This top OL class is one of those DUH moments. It is truly stellar class to say the least. Now can they produce? If they do, all bets are off. If any qb has time to throw and Bijan doesnt get hit every play 5 yards in the backfield then hold on for the ride. On the other side of the ball, it still requires a D that gets into the backfield and I just dont believe PK can do that. If GP is able to help PK (what a joke of a statement but is where we are) learn to play D then we are in a great position!!
Yea, after sending multiple players to the NFL and fielding top defenses at prior DC positions, PK has forgotten how to coach.
I agree and considering it's the end of year one and the overhaul that is underway on this roster; I believe all should temper their expectations just a bit. If we are still having these same issues going into Y3, then by all means beat the war drums.
You obviously have some hope but its not based on last years performance which we ended up at 100 out of 130. I cant find a worse defense, ever by Texas than last year so yes there is concern.
I think most of those guys will be starting this year. I know the old logic is no OL start as FR but our OL is so bad and these guys have all the accolades that I think at least 3 of them are starting early in the year. If they are good enough then let them play. We gain nothing by having them sit. They are big and by all accounts excellent OL.
I agree. UT needs to allow this staff time… and I care not if it’s 5 years, to develop the schemes, get the players, develop a congruent strategy. Geez- so tired of the UT coaching carousel of OCs, DCs and position coaches. Continuity is a big issue and for crying out loud we have a complete staff that has a proven history if we will just let them do their respective jobs and support- hell yes I am talking sunshine pumping, stadium rocking, support. Maybe we can learn that one thing from Aggie. The biggest sunshine pumping with little return history fan base in the free world.
Methinks Bo Davis said it best. I saw several D players off the bus at the end of the year. And the players who supported Bo, happen to be the standouts from last year. Wake up man. Patience grasshopper
It's not "old logic". It's lots of coaches with lots of experience stating that OL is one of the toughest places to step into. You have to be good at run-blocking and pass-blocking, yes. You also have to adjust to defensive changes and understand how your fellow linemen are going to react. You also have to get used to being highlighted on TV almost exclusively when you have made an error. I think we see maybe one of the recruits starting next year.
Anyone know when Ochuan Mathis will announce where he’s going to play football next season? We need that guy. He needs to be on campus now getting ready for the spring game.
While I certainly wish each player the best, this reality confirms the double-edged sword nature of the portal. Their decision, perhaps based on hope and delusion and not reality, has had the effect of clearing out space for what may be better players.
The problem with being a mediocre player on a mediocre Texas team is that they think they are still that 4 star or 5 star player coming out of high school getting offers from every big school. However, they now have plenty of stats and video for teams to look at which quite frankly isn't very impressive. I'm guessing all of them have gotten attention from lesser schools, but they think they should go to another P5 school. I bet they will all land somewhere but not where they thought they would.
The same as players declaring too early the NFL draft. Eligibility, notably staying that way, doesn’t get much ink. If we, the FBS, don’t address the eligibility dodge of these outlets, the future of anything like intercollegiate athletics is done. We will be down to minor league football as an NFL affiliate. If that gets alums excited, then tally-ho! Dabo Swinney went off on this regarding transfers recently without saying ‘specifically’ that he was talking about graduation rates and negating the academic part of football.
A certain coach, unnamed, but operated near Kansas City turned an entire program around (at least W/L-wise) by bringing in Ju-co players who never went to school. At all!. Played the first fall, registered but passed zero. Registered in the spring, got hurt late in spring training and WD from school. Petitioned for another semester to meet graduation progress req’s, played their last fall and adios. Never saw a class-room. We are all Headed that way fast if something doesn’t get fixed. The NCAA is completely toothless to do anything meaningful at all.
hornde, I fear there is huge truth in your post, but we have tried for decades to eliminate the problems. DKR forced Third Ward on the SWC because, as he put it, "if we have to recruit against them, at least make them play by our rules". Unfortunately, that was laughable because of the same two problems we are still facing, albeit slightly altered: 1) Academics - some schools either have 5th grade level academic programs with ZERO advancement toward a degree or no monitoring of advancement so that kids get to spend four years on campus with less than 30 hours total credit. 2) Street agents - see also Olajawon (sp) among a multitude of others. Penders actually stole one from Ohio State, but the fat princes of polyester got the kid declared academically ineligible because he was from South America and made 1300 on the SAT in Spanish, but only 550 in English. Now the vultures have sidestepped the "pay for delivery" and gone into the portal & early NFL businesses. As far back as Fred Akers on through to Mack Brown, Deloss, et al have tried to keep these vultures away from our players and to educate the kids, but they can't see it because of all the smoke being blown up their butts.
That's why we always teased our friends in the Dust Bowl that they might win the Big Eight but were NEVER the best team in Oklahoma - that was NEOA&M.
If he can just catch it and show enough speed to make defenses respect him that is a win. Have Quan Cosby teach them all how to catch with their hands!!!
