Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (The thing I was most wrong about this season...)

[sodiumacetate]

Sam played the best back to back games against KSU and Oklahoma that any quarterback has played at this school since 2008.

He was one of the best players on the field in both games.

About a year ago you wrote in your ten thoughts column that Shane was the answer at qb and that moving forward Texas at least had that. Over the off season you changed your tune and when I asked you about it you said that you got lost in what your eyes showed you and that when you looked closer at the numbers you realized Shane wasn't all that good that year after all. I think you are doing the same thing with Ehlinger.

Yes it was probably the best back to back qb performance since 2008, but that really isn't saying much. He was great against KSU but pretty average against OU. Then he gave the worst Texas qb performance of the year against OSU's pitiful excuse of a defense.

This isn't about Shane being better... I don't think he necessarily is... but when it comes to Sam too many people are falling in love with the moxie and leadership while glossing over the missed reads, poor decisions, and late throws. He (and/or Shane) needs to improve a lot over the next 9 months or this program is in serious trouble.

 

[engage1]

We need a running game to beat Tech based on past experience. Are you counting on the defense to make enough plays to win this one?

 

[Rotarran9116]

Ill buy stock in McCallum if they pass the 2nd round but still a hell of a story.

Think Huttos QB will leave a stronger legacy than Jeremy Kerley.

Miami can and should beat Clemson but that Pitt game feels like a trap.

 

[LILBVO]

Can we stop the narrative that Sam played some great game v OU. His QBR was 49. Yes he had moxy and fight and all that stuff. It wasn’t some memorable performance for the ages. By the way Kenny Hill had a 64 v OU yesterday - how did you think he looked?

And I guess we just ignore the 17 v Okie Lite and 27 v USC.

Maybe Sam gives us a better shot this week with all the factors thrown in. Shane is hardly some world beater. But overall he hasn’t been all that good. It’s like the Browns debating who should play QB.

And by the way - what happened to ‘I’’m worried about his long term health he shouldn’t play again this year.”

Seems Ketch flips back and forth on the concern for Sam. Shane probably stole his milk money and he doesn’t want Shane to play anymore.

 

[podo87]

Press away. I'm not speaking in any kind of code.

Nm saw you already named a number

 

[longhorn4444]

"
No one would argue that zero attrition is either helpful, healthy or possible, but the task in front of Tom Herman is to stop the outright flood of departures that sees the program losing double-digit numbers each season. When you wonder each season why the program has 10 seniors on the roster, it's not rocket science. Instead of 40+ transfers in every four-year cycle (which is what Texas has averaged for more than a decade),the number probably needs to be in the 25-30 range.

Texas won't be able to sustain any kind of success until it can stop the bleeding out in the talent base."

I don't think the number of transfers is nearly as important as who transfers. A junior or senior transferring that has already been beaten out by an underclassman isn't going to hurt except for depth.

Other teams have transfers too these days; so just looking at total transfer numbers doesn't tell the whole story. OU TCU TT and A$M would have a different story this year without their QB transfers.

 

[danhorn]

I feel like I’ve read this same report about eight times the last eight years

Insert the ‘we suck again’ Meme....

ain't that the truth....

 

[Ketchum]

How many of a potential 10 would be names that would shock us ? Kind of like Delance did out of the blue.

I can list 4-6 guys off top of my head that would be candidates but wouldn’t be major losses.

probably a handful, but I'm guessing cooler heads prevail.

 

[Ketchum]

The Gayfield "what a player" felt like you just walked all over my grave, @Ketchum.

Are we going to pretend that he just doesn't exist? I'm game for whatever.

 

[Ketchum]

Why do you think Manny failed here?

Because Texas has turned in an oasis of football disaster. He got caught up in it.

 

[Colonel Banana Dark]

Because Texas has turned in an oasis of football disaster. He got caught up in it.

An oasis of football disaster...agree. We need coaching consistency not some wild revolving door based on very little data. This team is impossible to watch but I cannot imagine that constantly changing coaches will help the transfer situation.

 

[Ketchum]

An oasis of football disaster...agree. We need coaching consistency not some wild revolving door based on very little data. This team is impossible to watch but I cannot imagine that constantly changing coaches will help the transfer situation.

It is proven that some consistency in the coaching ranks is needed and Herman is very mindful of that.

 

[ArielC]

I would say the defense has been excellent all year besides Maryland and last night but in all honesty they were due for a down game. I think we have to get sam back in the game cause the offense is better with him in it

In all honesty, the defense played very well against an amped up team.We don't have the same team without Hill who was sorely missed.A top three playmaker loss is real, just like when Malik is out for a while .The defense also plays better with a good offense because they get excited and rested

 

[PabloDeTejas]

Texas is going to beat Texas Tech.

Gets it.

 

[94Sip]

@Ketchum re: attrition

The more interesting stat regarding all those that left is did they go anywhere and do something worthwhile in football

My feeling is that our recruiting has just been bad in terms of the quality of players we have gone after.

Otherwise, there is something else terribly wrong in our program that is causing kids to just up and quit football.

 

[Waynernaner]

Okay, I agree the KU game sucked. But this team (defense) primarily has fought harder than it has longer than it has, especially overtime after overtime, injury after injury. It’s would not be surprising if they hit a wall.

So I’m not ready to say that a butt kicking from TCU and a flat spot against KU means there hasn’t been improvement so much as it means paper thin depth and a guantlet have left the good guys spent.

I pray that kansas was also a lookahead game as well.

I’d say let’s revisit this topic after a win over WVU

Yeah, I absolutely friggin agree. Very close games against USC, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State... the loss of key players on the offensive line. 2 average QBs constantly battling concussions.

I don’t think the suspect OC has helped, and I hope Herman does something about it, but many of us sit around here and ogle disgustedly the bellyaching ooze that emerges from the baseboards after every game, year after year, and wonder where the hell it comes from.

Well, have you ever heard “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” Or, how about “players take on the personality of their coach?”

@Ketchum what a pied piper sack of swill you’ve delivered regarding the football program, attrition, and the state of recruiting in this weekly segment. Good grief. Seriously makes me want to check out a different site.

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum re: attrition

The more interesting stat regarding all those that left is did they go anywhere and do something worthwhile in football

My feeling is that our recruiting has just been bad in terms of the quality of players we have gone after.

Otherwise, there is something else terribly wrong in our program that is causing kids to just up and quit football.

The overwhelming number of players that transfer end up never being heard from again, although talent isn't always the issue.

Weirdly, the OL transfers are the ones that sting the most and is the area where we've seen those leaving emerge as starting players elsewhere.

 

[SmilinJack]

BUY or SELL: If UT won the MD game the narrative of this season would be noticeably different.

(Sell) Even if we wiped away that 20-point butt-kicking, this would be a team likely headed to 7-5 instead of 6-6.

10 point loss. Was a 3 point difference in the 4th quarter.

 

[HornLegacy]

I see ya Muenster. And yes Cole Walterscheid’s (okSt) little brother Cody anchors both lines. And
Will be a stud in college. 6’6 245 jr.

Their point differential is over 50 points??? Holy crap. That team should be broken up. Wherever the hell Muenster is....

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketch what a pied piper sack of swill you’ve delivered regarding the football program, attrition, and the state of recruiting in this weekly segment. Good grief. Seriously makes me want to check out a different site.

Sounds like you want to sign up for Texags.

 

[Waynernaner]

@Ketch what a pied piper sack of swill you’ve delivered regarding the football program, attrition, and the state of recruiting in this weekly segment. Good grief. Seriously makes me want to check out a different site.

Sounds like you want to sign up for Texags.

Why when I have this to look forward to? I’m already here, brother, I am already here.

 

[Ketchum]

10 point loss. Was a 3 point difference in the 4th quarter.

It was a 17-point game with a minute to go, but I was wrong to call it a 20-point butt-kicking.

 

[Ketchum]

Why when I have this to look forward to? I’m already here, brother, I am already here.

What part did you disagree with. I'm sorry that the last eight years are the last eight years and the data points and facts about this program aren't always pretty. Just like the student attendance of the game.

Unlike others, I don't ignore the things that aren't fun to address. My goal is to make you more informed as a fan. Reading my stuff does that for you.

 

[Atownatx]

No matter how well the coaches recruit, no matter how much fun the kids might have on their visits ... the kids that visited will remember this when they go home.

It was the same size crowd for the OSU game, which kind of puts more of an emphasis to your point.

Shout out to the McCallum Knights from a Class of 1994 alum. It's one thing to go 10-0 in the regular season for the first time in 51 years and it's another to do so with the following notches on the belt:

Anderson W 48-28

 

[anon_v7x9c7xxmv5dr]

I think it will finish between 6-10.

Then you must be expecting a bunch of guys to decommit...

 

[aglassdarkly]

two comments:
1) (Buy) The program is essentially Dirk Diggler in a parking lot in the 1980s, sometime after Little Bill commits a murder-suicide on New Year's Eve and before the last scene when he's about to make his return to porn.

perfect image

2) question for thought: Did Mark Richt become a better coach in the last year? He has historically been a whipping boy on OB.

 

[HorntoWin]

Can we stop the narrative that Sam played some great game v OU. His QBR was 49. Yes he had moxy and fight and all that stuff. It wasn’t some memorable performance for the ages. By the way Kenny Hill had a 64 v OU yesterday - how did you think he looked?

And I guess we just ignore the 17 v Okie Lite and 27 v USC.

Maybe Sam gives us a better shot this week with all the factors thrown in. Shane is hardly some world beater. But overall he hasn’t been all that good. It’s like the Browns debating who should play QB.

And by the way - what happened to ‘I’’m worried about his long term health he shouldn’t play again this year.”

Find me a Texas QB that did something comparable in the Texas-OU game to bringing the Horns back from 20-0 behind (late in the 2nd quarter) to taking the lead 24-23 midway through the 4th quarter and did so while accounting for almost 400 yards of total offense, throwing for 285 yards and running for 110 yards, all without a turnover. You really want to diminish Sam’s amazing performance in that hardest of hitting contests?

 

[RLong68]

The overwhelming number of players that transfer end up never being heard from again, although talent isn't always the issue.

Weirdly, the OL transfers are the ones that sting the most and is the area where we've seen those leaving emerge as starting players elsewhere.

For f*ck's sake, DESMOND HARRISON is generating a lot of talk as no lower than a Day 2 pick.

 

[RLong68]

Shane Buechele had a chance to make Ehlinger's performances against Kansas State and Oklahoma a bit of a distant memory, but that is not what has happened in the last three weeks.

Ehlinger's play against Okie Lite also made those games a bit of a distant memory.

 

[utlonghorn123]

Can we stop the narrative that Sam played some great game v OU. His QBR was 49. Yes he had moxy and fight and all that stuff. It wasn’t some memorable performance for the ages. By the way Kenny Hill had a 64 v OU yesterday - how did you think he looked?

And I guess we just ignore the 17 v Okie Lite and 27 v USC.

Maybe Sam gives us a better shot this week with all the factors thrown in. Shane is hardly some world beater. But overall he hasn’t been all that good. It’s like the Browns debating who should play QB.

And by the way - what happened to ‘I’’m worried about his long term health he shouldn’t play again this year.”

Agree 1,000 percent..
And it was only 10 vs Okie Light, thanks only to John Burt and zero to Sam..
No qb has played worse this year than Sam vs OSU....
I'll believe he's good to great if or when he ever proves it ..

BUT, he is our best option currently on scholarship at that position..

 

[UTVET]

I question whether the Longhorns will finish well enough to hold down a top five spot. It's going to be close.

Everybody is solid except adeyole. We still lead for Cook, Bush, anguilao, mctear, Landry and Now have additional defensive tackles in mix. i agree if we lose next two there could be repercussions but you yourself said we are beating tech. And currently we have 2nd class in nation by a mile.

 

[bozans]

I see ya Muenster. And yes Cole Walterscheid’s (okSt) little brother Cody anchors both lines. And
Will be a stud in college. 6’6 245 jr.

Damn, when I coached there in 57-58 my biggest kid was about 180 soaking wet !!!!!!!

 

[styrbjorn]

Can’t remember the last time a Texas team actually improved over the course of a season.

True, and I hate to beat a dead horse (but it's probably cooler than beating a live one.) The lack of improvement, in my mind, is almost 100% tied to personnel turnover during the year. Think about it, we have had:

• Offensive line - lost an All American in Connor Williams. More pertinently, we have only ONE starter who has played every game. I don't know the number, but we have also had a crazy number of starts by freshmen. Talent aside, there has been no opportunity for this line to gel.
• QB - We have two kids with great ceilings, but each has missed multiple games to injury. Even behind a good offensive line, it's hard to expect either kid to make much progress.
• RB - This one might be on the coaches, but our returning players have turned out to be a much worse option than our frosh. So while we all applaud the personnel change, again it's hard to expect too much progression from guys who haven't been getting snaps.
• Secondary - Holton Hill was playing at an AA level. His career is now literally up in smoke.
• LB - We played Naashon/Wheeler way too much in the early going, and Gary Johnson way too little. So again, we're improving the quality of personnel but you can't expect too much progression when your best guys spend half the season on the bench

I do think we've seen individual progression in a lot of spots, but with the amount of turnover in the lineup (and the resultant scrambling by the coaches just to field a complete unit) I can't see a scenario where you'd expect this team to look like a finished product.

Until actually walking through all of this, I didn't realize just how much churn there has been this year. We really, really, REALLY need every bowl practice we can get.

 

[totrod]

BY and large, most don't find major success after departing, but a few of those offensive linemen have. Adrian Colbert, who could not beat out Dylan Haines, is playing in the NFL.

Texas had the ball at midfield down three in the fourth quarter. How is it misleading?

 

[Ketchum]

It was the same size crowd for the OSU game, which kind of puts more of an emphasis to your point.

That just can't keep happening. The crowd sizes, that is. The McCallum ass-kickings of Anderson can continue forever.