Another aspect of our new dynamic offense, will be the defenses are going to have to put a spy on Thompson. Cause if he gets out of the pocket it's 10 or 20 yard gains all day long. And even if a linebacker spies on Thompson is he going to be able to stop Thompson? Well maybe a time or two. One less defender in the secondary, spying on Thompson, is going to leave receivers open. I think defenses are going to have to resort to blitzing. So imagine this, having J Sanders, a big guy, as an h-back for protecting the quarterback and Robinson in the backfield, either would be able to slip into a wide open flat, catch a short pass, and run for good yardage. Yessir, it's fun thinking ahead about all the possibilities.
Plus the other 4 positions on each side (except QB) have had backups who played significant minutes. P/K return too.
Texas advantages going into next year. 1. Running backs - This is the strength of the offense going into next year. It's no secret to anyone. 2. Defensive line - there is a lot of talent up front, we have to replace Ossai but there is so much talent at the other spots that we should be able to control the LOS and get tot he QB. Coburn, Broughton, Ojomo, and Collins are all legit NFL talents. 3. Line backer - I think we have some real talent there as long as we keep the guys we have supposedly coming back. Overshown, Mitchell, and Gbenda are all going to give us solid performance. Toss in Prince Dorbah Jaden Hullaby, and Marcus Tillman and you have some excellent depth. 4. Defensive backs - Lots of guys coming back but a a few questions, talent isn't the question, the real question is can we get them to play to their talent? 5. QB - We are down to Thompson and Card and both have talent but it's a new system and they will need to grow into their new offense. I trust that Sark can get the most out of them but the one place I trust Sark is his ability to coach QBs. 6. WRs - We have some talent coming back but I think they will have the 2nd steepest learning curve when it comes to learning this offense. The faster they can pick up the offense the faster the offense will significantly move them up the list. 7. TEs - Sark knows how to utilize the TE position and we have some good ones, but it again comes down to the idea of do we TEs that can pick up the offense to be effective. 8. Offensive line - We are woefully low on talent and woefully low on depth. We need an infusion of both. Who Texas picks as the oline coach will be huge as it will send a clear message to both recruits and transfer that we can give them the coaching to maximize their talent. Saban isn't the best coach because he is the smartest Xs and Os guy out there, he is the best because he has created the best system for developing the talent he has to work with. I can only hope that Sark has learned enough from Saban to know how to recreate the process.
I was wondering last night if Sark might work hard to get Larry Johnson in here, and succeed, then start working RJ back to QB to help give depth there.
It was accurate at the time. Nobody saw Thompson’s performance against Colorado coming. Good on Thompson. He kicked their *** and kept on kicking.
My thoughts on Thompson have been chronicled here. Last I saw him with extended snaps was the 2019 Spring game, and I saw talent and potential that wasn't ready for the starting job at that time. Clearly, CT has continued to grow as a player since then.
I'm optimistic every year, love the start of a new season. But, after the last two coaches, there is no, I repeat no kool-aid allowed in the LAGA4 house until win conference championships and go to the CFP all in the same season.
Totally understand this sentiment given everything that's happened since 2009, but goshdarnit, call me Charlie Brown that lines up to kick the football that Lucy is holding before every new season of Longhorn football. Now with SS, I'm running even harder - sure helps that he's clearly great at the fan PR aspect and has the underdog-who-overcame adversity story. Time will tell...
Well looks like we'll have Blake Gideon returning to campus as a rising star coach so I expect better ST coordination and play from Charlie and Lucy.
The 2021 schedule sets up nicely for Sark. Three very winnable non-conference games: Louisiana (Iowa State might disagree), Rice and an Arkansas team that Sark knows well. So we should be 3-0 heading into conference play. The start to the 2022 season, of course, may be a little more challenging (Alabama in Week 2).
I liked Gideon when he was at Texas. He wrongfully gets accused of losing the Tech game. You have too be an imbecile to put that loss on him. I always remember the other players and coaches referring to him as a coach on the field. So, can we move on from the Gideon bashing now?
I don't. And, he played hard, and was smart in terms of knowing where everyone needed to be. You know, the things that make a coach good. Are there not championship caliber coaches out there whom, if true in this case, sucked as players?
Yes there probably are players who had drawbacks that were excellent coaches. I’m not anti-Gideon as a Texas coach. I’m just busting chops.
For a 2-star from Leander to start all four years was because Texas was starting to fade in recruiting and Gideon was a clone of Muschamp, who was also an unknown lightly recruited defensive back from Georgia. Only reason. Then, once Gideon got reps, the Mack Brown school of "I'm not doing that to my seniors/upperclassmen" thing set in. Oh, he'd get an interception here and there but there were many times he got burned on long runs or catches.
Dude played in the NFL. It always puzzles me how fans get on some high horse. Blake was a player. And yes I researched copied and pasted: His 52 consecutive starts rank second all-time at Texas. He was named to the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award watch list and was a four-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Anyone here who can make that claim? If not, begone.
I would invite those posters, and I know I said they are imbeciles, but most are usually more reasonable, to go back and re-watch that game and explain how that guy lost the game. Also in the documentary I referenced, I think they said that Orakpo made clear it wasn't his fault, and he would basically take anyone to the woodshed who mentioned it.
Okay. And, like I said, you seem to be pretty reasonable most of the time. Sounds like he has become a hell of a coach.
