David Ash

[gecko]

A couple of Ash thoughts from the cheap seats.....

1. He was a dangerous runner when he decided to run. Its the decisions on when to run that were suspect....can these be fixed?

2. His passing accuracy was pretty freekin' good

3. It just seems to be his nature, but he doesn't seem to inspire the team around him.....he's not the kind of guy to grab someone by the face mask and tell them to "get with it"

All that said....we would have beaten Mississippi with Ash and, I believe, would have beaten Baylor. OSU wasn't happening.... they were peaking when they came through Austin.

 

[Davharjac]

David Ash has a on of talent, I hope that he is really ready to go. I have heard a lot of people say he should take it easy, so he is ready for the season. I think this idea would be the biggest mistake ever. David needs to get knocked around a little. Not a lot, but there are usually about 3-4 spring practices w most programs (not including scrimmages) in which the last section of practice or "team period" is "live" meaning players can be tackled. Qbs aren't live in all of these, but maybe one or two. I think Ash and the coaching staff would rather find out that he is not ready to go in the spring, as oppose to him being protected in the spring and then taking a hit in the all that has him out for the season. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying let the D rip his face off, but I think he needs to be tested pretty hard. A healthy David Ash makes Texas much better, I think either way we will see one of the younger QBs in a "package" role. I am sold on him as a solid football player that can manage a game, and make an athletic play when most don't expect it..I believe he may leave something to be desired in terms of dynamic leadership.

 

[Juan]

.....All that said....we would have beaten Mississippi with Ash and, I believe, would have beaten Baylor. OSU wasn't happening.... they were peaking when they came through Austin.

And guess who is the head coach now?

 

[doc longhorn]

A couple of Ash thoughts from the cheap seats.....
1. He was a dangerous runner when he decided to run. Its the decisions on when to run that were suspect....can these be fixed?

2. His passing accuracy was pretty freekin' good

3. It just seems to be his nature, but he doesn't seem to inspire the team around him.....he's not the kind of guy to grab someone by the face mask and tell them to "get with it"

All that said....we would have beaten Mississippi with Ash and, I believe, would have beaten Baylor. OSU wasn't happening.... they were peaking when they came through Austin.

I agree with everything you have said. Regarding #3, I think this has been his achilles heel. Ash appears to be mostly unemotional and a social geek. This affects his leadership ability which, IMO, is a critical trait for a QB to have. Look at Case, for god's sake. He had to be the least athletic QB in the storied history of Texas football. But the players liked him. I can't remember which game it was that Ash had a long run for a TD, but I did take notice of how the team responded to Ash's emotional excitement in the end zone. I think they were as excited at Ash's excitement as they were for the TD.

 

[doc longhorn]

Well, I'd love to agree with the sentiment on this board - but I'm not near as high on Ash as others - to many INT's and misses. His stat's improved over 2012, but it was tough because of the shortened season. Outside of NT, his stats weren't hot.
To be realistic, Certainly Baylor QB is the best in conference. I think Knight reallly came on, and of course had a break out game vs. Bama. Okies State guy is OK.

I'd love to have Ash back of course - I just don't know what happens the first time he gets walloped. He won't get hit in the spring. I'd hate to rest our hopes on him, only to lose him the first game of the season permanently.

If Ash is cleared to go, he will be the best QB on the conference. If, when he was healthy, he had played behind the Baylor offensive line, you wouldn't be comparing Ash (basically a RS soph last year) to Bryce Petty, a fifth year senior. Ash is simply more talented - as OSU proved.

In fact, I challenge you to compare Ash, as a second year QB, to VY and Petty - in their second year.

 

[Davharjac]

If Ash is cleared to go, he will be the best QB on the conference. If, when he was healthy, he had played behind the Baylor offensive line, you wouldn't be comparing Ash (basically a RS soph last year) to Bryce Petty, a fifth year senior. Ash is simply more talented - as OSU proved.
In fact, I challenge you to compare Ash, as a second year QB, to VY and Petty - in their second year.

You're very high on Ash, I love that you support him, but his highs were pretty darn good, but his lows were pretty darn low. If want to argue that some of his less impressive games were a result of injury I will agree with you somewhat there...but his lack of durability can be a concern (yes I do consider multiple head injures to be a lack of durability). I think Ash is a good player, a very "solid" player that will help win games, but I'm not sure that I can call a guy who played in less than a handful of games better than the rest of the Qb in the Big 12.

 

[doc longhorn]

You're very high on Ash, I love that you support him, but his highs were pretty darn good, but his lows were pretty darn low. If want to argue that some of his less impressive games were a result of injury I will agree with you somewhat there...but his lack of durability can be a concern (yes I do consider multiple head injures to be a lack of durability). I think Ash is a good player, a very "solid" player that will help win games, but I'm not sure that I can call a guy who played in less than a handful of games better than the rest of the Qb in the Big 12.

You are right - I should have caveated Ash as the best. He certainly is not the most experienced, but athletically he is the best, IMO.But he was also coached, again IMO, by the worst coaches in the conference. A point in case is the fact that Applewhite has yet found a place to land.

Ash never really knew what offense he was going to run, virtually from game to game. I think his reputation suffered because of it.

It will be interesting to see what Stong's group will be able to do with not only Ash, but Swoopes as well.

 

[CoachBobbyFinstock]

Whatever endorsement Shipley gave Ash just reinforces the fact that David can play good football and he will be a sight for sore eyes to Texas fans.

 

[GARCH]

He was never concussed?

Hell maybe he was i don't know

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

I have to say I am very surprised by this. I really thought he would never play again. The Insiders were saying the same that should have been my first clue he was probably coming back.

 

[gecko]

I certainly ok with going into the season with Ash in the #1 role....1) because he has talent and 2) he will be better protected by Wickline's O line and 3) he'll have better coaching from day one of his return.

 

[beevomav]

I just can't see committing time and energy to a kid that has concussions issues? We need to prepare for like without Ash. Full disclosure, I am not an Ash fan when he was healthy. I can't remember a big time opponent he has played well against?

 

[BigPhil76]

I like Ash and think he can be a serviceable QB if he can remain healthy. I have read that part of his problem was an inner ear issue behind or after the concussion/s... I am someone who has had too many concussions and think DA will be done if he has more issues. They(doctors) aren't allowing as much leeway these days as they did in the 70's .. It will be interesting to see if he is capable of moving forward without being affected by his past. I know Aikman did and a few others but each case is different. Should be interesting to watch.

 

[Juan]

A healthy Ash is much more than "serviceable." He is in the conversation for best QB in the conference with Petty, Knight, Walsh, Webb and Waters.

His adj. QBR for 2012 was a solid 77.7.

Here are the returners for 2014 --

Petty was 85.5 for 2013.

Webb was 82.6 (not bad for a guy who lost his job).

Walsh was 75.0

Knight was 71.1 on small sample size (94.7 in the Bama game).

Waters was 66.0 (95.9 v. Michigan in their Bowl).

Tricket was 60.9.

Boykin 41.2.

Others -- McCoy was 64.7, Blake Bell was 70.0 and Bridgewater was 80.8.

 

[BigPhil76]

A healthy Ash is much more than "serviceable." He is in the conversation for best QB in the conference with Petty, Knight, Walsh, Webb and Waters.His adj. QBR for 2012 was a solid 77.7.

Here are the returners for 2014 --

Petty was 85.5 for 2013.

Webb was was 82.6 (not bad for a guy who lost his job).

Walsh was 75.0

Knight was 71.1 on small sample size (94.7 in the Bama game).

Waters was 66.0 (95.9 v. Michigan in their Bowl).

Tricket was 60.9.

Boykin 41.2.

Others -- McCoy was 64.7, Blake Bell was 70.0 and Bridgewater was 80.8.

JUAN GRANDE... I understand the numbers .. but to be serviceable or better.. all the way up to All-American he has to prove he can remain healthy enough to man his position weekly. (Something he has yet to do) This was my point, I don't care to argue or discuss what may be or could have been. IF Ash can stay healthy I think we can talk about playoffs .. But he must survive the season to do so.

 

[beevomav]

I like Ash and think he can be a serviceable QB if he can remain healthy. I have read that part of his problem was an inner ear issue behind or after the concussion/s... I am someone who has had too many concussions and think DA will be done if he has more issues. They(doctors) aren't allowing as much leeway these days as they did in the 70's .. It will be interesting to see if he is capable of moving forward without being affected by his past. I know Aikman did and a few others but each case is different. Should be interesting to watch.

Back in my rough and rowdy days I used to be a bouncer. I got hit on the ear and afterward developed vertigo. It's so bad now I can't even ride in the back seat of a car. That's all inner ear, and if he has that, he is done.

 

[BigPhil76]

Back in my rough and rowdy days I used to be a bouncer. I got hit on the ear and afterward developed vertigo. It's so bad now I can't even ride in the back seat of a car. That's all inner ear, and if he has that, he is done.

Beevo I have had about 9 serious blows to the head, at least 4 of which landed me in a hospital, like I said earlier, this should be interesting to watch.

 

[doc longhorn]

I just can't see committing time and energy to a kid that has concussions issues? We need to prepare for like without Ash. Full disclosure, I am not an Ash fan when he was healthy. I can't remember a big time opponent he has played well against?

Oklahoma State - in Oklahoma

 

[doc longhorn]

I like Ash and think he can be a serviceable QB if he can remain healthy. I have read that part of his problem was an inner ear issue behind or after the concussion/s... I am someone who has had too many concussions and think DA will be done if he has more issues. They(doctors) aren't allowing as much leeway these days as they did in the 70's .. It will be interesting to see if he is capable of moving forward without being affected by his past. I know Aikman did and a few others but each case is different. Should be interesting to watch.

I think it is important to understand that because David Ash had concussion like symptoms does not mean he is now damaged goods. Concussions are serious, but one usually recovers from them in short order - if treated properly.

In a concussion, the brain is moved around inside the skull and can even bang against it - right through the protective spinal fluid. This, literally bruises the brain and, like a bruise, causes tearing of blood vessels, and can even injure the nerves.

I understood that Ash was unable to look to his left without feeling faint. These kinds of things, along with headaches, are tell tells that he, in fact, did have a concussion. My concern were the reports of lingering symptoms, but I honestly don't know if these reports were accurate or not.

However, if his medical team has given him the clearance to play, I think agonizing over him now being susceptible to concussions is really unwarranted. I, also, think it is unreasonable to assume he has an inner ear problem as a result of a concussion. This would be hard to believe.

 

[Tulsahorn]

A healthy Ash is much more than "serviceable." He is in the conversation for best QB in the conference with Petty, Knight, Walsh, Webb and Waters.His adj. QBR for 2012 was a solid 77.7.

Here are the returners for 2014 --

Petty was 85.5 for 2013.

Webb was 82.6 (not bad for a guy who lost his job).

Walsh was 75.0

Knight was 71.1 on small sample size (94.7 in the Bama game).

Waters was 66.0 (95.9 v. Michigan in their Bowl).

Tricket was 60.9.

Boykin 41.2.

Others -- McCoy was 64.7, Blake Bell was 70.0 and Bridgewater was 80.8.

I see the numbers, but I just don't agree - I don't think Ash is close to comparable to the Baylor kid, and I'd also say the ou kid is better as well. Last year, take out the cream puff opener, and I just didn't see it on the field. In fact, his numbers were pretty poor. Even in 2012, waay too many interceptions.

Good, tough, gutty kid, but I don't see the passing accuracy. We throw a ton of very short passes that increase his %, but I think if you look at the games closely - Ash is so-so.