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GoldAppleCorps

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Posts posted by GoldAppleCorps

  1. 16 hours ago, texifornia said:

    He's still eligible? What's he doing on the OL?

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    That's what I get for posting after huffing paint*. At least I landed on the right sport. Coulda been Emeka Okafor.

    *This in no way means I'm huffing less paint. Just pointing out that it's a likely contributing factor in my ongoing disagreement with reality.

  2. This is the time of year to experiment with OL combinations. They're not at all the sum of their parts. Five skilled individuals can look like cat puke if they don't complement each other or freelance. Conversely, five adequate players can become all-world when they act as one unit, picking up DL shifts and stunts while still sensing where their teammates are.

    I get the sense Alex Okafor is in a "figure it out or forget it" period. He's had all the coaching and development he can stand. Now, he's either going to jell with his unit, or find himself as an emergency backup.

    • Like 1
  3. If you can't block it, you can't run it.

    Let's get an OL rotation where any one of 7 guys can enter the game without Surly cursing before we start tallying up points. A couple of TEs surviving into the season wouldn't suck either.

    This will be the first season (I hope) where the development of the OL can be more than a "hey, it could happen!" hope.

    • Like 1
  4. Ordinarily, I don't care for these type of measurables. We all know LJH's worth isn't in his straight line speed. He's a ball player that goes up and grabs contested balls like a power forward.

    Usually, I'd tell scouts to go look at the tape, since football isn't played in shorts. However, LJH really only had the benefit of 1.5 seasons to build that tape. The Texas offense simply did not have enough clout to use his gifts properly before then. That's just not enough of a record for a team to simply trust him

  5. It seems our offense is developing akin to our defense.

    A whole lot of 'tweener players that don't have a true position. WR's that can easily line up as RB, TE's that can flex to WR to back to RB. A DC tries to match his defensive package to the the offensive players (a reason why the offense has to commit inside the numbers), but with so many flex players, Texas could run different attacks from the same player grouping.

    • Like 2
  6. 1 hour ago, DaggerHorns said:

    Cut the shit. What time do I need to be there for Ludacris?

    Depends on if you wanna sign up for the P-Poppin' portion or not.

     

    Gotta say, I sighed a bit to see 'cris called "Old School". That's probably right, but whither UTFO or Whodini?

    • Like 1
  7. Tough news. I really believed this kid had all the skills to be a legend. However, I'm certain that collapsing on the field while Jordan McNair's obituary was still current clarifies priorities.

    A Longhorn Life and a long one, to you Big Pat!

  8. Jalen Hurts has good enough skills to get by.

    If I'm OU (much like I am at Texas), I'm wondering what my 4 new starters on my OL are going to look like. Anyone remember what an offense featuring a powerfully strong running QB, a fantastic RB, and a "not quite on the same page most of the time" OL looked like?

  9. With an OC being the "eye in the sky" and rapid communications to the sidelines, the static defense is an automatic liability. If you line up and stop moving, the opposing offense knows exactly what you're about to do. Modern offenses have pieces on the field at all times to attack your weakness. The only way to give yourself a chance is to be shifting up until the snap - thus forcing the offense to play together in "real time" - diagnosing the defense and their individual responsibilities while the play is running.

    The Texas defense needs a fireplug in the middle to cause a roadblock (thank you, Poona Ford). Running up the A gap is the easiest play in football, and must be stopped with pure mass. After that, Todd Orlando just asks, "What kind of athlete are you?". Take the 10 best ones and start sorting them out. You may line up as a DE, but your actual responsibility may be to rapidly drop to cover a hook. The putative ILB might be an outside pass rusher - to be replaced by a deep safety now covering the inside gap.

    This is why Tom Herman wants a dominant TE. That's not really a non sequiter. Tight Ends get to cheat the rules. If every OL could block or catch a pass, football would be an insanely different game. As it stands, the TE alone is allowed to block (thus wanting a DE to match him) or run a passing route (usually needing a fleeter LB or stealing a S for coverage). In the cat and mouse game going on, the TE can scramble up everyone's coverages by doing both on the same play. Even catching a 10 yard pass puts him in the world of DBs - usually too small to effectively tackle him.

    Finding a true multi-skilled TE is rare. However, his presence demands a defense's focus.

    • Like 2
  10. Just now, Mileslong said:

    do we know yet if Bru can play this year or not?

    Having him sign financial aid papers and likely enroll in classes today was a big first step. Today is the 4th day of the spring semester and the official "add/drop" end. After today, you'd need special dispensation from the registrar to enroll in a class. If you're not enrolled as a student, you're not on the team. If he signed an aid package, my guess is he's got his class schedule. He would then be an official student for the spring semester.

    After this, it gets murky, and anyone who tells you they're "certain" about what's going to happen is only following their heart. USC released him from his LOI, but this literally makes zero difference. LOI's are only interesting until classes start and you're enrolled. Classes started at USC, and he was enrolled in them. He can likely un-enroll from USC without academic penalty, but (to quote U.E. McGill) the NCAA is a little more hard nosed than that.

    Essentially, the NCAA considers him to be a student at USC for the spring semester the same as if he transferred in May. He will need a waiver to gain immediate eligibility, and there really aren't any comparable incidents to compare. Officially, you need to claim some sort of compelling circumstance for a waiver. Justin Fields transferred to tOSU, and is claiming that a racial incident on a baseball field caused him undue hardship at UGA. The general consensus is that this stands a good chance of satisfying the NCAA, and earning a waiver. If that's the threshold (and I'm not belittling the severity of racial abuse at all), then it seems that some unrelated incident (I wouldn't use the "my coach left" argument - it happens all the time) might be proffered to prevent 1 week from costing him an entire season.

    I'm gruntled that the NCAA is well known for its rapid, fair, consistent, and common sense responses - and not being the least bit capricious and arbitrary.

    • Like 4
  11. 7 minutes ago, sushihorn said:

    Thanks.  I'm familiar with the basic process.  The issue is that @SydneyCartonseems to be implying that the current school is restricted in some way from trying to talk the player out of transferring.  I did a search before even asking the question and the only limitations I can find are on other schools' coaches contacting the player before his name is officially in the portal.  There is virtually nothing about the current school.

    I'm sure you know this, but it can be a one-way street or a two-way street.

    If the player wants to put his name in the portal, he can do it any time he wants, with or without anyone else's permission or notification.

    However, the default position is that, from the moment his name is in the portal, he's essentially off the team. His financial aid will continue through the current semester, but won't renew for the next one. He can't have any contact with the team or use the specific facilities like a player. In addition, the current coaches can no longer contact him.

    That's the default position, because with agreement, the player and the coach can waive any or all of these stipulations. Texas did that with each player they placed in the portal. The prospective transfers were allowed to continue with the team, and the players allow the coaches to still work with them. When this happens, the only real world change is that other teams can now have their recruiters contact the player.

    • Like 3
  12. 11 hours ago, markstanco said:
    11 hours ago, The_Great_Hornsby said:
    So let me get this straight, Rising, Thompson, and Shane are all int he transfer portal, so it is entirely possible we have lose 3 QBs this offseason. And it isnt like Elingher is some sort of ironman. We use him like a battering ram and it is concerning we might lose all depth at QB if he needs to sit a game against a shitty team to heal up.

    I dont see why just about every backup these days doesn't enter the portal. Keep your options open. If you dont like them then stay put.

    Entering the transfer portal CAN HAVE (if your current school chooses) permanent consequences. The default position is that any student entering his credentials into the portal immediately loses his scholarship and access to his current team. Essentially, it ends your affiliation with your current school and allows coaches to contact you. Of course, you still have to abide by any "sitting out" penalties. It's not necessarily that easy.

    I say "necessarily" because these penalties can be completely dismissed if the current school agrees. I'm hoping this is Texas' position on almost every request. Texas is a "name" school, and gets interest from everyone. Let's just accept that players buried on the depth chart are going to look around. This isn't ideal, but it's gonna happen. I want Texas to have a reputation of making it easy to do, so that Texas gets 1st crack at their skill set.

    With the current set, no one is going to have 3 starters ready to go on their QB bench. Embracing the "new normal" and optimizing it is the way to go.

    • Like 2
  13. He has everything needed to be an elite NFL receiver. He did not get a chance to show it consistently this season because the Texas offense was still figuring out where all the pieces would fit. If he'd stayed another year, he'd be near the top of the receiver boards.

    A lot goes into being a collegiate athlete. It's another year of books, classes, conditioning, etc. plus another season playing "for free". I don't know what his overall situation is. I wish the NFL would let kids wait until the beginning of March to declare. The exhaustion right after the season finishes is too easy to simply want to earn a paycheck for that work.

    LJH put the Longhorns on his back and moved the whole program up a couple of notches. We'll always be grateful, and wish him the best of luck.

  14. On 1/5/2019 at 9:36 AM, Bama Llama said:

    Interesting analyses with merit, but I was referring to simple swing passes or stop routes, plays that could have kept the chains moving, where it appeared to me that Shemp Howard was throwing the ball, e.g., late, behind, high, low, or just "off."  Credit the Horns D for he was discombobulated much of the game.

    When you're unsure of your coverage reads, these are the exact type passes that put your heart in your throat. Deep balls mean you've got to find a safety or nickel that went over the top. A mistake ends up being a 40 yard punt type turnover.

    In close, where the money is made, everyone is a candidate. Did the ILB rotate over? The DE drop and become a robber? An extra safety spin down? Anyone could be in that passing lane, and the only one between a defender and the endzone is the QB and some hapless Guard on swing duty. Goof that one up, and they're playing the fight song.

    Fromme is a perfectly cromulent QB. He can make textbook reads and textbook throws by using textbook mechanics. The Texas Defense handed him a Tijuana Bible and asked him to freelance. With essentially 3 turnovers to open play, he got put in the worst possible situation - needing to change the momentum without benefit of an overpowering run game.

  15. I love linemen that embrace the nasty. To paraphrase GS Hartman, "It is a hard heart that kills.".

    It's a thankless position where you live in the weight room preseason, and on the trainer's table during it. The only way you can endure it is if you honestly enjoy slamming people into the ground. The thought of someone pushing you over has to infuriate you.

    Connor Williams and Poona Ford had it. It's been too long and too far between at Texas over the last decade.

  16. How much misdirection did UGA run during the regular season?

    You can't just decide to add those plays if you don't have a grounding in them. You end up with pulling tackles tripping over centers and WRs fumbling the hand off exchanges.

    Their defense tried to add pass rushing wrinkles, and ended up getting tied in knots.

  17. The Texas defense suffered this exact confusion in both games against UMd. Once you start thinking instead of playing, you're finished.

    Thanks, Sushi, for all  your work. Learning to watch things like this really increases my understanding of football.

    PS: Watch Sam Cosmi work this play. From leaving his stance, to the short, choppy tap steps he takes (always keeping his base firm), and working hand over hand across his assigned target until he reaches position - then working downfield picking out n-ary level defenders to block. When fans see a QB that can't find open receivers or RBs who can't gain ground, in reality it's the OL that aren't up to the task. Herb Hand, Yancy McKnight, and the incredible dedication by guys who only hear their number called for penalties enable this type of production.

    • Like 2
  18. LJH creates value just by walking between the numbers. At that point, he's committed to being in the play. Sounds obvious, but it gives the opposing DC fits. Now, he has to choose the group he wants to use to defend, and he has to stick with it.

    Is LJH coming on as a RB? WR? When he lines up adjacent to Collin does the safety help? Which one? If he's with Devin and a TE, who takes the speedster and how will you play the power? Both, one, or neither could block.

    He isn't overly fast, but he's fast enough that the DBs trying to tackle him after the catch just bounce off. Before the catch, he's like a power forward posting on a guard. Even when there's a defender near him, he's still open.

    Grabbing the 60 yard bomb is nice, but what really runs an offense is the guy you look to on 3rd and 7. After an incomplete pass and a rushing attempt, that 1st down looks lovely. Another season in the training room, and another year playing with a fully developed offense and a QB that knows how to use his toys will have the NFL talent scouts making plans.

    • Like 1
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