Why Texas' true freshman quarterback already looks like a star

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by bck031, Aug 22, 2016.

  1. bck031

    bck031 1,000+ Posts

    Entering Week 1 of the college football season, there might not be a more intriguing game than Notre Dame at Texas, and within that game there might not be a more intriguing storyline than the quarterback position. While the Irish have two experienced QB's who will split reps, the Longhorns are seemingly set to play a true freshman who has never played a down of major college football.

    So yes, the eyes of Texas will be upon Shane Buechele in that opener (assuming he's officially named the starter), but for those who have doubts about the true freshman, it might be time to think again.

    http://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...-quarterback-already-looks-like-a-star-082216
     
    • Like Like x 3
  2. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    Great article and high praise on Shane from a former pro QB who's worked up close and personal with him.

    Funny how everyone on the outside looking in (even former Texas football players) is gushing over Shane and CS still refuses to see the light and pull the trigger.

    Somebody needs to tell ESPN, FOX, etc that Strong plans to start his pet cat Swoopes and drain the first hope of QB promise in years out of the stadium come Sept. 4.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  3. bck031

    bck031 1,000+ Posts

    I am hoping that Charlie knows who the QB is, but just doesn't want to give anyone a heads up.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  4. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    This is high praise for Shane!! Always nice to hear stuff like this.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. car54

    car54 1,000+ Posts

    If Swoopes is the best option at QB, its time to write off this staff for the simple reason they have had 3 years of off-season to FIX the QB issue and have failed. ( They knew we had the issue when they signed on ) If they can't fix a problem quicker than that, there is no way they can coach this team to any shot of a championship, no matter the talent they might acquire. ( Bama and other schools shore up their problem areas in one off-season....two at the most. So should a good staff at Texas. )
    I hope Charlie rights the ship, and it would be great if Swoopes did excel in the new offense, allowing SB to mature....But I can't keep the Swoopes blunders from crossing my mind over and over. Anxious to see what happens this season.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2016
  6. Clean

    Clean 5,000+ Posts

    I hope Mr. Jordan Palmer knows of which he speaks and I hope SB gets to see the field. Only thing that worries me is his statement that Shane is a "little guy". A little guy wouldn't have lasted long on last years team.
     
  7. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    I keep reading about how our true freshman QB who has not played a down is already a star and how we have the most talented incoming wide receivers ever... and I am amazed our fanbase has forgotten Garrett Gilbert (regarding Buechel or any other true freshman at any position) or that Vince Young was not all that great as a redshirt freshman and was a horrendous passer but developed into one of the best ever (regarding Heard). I do not know how well Heard, Buechel or even Swoopes will do in the new offense, but I am amazed at how confident our fanbase is on all the Texas boards and social media. I do know good true freshmen QBs are few and far between.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2016
  8. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    <<< Forget his size, he's got "IT". :hookem:
     
  9. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    This^^^
     
  10. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    True Freshmen QB's are 13-10 as starters all-time at Texas. Well so I read in an AAS article the other day.

    I'd take 13-10 (57%) over Swoopes' 6-8 (43%) starting record and win % any day.

    Stidham was 2-1 starting for Baylor's similar offense last year.

    In 3 starts the true Freshman went 51 of 81 (63%), 934 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT.

    I'm not confident in just any true Freshman, but in Shane specifically due to his advanced mentality and his 'gamer' intangibles shown on film and Spring Game.

    Stidham guided this offense effectively as an early-enrollee true Freshman, and I'm confident Shane can match his composure, leadership, and QB talent.

    Give the young, fearless gunslinger the keys and let him unleash the dogs. So what if a few bite his own legs, it's go time. :hookem:
     
  11. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    I would always redshirt a true freshman QB and would start Heard. I think Heard, who would be in a proper offense, wins more games than a true freshman and starting a true freshman is the one thing Charlie can do to sabotage the offense and get himself prematurely fired. I think Heard showed a lot of potential against OU last year and could develop into a pretty effective QB in a VY/spread style offense.

    Another factor is, I do not think playing Ash as a true freshman was good for his career. He was not ready and got beat up. I do not think Ash was as bad as he is given credit for, I think he was the result of playing prematurely and getting beat up. If Ash had redshirted 2011, he might have made to 2015. I do not want to see the same happen to our new guy. If we are moving in the right direction and Gilbert was the right hire, we should be able to get to 8-5 with Swoopes or Heard so that there is no need to play a true freshman prematurely.

    However, as stated above I do not know how good Buechel is and maybe he ends up being the real deal that turns it all around this year. Nothing would be better than Buechel starting with 10 wins and looking to reclaim Colt's all-time win record for Texas. Even Colt did not do well against tOSU, so I just do not feel great about a true freshman's chances against Notre Dame, @California and @Oklahoma State to start the year. We will see soon enough!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  12. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Htown77, your post makes way too much sense for this thread. Please delete it immediately!! :smile1:

    Seriously though, nice points re: Ash, and the issues about starting True freshmen QB's. I love Shane, but am very concerned about his durability. Guess making personnel decisions like this are why the coaches get paid the big bucks. :deadhorse:
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    I think this is a great point. Could Heard be more effective in Gilbert’s new offensive scheme?

    The coaches may totally surprise everyone and start him against ND.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    The coaches see day in and day out. I'm sure they know the pros and cons of starting a true freshman.

    Sometimes you don't have two 5* upper classmen in front of a new guy. If the coaches doubt Swoopes is the guy, and Heard is behind because of the injury, you play the hand that you're dealt. It might be that they aren't "trying to save their jobs" or "biased towards their own recruits" or "putting off the inevitable" (as primary motivation), they are trying to put the guys on the field that they think will help them win ball games. I'm ok with that.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2016
  15. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    Winning ball games is saving their jobs. They need to play whatever QB will win the most ball games. If that is the true freshman, so be it. I am skeptical it would be a true freshman, however I have no idea if this is the guy or not until I see him play in a real game.

    Even Teddy Bridgewater did not start until game 4 of his true freshman year and while his numbers may have been freshman all american worthy, 14 tds and 12 Ints and a 5-5 record is not great in general (there were other factors obviously, including it being year 1 of Charlie Strong and not year 3). Like I said, we'll find out soon enough.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  16. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    Found this today at USA Today:

    Three of Nick Saban’s four titles with the Crimson Tide have come with first-year starting quarterbacks, so there’s not a tremendous amount of panic in Tuscaloosa even though he admits the position is “a work in progress.”​

    Just thought it was interesting....
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    ^ How many were true freshman?

    2009 Greg McElroy redshirt Junior
    2011 AJ McCarron redshirt Sophomore
    2012 AJ McCarron redshirt Junior
    2015 Jake Coker redshirt 6th year Senior (medical waiver)

    The least experienced was entering his third year with the program.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2016
  18. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    This^^^ A true freshman is miles away from someone in their 3rd year in college. Twelve months ago Shane was bringing it in the opener against high schoolers.

    I think Shane will, for better or worse, be the starter. I certainly wish him all the luck and success in the world. He will need it, not only because he's a TF, but he's also going to be playing behind a center who has never started a college game at that position.

    He will be facing some seriously hostile, big, fast, brutal Irishmen.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2016
  19. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    of all the texas true freshman, how many started game 1 because they won the job? i'd guess it's rare that the true freshman wins the job in the summer. it's normally after the starter flops or gets injured. if shane starts, it will be a very rare situation indeed.
     

Share This Page