For those of you doubting Tyrone Swoopes

[Marian Hinton]

I can tell you from personal experience that Swoopes is indeed a student of the game. He is no Colt McCoy in that regard, but very few people are. He does what he needs to do to learn all he can. In fact, when other players are out partying, he's been known to stay in to study, level one.

 

[hornrush]

Quarterback does a lot more than run around and throw the ball. Is he the kind of student of the game he needs to be? There's some reason the coaches kept trying to use him last season and couldn't bring themselves to do it. I'm not a fan of playing freshman quarterbacks, but there are some red flags about his development since they clearly wanted to play him.

I agree more with this than the OP's post.

Like it or not, agree with it or not, Tyrone Swoopes is a project. A big project. I think the best analysis about him was given to me at the end of this past season by a former coach following the Alamo Bowl.

"Yes, he has all of the tools but right now he has no idea how to use them."

If Strong's team can chisel away all of the stuff that's covering up his potential, I'll be the first to cheer. My feeling though is that Heard, at this point versus Swoopes going into last season, is a more polished QB and student of the game right now.

Hook'em!

 

[Sean Adams]

Hornrush, I tend to agree with you on the project side of things. Trent Dilfer told me after the Elite 11 that he was a guy that needed two or three years before he was ready to play and that if Texas rushed him they could lower his ceiling. There is a lot of work to be done but Heard has a lot of work to do as well. More than anything what these players and these quarterbacks needed was a teacher. They should have that.

 

[doc longhorn]

Temper the expectations for Swoopes in 2014-15. His learning curve is more than most. If you have ever driven through Whitewright or spent time there, you could just imagine the culture shock moving to Austin and going to a university about the size of your town. The competition that Whitewright plays is as bad as it gets in terms of high school football. I certainly like his athletic upside and could suprise his Junior year, but think next year is just too soon.

LOL Whiterock is small but how big was the town Colt came from?

Maybe those of you that are still down on this kid simply don't believe your own eyes? I provided that clip for the very reason that Swoopes keeps getting bashed. Good Lord, he was a true freshman last year, folks, just a few months removed from his senior prom.. Doesn't that mean anything to you? What the heck kind of expectations did you have for him?

Did you not see him run? Did you not see him pass? Did you not see his accuracy? Does everyone know the kid is bright and graduated as a 17 year old and was playing football FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS as an 18 year old, stepping on the practice field with UT's premier blue chip players, straight out of little old Whiterock, with a group of the most dysfunctional coaches in the Big 12, living in a dormitory that was infinitely better than the living conditions he came out of, living in a city that had to look like NYC to him, having to adjust to the college life and trying to learn football at the same time.

Could anyone on here do as well as he did, under those conditions?

Swoopes may never pan out, but I've seen nothing that would make me believe that so far - in fact I've seen just the opposite.

As far as Heard, I've watched Heard myself and no doubt he is a physical talent. But he is still just a high school kid and after Garrett Gilbert, I've adjusted my expectations and I am done with anointing the next HS savior.

 

[TexasEx_98]

I think part of the lack of playing time was Mack has always been scared of playing younger players and he felt the need to win so he wouldn't gamble on Swoops over Case. Case was a know quantity in games where Swoops was to much of a wild card for Mack in the close games.

Agree!

 

[Coal Harbour]

LOL Whiterock is small but how big was the town Colt came from?
Maybe those of you that are still down on this kid simply don't believe your own eyes? I provided that clip for the very reason that Swoopes keeps getting bashed. Good Lord, he was a true freshman last year, folks, just a few months removed from his senior prom.. Doesn't that mean anything to you? What the heck kind of expectations did you have for him?

Did you not see him run? Did you not see him pass? Did you not see his accuracy? Does everyone know the kid is bright and graduated as a 17 year old and was playing football FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS as an 18 year old, stepping on the practice field with UT's premier blue chip players, straight out of little old Whiterock, with a group of the most dysfunctional coaches in the Big 12, living in a dormitory that was infinitely better than the living conditions he came out of, living in a city that had to look like NYC to him, having to adjust to the college life and trying to learn football at the same time.

Could anyone on here do as well as he did, under those conditions?

Swoopes may never pan out, but I've seen nothing that would make me believe that so far - in fact I've seen just the opposite.

As far as Heard, I've watched Heard myself and no doubt he is a physical talent. But he is still just a high school kid and after Garrett Gilbert, I've adjusted my expectations and I am done with anointing the next HS savior.

I don't believe my comment was bashing Tyrone or being down on the kid at all. You seem to know quite a bit about the young man despite seeing him only play vs. Oregon and even a shorter sample size vs. TCU. Your right about Colt McCoy. Jim Ned HS is is a town of about 800 & WHITEWRIGHT (not Whiterock) is around 1500. Colt did have an advantage in HS being coached by his dad and if you would have seen Tyrone in HS, you might have also arrived at the same conclusion that time is the best route, despite his God given abilities.

Swoopes will get his opportunity, I just hope if it is this year, he earned it and not b/c of injury. I personally think Swoopes would benefit from another year watching, so, I guess we will agree to disagree despite the athletic ability seen on tape.

 

[monarch]

...well i can assure each and everyone of you, that from the seat that i sitting in at the alamodome... many oregon fans, seemed to be in awe of tyrone swoopes. they simply could not believe the circus atmosphere, that mack brown was playing by pulling hime in and out, as per the game itself. many oregon fans, seemed to think that texas had a chance of winning the game, had tyrone been afforded a decent chance to get comfortable with the flow of activity. just saying...

 

[Hornitos]

I'm not seeing it, but I hope you're right.

 

[HornEsch]

Swoopes had about everything against him coming into this last year and had no business being forced into action. The small school is only the start of the steep learning curve. Then he gets injured in the summer and pre-season practices where he got even further behind. This is a guy who should have spent his freshman season on the practice squad getting reps.

He has a ton of raw potential and if he can harness that he will be a great QB. I think he has a good staff to get that chance and he may only get one chance considering he is going to be right in the middle of Ash and an incoming Heard. If he can't make noise this year, he may miss the boat. He has a bit of a chance since Heard is not an early enroll. If that light can flip on, he has a hell of a chance right now.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Don't get me wrong guys, I like Swoopes. But Jerod Heard will step on campus and within days establish himself as the clear #2. Now, staff my still opt to shirt him but he'll be better than most are expecting. I'm telling you folks he is special.

He's mobile with a very live arm with accuracy. But what I like best are the following: 1 - Moxy , . kid's a player who wants to be in THAT situation where fate is in his hands. 2 - Poised, composed, you'll not understand how he can be that way while so young. 3 - He's a thinking QB, and it will show in many of the plays he makes.

I've seen lots of HS football in the past few years, both watching my son and watching with my son (playoffs). This kid was the only QB I've seen who literally made me say "he's special."

 

[doc longhorn]

I don't believe my comment was bashing Tyrone or being down on the kid at all. You seem to know quite a bit about the young man despite seeing him only play vs. Oregon and even a shorter sample size vs. TCU. Your right about Colt McCoy. Jim Ned HS is is a town of about 800 & WHITEWRIGHT (not Whiterock) is around 1500. Colt did have an advantage in HS being coached by his dad and if you would have seen Tyrone in HS, you might have also arrived at the same conclusion that time is the best route, despite his God given abilities.
Swoopes will get his opportunity, I just hope if it is this year, he earned it and not b/c of injury. I personally think Swoopes would benefit from another year watching, so, I guess we will agree to disagree despite the athletic ability seen on tape.

Forgive me if my comment seemed like I was being contentious and condescending - far from it, it was actually meant generally and not directed at you per se.

All I know about Swoopes is what I have seen - from the spring game to the bowl game (and this clip) and what someone familiar with him has told me. But I do know what I saw and the kid is an exceptional talent.

And I agree with you - I think Swoopes needs another year of backup and, if Ash can remain healthy, he should get it. I think Strong is astute enough to not play Swoopes until he IS ready, but if the kid comes on and performs better than Ash, then the Longhorns can only be that much better, right? Either way, it's win/win for our beloved Horns.

 

[Juan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Finally back on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23IHaveNoFollowers&src=hash">#IHaveNoFollowers</a></p>— Tyrone Swoopes (@tswoopes18) <a href="

https://twitter.com/tswoopes18/statuses/428009030456320000">January 28, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[doc longhorn]

Don't get me wrong guys, I like Swoopes. But Jerod Heard will step on campus and within days establish himself as the clear #2. Now, staff my still opt to shirt him but he'll be better than most are expecting. I'm telling you folks he is special.
He's mobile with a very live arm with accuracy. But what I like best are the following: 1 - Moxy , . kid's a player who wants to be in THAT situation where fate is in his hands. 2 - Poised, composed, you'll not understand how he can be that way while so young. 3 - He's a thinking QB, and it will show in many of the plays he makes.

I've seen lots of HS football in the past few years, both watching my son and watching with my son (playoffs). This kid was the only QB I've seen who literally made me say "he's special."

I sincerely hope you are wrong and Strong is savvy enough to NOT to place Heard at #2. Did we not just go through this very scenario, with a freshman QB, last year? Do we want a repeat of it?

Besides, Sirhornsalot, did you really mean that Heard was the ONLY QB that made you say he is special? What did VY make you say? Ha! Gotcha!

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I sincerely hope you are wrong and Strong is savvy enough to NOT to place Heard at #2. Did we not just go through this very scenario, with a freshman QB, last year? Do we want a repeat of it?
Besides, Sirhornsalot, did you really mean that Heard was the ONLY QB that made you say he is special? What did VY make you say? Ha! Gotcha!

I have no idea why you would hope that. You're talking Mack Brown's approach to the depth chart. I want no part of that. If Jerod Heard is the second best QB, he better be #2 on the depth chart.

That said, I'd really like to see him shirt. But, he can suit up as #2 throughout the schedule. If Ash goes down against Kansas, then go with Swoopes and save the Heard shirt.

On the Gotcha, read again. VY hasn't played HS ball in some time and I never saw him play in person anyway. But I do catch quite a few 5A games in a district that features Coppell, Hebron, FM Marcus, Denton Ryan and has featured Plano, Plano W, Plano E, Allen, SL Carroll. So I've seen quite a few good QBs in person. None had me giddy like Heard.

I also saw Coppell DE Solomon Thomas, Hebron S Jamal Adams and Ennis DE James Lockhart in person the past two years. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all.

 

[HookemDTX]

Don't get me wrong guys, I like Swoopes. But Jerod Heard will step on campus and within days establish himself as the clear #2. Now, staff my still opt to shirt him but he'll be better than most are expecting. I'm telling you folks he is special.
He's mobile with a very live arm with accuracy. But what I like best are the following: 1 - Moxy , . kid's a player who wants to be in THAT situation where fate is in his hands. 2 - Poised, composed, you'll not understand how he can be that way while so young. 3 - He's a thinking QB, and it will show in many of the plays he makes.

I've seen lots of HS football in the past few years, both watching my son and watching with my son (playoffs). This kid was the only QB I've seen who literally made me say "he's special."

You don't think Murray is special?

 

[monarch]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Finally back on Twitter <a onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Outgoing', 'twitter.com', '/search?q=%23IHaveNoFollowers&src=hash']);" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23IHaveNoFollowers&src=hash">#IHaveNoFollowers</a></p>— Tyrone Swoopes (@tswoopes18) <a onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Outgoing', 'twitter.com', '/tswoopes18/statuses/428009030456320000']);" href="
https://twitter.com/tswoopes18/statuses/428009030456320000

...i'm now following. for sure...

 

[Sirhornsalot]

You don't think Murray is special?

If you compare both, one is clearly better than the other. Murray will be special in the future, but his success was greatly aided by talent surrounding him. Heard is special right now.

Put it this way, if Ash decided he was done, Swoopes became cripple (Heaven forbid) and everyone else quit - I would not be bothered by anything more than who will back up Heard. This is a rare case of a kid who can walk in and play, today.

 

[Texasmade]

Swoopes is Charlie's next QB to DE conversion project.

This is probably closer to truth than the OP.
Heard will be our QB by mid October. Mark it down.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

This is probably closer to truth than the OP.
Heard will be our QB by mid October. Mark it down.

This is probably true but it also means we may have only one win too.

 

[HookemDTX]

This is probably closer to truth than the OP.
Heard will be our QB by mid October. Mark it down.

Damn Pepper!