Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert deserves credit for having an incredible amount of confidence.
Gilbert flew into Austin late last year and was offered an opportunity to join Charlie Strong’s staff. After Gilbert flew back home and thought about the job offer, he made one of the gutsiest decisions I have seen in over 20 years as a reporter. Gilbert decided if the president and athletic director did not look him in the face and give him assurances about Strong’s future at Texas, he would remain the co-offensive coordinator at Tulsa.
To put that into perspective, that would be like Geoff Ketchum offering a reporter from Waco an opportunity to cover UT football, but being told, "Unless the head of Rivals and Yahoo can guarantee the website will not crash on national signing day, I am not leaving."
I give Gilbert a lot of credit for having self-confidence. Honestly, I respect the heck out of anyone who has swagger, even if things do not always go his way. Gilbert’s power play is a move that will always stay with me. However, it is time for Gilbert to be known for something else as spring practice begins on Monday.
Gilbert needs to be the guy who earns credit for turning around Texas’ offense.
During a recent podcast with Ketchum, he asked me how much time Gilbert should receive to improve this offense. My message to Ketchum, and everyone else, is it needs to happen this year. I think Greg Fenves and Mike Perrin’s decision to hop on a plane and ease Gilbert’s concerns are admirable, but you will find a hard time convincing me anybody on the Longhorns football staff will be safe after another five-win season. Heck, I am not sure anything less than eight wins will matter. Gilbert knows what he signed up for, and this offense needs to click right away.
This offense cannot have the unproductive spring we witnessed last year. From the moment Shawn Watson admitted he did not know how to run a spread offense, but was learning like everyone else, the panic button should have been slammed. He talked a good game, but when it counted, Watson’s new offense looked worse than the 2014 version during last year’s season opener. It was so bad, Strong stripped Watson, a long-time friend, of his play-calling duties, and gave the reigns to Jay Norvell.
Paging Alex Dunlap for another Watson update.
The play-calling change had an immediate impact, but did not last long-term. Norvell failed to prove he deserved the job. Hence, the private charter flight to bring Gilbert to Texas.
Gilbert’s main job is to find a starting quarterback. As I reported in our recent War Room, the goal within the building is to name a starter after the spring game. It will give Gilbert a chance to work with his starting quarterback throughout the offseason, and that person would enter training camp as the No. 1 guy. He needs to get the most out of each quarterback to make sure the eventual starter actually won the job, and did not receive it by default.
Tyrone Swoopes. Jerrod Heard. Kai Locksley. Shane Buechele. Matthew Merrick. Every Longhorn fan has his or her favorite quarterback. Swoopes will enter spring practice as the quarterback to beat, but that does not mean he will win the job. Heard, Swoopes, Locksley and Buechele are going to receive a fair share of practice reps. Gilbert has to make sure at least one of them is above average.
By the way, we cannot have a repeat of last year’s spring game. None of Watson’s quarterbacks completed a touchdown pass in that contest, and Gilbert's group of passers have to be more productive.
Another important task Gilbert has to tackle is establishing a consistent tempo on offense. Texas may have switched to a spread offense last season, but it wasn’t up-tempo. It took too long for plays to be relayed from the sidelines. There were times everyone on offense seemed confused as plays were called in. Since Gilbert is an up-tempo expert, it is his job to make sure the Longhorns can operate efficiently without any problems.
During a recent conversation with Dunlap - I informed him his infatuation with Watson would be mentioned in my column - he said it took Tulsa between 14 to 17 seconds to run offensive plays. When he timed Texas during practice last year, the range was 19 to 21 seconds. Clearly, as Gilbert installs the offense, he will need to teach everybody how to move at a rapid pace. That can easily be accomplished by a play clock on the sidelines, and by emphasizing speed during individual drills.
(If you are looking for nice read by someone from the Orangebloods community, check out “Sterlin Gives a Glimpse Into His Plans For the Texas Offense” by Good.Shepherd. It is a very good look into Gilbert’s offense.)
Gilbert must be the anti-Watson and figure out who his top receivers are, and get them involved in his offense. John Burt made spectacular plays throughout last season, but every 50-yard reception resulted in him being shut out of the game plan. Gilbert must make sure he feeds the hot hand until opposing defenses can stop his top weapons. We need to see him utilize his best running back options, unlike Watson, who was determined to give Johnathan Gray the majority of reps.
In addition, offensive line coach Matt Mattox, Gilbert’s close friend, has to challenge his unit. Connor Williams and Patrick Vahe are studs, which means he only has to fine tune those players. Yet, Mattox has to make sure his offensive lineman learn how to play, and hold up, in this new offense during spring practice.
Gilbert deserves a lot of credit for having confidence.
Now it is time for him to earn credit for turning around this offense.
Funniest Thing You See This Week
She might be the coolest grandmother ... ever?
Sports On A Dime
1. I would like to formally apologize in advance for every spring football practice story you will read – on this website and others – that may not mean much when the season begins. Does anybody remember how many times Petey Warrick was praised last spring? Just remember there is a long time between now and the season opener against Notre Dame.
2. Another former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player called me recently to praise Strong’s hiring of receivers coach Charlie Williams. He told me, “Those players are going to work like they’ve never worked before, but they are going to be better than they ever were.” It will be interesting to watch how he works the receivers during their first practice on Monday.
3. I cannot say enough positive things about the performance of Kerwin Roach Jr. during Texas’ 62-50 victory against Oklahoma State in men’s basketball on Friday. Roach’s defense down the stretch was outstanding. He stayed in front of every defender, was not sloppy, and forced more than one bad shot by Oklahoma State. Roach was also a clutch shooter. Again, Texas will be a very interesting team to watch during the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament.
4. Houston should heavily pursue Robert Griffin III when free agency begins this week. Sure, Griffin comes with a lot of baggage, but the Texans need to remain a playoff team. Griffin probably gives Houston a better chance at remaining relevant than any other free agent, or potential draft pick. Houston must hope Griffin’s indecisiveness does not result in the sacks he took as a starter in Washington.
5. Seriously, Washington’s Kirk Cousins and Philadelphia’s Sam Bradford were paid like proven quarterbacks last week? Bradford continues to play more mind tricks with teams than Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who should have been fired a long time ago.
6. This is not funny, but damn, it is true:
7. Dallas owner Jerry Jones may not want to use the No. 4 pick to draft a quarterback, but he better find a quality backup player. Sure, that is easier said than done. However, New England always has quarterbacks who can step in for Tom Brady if the franchise player sustains an injury. Dallas needs to copy Bill Belichick’s formula.
8. Green Bay and New England are viewed as possible landing spots for former Bears running back Matt Forte. After dealing with Jay Cutler for years, playing with Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady would be an instant upgrade for Forte. I may have a man crush on Rodgers, but New England is the best place for Forte if he wants to be on a Super Bowl contender this season.
9. Oh, Connor McGregor. You talked so much trash prior to facing Nate Diaz ….
10. A bit of humor from our new intern, Jillian Kushner. She will start on Monday:
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