Crossfire: Give Me 20

[Darrell McPhaul]

Give it up!

 

[BevoBlake]

How do the Quarterback performances in the Spring Game effect Max Wittek?

 

[BudreauReye]

I read where Overstreet looked good in his reps at running back.  Obviously, his blocking skills will go a long way toward getting him reps when it counts next season, so, how did he look as a blocker?

 

[killrjoe]

Were the coaches happy, concerned or upset about what they saw?

 

[3xhorndad]

What is your gut feeling on Attrition?....

Who/when, etc.....

We all know that to get to the proper numbers, something has  to give......

Also....what is real story on Joe B?

 

[monarch]

greetings darrell.  btw, yes, i am still "smoldering" a bit, as per last week's, and not to mention, your most profound "crossfire" to date.  i mean...  the nerve, the audacity!

Q  you were blessed to be at this season's spring game.  you were amongst the "notables" or so to speak..  or even to some degree.  therefore, may you present the relevance, as per the new "director of on campus recruitment" "reed case"?  why this particular gentleman?  why now?  we are all acutely aware, that former coach mack brown, was trying in earnest, to "even the slate", or to even exceed the noted "football operations" program at alabama.  was the hiring of mr. case an added element?

Q  darrell, i would like for you to take a moment to relax, and open up your mind, as well as your heart, and present to us, your inner most feelings, about how it felt to be at the "2014 spring game" and to see for the very first time in the "university of texas" history...  an african american, as head football coach, standing upon the sidelines, as per "darrell k. royal memorial stadium"?  since the game has ended, i have been awaiting, as per anyone in attendance that shares a "pulse" to please present their feelings of viewing this particular moment in history being made as per "dkr".   if i may add to this particular query...  in these modern times, people of any form of intelligence, shall certainly refrain from viewing the world through the color of it's skin tone.  however, whenever there is a moment as special, and yet as truly "historical" as this moment at "dkr"... then it shall be noted a complete travesty, as per anyone of integrity, to just outright ignore the "spectacle".  imho, this is they way we learn about life.

 

[doc longhorn]

All of the other sites are reporting all the good news from the recruits on the sidelines of the spring game.  I would like to hear if there were any that were unimpressed with the game, player/coaches.  Maybe SirHornsalot and you can ask your contacts what the real scoop was?

I say this because I am very concerned about our offense this year.  Not only just the QB situation, but the OL as well.

In fact, I expected some really positive buzz - considering the new coaching staff.  I didn't get that buzz.

 

[doc longhorn]

Is Deoundrei Davis done at UT?  He wasn't even on the sidelines of the spring game.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

What did you think of Steve Edmond's comments about Baylor?

 

[MikeV73]

Does max wittek have to complete his education at USC before he commits to another program? It would seem prudent to commit now if he is going to choose Texas and get a playbook to start learning the offense. Are there NCAA rules keeping him from committing prior to leaving USC? Time to shit or get off the pot as some have said, especially if he is able to make the call now! Any insight?

 

[Seldomseenhorn]

Have you heard anything about the possibility of another QB transferring in that would be able to play right away besides Wittek. It would be nice to redshirt both Swoopes and Heard.

 

[hooked4life]

How are Harrison,Estelle,and Daje doing in the classroom. Are there any players who might be grade casualties?

When will Hicks, Gray, and Perkins be cleared to play?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

greetings darrell.  btw, yes, i am still "smoldering" a bit, as per last week's, and not to mention, your most profound "crossfire" to date.  i mean...  the nerve, the audacity!

Q  you were blessed to be at this season's spring game.  you were amongst the "notables" or so to speak..  or even to some degree.  therefore, may you present the relevance, as per the new "director of on campus recruitment" "reed case"?  why this particular gentleman?  why now?  we are all acutely aware, that former coach mack brown, was trying in earnest, to "even the slate", or to even exceed the noted "football operations" program at alabama.  was the hiring of mr. case an added element?

Q  darrell, i would like for you to take a moment to relax, and open up your mind, as well as your heart, and present to us, your inner most feelings, about how it felt to be at the "2014 spring game" and to see for the very first time in the "university of texas" history...  an african american, as head football coach, standing upon the sidelines, as per "darrell k. royal memorial stadium"?  since the game has ended, i have been awaiting, as per anyone in attendance that shares a "pulse" to please present their feelings of viewing this particular history being made as per "dkr".   

Monarch, I'm not McPhaul but in response to your second question . . . I loved his coaching, saw him several times in the ear of a player right after a play. He's involved and that's injecting some serious and much needed energy into this program.

It's not his skin color that sticks out so it feels sorta weird addressing a question regarding his color. But his spirit and work ethic fit right into what DKR lived by, IMO.

BUT, he addressed the crowd in a black felt hat in 80 degree weather. Just sayin, we do straw here in Texas when it's 70+. ha ha

 

[Sirhornsalot]

All of the other sites are reporting all the good news from the recruits on the sidelines of the spring game.  I would like to hear if there were any that were unimpressed with the game, player/coaches.  Maybe SirHornsalot and you can ask your contacts what the real scoop was?

I say this because I am very concerned about our offense this year.  Not only just the QB situation, but the OL as well.

In fact, I expected some really positive buzz - considering the new coaching staff.  I didn't get that buzz.

I wouldn't waste a lot of time worrying about the OL. We have talent there and experience and Joe Wickline is running the show.

I recall once seeing OSU play early in the season. Their OL wasn't that great and caught my eye. I looked up their roster and saw really no one I could recall from the top OL recruits. A few games later, they found their groove and ended up being the strongest part of the team.

So I took what I saw with a grain of salt. I feel confident there.

QB is a whole nuther story though. Ash will be back. But here's what concerns me. Ash worked hard to get back to where he was when he got injured again. It took several months to get to that stage. Now he has a broken bone to contend with. He's got to heal before he can think about working out again. I wonder if he'll truly be ready for fall.

I'll say it again, Heard is our most talented QB, if Ash goes down. Do you scrap the season and play your second and third best and shirt Heard? Or do you give Heard a try and see what he's about? While Manziel shirted, there have been plenty of freshman phenoms at QB.

But McPhaul is going to have a much better take on that than I.

My QUESTION for McPhaul's Crossfire . . . 

Q: What I saw on the DL looked like our best DL in some time. Is that the vibe you're getting? If you agree, then how much of that played into how the OL looked? That may have been the best DL they'll see all of next season, IMO.

Another would be . . . 

Q: Of the WR crew, who stood out to you?

 

[drgilbert]

Sorry I am so late in asking this but, will the spring game on espn like it did last year? If so do you know when and what time?

 

[doc longhorn]

I wouldn't waste a lot of time worrying about the OL. We have talent there and experience and Joe Wickline is running the show.

I recall once seeing OSU play early in the season. Their OL wasn't that great and caught my eye. I looked up their roster and saw really no one I could recall from the top OL recruits. A few games later, they found their groove and ended up being the strongest part of the team.

So I took what I saw with a grain of salt. I feel confident there.

QB is a whole nuther story though. Ash will be back. But here's what concerns me. Ash worked hard to get back to where he was when he got injured again. It took several months to get to that stage. Now he has a broken bone to contend with. He's got to heal before he can think about working out again. I wonder if he'll truly be ready for fall.

I'll say it again, Heard is our most talented QB, if Ash goes down. Do you scrap the season and play your second and third best and shirt Heard? Or do you give Heard a try and see what he's about? While Manziel shirted, there have been plenty of freshman phenoms at QB.

But McPhaul is going to have a much better take on that than I.

My QUESTION for McPhaul's Crossfire . . . 

Q: What I saw on the DL looked like our best DL in some time. Is that the vibe you're getting? If you agree, then how much of that played into how the OL looked? That may have been the best DL they'll see all of next season, IMO.

Another would be . . . 

Q: Of the WR crew, who stood out to you?

The truth is, a Jones fracture may never fully heal.  There have been cases of this.  So, the situation is, before even spring practice, our success this seasoned is wholly dependent upon our QB play.  I do not pull the RS from Heard.  That is not even an option, IMO.  Also, I would love for you to provide an example of a true freshman QB playing and excelling.  Swoopes is a question mark for sure, but I would take him over Case and he was a 5th year senior.

Besides, the option of Ash, Swoopes or Heard may be academic anyway - with all the rumors of Wittek coming.  Who knows what the future may bring..

 

[Sirhornsalot]

The truth is, a Jones fracture may never fully heal.  There have been cases of this.  So, the situation is, before even spring practice, our success this seasoned is wholly dependent upon our QB play.  I do not pull the RS from Heard.  That is not even an option, IMO.  Also, I would love for you to provide an example of a true freshman QB playing and excelling.  Swoopes is a question mark for sure, but I would take him over Case and he was a 5th year senior.

Besides, the option of Ash, Swoopes or Heard may be academic anyway - with all the rumors of Wittek coming.  Who knows what the future may bring..

Ok, we'll start with Robert Griffin (Baylor), Chad Henne (Mich), Reggie Ball (Ga Tech), Bo Levi Mitchell (SMU), Matt Barkley (USC).

Henne went 9-2, was forced to come in and play due to the starter getting injured very early in the season but did very well.

Terrell Pryor (Ohio St) took over as a starter during the 4th game of his freshman year. Matt Stafford (Georgia) started by the midway point of his freshman year. Jimmy Clausen (Tenn) started by his second game as a freshman.

Shall I go on?

 

[doc longhorn]

Ok, we'll start with Robert Griffin (Baylor), Chad Henne (Mich), Reggie Ball (Ga Tech), Bo Levi Mitchell (SMU), Matt Barkley (USC).

Henne went 9-2, was forced to come in and play due to the starter getting injured very early in the season but did very well.

Terrell Pryor (Ohio St) took over as a starter during the 4th game of his freshman year. Matt Stafford (Georgia) started by the midway point of his freshman year. Jimmy Clausen (Tenn) started by his second game as a freshman.

Shall I go on?

 So you believe a few exceptional freshmen some, like Ash and Swoopes who were forced in because of injuries, are enough examples to play Heard?   And, by doing so, you are willing to overlook the problems Ash and Swoopes had?  I don't have the time nor the energy to research how many true freshmen QB's FAILED - but I think we can conclude there were a helluva a lot more than succeeded.

Haven't we learned anything from history - namely Ash and, yes, even Swoopes?  Why do we continually insist a high school star automatically translates into a successful college QB - literally the hardest position in football to learn and where, unlike HS, everyone was a HS star?

That kid has more than big time D-1 college football at a big time college football program like the University of Texas to adjust to.  He has the break in period of adjusting to COLLEGE LIFE to deal with.  Doesn't everyone on here remember THAT?

So, if Ash goes down, we should just live with what we got and look forward to next year - although I don't this year will be lost anyway. 

Leave Heard the hell alone!

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I'm afraid you're not understanding me at all. You're not even in the same neighborhood.

I'm not using Swoopes and Ash as a benchmark for Heard. For one, NO ONE claimed Swopes was anywhere near ready when he arrived. I'm not sure he would have been real effective on the 5A HS level. I don't think QB is Swopes position, but that's just me.

I think Heard is so much more of a QB and athlete than either Swopes or Ash were, it's not worth comparing. If you want to compare, use Matt Barkley, though I think Heard has more composure than Barkley did.

I'm not saying anything that you're suggesting I'm saying. I'm saying exactly what I've been saying and doesn't need to be resaid with different words that end up meaning something entirely different. Heard is the best QB we have. What you want to do with that is your business. For me, I don't know how you sit your best QB. What if he's exactly what I've said he is? You're the one who is solely responsible for standing in the way of that? 

You asked me for an example of how this has worked before and I gave you numerous examples in response. Somehow, that got left behind in your response. Is that no longer important here?