Swoopes improving?

[GBT]

Great points Matt, especially points #2 and #4. Barrett is playing with teammates who are a part of a ranked team plus Barrett has had time to learn the offense. Swoopes on the other hand is learning a new offense along with his teammates.

All Spring and 12 freaking weeks....and last night is what we get...Worse than his first start, and as bad as the Baylor game. Swoopes there it is !!!! The kid has no business being a D 1 QB. Sure he is BIG and has a cannon of an arm, but he over throws everything. Send him to N. Korea to overthrow the gov't. There are 100's of kids who have a great arm, etc...but just can't QB. He is one of them. Could be the WORST mistake Mack and company made; rivaling his OL recruiting.

 

[Worster1]

Dumpster fire. 

I have tried to temper my criticism and give some benefit of the doubt to this kid for the season, as TS came in as an inexperienced Soph. when Ash went out.   However after his "performance" last night..... my gosh he looked lost, confused and bewildered much of the game. He made bad decisions.  His throwing was way, way off - 4 INT's - most if not all, turned into frog points plus a fumble - 5 deadly turnovers.  Granted, the OL did little to help him or the RB's  last night.

Unfortunately, I don't think he improved much this season.  5 of the 6 games UT won were against teams with losing records. Watson was stuck with Swoopes - good or bad - as Heard was deemed not ready for prime time and was not better than Swoopes - especially throwing the ball.

Right now Swoopes is not playing at a D-1 level - I don't like saying that but this is where we are.   That is not acceptable at The University of Texas.  Can Swoopes change that?  I don't know - I am suspicious he cannot, but the most important decision makers - the coaches, say publically that they believe he can. 

We will see. 

 

[DMAC]

I don't know - I am suspicious he cannot, but the most important decision makers - the coaches say publically that they believe he can? 

We will see. 

After watching Charlie on post game Press Conference.  He commented on recruiting and bringing in more QB's when he was asked about Swoopes poor performance.  He even mentioned they discussed putting Heard in that game and sitting Swoopes, but they decided not too (thank god).  No sense in burning the RS with one game left.

Charlie is a smart guy, he was dealt a bad hand his first season.  I hope we see some moves on the QB position, whether its a JUCO, incoming transfer, etc.

I want hear some news on what the 50 recruits at that game had to say.  Hopefully we didnt scare off some of those defensive guys.

 

[betogonzalez]

I just don't see enough consistency from Swoopes to believe that he is the guy for next year or any other year.  I am stating the obvious, but the QB position needs to be upgraded substantially for us to compete on a yearly basis.  Our 6-6 record is a reflection of Swoopes' performance all season long....1 good game by him, 2 bad ones, 2 good ones, 1 bad one.  In the end, that translates to 6-6.  

 

[BruiseLee]

All Spring and 12 freaking weeks....and last night is what we get...Worse than his first start, and as bad as the Baylor game. Swoopes there it is !!!! The kid has no business being a D 1 QB. Sure he is BIG and has a cannon of an arm, but he over throws everything. Send him to N. Korea to overthrow the gov't. There are 100's of kids who have a great arm, etc...but just can't QB. He is one of them. Could be the WORST mistake Mack and company made; rivaling his OL recruiting.

That game was tough to watch and Swoopes made way too many mistakes. After that game it's hard to justify seeing him as the QB of the future, but his line didn't do him nor the RBs many favors. JT Barrett probably wouldn't have had made as many mistakes but I'm not sure he would have had a great game either with that kind of protection.

 

[Juan]

I never read this thread

But am curious if that game changed anyone's mind?

Full speed ahead to Heard now (or a JUCO), no looking back?

 

[joeywa]

I never read this thread

But am curious if that game changed anyone's mind?

Full speed ahead to Heard now (or a JUCO), no looking back?

Watson comments last night in post-game interview:

"We've gotten in the situation that's dealt us. Our job is to manage it, fix it, make it better. That's what we're trying to do.

We have not been able to impact our class yet, or this program, with any recruiting. This will be our first opportunity to do this - this recruiting class, and we'll keep growing.

We've got to grow the position because I'm a major advocate that your team goes as your quarterback goes."

I personally think that we leave no stone unturned when it comes to QB recruiting.  JUCO will be looked at, for someone with game experience.  I also think that Heard gets plenty of opportunities to compete for the job next year.  That said, I'm not sure he's the answer right now.  Our OL getting better is probably equal to or greater than the needs at QB.

I like Swoopes.  I think his physical attributes are a great asset.  I don't think he has had the light switch turn on yet, and unless we see something earth-shattering in whatever bowl game we go to, I don't think he is our starter next season. 

 

[DMAC]

The problem seems to be more like the light comes on then goes off then flickers back on....consistency

 

[joeywa]

The problem seems to be more like the light comes on then goes off then flickers back on....consistency

That's happens with many young QBs trying to get adjusted to the speed of the game.  Keep in mind that this kid was not supposed to see the field this year except for some possible mop-up duty.  We had Ash, and he was expected to be at the helm all season.  This was just the perfect storm by losing Ash, suspensions on OL & skill positions and injuries on OL.  When it's all said and done you have an OL that's duct tape and bailing wire, a QB that's in full-on learing mode-WHILE he plays, and no viable backup without burning Heard's shirt.  The fact that we went 6-6 with all of those issues is amazing. 

 

[Juan]

........ Our OL getting better is probably equal to or greater than the needs at QB.

One of the guys I follow was making quite a bit last night out of Wickline's refusal to stay for the post-game playing of the Eyes of Texas.  He apparently headed to the locker room by himself either before it started or as it was starting.  This is the second time he has done that this season.  After the first time, Strong said it would not happen again.  I don't know if this is the symptom of a bigger problem or not.  But it smells like something maybe going on there.

 

[DMAC]

Ruh Roh!

I remember somebody asking why Wickline didnt stick around for the Eyes of Texas the first time.  I bet he gets asked again in the weekly PC.

Disappoinment in the OL play vs TCU?  Possible friction with the other OC?

As the world turns 

 

[joeywa]

Ruh Roh!

I remember somebody asking why Wickline didnt stick around for the Eyes of Texas the first time.  I bet he gets asked again in the weekly PC.

Disappoinment in the OL play vs TCU?  Possible friction with the other OC?

As the world turns 

Strong will be asked; but from what I understand, Wick isn't available to the media.