I have to admit..David Ash had a decent season.

[beevomav]

I started this post to use stats to show how miserable David Ash has been this season for the Longhorns. Then after studying the numbers, which I believe don't lie, I came away convinced. Convinced I was wrong.

Below is a statistical test of Ash's season and by using the numbers/stats I can give him a score on the season.

The season started against Wyoming and he was efficient going 20-28 for 156 yards and a touchdown. Even here he just dinked and dunked and had a YPA(yards per attempt)of only 5.8 yards.

He got better against New Mexico going 16-22 for 221 yards with 2 td's and a healthy 10.0 YPA

The Longhorns went on the road to play Mississippi and Ash had his best game of his short career. He went 19-23 for 326 yards with 4 td's and an amazing 14.2 YPA.

Next up was a trip to Stillwater and OSU. He was again really good and went 30-37 for 304 yards with 36 td's, his first interception and a 8.2 YPA.

Then came WVU and a game against Geno Smith and the Mountaineers. David was again pretty good going 22-29 for 269 yards with a touchdown and a 9.3 YPA.

A date with the Sooners was when it started to come apart. Ash was 13-29 for 113 yards and 2 ints. He finished with a miserable 3.9 per attempt. I don't believe this game is a fair assessment of his play because nothing worked and OU scored the first 5 times they had the ball. The results were Ash being forced to throw nearly every down because the Longhorns only had 70 yards rushing. I believe this loss is on the coaches because as we would find out later, OU is not that great.

Texas played the Baylor Bears next and this is when Ash's confidence seemed to come back. He completed 19-31 for 274 yards with one td's and a 8-8 YPA.

Next up was Kansas and the single most confusing game for Ash and the Longhorns. I don't know the exact reason but the team again seemed to not be ready to play and Ash reflected that. This game it seemed clear he had lost some confidence. He 8-16 for 63 yards and 2 ints. Case McCoy came in and won the game but not before throwing two interceptions that were just dropped by Kansas CB's. The first was an out and it was jumped and the ball dropped. The second was to a LB and the ball hit him dead in the middle of his stomach and fell to the ground.

Lubbock and the Red Raiders was next and Ash had a good bounce back game. He was 11-19 for 264 yards with 3 TD's and a 13.9 YPA. For the first time all season Harsin let Ash throw the ball down the field Mike Davis lit it up. He only caught 4 passes but for 165 yards and 2 TD's.

Iowa St came to Austin and Ash lit em up. He completed 80% of his passes, going 25-31 for 364 with 2 TD's and a 11.7 YPA. Jaxson Shipley and Mike Davis caught 15 of those passes for 250 yards and 2 TD's. Once again Texas called for Ash to throw the ball down the field and he did the job.

The TCU Horned Frogs put a number on the Longhorns and it was another case of both Ash and McCoy being harassed all over the field. Ash threw many passes away to avoid a sack and ended up going 10-21 for 104 yards 2 ints and a 5.0 YPA. Once again it seemed to be more of TCU controlling the line of scrimmage, Texas only rushed for

86 yards. McCoy came in and was equally ineffective. TCU's defense was just smothering.

Ash was injured against TCU and didn't play against Kansas St and we know how that ended.

Final Grades:

3...A+ rated games..Ol Miss, ISU, TT

4...A rated games....NM, OSU, WVU, BU

1...B+ rated game....WY

1...C rated game.....TCU

1...D rated game......OU

1...F rated game......KS

11 Games with a solid rating of 82.5. That's a solid B and close to a B+. Good enough to start in the Alamo Bowl and

definitely good enough for people like me to get off his back.

 

[bbdude]

Damn fine breakdown and statistical analysis BM. Look, David Ash has more than earned the right to start in the Alamo Bowl - he is the best qb we have seen on the field this year. Long-term solution? Doubtful but not impossible.

If you look the breadth of Ash's work this year it has been overwhelmingly more positive than not. He had a few rough games but which qb's don't? Let's get behing David for this bowl game and whip some beaver ass!

 

[beevomav]

Ash's three bad games were against two defenses that overwhelmed the Longhorn offensive line and his performance was combined with not being able to run the ball. The one game he could have made a difference was Kansas and that game was on him but again he was great in 8 of 11 starts.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

I greatly respect the breakdown and it does give some perspective. I, personally, don't think the numbers are always truthful. His play on the field is much much shakier than his numbers. I've expressed my dislike for him and that remains. I don't think he makes good decisions and he has been bailed out repeatedly by well adjusting WR's. I believe most all teams don't respect him as a passer, so they load the box, stop the run and then Ash has to win with his arm... Not gonna happen very often at all.

I won't argue his numbers or that he's the lesser of two evils... But I, as I am sure you guys did also, watched EVERY single game this year and I couldn't say that he has played "great" at any point. He's consistent with his mistakes though, he can't finish. I believe the stat is that all of his INTs are from the opponents 30 and in.

Ill support him because I support the Horns above all. That said, I don't want to see him take a snap at QB in 2013.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

But if "decent" is the adjective you want to use to describe it... I can go with that 100%.

 

[Wes]

First off, I'm really glad you did look at the numbers. The question is not whether or not Ash has an arm that can make throws to run this offense. Ash has some good physical tools and can make many throws. But currently there are 2 main areas I'd like to see improvement that are hindering him, and which raises the question for me of whether he should actually be the starter at Texas or not.

1) His mentality/passion - I get a sense of this from watching the games but I also got this notion from one of the UT wide receivers who played a lot this year. The consensus is that the passion just isn't where most would think it should be for a guy who is the starting QB of The University of Texas. Along those lines, of the games Ash struggled in it seemed like his confidence and resiliency in those games were lacking, big time. And lastly, on this subject, I'd like to see his leadership increase to where the team knows he is the leader of the offense and he has total respect from team, much like Vince and Colt had (I want every UT QB to be the clear leader of the offense/team).

So to sum up my first point, I'd like to see him become more confident in himself, more passionate, and take more of a leadership role (these things are all on him to make happen. It's his choice.)

2) His accuracy and decision making could improve. There were multiple games all year where Ash had guys wide open, particularly deep down field and he under threw the ball. His arm strength wasn't the issue, rather failing to lead the receiver enough so he wouldn't have to slow down. Ash also made some wrong decisions by throwing into double coverages and making bad reads. But this second issue is somewhat nit-picky and issues that are common for a young quarterback who is in his first season as a starter. With the help of coaching and getting used to the game speed/offense they should be correct and improved upon.

Ash has shown that he can run this offense. But consistency isn't there, nor is the leadership/passion I'd want to see from the quarterback of The University of Texas. With all of this said, I'm in favor to open the quarterback competition up once the season is over. But if the other guys don't stick out over him and/or if he improves his own game and he wins the job as the starter next year then we at least know he is capable of running the offense and making the throws to open the playbook. But whether or not he brings it every game is on him.