Offensive lineman Strong/Wickline inherited

[Sirhornsalot]

I still have so many A&M and OU "friends" over there. 

"Bomb has been gone for 2 years and he is still so far in your head."

LOL

 

[streettopeschel]

Great work Utis. I knew we were bad but did not realize we were at rock bottom.

Added to the mess Mack left at QB, no wonder we are under .500 the last two years.

the 'mess Mack left at QB' is an interesting narrative. For Charlie's first year, Mack left Ash, Swoopes and a commitment from Heard.
Ash was a solid college QB. He got hurt again, had to retire. Bad luck for everyone but hardly Mack's fault.

Heard was wanted by EVERYONE ON EVERY LONGHORN BOARD. One of Charlie's first big tests was keeping him in the fold after Mack left. If he had lost Heard, it would be a disaster. He kept him! Well done Charlie! Now Heard is a WR. Is that on Mack or shit development from Charlie and his late great OC?

2015 we're all in on some QB from NM who ditches us and is now a backup TE at Michigan. Charlie 'rallies' and gets as his only QB commit a guy who'll never see the field at QB but apparently has a shot as backup punt returner.

Hopefully Buechele is everything we want him to be after one great half of a spring game so Charlie can finally start being held accountable.

 

[Bear19]

And virtually all of the offensive linemen Mack left were also highly recruited. Doesn't matter how you start out it's how you wind up. IMO.

 

[utisdabomb12]

the 'mess Mack left at QB' is an interesting narrative. For Charlie's first year, Mack left Ash, Swoopes and a commitment from Heard.

Ash was a solid college QB. He got hurt again, had to retire. Bad luck for everyone but hardly Mack's fault.

Heard was wanted by EVERYONE ON EVERY LONGHORN BOARD. One of Charlie's first big tests was keeping him in the fold after Mack left. If he had lost Heard, it would be a disaster. He kept him! Well done Charlie! Now Heard is a WR. Is that on Mack or shit development from Charlie and his late great OC?

2015 we're all in on some QB from NM who ditches us and is now a backup TE at Michigan. Charlie 'rallies' and gets as his only QB commit a guy who'll never see the field at QB but apparently has a shot as backup punt returner.

Hopefully Buechele is everything we want him to be after one great half of a spring game so Charlie can finally start being held accountable.

It's tough to blame Mack for Ash, that was just unlucky. Ash was a good college QB. Not elite but certainly good. 

Heard was always an athlete recruited as a QB. I for one never thought Heard would be a great QB, because he had major mechanical issues throwing the ball in HS. Heard was likely receptive to moving to WR because he realized he's not a QB at this level. 

As for the QBs Strong recruited at Texas in the '15 class, I always thought Merrick would be the best QB out of the bunch. Matter of fact, I said on another board a couple months ago Merrick would pass up Heard and Heard would move to WR. I have no clue if Merrick ever receives playing time at Texas with Buechele and Ehlinger, but I'm not surprised that there's reports of Merrick showing substantial progress in fall camp. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

It's tough to blame Mack for Ash, that was just unlucky. Ash was a good college QB. Not elite but certainly good. 

Heard was always an athlete recruited as a QB. I for one never thought Heard would be a great QB, because he had major mechanical issues throwing the ball in HS. Heard was likely receptive to moving to WR because he realized he's not a QB at this level. 

As for the QBs Strong recruited at Texas in the '15 class, I always thought Merrick would be the best QB out of the bunch. Matter of fact, I said on another board a couple months ago Merrick would pass up Heard and Heard would move to WR. I have no clue if Merrick ever receives playing time at Texas with Buechele and Ehlinger, but I'm not surprised that there's reports of Merrick showing substantial progress in fall camp. 

Good discussion, Gents. Agree on Ash. There at the end, we were holding our breath on every snap, hoping he wouldn't get hit. No way to live. 

I was big on Heard. For the offense we were running, he was a nice fit if for no other reason he had that McCoy element of making things happen when things fall apart. He made a living on that in High School.

Today is quite a different story. New OC, new offensive philosophy. Very structured and few opportunities for unrehearsed stuff. It was not an offense Heard will excel in. And apparently, he understands that which is why he went to Charlie and asked for this change.

Part of Locksley's problem is while he's got a nice QB mind (son of a coach), he's just not programmed like a QB and the tools are not polished. You have to wonder, at this stage, why he's not also considering a position change.

Great to hear on Merrick. In today's ball, one QB is not enough. Two is often not enough. 

 

[DBut82]

 And apparently, he understands that which is why he went to Charlie and asked for this change.

So Heard actually asked for the position change? I hadn't heard that and actually makes me feel better about that transition. Even so, if that's the case I think he gave up on himself too early. We forget that he was just a redshirt freshman last year. I personally think he could have continued to develop and improved. And while he may have eventually lost his job to Beuchele (or perhaps even Elingher), there's no way he's not better than Swoopes...

 

[Sirhornsalot]

So Heard actually asked for the position change? I hadn't heard that and actually makes me feel better about that transition. Even so, if that's the case I think he gave up on himself too early. We forget that he was just a redshirt freshman last year. I personally think he could have continued to develop and improved. And while he may have eventually lost his job to Beuchele (or perhaps even Elingher), there's no way he's not better than Swoopes...

Yes, he actually went to Charlie and asked for the change. Charlie described the encounter in a recent interview. He wants to see PT somewhere and asked for WR.

Heard will still be the #3 QB, he's just also going to play WR and probably see the field a bunch more than he would have. Good move on his part, but also a sacrifice of sorts that will better the team.

I'm not sure he had as much of a future at QB under this offensive philosophy as he did under the previous regime. Heard is an ad lib kinda guy. This approach is structured and disciplined. It's why he lagged behind Swoopes this go-round.

He's a helluva athlete. And now we can utilize that athleticism somewhere on the field.

 

[mctmatt]

I think it is a very smart move by Heard just on the fact that it will give him more opportunities to play at the next level (Pro's ) and he reminds me of the Hutto QB who led his team to state and played QB at TCU and then played for the Jets .  I just cannot remember his name for the life of me right now.  The key again to this season is the improvement of the Offensive Line. 

 

[MikeV73]

I think it is a very smart move by Heard just on the fact that it will give him more opportunities to play at the next level (Pro's ) and he reminds me of the Hutto QB who led his team to state and played QB at TCU and then played for the Jets . I just cannot remember his name for the life of me right now. The key again to this season is the improvement of the Offensive Line.

Jeremy Kerley I believe.

 

[echeese]

actually, as much crap as i throw at mack, you can count me as an mb fan.  you nailed it exactly regarding how mack checked out after the lost title game, but really it was time for him to go prior to then.

when mack came here he was a godsend.  he healed many wounds and got us out of a bad hole.  but, like when you use granny gear to get you out of a mud hole, you don't just stay in that gear.  mack stayed in that gear.

had he retired after the 2005 championship game, he would be a much-less-well-off hero around here right now today.  the way he hung on, sneaked his dopey preferences back into the program, and - as you mention - accepted the easy commits provided they had stars next to their names, he put us into a much deeper hole than he originally got us out of.  for that reason, his name around here is in the truncated cone file over in the corner next to the door.

A little reality check for some of you. . . .

Mack from 2010-2013 landed the #3, #3, #2 and #24 classes in the nation, before you point at 2013, he only took 15 guys and average star ranking was 3.6 which was better than  #4 Florida, #6 Michigan #7 Ole Miss #9 auburn.

#1 mistake was trying to switch to a power run game to accommodate Coach Boom, going away from the short passing O that was our mainstay.    

#2 mistake was his loyalty to McWhorter (who picked his OLs) and Bobby K. . . really liked Bobby K but he wasn't much of a coach.

From 2006-2009 we were #2 in the nation (power 5 teams) winning 85% of our games, we were a colt mccoy stinger from winning the conference in 2006 and a bad rule from winning in 2008.

You can argue he should have stuck to plan after 2009 and retired. . . .but asking him to leave after 2005 just flat goofy.

And based on what happened at Florida. . . .Horns would have been no better off under Coach Boom.   Talk to some insiders, they will tell you that it was Boom and Major who ran recruiting prior to Boom moving on.  .. granted buck stops with the head man.

 

[echeese]

From the championship game loss on, Mack had no earthly idea what he wanted his team to look like.  The one smart thing he did do was hire Coach Boom and cede the defense over to him entirely.  Would that Mack could have found an offensive coordinator that he trusted enough to turn loose of the offensive reins.

Recruiting was the one thing that was right in Mack's wheelhouse, but after the 'Bama loss, Brown started repeatedly doing something he'd done even before the '05 championship, namely recruiting low hanging fruit.  I'm no insider, but from '10 on, it struck me that there was very little evaluation of players recruited to UT going on.  Mack let the Baylors, A&M's, and TCU's of this world catch up to and pass UT in recruiting.

actually he ceded the D to Carl Reese in 1998, another loyalty mistake was waiting so long to hire Greg Robinson/Dick Tomey who are the guys who turned TEXAS D back into the monster it had been historically.

Offensive reigns were run by the best OC in TEXAS history.  . .some of you can't separate your irrational hate for GD with the reality of football games played on the field.

But revisionist history is important to some horn fans.

 

[ah-blong]

only thing i have to say is that i'll stand here and elsewhere on what i've said.

mack was a blind fool.  ok, i violated sentence #1, but that's it.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I can agree with echeese's thoughts on what happened . . . and will add my own . . . IMO, Mack was greatly influenced by the 2009 Alabama game. From that point forward, he wanted to become an Alabama, with the power running game and passing to compliment.

To do that, you had to have some serious meatsteak up front on the OL. This was contrary to the type of OL McWhorter would recruit. It just never got off the ground.

 

[oldhorn2]

2009?...I disagree. Mack stated after 2007 that Texas was going to become a power run team....It never happened.After the 2009 game against Bama he said it again....it never happened.Then he said we were going to become a HUNH team....that never even got close.

I am grateful for what Mack brought to the program, but I am so pissed that he could build us back to greatness and then piss it all away by leaving us in as bad of shape as we had ever been. Has there ever in the history of College football been a case where a team played for a Natty( ans was dominating until the starting QB gets knocked out) and the very next year having a losing record?THAT my friends is a combination of piss poor recruiting and piss poor coaching.

 

[streettopeschel]

2009?...I disagree. Mack stated after 2007 that Texas was going to become a power run team....It never happened.After the 2009 game against Bama he said it again....it never happened.Then he said we were going to become a HUNH team....that never even got close.

I am grateful for what Mack brought to the program, but I am so pissed that he could build us back to greatness and then piss it all away by leaving us in as bad of shape as we had ever been.

Jeezus H. His last 3 years were 8-5, 9-4, 8-5. By no measure was this 'as bad of shape as we've ever been'
Charlie apologists and Mack haters really need to do more research.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Jeezus H. His last 3 years were 8-5, 9-4, 8-5. By no measure was this 'as bad of shape as we've ever been'

Charlie apologists and Mack haters really need to do more research.

The issue with this is 

1) Strong had to dismiss 9 players. 4 players medically retired pretty much right off the bat from what I can recall (Espy, Jackson, Benson and Cochran). By my count we were already 1 under the scholarship limit when Strong took over at 84. So over 15% of the scholarship players gone in year 1 under Strong. It was probably over 20% by year 2. This doesn't even include players that were pretty much forced out and transferred, like McFarland and James, or this number is probably closer to 25%

You can ask why did Strong have to dismiss those players? He had no choice with failed drug tests, accusations of rape, and so on. 

To say Mack left the roster in shambles is an understatement. Not only did he leave a bunch of players that weren't all that good, he left about 25% of the roster that needed to be dismissed for serious offenses/retired. 1 out of 4 players that Mack left are gone from the roster, just think about that. That would kill any program for 3 or 4 years. Watch Baylor after this year for example. 

2) Mack's final recruiting classes were a joke. The 2013 recruiting class was ranked #17 in the nation with only 16 commits. The 2014 recruiting class was ranked #16 in the nation and would have been much worse if Strong didn't land Freeman, Nelson and Ford. Not even top 20 good in 2014.

Mack left a little talent from the 2012 and 2011 classes, but it's not surprising there was a big drop off after that. Once those players were gone after year 1 under Strong it was kind of obvious a drop off was coming in year 2 if you take a good look at the 2013 and 2014 recruiting classes. 

I for one respect the hell out of Mack. I think he did great things at Texas. He absolutely screwed over the roster though at the end of his tenure. These two things aren't mutually exclusive, he screwed over the roster and did great things at Texas. 

I wish Mack would have retired a couple years earlier and this discussion wouldn't even be taking place. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

Also, in reference to my post above be glad Mack didn't finish off his 2014 or 2015 class. The attrition would have even be worse. These players would have likely ended up in Mack's 2014 and 2015 classes. 

Aaron Garza-transferred from Kansas to SHSU because he couldn't even get playing time at Kansas. 

Trey LMFAO-serving a 6 year jail sentence. 

Courtney Garnett-never played in a game at OU in 2 years. Transferring but might not play football again. 

Johnny Shaw-lasted a week in camp at LA Tech. I don't think he's even playing football anymore. 

Sione Teuhema-Dismissed from LSU, now at Southeastern Louisiana. 

Bryce English-transferred from K-State to UNT. 

Jalen Campbell-ended up at SHSU. Redshirted his FR year. 

That's just off the top of my head. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011


Raulerson's first game at Arkansas against LA Tech. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Also, in reference to my post above be glad Mack didn't finish off his 2014 or 2015 class. The attrition would have even be worse. These players would have likely ended up in Mack's 2014 and 2015 classes. 

Aaron Garza-transferred from Kansas to SHSU because he couldn't even get playing time at Kansas. 

Trey LMFAO-serving a 6 year jail sentence. 

Courtney Garnett-never played in a game at OU in 2 years. Transferring but might not play football again. 

Johnny Shaw-lasted a week in camp at LA Tech. I don't think he's even playing football anymore. 

Sione Teuhema-Dismissed from LSU, now at Southeastern Louisiana. 

Bryce English-transferred from K-State to UNT. 

Jalen Campbell-ended up at SHSU. Redshirted his FR year. 

That's just off the top of my head. 

http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2016/08/what-will-the-impact-of-unts-three-key-losses-english-hayes-and-johnson-be.html/

 

[ah-blong]

i really like raulerson and hope he does well.  same with others who've left the program.  particularly overstreet.  shame that didn't work out here.