Charlie Strong naysayers and yessayers stand up and be counted

[JimsTexas]

I think Texas goes 9-3 and as for as recruiting Coach Strong is still getting the lay of the land in Texas and he is going more national in recruiting. Once the Texas staff get to fireing on all there jets Texas will have a top 10 class. Coach Strong is not going to let the Texas football team sleep walk through there classes and he is going to expect his players to hit the weight room and the books. I can already hear some of the collage coaches telling recruits if you go to Texas Coach Strong will take away all you playing time. Come to my college and take your courses on a computer at home and hit the streets for what ever it is you do. Telling a kid he has to study is not going to set well with kids who see college as nothing more than a play ground. My friends y'all have a great weekend

 

[utisdabomb12]

9-3 or better. It's not just about looking at our roster, it's also looking at the rosters of other teams we play. UCLA and OU are the only two teams I see as true favorites against us. It's not like we have no shot of winning those two games either. 

As for recruiting, anywhere between 7 and 13 IMO. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

6-6. I think the defense does well, but I think our offense will be inept. I think Mora, Stoops, Briles and Snyder shut the offense down and we stumble against two of three against TCU/Okie Lite/Iowa State. Crappy bowl game and end up 7-6. The biggest problem is we have to protect Ash, so opposing teams stuff the box and force us to pass. Any game we fall behind we are screwed because we have to choose between protecting Ash for the long haul or risk him to win a particular game. Ash is going to get blitzed like crazy on every passing down and it is inevitable he is going to get rid of the ball in a hurry to avoid getting hit. Shutting down the UT offense this year will be very doable. The big risk is losing Brown in the backfield.

I think Wheathersby who flips to aggy and at least one more commit (Omenihu to OU?) And we finish recruiting with the class ranked somewhere around 16-18.

The chances of Omenihu fliipping are at approximately .0000000000000000001 percent. 

 

[BudreauReye]

Lol... I knew it would be you

Of course!  Who else?

 

[echeese]

6-6. I think the defense does well, but I think our offense will be inept. I think Mora, Stoops, Briles and Snyder shut the offense down and we stumble against two of three against TCU/Okie Lite/Iowa State. Crappy bowl game and end up 7-6. The biggest problem is we have to protect Ash, so opposing teams stuff the box and force us to pass. Any game we fall behind we are screwed because we have to choose between protecting Ash for the long haul or risk him to win a particular game. Ash is going to get blitzed like crazy on every passing down and it is inevitable he is going to get rid of the ball in a hurry to avoid getting hit. Shutting down the UT offense this year will be very doable. The big risk is losing Brown in the backfield.

I think Wheathersby who flips to aggy and at least one more commit (Omenihu to OU?) And we finish recruiting with the class ranked somewhere around 16-18.

Doc was right .. . I now think Duke is simply trying to rile up as many people as possible. . . .. .6-6???   Clearly trolling. . . .

Too many variables right now . . ..  ..going to enjoy the ride .. . .Strong was my #2 choice after Harbaugh who was NEVER leaving the NFL.  .. we got a great coach with a track record of "coaching people up". . . .going to be a fun 5 years . .. 

I can remember some of the Mack/GD haters swearing after 2001 Mack would never win anything. . . .we didn't just win big. . .we won in record setting fashion. . .

Same cast of characters talking the same nonsense today .. . . 

 

[utisdabomb12]

Doc was right .. . I now think Duke is simply trying to rile up as many people as possible. . . .. .6-6???   Clearly trolling. . . .

Too many variables right now . . ..  ..going to enjoy the ride .. . .Strong was my #2 choice after Harbaugh who was NEVER leaving the NFL.  .. we got a great coach with a track record of "coaching people up". . . .going to be a fun 5 years . .. 

I can remember some of the Mack/GD haters swearing after 2001 Mack would never win anything. . . .we didn't just win big. . .we won in record setting fashion. . .

Same cast of characters talking the same nonsense today .. . . 

6-6 just isn't happening. 

Texas went 8-4 last year with a rash of injuries, Case McCoy at QB, Mack Brown under constant pressure, a new D Coordinator in the middle of the year, etc. Not to mention with roster turnover teams like BYU, Baylor and Oklahoma State are not nearly what they were last year. Not a shot in hell Texas goes 6-6. 

 

[Pancho Negro]

6-6. I think the defense does well, but I think our offense will be inept. I think Mora, Stoops, Briles and Snyder shut the offense down and we stumble against two of three against TCU/Okie Lite/Iowa State. Crappy bowl game and end up 7-6. The biggest problem is we have to protect Ash, so opposing teams stuff the box and force us to pass. Any game we fall behind we are screwed because we have to choose between protecting Ash for the long haul or risk him to win a particular game. Ash is going to get blitzed like crazy on every passing down and it is inevitable he is going to get rid of the ball in a hurry to avoid getting hit. Shutting down the UT offense this year will be very doable. The big risk is losing Brown in the backfield.

I think Wheathersby who flips to aggy and at least one more commit (Omenihu to OU?) And we finish recruiting with the class ranked somewhere around 16-18.

Sounds like you're really praying and hoping this happens....

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Too many variables right now . . ..  ..going to enjoy the ride .. . .Strong was my #2 choice after Harbaugh who was NEVER leaving the NFL.  .. we got a great coach with a track record of "coaching people up". . . .going to be a fun 5 years . .. 

Why do you think CFS will only be around 5 years?  He doesn't seem like the NFL type to me.  Where's he gonna go?

I know his contract is 5 years in duration, but I hope he's around longer than that.  Otherwise, his tenure will have been a failure.

 

[Randolph Duke]

My 6-6 prediction was based on the expectation we aren't going to have an offense capable of putting up big numbers because I don't think we will have much of a passing game. On defense, stack the box, force Texas to pass and on obvious passing downs, blitz. Ash isn't going to sit in the pocket and take a hit to compete a down field pass. Doing so risks an injury that puts the whole season at risk. Any team that has the potential to put 20 points on our D has the ability to beat us. With Gray out, Brown is going to get a lot of work. We have to factor in his being out at least one game due to some injury. If the running game suffers because Brown is out and Ash is throwing 20 yds or less to avoid getting hit, TCU or Iowa State could upset us. Man coverage on the wideouts, set the free safety loose to pick off Ash's hurried throws (essentially run a 5-3 defense against Texas on passing downs).

If we show the ability to establish the passing game to open up the running game, I think we go 9-3 (UCLA, OU and K State beat us). Since we are supposed going to be a run first team, I don't see how we avoid the scenario I set out above.

For the sake of argument, if you were Shawn Watson and my defense stacked the box and forced you to pass, what do you do? Do you really pray Wickline works early miracles with pass protection and do you risk another concussion to Ash on it?

We have too many glaring weaknesses on offense (lack of depth at qb at feature running back) to out scheme quality defenses.

 

[utisdabomb12]

My 6-6 prediction was based on the expectation we aren't going to have an offense capable of putting up big numbers because I don't think we will have much of a passing game. On defense, stack the box, force Texas to pass and on obvious passing downs, blitz. Ash isn't going to sit in the pocket and take a hit to compete a down field pass. Doing so risks an injury that puts the whole season at risk. Any team that has the potential to put 20 points on our D had the ability to beat us. With Gray out, Brown is going to get aot of work. We have to factor in his being out at least one game due to some injury. If the running game suffers because Brown is out and Ash is throwing 20 yds or less to avoid getting hit, TCU or Iowa State could upset us.

If we show the ability to establish the passing game to open up the running game, I think we go 9-3 (UCLA, OU and K State beat us). Since we are supposed going to be a run first team, I don't see how we avoid the scenario I set out above.

For the sake of argument, if you were Shawn Watson and my defense stacked the box and forced you to pass, what do you do? Do you really pray Wickline works early miracles with pass protection and do you risk another concussion to Ash on it?

Did we have a passing game last year? This argument makes no sense. Case couldn't complete a pass in the last like 4 games. Even if Gray is injured I'm not worried with Brown, Bergeron, Overstreet and Daje. Matter of fact I think our running game will be better this year for two reasons. 1) We now have a mobile QB and 2) We have two tight ends that can really block, which makes run blocking much more versatile. Who cares if other teams stack the box? OU stacked the box and it didn't do a thing. 

 

[Randolph Duke]

Did we have a passing game last year? This argument makes no sense. Case couldn't complete a pass in the last like 4 games. Even if Gray is injured I'm not worried with Brown, Bergeron, Overstreet and Daje. Matter of fact I think our running game will be better this year for two reasons. 1) We now have a mobile QB and 2) We have two tight ends that can really block, which makes run blocking much more versatile. Who cares if other teams stack the box? OU stacked the box and it didn't do a thing.

We got crushed in three of our last four games last year. Against Okie Lite we got out coached in all three aspects of the game. Thankfully, that probably isn't going to happen again this year. Baylor would have beaten us worse if the weather had been decent. They completely shut down our offense and when we were forced to pass, they crushed us. Oregon totally shut us down. Without a passing game, we lose. We can't run a one dimensional run only offense and win in the Big 12.
If Brown gets hurt, we are left with Bergeron, Overstreet and Daje. None of them replace Brown as a feature back being able to carry the load. They are all three complimentary backs, not feature backs.

I just think it will be tough to compete in a high scoring conference such as the Big 12 with a run first offense/Big 10 type offense (with only one feature back) and a quarterback who absolutely can't risk taking a hit in the pocket. I don't think Watson is enough of a strategic genius to game plan around the weaknesses on offense.

The best hope is to not redshirt Heard and hope he gets early reps and comes along quickly so we at least have an option if we try to establish a passing game and Ash goes down, but if I am Stoops, Snyder, Briles, etc, I take the risk Heard beats me with the long ball. Until Heard comes in a burns my D two or three times with his passing skills, I stuff the Texas running game and blitz Ash on every passing down. He can only withstand a very few hits. If Strong decides to save Heard's redshirt and goes with either Swoopes or Daje, I show my defense the Texas spring game film.

 

[echeese]

Why do you think CFS will only be around 5 years?  He doesn't seem like the NFL type to me.  Where's he gonna go?

I know his contract is 5 years in duration, but I hope he's around longer than that.  Otherwise, his tenure will have been a failure.

Sorry, wasn't clear. .. . 

No, I don't think CFS has any real NFL interest but could be wrong. . .Harbaugh is not leaving the NFL. . .sadly. . . .

I do see Charlie here in 5 years. . .with many of the naysayers still bitching. . .heck they bitched at Mack after he delivered a title. . .

And yes, if we are looking to replace CFS in 5 years. . .his hire was a failure. . .though i still think we made the right hire .. . 

 

[ATX89]

My 6-6 prediction was based on the expectation we aren't going to have an offense capable of putting up big numbers because I don't think we will have much of a passing game. On defense, stack the box, force Texas to pass and on obvious passing downs, blitz. Ash isn't going to sit in the pocket and take a hit to compete a down field pass. Doing so risks an injury that puts the whole season at risk. Any team that has the potential to put 20 points on our D has the ability to beat us. With Gray out, Brown is going to get a lot of work. We have to factor in his being out at least one game due to some injury. If the running game suffers because Brown is out and Ash is throwing 20 yds or less to avoid getting hit, TCU or Iowa State could upset us. Man coverage on the wideouts, set the free safety loose to pick off Ash's hurried throws (essentially run a 5-3 defense against Texas on passing downs).

If we show the ability to establish the passing game to open up the running game, I think we go 9-3 (UCLA, OU and K State beat us). Since we are supposed going to be a run first team, I don't see how we avoid the scenario I set out above.

For the sake of argument, if you were Shawn Watson and my defense stacked the box and forced you to pass, what do you do? Do you really pray Wickline works early miracles with pass protection and do you risk another concussion to Ash on it?

We have too many glaring weaknesses on offense (lack of depth at qb at feature running back) to out scheme quality defenses.

So you see no ability to coach Ash or Heard to read a blitz and check to hot routes?  It isn't rocket science and you hit a couple and the blitzes stop and the running lanes open up.  

 

[Randolph Duke]

So you see no ability to coach Ash or Heard to read a blitz and check to hot routes? It isn't rocket science and you hit a couple and the blitzes stop and the running lanes open up.

I get what you are saying. The only way you really take away the blitz (other than a draw or some sort of delay) is to have a credible down field passing game. Blitz me and I burn you in single coverage deep. My qb may take a hit, but I score an easy 6. Texas doesn't have that option. Ash has to avoid every single hit he can. Only the quick development of Heard as a deep passer or a miracle job of coaching by Joe Wickline gives Texas a way to counter the strategy of defenses stopping the Texas run game and forcing them to pass.

 

[texasdobbs]

Great conversations ... I like reading everyone's opinions

 

[echeese]

Actually there are many ways to beat the blitz .. . .one is with a strong running game which we have. . .frankly we executed it BRILLIANTLY (only time you will hear me say that in relation to Major's OC work) vs OU .. . .

Another is to roll or sprint out the QB. . .something Major very seldom did. . . .this works to "spread" the field. . . .something we saw frequently in the spring game. . .

supposedly on OB, Ketch has several aliases that he uses to "stir the pot" when conversation is lacking. . . .I wonder if that is going on here. . . .

 

[texasdobbs]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011


No I am .....

 

[Randolph Duke]

Actually there are many ways to beat the blitz .. . .one is with a strong running game which we have. . .frankly we executed it BRILLIANTLY (only time you will hear me say that in relation to Major's OC work) vs OU .. . .

Another is to roll or sprint out the QB. . .something Major very seldom did. . . .this works to "spread" the field. . . .something we saw frequently in the spring game. . .

supposedly on OB, Ketch has several aliases that he uses to "stir the pot" when conversation is lacking. . . .I wonder if that is going on here. . . .

I not an alias stirring the pot. Ask Shevis, SHA, Aaron, McPhaul or any of the others.
The running game is preicated on being able to burn the defense with the passing game if the D stacks the box. Hold a running back to beef up pass protection and burn single coverage deep. No problem. Those plays take at least the time for the receivers to run 40 yards (4.5 secs in pads) and a second or two make moves. Subtract the time the ball is in the air and you have pass protection having to last 5 secs. With the qb taking a 7 yard drop, you have a safety needing 2 secs to crush David Ash and possibly end his career. That math isn't pretty when we are playing against talented defenses. Any D coordinator will risk Texas burning them deep in single coverage knowing Texas is risking their season if single coverage is good and Ash gets sacked.

Ash isn't going to roll out. If he does, I put a safety on him as a spy and tell the safety to make sure Ash gets hit.

The thing I am most Intetested in is seeing how Watson and Wickline scheme to open the running game while not risking an injury to Ash. I also am wondering who gets reps at qb in August other than Ash.

I think the team will be fun to watch because we have some talent. I hope Watson pleasantly surprises and I hope Wickline gets the online sorted out quickly. I just don't see how a run first offense with one feature back and a limited deep threat keeps up with high scoring Big 12 teams. Other than our ooc cupcakes, I think we average 20 points a game on offense. If Charlie Strong can hold teams below an average of 20 points, we go 9-3. If not, 6-6.

 

[utisdabomb12]

We got crushed in three of our last four games last year. Against Okie Lite we got out coached in all three aspects of the game. Thankfully, that probably isn't going to happen again this year. Baylor would have beaten us worse if the weather had been decent. They completely shut down our offense and when we were forced to pass, they crushed us. Oregon totally shut us down. Without a passing game, we lose. We can't run a one dimensional run only offense and win in the Big 12.

If Brown gets hurt, we are left with Bergeron, Overstreet and Daje. None of them replace Brown as a feature back being able to carry the load. They are all three complimentary backs, not feature backs.

I just think it will be tough to compete in a high scoring conference such as the Big 12 with a run first offense/Big 10 type offense (with only one feature back) and a quarterback who absolutely can't risk taking a hit in the pocket. I don't think Watson is enough of a strategic genius to game plan around the weaknesses on offense.

The best hope is to not redshirt Heard and hope he gets early reps and comes along quickly so we at least have an option if we try to establish a passing game and Ash goes down, but if I am Stoops, Snyder, Briles, etc, I take the risk Heard beats me with the long ball. Until Heard comes in a burns my D two or three times with his passing skills, I stuff the Texas running game and blitz Ash on every passing down. He can only withstand a very few hits. If Strong decides to save Heard's redshirt and goes with either Swoopes or Daje, I show my defense the Texas spring game film.

1-Yet, we still went 8-4 last year. That's the point. We had no passing game last year and still went 8-4

2-Baylor and Oklahoma State are nowhere near what they were last year. Trying to compare teams from last year to this year is nonsensical. 

3-We really weren't crushed in the Baylor and Oregon games. The scores really aren't indicative of how close those games were. If not for a couple stupid turnovers from Case, those games were close. 

4-Not sure why you are just assuming Brown gets injured. Either way, every team has a certain position where an injury at a certain position might impact a team. Tech will be screwed if they lose  their starting QB. Baylor will be screwed if they lose their starting QB. Not really sure what your point is? 

5-You could't be more wrong about only having one feature back. Bergeron would start at a lot of major programs. To say we only have "one feature back", really makes me think you are trolling. 

 

[echeese]

The running game is preicated on being able to burn the defense with the passing game if the D stacks the box. .

Sorry, another of your "absolute" statements. . . .which is absolutely incoorect

And if the box is stacked,you don't always try to "burn them over the top". . .in reality a good coach/QB throws a quick slant to the hot receiver and let's him log some YAC. . . .and we have GREAT WRs to do just that. . . .or you spread the field with 4 wides  to gain more single coverage for WRs and which also opens up running lanes for the backs. . . .this is also a very effective technique when you have smallish but quick/shifty RBs. . . .

BTW, if you "spy" Ash or any of our QBs, you have now 'un-stacked" the box.  

TEXAS averaged right at 200 yards per game rushing last year. . ..this vs team "stacking the box". . . .one of Major's biggest shortcomings was he was in love with the deep ball. . . .he should have used the intermediate passing game (when he did it worked well) instead. . . . .perfect example is the BYU game where Major never exploited the 7-9 yard cushion the BYU DBs gave us. . .we'd have had 4-6 yards a catch easy. . .that's a 1st down every other play. . .

Whether you are real or not is largely immaterial to me. . . you are trolling for attention with "absolute" often wrong/never in doubt statements. . . ..running games are "predicated" on lining up and being able to assert your will on the other team. . . .

PS, not sure how you think we were "crushed" in 3 of our last 4 games .. . .  wonder if you even watched them or understood what was happening.. .

The common denominator in 3 of them were INTs for pick 6's. . .2 vs Oregon, 1 vs OSU and 1 vs Baylor that meant the final score was not as indicative as the game we played.. . . 

oregon averaged 45 points a game. . . .even with 2 Pick 6's we held them 2 TDs under their season average

Baylor game was tied at half, if we had a qb or OC, we were likely the BigXII champ

OSU, yep. . .ugly loss though again, even with a pick 6 they didn't reach their season scoring average. . . 

We struggled offensively because we could not develop an intermediate passing game. . . .part of that is on Major, part on a lack of a D 1 QB.  .. . .