ESPN: Big 12 roundtable: Early QB preview

[primal defense]

I agree

Which Big 12 QB will be the biggest surprise?

Chatmon: I’m fully tied to the Jerrod Heard bandwagon, so if it runs into a tree, send for help. Since last preseason I’ve felt like Texas’ redshirt freshman signal-caller would rise to the top of the depth chart sooner than later but he never got a chance in 2014. Yet he was fairly impressive during spring drills so I’m ready to call him the surprise of Big 12 quarterbacks in 2015. He will have some ups and downs so don’t anticipate him setting the conference on fire each Saturday, but I do expect him to end all questions about the quarterback position on the 40 acres by the time December rolls around.

Which Big 12 QB is most likely to lose a starting job?

Trotter: Like Brandon, I believe Heard will be Texas' starting QB by October. Charlie Strong will likely give Tyrone Swoopes the start in the opener when the Longhorns travel to Notre Dame. But if Swoopes doesn't show dramatic improvement through September, Strong will have to give Heard the full-time shot to see what he can do.

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/99956/big-12-roundtable-early-qb-preview

 

[primal defense]

Best article I've read this off season. A fellow college QB and his high school coach is a better endorsement than the ESPN talking heads.

Oklahoma State's J.W. Walsh big fan of Texas QB Jerrod Heard

Oklahoma State’s J.W. Walsh won’t be the only Big 12 quarterback Denton Guyer head coach John Walsh will be focused on this season. Shortly after his son headed to Stillwater, Jerrod Heard took over as John Walsh’s QB, and led Guyer to a pair of state championships.

Now Heard is at Texas. And both John and J.W. Walsh believe Heard has the ability, savvy and big-play knack to become the Longhorns’ long sought-after solution at quarterback.

“He’s a baller,†J.W. Walsh said. “He’s one of those guys that gets in a game, he makes plays. I remember watching him in high school, and you’re just in awe of some of the stuff he does.â€

Heard is battling Tyrone Swoopes for the Longhorns’ starting job, though coach Charlie Strong hasn’t ruled out the possibility of both quarterbacks playing, at least early on in the season. After redshirting as a freshman last year, Heard appeared to close the gap on Swoopes late in spring ball with a surge culminating with an encouraging performance in the Texas' spring game. Heard started out 9-for-9 passing while operating against the first-team defense.

“He’s very smooth,†John Walsh said. “And the direction Texas is headed with its offense, toward uptempo and using the quarterback’s legs, I think that’s tailor-made for Jerrod.â€

John Walsh praised Heard's physical attributes, notably how he’s “really faster than he looks†because of his stride. But what stood out most to the Walsh family in Denton was Heard’s knack for delivering in the big moment.

“I can go back to several games, like when we were down 16 in the title game, and he just completely takes over,†John Walsh said. “I hate to make the comparison, but it makes you remember Vince Young being able to take over a game with his moxie.

“I think that knack for making the big play will get the 100,000 fans [at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium] behind him real quick.â€

John Walsh could have two former starting quarterbacks squaring off when Oklahoma State travels to Sept. 26 in what figures to be a pivotal Big 12 matchup for both sides. J.W. Walsh is hoping on that day Heard won't do for Texas what he did for Guyer.

“I think he can help that team out a lot," he said. "So I hope he wins the job, for whatever reason can’t play against us, then starts again.â€

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4691792/oklahoma-states-j-w-walsh-big-fan-of-texas-qb-jerrod-heard

 

[GBT]

(We all saw the Baylor game last year..as well as our other losses.)I hope Watson isn't one of those coaches who thinks he can make chicken salad out of chicken *****, or a silk purse out of a sow's ear, or put a gold saddle on a jack-ass and turn it into a thoroughbred. ....etc,etc....I hope he doesn't have this false sense because Bridgewater was underrated out of HS, and he thinks like HE  made Bridgewater into an NFL QB, when Teddy was a stud to begin with, as most all of them are. All coaches do is motivate players to reach their capabilities. Coaches don't actually do squat. A beast is a beast....Now, can a crappy coach keep a talent from emerging..YES, ....but if the great talent isn't there, there isn't a darn thing a coach can do to get it out of the player. If Watson is like that, he may stick with Swoopes too long and ruin the 2015 season. I think we have to win 7 or 8 games next season, and be competitive in our losses, or Charlie and company could be in real trouble in trying to pull Texas out from under the blanket Aggy, TCU, and Baylor has thrown over us. What recruiting ground Charlie has gained on them will be lost. Going into Southbend, to hell with experience; Texas needs to go with a "winner".... Heard had "IT" in high school...we need to see if he has "IT" in college, because Swoopes has proven he doesn't.

 

[streettopeschel]

GBT...Coaches don't actually do squat? Then why do we need a new hitting coach?

 

[primal defense]

(We all saw the Baylor game last year..as well as our other losses.)I hope Watson isn't one of those coaches who thinks he can make chicken salad out of chicken *****, or a silk purse out of a sow's ear, or put a gold saddle on a jack-ass and turn it into a thoroughbred. ....etc,etc....I hope he doesn't have this false sense because Bridgewater was underrated out of HS, and he thinks like HE  made Bridgewater into an NFL QB, when Teddy was a stud to begin with, as most all of them are. All coaches do is motivate players to reach their capabilities. Coaches don't actually do squat. A beast is a beast....Now, can a crappy coach keep a talent from emerging..YES, ....but if the great talent isn't there, there isn't a darn thing a coach can do to get it out of the player. If Watson is like that, he may stick with Swoopes too long and ruin the 2015 season. I think we have to win 7 or 8 games next season, and be competitive in our losses, or Charlie and company could be in real trouble in trying to pull Texas out from under the blanket Aggy, TCU, and Baylor has thrown over us. What recruiting ground Charlie has gained on them will be lost. Going into Southbend, to hell with experience; Texas needs to go with a "winner".... Heard had "IT" in high school...we need to see if he has "IT" in college, because Swoopes has proven he doesn't.

I disagree with some of your post:

I hope he doesn't have this false sense because Bridgewater was underrated out of HS,

Sorry, but Bridgewater was the #6 dual threat QB with offers from schools like Florida, Miami and LSU. I don't call that underrated. This discounted your next statement that Watson might think he made Bridgewater into a NFL QB.

All coaches do is motivate players to reach their capabilities. Coaches don't actually do squat.

LOL, I really hope you don't believe this.

If Watson is like that, he may stick with Swoopes too long and ruin the 2015 season.

The decision on what QB plays will be a Charlie Strong-Watson decision, not a Shawn Watson decision. It's not going to matter if Swoopes starts the ND game, if he doesn't play well then Heard will come in. The QB that wins the starting job will win it on the field.

 

[java]

GBT, did you learn about sports at finishing school?