Pumping that UT sunshine

[doc longhorn]

And proud of it.

(I don't know what has happened to this site, but I can now navigate it on it better.  Maybe all my virus scans are behaving now.)

Anyway, who can't start getting a little excited about the coming football season?  I say this because i think we are going to have a helluva recruiting class this year and, coupled with last years talent, that spell WINS.

I'll say another thing - Charlie Strong can EVALUATE!  I'll trust his evaluations way before I would even consider Rivals or 247.

So let's just consider what we are trending towards improving this year.

OL - TWO All Americans returning along with, finally, a few experienced linemen.  This unit will exponentially improve all facets of our offense.

RB's - Oh, give me a break.  We will have, arguably, two of the best, if not the best, RB's in the conference.

TE - I really like Blueitt.  No, wait a minute - I LOVE me some Bluitt.  We good here.

QB's - There will be some that will argue with me on this.  That's because they don't know diddly.  We have two returning EXPERIENCED QB's.  Bad mouth them all you want, but Gilbert's Veer and Shoot offense is tailor made for both of them.  Coupled with an OL that will finally give them some time, they will show out.  Hide and watch.  And the early returns are that Locksley and Merrick have been looking awesome as well.  Buechele will RS and don't anyone DARE to mention his name as a player this year - I keel you!

WR's - My biggest concern, but upcoming talent is looking good.  Burt will stretch 'em, so we need a Shipley or a Thomas.  (Do you hear me Mr. Blueitt?)

LB's - We will be loaded with savages.  I fear they will actually kill someone this year.

CB's - Young, inexperienced, will make a few mistakes, but ungodly talented and FAST.

S's - PLEASE throw at them, Baylor, please. 

DT's - young, large (very large), talented, fast, vicious and bullies.

DE's - Weak spot of the defense - except by mid-year they could be the strong spot.

coaching - We are gonna LOVE Gilbert.  There will be the usual hoopleheads begging for him to take over Strong's position as HC.  they will be ignored, of course.

Strong will be mentioned in the same breath as Mack in his glory years.  That's right, I'm saying the UT fan base is nothing but a bunch of pollyannas.  Prove me wrong.

 

[The Bry-Man81]

I love me some sunshine Doc! Any chance we'll see you at the HornSports happy hour tomorrow? You're in the Houston area, right?

 

[doc longhorn]

I love me some sunshine Doc! Any chance we'll see you at the HornSports happy hour tomorrow? You're in the Houston area, right?

Actually I'm at my place in Brenham, right now.  I doubt we'll go back to Katy tomorrow.   But if we do, where is the shindig at?

 

[The Bry-Man81]

It's at The Gingerman in Rice Village at 5:30! There's more info in the other thread:

http://www.hornsports.com/forums/topic/11476-pre-nsd-hornsports-happy-hour-houston/

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Anyway, who can't start getting a little excited about the coming football season?  I say this because i think we are going to have a helluva recruiting class this year and, coupled with last years talent, that spell WINS.

Oh, yeah...yes, yes, yes, YES!

 

[Juan]

I find sunshine in this depth chart (which I borrowed from another site)

This is only 2015s and 2016s

 

[texasdalton]

Man Juan, that is two talented classes. We will be very good next season but 2017 season we could make a run.

 

[Embrey]

I find sunshine in this depth chart (which I borrowed from another site)

This is only 2015s and 2016s

Charlie's Angels

 

[DMAC]

I find sunshine in this depth chart (which I borrowed from another site)

This is only 2015s and 2016s

Looks awesome.

I would scratch Bonney from CB, watching him cover was painful.  

Demarco Boyd is probably RB/FB.  

DL/OL were upgraded the most.

 

[Duke C #11]

Looking at the 2016 schedule, squeezing out eight wins may be possible, depending on QB development. Starting the season off with the toughest game of the year is a tall order, although it is at home.

 

[Embrey]

Man Juan, that is two talented classes. We will be very good next season but 2017 season we could make a run.

I know this comment is completely subjective but, like you, I think it is obvious that things will be great in Austin by 2017.  However, after watching football for a lifetime, I think it will be most telling if Texas rolls to 10 wins in 2016.  Great teams usually outperform the obvious ahead of schedule.  If Charlie rolls to 10 in 2016, this thing is going to explode.

 

[oldhorn2]

I know this comment is completely subjective but, like you, I think it is obvious that things will be great in Austin by 2017.  However, after watching football for a lifetime, I think it will be most telling if Texas rolls to 10 wins in 2016.  Great teams usually outperform the obvious ahead of schedule.  If Charlie rolls to 10 in 2016, this thing is going to explode.

I am with you brother!.....the thing is...QB!....we are going to have to have good QB play to get there. If our QB production is average, we will be stuck arond 7 wins....if it is good we can get 8-9 wins. If somehow someone rises above the pack and really plays well we could get 9-10 wins. Frankly, at Texas we expect that, but we are so shell shocked over the QB play for the last 3 years it is hard to just jump on board.

For the first time in a while I feel good about our chances.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

I am with you brother!.....the thing is...QB!....we are going to have to have good QB play to get there. If our QB production is average, we will be stuck arond 7 wins....if it is good we can get 8-9 wins. If somehow someone rises above the pack and really plays well we could get 9-10 wins. Frankly, at Texas we expect that, but we are so shell shocked over the QB play for the last 3 years it is hard to just jump on board.

For the first time in a while I feel good about our chances.

After last season, I said that the Offensive Coordinator hiring would make or break Charlie. IMHO, I think he hit a home run with Gilbert and that we will see a huge difference in QB play next year.

 

[Embrey]

After last season, I said that the Offensive Coordinator hiring would make or break Charlie. IMHO, I think he hit a home run with Gilbert and that we will see a huge difference in QB play next year.

All you have to fo is look at the impact of Meacham/Cumbie on TCU's offensive side to see how the right OC can impact Texas' success in the future.
Regarding the right QB, remember that Boykin was a consensus 2-3 star recruit. Look what the system did for him and his school. What the veer (Briles)and the air raid (Leach) does more than anything else is simplify what the QB does and allows him to attack rather than be on his back foot. Early in his tenure as TCU's QB, Boykin always looked to run when pressured. As he gained experience and with the addition of Meacham/Cumbie, Boykin became a pass first, run if necessary player. The system was able to accentuate his positives and transform him from a bail out runner into an effective QB.

 

[primal defense]

QB's - There will be some that will argue with me on this.  That's because they don't know diddly.  We have two returning EXPERIENCED QB's.  Bad mouth them all you want, but Gilbert's Veer and Shoot offense is tailor made for both of them.  Coupled with an OL that will finally give them some time, they will show out.  Hide and watch.  And the early returns are that Locksley and Merrick have been looking awesome as well.  Buechele will RS and don't anyone DARE to mention his name as a player this year - I keel you!

I can go along with your pumping since I'm excited about next year. The Gilbert hire and recruiting are both positives for the future. However, I found your pumping on the QB's was little too much for my sunshine level and you stated that some will argue with you, i am happy to oblige.

I may prove your point that I don't know diddly, but I remember this is coming from the guy who posted all last off season about how Stoopes was going to be a good QB in 2015. You may capitalize "experienced", but Swoopes and Heard have not proven themselves as college passers and just because they are in new system doesn't mean that they will get the job done. Also, just because Locksley and Merrick have been looking awesome doesn't mean they will be ready as passers next year.

I do believe someone will emerge as a good QB because of Gilbert's track record. He had Jimmy Garofalo for his junior and senior who became an high NFL draft pick which was not bad for a two star recruit.This is Gilbert's fourth team in four years which speaks on how he's been able to advance.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Swoopes and Heard have not proven themselves as college passers and just because they are in new system doesn't mean that they will get the job done. Also, just because Locksley and Merrick have been looking awesome doesn't mean they will be ready as passers next year.

I've read that Gilbert's offense requires QBs to make quick decisions at the LOS and deliver the ball to the hashmarks with velocity.

Does that sound like Swoopes or Heard?

 

[North Texas Golfer]

I've read that Gilbert's offense requires QBs to make quick decisions at the LOS and deliver the ball to the hashmarks with velocity.

Does that sound like Swoopes or Heard?

I think the QB coaching/development and play calling will be so dramatically different than what we have seen in the past 2 years that you really can't rely on what you have seen in the past from any of our QB's. 

Last year Heard had his "confidence" coached out of him. That won't happen with Gilbert and you can take that to the bank. And it won't happen with any of the other QB's either. Just wait and see.

 

[Juan]

I know this comment is completely subjective but, like you, I think it is obvious that things will be great in Austin by 2017.  However, after watching football for a lifetime, I think it will be most telling if Texas rolls to 10 wins in 2016.  Great teams usually outperform the obvious ahead of schedule.  If Charlie rolls to 10 in 2016, this thing is going to explode.

I think we will be competitive.  It's tough to go too far out on the limb though since not a single one of us has seen what the new offense looks like.  Almost has to be better though, right?

Plus, young players playing means mistakes will be made.  It's gonna happen.

These are two of several reasons I have for not agreeing with this idea that Charlie has a minimum amount of games he must win.  That is not the way to do it under these circumstances.

 

[oldhorn2]

My concern is that Heard will "lazy" his way to the bottom of the depth chart. He seems like he is one of those "entitled" guys that doesnt have to work hard. We need him and we need him to work hard. Come on guys....convince me that I am wrong and I will be a happy camper.