Burnt Ends (4-20)

[HornSports Staff]

The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point (and select edges) off a brisket and return those pieces to the smoker.

Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they heavenly bites of smoky goodness? It depends on who you ask.

Rather than discard the trimmings and fat, we choose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.

This is a free site, so anyone can read this report. If you share it with someone, please take time to attribute the information to HornSports.

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The quarterback battle…that’s what’s on everyone’s mind. It was the first question asked throughout Spring practices, and it the same for Saturday’s Spring Game.

Most fans are of an opinion that the 2015 Longhorns will go as far as quarterback play can take them. While that mindset is overstating the importance of one position (on a team sport that depends on every player doing their job), it’s also true that the Texas coaches also put Tyrone Swoopes and Jerrod Heard under a microscope for the duration of Spring.

Before the Orange-White game, Shawn Watson said, “I told him [Jerrod Heard] yesterday coming off the field that he's the single most important thing that's happened to this football team was his improvement.” That’s a pretty bold statement, so we asked one of our team sources to expound on it.

“That’s a true statement…but the key to understanding it is to know what he’s really saying. Heard improved over the last 4 months – there’s no debating that. But there are two side effects to that improvement, and Shawn was talking about both of them, not just the obvious one.

First the obvious one – Heard getting better this Spring means UT has an option at quarterback. When Jerrod made improvements, the direct benefit of that was just that…Heard got better – he helped himself.

But the less obvious one that Watson was also talking about in that statement is what Heard’s improvement does for Tyrone Swoopes. The added motivation of someone taking his job had Ty’s attention from the get-go. Basically by being better and becoming a threat, Heard made Swoopes better.

That’s why Watson said team, not player when he talked to the media."

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Along those same lines, we had a different person in the athletic department share a thought with us on how different Swoopes & Heard are in terms of how the coaches motivate both players:

“Ty responds to positivity. The coaches communicate with Swoopes using ‘Atta’ boys’.”

Heard isn’t the opposite of that, but apparently he’s close to it. Rather than tell him he’s doing well, it sounds like the coaches are motivating Heard by praising other players - he takes that praise as a challenge to his ability.

“Heard is a classic chip on the shoulder kinda guy. Hearing somebody doubt him or question his ability, that drives him and feeds the fire.”

We’re not mathematicians at HornSports, but we know 1+1=2, so our follow-up observation to those statements was that the coaches seemed like they could get the desired response from both players pretty easily:

“Absolutely, they can. By telling Swoopes he’s getting better, they’re providing him with positive reinforcement. At the same time, those statements are the kind that serve to fuel Heard’s fire.”

After hearing that, we waded out into murky water by asking how much of the coaches public statements are designed or planned:

“There’s not much doubt in my mind that some of that is going on. I can’t say for certain, but when Charlie Strong says something like, “Ty is playing well and would start if the season was tomorrow,” – think about that in context of what I just described. He [strong] says that and it feeds both of his guys.”

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We caught up with three incoming signees that will join the football team this Summer. Topics ranged from the Orange-White scrimmage to staying in shape until arriving on the 40 Acres:

Charles Omenihu

Rowlett High School’s defensive end Charles Omenihu attended the Spring Game on Saturday and soaked in the field he will soon call home.  Omenihu, who stands at 6-5 and weighs 235 lbs., told us he liked the different fronts the Texas defense showed on Saturday and that he wants to “bulk up and get a little bit faster.”

With a slate of incoming defensive recruits including Cecil Cherry and Anthony Wheeler, Charles tells us the defense won’t settle for anything less than the best.  When we asked how important it is for the defense to be menacing, Omenihu kept it real, “We have to be. It’s a must.”

Keep a close eye on Omenihu as he hit the 40 Acres this summer.  The future Fox End is heading into his college career with the mindset of playing sooner rather than waiting.

Patrick Vahe

On the opposite side of the ball we spoke with Patrick Vahe who signed his Letter of Intent with the Longhorns back in February. Vahe, who had shoulder surgery in January told us his shoulder is “getting a lot better”, and that it has improved substantially since our last post-surgery update in February. As he readies himself to head to Austin this summer, he told us he liked what he saw from the offensive line at the Spring Game. What specifically? â€œTechnique, footwork and chemistry.”

Coming from a guy that anchored the o-line at perennial powerhouse Euless Trinity, it’s obvious that Vahe is anxious to get to work with Joe Wickline.

Cecil Cherry

Although he wasn’t able to make it to Austin for the Spring Game,we were able to grab a quick word with Cecil Cherry. He was on the way out, but told us he’s circled May 26th on the calendar. That is the day he heads to Austin for good.  And yes, he’s ready to wreck shop when he arrives.

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We also connected with three current recruits that were in Austin over the weekend to attend the Spring Game and get a closer look at the football program:

Darius Anderson

Checking in at #46 on the updated HornSports Top 50 for 2016, Anderson told us a few weeks ago that the coaches at Texas have been in contact with him. At 6-0, 295 pounds, Anderson made it to Austin for the Spring Game and said he had a great time, adding that the defense on display Saturday was just what he wanted to see. Anderson is a physical run stuffer with great size and says Texas continues to show interest despite not offering yet.

Anderson currently holds an offer from East Carolina. With some dedicated work on his quickness, he’d be a prototype fit for Vance Bedford’s defense.

Chris Hughes

In last week’s Burnt Ends, we mentioned Chris Hughes (brother of current Texas players Naashon and Camrhon Hughes) and his likely attendance at the Texas Spring Game. To nobody’s surprise, Hughes made the trip, and as an extended member of the Texas football family, he had a blast. “It was great. I really enjoyed myself,” Hughes told HornSports. 

Hughes possesses a tremendous athleticism which allows him to play both sides of the ball at Harker Heights. Considering that he stars on both offense and defense, Hughes kept a close watch on the entire Spring game:

“I liked them both. The offense is more up-tempo and simple. The defense seemed more aggressive and is also wrapping up a lot better. Seemed like everyone knew what to do and were in their spots.”

Hughes has offers from North Texas and Texas Tech. Charlie Strong covets players with the ability to contribute at multiple positions, and Hughes certainly fits that description – he’s definitely a recruit to watch this Summer.

Kofi Boateng

Wide receiver Kofi Boateng was slated to make the trip to Austin for the Spring Game but ended up watching it from home.  Boateng has more than 20 offers from Division-I schools but doesn’t hold one from Texas quite yet. 

As an unofficial visitor to Texas twice in the last month, Boateng saw positives in the Horns new offense, “I liked what I saw from the offense and the tempo being sped up. I also liked the quick pass and deep balls they were trying to hit – trying to get the ball into the hands of playmakers.”

Boateng plays at Arlington Lamar with Texas QB commit Shane Buechele, so the two prospect already have a good relationship. A versatile athlete that played strictly WR last season, Boateng says he will be splitting time between wideout and free safety this season.

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We chatted with someone who attended most of the Spring's practices, and they were straddling the fence on safety Jason Hall. According to our source, Hall’s issue is consistency.

That might not sound unusual for a true sophomore, but considering that Hall amounts to an experienced presence in a defensive secondary thin on game rep’s, he is thought of as a veteran compared to someof his backfield mates. Since several others in the secondary will be less experienced than him, Hall’s inconsistency is a liability. Here what our guy had to say:

“There’s no doubting his ceiling – he’s fast, sudden, violent. Basically he’s everything you want in a safety. My concern is for every exceptional play he makes, there are 4-5 where he runs himself out of a play or is not in coverage position.

In a secondary full of Seniors, having one guy play that way is fine. The real problem is that the young secondary needs Hall to flip that ratio – he needs to be right 80% of the time, while free-styling and making a play the other 20%.

Duke [Thomas] and Dylan [Haines] need to do their own jobs. If they’re trying to do that plus cover for Hall’s mistakes too, then it will be a long season for DBU.”

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There’s no sugarcoating it…at 21-19 and 5th place in the conference standings, Texas Baseball’s season has been a disappointment. There is still time to resurrect things, but doctors called in the crash cart and the team is on life support.

Two of the three remaining Big 12 series are against teams above them in the standings, and the third is against Baylor in Waco. The Longhorns are 2-4 in Big 12 road games this season.

Nevertheless, this is The University of Texas – the season will ultimately be judged on postseason play. After hammering out 16 runs, including five homeruns, in the series finale against Kansas, fans are hoping that a beleaguered offense snapped out of a month-long slump and is bouncing back to form in time for a stretch run.

UT’s hardball supporters aren’t going to have to wait long to see if the offense is finally back to early season form. A trip to Fort Worth to face TCU (30-8) looms this coming weekend, and the Horned Frogs’ team ERA of 2.18 ranks first in the conference.

We caught up with a Texas baseball legend and asked for his opinion on the team and their recent slump. He was direct in his assessment – he’d like to see the locker room take a long look in the mirror:

"I think they need a gut check and some of the upperclassmen need to step up and be leaders."

 

[joeywa]

Good stuff. I hope that the leadership aspect for the baseball team got a shot in the arm Sunday with Johnson responding to the smack talk from the KU catcher in the first inning with two HRs, and CJ hitting for the cycle.

 

[TeamMayhall]

Always look forward to these write-ups..Nice Work

 

[Duke C #11]

Good insight into the QB situation.

 

[streettopeschel]

i like that last comment regarding baseball upperclassmenn. we're all arm-chair coaches and fussin' about Augie is easy (and sometimes justified). but at some point, players gotta make plays.

win the series this weekend and things look promising. get swept, and you can break out the golf clubs.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

i like that last comment regarding baseball upperclassmenn. we're all arm-chair coaches and fussin' about Augie is easy (and sometimes justified). but at some point, players gotta make plays.

win the series this weekend and things look promising. get swept, and you can break out the golf clubs.

I agree with both points.

 

[primal defense]

“Heard is a classic chip on the shoulder kinda guy. Hearing somebody doubt him or question his ability, that drives him and feeds the fire.â€

.

This sounds like Michael Jordan. That's the time of attitude that I want in a quarterback.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

This sounds like Michael Jordan. That's the time of attitude that I want in a quarterback.

I thought of Jordan too.

Wanting the team to be its best VS wanting to be your best because you know that's how the team is at its best are two vastly different psychologies. Jordan had an unrelenting desire for personal greatness and balanced it with overall team achievement better than anyone in modern sport, IMO.

I don't think it's apples to apples at UT, but it's closer than apples & oranges. 

Fascinating topic.

 

[java]

It's a great balancing act.  A really great coach that I knew used to tell the members of his team 'that were willing to make a difference' that if they would take care of their business and improve, the entire team would improve individually as well as collectively.  The team members had to bring in report cards and show passing grades to compete, and it was a private club.  We need more of that in public schools.

I find it interesting that many Sophomores and Juniors in high schools now would have to be told what collectively means in that context.  I continually ask myself if I have grown out of touch, or expect too much, but I don't think so.  It has become increasingly clear to me why UT requested the cut from top 10% to top 7%, and I would not be surprised to see a request to have the required margin cut again. 

 

[HornSports Staff]

win the series this weekend and things look promising. get swept, and you can break out the golf clubs.

Some of the folks in the clubhouse are saying the same thing. TCU is very good. There's nothing wrong with losing a series to them, 1-2, if it's because the Horned Frogs play better than UT. If the Horns lose on their own accord, as Craig Way says, "You can say goodnight to this one."