And Mack's denial included the very reason Bohls mentioned that the annointing had not beenmade public.
Public statements by a HC at a major school on an issue like this are essentially worthless in that they would say the same thing if the rumors are true as they would if they were false. In fact, public statements by a HC at a major school on an issue like this are exactly as worthless as statements made by media hacks like Kirk Bohls.
If Bohls' football sense is anything like his journalistic capabilities, he would have put a guard in at QB in that situation.
While GG had some games with way too many interceptions, overall I thought he was one of our better offensive players. You can roll your eyes now. Seriously, I remember so many dropped passes, at least 2 of which wound up in the hands of the opponent's D. Way more dropped balls than is normal. Quite a few that would have scored TDs. But the bottom line is W/L. Texas had an unacceptable number of losses. Whoever Harsin plays, that will be the guy he has the most confidence in. If losses mount up this year, GG ain't playing to the end. He's going to have big, new, fast RB, and GG needs to win. Period. I hope Brown makes a difference. I'm pretty sure Shipley will make a difference. I hope we find a TE to help out. Give GG a couple of reliable weapons, mix in some Mike Davis, and the Texas O might be a lot better than we can dream of today.
I seem to remember Colt under throwing receivers at anything longer than 30 yards. They had to stop or even come back numerous times. NUMEROUS. His numbers were aided by the people he had around him who actually executed. His foot speed and arm strength got much better and I applaud his hard work and ethic. GG has more raw talent than Colt with a lesser supporting cast. I don't care who takes snaps next year as long as they earned it and execute. I seriously doubt any promises are made like suggested. Bowels strikes again as people are talking about his column. If we stop (and others too) that hack loses his job and he fades to Bolivian.
That can be chalked up to the disparity between the supporting casts of the two, both in terms of RB's and WR's.
XOVER, the reason that there were so many dropped balls last year is that GG threw the ball to low and hard. He needs to learn how to put some air under the ball. I swear that several times last year it would have been easier trying to catch a bullet than one of Gilberts passes.
OU does motion all the time. It wont be anything new if we see you do it. As for your offense, it can only get better but it has a long way to go before it has anyone shaking in their boots. If the running game isnt good, I think youre in trouble again this year.
Fox Sports ran their ou lick fest last night during the Ranger's rain delay. Here are the facts: one less unforced fumble by GG last October and Texas wins that game. Not one Texas DB is scared that Jones will beat them as he is very easily put off his game by being hit - and he will be hit on every play under Diaz' defense. Big Game Bob is going to have to answer a lot of hard questions after 08 October.
I get the impression from reading about the new offense, and I'm not an Xs and Os guy, that the QB makes quick specific reads of maybe one or two defenders to determine where to pass. That is to say, the plays are designed so that the "on-schedule" plays develop in such a way that the QB can tell quickly what should work. I also know this is generally elementary to well-schemed offenses, and it is embarrassing that it is new to UT. I thought the aimlessness of our offense was made most evident last year when Davis criticized GG for not being better on "off-schedule" plays. I don't think Davis realized he was admitting that the rate of failed (off schedule) calls meant he had grown used to relying on constant improvisation by the QB. I don't think GG is a great improviser nor do I think he was served by a disintegrating facade of scheme. He may do very well in an offense that is more defined for the entire unit and execution of the called play improves. Gilbert may still lose his starting job, but I think these new fangled things called scheme and strategy will give him a better chance to succeed. May the best man win.
Bruthaman sez: OU does motion all the time. It wont be anything new if we see you do it. As for your offense, it can only get better but it has a long way to go before it has anyone shaking in their boots. If the running game isnt good, I think youre in trouble again this year. The fact that 0u does motion is irrelevant, and it's not just the motion that's different. The main thing is that instead of pinning their ears back and coming hard, the D is going to have to diagnose first... and that little bit of hesitation is going to make things a while lot more difficult to stop. The last time 0u played a Harsin-coached team, you had a gigantic edge in player talent, PLUS you knew all about motion then, yeah? How'd that work out? I firmly believe that Texas does have players who match up against 0u's players, talent-wise, but we are very early in our learning curve. Our whole new offensive game may not be good enough by Fair Daze, but there's a chance it can be, and I don't see that being dependent on Gilbert alone. If our run game doesn't show up a whole lot better than last year, yes, we're in trouble, no doubt about it. Roma Victa sez: I also know this is generally elementary to well-schemed offenses, and it is embarrassing that it is new to UT. Embarrassing, indeed. But the embarrassment will be greatly alleviated by a 9- or 10-win season, especially if it ends on a multi-game streak... and we can go back to wondering WTF was Mack thinking, hanging onto GDGD all those years? I mean, the whole 2003 "Fire me if you want to, but I'm not dumping my buddy Greg" thing... really happened, didn't it? I have the distinct feeling it might have happened again after last Turkey Day, but the answer was a little different this time.
longtex sez: HarsinWhite's offense looks to be based on attacking the defense, rather than "taking what it gives us". 'slugga sez: Those two concepts are the same thing. They should be, agreed. I probably should've put it in quadruple-quotes or something to indicate GregSpeak. Greg - I think - wanted to take, but (apparently) never came to the realization that he was being taken, instead. Even when he did something contradictory, something not wholly predictable, it looked like it had never been practiced - maybe a walk-through, but no real practice... The failure on 4th and Goal in our first scoring opportunity of the season - the sweep from the jumbo, I think - might've worked even with CoJo carrying the ball, except that his two lead blockers both completely ignored two Owls that needed to be blocked, which resulted in a 4-yard loss and a turnover instead of 6 points. I think we all knew right then that the O was in as much deep **** as the D showed itself to be on Rice's first drive. Hopefully we'll be actually attacking the defense and taking what it gives us, instead of shoving all our chips into the pot while showing the same tell our opponent has seen in the last few dozen hands.
Hey, maybe the new offense will in fact work out well for you guys. I have my doubts though and you were way more than a GG unforced of forced or whatver from losing. OU was still a growing team when we beat you in Dallas last year. It would have been much much worse for you guys at seasons end if we played again. Back to this offense; I am going to have to see you guys run the ball effectively before I can say that you have a chance to win anything. I dont think GG can pass you guys to success and he must have a very good, not average, very good running game to help him out, which leads me to say that I also have to see your OL perform much better. It just wasnt good last year and didnt improve as the season went on. Jones had a pretty good day against 3 NFL DBs last year while throwing to an AA and a true freshman WR. So, no flaming. Im sure many horn fans have the same concerns. We will see if Harsin can capture that Boise magic again in Dallas with more talent.
Whats Mack record against Big Game Bob? LOL, you cant win that arguement. If Harsin can dial up some trick plays again, you guys will do fine.
As for the OP, I seems Bohls is trying to stay relevant with OB's Geoff Ketchum, Chip Brown, etc. Last year Chip Brown broke the news of the Pac 16 that was virtually a done deal until the Big 12 saved it in the last second. I was not impressed with GG in the Orange and White game and saw some good things out of Connor Wood. But, as Iverson once said, we're talkin about practice. I hope GG does well because he has the most experience and a lot of ability. But I equally hope Mack doesn't hesitate to give the hook if the offense falters. This year, I have low expectations and I'm more about how well the young talents like Malcolm Brown, Jaxon Shipley, Darius White, etc will play and also how Harsin's offense will do. I don't know if we'll beat OU this year since they have a lot of experience talent coming back. But I know Harsin won't bring a swiss army knife to a gun fight on offense.
When Brian Harsin publicly affirms a depth chart position, then I'll accept that as news. Nothing till. I'm holding judgment on the coaching of this club until August practices are over. Then I'll decide, field an opinion.. I don't give a flying bat wing if 'Kerk Bowls' or any other news/blog writer says otherwise. Write all they want. The 1st Amendment covers gossip.
I would hope that Mack allows Brian Harsin to make the decision as to whether GG starts, but I don't think that will happen. (So, not a GG fan, may God have mercy on our team.) If Harsin really believes GG can effectively run his offense, great.
