More Good News for Heard Fans....

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by SeattleHorns, Apr 22, 2015.

  1. SeattleHorns

    SeattleHorns < 25 Posts

    This sure sounds like the kind of praise and momentum we're looking for in this QB growth race. The difference in development speed seems clear to me and I sure as heck am ready to hand the keys to the truck to JH.

    http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/98378/jerrod-heard-catching-up-in-texas-qb-race

    (Now we're about go through the dead period between the spring and the fall where the news is scarce and I become progressively more manic once the only sport on is Snore-a-thon MLB.)
     
  2. gahornphan

    gahornphan 500+ Posts

    My gut feeling is that Heard has done more than "close the gap" and if the season started today, he would start against ND.
     
  3. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    If Heard keeps improving and works on his tendency to look at only one receiver & happy feet, he may, may earn the starting job Sept. 5th. It was clear Sat. he is gaining confidence in himself and the up tempo offense. The OL will be the key to his success.

    Charlie said he would PREFER not to start a freshman (he is a red shirt freshmen) the first game of the season on the road, but he did not say he would NOT start a freshman. If the game was this Sat. I think CS would start TS, but there is a good chance Heard would enter the game at some point.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2015
  4. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    I think Strong will start Swoops, but on the smallest leash imaginable. Heard will finish the game.
     
  5. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    From the article @SeattleHorns posted:

    “I have no fear at all of playing a redshirt freshman,” Strong said. “If he earns it and he ends up becoming the starter, I’m good with it. Because I know that he is good enough and he can get the job done.”

    Maybe it’s clear to Charlie that is the likely scenario come September.
     
  6. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    Good way to sum it up. I agree. Swoopes will most likely start at ND. But, if he can't move the team and/or turns the ball over, I expect a change will happen quickly, like in the 1st quarter.
     
  7. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    From what I saw in the Spring Game, Swoopes will start. His passing is further along than Heard's. ND will have an excellent defense, and we will need to stretch the field to have any chance. Our run game will be stuffed if we can't move the safeties out of the box to respect the long ball. Swoopes has better command of the deep passing game right now. Heard's running is clearly better, but ND will fill the gaps and make sure Heard is forced to beat us with his arm. They will do the same with Swoopes. From what I saw, Swoopes has more touch, quicker reads, and better accuracy with the long ball.

    That could change, of course, by September. I am not more of a fan of Swoopes or Heard. I am a fan of both of them. I am mostly a fan of whoever will give us the best chance to beat a tough, physical and well disciplined team. ND will be all of that, plus the game is at their place and the crowd will be going crazy. Whoever plays QB will have to be able to keep their poise and be patient. ND will bring it with disguised blitzes. Our QB must be able to withstand some losses and sacks, stay positive and NOT turn the ball over. Swoopes' ability to do that concerns me. Then again, so does Heard's. After all, he's a redshirt freshman with NO in game experience. I wish we were playing Rice first and ND 3rd or so.

    This is a brutal start of the season for such a young team. :hookem:
     
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  8. meadowlark

    meadowlark 100+ Posts

    ^^^ this! very well articulated caryhorn....
     
  9. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    And when TS is turned one-dimensional as usual, he's ill-equipped to react quickly or improvise. Just wait til the ND rush is all in his kitchen like TCU and Arky was. People will realize TS has permanent limitations JH doesn't. I have no problem agreeing TS can throw deeper darts better with ample time. But when we are having trouble getting open and the rush is heavy, what is TS gonna do for us? Same. We'll win the games we should again and crumble to good defenses just as before.

    I find it quite ironic it's being presented that TS provides more dimensions to the offense because of the other guy's deep ball shortcomings. Aside from one aspect not at TS level after only Spring practices, JH had more moxie and better command in all the others, like a real QB who's still developing but not far away.

    It's fine that some of us concluded different QB's played better and will give us the best chance to win next year. What makes the Swoopes choice unsubstantiated is we are judging a Spring game in which he had all the surrounding cast advantages by far. Until the protection and weapons around both of them are equal, discrediting Heard after a good performance with mostly back-ups is bogus.
     
  10. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    I suppose you are responding to my post. But if you read in it somewhere that I was discrediting Heard, then you misread. My observation is that right now Swoopes throws a better deep ball--more touch and more accuracy. And its my opinion that he has an edge over Heard now. That in no way discredits Heard. Heard is a fine talent and he may indeed start every game next year.

    September is a ways off yet. Lots of things can and will happen between now and then. In any event, I will not be deciding who starts at QB, thank god. And neither will you.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2015
  11. JohnnyBravo

    JohnnyBravo 250+ Posts

    Just thinking Heard has the ability to rise in a big game. ..two state champs, 'it' factor, etc.

    Did not see any sign of it in Swoopes. None. Zero.
     
  12. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    You may be right about Heard and the "it factor." I hope you are.
     
  13. gahornphan

    gahornphan 500+ Posts

    If we had a legitimate deep threat and a line that could block, the guy who throws the best "deep ball" would have the advantage. But from what I've seen with our receiving corps and O-line so far, we need a guy who can make a quick accurate throw and be able to haul azz when his first or second read isn't there. I doubt he'll have time for much else.
     
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  14. gahornphan

    gahornphan 500+ Posts

    I cringed when Swoopes admitted he got "nervous" after he got hit against Baylor. I thought as long as he's our qb, all our opponents will use that in their game plan.
     
  15. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Maybe that is why he bulked up in the offseason. I am not so concerned about QB next year as I am for WR and OL.
     
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  16. majorwhiteapples

    majorwhiteapples 5,000+ Posts

    They will both play next year and they both will have ups and downs, the running game will determine if we have successful season. Expect good and bad from both Swoopes and Heard.
     
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