Something Is Rotten Somewhere

Discussion in 'Recruiting' started by ViperHorn, Dec 22, 2017.

  1. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Think of all of the solid, if not great, linemen (O and D) that have played for Texas. Something happened after the Alabama NCG that is keeping quality linemen, especially on offense, away from Texas. Wickline did get Williams and Shackelford, but very little else, and now we find a 3 star OL choosing SMU over Texas.

    To be successful you need a solid core of 10 O linemen so you need to be recruiting 4 to 6 every cycle to account for disappointments, injuries, etc.. Any ideas what the issue is? Cannot be facilities, but there is something institutionally at issue.
     
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  2. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    We haven't had stability and consistency in offensive approach and coaching. OL development generally takes 2-3 years, unless you are dealing with a prodigy like Connor Williams. Back in the Nebraska glory days, they recruited very well, but OL typically didn't become starters until they were redshirt juniors.

    You gotta recruit decently, retain and train. You can't establish consistency in one year.
     
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  3. Omniscient.one

    Omniscient.one 500+ Posts

    We signed three 4-star and 1 three-star OL, beating out Alabama, BlowU, Florida, Georgia, FSU, LSU Miami, Michigan, Ohio St, and USC as well as Okie St, TCU, and UCLA among many others for these recruits and many of these schools more than once. Not sure why just about everyone thinks. People can't seem to see the forest for the trees.

    In short, we not only don't have a poor class of OL coming in, we have a strong one.
     
  4. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    Consider the recruit. These guys are told form early HS or even Jr. High, they are good enough to go to any D1 program and will play in The League one day. Some are in a hurry to get three years in and declare for the draft. How many times have we read, this guy or that guy is looking for instant playing time? Unless they are of the caliber of Connor Williams as OL player, it's not going to happen especially if the schools they look at are loaded and the recruit perceives he might not get significant playing time, read that as start, for two or three years. Some recruits are in a hurry and many truly believe that college is only a place to showcase their skills, so a coach that makes that unreasonable promise of playing as a freshman, will keep the kids attention and might even land his signature of signing day. Some like to milk the system and take are many visits as allowed. Others get the big head, and revel in the all attention. Just an additional thought.
     
  5. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    The numbers are not there for this class to be considered strong. Significant pieces yes. But my concern is how did the University of Texas get in this position? 3 head coaches and a lot of O line regression. Texas made it to the Alabama on the back of McCoy; not through superior line play.
     
  6. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    The offensive coordinator/ol coach shuffle has been even more dramatic than our changes in head coaches. I've suggested that to show consistency, we should change offensive systems/offensive coaches every year, like we have for the last five. But that's joking. Sadly enough, we need to be patient.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 22, 2017
  7. Texex81

    Texex81 500+ Posts

    But that is so hard :bevo:
     
  8. LikeMike

    LikeMike 500+ Posts

    Herman is new and went after the top rated recruits with great success. But he needs to recruit more and better linemen year in and year out. Texas has had average to poor OL for the better part of a decade. And, he has no DL recruits signed. I remember Jimmy Johnson talking about recruiting priorities: QB, DB and lines. Herman may have taken care of the first two, but we need a ton of lineman.
     
  9. Olehornfan

    Olehornfan 2,500+ Posts

    We need a ton of lineman. That would be six or seven of them?
     
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  10. LikeMike

    LikeMike 500+ Posts

    I we are to take 29, we have 9 to go. 6 should be lines. 3 star with potential is fine. TT, OSU, TCU recruit 3 stars and are much better than we are. As stated takes two years minimum to develop an OL. Just do it now!!
     
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  11. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    I see what you did there. :smile1:
     
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  12. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    Linemen are what makes an offense and game plans work effectively whether run or pass oriented. It starts with the five guys up front, the rest is the icing on the cake. As pointed out above, ours have not been up to standard for several seasons, with the exception of one or two here and there. With the exception of one the last two seasons, our starters on the OL are mediocre to poor and as we’ve seen this season, are not reliable.

    Looking at the 2018 signees we have 4 OL coming, only one listed at over 300 pounds. Three are 4*s one 3*, only the 3* is enrolling early. I doubt any will be day one starters, unless the guys coming in summer are like Connor Williams and able to earn a spot. But who knows. Not sure how many we have left with experience and can step up this next season, 4 or 5 I think. These guys will need to develop quickly for our offensive production to increase.
     
  13. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    I still blame McWhorter. From about 2002-04, we pretty much did no wrong with the guys we took. Then he decided to call it a permanent vacation from recruiting and we ended up with the OL that couldn't protect McCoy in 2009, costing us potentially a Heisman and a national championship in the process.

    From that game on, it was all Mack and Searels. Whether they couldn't wrap their brains around not recruiting racists or potheads or both... we haven't been able to put together a cohesive unit since about 2006.

    Hiring Wickline away from OK State was also a colossal brainfart by Strong... we probably spent more time anti-negative recruiting for that mistake than any actual OL recruiting during that period. We're basically blessed that Williams even decided to come to Texas, considering all the other non-talents that have signed.
     

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