Quarterbacks: Where Does Texas Stand? (by Ross Labenske)

[JMagana]

SHA and company,

Was it Vince Young performance in the Holiday Bowl (redshirt freshman) or was it the first Rose Bowl (redshirt sophomore) performance that finally sold the fan base that he was the truth?

I remember for a big part of his redshirt freshman/sophomore campaign people still debated if he would be better served as a WR. 

I can't recall when the vast majority jumped on the Vince wagon, it wasn't from the beginning like most want to pretend.

 

[NLeininger]

SHA and company,

Was it Vince Young performance in the Holiday Bowl (redshirt freshman) or was it the first Rose Bowl (redshirt sophomore) performance that finally sold the fan base that he was the truth?

I remember for a big part of his redshirt freshman/sophomore campaign people still debated if he would be better served as a WR. 

I can't recall when the vast majority jumped on the Vince wagon, it wasn't from the beginning like most want to pretend.

After the Rose bowl, people wanted him benched after the ou and missouri games in 2004. Many thought Tech was going to beat the crap out of us.

 

[NLeininger]

I agree he wasn't given a fair shake but to that ship has sailed.

Did you forget that as a redshirt sophomore he and a senior were beat out for the job by a true freshman. He's had two off-seasons/camps to show that he has the intangibles (physical and mental) to be the QB at Texas. No Dice.

Shane had as good or better #s of other D1 QBs starting as true freshmen which includes Jalen Hurts (look it up). I'm sure you know what the biggest difference between Texas and Alabama is so I don't have to go over the importance coaching/supporting cast.

How can we second guess the guy (Herman and Shane) after the first game together?

He was running 1st team  in 2016 spring until he injured his shoulder and missed the final 2 weeks, by the time he was able to come back he was 3rd on the depth chart and wanted to play so he moved to WR. Shane played in a QB friendly offense with a legitimate rushing attack to aid him. To say he had no help is another misnomer. Shane also got worse as the season progressed last year, including his back to back awful performances(KU and TCU) that got Charlie fired. Yet in spite of a cohesive coaching staff, better coaching, and better players around him Shane was NOT significantly better than Heard in several passing categories.

Heard's year Foreman only carried the ball 94 times and he played in an offense that had no idea what it was doing from game to game. Once opposing team got the ou film it was game over for the offense, as the coaches had no idea how to counter opposing defenses. So yeah, Heard struggled because he received no coaching as a RS freshmen. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

SHA and company,

Was it Vince Young performance in the Holiday Bowl (redshirt freshman) or was it the first Rose Bowl (redshirt sophomore) performance that finally sold the fan base that he was the truth?

I remember for a big part of his redshirt freshman/sophomore campaign people still debated if he would be better served as a WR. 

I can't recall when the vast majority jumped on the Vince wagon, it wasn't from the beginning like most want to pretend.

I don't remember. I was sold on Vince when Brewster recruited him so hard. Some of Vince's HS clips were insane. The Vince that would beat USC was seen in those HS clips.

 

[CharcoalPuppy]

Getting beat up is something Shane is going to struggle with as long as he's at Texas.    He's a small framed guy.... but he is not a bad QB.    

 

[Grandpa Zorro]

The reality is, if Shane can't go, Herman has to have a backup for Ehlinger...that will be Heard.  If they aren't working Heard with the 2s this week and trying to put together some set of plays that he can run ( I was under the impression they already had a small package for him to run ), then this staff is not as good as we would like to think.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that we WANT Heard to be the QB...we just might NEED him to be the QB.

 

[83Dee]

SHA and company,

Was it Vince Young performance in the Holiday Bowl (redshirt freshman) or was it the first Rose Bowl (redshirt sophomore) performance that finally sold the fan base that he was the truth?

I remember for a big part of his redshirt freshman/sophomore campaign people still debated if he would be better served as a WR. 

I can't recall when the vast majority jumped on the Vince wagon, it wasn't from the beginning like most want to pretend.

What you are thinking of is Vince's sophomore campaign vs Michigan in the Rose Bowl.   Vince's freshman year he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a football.  He had a good, perhaps great group of receivers who were used almost exclusively as blockers for his running.  By the end of his sophomore year, he was still deadly as a runner but was also adequate as a passer.  His junior year Vince could slay you with his running or passing and became "unstoppable." 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

I love it when these arm chair QB's start getting all huffy when they lay out their "case" as to why this guy or that guy should be playing QB instead of the guy who is playing QB.

You want Heard?...electric runner...yep...that he was/is. ..But he is no college QB. What I remember about him was slow to read....very hesitant when pressure was coming....and turning 2nd and 2's into 3rd and 9's...time after time after time. And we arent talking about Heard as a true freshman. He was a red shirt freshman. A redshirt freshman who was enjoying the college experience more than watching film. I cant blame him for that.

I just get tired of these non expert experts that are somewhat surprised when the whole board does not buy into their arguments.  Seriously?...Playing the Wickline card?

Keep em coming....I need the laughs.

Well, as I've said several times on this board, just because you agree with me doesn't mean you are smart and just because you disagree with me doesn't mean you are stupid. 

You do make a definitive statement that Heard is no college QB so I do have a question for you. In your "non-expert expert" opinion, does a players performance in their RS freshman represent the best he is capable of playing or can he improve from year to year to year? 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Yeah, I kinda thought that was the point of having message boards. 

Exactly. Hello! Let's talk about Longhorn sports and give our opinion. Jeez how novel.

Not sure why some people have difficulty grasping the concept of what a message/discussion board is and that my opinion may not agree with your opinion. 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Take this with a huge grain of salt but I saw this over on the Brainiacs.

I’ve been told by multiple sources that Jerrod Heard actually took all of the second team repetitions. Everyone I spoke to said Heard took a lot of reps at the QB position yesterday.

I asked sources how he’s looked and was told that he’s throwing surprisingly well given how rusty you can imagine he is. One source said, “Sam is a bit better throwing the ball just because Heard hasn’t been playing [quarterback] but he can still sling it and he can run”. – (Super K)

 

[DBut82]

I agree he wasn't given a fair shake but to that ship has sailed.

Did you forget that as a redshirt sophomore he and a senior were beat out for the job by a true freshman. He's had two off-seasons/camps to show that he has the intangibles (physical and mental) to be the QB at Texas. No Dice.

Shane had as good or better #s of other D1 QBs starting as true freshmen which includes Jalen Hurts (look it up). I'm sure you know what the biggest difference between Texas and Alabama is so I don't have to go over the importance coaching/supporting cast.

How can we second guess the guy (Herman and Shane) after the first game together?

Heard wasn't really "beat out for the job" so much as an injury putting him so far behind (he was hurt most of spring and all of summer) that Shane took advantage of the opportunity with basically no one to compete with him (we all knew Swoopes wasn't it at that point).  Heard asked to move to wr (according to Strong) and so when this staff came in with Shane now the returning starter, Sam being a top recruit and the opportunity to perhaps sign a grad transfer ( I seem to remember just about every eligible gt giving Texas a serious look), there was no need or even thought to move Heard back.  And the lack of fair shake is  really all I'm saying.  Especially considering how our qb depth looks now.  Now I'm not saying Heard is "The Answer" but considering Shane stays injured and Sam is a true freshman, I believe he should get a legit look. 

 

[DBut82]

Take this with a huge grain of salt but I saw this over on the Brainiacs.

I’ve been told by multiple sources that Jerrod Heard actually took all of the second team repetitions. Everyone I spoke to said Heard took a lot of reps at the QB position yesterday.

I asked sources how he’s looked and was told that he’s throwing surprisingly well given how rusty you can imagine he is. One source said, “Sam is a bit better throwing the ball just because Heard hasn’t been playing [quarterback] but he can still sling it and he can run”. – (Super K)

Seems legit.  TH has the foresight that is Shane doesn't go, and starting a true freshman, that he needs a capable back up...and if this line isn't blocking any better than they were last Saturday, we'll see Heard sooner rather than later on Saturday.

 

[DBut82]

And something no one has mentioned I don't think.  Heard playing wr probably has helped his understanding as a qb.  Just timing with his drops in relation to the wr location at the top of that drop, better understanding of the routes being ran, where the safety/lb/corner will be positioned because of a particular route, etc.  Who know, being a wr for a plus probably has helped him more than we could imagine...

 

[dillohorn]

I'd see it as a great improvement if the Horns had a QB that could stay healthy  for a change.

 

[longhorn_mig]

Harrison, Daniel, or anyone else...any more specific information on Shane's injury other than a bruised throwing shoulder? Any chance this drags on past this week?

 

[okiehorn]

The reality is, if Shane can't go, Herman has to have a backup for Ehlinger...that will be Heard.  If they aren't working Heard with the 2s this week and trying to put together some set of plays that he can run ( I was under the impression they already had a small package for him to run ), then this staff is not as good as we would like to think.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that we WANT Heard to be the QB...we just might NEED him to be the QB.

He has gotten few snaps every practice per coach beck. There obviously not high on him and know a hell of a lot more than myself so I trust what they are doin. But to answer it question yes they have been getting him snaps. 

 

[oldhorn2]

Exactly. Hello! Let's talk about Longhorn sports and give our opinion. Jeez how novel.

Not sure why some people have difficulty grasping the concept of what a message/discussion board is and that my opinion may not agree with your opinion. 

NTG actually I was not referring to you at all. In fact I thought you made a well reasoned case for Heard in your post. Sorry if you thought I was after you. I should have made my statement clearer.

I believe just as you do that a QB can improve from their first year . We saw exactly that with both Vince and Colt. I was just a bit pissed that the one poster (who has a right to his opinion also) will not listen to any argument but his own.

As far as Heard goes, I did not like the way he just ran straight out of bounds instead of throwing it away. I did like that he was an amazing runner. I also pointed out on this board and others that he once made a dead strike to Burt for a TD that traveled 55 yds in the air before hitting Burt in stride. I dont care a damn who is winning games, I just want to win.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

NTG actually I was not referring to you at all. In fact I thought you made a well reasoned case for Heard in your post. Sorry if you thought I was after you. I should have made my statement clearer.

I believe just as you do that a QB can improve from their first year . We saw exactly that with both Vince and Colt. I was just a bit pissed that the one poster (who has a right to his opinion also) will not listen to any argument but his own.

As far as Heard goes, I did not like the way he just ran straight out of bounds instead of throwing it away. I did like that he was an amazing runner. I also pointed out on this board and others that he once made a dead strike to Burt for a TD that traveled 55 yds in the air before hitting Burt in stride. I dont care a damn who is winning games, I just want to win.

Oldhorn, it's all good man. Believe me I don't take anything that is said here personal because I know my 2 cents worth is rarely worth that much

Heck, don't put it past me to post stuff sometimes just to get discussion and activity going on the board 

 

[83Dee]

Serious question.... I apologize if this has been covered prior. 

Did this injury occur on the big hit on our first possession?  I was thinking all game that Shane didn't have the same zip on the ball that he had last year.  Some of the longer throws that require some gas were down right scary!   Am I alone and was this the cause? 

 

[oldhorn2]

could be....I read one guy that said he thought Shane got concussed on that play. It would explain a lot. Then again....some have felt that he must have been concussed BEFORE that play to allow it in the first place.