Had Enough

For the season there were 162 QBs that qualified searching 20% of 212 dropbacks as a minimum. QE was 155 of 162 with the lowest pressure rate. Nix was 162. Beck 161. Bowman 160. QE was 25th highest in sack per pressure. Shedeur was 20th. Of all the guys in the top 25, only 4 others had a pressure rate in 20% range. QE was at 23.7% pressure rate. 24.3% sack per pressure. I can’t quote with certainty but from what I can recall in looking mid-to-late season that the pressure rate was lower and the sack per pressure rate was higher at that time.

Well, yeah, Crawford is fast and looks the part. But one false step or a slight hesitation turns that 4.4 into a 4.8 real quick. And the vast majority of plays aren’t played on 40 plus yards so catch up speed doesn’t help much. I’ll take football players over athletes any day. Ideally, you want those that are both. Like Bert Auburn. Take it whatever grains of salt you like, but I looked over some PFF rankings. Minimum 500 snaps (just random choice). 632 Olinemen from 2023. Our run blocking grades had us ranked as such: Jones 58, Banks 120, Jake 197, Dj 296, Conner 397. Pass blocking: Banks 18, Majors 34, Conner 58, Jones 131, DJ 327. Overall: Banks 54, Jones 65, Jake 145, Conner 315, DJ 343. Pass Blocking Efficiency: Jake 19, Banks 72, Jones 73, Conner 105, DJ 404. I had looked at this somewhat past mid season. Banks, Jones and I think even Majors were top 10 so they fell off a bit. In any event, G play needs to improve on both sides. Certainly, that can be significant in the red zone. I’d expect it to be improved. Maybe significantly.

Oh I know you want the guy who looks best on paper. But there will be bitching about some dude even in years when we win it all. That’s just the way it goes. We did not fail to cover those last 12 yards cause of our LG. Not to say it was any one players fault. If Neto is the guy, I will assume he earned it along with the assumption that Conner is improved too. I’m just not worried about the roster. At any position. Even interior DLine.

Jones improved for a number of reasons. First, he was never a LT. Second, continuity of scheme and staff. Third, maturity/repetitions. When evaluating his ability, you should have allowed for that. Some of his whiffs in 2021 were most likely confusion. That’s a bit where Campbell is. Maybe not confusion but confidence that causes him to be a tick slow. I’m merely highlighting the positives a player brings to the table. You don’t see Campbell whiff as much? Well that solves it. Must be fact. Since Marlin guys used to make you cry, where you reside? Teague, Fairfield, Crockett.

Sorry, I tend to include different components of the overall discussion on the board that may not be specific to a posters specific quote. I never singularly referenced you about the Neto/Conner situation, but there were several posters that referenced it. Some even questioning Conner playing in the first place. But based your post, one could infer that Neto wasn’t playing well to start 2023 and that’s why Conner started then he got to finish because he started and wanted to maintain continuity. I absolutely understand sticking with continuity in the Oline if it’s working. And that an off-season can change that dynamic too. For two years running, there was discussion on this board about Majors being replaced. I never said you specifically made that reference. We (or I) will never know about Angilau getting reps at C and whether that was a legit threat. Seems like we’ve flipped Gs in the past during the spring. Had different 1st and 2nd teams. I’ve read people jump to conclusions previously based on that (again not necessarily you). I interpreted that as cross training and seeing who pairs up well. All smart and positive coaching decisions. Is it cross training? Is it saying Neto take over? Is it I need 3 Gs and Neto needs the reps? No idea, but that’s where I am. I’ll know when the season rolls around. Come on. We all have favorite players for whatever reason. Sorry if I pull a little extra for some to give BO&W the middle finger. I’m good with best man wins but believe in depth and keeping all engaged too. I won’t lie I prefer seeing a guy grow within the program versus the one-year transfer too. If preferring Worthy over Mitchell for that reason makes me small, so be it. I’m also to the point of “we’ve got enough talent that we just need to play great at the right time” no matter of who is in the game. It’s still if Texas wins, I win.

You bitched about Jones often. Pretty certain people stated he shouldn’t play or should be gone. He improved as an old guy. Oddly enough, the things you reference on Conner were things that Jones did show the ability to do in 2021 ( I’m not sure how much pulling he did). Why do those things mean something different to you now? And you complain little about Campbell with those similar struggles in pass protection at an easier position?

I don’t limit any players upside or timeline for when they achieve their peak. You’ll likely never see me write a dude off so sorry that bothers some. And I’ll sure as shit stick up for some. What I do know is the parties that make the decisions on playing time didn’t give Neto much time in 2023 whether he was outpracticing Conner or not. Truth is I’m a proponent of giving guys opportunities and would have been perfectly fine with Neto getting more reps. My post wasn’t even about next year but last year anyway. It is a time honored tradition here to bitch and moan about replacing our least favorite olineman. And that was wrong for Jones. It was wrong for Majors. Not based on my hope but based on the decisions of those granting playing time. Do I hope Conner wins the job? Yeah, cause those here wrote him off. I hope for a great season for Conner, Neto gets some run too then whips ass before he goes to the NFL. Since my previously stated guess was whatever gives us the best chance to win, then that’s my 2024 prediction too. It is difficult for me to give credence to your sources when I don’t know specifically who they are. Yeah, I gather you have some amount of power, influence and connections. I do give some credence to your comments (note I said Neto may be better above, but I have no way of knowing). I’ve certainly seen enough dumbassery in coaching at various levels to know that simply missing isn’t out of the realm of possibility. But you don’t value my opinion. That’s fine. I will just to continue to annoy you with them although that’s within your power of control.

If he can plug a hole in short yardage like no other, there’s your value. Particularly since Sweat was a true ass kicker in that department. If not, oh well, it’s a short term deal and not everyone hits.

I’d lean towards the group is selected based on “gives us the best chance to win.” I’d be interested to see what others are seeing that shows Neto is better (and maybe he is) since he played a whopping 62 snaps on the season. I’d wager that if Campbell were better then you might potentially see something different on the left side. Campbell gave up the most hurries (by 40%), tied most QB hits, more than twice as many sacks, tied for 2nd most hurries. All with the lowest pass pro reps. And just as a frame of reference he allowed more combined sacks/QB hits than Jones allowed as LT in 2021. As a G. Against weaker pass rush competition. You can’t have both Gs struggle in pass pro and Conner is certainly better there than in the run game. Additional protection of your QB over greater movement in the run game is likely to play a part.

Interestingly enough the highest completion to Worthy on deep throws (20+ yards) was in 2021 at 33%. This year was 26%. And 20% in 2022. But I certainly ‘member as you do.

When did he step in for Majors previously?

Cade! Cade! Cade!

I like it. Admittedly at first I was thinking Grover Cleveland Alexander and wondering if I missed some famous quote. If I knew your little fact, I’d forgotten it. So you made at least one person smarter.

What is the context of this reference? Didn’t know if he made some a specific baseball reference or you’re simply that adept at adding it to this context.

Sadly my first thought was damn I wish I were that slender.

Well that’s a surprise but I’m fine pitching in reverse. I don’t think Lummus for 5 ultimately sets up the team best.

Ok. For all I know, he sucks at coverage as a slot guy and kicks ass in the run game. I was simply curious if in a specific scenario he’d be an upgrade or not so much. Damn near every team will have issues if a S is isolated 1v1 with a WR. Good for a safety isn’t a solution to that. We will see how it plays out. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had his best year in whatever capacity that is.

I’m under the impression we don’t run dime. The biggest drawback/benefit of slower/faster guy is man coverage. If he’s not great at playing the slot, then his upside is limited even if only slightly. Last year, we had a problem, particularly with Houston, when they spread us out and got the safety down and into man, they fared well. I’d assumed this was a reason we brought Mukuba on board. Stay with base personnel and have more flexibility against offensive personnel in dropping a safety into the slot.

How’d Stanford get so bad do quick? Losing 11-0 to Tech. Did NIL just kick enmity in the butt?

So where does that leave him in a 4/5 wide set? Assuming we want to run man.

There are many variables to this. I understand your view but don’t necessarily agree. I won’t bore/annoy you with 40 times for S that I’ve thrown out in the past several months, but it’s clear that even the NFL doesn’t hold athletic traits as the end all be all. For a S processing speed is critical. I don’t know how you measure that. As fud referenced, if Mukuba had been fulfilling his potential, maybe he’s off to the NFL already. I do believe everyone matures differently so that’s not a knock on him. It’s very possible that he takes it to another level. Taafe logged significant snaps on a solid defense and top 5 team. You don’t do that particularly as an undersized, walk on without some traits albeit not measured with a stopwatch or measuring tape. From reading others, it sounds as though Mukuba has some versatility. There’s probably some merit to getting Barron some run at CB. So drop Mukuba to the slot. For me an equal consideration is that Brooks needs to elevate his game or he logs more bench time. I’d bet if the opponent runs 4/5 wide then Mukuba is in. My guess is we’ll rotate the back end quite a bit with different personnel groupings. Hell, I’d like to see a 6th DB on the field occasionally too.

Two Austin kids. One chose to stay home. One chose to leave (even though legit reasons for doing so) and return when the gettin was good. I’ll assume they’ll both play and maybe even at the same time. But if I’m hoping one to be more successful, I go with the one that stayed.

There was some discussion on the annual tradition of hoping our least favorite olineman gets replaced in the starting lineup. So that box is checked although it does seem watered down from prior years.

It’ll be interesting the next two weeks. I’m not one to chase midweek victories like some of you, but that Texas State double dipper forces some decisions. I’d probably lean towards consistency of roles and agree on Hurley as starter and let the others work in a fairly defined roles. I’d bet DP goes a little analytics in the midweek though. We’re to a point that conference is probably more important than it’s been in several years for post season positioning so I’d make decisions with that in mind.

Is O’Hara a legit option to eat an inning here or there?