel before the '05 aggie game. We get into the elevator in the morning, go down a floor and the kickers get in. No big deal, normal looking guys. Go down one more floor and Sendlein and Studdard get in. They come in and are staring at each other not acknowledging anyone else in the elevator. Then Sendlein says while he is staring back at Studdard "kick some ass today". Studdard just stares back at him not saying a word. My girlfriend pushes herself as far as she can into the corner of the elevator. She's still shaking when we hit the ground floor and walk out of the hotel.
If the game is still too fast for Shane time to move to Sam. I bet it slows down for him in a much shorter timeframe.
I enjoy your piece, Ketch, thanks!
Over the course of the first few weeks of training camp in August, Tom Herman tried to give every impression that he had a legit quarterback competition, as he waited until camp ended before naming Shane Buechele as his starter.
Over the course of the last week or so since Buechele injured his throwing shoulder, Herman has seemed to give every impression that he doesn't really have an active quarterback competition.
Well, I have a message for Herman ...
Ready or not, he absolutely has an active quarterback competition on his hands.
Personally, I don't know what the right answer is because it's complicated.
If healthy, I think ... I think ... Shane Buchele is his best option heading into game three of the season. He's the more experienced player, the game is probably is a little slower for him and he's currently a more accurate passer. So, if he's healthy, I totally understand Herman feeling like Buechele is the right call.
Yet, there are a few things about Sam Ehlinger that make me wonder if he will be the answer to this question by the time week 10 rolls around.
1. Ehlinger gives the offense more of a rushing component that is more natural to Tom Herman's offense than Buechele does, partly out of willingness and partly out of the constant fear that Buechele's body has shown a tendency to wear down. Having a runner at the quarterback position that knows exactly when to tuck the ball and get up-field is a critical piece of any college offense in 2017 because those are often the plays for which opposing defenses can't account.
2. Ehlinger will push the ball down the field in the passing game more than Buechele, who is much more comfortable working the underneath areas of the field. In his very first start, Ehlinger attacked areas of the field that Buechele typically does not with the same level of confidence. Ehlinger's ability to stretch the field, especially down the seams, opens up windows and doors for the entire offense in a way that is also critically needed.
3. Ehlinger is the more natural alpha. That's not really my opinion. That's based on everything that Herman has ever said about the two players, as one he is constantly asking for more of in that department, while the other seemingly has exactly what he wants.
In a perfect world, Ehlinger would have redshirted this season, but the genie is out of the bottle and isn't going back in.
The staff will have to weigh all season long the value of playing the guy who is the best option for today versus the value of playing the guy that is potentially the best player in two months.
What's the right call? Again, I'm not sure.
The hope would be that the guy being paid millions to make the right call knows exactly when to pull the strings, IF the strings need be pulled.
No. 2 – The elephant in the room going into this week ...
It remains to be seen whether Buechele will be able to play this week. As of Saturday, he hasn't been throwing the football for a week because of an injury to his throwing shoulder.
While Herman seemed optimistic about Buechele's return, he seemed to choose his words carefully on Saturday in the post-game when painting a picture of the situation.
If Ehlinger starts at USC and plays well ...
No. 3 - The thing that stands out in a good way 24 hours later ...
Anwar mentioned it on the Facebook Live post-game show and Dustin mentioned it on the message board on Sunday, but Tom Herman, his coaches and (most importantly) his team deserve credit for playing a full 60-minute game on Saturday.
It would have been easy for the team to let its guard down or for the back-ups to finish the game in sloppy fashion. We're certainly seen enough of that over the years, even with the best Texas teams, to know that it is a real possibility, especially with the crowd thinking about post-game beers at that point.
Yet, you can make a case that the Longhorns played a better fourth quarter than first quarter, which indicates that Texas imposed its will in the game and never let up.
It's not the kind of thing to throw a parade over, but 24 hours later it's still a standout moment from Saturday.
No. 4 – One thing that absolutely must improve ...
The Texas wide receivers have to play better.
In addition to too many balls hitting the ground that hit the hands of receivers, there were times when I didn't think they fought for the ball hard enough when it was in the air.
This Texas offense can get away with leaving big plays out on the field at home against San Jose State, but it will prove to be incredibly costly should Saturday repeat itself in Los Angeles.
Specifically, I think Collin Johnson needs to flip his switch into "grown-man" mode if possible because I thought he was missing some "junkyard dog" attitude against the Spartans. Texas needs him to be one of the best players on the field in its big games this season.
No. 5 – Buy or Sell …
BUY or SELL: Texas can lose to USC, but still win a "moral victory?"
(Buy) Texas got drilled by UCLA in Mack Brown's third game as head coach in Austin back in 1998, but the team played its guts out and at the end of the day, 20,000+ Texas fans gave the team a standing ovation in the Rose Bowl. A moral victory isn't a check you want to have to cash often, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
BUY or SELL: Kyle Porter is still top two on the RB depth chart by November?
(Sell) Toneil Carter just needs more touches and he's going to climb the depth chart.
BUY or SELL: Shane Buechele starts vs USC?
(Sell) It's possible, but until I see him practicing, I will err on the side of caution.
BUY or SELL: Both USC and Texas score over 35?
(Sell) That's a level of benefit of the doubt I am not willing to give this Texas offense.
BUY or SELL: In your opinion, Chris Warren should receive at least 40 percent of the total offensive touches moving forward?
(Sell) I think he probably needs 25+ touches this week for Texas to have a chance, but over the course of the season, I'd like to see your number spread out to some of the younger backs on the roster.
BUY or SELL: Those young Texas running backs should get on the field against USC based on what we saw in the game against San Jose State.
(Buy) You can't show fear. You have to play to win, not to lose.
BUY or SELL: CTH will have a better five-year overall record than Lincoln Riley ... assuming they are both around for five years?
(Sell) The way this season could go, it's possible Riley will have twice or nearly twice as many wins in year one, which means Herman would need to outperform him to the tune of close to two wins per season over the following four years and I haven't seen enough from this Texas to assume that will take place.
No. 6 – Giving props where props are do ...
Damn, Oklahoma, that was seriously impressive.
After a pretty uninspiring first half, Lincoln Riley's boys took that game in Columbus by the throat in emphatic fashion.
THAT IS HOW YOU SEND A FREAKING STATEMENT!
You want to know how you change someone's mind about a team with a new coach? Just do that.
Also, did anyone else find it amusing to watch Bob Stoops go YOLO as a fan at the game? I don't know that he ever allowed himself to feel that good about any win he ever had.
No. 7 – How Bout Them Cowboys?
I'll have thoughts on the New York/Dallas game in a couple of hours.
Stay tuned...
No. 8 – You know what Sheriff Buford T. Justice would say about the Texans ...
Woof.
You can't make too much out of any first game, and I would stress that in this situation, but that opener looked a lot like the Longhorns opener. Pretty much everything was bad, except Texas had much better quarterback play than the Texans.
I guess the bottom line for me on a Hot Take Sunday Night is that I don't believe in Bill O'Brien as a head coach.
He's not the guy.
No. 9 – Eternal Randomness of the Spotty Sports Mind …
... There's going to be a lot on the line in Bedlam this year, possibly the pole position for a spot in the college playoff and the Heisman Trophy race.
... Baker Mayfield planting the OU flag in Columbus will live on in Oklahoma folklore for the next 100 years.
... Sam Darnald was 21 of 26 for 316 yards and four touchdowns against Stanford. Todd Orlando is going to have his hands full this week.
... Damn, James!
... Lamar Jackson is currently a 9/5 favorite to repeat for the Heisman.
.... DeAndre McNeil caught three passes for 103 yards and a touchdown for Florida Atlantic at Wisconsin.
... There's a very good chance that Kansas State will be a top-15 team when it comes to Austin a few weeks.
... I am so glad I'm not a Bengals fan because I'd claw my eyes out over Andy Dalton.
... If I'm a Jordan Howard fantasy owner, I'd be a tad nervous right about now.
... The Lions looked like hot garbage for a quarter and then looked like a playoff team for the final three quarters. The reverse was true of Arizona.
... Rafa. Freaking. Nadal. He's still coming for you, Rog.
... What happened with Sloane Stephens the last two weeks of the US Open was nothing short of being a future Disney movie. Six weeks ago she was barely a top 1,000 player in the rankings. Wow.
... I paid absolutely zero attention to UFC 215 on Saturday night.
No. 10 – And finally …
I''ll leave you with the most Kasey Studdard thing Kasey Studdard could possibly do this weekend.
I'm calling bullshit. I thought Sam's intermediate and short throws were largely terrible. I do not know what game you and Anwar were watching, but I was falling out during your podcast last night, because I thought we were living in alternate universes (I will admit to feeling that way since November). But SE missed a lot more throws than receivers missed catches, IMO. There were several times he needed more air under the ball and more touch on his throws and he just fired a rope too long or behind guys. I think he'll get better, but I think SB is far more accurate right now, and I think SE is getting way too much love for just a pretty decent outing against the worst team on our schedule. SB goes nuts with similar protection from his line.
This. We beat them 90-0 if SB played. To a knowledgeable fan, there is absolutely no QB controversy.
Ketchmeister- how do I change my OB handle? It was my old login at work (so that I'd remember). Now, it's like I'm stuck with a bad tattoo. Can you help a brotha out?
E-mail is lance@incomesolutionstx.com
Bill O'Brian is an egotistical yet mediocre football coach who will ALWAYS play second fiddle to The dark lord of the Patriots.
I think that's kind of silly.
Buechele is a quarterback with a 5-8 career record that has posted a sub 137-rating in 8 of his last 11 games.
He's far more unproven than most want to admit.
I did not see what you did. Sam missed a lot of passes he has to make. All he did was run it well. I say you play Heard when you want to run it and Shane to throw it. Best of both worlds.
Why does Porter keep getting the rock if he is below avg? I loved what I saw out of the two Freshman. Young looked good on his limited time.
