Swoopes improving?

[HornSports Staff]

All very valid points.  Especially the extra year Barrett has under the current staff.  

With Ship,Harris, and Brown moving on, we are going to need someone to step up and be a leader on offense.

Leadership will be an interesting storyline in the Spring and into next year. With so many strong personalities in this year's Senior class, it wasn't the right time for Swoopes to step forward. This was never going to be "his" team.

Starting in Spring ball, how he/Heard/Gentry step forward into a leadership role will play a large role in determining next year's success, IMO.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I'm just glad Case McCoy isn't the QB. 

 

[bcherry168]

I'm just glad Case McCoy isn't the QB. 

I think we would have fared better early in the year with Case. Not too sure about now. Swoopes IS improving, even if he is not quite there yet.

 

[monarch]

hey gents, have you all noticed.. that no matter just how discombobulated our great young swoopes has been throughout this burgeoning season... he has not as of yet been injured!  

   swoopes there it is!

 

[bcherry168]

That is probably why he is not encouraged to run with the ball. Nobody behind him but walk ons. I note that Okie Lite burned a redshirt yesterday because they did not have enough depth We have been in that situation for 6 years. That is really bad decision making by the coaching staffs involved. Strong is moving to change that, but it will take a couple of years. At least next year we will have 2 before having to use a walk on.

 

[Duke C #11]

"While swoopes has improved it still begs the question as where this team would be had we taken Barrett instead of Swoopes.  Barrett under Watson would have this team with atleast 2 more wins IMO"

If pigs had wings we'd all eat less bacon.

If Napolean had B-52 bombers at Waterloo, would this thread be in French?

Things are always much clearer in hindsight.

 

[DMAC]

If pigs had wings we'd all eat less bacon.

Bacon and wings. Who's eating less?

 

[HornEsch]

At the end of it all, I am confident that we will get the competition at the position that we have not seen for years. No matter who emerges, I think we will be in good shape. Unlike the previous staff these guys seem to have no problem bringing in additional bodies at the position to make sure we get the right man for the job.

This discussion is also a great reason why this site has become my home.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

"While swoopes has improved it still begs the question as where this team would be had we taken Barrett instead of Swoopes.  Barrett under Watson would have this team with atleast 2 more wins IMO"

If pigs had wings we'd all eat less bacon.

If Napolean had B-52 bombers at Waterloo, would this thread be in French?

Things are always much clearer in hindsight.

You forgot the one about if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

[Coal Harbour]

Thursday night will be Swoopes toughest test of the year and I see it as a sort of "graduation night" for him.  Swoopes has looked much better in first halfs this season when the coaching staff is trying to push the ball down field, but if UT has success and is in the game in the second half, the play calling becomes very conservative so as to not make mistakes.

The offensive coaches will not have that luxury Thanksgiving evening as it will take an aggressive approach all night to keep up with the Frogs.  Can't wait to see how Tyrone responds b/c UT will not be able to just line up and run the ball to compete.

As far as improvement is concerned, you don't have to know anything about football to see Swoopes has improved football and leadership wise and the team seems to respond well to him when he speaks up.  

If Heard wins the job in the spring or summer, so be it, but I feel that Swoopes will be under center heading to South Bend next year with a capable backup in place, which is an improvement over this year.

 

[HornEsch]

We will learn a lot about both Swoopes and this team in this game.

Are we truly improved since K-State or has it been fools gold? How Swoopes and this team comes out will say a lot for where we go from here.

I personally think we have improved and will show up against TCU.

 

[doc longhorn]

It's ridiculous to compare Swoopes to Barrett,Colt, VY or Brown.  If you insist on doing this, then you must compare every player on the teams they played on to the one Swoopes plays on and you have to compare them in the same context, time frames and the teams they played as well.

You simply can't do this.

Swoopes development has saved the QB situation this year.  This cannot be denied and to do so only means you have an agenda.  The question is continually asked about what games he has won.  I'll turn it around - what games has HE lost?

Will he continue to develop into an outstanding QB?  Hell, I don't know and neither does anyone else on this board.  He may turn out to be a bust or he may win the Heisman himself.  Who knows?

What I do know about him is he has the physical tools - including the arm strength of an NFL QB.  The only thing that appears to be lacking is experience - and a quality OL and receivers.

I like his chances.

 

[DMAC]

It's ridiculous to compare Swoopes to Barrett,Colt, VY or Brown.  If you insist on doing this, then you must compare every player on the teams they played on to the one Swoopes plays on and you have to compare them in the same context, time frames and the teams they played as well.

You simply can't do this.

Swoopes development has saved the QB situation this year.  This cannot be denied and to do so only means you have an agenda.  The question is continually asked about what games he has won.  I'll turn it around - what games has HE lost?

Will he continue to develop into an outstanding QB?  Hell, I don't know and neither does anyone else on this board.  He may turn out to be a bust or he may win the Heisman himself.  Who knows?

What I do know about him is he has the physical tools - including the arm strength of an NFL QB.  The only thing that appears to be lacking is experience - and a quality OL and receivers.

I like his chances.

Its not ridiculous at all.  I am talking about leadership ability more than anything.  

Forgetting each their physical abilities or style of play, Barrett shows leadership is well documented and Swoopes does not, yet.  Barrett is a RS frosh and gives speeches to his team pregame.  Swoopes doesnt.  You can see Barrett directing players on offense like Hicks does on defense.  I dont see Swoopes doing this.  I really dont care at all who our QB is.  I do care that OUR team has a leader at QB.  When i brought up Colt and VY, and Brown all showed leadership at QB regardless of stats.

Watson and Strong have said repeatedly we need leadership at the QB spot as in their words because " the ball in their hands most of the game".

Strong just said in this weeks Press conference as why he believes the team has done so well in the last few games and he said (paraphrase)"the team and defense has gained confidence in the offense where that was a problem earlier in the year."

You could make an argument for not comparing QB's performance because of other players such as the same OL, backs, coaches, etc.  But confidence in yourself and leadership abilities has more to do with the person than other players.  

Swoopes hasnt shown any leadership and it is obvious he has confidence issues.  Hell even Strong and Watson talk about how they try to handle him his fragile confidence.

Maybe he works out, maybe he doesnt.  Maybe he is a leader at a 1A or 2A HS.  But I dont see it yet but I do see it out of a RS frosh in Barrett.  

Just how far can you expect this to go without having leadership at the QB spot?  Personality wise he is the polar opposite of Diggs.  

I dont like his chances.  

On another note i read this somewhere not sure where.  An offensive player was asked what he thought of Swoopes play after the OSU game and the quote was "Watson is a great coach, isnt he"  I guess you take that the way you want but I dont take that as "Swoopes is awesome!"  more like Swoopes is coached up and still average. 

 

[Worster1]

It's ridiculous to compare Swoopes to Barrett,Colt, VY or Brown.  If you insist on doing this, then you must compare every player on the teams they played on to the one Swoopes plays on and you have to compare them in the same context, time frames and the teams they played as well.

You simply can't do this.

Swoopes development has saved the QB situation this year.  This cannot be denied and to do so only means you have an agenda.  The question is continually asked about what games he has won.  I'll turn it around - what games has HE lost?

Will he continue to develop into an outstanding QB?  Hell, I don't know and neither does anyone else on this board.  He may turn out to be a bust or he may win the Heisman himself.  Who knows?

What I do know about him is he has the physical tools - including the arm strength of an NFL QB.  The only thing that appears to be lacking is experience - and a quality OL and receivers.

I like his chances.

I think he has improved.  I have been very critical of Swoopes in recent weeks - mostly right after his comments to the press.  For me it is about the mental side and believing he could do more than just drive the bus or manage the position.  As Doc said he needs experience, confidence and a consistent OL to take it to the next level.  This TCU game will be a real yardstick on how far he came from game 2 to game 12.

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

Its not ridiculous at all.  I am talking about leadership ability more than anything.  

Forgetting each their physical abilities or style of play, Barrett shows leadership is well documented and Swoopes does not, yet.  Barrett is a RS frosh and gives speeches to his team pregame.  Swoopes doesnt.  You can see Barrett directing players on offense like Hicks does on defense.  I dont see Swoopes doing this.  I really dont care at all who our QB is.  I do care that OUR team has a leader at QB.  When i brought up Colt and VY, and Brown all showed leadership at QB regardless of stats.

Watson and Strong have said repeatedly we need leadership at the QB spot as in their words because " the ball in their hands most of the game".

Strong just said in this weeks Press conference as why he believes the team has done so well in the last few games and he said (paraphrase)"the team and defense has gained confidence in the offense where that was a problem earlier in the year."

You could make an argument for not comparing QB's performance because of other players such as the same OL, backs, coaches, etc.  But confidence in yourself and leadership abilities has more to do with the person than other players.  

Swoopes hasnt shown any leadership and it is obvious he has confidence issues.  Hell even Strong and Watson talk about how they try to handle him his fragile confidence.

Maybe he works out, maybe he doesnt.  Maybe he is a leader at a 1A or 2A HS.  But I dont see it yet but I do see it out of a RS frost in Barrett.  

Just how far can you expect this to go without having leadership at the QB spot?  Personality wise he is the polar opposite of Diggs.  

I dont like his chances.  

Sorry, I don't discount completely the 'QB must be the leader of the offense' though I do disagree quite a bit with your reading of the situation.

Swoopes is a true Soph, and as raw as any Sophomore has ever been - I think thats his problem, not that he has 'confidence issues'.  I've read the same quotes from Strong and Watson you have and I haven't interpreted it as them trying to protect Swoope's and his 'fragile confidence'.  I read it as a statement of fact that they have to be careful with the offense because Swoopes isn't a developed player coming from a big-time HS program.  A supreme level of confidence isn't going to allow Swoopes to learn to read defenses or understand Watson's offense any quicker - if anything its going to cause him to make more mistakes.  One of Swoopes biggest problems coming into this year is that he didn't know how to prepare like a QB - you can put that on his high school, coaches, Mack, and Swoopes himself - but it is what it is.

I also don't buy that you have to stand up and give speeches to be a leader.  Strong talked this week that this team of Seniors are mostly quiet guys and 'lead by example' type players.  I don't think there is anything wrong with that type of leadership.  I guess it all depends on what this team/locker room needs.  As long as Swoopes teammates respect and have confidence in him - I don't see the problem.

It seems that the only type of leadership you'd appreciate from Swoopes is the kind that shows up on the sidelines on TV - and I just don't think that is very important.

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

On another note i read this somewhere not sure where.  An offensive player was asked what he thought of Swoopes play after the OSU game and the quote was "Watson is a great coach, isnt he"  I guess you take that the way you want but I dont take that as "Swoopes is awesome!"  more like Swoopes is coached up and still average. 

I'd love to see that quote in actual context.

Anyways - I'd take it as - "Did you see Swoopes in the Spring?  Look how far he's come under Watsons tutelage".  I don't see how that is in anyway a criticism of Swoopes.

 

[DMAC]

It seems that the only type of leadership you'd appreciate from Swoopes is the kind that shows up on the sidelines on TV - and I just don't think that is very important.

Haha.  Yea VY jumping up and down in front the post game show after beating USC saying "Whos your Heisman?" or dancing on the sidelines tell the guys we got this was a total illusion of leadership.  Gotcha.

 

[DMAC]

I'd love to see that quote in actual context.

Anyways - I'd take it as - "Did you see Swoopes in the Spring?  Look how far he's come under Watsons tutelage".  I don't see how that is in anyway a criticism of Swoopes.

It might have been the burnt ends clip last week.  Since I have unsubbed, not sure go check it out yourself since you are.

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

It might have been the burnt ends clip last week.  Since I have unsubbed, not sure go check it out yourself since you are.

Here is the quote in its entirety:

Since there are so many opinions on Swoopes, we asked about his progress and got this in reply, “Watson is a tremendous QB coach.â€

He wasn't asked about Swoopes play in that game, or Swoopes himself, he was asked about Swoope's progress.   I think any reasonable person would be find it difficult to read this as a criticism of Swoopes.

*Usually the person using the quote to bolster their own argument has the burden of providing the link to the quote - but I'll do you a solid.

 

[DMAC]

Swoopes is a true Soph, and as raw as any Sophomore has ever been - I think thats his problem, not that he has 'confidence issues'. 

Each to his own I guess.  But its pretty obvious Swoopes has confidence issues.  You says is a true Soph thing.  Barrett is the same year as Swoopes.  Read the earlier quotes I posted from people observing Barrett.  

Its a personality thing.  That so called fire a player that a player has or doesnt have.  I do not believe Swoopes has it.  We shall find out if it comes out next year.  When Harris, Ship, Brown leave