Horns land QB for 2016! Mike Roach's scouting report...

[Mike Roach]

Robinson's dad is a highly respected coach on staff at Guyer. I've had the pleasure of knowing him for a while as two of my very good friends worked for him in Fort Worth. Shawn has been a monster athlete from a young age. Even knowing that my jaw dropped the 4 times I saw him play last season. He is a special kid and a special talent. Dynamic dual threat who is extremely advanced in the passing department. If Charlie and Watson can find some success on offense this year and show a more open style the horns sit in good position. The competition will be Ole Miss and Ohio State, especially Ohio State.

 

[armadillo slim]

Robinson's dad is a highly respected coach on staff at Guyer. I've had the pleasure of knowing him for a while as two of my very good friends worked for him in Fort Worth. Shawn has been a monster athlete from a young age. Even knowing that my jaw dropped the 4 times I saw him play last season. He is a special kid and a special talent. Dynamic dual threat who is extremely advanced in the passing department. If Charlie and Watson can find some success on offense this year and show a more open style the horns sit in good position. The competition will be Ole Miss and Ohio State, especially Ohio State.

huh?     precisely my point.  he's a commit but we've got competition?  

THAT is precisely my exact point.  to defer taking quarterbacks in 2016 because we have a commit for 2017 is fools gold.

commitments are nothing more than an interest indicator these days.  we hope he honors it if he's as good as advertised, but to pass on other qbs because he's "committed" for 2017doesn't work for me.

if he had committed to OSU or Oklahoma or Alabama we'd still pursue him, so if he's committed to us, you'd better believe the phone calls ain't gonna stop just because he gave us a warm fuzzy earlier this year.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Regardless of who they want to pursue in 2017, the question still stands: Why would the coaching staff take 2 quarterbacks in 2016?

Most college coaches would say 5 quarterbacks in a four year period is the max number needed on a roster:

2013 - Swoopes

2014 - Heard

2015 - Locksley

2016 - Buechele

Adding Merrick in '15 or '16 provides that 5th body on the roster, but doesn't cause a roster bubble that will cause problems in the future. I understand the desire to add a transfer for the sake of competition/depth, but that player would likely be aging out in 2016 or 2017.

Adding another quarterback in 2016 seems to force the coaching staff's hand...

- Merrick almost has to be in the 2015 class

- If Merrick is 2015, then a transfer looks unlikely. 5 quarterbacks in a two year period is too many.

Because you don't have a proven QB and until you do, you keep searching.

I read all the stuff in Burnt Ends about Swopes. The first thought in my mind was "we've been here before." He is not an unknown. During the course of a season where he KNEW he would not be replaced – his play declined rather than improved. The last quote I read from him though indicated he was laying that on the OL's feet.

So it doesn't matter to me how fast, how stylish, or how quick Swopes becomes. He's a project TE that hasn't begun, IMO.

So you really don't have five QBs. You have four. None of the four have taken a D1 snap. And the one thing we can say with some certainty is that it is now unlikely in this day for one QB to last an entire season. So you need at least two high quality QBs where there is little drop in performance should one go down.

I've heard nothing promising regarding a graduate transfer. If we're not going to do it, I wish the whole idea would just go away and let's play with the cards that were dealt to us.

 

[streettopeschel]

huh? precisely my point. he's a commit but we've got competition?

THAT is precisely my exact point. to defer taking quarterbacks in 2016 because we have a commit for 2017 is fools gold.

commitments are nothing more than an interest indicator these days. we hope he honors it if he's as good as advertised, but to pass on other qbs because he's "committed" for 2017doesn't work for me.

if he had committed to OSU or Oklahoma or Alabama we'd still pursue him, so if he's committed to us, you'd better believe the phone calls ain't gonna stop just because he gave us a warm fuzzy earlier this year.

get with it slim. The kid signs in 101 weeks. Unless he doesn't.

 

[Mike Roach]

Slim I think there is some confusion. I'm talking about Shawn Robinson who isn't committed to anyone at this point but might be the top QB in the nation in the 17 class. The original article is about 2016 QB Shane Buechele who committed yesterday.

 

[primal defense]

Because you don't have a proven QB and until you do, you keep searching.

I read all the stuff in Burnt Ends about Swopes. The first thought in my mind was "we've been here before." He is not an unknown. During the course of a season where he KNEW he would not be replaced – his play declined rather than improved. The last quote I read from him though indicated he was laying that on the OL's feet.

So it doesn't matter to me how fast, how stylish, or how quick Swopes becomes. He's a project TE that hasn't begun, IMO.

So you really don't have five QBs. You have four. None of the four have taken a D1 snap. And the one thing we can say with some certainty is that it is now unlikely in this day for one QB to last an entire season. So you need at least two high quality QBs where there is little drop in performance should one go down.

I've heard nothing promising regarding a graduate transfer. If we're not going to do it, I wish the whole idea would just go away and let's play with the cards that were dealt to us.

Thanks, you've saved me the trouble of posting the same thing. I believe us taking another QB is a reflection of what the coaching staff thinks of Swoopes.

 

[Utjb27]

Just saying All of this talk becomes a whole lot less relevant and meaningful if our boy Jerrod Heard takes the reigns and runs with them this year as a redshirt freshman

 

[armadillo slim]

Slim I think there is some confusion. I'm talking about Shawn Robinson who isn't committed to anyone at this point but might be the top QB in the nation in the 17 class. The original article is about 2016 QB Shane Buechele who committed yesterday.

Oh. I was confused.  I thought he was already committed. Sorry, boys. Us old guys get confused sometimes trying to keep you young guys off our lawns.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Oh. I was confused. Sorry, boys. Us old guys get confused sometimes tring to you young guys off our lawns.

You aren't drinking enough margaritas, Slim.

 

[Mike Roach]

Just saying All of this talk becomes a whole lot less relevant and meaningful if our boy Jerrod Heard takes the reigns and runs with them this year as a redshirt freshman

Perhaps, but as we've seen there can never be enough quality depth

 

[armadillo slim]

You aren't drinking enough margaritas, Slim.

undoubtedly true, regardless of the situation

 

[armadillo slim]

Perhaps, but as we've seen there can never be enough quality depth

i agree, but i also find myself agreeing with Matt some because at some point, quality depth becomes a double edged sword and discourages future athletes.  it's a delicate and imprecise "science".  

one things for sure, having too much quality depth hasn't been a problem we've had to deal with much for awhile.

 

[Mike Roach]

It's a fine line to walk, but the big boys manage to do it. I don't think Charlie wants to be in the position he was in last season with no options.

 

[primal defense]

I was listening to Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian a couple of weeks ago. Polian is smart about football and he was asked what was the most important traits he looked for in a QB. Polian listed accuracy and judgment. I did some research on what other GMs found most important and while some GM's has a different criteria than others, here were the most important.

First of all there is no reason for UT to ever offer a scholarship to a QB that doesn't have the physical ability such as not having a strong enough arm.

1. Accuracy- Polian and others have said you can't teach a player accuracy. Shane mentioned that his accuracy is a strength.

2. Judgment- That's making split second decisions while people are coming after you to separate your head from your body.

3. Leadership- I doubt CS will ever recruit a QB who is not leader. Shane mentioned that was one of his strengths.

Since Buechele checked the box on the above traits along with a quick release, I'm excited about Shane joining the Longhorns. He's already outperformed Gentry and Locksley passing last summer for the Under the Lights camp.

Polian was also asked what are the three most important positions in football. He listed:

1. QB- Of course.

2. LT- Protect the QB's blindside.

3. An inside rusher- A DT that can put pressure on the QB which is rare. Think Ndamukong Suh at Nebraska.

4 DE- Outside pass rusher.

5. WR and RBs

Polian said you need more than one good CB, otherwise a team can ignore one good CB. Also, it's hard for CBs to be effective if there is no pressure on the QB.

 

[Mike Roach]

I agree with Polian re: accuracy

 

[Epictetus]

I would like to think Ohio State's experience this past season showed the value of three-deep at the QB position, and each being capable of playing championship ball. And as I could tell, all three were.

If a QB on a roster worries about playing time he's not considering that the starter, and then the backup, could get a season-ending injury.

Both the original starter and the regular season 'replacement' starter, were unavailable by the end of the season for Ohio State.

And they were headed toward the playoffs. And then got in.

A 3rd-teamer who had had to work his way into a more solid student-athlete life on the program, was able to take over and dominate in the conference title game, then come from behind late in the first half against none other than freaking Alabama, and win that game. Then finish off Oregon of all teams in the final game.

If a top QB can't examine that and realize how important it is to have title-level competition these days -- meaning several really good QBs on the roster of a program -- then I have nothing to add to that. They're just not getting it.

A program is going to be a real winner when the two and three-deep players feel they have tremendous value and aren't concerned about going somewhere else to play.

After what happened at Ohio State, I would think that old argument of transferring to get playing time... at any position... is finished. Done.

Too bad several potentially good QBs left the Texas program a few years back. However I will say this... back then it may not have been the case that the position was open competition as it is now.

As I understand it, when there's enough talent for ongoing competition, you're not out there long if you're not cuttin' it.

 

[Worster1]

good post David - as you mentioned a team needs QB depth because of potential injuries. 

Case in point: UT 1977 vs. ou. 1st quarter: QB Mark McBath injures his knee and is out for the season, Jon Aune comes in and injures his knee after 1-2 plays (he too is out for the season).  The UT crowd was in stunned silence - it was an ahh shit moment.  Backup / scout team QB Randy McEachern comes in to finish the game and the season.  I believe it was OL Will Ingraham that told McEachern when he entered the huddle vs. ou to just hand the damn ball to Earl and get out of the way. Fortunately the Horns won 13-6.

Or how about Sr. QB Colt McCoy injures his shoulder vs. 'Bama (another ahh shit moment) and with Mack's great QB depth, he has to bring in a true freshman - QB Garrett Gilbert, who had only taken about a dozen game snaps all season. We know how that one turned out :wacko:  

 

[Epictetus]

On my above statement... "A program is going to be a real winner when the two and three-deep players feel they have tremendous value and aren't concerned about going somewhere else to play."...

This morning on The Head, in the first hour, John Gruden talked in detail about the development of Bryce Petty at Baylor. Said he likes Petty "because he's a finisher. He grayshirted, redshirted... finished. He backed up Robert Griffin, he backed up another quarterback. "He didn't cry and quit and transfer like a lot of people do these days. He finished."

Had an offer from Tennessee that was pulled, had no where to go. Ended up at Baylor, a grayshit, then a redshirt, buried in the depth chart. Ended up a 24-year old finished product. Said he thinks Petty has the best pure arm talent in the draft.

So that's what I was getting at, and Petty is a good example to go with the situation at Ohio State. I've maintained for a long time that a quarterback really only needs to be the starter one year, his senior year, to have had a great college career. Add a junior year and it's icing on the cake. Why not stay and  finish, go the whole nine yards and develop and grow and be ready for your senior-leadership year. Maybe take the reins the junior year, but you do not need to be the end-all-of-all starters for your entire time at a school. Shirt, get playing time your Soph year, play more your Jr year and grow into the starter roll, and all along there is a group behind and ahead of you -- but you get your turn. Every now and then that paradigm shifts, but it's gotten out of hand to rely on first and second year players. When that happens you lose the overlapping development that can assure you always have a more-than-capable QB at the gate. You go feast or famine instead.