Thoughts Following Tonight's Gut Wrencher Against Texas Tech

[mctmatt]

Hookem does not give Tom any slack nor should they as the fans are including myself are ready for results.  This is going to be an interesting off season  for the Longhorns as Tom has to show more improvement and produce more wins .  This will not be easy as many of the key players that were so vital to the improvements that we did see this year will most likely be gone and have to be replaced with younger inexperienced players . 

 

[DMAC]

Hookem does not give Tom any slack nor should they as the fans are including myself are ready for results.  This is going to be an interesting off season  for the Longhorns as Tom has to show more improvement and produce more wins .  This will not be easy as many of the key players that were so vital to the improvements that we did see this year will most likely be gone and have to be replaced with younger inexperienced players . 

1.  Imagine this team without MJ, Poona, Hill, Conner and possibly Elliott and Dickson.  

2.  Inexperienced OL but should have better overall talent with Hudson and Rodriquez back.

3.  No tight end except a skinny Cade Brewer.  What ever happened Reese?  Moore is gone.

4.  Orlando could leave but that is probably a year away.

5.  ags land Fisher with Tim Brewster.  Recruiting just took a nasty turn.

So many things could turn into a really bad 2018 season.

The Horns are 13-11 at home since the start of the 2014 season and 22-27 overall.

That is just f##king pathetic.

 

[primal defense]

Former Longhorns Desmond Jackson, Quandre Diggs don't hold back




https://247sports.com/college/texas/Bolt/Former-Longhorns-Desmond-Jackson-Quandre-Diggs-rip-Texas-offense-vs-Texas-Tech-111029511

 

[okiehorn]

1.  Imagine this team without MJ, Poona, Hill, Conner and possibly Elliott and Dickson.  

2.  Inexperienced OL but should have better overall talent with Hudson and Rodriquez back.

3.  No tight end except a skinny Cade Brewer.  What ever happened Reese?  Moore is gone.

4.  Orlando could leave but that is probably a year away.

5.  ags land Fisher with Tim Brewster.  Recruiting just took a nasty turn.

So many things could turn into a really bad 2018 season.

That is just f##king pathetic.

Won’t Beck be back? That’ll help I’d think. With the blocking from that side anyway. The line will be better...can’t get worse....as for defense boy that scares me. Everything I read on TFB seems as if Malik and Williams are the only locks for NFL others may try to combine out but the first 2 are long gone. Malik is 1 if a kind but I see Gary Johnson doin well in his shoes. Not as good but great to have. I know it’s only year 2 but next year is critical for Herman. 

 

[Epictetus]

Two enormous considerations that are rarely discussed are the quality of AD and the relationship between the HFC and the AD. Tom Herman may think he is the smartest person in the room, but I assure everyone, Mike Perrin is in a league far above Tom Herman.

One story I would love to see someone from the staff write is a discussion with Perrin about his tenure while the AD and the transition the program is about to enter as the new AD is announced and begins to execute whatever plan he is being brought in to manage.

My one question about HErman is whether he is smart enough to take counseling from others. From the way he mis-handled the Horny and Leitao situations, I have serious doubts. I am sure Perrin has tried to help Herman as he takes over the reigns of the program. I just wonder how much Herman listens.

The ability of the new AD to help Tom Herman grow past his weaknesses will be instrumental in determining whether Herman gets things turned around, or when he is just another Charlie Strong. Herman hired Horny not because he was the best guy for the job, but because Horny was a friend with abysmal job prospects and Herman wanted to help a friend out in a time of need. Herman sacrificed his relationship with a segment of the alumni, and subverted the best interests of the program out of loyalty to a personal friendship. Not a smart decision for such an intelligent man.

I wonder whether Herman will once again let personal considerations overrule the best interests of the program and decide not to make necessary adjustments to his staff. Both Perrin and the new AD will have or have had discussions with Tom Herman on his weaknesses as HFC, including his judgement when balancing his duty to respects best interests of the program when the "right decision" may adversely affect one of his personal friendships. I hope Tom takes the advice to heart.

The new AD will be announced in the next few days. I hope he is someone capable of mentoring Tom Herman, assuming Tom can be mentored. Steve Patterson was a nightmare. Perrin has righted the ship. Someone like Del Conte would be a great hire as AD. We will see how it all turns out soon.

Tom has a lot to prove to show he was the right guy to run the program, especially considering all the latitude he has been given on how the program is run. So far he hasn't come close to validating his choice as HFC. He needs to change that quickly.

Cannot say how much I appreciate your writing this. Solid view and well -stated.

 

[Hiwood]

I cant believe Im saying this but the person that needs to mentor Tom Hermann is........Mack Brown

 

[Grandpa Zorro]

On the plus side...We really have a great punter!!  WOW.

 

[TexCoyote]

On the plus side...We really have a great punter!!  WOW.

And our head coach won’t even say his name. If Herman is as smart as they claim he is, not saying your punters name is STUPID........especially as well as he has played this year and should win top punter of the year. He calls it a family........but we are not going to say some of our family members names??????? As I said, just STUPID 

 

[TexExSpur]

Pathetic display and a complete disconnect between offensive players and the staff.....................

 

[DMAC]

Won’t Beck be back? That’ll help I’d think. With the blocking from that side anyway. The line will be better...can’t get worse....as for defense boy that scares me. Everything I read on TFB seems as if Malik and Williams are the only locks for NFL others may try to combine out but the first 2 are long gone. Malik is 1 if a kind but I see Gary Johnson doin well in his shoes. Not as good but great to have. I know it’s only year 2 but next year is critical for Herman. 

For a minute I thought you meant Tim Beck LOL.  Not sure on Andrew Beck but I thought he was gone after this year unless he uses a medical.  Yea Gary Johnson lessons the blow but considering he is usually on the field along with MJ we are still losing talent.

 Juniors to the NFL?: I’ve said multiple times that there is no way I can see JR’s Malik Jefferson and Connor Williams returning to Texas for their SR seasons. Both are likely first round picks and they know that. The more interesting decisions will come with guys like DeShon Elliott, Holton Hill, and even guys like Michael Dickson and Charles Omenihu.

After talking to some people it sounds like Elliott and Hill will both likely test the NFL waters but neither one of those decisions are as much of a sure thing like Williams and Jefferson. There was a time earlier in the season that DE Charles Omenihu was playing very well and some talked about him possibly leaving early. I’m told that likely isn’t going to happen anymore. Punter Michael Dickson, who has an argument of being Texas’ best player in 2017 is draft eligible. I’ll be honest, I’m not an expert on kickers or punters leaving early. And I’m not sure if Dickson is set to graduate early like guys like Williams and Jefferson. I will say that he can 100% start for an NFL team in 2018, heck he could right now.

http://texas.thefootballbrainiacs.com/2017/11/thoughts-texas-tech/

 

[DMAC]

Shows just how pathetic this offense is.

 

[RickyFlair]

Wish the coaches had Old Horn's salt and grit and determination.
Good writing. No edits.

Left over from Charlie is the inability to gauge talent. I have discussions with a friend about the "what you see in practice" paradigm. He likes it, I don't. It's what you see in games that matters. The place kicking is a good example. Kicked well in practice, but not in games. Flip that and you can't go by what you see in practice to determine real-time performance.

Any pilots here that ever stalled NOT on purpose, or got slightly lost flying at night, will know what I mean. How about ending up in DF/W air traffic control space without realizing it! Did that once. What matters is how these kids perform in real time with split-second decision making. Real life is surreal compared to practice and simulators.

I fortunately had the where-with-all to always do the right thing in a pinch when the unexpected happened while flying. Got vertigo once flying at night, too. Wanna talk about surreal.. that was.  In a split second looked right at the instruments and took a deep breath...  We need QBs, and receivers on routes, to act in the moment with heady play, and balls-in-the-hands of DBs doing the same. You find that out in a real game. From there you decide who plays.

I'd stop this mess of gauging playing time in practice, and practice something else.

Like an offense, for starters.

100%

I realize there are players that "dog it" in practice but you address that in practice. If a coach feels someone isn't giving good effort then give them a reason at the end of practice to give better effort. Gassers, the whistle drill, and the 300 yard shuttle run can be highly effective motivators.

If players aren't grasping a coaching concept or technique then spend additional time re teaching until they master what your teaching. One area I've noticed where we struggle is WR and RB blocking and it seems to be one of the barometers for PT. That skill is probably 5% technique and 95% desire. I doubt we have a skill player in the program that is unable to be an exceptional blocker. Playing a less capable receiver or back because they are willing to block is not a long term solution. Most coaches know the X's and O's a good coach motivates players to maximize their talent.

True story: There was a kid years ago that was wanting to play HS basketball. He was a great kid and an extremely hard worker but not very good at basketball. He asked what he could do to make the varsity basketball team. The coach advised him to work on his skills but pointed out his major issue was his quickness. He was too slow to really compete at the varsity level. The kid took the advice to heart and spent hours practicing. He bought a jump rope and began using it religiously several hours a day. For ten months this kid worked his tail off preparing for tryouts. When he showed up for the tryout he looked like a different kid he was ripped and in phenomenal shape. Once the tryout started we realized he wasn't any better at basketball than he was the year before and sadly he didn't make the team but he was one hell of a rope jumper.

Over the years I've seen a lot of "T-Shirt All Americans". They would blow you away in drills with perfect technique and fluid movement. Once the pads were on and contact started you realized they wouldn't bite a biscuit. They went from leader to cheerleader in one day. Look back at some of the players being praised or not praised in the spring and fall camp and see if its the same guys that produced during the season.

I'm pretty confident I could sink a 3 foot putt on a miniature golf course. I'm even more confident I would piss my pants attempting the same putt to win the US open.

 

[UTexasEX2010]

100%

I realize there are players that "dog it" in practice but you address that in practice. If a coach feels someone isn't giving good effort then give them a reason at the end of practice to give better effort. Gassers, the whistle drill, and the 300 yard shuttle run can be highly effective motivators.

If players aren't grasping a coaching concept or technique then spend additional time re teaching until they master what your teaching. One area I've noticed where we struggle is WR and RB blocking and it seems to be one of the barometers for PT. That skill is probably 5% technique and 95% desire. I doubt we have a skill player in the program that is unable to be an exceptional blocker. Playing a less capable receiver or back because they are willing to block is not a long term solution. Most coaches know the X's and O's a good coach motivates players to maximize their talent.

True story: There was a kid years ago that was wanting to play HS basketball. He was a great kid and an extremely hard worker but not very good at basketball. He asked what he could do to make the varsity basketball team. The coach advised him to work on his skills but pointed out his major issue was his quickness. He was too slow to really compete at the varsity level. The kid took the advice to heart and spent hours practicing. He bought a jump rope and began using it religiously several hours a day. For ten months this kid worked his tail off preparing for tryouts. When he showed up for the tryout he looked like a different kid he was ripped and in phenomenal shape. Once the tryout started we realized he wasn't any better at basketball than he was the year before and sadly he didn't make the team but he was one hell of a rope jumper.

Over the years I've seen a lot of "T-Shirt All Americans". They would blow you away in drills with perfect technique and fluid movement. Once the pads were on and contact started you realized they wouldn't bite a biscuit. They went from leader to cheerleader in one day. Look back at some of the players being praised or not praised in the spring and fall camp and see if its the same guys that produced during the season.

I'm pretty confident I could sink a 3 foot putt on a miniature golf course. I'm even more confident I would piss my pants attempting the same putt to win the US open.

I agree with this 100%. As a coach, I have/had favorites (the guys who work hard, unselfish, do what's right, and are about the team) and they are probably not the best and generally stand next to me on Friday night unless the game is lopsided or I can find a place to hide them on special teams. They are great hard-working kids you need around the program, but not the best at their position.

My point is that I don't always personally LIKE who starts or gets the most PT. However, if they follow the rules and do what we ask of them as a player...they are on the field. I wish we followed this rule down in Austin. We are outsiders and don't know entirely what is going on inside the program. However, even with years of coaching experience, I cannot figure out our WR rotations or philosophy who carries the ball at RB. We all saw CWIII move the pile against K-State...why was he moved to H back? He should have the ball on 3rd and 2. However, I do know I am not a member of Mensa, but I have a high enough football IQ to know how to get in the best position to win.

I still have a lot of optimism moving forward and believe there will be changes on the offensive staff. We have to pick it to progress on the offense because we will not be close to the defensive unit from 2017.  Too many pieces leaving. 

Crazy idea: Why can't we recruit the number #1 JuCo QB and add him to the mix?

Crazy prediction: Mack Brown will be the next A.D. at Texas.

 

[UTexasEX2010]

Also, I wanted to add how completely shocked that the offensive staff didn't move Heard to QB. He fits the offense that Herman & Co. forced onto the 40 Acres this season. Don't you run an offense that fits your players, not one that fits your preference? 

 

[dillohorn]

I agree with this 100%. As a coach, I have/had favorites (the guys who work hard, unselfish, do what's right, and are about the team) and they are probably not the best and generally stand next to me on Friday night unless the game is lopsided or I can find a place to hide them on special teams. They are great hard-working kids you need around the program, but not the best at their position.

My point is that I don't always personally LIKE who starts or gets the most PT. However, if they follow the rules and do what we ask of them as a player...they are on the field. I wish we followed this rule down in Austin. We are outsiders and don't know entirely what is going on inside the program. However, even with years of coaching experience, I cannot figure out our WR rotations or philosophy who carries the ball at RB. We all saw CWIII move the pile against K-State...why was he moved to H back? He should have the ball on 3rd and 2. However, I do know I am not a member of Mensa, but I have a high enough football IQ to know how to get in the best position to win.

I still have a lot of optimism moving forward and believe there will be changes on the offensive staff. We have to pick it to progress on the offense because we will not be close to the defensive unit from 2017.  Too many pieces leaving. 

Crazy idea: Why can't we recruit the number #1 JuCo QB and add him to the mix?

Crazy prediction: Mack Brown will be the next A.D. at Texas.

1. Say NO to Mack as AD.
   

 

[UTexasEX2010]

1. Say NO to Mack as AD.
   

1

Why?

 

[Daniel Seahorn]

Also, I wanted to add how completely shocked that the offensive staff didn't move Heard to QB. He fits the offense that Herman & Co. forced onto the 40 Acres this season. Don't you run an offense that fits your players, not one that fits your preference? 

The coaches have made it obvious that they don’t view him as a quarterback outside of emergency situations or gadget plays. 

I’ve been saying this for awhile now ever since the question was first asked. 

 

[dillohorn]

Why?

UT needs an experienced, proven A.D. UT  has the money to get one. Mack would be in way over his head. Being a FB coach doesn't translate into being an A.D.  

 

[DBut82]

Also, I wanted to add how completely shocked that the offensive staff didn't move Heard to QB. He fits the offense that Herman & Co. forced onto the 40 Acres this season. Don't you run an offense that fits your players, not one that fits your preference? 

^^^THIS^^^

 

[DBut82]

The coaches have made it obvious that they don’t view him as a quarterback outside of emergency situations or gadget plays. 

I’ve been saying this for awhile now ever since the question was first asked. 

You have been saying this @Daniel Seahorn, but it still makes no sense considering the issues we had at quarterback this season.  Also, coupled with the comments Herman supposedly made about Heard at qb to the effect that he "wished he hadn't listened to some people" as it pertained to Heard playing quarterback.  Idk, I'm sure that ship has sailed but considering the roller coaster we had at quarterback, I personally wouldn't have left no stone unturned.  And I think this staff did.  Reminds me of Watson and Swoopes.  Watson saw Bridgewater 2.0 and refused to play Heard.  Norvell switched that up immediately.  And turns out we had an NFL tight end on the roster...go figure