There were plenty of topics to discuss after Texas spring game on Saturday, but few topics were bigger than freshman quarterback Shane Buechele during postgame interviews – for obvious reasons.
Here is what offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said about his quarterbacks after the game:
- Gilbert is not ready to anoint Buechele has his starter. Gilbert tried to pump the brakes on the hype, even though he might be fighting a losing battle. Gilbert said, “I got to back, look at film, watch it and evaluate. During the game you’re seeing, and trying to make some calls and adjustments, and watching and evaluating everyone else that is out there playing. We’ll go back and watch film and get a clean evaluation on what happened today.”
- When asked a follow-up question about the fan reaction to Buechele’s success, Gilbert said, “We still got a lot of work to do. We got a lot of football left. We got the summer. We got two-a-days. There’s still a lot to process. There’s still a lot of evaluations to go through, and a lot of reps. By no means did anybody play perfect today. There’s work to be done. There’s still progression out of all three of those guys.”
- In addition, Gilbert said he is viewing this game like a normal practice: “It’s kind of a glorified practice, if you will. It’s no different than what happened on Tuesday, what happened last week on Thursday, and you keep going backwards with that. Again, it’s a glorified practice, and we just want to see those guys get better, be better offensively, be better up front, and those backs be better with what they’re doing.”
- Gilbert said he plans to evaluate how Buechele performed on every play call, and if he did it correctly, before elaborating on his quarterback's performance.
- One reason why Texas fans are leery of Swoopes is because has earned the reputation of standing out in practice, but struggles when the lights come on. Gilbert said Buechele’s performance when it counted is positive for the freshman: “I think so. Anytime you turn the lights on, you just want to see how kids respond, and all kids respond different. It was definitely positive to see him go out and produce today.”
- When asked about the quarterbacks being able to figure out his system quickly, Gilbert said his current passers are learning on a similar pace with other passer at previous programs he has coached.
- Here was Gilbert’s assessment on what he liked about Buechele’s offseason performance: “Just all the way through the spring, his approach been diligent about all his work. Just the way that he processes and understands. He’s a guy that’s savvy about football. He understands what we’re doing, and what we’re trying to get accomplished.”
- Swoopes did not have his best performance, but Gilbert said both guys have played well this offseason. He also said both players have made each other better. Gilbert said, “You don’t just discount what has happened in the 14 previous practices until today, by far. There’s still growth will all those guys. We’ll just continue to evaluate and watch.”
- Gilbert did say there is still competition at every spot. In addition, he said there will be plenty of competitions ahead for his group. He expects them to compete this summer, then during two-a-days to finalize his first 11 players.
- Texas backup quarterback Jerrod Heard has been an afterthought among many Texas fans since the emergence of Buechele, but Gilbert said the injured quarterback (shoulder) is still in the contention: “He’s definitely in the mix. It’s just unfortunate that he got banged up and he missed because he’d be right in the middle of this competition.”
- Gilbert did not recruit Buechele until after he was hired. Texas coach Charlie Strong wrapped up Buechele before Gilbert arrived, and meeting with the newly hired coordinator was just a formality. That being said, Gilbert said Buechele fits his quarterback mold: "I think for any quarterbacks we recruit now, and in the future, if they’re familiar with what they do with their offense in high school, and the way the Texas high school coaches coach them, and the level got them playing at, I think it’s easier transition. It’s a fit for us and for them."
- Buechele displayed his arm strength on Saturday, and Gilbert believes the quarterback can be successful in the Big 12. According to Gilbert, Buechele can touch every part of the field with his arm.
- Here is an interesting quote from Gilbert when asked when he would like to name a starting quarterback: “To me, as much as I love to go fast, I want that thing to be right. It’s got to be right. It’s got to be the right fit. As long as it goes, it goes. We just got to make sure we got the right guy and it’s the right decision.”
- I asked Gilbert about Kai Locksley's tweet and what needs to occur to keep the quarterback involved, and he said, "The summer, two-a-days and all that stuff."
Here is what offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said about his quarterbacks after the game:
- Gilbert is not ready to anoint Buechele has his starter. Gilbert tried to pump the brakes on the hype, even though he might be fighting a losing battle. Gilbert said, “I got to back, look at film, watch it and evaluate. During the game you’re seeing, and trying to make some calls and adjustments, and watching and evaluating everyone else that is out there playing. We’ll go back and watch film and get a clean evaluation on what happened today.”
- When asked a follow-up question about the fan reaction to Buechele’s success, Gilbert said, “We still got a lot of work to do. We got a lot of football left. We got the summer. We got two-a-days. There’s still a lot to process. There’s still a lot of evaluations to go through, and a lot of reps. By no means did anybody play perfect today. There’s work to be done. There’s still progression out of all three of those guys.”
- In addition, Gilbert said he is viewing this game like a normal practice: “It’s kind of a glorified practice, if you will. It’s no different than what happened on Tuesday, what happened last week on Thursday, and you keep going backwards with that. Again, it’s a glorified practice, and we just want to see those guys get better, be better offensively, be better up front, and those backs be better with what they’re doing.”
- Gilbert said he plans to evaluate how Buechele performed on every play call, and if he did it correctly, before elaborating on his quarterback's performance.
- One reason why Texas fans are leery of Swoopes is because has earned the reputation of standing out in practice, but struggles when the lights come on. Gilbert said Buechele’s performance when it counted is positive for the freshman: “I think so. Anytime you turn the lights on, you just want to see how kids respond, and all kids respond different. It was definitely positive to see him go out and produce today.”
- When asked about the quarterbacks being able to figure out his system quickly, Gilbert said his current passers are learning on a similar pace with other passer at previous programs he has coached.
- Here was Gilbert’s assessment on what he liked about Buechele’s offseason performance: “Just all the way through the spring, his approach been diligent about all his work. Just the way that he processes and understands. He’s a guy that’s savvy about football. He understands what we’re doing, and what we’re trying to get accomplished.”
- Swoopes did not have his best performance, but Gilbert said both guys have played well this offseason. He also said both players have made each other better. Gilbert said, “You don’t just discount what has happened in the 14 previous practices until today, by far. There’s still growth will all those guys. We’ll just continue to evaluate and watch.”
- Gilbert did say there is still competition at every spot. In addition, he said there will be plenty of competitions ahead for his group. He expects them to compete this summer, then during two-a-days to finalize his first 11 players.
- Texas backup quarterback Jerrod Heard has been an afterthought among many Texas fans since the emergence of Buechele, but Gilbert said the injured quarterback (shoulder) is still in the contention: “He’s definitely in the mix. It’s just unfortunate that he got banged up and he missed because he’d be right in the middle of this competition.”
- Gilbert did not recruit Buechele until after he was hired. Texas coach Charlie Strong wrapped up Buechele before Gilbert arrived, and meeting with the newly hired coordinator was just a formality. That being said, Gilbert said Buechele fits his quarterback mold: "I think for any quarterbacks we recruit now, and in the future, if they’re familiar with what they do with their offense in high school, and the way the Texas high school coaches coach them, and the level got them playing at, I think it’s easier transition. It’s a fit for us and for them."
- Buechele displayed his arm strength on Saturday, and Gilbert believes the quarterback can be successful in the Big 12. According to Gilbert, Buechele can touch every part of the field with his arm.
- Here is an interesting quote from Gilbert when asked when he would like to name a starting quarterback: “To me, as much as I love to go fast, I want that thing to be right. It’s got to be right. It’s got to be the right fit. As long as it goes, it goes. We just got to make sure we got the right guy and it’s the right decision.”
- I asked Gilbert about Kai Locksley's tweet and what needs to occur to keep the quarterback involved, and he said, "The summer, two-a-days and all that stuff."
