Notes from Spring practice #1

[Godz40acres]

If Watson gets out of line, Strong will hear about it and consequently, Watson will.

Watson may be getting a bad rap, if not, he better watch out.

As mad a CS was (and still is) after the bowl game, I can't help but wonder if the hiring of Traylor wasn't just for recruiting/TE/ST purposes. If the offense starts as poorly again next season, will Charlie pull the ol' Louisville-Two-Step and throw Traylor up into the booth? The guy is considered an O-guru by many in the HS ranks.

I'm not advocating for this - just wondering if it could be a possibility.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Your observation seems to be considerably more tempered.  Do you know why?

1. People trying to divine too much from one practice, especially the very first one.

2. The media knows what story the fans are going to click to read.

I don't make either of those remarks with ill will. I'm not trying to be mean/ugly, just realistic.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

It almost sounds as if Heard is under Norvell's tutelage, and that may well be for the best. Norvell and Wick won't take a backseat to anyone, anywhere. If Watson gets out of line, Strong will hear about it and consequently, Watson will.

Watson may be getting a bad rap, if not, he better watch out.

If you inferred that (Norvell-Swoopes) from my report then I apologize. Lots of coaches worked with individual players, but Norvell has his hands full with trying to develop replacements for John Harris & Jaxson Shipley. Whether it was positional drills or wideouts participating in 7's & 11's, Norvell was in the middle of them constantly.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Mark - that is a rather serious accusation.  Can you supply any info to substantiate this?

Well yea, but it's nothing I haven't shared with you before a few times. Back in December, Watson was called out by Wickline for his treatment of Heard. Instead of getting Heard snaps during bowl practices (one of the values of having bowl practices), Watson relegated Heard to running the scout team instead and gave the walk on all second team snaps.

I've posted this many times since then and shared it in a PM with you in January.

 

[GBT]

Well yea, but it's nothing I haven't shared with you before a few times. Back in December, Watson was called out by Wickline for his treatment of Heard. Instead of getting Heard snaps during bowl practices (one of the values of having bowl practices), Watson relegated Heard to running the scout team instead and gave the walk on all second team snaps.

I've posted this many times since then and shared it in a PM with you in January.

Sounds like Watson was smart. If Swoopes goes down early in bowl game the walk-on has to come in and play. Only a fool takes a RS off a kid like Heard in a worthless bowl game like the Texas Bowl. The walk-on needed to take those reps. Wickline sounds like an idiot if he was upset about that deal. Scout team against #1s on defense was better for Heard than going against walk-ons and scrubs on defense.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Instead of getting Heard snaps during bowl practices (one of the values of having bowl practices), Watson relegated Heard to running the scout team instead and gave the walk on all second team snaps.

In fairness to Watson, we weren't going to burn Heard's redshirt for the Texas Bowl. At least I hope we wouldn't.

 

[Duke C #11]

Well yea, but it's nothing I haven't shared with you before a few times. Back in December, Watson was called out by Wickline for his treatment of Heard. Instead of getting Heard snaps during bowl practices (one of the values of having bowl practices), Watson relegated Heard to running the scout team instead and gave the walk on all second team snaps.

I've posted this many times since then and shared it in a PM with you in January.

This reminds me of an old joke.

Triple Filter Test

 ​

[SIZE=10pt]One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance. The acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"[/SIZE]

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the 'Triple Filter Test'."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student, let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to say to me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued, "You may still pass the test, though, because there is a third filter -- the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why he never found out that Plato was banging his wife.

 

[Dieselprime]

This reminds me of an old joke.

Triple Filter Test

 ​

[SIZE=10pt]One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance. The acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"[/SIZE]

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the 'Triple Filter Test'."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student, let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to say to me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued, "You may still pass the test, though, because there is a third filter -- the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why he never found out that Plato was banging his wife.

I laughed

 

[MikeV73]

Watching taped highlites of Day 1 practice...Heard missing on 8 of 10 throws in WR/DB. Drills. Swoopes hitting 70%. Just an observation.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

In fairness to Watson, we weren't going to burn Heard's redshirt for the Texas Bowl. At least I hope we wouldn't.

Nor would I expect him to. But the importance of gaining a bowl berth is that you get meaningful snaps for your future. It happens every single year. Each year we hear hype about a couple of redshirts who tear it up during bowl practices.

Just not Heard. He wasn't given that chance.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Sounds like Watson was smart. If Swoopes goes down early in bowl game the walk-on has to come in and play. Only a fool takes a RS off a kid like Heard in a worthless bowl game like the Texas Bowl. The walk-on needed to take those reps. Wickline sounds like an idiot if he was upset about that deal. Scout team against #1s on defense was better for Heard than going against walk-ons and scrubs on defense.

And what stops you from getting PT for three QBs?

I admire Wickline for speaking up. Guys got balls and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. And if you're half responsible for the offense, then you pretty much have a right to speak up.

There has never been a day when working scout team was more beneficial than working 1st team. Especially for a QB, where timing is everything.

When I was a soph in HS, I was called up to the varsity. I was the only one who was called up. I played QB. And after five games with the varsity, we had a open date. So the HC decides I need more action/experience and lets me play JV during the varsity's open date (JV had a game scheduled). It was a miserable experience. Game was far slower, all timing was off, I was awful.

It took a week to get back to where I was before that open date. Messed me up.

 

[java]

Let's not kid ourselves, if either Swoopes or Heard were polished passers, Ash wouldn't have been asked to throw on Pro Day.  The close-up I saw of David was painful.  He knew that he would never have a Pro Day of his own, through no fault of his own.  The kid has character to burn.

Swoopes and Heard have a lot of work to do, and plenty to work on.  I just want Heard to get a fair shake and good coaching.  If Traylor can do that for him, so be it.  Watson be damned.  My allegiance is to the Texas Longhorns.  It is not to any assistant coach, though I must admit an affinity for Wick and Bedford, and Strong has a special place in my burnt orange heart.

Hopefully, Kai Locksley will come in and kick some serious ass.

Hook 'em!

 

[Juan]

Things got a little intense

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[doc longhorn]

Nor would I expect him to. But the importance of gaining a bowl berth is that you get meaningful snaps for your future. It happens every single year. Each year we hear hype about a couple of redshirts who tear it up during bowl practices.

Just not Heard. He wasn't given that chance.

You've mentioned, in another thread, that Watson had it in for Heard.  You didn't answer my question - what info do you have to confirm this?