2023 Fall Camp Thread of Dominance

[Texasborn91 897]

Just now, lazygringo said:

Is it just me or have we not really been hearing much about Derek Williams or Tausili Akana in fall camp so far?

Williams is a dude. He will find the field. Akana might be a little light in the ass to  find the field this year. Maybe specialized packages. 

[Codaxx 5591]

4 minutes ago, lazygringo said:

Is it just me or have we not really been hearing much about Derek Williams or Tausili Akana in fall camp so far?

Multi-year starters at Safety, I dont we will hear much about any of the safeties and that is probably a good thing.  Though ON3 believes he will be very active in special teams. Akana is like 220 pounds. He needs a year in the weight room and some BBQ before even thinking about him. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Codaxx

[Tex Long 4342]

9 hours ago, Hermanator said:

You didn't get the point. When he was at USC ... It's a whole new world with new rules. 

 

They were right. You're not worth the time. You're either too stupid, or you're pretending, and it doesn't really matter which it is.  

[Red Five 40627]

Here's a name I haven't heard once. S'Maje Burrell. 

[Tex Long 4342]

43 minutes ago, GTX Horn said:

If Ed O can do it, Sark can too.

Motto worthy.

[Hookem2147 20926]

2 minutes ago, Red Five said:

Here's a name I haven't heard once. S'Maje Burrell. 

Probably headed for a redshirt year considering he chose not to enroll early when he could have. Always thought that was a questionable decision on his part. Lefau and Hill seem to be ahead of him.

Edited August 14, 2023 by Hookem2147

[Hermanator 6928]

10 minutes ago, Tex Long said:

They were right. You're not worth the time. You're either too stupid, or you're pretending, and it doesn't really matter which it is.  

WTF are you talking about? So you're saying being a HC in FBS today is the same as being a HC in FBS before NIL and portal? Or you're saying programs with the most money and prestige aren't benefitted more by NIL and portal than programs with less money and prestige? Either way you're a dumbass. 

NIL and the portal definitely have given Sark a much bigger advantage now than he ever had at USC or Washington, and it appears he's taking advantage of them. That alone makes comparing what he can do here vs what he did at both USC and Washington completely invalid. They are completely different situations with different variables. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Hermanator

[lilMAC25 3777]

15 hours ago, Coelenterate Fuccboi said:

I feel like the hype machine is setting Sark up to get it done this year or GTFO.

I was under the impression that Sark was getting 6 years barring 3 win seasons or major scandals.

[lazygringo 369]

Here's a name I haven't heard once. S'Maje Burrell. 

Jaylan Ford did mention his name in his media session, but it was near the end of the list. I think Liona Lefau was the first name he mentioned, seemingly for good reason.

[Hermanator 6928]

9 minutes ago, lilMAC25 said:

I was under the impression that Sark was getting 6 years barring 3 win seasons or major scandals.

6 may be a bit much but he's definitely getting 4 and I'd say 5 is pretty close to guaranteed with the big talent acquisition of his first 2 seasons. 

I feel Sark's fate will be sealed either way by what he does starting next year in the SEC. Go in and compete with the top of the conference and he's staying. Go in and look like aggy and he'll find his way out. 

[Red Five 40627]

Charlie Strong could coach this team to 9-3. He'll get season four unless it's something truly historically disastrous. 

[Magus Ossis 2783]

The list of HFCs who show up and dominate immediately and consistently wherever they go at any level is vanishingly small. Heck, guys around here even trash Saban, saying he only won because of his bag game, or that he doesn’t have it anymore. Sometimes this board discussing coaching feels like aggy and their QB— the next one is awesome, just wait and see!

I view Sober Steve as similar but yet a distinct coach from Saturday Night Steve. He has been criticized for losing games in which ref chicanery is acknowledged and for abandoning the run against a team that sold out to stop it. He has been called 7-win Steve for only following up a 5-win season with 8 (again, with ref shenanigans etc as a headwind). I don’t know to what degree he sticks with things, chooses things, or abandons them for reasons that go beyond the game at hand (developing guys, recruiting, etc).

I’ll eat my words if we only win 8 this season, but I think a lot of people around here are so beaten down by CS, TH, and late Mack, that they are focusing on any perceived negative to the exclusion of what is in front of our faces. Sure, injuries, refs, etc could sandbag us. But we are talented, experienced, and deep. Steve may not be the world’s greatest game day coach, but those mentioning coach O are right. Some other coaches who’ve won it all include Jimbo and Mack with GD. Sober Steve IMO is at least in their league.

Stop crying and worrying (Godfather act like a man gif).

[BurntOrange&White 39567]

4 minutes ago, Red Five said:

Charlie Strong could coach this team to 9-3. He'll get season four unless it's something truly historically disastrous. 

They gave Sark a 6 year deal with guaranteed 4 full years. IMO if he wins 10 this year they'll give him an extension for recruiting purposes. Maybe like 2 years.

Edited August 14, 2023 by BurntOrange&White

[pearlandhorn 3269]

I think what I'm most shocked about regarding Sark (aside from his complete roster turnover and the building that he's been able to do on the OL and DL) is the strength and conditioning program.  It seems like Becton is doing a great job of molding these guys and preventing major and nagging injuries.  Big fucking knock on wood.

[Vertigo 20265]

2 hours ago, BurntOrange&White said:

How would you see that when he skipped spring ball for track? Can't develop if you aren't practicing football. That loss is a good loss....he's a track guy that plays football.

I am pretty sure Thompson just wants to run go routes in his track offseason. He didn't really take to any actual route running or learning nuances of the position. The problem is, those go routes are all Lebby will ask him to run and he should be pretty damn good at it if Hercules Gabriel can heave it more than 40 yards. I am not convinced of the latter, but I don't love the idea of him lining up on Ryan Watts 1 on 1 if he manages to beat the press. This is where having Gavin Holmes should be handy. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Vertigo

[victory88 5654]

2 minutes ago, Vertigo said:

I am pretty sure Thompson just wants to run go routes in his track offseason. He didn't really take to any actual route running or learning nuances of the position. The problem is, those go routes are all Lebby will ask him to run and he should be pretty damn good at it if Hercules Gabriel can heave it more than 40 yards. I am not convinced of the latter, but I don't love the idea of him lining up on Ryan Watts 1 on 1 if he manages to beat the press. This is where having Gavin Holmes should be handy. 

Lol Ryan Watts has about 50 pounds on Thompson.  There is a reason BT didn't get any playing time last year despite Jordan Whittington being our only healthy WR all season last year.  He couldn't beat press coverage, run decent routes, or have good hands last year.  Watts will beat him on press coverage every time if ou has Thompson playing meaningful snaps this fall.

[derpyhorndog 2554]

26 minutes ago, Hermanator said:

WTF are you talking about? So you're saying being a HC in FBS today is the same as being a HC in FBS before NIL and portal? Or you're saying programs with the most money and prestige aren't benefitted more by NIL and portal than programs with less money and prestige? Either way you're a dumbass. 

NIL and the portal definitely have given Sark a much bigger advantage now than he ever had at USC or Washington, and it appears he's taking advantage of them. That alone makes comparing what he can do here vs what he did at both USC and Washington completely invalid. They are completely different situations with different variables. 

An argument relying on absolutes (see bolded) is rarely sound.

Even if one acknowledges that  recruiting and other roster management aspects of being a CFB head coach are dramatically different in the pre- and post-NIL eras and that Sark is more advantaged in the current era, which I do agree with, that does not make his time at USC and UW totally irrelevant bases for evaluating his merits (and prospects) as a head coach.

But how about player development, game planning for upcoming opponents, in-game adjustments/management, coaching staff management and, last but not least, proclivity for vices and other things outside the football complex that could undermine everything the coach might be doing well within it. Those are just a few critical aspects that can serve as valid points for drawing valid apples-to-apples comparisons across both eras. It's fair to look at Sark's pre-NIL track record in these areas to make an educated assessment of his weak (and strong) points as a head coach and how that might be expected to translate to future W's and L's.

In sum, the situations are somewhat different in that recruiting and roster management have changed dramatically. However, the situations remain the same on many fronts - so the notion that they are "completely" different, or that any comparisons are invalid, is laughable.

If what you are actually trying to say is that NIL advantages will lead to so much of a talent advantage over our competition that any coaching weaknesses Sark has carried during both areas are mitigated, that is a fair argument. But that's not the argument you've actually made to this point. 

[Codaxx 5591]

1 minute ago, Vertigo said:

I am pretty sure Thompson just wants to run go routes in his track offseason. He didn't really take to any actual route running or learning nuances of the position. The problem is, those go routes are all Lebby will ask him to run and he should be pretty damn good at it if Hercules Gabriel can heave it more than 40 yards. I am not convinced of the latter, but I don't love the idea of him lining up on Ryan Watts 1 on 1 if he manages to get beat the press. 

Watts vs Thompson on a fly route isnt good, but that assumes Thompson has the ability to get cleanly off the LOS

[closetojumping 62141]

12 minutes ago, Magus Ossis said:

The list of HFCs who show up and dominate immediately and consistently wherever they go at any level is vanishingly small. Heck, guys around here even trash Saban, saying he only won because of his bag game, or that he doesn’t have it anymore. Sometimes this board discussing coaching feels like aggy and their QB— the next one is awesome, just wait and see!

I view Sober Steve as similar but yet a distinct coach from Saturday Night Steve. He has been criticized for losing games in which ref chicanery is acknowledged and for abandoning the run against a team that sold out to stop it. He has been called 7-win Steve for only following up a 5-win season with 8 (again, with ref shenanigans etc as a headwind). I don’t know to what degree he sticks with things, chooses things, or abandons them for reasons that go beyond the game at hand (developing guys, recruiting, etc).

I’ll eat my words if we only win 8 this season, but I think a lot of people around here are so beaten down by CS, TH, and late Mack, that they are focusing on any perceived negative to the exclusion of what is in front of our faces. Sure, injuries, refs, etc could sandbag us. But we are talented, experienced, and deep. Steve may not be the world’s greatest game day coach, but those mentioning coach O are right. Some other coaches who’ve won it all include Jimbo and Mack with GD. Sober Steve IMO is at least in their league.

Stop crying and worrying (Godfather act like a man gif).

Two things:

1) We didn’t nickname the guy Seven Win Steve. He earned that moniker at UW and it has stuck with him because that’s his historic mean. Not saying that he deserved it at UW (I think his turnaround there is laudable) but it didn’t originate here. 

2) Sarkisian told someone that everyone on this board would recognize in a 1:1 that he had the equivalent of “writer’s block” during the Tech game. It’s happened before, too. I’m not saying that that can’t be fixed or is a big game certainty (he’s also done well in big games sometimes). All I’m saying is that it is a major risk when considering outcomes this season. 

 

[closetojumping 62141]

1 hour ago, Codaxx said:

Watts vs Thompson on a fly route isnt good, but that assumes Thompson has the ability to get cleanly off the LOS

Thompson isn’t even standing out during practices, apparently. It seems low risk that he’s going to magically light up Texas at 165 pounds, not running solid routes and working with shaky hands. 

Now I’ve cursed us. Christ. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by closetojumping

[stork642 4498]

I’m not sure if Sark will succeed at Texas.  I think he has a great chance because he’s made good hires and he’s going about building the roster the right way.  I do know that the X’s and O’’s don’t matter until you have the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.  I will be surprised if the Texas offense isn’t extremely good this year and if the defense is as good or better than last year this team will win 11 games.  Of course injuries at key positions can change that but the depth is getting better.  Just my opinion.  

Edited August 14, 2023 by stork642

[Vertigo 20265]

3 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Two things:

1) We didn’t nickname the guy Seven Win Steve. He earned that moniker at UW and it has stuck with him because that’s his historic mean. Not saying that he deserved it at UW (I think his turnaround there is laudable) but it didn’t originate here. 

2) Sarkisian told someone that everyone on this board would recognize in a 1:1 that he had the equivalent of “writer’s block” during the Tech game. It’s happened before, too. I’m not saying that that can’t be fixed or is a big game certainty (he’s also done well in big games sometimes). All I’m saying is that it is a major risk when considering outcomes this season. 

 

On point 2, I wish someone would tell him that if he gets that shit again he needs to hand off a series or two of play calling to Flood or Milwee. Give himself some time to regroup and see things unfold on the field without having to think about what he will call on the next play. 

[markstanco 12501]

30 minutes ago, Red Five said:

Charlie Strong could coach this team to 9-3.

[Codaxx 5591]

7 minutes ago, stork642 said:

I’m not sure if Sark will succeed at Texas.  I think he has a great chance because he’s made good hires and he’s going about building the roster the right way.  I do know that the X’s and O’’s don’t matter until you have the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.  I will be surprised if the Texas offense isn’t extremely good this year and if the defense is as good or better this team will win 11 games.  Of course injuries at key positions can change that but the depth is getting better.  Just my opinion.  

I am feeling better and better about Sark. Biggest  reason is the roster. Been a long time, since Texas was deep enough to go good on good in camps. Even the 2nd team can give the 1st units a decent  look. 1st time in forever that practice reports may actually mean something. Sark's 1st year it was "the DL is wrecking shop", only for us to find out the DL was mediocre at best and the OL was a broken speed bump. Imagine hearing the "the DEs have been quite in practice" and giving the excuse "well, they are going up against NFL tackles" a few years ago

Edited August 14, 2023 by Codaxx

[Elmer_Fudd 22090]

32 minutes ago, Red Five said:

Charlie Strong could coach this team to 9-3.

[FreeHorn 1307]

1 hour ago, Hookem2147 said:

Probably headed for a redshirt year considering he chose not to enroll early when he could have. Always thought that was a questionable decision on his part. Lefau and Hill seem to be ahead of him.

 Burrell and Williams’ decision to not enroll early has hurt both in the short term, with it effecting Burrell more than Williams. They both would be in the two deep if they enrolled early. They still expect Williams to be a dog at safety. Burrell is better athlete than Hawaii but Hawaii now has the inside track to be the next MLB because he came in early and put the work in. 

[Goodman 3273]

1 hour ago, lazygringo said:

Is it just me or have we not really been hearing much about Derek Williams or Tausili Akana in fall camp so far?

 

1 hour ago, BurntOrange&White said:

Akana likely redshirts due to needing to get stronger/bigger.

 

Derek Williams has to learn the playbook. Thompson/Catalon as long as he's healthy seem to have locked the top two spots down. Derek Williams appears to be the truth from an athletic standpoint.

 

1 hour ago, Texasborn91 said:

Williams is a dude. He will find the field. Akana might be a little light in the ass to  find the field this year. Maybe specialized packages. 

Sark was asked about Raptor in one of his recent PC's, he was glowing discussing Williams. Discussed how last year no one was talking about Banks because he arrived in the summer but is/was a stud. Worth the listen, he went on & on about Derek.

[bejezuz 329]

23 minutes ago, derpyhorndog said:

Even if one acknowledges that  recruiting and other roster management aspects of being a CFB head coach are dramatically different in the pre- and post-NIL eras and that Sark is more advantaged in the current era, which I do agree with, that does not make his time at USC and UW totally irrelevant bases for evaluating his merits (and prospects) as a head coach.

None of this matters.  Sark has two years to bury Seven Win Steve for good, or he's gone.  The ability to replace him with equal or better once we're in the SEC is so much better than when we were stuck in a 10-team Big 12 that everyone believed was destined to be carved up like the PAC was this summer.  We've transformed the athletic department and facilities part of this equation as far as it will go.  The recruiting is as good as it's been since the last time we had a dynasty.  We go as far as our coaching will take us from here on out.  

[Chili dog 1787]

41 minutes ago, Red Five said:

Charlie Strong could coach this team to 9-3. He'll get season four unless it's something truly historically disastrous. 

Agree to disagree. 

[UncleSonny 6524]

21 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Thompson isn’t even standing out during practices, apparently. It seems low risk that he’s going to magically light up Texas at 165 points, not running solid routes and working with shaky hands. 

Now I’ve cursed us. Christ. 

I talked to a Sooner fan last week that told me their best WR in camp has been some short white guy.

And it’s not Stoops, who is also expected to start. 

[closetohumping 17386]

Spoiler

By this morning, they’ve parsed the film from the first scrimmage, so they have an idea what the young guys can do and how much the experienced ones have improved over the summer.

Now it’s time to prep for one last scrimmage this coming Saturday, the results of which will likely decide the rotations and starting lineups for the first three games of the season.

Some of the moves thus far:

– DJ Campbell looks more and more like the starter at right guard. But do not take this as any sort of indictment on Cole Hutson.

I’ve been told by more than one source that Hutson is having a good fall camp as well, and that’s a primary reason why Kyle Flood is working him in up and down the offensive line. Hutson worked at both guard spots and center on Saturday; it’s a cross-training that fits Hutson because of his high football IQ and hard-nosed approach.

I believe Hutson is the odds-on favorite to start at center next season if Jake Majors finishes out his college career.

– Arch Manning had some folks in the stands buzzing on Saturday. It wasn’t so much his ability to throw, but the idea that he’s a vastly better athlete than most anticipated. “I had no idea he could run like that,” one viewer said.

Manning is not an “elusive” runner by any means; instead, he is a functional one. And once he gets going, he runs in the 4.6 range.

Manning outplayed Maalik Murphy on Saturday. Murphy threw a pick six to Manny Muhammad.

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– I asked multiple people if Jalen Catalon saw action on Saturday. And no one I spoke to remembers him playing. It’s possible he only played a few early snaps, or was held out altogether.

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Either way, that would be in line with Steve Sarkisian’s desire to keep the Arkansas transfer healthy headed into game one with Rice.

– Fellas, it’s time to get on the freshman bandwagon. I wrote it yesterday, as did Gerry, and the 2023 recruiting class has some dudes in it. How much will they help this season is up for debate. However, the brightness of their future is not.

I had someone I’ve known for a long time tell me this is the best freshman class he remembers in at least a decade. Not surprising perhaps given its national ranking, but we’ve all seen highly ranked recruiting classes not live up to expectations.

– While Ced Baxter continues to impress, there is no question about who the starting RB is for the Longhorns. Jonathon Brooks has “really separated” himself from the competition. Keilan Robinson, who had a long TD run in the scrimmage, will continue to have a defined role on the team.

– Most surprising freshman on Saturday? That would go to Billy Walton. The freshman caused some havoc in the opposing backfield.

– Byron Murphy and Jaylan Ford are the leaders of the defensive front. Ford has been considered a team leader since the middle of last season. Murphy, in his true junior year, is clearly taking on that additional role this season. Murphy’s “activity” along the defensive front was noted to me as improved. He’s playing more effectively and creating a bigger impact than a year ago

Burton practice report:

 

Arch outplayed Murphy

Brooks has separated at running back.

Campbell is ahead of Hutson.  Hutson could be starting center next year.

The price of dental implants is turning heads. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by closetohumping

[Etexhorn13 3034]

9 minutes ago, UncleSonny said:

I talked to a Sooner fan last week that told me their best WR in camp has been some short white guy.

And it’s not Stoops, who is also expected to start. 

Walk-on Gavin Freeman

[Sgt Hulk 13642]

17 hours ago, closetojumping said:

A guy that played for years in the NFL was at practice yesterday. His takeaway was that if this team isn’t a playoff contender and conference winner, it took effort to fuck it up on gameday. 

[CashMcCoy 3199]

3 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

Arch outplayed Manning

[BurntOrange&White 39567]

4 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

– DJ Campbell looks more and more like the starter at right guard. But do not take this as any sort of indictment on Cole Hutson.

I’ve been told by more than one source that Hutson is having a good fall camp as well, and that’s a primary reason why Kyle Flood is working him in up and down the offensive line. Hutson worked at both guard spots and center on Saturday; it’s a cross-training that fits Hutson because of his high football IQ and hard-nosed approach.

@Codaxx

[Mitch Cumsteen 18523]

I really don't get the Sark angst. Mack Brown proved that if you acquire enough talent and hire moderately competent assistants, then you can win big at Texas. It ain't rocket surgery. That Herman and Strong couldn't figure that out just shows how out of their depth they were. This job has never been that tough or complicated. For fuck's sake David McWilliams, John Mackovick and Tom Herman each put together 10 win seasons here.

That said, the Kool-Aid overfloweth for this team, that admittedly looks great on paper... but there are still some big questions for me until I actually see it on the field:

1. Interior line run blocking was shit last year. I know they were young and should be improved, but still.
2. Bijan made a lot of chicken salad last year. The RB room looks really strong but we've never really seen Brooks do much outside of garbage time. The rest are unproven outside of Robinson who is a gadget guy, essentially. There is a better than zero chance this team has trouble running the ball which is going to impact QB play and leads us to...
3. Ewers was wildly inconsistent last year. With good reason, be it injury and/or inexperience, but he has a lot to prove.
4. Dline depth was a real strength last year but Ojomo and Coburn are gone. Those two plus Ovie ate up a ton of snaps. I like the Minnesota transfer in the run game but can we rely on Collins and Broughton to play enough without drop off to keep everyone else fresh?
5. Ford is the best LB we've had in ages, but the rest of that group looked lost without Overshown in the Alamobowl. Everybody else here is either really old and hasn't done shit or really young and hasn't had a chance to do shit.
6. EDGE - is anybody really that comfortable with what is there right now? 

There are real reasons to believe that all of these things have been addressed through talent acquisition and development, but fuck if I am going to buy in to a bunch of bullshit practice reports telling me how great this team is. Show me. Don't tell me.

[OnAComputer 1405]

5 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

The price of dental implants is turning heads. 

Fuck. This season is a wash.

[Hermanator 6928]

57 minutes ago, derpyhorndog said:

An argument relying on absolutes (see bolded) is rarely sound.

Even if one acknowledges that  recruiting and other roster management aspects of being a CFB head coach are dramatically different in the pre- and post-NIL eras and that Sark is more advantaged in the current era, which I do agree with, that does not make his time at USC and UW totally irrelevant bases for evaluating his merits (and prospects) as a head coach.

But how about player development, game planning for upcoming opponents, in-game adjustments/management, coaching staff management and, last but not least, proclivity for vices and other things outside the football complex that could undermine everything the coach might be doing well within it. Those are just a few critical aspects that can serve as valid points for drawing valid apples-to-apples comparisons across both eras. It's fair to look at Sark's pre-NIL track record in these areas to make an educated assessment of his weak (and strong) points as a head coach and how that might be expected to translate to future W's and L's.

In sum, the situations are somewhat different in that recruiting and roster management have changed dramatically. However, the situations remain the same on many fronts - so the notion that they are "completely" different, or that any comparisons are invalid, is laughable.

If what you are actually trying to say is that NIL advantages will lead to so much of a talent advantage over our competition that any coaching weaknesses Sark has carried during both areas are mitigated, that is a fair argument. But that's not the argument you've actually made to this point. 

All I was saying from the beginning is using what Sark did at Washington and USC to try to gauge what he'll do at Texas is invalid because the nature of the game itself has changed so much that it renders the comparisons invalid. In a scientific testing scenario if the variables have changed to a certain degree it renders past data invalid. That's happened here with NIL and the portal. 

I used the word completely to try to hammer that home into that dumbasses' head after he insulted me. 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Hermanator

[kevwun 15608]

USC needs to be thrown out the window.  He was a raging alcoholic who was drinking on the job.  What happened there doesn't really matter as long as he stays sober.

[Ricky Butler 2657]

49 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

 

2) Sarkisian told someone that everyone on this board would recognize in a 1:1 that he had the equivalent of “writer’s block” during the Tech game. It’s happened before, too. I’m not saying that that can’t be fixed or is a big game certainty (he’s also done well in big games sometimes). All I’m saying is that it is a major risk when considering outcomes this season. 

 

Sark seems introspective. Much easier to grow if you're willing to seek outside advice.

[Duane Moore 5236]

9 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

but fuck if I am going to buy in to a bunch of bullshit practice reports telling me how great this team is. Show me. Don't tell me.

Maybe the preseason camp thread isn’t the best place for you. 

[Ghost of Shag 2577]

1 hour ago, Red Five said:

Charlie Strong could coach this team to 9-3. He'll get season four unless it's something truly historically disastrous. 

How quickly we forget….

[Ricky Butler 2657]

1 minute ago, Ghost of Shag said:

How quickly we forget….

What's funny is that the hard and time consuming part is building a team talented enough that Charlie Strong could coach to 9-3. Good on Sark if true.

[Dbeasy 14962]

23 hours ago, Tex Long said:

If the new infusion of talent allows the OC to get us 7 points per game better than last year, AND the DC gets us just 2 points better, we hoist the Big Trophy.

As my dearly departed dad used to say, “if dog rabbit.”  I have no fucking idea what that means but he used to say it.  

[Red Five 40627]

I think we can pencil in Campbell at RG now. Wonder if Hutson will be a part of the LG competition.

[Bevo 13516]

36 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

Arch outplayed Manning

Is such a thing even possible?

[BigOrange1 6422]

19 minutes ago, Ricky Butler said:

Sark seems introspective. Much easier to grow if you're willing to seek outside advice.

most definitely.  the fact that sark would even acknowledge that shows me that he's levels ahead of the typical meathead football coach.

[Ghost of Shag 2577]

3 minutes ago, BigOrange1 said:

most definitely.  the fact that sark would even acknowledge that shows me that he's levels ahead of the typical meathead football coach.

Only Surly could spin “our head coach admits to getting writers block during big games” as a positive.

Never change, Surly.

Edited August 14, 2023 by Ghost of Shag

[closetohumping 17386]

33 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

I really don't get the Sark angst. Mack Brown proved that if you acquire enough talent and hire moderately competent assistants, then you can win big at Texas. It ain't rocket surgery. That Herman and Strong couldn't figure that out just shows how out of their depth they were. This job has never been that tough or complicated. For fuck's sake David McWilliams, John Mackovick and Tom Herman each put together 10 win seasons here.

That said, the Kool-Aid overfloweth for this team, that admittedly looks great on paper... but there are still some big questions for me until I actually see it on the field:

1. Interior line run blocking was shit last year. I know they were young and should be improved, but still.
2. Bijan made a lot of chicken salad last year. The RB room looks really strong but we've never really seen Brooks do much outside of garbage time. The rest are unproven outside of Robinson who is a gadget guy, essentially. There is a better than zero chance this team has trouble running the ball which is going to impact QB play and leads us to...
3. Ewers was wildly inconsistent last year. With good reason, be it injury and/or inexperience, but he has a lot to prove.
4. Dline depth was a real strength last year but Ojomo and Coburn are gone. Those two plus Ovie ate up a ton of snaps. I like the Minnesota transfer in the run game but can we rely on Collins and Broughton to play enough without drop off to keep everyone else fresh?
5. Ford is the best LB we've had in ages, but the rest of that group looked lost without Overshown in the Alamobowl. Everybody else here is either really old and hasn't done shit or really young and hasn't had a chance to do shit.
6. EDGE - is anybody really that comfortable with what is there right now? 

There are real reasons to believe that all of these things have been addressed through talent acquisition and development, but fuck if I am going to buy in to a bunch of bullshit practice reports telling me how great this team is. Show me. Don't tell me.

I don’t fancy myself as a herman apologist but that fuck had some pretty bad luck here or he may have turned things around.  Shows you what a great job this truly is

[6th Street 6354]

Herman might still be coaching here if A) he wasn't such an unprofessional meathead and B) hired a semi-competent staff that wasn't comprised of garbage like Todd Orlando, Warehime, Mehringer, etc.