Wednesday Practice Report From the Asset

Come on, Kenny!!

So I guess with 50% of the snaps, today was Ash Wednesday. Thanks for all the info.

I wish David Ash’s name was Larry…so I could call him Ashy Larry

I think I’ve retold the “Alpha Wolf Jesus fire” thing 20 times since I read it and it always gets a laugh. One of the rare “retellable” jokes from the BC Universe.

What does all this mean? I hope it means Ash and McCoy get their chance to dominate Friday’s scrimmage. If the Asset is seeing this the team has to be seeing the same thing. Let’s hope Mack and Co. stick to their word and let the playas play.

a taylor bible mention… if they could get anything out of him this year, and build towards next season, i would count that as a major victory for wylie.

great report.

Let’s just call him Ashy Larry anyway. GO PUT SOME LOTION ON!

Jesus,

What would you say the likelihood is of Mack actually letting the best player play…..meaning for example if Ash truly does consistently perform better than GG before Rice? He hasn’t done that once since he’s been at Texas and I’m not convinced in the slightest he’ll bench GG.

If these developments pan out in how the starters and two-deep are named, call me a pleasantly surprised proponent of Mack 3.0. I’ve believed changes we’re imminent, but the possible ascension of Ash is a plate tectonic shift in Mack’s philosophy.

Is it safe to assume we’ll know the starters in 10 days?

I’m guessing there will be some staff backlash of “WTF, didn’t we say keep it vague?” I don’t care though. I’m eating it up. Thanks a ton! Great stuff.

This was great. Thanks so much.
 
The Ash euphoria is fun.
 
Quick thoughts:
 
- I believe that the purpose of the QB snap distributions the last two days is to find the #2 to compete with Gilbert down the stretch.
 
- Joe Bergeron is going to become a fan favorite
 
- Walters and Hopkins one the same side is kind of awesome if we decide to use them the way I think we will and it makes Snow at guard make a ton more sense.
 
- DJ Grant is a really good athlete. I’ve always thought highly of him since his days at LBJ and in talking to his AAU basketball coach about what kind of kid he is. He can really stretch the field. However, he has had two knee injuries. We need him to get a little luck in his life.
 
- A Gideon/Brewster safety combo has the free range of an industrial chicken farm

I just can’t wait for Mack to turn to Harsinwhite during the Rice game and say, “Get your Ash in there!”

I sure hope the Asset is using burners. Don’t doubt for a second that Bellmont has friends with quasi-legal access to phone records.

Thanks guys. I like to blog.

Wade, I think he’ll play Ash, Gilbert, and McCoy early in the season and then ride the hot hand.

Count me among the Ash-men.

Somebody better tell Bergeron that he’s taking Malcolm Brown’s snaps. Something tells me Joe doesn’t give a s***.

As much as I like John Harris, I’m happy to read that Darius White has moved in front of him. Miles O is very quietly the most underrated member of the 2011 class.

Grant beasting is not surprising. The better news is that he can throw a block.

I was curious if Bible could be a run stuffer Gilbert Brown style. I’d like to see UCLA run it at Bible and Edmond. Manny better be quick as hell with the substitutions.

I thought Hopkins would end up at LT, but with Tray Allen holding it down at LT, I’m cool with Hopkins at RT. Walters at RT lasted all of 5 minutes.

Good stuff JS.

A friend of mine works for a local news station (here in Austin) and Daddy Gilbert told the Sports guy Gilbert IS the starter. Hope he doesn’t know something we don’t know.

Secondary hybrid approach is needed. They have to mess up, interfere, shake up, distort, offset, delay, impact, bump, shimy, shake off any recieving corp route from any established passing offense they face in live action to buy free time for those Manny D blitz packages. Good to hear the offense is having success and synergy, however it deeply concerns me the issue we have with secondary coverage. Any passing team will exploit that. I feel if this is addressed and modified…10 wins babeeeee!

What is the date where a player can transfer without losing a year?

“Taylor Bible had a really good day including splitting double teams that resulted in losses on two separate occasions.”

Thank you Jesus! That is manna from heaven.

Thanks as always.

Brown with only 4 carries with the ones seems kind of odd considering that since he started practicing his carries have been very productive. I guess they are bringing him back along slowly as well?

I’m now in the camp with LTAlum and Scipio in that I think all of this QB competition is really just for the first backup spot. Small steps, but progress.

Hopkins back to RT and Walters back to RG. At what point does the cross-training stop and these players get to start focusing on the position they will actually play? Not critical, just curious. I like the best 5 OL playing. Really surprised that Kelly hasn’t been running with the 1’s for the last few practices or the scrimmage.

texasautuer, that wouldn’t surprise me a bit. I think Scipio hit the nail on the head. They’re trying to find the backup and then go from there.

I may have left out an important note, Mason Walters didn’t play any tackle today. It was all guard.

50% of the snaps to Ash and 10% to Gilbert? That, motherfuckers, that is your starter.

This team is young, but it will be exciting to watch them grow throughout the season. Gideon/Brewster is really quite scary.

“What is the date where a player can transfer without losing a year?”

They are losing a year no matter when they transfer. If they transfer before this season starts, then they only miss this year….which could be considered a redshirt year if one hasn’t already been taken. You see a lot of transfers after the fall semester because it gives the player the chance to practice with the new team in the spring, then the summer/fall, and spring again, before really having to worry about their spot on the depth chart.

Thanks Horncasting.

Jesus,

Have the coaches been alternating who gets the majority of snaps with the ones each day or is your percentile breakdown been typical following the scrimmage?

Since the scrimmage, Ash has gotten the most snaps. The disparity to pay attention to is McCoy to Ash because the smart money says that’s the real competition.

I may just have turn away every time the opposing team fails to hand off to a tailback. Why can’t Gideon ever get to the quarterback on a blitz……or even make it through the line? They may as well take the “Gideon blitz” plays, shelve them, and instead have him come out to the sideline and we just play a man down. He’s like the 1st grade tball player picking clover in the outfield. Does anyone with more football genius than me have an explanation for this?

not exactly on topic, but no better thread to post it on… according to jeff howe, javonte magee reached out to duane akina a month ago and the courtship has been renewed.

If Ash easily outperforms Gilbert, Gilbert being the No. 1 kinda ruins all the Ash euphoria. Is this merely strategy to bring Ash along slow and avoid the shock of a freshman trotting out as the day 1 starter, or will we really have to wait two more seasons to get the best players on the field?

Percentages of QB snaps? Something tells me the staff is going to get a talking to again.

So far as QB is concerned, we now seem to have settled into two basic scenarios.

1. GG has nailed to starter spot, and we’re repping AshCase to pick #2

or

2. GG has nailed one too many poodles and hasn’t learned the Safe Word, and is relegasted to 3rd, while AshCase are fighting it out for #1/#2.

A few variations flutter by, but them’s the two biguns.

Could also be possible that the staff is sending GG a wake-up call heading into the weekend’s scrimmage. No better way to show the kid the job is not his then relegate him to 10% of the snaps with the first team.

Jesus,

The team has already lost one player (RIP Luciano Martinez) due to the precise nature of your reporting. How many more must die?

Since we were able to save the Tuesday practice report with our efforts I have decided to take steps to head off any conflict so with no further ado for the Ash Men in our midst:

http://youtu.be/tujqM2u-BVo

great report. much thanks.

very encouraging. struggles are encouraging. it is through struggling that you get better.

great to hear of ash’s day. and great to hear from bible. super to hear the ol is fighting back. and all the youngsters who are showing up. hard to say which is outshining his ranking the most.

in particular, i read over at 247 that someone who has been around the program a long time has been comparing bergeron with terry orr, a great longhorn from the early ’80’s. orr was a real standout, and this is great to hear.

i like how one side gets an advantage and the other one fights back the next day. these guys are ratcheting up their game.

Awesome write up as always.

Best part: the offense rebounded to beat the defense a day after apparently playing with their arms tied behind their backs. I think last year they would have been afraid to even step onto the field today. i also actually like the fact that Malcolm Brown isnt getting many snaps with the 1s. Shows we may actually be well off with our stable of RBs and not as desperate as we thought.

Worst part: the joke about gideon and brewster starting a the safety spots. i actually fell for that for a second. Wait, you’re serious?

oh, and good to hear connor is making headway.

and special mention to grant for continuing to make big waves. that is so important.

If this were the same Offense as ‘10, I could understand Gilbert taking fewer 1st team reps this week to set the rest of the pecking order. But this is a new Offensive system with multiple new players with whom chemistry needs to be established down this final stretch. Something’s afoot.

Ash, Baby! Do the right thing, Mack Daddy.
You definitely owe us this one.

The players feel like the best guys will play regardless of who you are or how long you’ve been there.

Hallelujah!

I hope that remains true once the season starts.

Another day. Another great report.
One less day till we see what we’ve got.
Tick. Tick. Tick.

Hurry UP already, season!

agree, joe. it is important that the players expect that.

triplehorn,

Isn’t it possible that the coaches want to choose the number two so they can apportion the remaining first team snaps for the last two weeks of practice before the season? I think you’d be right if the staff had decided that today’s allotment of snaps would be the pattern for the remaining practices, but we don’t know that to be true.

“50% of the snaps to Ash and 10% to Gilbert? That, motherfuckers, that is your starter.”

Ehh, I would pump the brakes on that one. There are several ways to explain the break down of snaps. It’s possible Garrett has been given the starter’s spot and now they’re vetting Case and David for the #2 spot. That requires more snaps, while Garrett needs less. Don’t flip out if GG is starting.

It’s possible they will give big snap %’s to different quarterbacks on different days to see if each can get into a rhythm if given a reasonable number of snaps. (Ash gets the majority today, Case tomorrow, Wood later etc).

Or it could possibly mean they are giving Ash the most work because he’s grading out best.

The last possibility sounds the least likely. It’s just one practice. Too early to tell.

The battle for #2 between McCoy and Ash makes a lot of sense, but like the guys (JS & Scipio) have said, there’s a very short leash on Gilbert. If he begins to falter then look to McCoy and/or Ash to be given their shot at #1 in a real game situation.

I know a lot of people feel that GG got his chance last season, but we really won’t know how much of last season was really on him, until he gets at least a chance to show what he can do in a game with the new staff. Even then, if GG fails, I have to wonder if last year didn’t ruin him.

Don’t get me wrong, I want the best QB to play, but at the same time, I want good things to happen for all of these kids, because after all…they are Texas Longhorns.

With Macks new found motivation, and the fresh faces on the staff, I’m going to give the coaches the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong, which hopefully isn’t halfway into the Rice game.

As far as Ash, I’m really excited about the kid, especially all of the talk re: his moxy, and leadership. Something we’ve needed desperately.

Agreed that GG most likely is the starter and the high percentage reps to Ash/Case is designed to create separation and determine #2.

The true test of Mack Brown 3.0 is not whether Ash will start against Rice, which he most likely won’t, but how quickly he pulls GG after a poor performance. One pick? One bad quarter? Or, (gulp) 3 picks and a fumble leading to a full-blown loss at the hands of OU?

Great write-up. Speculating on our QB depth chart is not unlike the speculation that took place during the uber-secretive Soviet Union era over the successor to the encumbent Soviet President, all based on who stood where whenever the members of the Politburo would line up next to the existing President.

“Quick thoughts:

- I believe that the purpose of the QB snap distributions the last two days is to find the #2 to compete with Gilbert down the stretch."

i swear to God i think they would hand GG the starting nod regardless of how he practices or plays in scrimmages. ill believe it when i see it, otherwise we will see no change in starter until after OU as usual. i want Ash in there now and let him play a season, there is no way he could be worse than GG last year. GG is not the answer, he hasn’t shown one bit of improvement from last year. he didn’t improve from game 1 to game 12 and looked the exact same in the Spring scrimmage. I haven’t heard one single report this Summer that said he looked like the best QB so why should he start?

Some people are saying to let him have another season since we have a new OC etc, really? you want to throw away another year? We won’t win anything with GG at the the helm. It would take the biggest turnaround by a QB in NCAA history to take us anywhere, After another wasted year this year some will be saying, “let’s see him have one last year with an older and more talented team around him with another year in the new system” maddening…

I also don’t want Case in there, he is a poor man’s Applewhite. He would move the chains against lessor teams but his arm and lack of speed would get exposed against a fast, aggressive defense like Major used to with K State. At least Ash can run out of trouble.

I’ve been convinced for a few weeks that Gilbert will be the starting QB vs Rice and Ash will be de facto 2nd string QB.

I think Gilbert will be the starter vs Rice because of basic Mackology, Gilbert is by far the most experienced QB, and Gilbert is easiest to evaluate because he is the only horn QB for whom the coaches have video of him playing collegiate level football while getting hit in anger.

Ash has the advantage over Case as the 2nd string QB because Ash is the running package QB and punter/QB so he will get practice reps and game snaps not available to Case. This is critical in a year when a new O scheme is introduced. It is very difficult to get enough practice reps and game snaps to properly prepare 2 QBs, let alone 3 QBs, let alone in a season when you are introducing a brand new O scheme, let alone when you have a brand new OC.

Case will not be the running package QB because his physique is not developed enough to protect him from injury while running. Ash is clearly going to be the running package QB. The simplest, most efficient, and most practical approach is for Harsin is to reuse his running package QB also as his backup QB. Since this is the first year for the new O scheme, it isn’t like Ash is at a disadvantage WRT schematic knowledge (compared to the other horn QBs).

This reasoning assumes that the running package QB will get plenty of snaps. This should happen because it is a way to protect the starting QB from injury, train the backup QB and give him invaluable game experience, and improve the running game efficiency.

Ash, as the running package QB, will be facing defenses that are optimized to stop the run. When Ash does a play action pass, it will be an excellent opportunity for a big play.

I would be interested in hearing the LT guy give his perspective on the QB thing. More info is always good info right now.

Season can’t get here quick enough.

Yeah, it makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit, but I’m starting to come around to the Scipio/Horncasting school of thought that it’s Gidget’s job to lose. Everything else likely amounts to a two-horse race (Ash and McCoy) to find the #2.

Sorry about the girlie references for Gilbert, but I’m sticking to it until he changes his goddamned body language from what appears to be a self-defeating, head-hung, shoulder-slumped demeanor and starts acting like a fucking Roman Legionairre out there. Whether he succeeds or fails, to some extent, is not nearly as important as how he ACTS. He has to look the part of the team leader to his teammates, and they will not believe in him until he does.

As an retired career military man, I can tell you about the attributes of the type of man I’d follow into battle. It has nothing to do with physical characteristics. It;s all about self-confidence. My impression of what I’ve seen from Gigi so far, he doesn’t have that. No way I’d want to follow a guy out of a foxhole who doesn’t seems absolutely certain of himself…I’d do it of course because it’s my duty to…but self-doubt by the team leader leads to self-doubt by the team.

The comments various players have made about Ash indicate they respect him for his self-confidence and leadership, and it’s very telling that they don’t mention the same of Gigi.

Glad to see that GG has improved so dramatically from 2010 that he doesn’t need reps in a new system with almost entirely new targets

most of you guys are the reason we get a bad rep as fans. You are the same ones that thought VY should be benched or moved to WR. WE had a shitty season last year- STFU and get over it. You guys are the first to say in “Mack We Trust” but first to jump off when the boat takes on a little water. The best QB will be on the field and if it is GG I will remember why he was one of the highest recruited players in his class and I will be glad he is my QB and when he throws his first pick, I will NOT BOO or Hiss for him to be replaced by a true freshman that will be a stud in a year two. One question, do you want a true freshman to play and hope we win 6 games and suffer the same growing pains that GG experienced last year. I look at the history of the BIG 12 and realize that there has never been a true freshmen play and be successful. But there has been a red shirt freshmen and asophmores that have been great and last year was GG red shirt year and he is basically a sophomore on the field – look for great things from this team.

Well I hope GG reads all the hate that even our own fans write about him and that motivates him to prove them all wrong. While he did not play well at all last year, many of the same people lighting him up now, thought he was gonna be a heisman after the second half of the Alabama game.

It looks like Garrett Gilbert will probably start against Rice. My concern is that Garrett Greenlea could probably start at QB against Rice and look good. Then, if Gilbert looks good against Rice it may take several poor performance games to unseat him and by that time we are close to or already facing OU. Then, the thinking may be that we don’t want to start a true freshman who hasn’t had any previous starts this season, against OU. It might well turn out to be the “old experience factor” working against us if, in fact, Ash is the most talented of the group.

You can tell when the article link has been posted on Orangebloods.

Shipley. Gone. Shipley minor. Here now.

A another concern is that if Mack and the McCoys are close then Mack may feel like he owes the McCoy’s something for wasting Case last year instead of red-shirting him.

Why on earth would we ever put Gideon and Brewster on the same field together. I’m not sure either could beat any of our starting LB’s in a foot race.

“You can tell when the article link has been posted on Orangebloods.”

You mean you can hear the mouth breathing too?

Onyegbule has been one of the pleasant surprises of fall practice. Seems like many felt he was another Bobby Kennedy special-type when we recruited him. Arlington Colts represent!

I’m actually good with Gilbert starting Rice. It sets up much more favorably for Ash to succeed this way (ie bringing Ash in after Gilbert falters), rather than just handing over the reins to him from day one IMO. I think we’ll know by the end of the first half of the BYU game what we have in Gilbert this year…leaving plenty of time to make the switch and salvage the season if need be.

Jesus, according to the State of New York, you are the Ash man.

i was just reading some freebie comments over on 247, and i realized that the people i could read there, by and large, seem to think the starting qb for rice is necessarily the intended starter for the whole season. that might be true, of course, but it also might not be true. with this staff we don’t know what to expect.

also, all over the place i see people assuming the old mack is mushing everything down with his thumb. there have been so many revelations since last season that i don’t think that is a given. mack had a serious soul-search during and after last season, and he has changed in so many ways that i don’t think it is sensible to predict his behavior based on past years. here again, mack might revert to old mack on this or he might not. we just have to see.

to get all huffy right now is foolish. let’s see how things shake out and be a little trusting of the new team.

I’d add one more thing to my earlier post…a bit of historical perspective.

It is well-documented that U.S. Grant was not a great tactical general, as particularly evidenced by his performance at Cold Harbor. But he knew how to inspire men to do their best and give the most of themself. Prior to Grant taking overall command of Union forces, the army vastly underachieved despite having nearly every advantage in the field. But they lacked the one thing the Confederate forces had…strong leadership. Men who’d give their all and follow their leaders anywhere and do whatever was asked of them. Not until Grant came along did the Union have such leadership.

Football isn’t life or death (to some it may be, but I’ve seen enough to know the truth), but the axiom that the measure of leader is that they inspire greater performance by their followers rings just as true. And the Longhorns will also underachieve until they find the guy at QB who inspires them to do their best.

miles writes of some mystery fans out there:

’ "let’s see him have one last year with an older and more talented team around him with another year in the new system" maddening…’

I haven’t read or heard that anywhere. All I hear and read is that Gilbert deserves a shot in a “wide open” competition and will likely get the nod to start the Rice game based on game experience. I also read a lot about “short leashes.” That all seems reasonable to me.

Gman – The coaches would be doing Gilbert a service if they made him drop and do 50 every time he does the two handed facemask clutch. Instead of cursing at the dirt, shout at the gods. Little things.

Start Ash. We haven’t had a decent back-up QB since the Applewhite/Simms imbroglio. Why start now and ruin the tradition? Let’em all transfer, I really don’t care. Besides, it will put an additional year (most likely) between Ash and Brewer. Start the best, play the best. Hell, if Ash gets hurt, we’ll run some kind of pistol deal…I like Gilbert, but I love lamp. I love lamp.

Not so sure the reduced Gilbert snaps are to figure out #2. They may really be looking to find #1. This is an interesting twist that I wonder if the Asset could weigh in on: Case and Harsin don’t mix at all. Ash is Harsin’s boy. But Case is Mack boy (loyalty to Colt).

agree with hih and tokamak, above.

much better than ash replacing a faltering gilbert would be a rapidly developing ash in a one-two punch with a competent gilbert. that way the sooners and others have to prepare for both, and when david is really up to speed, he either begins dominating the snaps or we emphasize whichever offense is causing the most fits for the opponent defense.

i remember up in oregon recently that brewer was tearing it up with a kid who sounded suspiciously similar to miles. about 6-4 and 220, i think he was. very mobile and outstanding hands. my thinking as i was reading the comments about that guy during those contests was that he sounded a lot like miles and wondered if we might be getting a preview of coming attractions.

Gman, I begin to hear fifes playing Yankee Doodle in the background when I read your posts.

If I was the man I used to be, I’d take a flamethrower to this QB controversy!

I talked to a guy who said all the other sites are reporting that Barking Carnival’s official stance is that Ash will be trotted out as the starter against Rice.

So for clarity sake, put this in 12 inch letters Jimmy Johnson style, David Ash WILL NOT start against Rice. He’ll play, as we reported since the spring, but he is not going to start. We’re just reporting snap distribution and performance as we’re told. But I think Scipio’s take about finding separation for the backup is what’s actually occuring.

Now will Ash start vs. BYU, UCLA, or at another point during the season? There’s a real good possibility if his performance keeps trending the way it has the last few weeks.

footballjunkie -

in short, you are a retarded buffoon. in all actuality, i was calling for VY to start over Mock before either had taken a collegiate snap.

and now i’m calling for ash to start over gigi before he can even take a collegiate snap in real time.

it’s idiots like you that cast blanket statements over a whole fanbase that make Longhorn fans look bad. keep your stupid whore mouth shut, because you just embarrass yourself when you say things like “yall are the same ones who wanted VY to play WR”.

you’ve got no clue, dipshit. none.

interesting what you say, gman. you probably know this but i’ll say it for anyone who cares and isn’t familiar.

the weekend of july 4th 1863 saw two incredibly important operations both conclude in the union’s favor: gettysburg and vicksburg. we all know about gettysburg but some don’t realize how important it was to get control of vicksburg. the union had free reign on the entire mississippi river except vicksburg, and that kept them from using the river like they needed. the problem was that vicksburg was located in a big bend of the river where it is extremely wide. and the land on the arkansas side of the river was almost impenetrable due to brush and marshes. so vicksburg was heavily defended toward the east and the north and west the wide river kept guns at bay.

while meade was spanking lee in pennsylvania, grant finally captured vicksburg by coming around through the brush and swamp and attacking from a less well-defended direction. that conquest, after several other successes in the western campaign, is what got grant the job with the army of the potomac.

grant’s first operation against lee in virginia was at the wilderness, i believe. not important if i remember wrongly. what is important is that he was no more successful there than the previous union commanders against a dug-in lee. lee was an engineer and a splendid defensive combat officer. more important still was grant’s behavior after pulling back and spending the night a little ways away. always before, the next morning after a defeat, the union army formed up and turned north to cross the potomac and nurse their bruises for a few months. the next morning after the wilderness defeat, grant formed them up and turned them south. the men cheered. they knew this guy was their man.

yes, we need our man.

“1. GG has nailed to starter spot, and we’re repping AshCase to pick #2

or

2. GG has nailed one too many poodles and hasn’t learned the Safe Word, and is relegasted to 3rd, while AshCase are fighting it out for #1/#2."

Macks consistant pattern is #1 – be resigned to it!

It sounds far-fetched Jesus, but if you say Ash is starting against Rice, that’s good enough for me.

“Brown trucked Jackson Jeffcoat flat on his back for a nifty 5 yard run.”

I just broke my desk in half when I read this. (no homo) And JS, I had a phone call with an old buddy with inside contacts that basically told me the same thing about Ash last night. He’s not going to start at Rice, period. Or at least that is what is being said about the consensus of those in the know.

We talked for almost 2 hours last night and my wife still doesn’t understand how two old buddies, who talk mostly only during FB season can pick up and talk for 2 hours about nothing but Texas Longhorn football. I told her, “you might not understand but just know… it feels good.”

Here’s to you and the boys here at BC and Recruitocosm that keep our glasses full. HOOk’EM!!!

I personally would not have made an iron-clad guarantee that Ash would start the first game of the season, but then I’m not Jesus.

“This is an interesting twist that I wonder if the Asset could weigh in on: Case and Harsin don’t mix at all. Ash is Harsin’s boy. But Case is Mack boy (loyalty to Colt).”

It would indeed be interesting to hear the Asset’s take on that (allegation). However, if Case is Mack’s boy, why was Case the world’s best bench warmer last year when the season was going to hell in a hand basket? Unless the implication is that Mack swore a blood oath to Gale Gilbert (that Garrett would start) or Cleve gave copies of his compromising pics of Mack and GD to Garrett (for “just in case” use like Frodo used the star of Eärendil).

Anything can happen in a QB battle. I just found out that a skinny little kid from Pearland walked on (after 3 weeks) at Pitt and is now the BACKUP QB for said school. This kid is not even on scholership for Gods sake.

Stay classy, poo

yes, snide. some are acting like we still have greg davis on the staff.

This is Bryan Harsin’s first high profile gig. He’s flown Chris Petersen’s nest. There’s no way he’s choosing a QB based on anything other than who gives him the best chance to win.

Now Mack, that’s another story.

Gman, are you implying we need a drunk at QB in order to have effective leadership?

What happened to GG that we now have the luxury of allocating the vast majority of precious first team reps to identifying the backup QB?

So, if I’m reading this correctly, Jesus is giving the percentages (because that’s what we demand) of game one starters as:

Ash 99.9%
Gilbert 0.1%
McCoy 0%
Wood 0%

So you are suggesting that Mack will select his QB based on considerations other than who gives him the best chance to win?

If so, he should be immediately fired for cause

Gilbert needs all the snaps he can get. Granted I’ve flushed most of last year from my memory, but I’m having trouble coming up with any throws of his that were memorable or something to build on. Here’s what I have so far.

1. Hail Mary vs Florida Atlantic
2. TD to Barrett Matthews against Tech on the goal line.
3. Short passes over the middle to Fozzy vs Nebraska.

And, we have a new friggin offense.
My point is that whoever the starter is needs the reps. I guess he could be having some dead arm type issues.

Yup. The finding a backup theory is strange

Jesus,

I’m afraid you may be correct on the plan to start GG. The problem with finding who the number 2 is that the starter is not getting enough reps. He needs the reps to develop timing. We are less then 3 weeks till kickoff. By Sunday we better have a pecking order and the starter needs to be getting most of the reps.

The one nagging question about GG starting is what has he done that makes Mack think he has earned the job. From all the reports it appears Ash has earned it then McCoy. If performance equals playing time then Gilbert would be 3rd or 4th. If you start McCoy, that’s understandable. You can do that on your desire to ease a freshman into the game. Mack needs to remember one name when naming his starter: Matt Barkley. He beat OSU on the road in his 2nd game.

Mack will obviously pick the QB he feels will give him the best shot of winning. The point remains that Mack’s definition and Harsin’s definition of that person are in all likelihood radically different. Harsin has started a true freshman QB, he won’t blink at benching GG if he feels Ash is better. Mack on the other hand is far more conservative and sentimental in his decision making process. For the reasons he’s an excellent people person he sucks ass at managing personnel.

Apparently, we are going to have to go through heavy brush, swamps, cross a river and attack a weakly defended front in order to get enough recognition for a second string QB. But if Jesus is guaranteeing Ash from day 1 or else he will dance with his mailman who am I to disagree.

Why not give your starter the most reps in a new offense? Seems counter intuitive but it’s still early.

I remember Mack say that they chart every play-throw-completion-fuckup so the QBs know how they are doing and exactly where they are at all times. If Ash has better numbers (we don’t know) how do you start GG instead?

from the twitterverse:

JB_UTSN Jordan Bishop
Injuried Texas DB Eryon Barnett dropped the ball in telling a reporter David Ash would be his choice as Texas starting QB.

Is Barnett at the practices? Haven’t heard his name in a long time.

Interesting:

@imErinHartigan
Erin Hartigan:
Hung w #UT corner Eryon Barnett @ WilmerHutchins pract tnite. (dad=HC. Back home after surgery.) Barnett calls David Ash starting QB 4 Horns

What the mad clap said.

I’m an American, so I like redemption stories. Washington constantly retreating before winning big at Yorktown, Lincoln losing the Senate race only to become President, FDR succumbing to polio and then rising to the Oval Office are all good ones. If Gilbert’s the starter I really want him to win and play well and show IT, but like some others, I don’t see IT. I fear this will be more like Nixon’s redemption story where he is removed from the position he most coveted. I know we’re talking about kids and not presidents and there is a lot of sympathy for GG, but he signed on to be a QB at UT knowing he would be following Vince and Colt (curiously enough, both working on their redemption stories) and that his position is not on the same level of amateurism as playing QB at North Dakota State.

The argument for Ash is simple and it has nothing to do with this season and everything to do with 2012 and 2013. We are likely not going to contend this year, but for the out years, hope remains very high. Do we stand a better chance with a senior Gilbert and a first year starter Ash or is it preferable to go into those years with a 2nd and 3rd year starter in Ash backed up by Brewer? I’m thinking I like option 2 the best and I’m also thinking one of the reasons we like redemption stories so much is because they are so rare.

We were all pretty resigned to a non-contending, rebuilding year in 2008. We started last season in the top ten. One never knows, does one?

If you look at Mack’s web site where they post the depth chart, it says:
“Please check back shortly before the start of the 2011 season for an updated depth chart.”

I’m guessing that Harsin will know his Rice game starting QB and backup QB after tomorrow’s scrimmage. That will give those two guys 2 weeks to scrimmage with the first string. Mack probably won’t post the depth chart until right before the game but practice reps should make it clear who the top two QBs are.

Rice is really important in that it gives Harsin a chance to see the QBs in an actual football game. The problem with protecting the QBs in practice is that it makes it very difficult to evaluate them. Gilbert is the only horn QB for whom Harsin has video playing meaningful snaps in real college football games
.

Tex in Oregon…..I’m a recent transplant myself…..where you at in OR?

Agree with the “something is fucked if we know who our starter is, and he’s getting 10% of the reps” line of thinking. I’d say that getting your starter reps with the 1st team receivers, in a new offense, is much, much more important than devoting that time to figuring out who the back-up is. When frankly, you already know who the back-up is. McCoy and Ash will both play.

So what’s up?

Kafka-
“Rice is really important in that it gives Harsin a chance to see the QBs in an actual football game.”
I don’t think Rice will be much of a test. Yes, they are allowed to hit the QB but will they?

Maybe we’ll play 5-wide the entire game to test their pocket presence and escapability. I see physical contact only favoring Ash since he’s far more mobile than the lumbering Gilbert. Gilbert also has pretty poor instincts when it comes to pulling it down, as he prefers the easy INT route.

It’s just mind boggling to me that GG has the starter spot locked up. Going back to the spring, he’s thrown 3 picks in 2 scrimmages against a weak secondary. 8 of 15 in the spring and 1 first down this past weekend? …WTF

Because there isn’t time to rep 3 QBs with the first string. Whoever is selected as 3rd string QB probably won’t recover. They will practice with the 2nd team and when they come into the game, the second team OL will be blocking for them (bummer). It will be hard for the 3rd string QB to look good in real games behind the 2nd string OL.

My guess is that Mack wants to give Case a more than fair opportunity to win the backup QB slot. It really isn’t very practical for Case to be the backup QB since Ash is the running package QB because there are enough reps and snaps to practice and play 3 QBs.

are Not enough snaps to practice and play 3 QBs

I understand the reservations about this news given Mack’s MO, but what makes more sense?

1) The coaches are giving a quarterback that has not looked spectacular in drills 10% of the snaps with the first team in a completely new offensive system 2 weeks before the first game of the season because they’ve pegged him as the starter.

2) The coaches are giving a quarterback that has not looked spectacular in drills 10% of the snaps with the first team in a completely new offensive system 2 weeks before the first game of the season because they need to start giving reps to guys who will actually start and play in the games.

RomaVicta said: August 18th, 2011 at 8:42 am

We were all pretty resigned to a non-contending, rebuilding year in 2008. We started last season in the top ten. One never knows, does one?

Thank you Roma. Agree completely.

When the season hasn’t even started yet, every game is precious and to throw any away under the assumption it won’t be the year for a championship is foolhardy. Championship runs require so much good fortune with injuries, unforseen schedule breaks, and general good luck every now and then that you can’t afford to cash in a season before it starts under the assumtion that you’re going to have everything come together for a championship run a year or two later.

Play every game to win.

The first 3 games of the season are Rice, BYU, and UCLA. 3 QBs play vs Rice but only 2 QBs play vs BYU and UCLA. Ash is going to get his snaps vs BYU and UCLA no matter what as the running package QB and punter/QB unless he is redshirted. Regarding redshirts, Mack went 5-7 last year and turns 60 this month: the future is now.

It is critical to get the backup QB decision right because it means burning Ash’s redshirt. If Ash is selected as the backup QB, Case is probably relegated to mop up action from now on.

“Brown trucked Jackson Jeffcoat flat on his back for a nifty 5 yard run”

six to midnight.

“It is critical to get the backup QB decision right because it means burning Ash’s redshirt.”

Ash is playing even if (when) McCoy is listed 2nd on the depth chart. That’s why this business with Gilbert doesn’t make any sense to me.

Who is this Ash kid, and didn’t McCoy graduate a couple of years ago?

Fuck the “best chance to win” bullshit – at least, as it applies to Rice, and possibly to the rest of this season.

Let’s not lose sight of the program: we’re supposed to be rebuilding. If it happens instantly, and we become very, very good, that will be wonderful – but not expected, okay?

My understanding is that we’re looking to put together a team that will have a run at the MNC in 2012 – not 2011 – 2012, right? Hopefully from then on into the future, but for now, let’s build and rebuild.

I don’t care if Gilbert gives us the best chance to beat Rice – I care if he gives us the best chance to go 12-0 next year (or even this one). If Ash gives us more upside, put hm in. Hell, if McCoy or Wood are better, let’s see ’em on the field.

We have no idea yet – it’s all practice so far. We’d like to think that our offense struggles because the defense is great, or the defense can’t cover our receivers because our receivers are all-world, and so on. But that’s because We’re Texas dammit.

Last year was billed as “rebuilding”. It was anything but. Underclassmen stood on the sidelines while juniors and seniors stunk up the joint and the sophomore Quarterback-of-the-future sank into the stench. Lack of accountability at any level wound up splitting the coaches and the players. It sucked the hairy nutsack. I’m trying to think of a high point, and the only thing that comes to mind is that we did – once again – psych our way over Nebraska, although even that was tainted by some idiot coach’s bright idea to fake a FG (very makeable one, at that) and punt with essentially no coverage, which changed an almost unbeatable position into one of great danger… thank the football gods we held on. Still – at no point did it appear what we were in fact and in actuality “rebuilding”. What we did was give our quarterback to opportunity to overcome a gigantic clusterfuck, which he was unable to do – no real discredit to him, but rather to the coaches who didn’t train him and didn’t give him a game plan that could succeed.

This year, I am expecting actual rebuilding.

This year is not about winning ’em all – this year is about finding out who can play, where they can play, and getting them on-field experience and building their confidence in, and understanding of, the system.

I don’t have a problem with seniors playing, as long as they’re not obstructing the progress of an underclassman.

Yes, I’d like for us to win every game we play. Right this very instant, I think it’s even possible… and why not? We have some players who look to be very, very good – and if they jump all over Rice, knock off BYU, and get by UCLA… and appear to be getting better week-by-week… why, I’ll be one of the ones saying “Hell, yeah, 12-0 baby, let’s bring it!” Do I expect this? Sadly, no… but I’m not thinking it’s impossible, either. If we get to the Rice red-zone and go four and out again, I might change my mind, but until then… UN-fucking-BEATEN, men!

My reading of the tea leaves has stayed the same, I think.

Gilbert is your starter for Rice with a very short leash. Case is the nominal backup QB and will get snaps once we’re sufficiently ahead. Ash is the nominal 3rd QB but will be getting close to a quarter’s worth of snaps in our early games running his ‘Ash Package’ which will expand in volume and variety each week. This lets us get him a good amount of snaps each week while providing a fig leaf to hide behind for anyone with a vested interest in believing/selling that he really is the #3 QB.

What constitutes a meltdown for Gilbert is likely variable based on the caliber of our first few opponents, but if/when it happens he is pulled and has likely started his last game at Texas barring some wild circumstances. Case becomes the nominal starter with Ash’s ‘package’ constituting about 40% of the snaps. If Case performs well this dynamic remains, if he’s simply not capable then Ash gets elevated to be the guy.

This plan probably satisfies Mack’s innate desire to go with experience, should satisfy the McCoy clan with assurances that he’ll be the one to ‘start’ if Gilbert can’t get the job done, and gets a good amount of meaningful snaps for Ash.

The plan for quite some time has been for Ash to play at least in a ‘Tebow as a freshman’ role so consider that shirt burned. With Brewer coming in next season that doesn’t bother me in the least.

The ‘Gilbert getting 10% of the snaps’ thing makes sense – at least for ONE practice – if this is the plan as it’s easily explained to him that he’s the starter (as of now) but we need to give the other guys some reps to get them ready for their roles.

I think this is what ends up happening barring a multi-turnover performance from Gilbert in Friday’s scrimmage. If that happens I think it really opens the door for a different Rice starter if for no other reason than the team’s overall mood/psyche, but things will be really muddled if that’s how things go down on Friday.

“Ash is playing even if (when) McCoy is listed 2nd on the depth chart. That’s why this business with Gilbert doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Mack is a sensitive guy who has a very close relationship with the McCoy family. Once Ash’s redshirt is burned, McCoy may be listed as the backup QB on the depth chart but he will be practicing and playing with the second string. The best solution (both from a political and football perspective) for Mack is to let Harsin make the decision.

Regarding redshirts

Not a fan of most redshirting. Frankly, I think if a player is physically and mentally ready, you should be playing him. Guys who need to grow and learn, okay… but if they CAN play, they SHOULD play.

After all, if they’re really good, they’ll leave for the Pros “early”, if you ‘shirt ’em and you wind up losing two years of play from them. And if they’re not all that good, at least they won’t be taking up a slot in the scholly box for five years.

A drunk QB? It worked for Bobby Layne.

It takes a lot of balls for Jesus to call Ash the starter this far out.

Nobis, your take is pretty much the same as mine, which is that Gilbert starts unless and until the canine fornication occurs, Ash plays series and situations with the “Tebow Package”. Case begins as #2, gets at least mop-up duty, but is first to replace in the event of c.f. If no c’s are f’ed, the pattern continues. If and when Case becomes starter, Ash continues as before, but possibly more snaps. If Case also commits c.f. then Ash moves to #1 and backup/mop-up duties go to Flip Coin. Regardless, if super mop-up time arrives, we should see Wood… wait, that didn’t sound quite right…

POO I am not sure I was calling you out, but if something has hit home with you, I apologize. My point was only to try and say that just because we had a shitty season, that does not mean that it was 100% GG fault and that he is a way better QB than he getting credit for. Ash may be a faster QB and may be more exciting, but he is still a true freshman and there is a huge difference from 4a Belton and D1 Football . We had way more problems with the football team last year than just QB play and I think we have addressed that with the changes.

Based solely on what I’ve read, count me among the Ash camp.

However, I was squarely in the Greg Cicero camp in the spring of 98 and in the Jevan Snead camp in the spring of 2006 . . .and those are just the QB camps.

I’ve also camped with Kenny Hayter, and the Texas City Four (Jermain Anderson, Tyrone Jones, Ervis Hill, Everick Rawls).

Never mind all that . .. I’m expecting Ash to be the second coming of Archie Manning, for anybody old enough to remember him at Ole Miss..

First time/ Long Time. Man, this forum is just absolutely awesome. Thanks so much for the work you guys do… my lunch breaks are night and day from where they were a month ago

Good to see someone so willing to step up and make a bold prediction, Jesus. I’m not sure exactly what you’re hearing that makes you so confident in predicting that Ash starts from day one, leads us to two national championships, and wins both the 2012 and 2013 Heisman Trophies, but at least you’re predicting it now.

Thursday Practice Report:

I happened to drive by the practice field and got to observe for a few seconds. I saw a lot of guys dressed in orange and white standing around on the field. It was difficult to distinguish between the individual units at 30 MPH, but as far as I could tell, the offense looked pretty adept at standing around. The defense also looked pretty good and well-trained at standing around. There were also a few older dudes with caps and whistles who seemed to have some experience at standing around.

Of course, Ash appeared to be the top standing-arounder of the bunch.

Fuck all y’all.

If practice performance this preseason translates to on-the-field performance, I think Mack will make a HUGE mistake if Gilbert starts against Rice. Excluding your bandwagon “t-shirt fan,” everyone has been reading how great Ash has been, how the players have rallied around him, and how Gilbert seems to not be making any progress, let alone seize the starting spot when he was the ONLY one in the group w/ real game experience. Even if Gilbert is given a short leash, I think it will be deflating to BOTH the team & the fans if Gilbert trots out against Rice. It will show that not much has changed, that the New Mack is just the Old Mack w/ an entourage of young assistants.

I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU, JS, ABOUT ASH GETTING THE START VS. RICE. BUT AT LEAST YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO PUT IT IN WRITING.

JS- Obviously the posters above have not been allowed into the super secret Burnt Orange Social Club and are not privy to you’re real beliefs. I hope the “club”, as most of the members like to call it, continues it exclusive ways and all these malcontents are left to speculate on this forum of commoners.

I never thought I’d disagree with The Jesus, but c’mon: there’s at least some chance that Gilbert starts against Rice, even if it’s just for show. But I do agree that Ash will get most of the snaps.

g69, you must not have read the part at the top that asked that we not mention anything about an email. so we’re all on the qt here. tips told me that they ended up sending to every poster except one. no idea who the one is that isn’t getting it.

Buford—

Medford-Ashland area.

g’69, That was addressed in this morning’s secret email; didn’t you read it?

mum is the word. loose lips and all that.

Garrett Gilbert apologists are last year’s Greg Davis apologists. I remember seeing most of them at the Chris Simms apologists reunion. They all had [paysite] pins on too.

I’m all for making the best strategic decision with the game 1 starter, but I scoff at the fanatics that go bat shit over the mention of a young QB becoming the starter sooner rather than later.

JS- How many possessions of "live" action would you say Gilbert has seen between the Spring Game and the scrimmage last week?

so when does Ash get his bug-eyed, paper-mache statue?

To those on the double secret email list: did anyone else notice the 10 yard minimum offense starting on page 15 of the playbook?

For one of the more graphically inclined among us, how about taking the Obama “HOPE” poster and putting Ash’s face on it and coloring it burnt orange?

That would pretty much sum up my current state of mind.

Having said that, anything will be better than last year.

Fuck saying fuck something.

So SelvinS was that ass hole driving 30 mph on the upper deck earlier this morning.

doesn’t anyone pay attention to thujone’s ms paint drawings?

mack brown is mindfucking all of us right now about the possibility of Ash going from day one. if the kid has skills we will see him eventually because i truly believe in Mack’s rebirth/recommitment or whatever the hell you want to call it. Mack has been fucking coy all summer, ie. keeping gilbert away from media days, deflecting all QB questions smoothly.

while i think ash has the most talent and gives us the best chance to win, i just dont see Mack completely shifting his philosophy and benching gilbert before the season starts. I like ash and I want to see what he’s got, but i just dont think we’ll see him make any serious progress towards the top spot until gilbert throws his second pick of the first half against BYU.

ps. these kids need to keep the twitter shit to a minimum, gilbert is already got a billion fucking mental problems as it is, especially with the mention of surefire “tebow” packages for a true frosh in his ear.

nobis60 pretty much has it, I think.

The following is vintage Mack:

Garrett, you’re the “starter”…but we have no confidence in you whatsoever, nor should we.

Case, you’re the “backup” …but you’re not going to play very much, speed up your warm-up times, son.

David, you’re the “package” QB …because you should be the starter, and we don’t have the balls, but you’re actually going to play a ton.

SB*NATION = SPECULATION NATION

Something to do …

Are.
You.
Ready.
For.
Some.
Football.
Or.
What?

Joetx,

The VAST majority of people in that stadium against Rice will have no clue who David Ash is.

We’re all a bunch of obsessive f***s. No way we should read as much as we do into every little bit of news that manages to escape the practice field. Bunch of day traders.

I’m about as guilty as the next, so I’ll try my own take on the QB situation: It’s essentially a tournament, and we’re in the second round. The first round eliminated Wood, and at some point (possibly from the beginning), Gilbert got a bye into the finals. What we’re hearing about now is the semi-final match for the right to face GG. Then we have “the finals” for the next couple of weeks, including Rice, to figure out who does best in something closer to head-to-head competition. Sensible process since it’s virtually impossible to give 3 guys equal shots once regular practice (nevermind games) begins.

loose lips = slinky slips

or something like that.

tearaway20,

Garrett got an invite to the finals by .001 in the standings over Ash, even though Ash beat Garrett during the regular season.

@ Simms to Gilbert – Once Ash comes in off the bench, the fans’ reaction will show whether “The VAST majority of people in that stadium against Rice will have no clue who David Ash is.”

I want to be the first one to disagree with Jesus on Ash starting the Rice game. I predict Mykkele Thompson starts. The university electrician told me he’s been working out with the first team at night for maximum secrecy.

romavicta, you should probably stick to insulting republicans instead of posting about football. If you don’t think there aren’t GG and LT apologists out there then you need to read more. They will make excuses for him till the day he graduates.

To me, it makes no sense at all to make CM the number two QB if GG is the starter. All that does it takes valuable snaps in practice and possibly in games away from our most talented QB prospect, Ash.

I don’t see how Mack will allow his OC’s to start anyone other than GG, its Mack’s number one fault, players who have bled for the program getting favoritism. Good coaches like Mack are usually right about who should be starters, better than we are, but they aren’t 100% right and i can list dozens of big mistakes they have in that regard.

Sometimes people away from the program can see these mistakes and GG is one of them, Gideon is another, Derry, Boyd and Glynn were others. Just like in school, business and life there is such a thing as “teachers pets” and thats when they get in trouble. They throw out their vast football knowledge and instead choose a starter based on other factors such as like-ability, family ties, work ethic etc…they convince themselves that they are the players who give them the best chance to win whether they really are or not…

Jesus, just because yesterday was Ash Wednesday does mean that the young man will get the start for the Rice game, as you boldly predict.

“Sometimes people away from the program can see these mistakes and GG is one of them, Gideon is another, Derry, Boyd and Glynn were others.”

Mack Brown hates black people. Hell, he even tried to start Mock over VY.

Russky: If our Politburo screws up this QB thing again, I’m defecting to Russia. Furthermore, if GG starts the OU game, put a bullet in my head.

“So for clarity sake, put this in 12 inch letters Jimmy Johnson style, David Ash WILL NOT start against Rice. He’ll play, as we reported since the spring, but he is not going to start. We’re just reporting snap distribution and performance as we’re told. But I think Scipio’s take about finding separation for the backup is what’s actually occuring.”

Where/when did JS ever say Ash was going to start? Seems like what JS and nobis60 said above regarding game snaps for our QBs makes a lot of sense. Ash shows every promise of being our starting gunclinger, but for a variety of reasons it won’t be politically expedient to name him the Day 1 starter against Rice. But the coaches will make sure David gets guaranteed snaps and will bring him along until such time it is clear that GG (and/or Case) shouldn’t start (which may or may not happen).

I think it’s not only politically expedient (which is Mack’s style), but also makes a lot of sense. If Ash has a 5:1 TD:INT ratio and a 70% pass completion rate (and 7 YPC) while GG/McCoy/Wood are 1:1 and 50% respectively (and always trip over themselves when trying to scramble), then fine, name David the official starter. But if it’s not so cut-and-dry, why not give the first chance to GG and Case, who have been on the team 3x-5x longer than Ash? As already mentioned by others, for Ash to be named the Day 1 starter against Rice either means Ash is the second coming or else that GG/Case/Connor all stink in a massive way. Anything less drastic warrants using the first few games of the season to let the older QBs show that they can succeed in the Harsinwhite system. As long as Ash gets 8+ plays including 4+ passes against Rice (and every other opponent), I’ll be happy because everything will sort itself out.

@ Abelemons

Love the shot at the BCS, take every opportunity you can get

“Where/when did JS ever say Ash was going to start?”

In the secret e-mail, for starters.

Poofy, JS has been pretty consistent that Ash will start. It’s a bold declaration by JS. His reputation depends on it.

I got a facsimile from JS saying Ash will start, be valedictorian, and take Kamchatka while being seriously outnumbered.

Poofy,

He simply forgot the quotes around that paragraph, as he clearly was repeating what someone else wrote. He’s insisted regularly that Ash will get the first snap of the season on this site, in secret emails, and even during the infamous weekend of debauchery in Vegas. It’s a prediction he’ll long be remembered for, down the road, by paysite types who still don’t believe in Jesus.

Scipio: "A Gideon/Brewster safety combo has the free range of an industrial chicken farm"

So spot on, I almost feel sorry for the chickens.

Horncasting: "At what point does the cross-training stop and these players get to start focusing on the position they will actually play?"

I hope there’s always some cross training going on, just in case.

Yeh: "in particular, i read over at 247 that someone who has been around the program a long time has been comparing bergeron with terry orr, a great longhorn from the early ’80′s. orr was a real standout, and this is great to hear."

Why do I get the feeling there is a Bill Little story involved?

tokamak: "Onyegbule has been one of the pleasant surprises of fall practice. Seems like many felt he was another Bobby Kennedy special-type when we recruited him"

By the time Miles was recruited a lot of people thought Kennedy’s evaluations were inconsistent, so they didn’t quite know what to make of some of younger WR recruits either. Of course, this just makes the good reports on him that much more exciting to the fanbase.

Tex Long: "Not a fan of most redshirting. Frankly, I think if a player is physically and mentally ready, you should be playing him. Guys who need to grow and learn, okay… but if they CAN play, they SHOULD play."

Amen!

Huckleberry: "I’m not sure exactly what you’re hearing that makes you so confident in predicting that Ash starts from day one, leads us to two national championships, and wins both the 2012 and 2013 Heisman Trophies, but at least you’re predicting it now."

Don’t give it away to the Aggies that Jesus is Beano….Nevermind, they’d never read this site.

Nordberg: "Mack Brown hates black people."

But he loves strategery?

Another good report guys. Thanks.

“got a facsimile from JS saying Ash will start”

He’s been blowing up my pager all day.

nordbe/vobackside, so JS said Ash would start the Rice game, or that he will be the starter by the end of the season? There’s a big difference there. I tend to doubt the former but certainly can believe the latter.

Mack clearly made the wrong decision of giving Jason Glynn snaps over Dallas Griffin!!!

These reports are fantastic. Thanks.

It just seems unfair that Gilbert is the automatic starter since he has the most starts. Case isn’t allowed a chance to start this season because he wasn’t allowed a chance last year? It makes no sense.

And frankly it seems unfair to start Gilbert as a mere placeholder to Ash’s ascendancy. Rather than punk Gilbert and give his spot to someone else a few games (or series?) in, let’s just start who we think should be starting by the end of the season.

What are the Las Vegas odds that Ash starts the Rice game? And why did Jesus go there? He’s planning on cleaning up while we sit here thinking Gi
Bert going to start.

Bohls just tweeted that Waley is now working out at both DE and DT. The DT portion was news to me.

HorninHouston: “Bohls just tweeted that Waley is now working out at both DE and DT. The DT portion was news to me.”

Maybe he wants to be just like Henry Melton?

JS just sent me a message by super secret carrier pigeon that is very adamant that Ash will be the week 1 starter. According to JS, Mack is trying to change the records from last season and give Ash our five wins.

Like we’ve all said, this is a VERY bold prediction by JS.

Whaley’s older bro is an LB at Huskertown, yeah?

I assumed it’s his brother… “Whaley” from Madisonville – maybe a cousin?

Ash starting against Rice is “a million to one shot, Doc. Million to one.”

Yes, that’s older brother, Tex Long.

Accd to our good friend BFLT, Whaley is up to 279 lbs. He must be getting Bible’s leftovers.

I don’t think Bible leaves any leftovers

Miles,

I’m flattered that you follow my work even if you don’t grasp my point.

You wrote this: “"let’s see him have one last year” about people wanting to give Gilbert an entire season starting.

I replied that I hadn’t heard anyone suggesting he get an entire season to prove himself. You’re other stuff about apologists is irrelevant to my observations. I’m not persuaded by your post into abandoning that statement. Maybe you know a lot of clowns who believe a player should start an entire season regardless of performance. I don’t know any and haven’t read any such opinions on these forums.

I post much less about football than you do. I like to think I know my limitations in this area and make no claim to depth of knowledge. If you seem to carry some irritation with me from other forums which, frankly, you mischaracterize as well.

Strike the “If” in the last sentence.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
Not knowing which QB we will keep,
Please show us quickly who is a winner,
Even if a new beginner,
Let the loser FU if he is lame,
Just not bad enough to cost us the game,

Amen

One wonders if Peter Bean will write a piece beginning like this:

“Are you excited to begin the Era of David Ash?”