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TEXAS QB TALK


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1 hour ago, Gidnik said:

im with the Card decision but i dont see this team being good enough to overcome 18-30 for 185 with 1 td and 2 ints which im afraid card will be at least for a while. 

That’s the fear with the other guy… 

…if 2nd/3rd hand scrimmage reports are to be believed.

The goal is 15 of 20 for 170 yards 2 TDs, no INTs. Let the RBs & DEF take care of the heavy lifting. 

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3 hours ago, Gidnik said:

im with the Card decision but i dont see this team being good enough to overcome 18-30 for 185 with 1 td and 2 ints which im afraid card will be at least for a while. 

All the practice reports seem to paint the picture that Thompson is the one throwing picks while Card is doing a better job protecting the ball.

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3 hours ago, Gidnik said:

im with the Card decision but i dont see this team being good enough to overcome 18-30 for 185 with 1 td and 2 ints which im afraid card will be at least for a while. 

Lol wut. You think Card will average 2 picks a game and 6 yards per attempt “for a while” even though you’ve never seen him play a down in college. 
 

 

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5 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

Lol wut. You think Card will average 2 picks a game and 6 yards per attempt “for a while” even though you’ve never seen him play a down in college. 
 

 

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our first 5 games are not cupcakes.  no i dont think hes going to average two picks a game.  i am saying we are not good enough to overcome that. 

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1 minute ago, Gidnik said:

our first 5 games are not cupcakes.  no i dont think hes going to average two picks a game.  i am saying we are not good enough to overcome that. 

But why assume he will throw multiple interceptions on a guy you've never seen play a full collegiate game under a complete new scheme?

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12 minutes ago, Gidnik said:

our first 5 games are not cupcakes.  no i dont think hes going to average two picks a game.  i am saying we are not good enough to overcome that. 

Reading (your own posts) is hard.

3 hours ago, Gidnik said:

im with the Card decision but i dont see this team being good enough to overcome 18-30 for 185 with 1 td and 2 ints which im afraid card will be at least for a while. 

 

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Morning Brew: Sarkisian's biggest decision of Year 1 at Texas
By  FUCK CHIP BROWN     15 minutes ago
The biggest decision of Steve Sarkisian's first year at Texas is about to be made.
How big is Sarkisian’s decision to name either redshirt freshman Hudson Card or redshirt junior Casey Thompson as the Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback in the season opener against Louisiana on Sept. 4?  It could be big enough to determine if Sarkisian trends more toward Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma or Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.
Riley has been able to elevate one quarterback after another in Norman. As a result, the Sooners have continued the dominance Riley inherited from Bob Stoops.
After having Andrew Luck help Harbaugh turn things around in four seasons at Stanford, capped by a 12-1 season in 2010, Harbaugh hasn’t been able to get the quarterback question right in six years at Michigan. One loss after another against hated rival Ohio State has piled up during that time.
After coaching at Washington and USC before falling out as coach of the Trojans in 2015, Sarkisian chose to return to one of the biggest spotlights in college athletics as the latest commander and chief of Texas football - knowing one of his first priorities would be finding Sam Ehlinger’s successor.
Sarkisian watched Thompson go 8-of-10 through the air with four touchdown passes in the second half of Texas’ 55-23 victory over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl just days before he took the UT job.
“I probably wouldn’t take a head-coaching job if there wasn’t talent already on the roster at quarterback,” Sarkisian said shortly after being introduced at Texas.
Card, a four-star recruit from nearby Lake Travis, is seen as having elite arm talent and NFL upside despite completing just 1-of-3 passes for 5 yards in mop-up duty last season.
Thompson has completed 69 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and zero interceptions in seven career games at Texas. He led the Longhorns to points on eight of the 10 drives he had in 2020 while completing 12 of 17 passes (71 percent) for 225 yards - and scored on all five of his drives in the Alamo Bowl.
If two quarterbacks are neck-and-neck, do you go with the younger guy with upside to try to find out where his ceiling is? Or do you go with the four-year player who has put in the grind and is coming off a red-hot bowl performance?
"I've always said, we're probably in a better position at quarterback than a lot of people, because I believe we have two guys who can play,” Sarkisian said after Saturday’s second scrimmage of fall camp.
“I believe in having a starter and having a backup. But when you know you've got a backup who can play at a high level, that's really a luxury, because there's a lot of teams that maybe have a returning starter, a front-line guy, but the backup may not be very capable. We're in a pretty good position that way.”
If Sarkisian goes with Card, the sense is Thompson, after working and waiting for three years behind Ehlinger, might not see any hope if passed over for a redshirt freshman and could leave.
If Thompson is named the starter, the sense is Card would probably stay in the program and keep competing as a kid who grew up in Austin.
If it’s Card and his football IQ, pocket presence and command of the huddle (and of the locker room) all prove to be as on point as Card’s live arm and tight spiral, then the Sark era at Texas is off and running.
But Card, who is listed at 200 pounds (and is closer to 190), had better stay healthy. If Thompson leaves, there’s a chance true freshman Charles Wright (6-1, 200) or walk-ons Ben Ballard (5-11, 196) or Cole Lourd (6-2, 228) could be one play away from starting.
Sarkisian’s best piece of coaching in Year 1 might be some Yoda-like quarterback whispering to keep Thompson from entering the transfer portal if Card is the starter.
Sarkisian said the decision would probably come down to a “gut feel.”
Sarkisian’s gut feel on who to start at quarterback in the past has been pretty good.
He went with the unheralded three-star senior Mac Jones last season at Alabama instead of five-star freshman Bryce Young (the kid Nick Saban told Texas high school coaches has nearly $1 million in NIL earnings without having started a college game). Jones led the Tide to a national title while becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist.
As the offensive coordinator at USC under Pete Carroll, Sarkisian went with the young, up-and-comer Matt Leinart over the veteran Matt Cassel following Carson Palmer’s Heisman Trophy winning season with the Trojans in 2002.
Leinart went on to win two national titles and a Heisman Trophy (before being out-dueled by Vince Young and Texas for the 2005 national championship).
But it’s undoubtedly the story of Cassel that Sarkisian will try to sell to the Texas quarterback who doesn’t win the starting job.
Despite never having started a college game at quarterback during his four years at USC (2001-04), Cassel was drafted in the seventh round by the New England Patriots in 2005 and went on to a 14-year NFL career.
“I’m pretty proud of Cassel’s development,” Sarkisian said when I asked him about how tough the Card-Thompson decision would be and if any others compared to it?
Can Sarkisian, a former NFL offensive coordinator, convince whoever doesn’t win the starting job that he is still the best coach/quarterback developer to help achieve their dream of playing in the NFL - a la Cassel?
There’s no doubt Card’s arm talent is immense. Everyone saw it in the spring game, when he threw Marcus Washington open for a touchdown. Card released the perfect spiral while Washington was completely covered up by a face-guarding defender - only to see Washington’s hands emerge from behind the defender and make the TD grab.
Thompson doesn’t have Card’s arm strength, but he’s shown strong, second-reaction skills when protection breaks down, being able to step up in the pocket and slide while keeping his eyes downfield to connect with receivers as he did in the Alamo Bowl.
Being able to deliver the deep out with the flick of a wrist and throw nothing but flutter-less passes doesn’t always equate to winning.
The history of college football - and even the history of UT football - is littered with stories of quarterbacks who lacked the arm strength of a teammate but went on to win big.
At Texas, just in the past 30 years, James Brown beat out Shea Morenz; Major Applewhite had his moments during his battle with Chris Simms; Vince Young beat out Chance Mock (despite Mock’s 16-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio at the time in 2003); and Colt McCoy ran off Jevan Snead.
The positives of a golden-armed quarterback are negated if he doesn’t operate well in a dirty pocket or lacks second-reaction skills. Everyone remembers Ehlinger’s freshman year, when he would feel pressure and often go out the back of the pocket, throw off his back foot, get intercepted or take a big loss. It’s a common mistake for young quarterbacks, and it’s something Card has struggled with as well, according to sources.
Both quarterbacks avoided turning the ball over in Saturday’s scrimmage. Earlier in camp, Thompson suffered more interceptions than Card, while Card has taken more sacks than Thompson.
Some could argue if Sarkisian names the redshirt freshman Card as the starter - and if Card happens to struggle - Sarkisian is buying himself some time by living with the growing pains that could accompany developing the younger quarterback.
And if Wright, Ballard or Lourd ends up as the backup quarterback, and something happens to Card … well, let’s not look through our fingers at that possible scenario just yet.
The announcement of Sarkisian as the new head coach at Texas came one day after he helped lead a record-setting Alabama offense that included three Heisman Trophy finalists (including the winner - DaVonta Smith) to a resounding national title victory over Ohio State.
His offensive prowess and reputation for developing quarterbacks were significant factors in Texas’ hiring Sarkisian to match wits with OU’s Riley and try to put an end to the Sooners’ stranglehold on the Big 12.
Fair or not, that reputation is on the line with Sarkisian’s first quarterback decision in Austin.
The outcome of this decision will likely impact the decisions of star-studded recruiting targets who want to see a prolific offense, led by a prolific quarterback and how they can fit into it.
A cool Californian who has built his career by making difficult things look easy, Sarkisian has been very comfortable in his own skin since arriving at Texas. Right down to deciding not to bring in a transfer quarterback to compete with Card and Thompson.
No matter who is named the starter, some fans will second-guess it. Even Texas fans - until they see how things turn out on the field.
For the last decade, Texas has been ripe for second-guessing - whether it’s opponents twisting something into negative recruiting or a national media that has grown weary of being bullish on Bevo.
UT coaches who have lacked strong self-conviction or self-awareness have struggled to keep perception from becoming reality when the naysayers have come calling. See Charlie Strong, Tom Herman and Shaka Smart.
Players have appreciated Sarkisian getting to know them on a personal level instead of making things personal with players to get points across with fear-based leadership.
The cacophony surrounding this decision alone has the ability to become a distraction for the locker room if Sarkisian doesn’t manage the messaging so that everything rings true with his players.
The players always seem to know who the quarterback should or shouldn’t be. If it’s a player the locker room is concerned about - for one reason or another - it will usually show in the team’s play.
If the players are comfortable and confident in Sarkisian’s decision, that should be reflected on the field, too.
Ideally, teammates would do anything for a quarterback they believe in. And that quarterback should be someone who can elevate the play of those around him - and step up and lead when adversity strikes.
Adversity is coming. Whether it’s against Louisiana, at Arkansas, at TCU or in the Cotton Bowl against OU.
Everyone will be watching to see how one of the most high-profile quarterback positions in all of football - from Bobby Layne and James Street to VY and Colt - handles those adverse moments and where things go from there?
No one seems to do football drama like the Longhorns (since 2010) and the Dallas Cowboys (since about 1996).
But both fan bases are tired of drama and just want wins - at best - or week-to-week improvement at worst.
With a move to the Southeastern Conference looming, Texas officials are counting on Sarkisian to elevate the program, one decision at a time.
Starting with this one.
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Does Chip still look and act like his favorite hobby is sticking butter knives into electrical outlets?
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Write-up on Hudson Card from FCB this morning --    Thx for this @Getafix

Quote

Every position on offense knows who the starters are based on a two-deep roster put together by the coaches last weekend - every position except quarterback...

Practice reps on Wednesday were evenly divided between redshirt freshman Hudson Card, who worked first with the No. 1 offense, and redshirt junior Casey Thompson. Thompson didn’t split any second-team reps with true freshman Charles Wright on Wednesday after doing so the previous two days in practice.

Sources said Thompson had one of his better practices on Wednesday and that Thompson, after suffering a rash of interceptions at the beginning of camp and in the first fall camp scrimmage (two), has been protecting the ball much better since then.

Thompson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in last Saturday’s scrimmage, while Card threw for one touchdown and ran for two scores. Neither quarterback turned the ball over in the second scrimmage.

The fact Card has been the first quarterback to work with the No. 1 offense the past two weeks, and the team is already working on the game plan for Louisiana in practice, would indicate that Sarkisian is preparing to name Card as his starter.

Sources said Sarkisian hasn’t spoken with his quarterbacks yet about who will be the starter.

But there is a real possibility Thompson would pack up and leave school if Card is named the starter after Thompson, who is coming off a glowing performance in last season’s Alamo Bowl, waited and worked for three seasons for the opportunity to start.

Sources said Sarkisian is aware that Thompson might leave if Card is named the starter, and that Sarkisian “is concerned” about that possibility.

Multiple sources said Wright isn’t anywhere close to being ready for game action if he ended up as Card’s backup and something happened to Card.

***

GETTING TO KNOW HUDSON CARD

Steve Sarkisian and Jeff Banks recruited and offered a scholarship to Hudson Card while they were at Alabama. Card ended up accepting a scholarship from Texas and shutting down his recruitment. Alabama ended up with five-star Bryce Young who is expected to be the Tide’s starting quarterback this season.

But there is familiarity between Sarkisian and Card that dates back to Card’s days at Lake Travis High School.

Austin Westlake coach Todd Dodge remembers a lanky seventh and eighth grader named Hudson Card coming up from Houston to attend Dodge’s summer quarterback camp.

“I remember thinking wherever that kid ends up for high school, they ought to be really happy to have him,” Dodge said of Card. “And then, low and behold, he (Card) moves from Houston and ends up at Lake Travis, our biggest rival.”

Card’s games against Westlake his junior and senior years represented the low and high of his high school career, respectively.

As a junior against Westlake, the Chaparrals brought constant blitz pressure, and Card threw two interceptions and had two other pickoffs negated by Westlake penalties in a 44-14 loss.

As a senior against Westlake, Card suffered a bad case of turf toe in the first half, yet gutted it out and played in the second half, leading Lake Travis to a come-from-behind, 26-25 victory on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Card to Grayson Sandlin.

“That’s the only game we’ve lost in the last 30 games,” said Dodge, whose team is the two-time defending 6A Division II state champion.

“That performance by Hudson was a tribute to his toughness, because, if he doesn’t return after halftime, we probably win the game. But he extended plays, made plays and beat us by a point.

“We always tell our players, ‘Don’t ever be afraid to show your teammates your toughness.’ And we came away from that game with a lot of respect for Hudson.”

Card missed the next six games his senior season while recovering from the turf toe injury before returning to the field and taking down Converse Judson (and five-star defensive lineman Demarvin Leal) in the playoffs.

Dodge, a former Longhorns’ starting quarterback, said his current Westlake quarterback - Cade Klubnik - reminds him of Card.

“They’re both lanky, can really throw it and both can run a hole in the wind as a quarterback,” Dodge said. “To me, that’s a compliment to Cade that he compares to Hudson, who is at a big-time program like Texas.”

Dodge said he’s a fan of Card’s skillset.

“I don’t know how Hudson has been doing at Texas,” Dodge said. “But as a play caller, you like his versatility as a quarterback who can throw from the pocket and on the run, making plays off schedule.”

Lake Travis coach Hank Carter said Longhorn Nation is about to appreciate Card as a top-level quarterback.

“I don’t know if Hudson gets the respect he deserves,” Carter said. “But he’s about to. Some people said he’d end up a receiver at Texas, and I said, ‘He’ll never touch the field as a receiver at Texas. He’s going to be the quarterback.’

“He’s a super smart kid, incredibly mentally tough, super athletic and commands respect from his teammates,” Carter said. “When he’s on the field, his teammates are probably thinking, ‘We’re going to win,’ because of how confident and competitive he is.”

Because Lake Travis had Matthew Baldwin at quarterback in Card’s sophomore year, Card played receiver. Carter said Card played the last eight games of his sophomore year with a broken bone in his left wrist.

“We didn’t know, because he never said anything,” Carter said. “Then, in the state playoffs, he put this wrap on it, and we had it X-rayed, and it was broken. He’s a tough, tough kid.”

Card has worked with personal quarterback coach Brad Stanfield, who says Card's biggest improvement has come in three specific areas:

No.1 Accuracy within the offense, No. 2 his footwork and No. 3 throwing on the move from an array of arm angles.

Some have described Card as quiet. Carter said, "I don't think he's a quiet kid. I think he's a competitor. He knows as a quarterback, words really matter, that teammates listen, and he definitely doesn't want to bring any added attention to himself outside of what's necessary. Teammates love him."

 

 

Edited by LTtxfan
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5 hours ago, Gidnik said:

im with the Card decision but i dont see this team being good enough to overcome 18-30 for 185 with 1 td and 2 ints which im afraid card will be at least for a while. 

 

54 minutes ago, UncleBuck said:

Avatar checks out

         1afd.thumb.gif.dd3978ff3e458d27df04e282b

              Gidnik

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1 hour ago, txhorns said:

He already redshirted

Plus with the extra COVID year of eligibility, there’s not much incentive to do that even if he hadn’t. Just like there’s not as much incentive to transfer NOW.

Even if he loses the competition, it makes more sense to stick for the season and see how things shake out at other schools (or if Card falters, for that matter) and transfer in the Spring still with 2 seasons to play.

 

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1 hour ago, formermav43 said:

Plus with the extra COVID year of eligibility, there’s not much incentive to do that even if he hadn’t. Just like there’s not as much incentive to transfer NOW.

Even if he loses the competition, it makes more sense to stick for the season and see how things shake out at other schools (or if Card falters, for that matter) and transfer in the Spring still with 2 seasons to play.

 

This.  His closest opportunity to start this year is at Texas.  

 

Then transfer next year to get his shot, if Cards still the guy. 

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14 hours ago, Napoleon said:

That’s the fear with the other guy… 

…if 2nd/3rd hand scrimmage reports are to be believed.

The goal is 15 of 20 for 170 yards 2 TDs, no INTs. Let the RBs & DEF take care of the heavy lifting. 

 

12 hours ago, BurntOrange&White said:

All the practice reports seem to paint the picture that Thompson is the one throwing picks while Card is doing a better job protecting the ball.

  I remember we used to hear the same thing when a certain "best QB to hit the 40 ever" was on campus.

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