The Quarterback Problem

[TexasFirst1]

It would be nuts to rely on Ash as the QB in 2014. The UT and his parents care about Ash, he will never see the field at UT again. Even if he plays, he is one hit away from being out from the year and that will certainly limit his ability to run the ball.

Swoopes' 1 for 6 in the bowl game was not encouraging. He has shown no signs of being a passing or running threat in 2014. How can he possibly be relied on? What happens if Swoopes gets hurt?

Heard shows a lot of potential but he is missing the spring. What happens if he gets hurt?

There have been no signs so far of JC or transfer possibilities at QB.

UT is facing an epic disaster in 2014 without an answer at QB. Is anyone hearing anything about a solution???

 

[bcherry168]

Cannot argue a bit with what you say. Will point out that Mayfield at Tech was a summer walk on, and ended up starting 5 games. Maybe Heard can do that if necessary. I hope David Ash is OK, but I have serious concerns. Swoopes was way too tentative. I think that may have been because he was trying too hard to do exactly the right thing, instead of being instinctive. With the new regime, we may see a different approach to developing QBs.

 

[texasdalton]

Swoops with the help of watson will be a lot better than what we had this year. Im not really convinced ash was ever the answer. The saving grace this year will be if our defense can become a top 15 defense asap. A strong defense goes a long way. We wouldn't have the 05 championship if it wasnt for our defense. Hookem

 

[utisdabomb12]

"Epic disaster" might be a little much. We almost won the Big 12 this year with Case McCoy. Can't get any worse then that.

 

[littlejon82]

Why don't we atleast wait until August before making any predictions of what happens with the QB position.

 

[UTPhil2006]

Swoopes will progress in Year 2.

Heard needs to RS at all costs.

Your first two sentences about David Ash are incredibly off. I believe it was either during the Alamo Bowl game, or during practices but they outright stated he was NOT one hit away. It was not that type of deal. You can argue whether he is capable (IMO, he is very much so) of being a good QB, but I'm pretty sure you haven't met his parents or the decision makers on the team (Doctors, Kenny Boyd, etc) that think "he shouldn't see the field again"

A grad QB can come in as late as summer as well. Plenty of time if we are looking in that area for a stop gap or depth concern.

 

[TexasFirst1]

Why don't we atleast wait until August before making any predictions of what happens with the QB position.

It is simply a topic of conversation on a message board. It is a situation that would seem to demand attention in this recruiting cycle and there is no talk on the subject.

 

[doc longhorn]

Swoopes' 1 for 6 in the bowl game was not encouraging. He has shown no signs of being a passing or running threat in 2014. How can he possibly be relied on?

I wouldn't write Swoopes off just yet. Remember, Harsin was blown away by him when he tried out on his visit. And you simply cannot overlook that Swoopes was a true freshman without even the benefit of a RS year.

I do believe that him playing in a 2A HS has hurt him. The coaching at that level leaves a lot to be desired and, on top of being a freshman, he had a huge ramp up just to achieve the level of the 4A and 5A players already on the roster.

The physical talent is there, but the Texas playbook, alone, HAD to look like a copy of "War and Peace' to him.

 

[TexasFirst1]

Swoopes will progress in Year 2. Heard needs to RS at all costs.

Your first two sentences about David Ash are incredibly off. I believe it was either during the Alamo Bowl game, or during practices but they outright stated he was NOT one hit away. It was not that type of deal. You can argue whether he is capable (IMO, he is very much so) of being a good QB, but I'm pretty sure you haven't met his parents or the decision makers on the team (Doctors, Kenny Boyd, etc) that think "he shouldn't see the field again"

A grad QB can come in as late as summer as well. Plenty of time if we are looking in that area for a stop gap or depth concern

A grad QB can come in as late as summer as well. Plenty of time if we are looking in that area for a stop gap or depth concern.

There are about a dozen QBs in the Mack Brown era who never progressed and Swoopes has shown NO signs of progression. Anyone who follows football understands that a concussion quickly followed by a major relapse that kept Ash out for the rest of the season and the potential long term consequences of any further recurrence is cause for any responsible parent to be very concerned and for UT to not rely on him for 2014. It will be great if he can make it back but irresponsible to rely on him.

You may not have noticed that any quality transfer or JC QBs will be in big demand. Waiting until the summer would be folly.

 

[TexasFirst1]

"Epic disaster" might be a little much. We almost won the Big 12 this year with Case McCoy. Can't get any worse then that.

Swoopes was apparently worse than that because he could not beat out Case. Yeah, maybe he will magically progress under Watson but there was nothing in his 2013 that was encouraging and zero tangible reason to be optimistic that he will be a championship level D1 QB in 2014. Relying on an incoming freshman, regardless of [potential is nuts. It took VY 2-1/2 years at UT to reveal his potential and Colt had a RS season.

 

[littlejon82]

It is simply a topic of conversation on a message board. It is a situation that would seem to demand attention in this recruiting cycle and there is no talk on the subject.

Fair enough. But I'm really not worried. Someone will rise to the occasion.

 

[DocHorn]

I agree Ash is a maybe, but not a forgone lost cause.

Aikman won 2 Super bowls after several concussions.

Staubach had several in his career prior to 1975 and played in 3 SBs after those . It is an unknown, but the kid may be able to play and play well

I suspect CRS and the coaching staff is pondering the situation and working on it.

 

[Topstarr]

Ash will be able to play and play good....I just do not get what some of you guys are saying. You have to be built back up (if you were not built up to start with, IF you know what I am talking about). Coach Srong and his S&C coach can do build him into what it will take to be D1 QB.

As far as Swoops...he was not given a chance to do any thing as far as a D1 QB in the mi nute time that he was on the field. Mack Brown and Major did not allow Swoops to show anything as far as playing FOOTBALL. Mack and Major did no favors to Swoops.

 

[Big Tex]

People take this Ash concussion stuff way too far. It's like he's the only guy in the world to have a concussion. As mentioned Aikman had a ton of them and so have many many others. This he should never play again junk gets old. Nobody knows how he is doing or if he should or should not play again. Either way we need another qb. I'm hoping we can get Brewer. I read somewhere that if there are extinuating circumstances then many Tech couldn't block a transfer within the conference. I thought I read that his mom might be sick. Nobody seems to know for sure if Tech could block the transfer or not.

 

[BigPhil76]

The Doctors and training staff view concussions vastly different than when Aikman and Staubach were playing. I think its a huge mistake to make your plans around Ash.

 

[PTA]

Swoopes was apparently worse than that because he could not beat out Case.

Really? You don't think for at least some period of time they were trying to save his redshirt season?

 

[HookemDTX]

Watson will improve the QB play for UT and Brewer will be here in the fall.

 

[DizzG]

I fully expect Ask to play and play well. You can't predict injury

 

[lincolns mullet]

I remember reading that Ash's prolonged symptoms were thought to be an inner ear issue and not concussion related. Just curious what the deal really is with him.