Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by DustinMcComas:

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Originally posted by texaspaulo:
No love for the Boardwalk Empire premiere?

This post was edited on 9/8 1:09 AM by texaspaulo

Solid, but was slightly disappointed. I need to re-watch because I wasn't able to completely focus on the show.

Same. Not really what I was expecting from the show and was underwhelmed.

Yeah, I hate to say it because I'm a big fan, but it was kind of meh and not even the Lucky scenes at the end could completely save it.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by thomkat1:
Inexplicable:

- that coaching staff did not make adjustments at halftime
- that a defense that played hard the entire first half and held BYU to 6 came out flat & uninspired in the 3rd quarter
- that as soon as BYU BEGAN their 3 touchdown trouncing in the 3rd, coaches did not call timeouts & do SOMETHING immediately to disrupt/alter that momentum

I would like to hear what went on in the Longhorn locker room during halftime

If Coach Strong saw that his players were not ready to play as stated after the loss, why wasn't he fiercely focused on making the necessary game plan adjustments from the sidelines throughout each set of downs during the game?

All of that is fair.

I think Charlie would say...

a. They made adjustments and the play doesn't reflect that.
b. Can't explain not coming out on defense and playing well or even close to well after the way they played in the first half.
c. Not sure what they could do, but fair.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by newfroid:
I don't buy the "break em" philosophy. These aren't US Marines headed to Tarawa to battle the Japanese Empire. Make rules. Set high expectations. Work very hard. But, crap it's college football. Did Pete Carroll break the great SC teams. Are the Aggies good because Sumlin broke them. Nope.

I'm as mad as anyone about how bad we are. But the answer lies in building, not breaking.

apples and oranges.

I'm not saying the team is marines, but a lot of them aren't currently hard-nosed, caring-about-getting-their-ass-kicked football players.

Some of these guys are saying they want it, but not acting out what they say,

Time to find out who has guts and a no-quit gene and who doesn't.

 

[Hook 'em Danno]

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Originally posted by Hook 'em Danno:
There is no doubt that the talent level is down at Texas (perhaps in a big way). Rather than belabor the point about the lack of talent, I just don't see how Mack is getting most (if not all) of the blame here. Is the lack of mental preparation and fight in the dog on Mack alone? Sorry, but I refuse to give Strong a pass on this game. I have beef with the following coaching issues/decisions:

1. Run play calling . Watson already talks like Mack and is clearly coaching like him too. The rep on Watson was he was good at molding his offense to the talents of his players. Calling BS on that. The O line is horrible in an epic way. Just accept that and figure out (quickly) how to run the ball that doesn't require the O line to create the holes which they are clearly not capable of now. Not a single jet sweep, reverse or running play designed to go outside. Unacceptable...if you plan to run the ball. Which leads to me to...

2. Passing game. For the most part, the short passing game was actually pretty darn good. Why not run an offense similar to Leach's Tech offenses for the time being? Why not take a page out of the Pirate's book and find 5-10 short to intermediate passing plays that we can execute on and let that be the impetus for moving the chains? Look, it seems to me that we need to find some area of our offense that had some amount of success and maximize it. Be a one trick pony...so long as your pony is getting a desired result. I refuse to believe that the likes of Briles, Sumlin or Gundy couldn't polish this turd and implement a scheme that gets decent results.

3. Marcus Johnson returning kicks. 3 returns in what felt like a 5 minute window were horrendous. He may be an excellent WR but that doesn't mean he should be retuning kicks. Earl Thomas is the greatest safety in the history of football, but he isn't the best punt returner.

4. Ball security is on the coaches (the current set - not Mack). Way too sloppy in the first 2 games.

5. Half time adjustments. Where were they? What the hell happened in that locker room? Even if not mentally prepared to the start the game as Strong said after the game, what are you doing to change the mindset when you are down a pair of FG's? The meltdown at the beginning of the 3rd Qtr was unbelievable to watch.

6. How is it that this team was not fired up to play this team? Just amazing. Sure, we are lacking in the leadership department with the players, but the coaches clearly did not earn their paychecks in preparing this team.

Like all of OB, I want Strong to succeed in the biggest way. If he can't find 85 players that have enough pride to fight through adversity, then cut bait as seen fit. But I severely doubt that what we witnessed on Saturday was just a talent issue. This was a "want to" issue combined with bad preparation and in game coaching (at least in certain areas). That goes on Strong and staff.

I don't really have an issue with all of that and the approach on offense is more than fair to discuss and critique. You just can't ignore the personnel issue and the overall mentality that Strong is still trying to beak this team of, which is at the root of what happened on Saturday.

Agreed that we have a personnel issue but players can be coached up. Strong coached up 3 stars at Louisville and he can do it now. He can't change what he inherited, but he can change the schemes to give his team a shot at finding success offensively. Find a small window of hope and take an f'n tank through that window. This O doesn't need to be great at all facets of the offense...they just need to find one small facet of the offensive play book and exploit the hell out of it. F style points...just win.

But the main question I have for you (Ketch) is how long does it really take to break the old mentality? I get that there are a few individuals that haven't bought in completely yet (see the suspended list), but what about the other 95% of the team that have conformed? If they have bought in, how can we still be blaming the mentality of yesteryear? Was it their inner Mack telling them that Sally's cookies would be there in the locker room at halftime...but when they arrived in the locker room they just saw traces of Mad Dog so they just pouted the entire second half?

I am of the opinion that it shouldn't take too long to rid the country club virus. We aren't talking about a real life trauma incident that takes years of psychotherapy...this is football and earning wins rather than putting on the burnt orange and expecting everything to fall into place once you hit the field. These kids are just that - kids. Their adjustment period should be a lot quicker than grown folk.

So, Ketch, what's your take on a timeline for getting the mentality changed across the board?

 

[hankmartin]

Yes most of the mess is on Mack Brown and the previous Football administration, and of course, the previous AD, DeLoss Dodds ---

but the terrible Non-tackling in the Second Half and giving up in the last 30 minutes is NOT Mack Brown's ... it is on Charlie Strong and on Vance Bedford and the team who suited up but did NOT play their hearts out IMHO.

They are a lot like Tony Romo ... not from a winning tradition and don't know how to take it to a higher level ... but enjoying the entitlement of not having to "work" or "play" for a living...

every Longhorn played IMHO like they had a guaranteed scholarship until they run out of eligibility ... not held accountable and not based on performance...

You can understand how Coach Strong feels.

 

[jstreet1514]

How many O-lineman has BYU had drafted by the NFL?

There may be a lack of player development but Texas has talent that is rated far higher than BYU. (I trust NFL evaluation about 100x more than the recruiting sites but if that's your cup of tea...)

 

[kenkam]

Originally posted by jstreet1514:
How many O-lineman has BYU had drafted by the NFL?

There may be a lack of player development but Texas has talent that is rated far higher than BYU. (I trust NFL evaluation about 100x more than the recruiting sites but if that's your cup of tea...)

Why OL? Our DL dominated their OL. It was their QB that killed us.

 

[hankmartin]

Regarding the QB Ty Swoopes,

it was clear to me with my 50+ years observing B8 and B12 and NCAAF Top 25 teams that you can't let Ty Swoopes
work in a phone booth ... in other words,

not use a QB passing game if he was 8 for 8 in the 1st Q and just switch to rushing in the Second Half ---

part of the reason that Shawn Watson has never won a NCAA Championship is his Offensive Playbook is
not in touch with what works in 2014 ...

look at the Air Raid offensive teams ... those with over 85 plays on offense per game and averaging over 38 pts / G.

look at how Oregon wiped us off the Alamo Bowl turf last New Years !!

 

[hankmartin]

on the MLB #33 and #55 not sure his official position ... but they

got manhandled and were always running out of position ... really STUNK !

 

[WTexasHorn]

Originally posted by Ketchum:
Strong will get three years. Best way to get over the jump is get all of the stink out of the program, while developing for the future. No reason to be playing for 2014.

It's that simple.

The expectations for this season were absurd to begin with. Nobody likes getting rolled by 34 at home...but this really shouldn't come as a shock. Stink in the program indeed...and part of that stink is a numbness/apathy to getting the shit beat out of them. It's a complete overhaul in the mental component as well which unfortunately doesn't cure completely until new personnel is in place.

Strong wasn't even in my top 10 choices. But he's here and I've grown to like the guy. Maybe he's a fit, maybe he's not. But he needs more than a season swimming in Mack turds to prove it.

I want to see a contender in 2016. Until then, I'm with you Geoff...burn the GD thing down and roll with who crawls out and wants to fight.

 

[Touchstone]

Re: Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend- Janis


As a life long Longhorn and Cowboy fan I would much rather comment on Janis while I try to come to grips with this weekend. Down On Me should be in the Top 5.

Down On Me

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by asics:
Ketch,

You can explain exactly what you mean by burning it to the ground. What steps were you thinking of?

Does that mean running off more players.? Firing coaches? I just don't know what else he can do. You clearly had something in mind.

Thanks.

I might you keep grinding on these players until he knows with certainty who is in this thing for his vision and who is in it for a vision that isn't his.

Tough love must continue. Those that can't fight through these mental issues must be passed over. Play the young kids.

This is no time for hugs.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by EYES OF TEXAS:
Nick Saban lost 6 games in his first season at Alabama. Grow up little horns.

Changing the culture doesn't happen overnight.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by mschulz52:
Coming into this season, there was really only one thing most Texas fans HAD HAD HAD to see from this team this season: an end to the embarrassing blowouts. Even 7-5 with hard fought losses would've been OK because people understood where things were.

I do think there was a honeymoon, but this -- as you said -- ends it for sure. That second half looked like so many other second halves we've seen over the last few years. And while I understand that they've been riddled with injuries and that creating toughness and attitude takes a long time, that was a trainwreck.

What's really scary is that they could lose to UCLA, OU and Baylor by a combined 75+ points in the next month. I think that if they're not competitive in any of those games, it gets really ugly really, really fast for Coach Strong.

This post was edited on 9/8 12:50 PM by mschulz52

Not that it matters, but I'm not so sure he had a honeymoon, not unless the honeymoon was in Detroit..

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by brichits:
Seems like you're lobbing softballs at the coaches while placing most of the blame on the players and Mack.

Not sure I see it like that. Anything specific you'd care to explore?

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by GregoryGym69:

" Strong wants his players to play without fear, but he needs to ask his coaches to live by the same code."

Well said !

some think I've given the current staff a free pass.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by Hookem Reb:
Your opening monolog is right where I am at. I was a season ticket holder for 23 years until 2011. Mack and DeLoss burned me, and I have not returned. It is time to gut the property and re-build.

Also, I completely agree on our running backs. While both performed admirably in high school, neither has shown to be elite. I watched numerous games over the weekend and saw less heralded running backs make moves throw small creases for good gains. Neither has shifty feet between the tackles. They give it their all, but with our o-line we need some quick feet to elude tacklers.

In a different situation, bothcan be stellar players. This line requires backs that can run for their lives very quickly.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by jspirohorn:
This will be heresy to the fan base because of their high school 5* status, but I'm not sure that our running backs are better than BYUs. Malcolm missed some cutback lanes and didn't outrun anybody to the corner, which NFL first day draft choices do. He and Gray are solid college players and may end up on NFL rosters, but have not played like 1-3rd round draft picks in 2014.

This post was edited on 9/8 5:53 PM by jspirohorn

Both players were misused under Brown and now that they have a scheme and direction that fits their styles, the offensive line issues don't give them a chance.

Patience is a hell of a trait to have for a back, except when his line is under attack at the snap.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by clark98ut:

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Originally posted by clark98ut:

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Would you consider yourself an enabler of the last 4 seasons before Strong took over? You think his years of mismanagement have his fingerprints off this thing after two games and eight months?

An enabler? Really? How so? I'm an alum, fan, etc, but how on God's green earth could I be enabling anything related to Texas Football???

And you still didn't answer the question. At what point is this no longer Mack's fault?

Weak sauce Ketch. Weak...
Posted from Rivals Mobile

a. Do you really need to explain the enabling that has gone around the program for years? I'm asking if you were part of the crowd that closed his eyes to what has been happening all these years. Perhaps not, I'm seeking clarity. because,.,

b. The entire program is in a personnel crisis, ranging from poor quarterback options to lackluster skill options to an offensive line trainwreck to the mentality that they must be broken from.

c. Strong gets a first year pass. Excuses stop after the first year, even of Mack's fingerprints are still on a lot of the problems.

a. Nope, no explanation needed. Just trying to figure out how I fit into the equation. I felt it was time for Mack to hang it up. Don't really like the way it went down, but if Mack didn't want to step aside, there's not much that could have been done differently.

b. Agreed, it's bad.

c. That's fine by me I guess. Seems a reasonable timeframe. At some point though, the product on the field is the responsibility of the current head coach.

a. I hope it is understood that I'm hard on Mack because he underperformed tremendously in a lot of important areas and used incredibly easy to deconstruct reasons for why the problems existed, I also didn't wait until he was gone to point them all out.

c. I agree, but it's not the second game.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by Hook 'em Danno:

Agreed that we have a personnel issue but players can be coached up. Strong coached up 3 stars at Louisville and he can do it now. He can't change what he inherited, but he can change the schemes to give his team a shot at finding success offensively. Find a small window of hope and take an f'n tank through that window. This O doesn't need to be great at all facets of the offense...they just need to find one small facet of the offensive play book and exploit the hell out of it. F style points...just win.

And I would suggest that a large number of players have been coached up, including Tyrone Swoopes, John Harris, Mykelle Thompson, Steve Edmond, Caleb Bluiett, Hassan Ridgeway, Paul Boyette, etc...

There's not an offensive scheme alive that can cover for questionable quarterback play and atrocious offensive line play.

I think the staff needs to be more aggressive with Swoopes, but I kind of understand where the coaches are coming from to a degree. If they try to throw a five-step deep ball off play-action, it's probably more likely that a sack or pressure leads to a turnover than if a big play is completed.

You still have to try, though.




Originally posted by Hook 'em Danno:


So, Ketch, what's your take on a timeline for getting the mentality changed across the board?

[/QUOTE]I think he gets 21 months or so, which takes us to the beginning of next season, which means he's only 8-9 months in at this point.

Two off-seasons..

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by hankmartin:


but the terrible Non-tackling in the Second Half and giving up in the last 30 minutes is NOT Mack Brown's ... it is on Charlie Strong and on Vance Bedford and the team who suited up but did NOT play their hearts out IMHO.

I think the coaches would agree with you and have said as much. Charlie fell on the sword the way he needed to IMO.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by jstreet1514:
How many O-lineman has BYU had drafted by the NFL?

There may be a lack of player development but Texas has talent that is rated far higher than BYU. (I trust NFL evaluation about 100x more than the recruiting sites but if that's your cup of tea...)

Ironically, it's been about a decade since they had a player drafted by the NFL along the OL. Of course, you're ignoring the fact that the Longhorns were down to starting their No.6, No.7 and No.8 OL due to circumstances.

As far as the NFL evaluations are concerned, the numbers suggest that they don't really do a better job. First round draft picks do not turn out as successes more than five-star prospects. It's pretty even. Meanwhile, second and third round prospects definitely don't have a success rate as the highest four-stars, but you go ahead and believe whatever you need to.

This post was edited on 9/8 7:37 PM by Ketchum

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by hankmartin:
on the MLB #33 and #55 not sure his official position ... but they

got manhandled and were always running out of position ... really STUNK !

Strong doesn't have a true, good MLB option.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by WTexasHorn:

Originally posted by Ketchum:
Strong will get three years. Best way to get over the jump is get all of the stink out of the program, while developing for the future. No reason to be playing for 2014.

It's that simple.

The expectations for this season were absurd to begin with. Nobody likes getting rolled by 34 at home...but this really shouldn't come as a shock. Stink in the program indeed...and part of that stink is a numbness/apathy to getting the shit beat out of them. It's a complete overhaul in the mental component as well which unfortunately doesn't cure completely until new personnel is in place.

Strong wasn't even in my top 10 choices. But he's here and I've grown to like the guy. Maybe he's a fit, maybe he's not. But he needs more than a season swimming in Mack turds to prove it.

I want to see a contender in 2016. Until then, I'm with you Geoff...burn the GD thing down and roll with who crawls out and wants to fight.

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

 

[asics]

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Strong wants his players to play without fear, but he needs to ask his coaches to live by the same code.

Totally agree on this regarding letting Swoopes open things up. Strong isn't the only coach that does this but I have always found it odd that a coach can be so aggressive on defense and so cautious/scared/conservative on offense. Will take risks on defense but is risk averse on offense.

Never made sense to me.

 

[mike_costello]

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Originally posted by EYES OF TEXAS:
Nick Saban lost 6 games in his first season at Alabama. Grow up little horns.

Changing the culture doesn't happen overnight.

Ketch, so, riddle me this, given what you saw on Saturday night name 6 games we win this year?

Doesn't a 2-10, 3-9, 4-8 season negate any benefit of culture change (i.e. recruiting falls into the toilet so badly the program continues to be non-competitive despite having changed the culture)?

I should also note to the OP on this, I'm not quite sure Strong has quite the same number of skins on the wall as Saban did in year 1 at Alabama, and I'm not quite sure we're looking at 6-6 in the first year of Strong. In fact, we might be looking at getting blown out in 4 of the next 5 games, and it seems very likely we end the year with a losing record. I suppose fans dismayed by the performance of Saturday night may be "little horns"; however, I'm not sure even Saban would have survived how this season is looking to shape up.

 

[Ketchum]

Originally posted by mike_costello:

Ketch, so, riddle me this, given what you saw on Saturday night name 6 games we win this year?

Doesn't a 2-10, 3-9, 4-8 season negate any benefit of culture change (i.e. recruiting falls into the toilet so badly the program continues to be non-competitive despite having changed the culture)?

I should also note to the OP on this, I'm not quite sure Strong has quite the same number of skins on the wall as Saban did in year 1 at Alabama, and I'm not quite sure we're looking at 6-6 in the first year of Strong. In fact, we might be looking at getting blown out in 4 of the next 5 games, and it seems very likely we end the year with a losing record. I suppose fans dismayed by the performance of Saturday night may be "little horns"; however, I'm not sure even Saban would have survived how this season is looking to shape up.

a. Can win or will win. The offense can make strides and it will need to or the list is really small. But, there are no super teams on the schedule.

b. Yes, a 4-8 type season would not do well for recruiting, unless he has a staff that can star on the recruiting trails with or without a great season. Not sure he has that.

c. Saban had a title on his resume and was coming from the NFL.

 

[utfan101]

Nice work, especially on nos. 1-3. Agree completely.

 

[True horn]

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Originally posted by True horn:

Originally posted by jstreet1514:
Sorry, If you're trying to sell the proposition that BYU has a talent edge over Texas, much less one that results in a 41-7 blowout, that simply defies all reason.

The first half performance shows that the BYU talent edge wasn't material. Texas has won many games after trailing at halftime. They came out of the halftime unprepared for the second half. That's a coaching issue IMO.

Just to be clear, you don't believe BYU had a QB/OL advantage for four quarters?

They absolutely had a QB and OL advantage. Part of the OL advantage was because our coach chooses to sit starters for unknown infractions of his "core values." There are also 16 other players that come into play.

Given a 6-0 deficit at the half, I'd say the game was still up for grabs and the question is who used the 1/2 time to make adjustments and get the team psyched up to blow out the opponents in the second 1/2.

 

[True horn]

Originally posted by Ketchum:

Originally posted by hankmartin:


but the terrible Non-tackling in the Second Half and giving up in the last 30 minutes is NOT Mack Brown's ... it is on Charlie Strong and on Vance Bedford and the team who suited up but did NOT play their hearts out IMHO.

I think the coaches would agree with you and have said as much. Charlie fell on the sword the way he needed to IMO.

Oh come on. A correct statement would have stopped with "This is my fault, I didn't have the team prepared." Blaming the players for not tearing down signs he put up shows his lack of awareness of the climate he has established.