Practice Report From The Asset

Breath meet fresh air! Love it JS! Wish Thompson were getting some more run, would love to see him running the Wyldcat!

And for the less fresh air, what’s the story with the humidor being closed? Hopefully just no time to touch base with the Big Cigar because that one we smoked is down to a bare stub.

Thanks!

Good stuff as always. Thanks, JS!

Awesome update. Thanks.
 
The Ash reps say to me that the coaches want to integrate him into the regular offense and create a true apples to apples competition. Case got plenty of work last week and early this week and he’s good to go.
 
The nosy safety nullifier will be fun to watch if we can pull it off. Sorry we can’t tell y’all.
 
Really pleased to hear they’re not giving up on Darius White. He’s got all of the tools and a lot of great players have been where he is right now.
 
Is Cobbs conditioned well enough right now?
 
Nice to continue hearing good things about Snow. His game against UCLA was his best by far this year. My theory is that the mono set him back – maybe he’s starting to feel good.
 
It’s going to be hitting weather up in Ames on Saturday. Our guys will think they’re playing in air conditioning.

Mykkele runs the Wyldkkat.

Awesome report…thanks for the fix. Texas cant look past ISU. Confidence is a good thing, but complacency (and other factors) killed the season last year. ISU is a contender, they can play, and can win, but they wont on Saturday. The Texas D can contain the ’clones and the hybrid Ashoy package will gradually put up points. 35-10 Texas…. brings it back home.

Thanks!

it’s no wonder that Diaz had Harsin’s offense appropriately tabbed as "guys jumping out of helicopters and coming out of manholes".

LOL!

I was wondering earlier this evening . . . how much of a look would the old staff have given to true frosh like Edmond and Flowers and MThompson? I’m pretty sure Dom would not be starting at center and Ash and Harris and Bergeron would not be getting their hands on the ball except to run Scout Team plays on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Breath of fresh air it is.

Go through our two-deep on offense and count the number of players who either didn’t play, or didn’t play when it mattered, in 2010.

Scipio – I think you’re right about Snow. Mono can really sap your strength, and it takes quite some time to fully recover from it. The line play this year has really improved, and makes me more optimistic than I probably should be.

I had a come to Jesus moment and all I got was a Big Cigar ‘n’ the Asset.

Thanks for these and I hope we jump on Iowa State early so we can throw a bunch of junk on tape to mess with OU (i.e. everyone runs the wildcat at least once).

A&M secedes.
UT succeeds.
OU sucks!

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went through mono a few months ago. It is beastly, and apparently hits you harder the older you are when you get it.

yes, it is refreshing to know we have coaches who coach every way you can coach.

do we know whether demarco is cleared to play satiddy? i recall there was a question regarding the rules.

it does sound like they are ramping up david’s contribution. i don’t care who starts, but i would like to see him become well rounded soon. a fully integrated david ash, together with the wizardry of a real mccoy would be an awful lot for a defense to handle. and i sure like that miles and mykkele getting a taste of qb play.

particularly liked hearing the good word on snow and flowers. has there been any mention of greenlea’s condition? any hope for him to pitch in at some point?

agree that it is good to hear that they are working with darius. he is so special and can make such a difference if he gets his hooks into this offense. he’s really in a good place to make whatever transition he needs to make. between harsin, applewhite, and wyatt, i like our chances with him.

thanks for a super report.

Good stuff Jesus…
Looking forward to the post game recap as well as Q & A Friday.

also very encouraged to hear that demarco and steve are getting their reps. anxious to see the two of them come on line.

My money’s on punishing those safeties with a flea flicker. Ash to Malcolm Brown back to Ash to a streaking Goodwin. That’s my bet. I like the sound of that. Of course it could also be to Mike Davis or Shipley, or the run fake could be by Bruisin Berg or CoJo. Plenty of options. I do love a good flea flicker though and haven’t seen on in a while. That’s the play I’ll be keeping an eye out for in Ames and/or Dallas. With no corroboration from people in the know, this is just the wild-ass guess of John Doe, internet fan. And that’s how it should be.

Maybe Shipley on an end around throws it back to Ash across the width of the field on a flea flicker? I’m not creative enough to guess plays that Harsin can come up with!

Smoke ‘em if you got ’em boys. Jesus spoke. And we likes what he has to say. This season is about progress, and contrary to Berry Tramel’s opinion, no one get’s a pass on this TX team this year. Gotta earn it. We have helicopters.

I meant a backwards pass from Shipley to Ash allowing for a second pass from Ash to a wide open Goodwin, if that wasn’t clear.

uh oh, seems thujone’s tapping the absinthe a little early this week…

Rooting hard for Darius White. Dude probably just needs to get acquainted with dropping a CB on his ass a time or two on run plays, and catching a clutch first down and hearing the road crowd hush. There’s no incentive like positive performance.

Nosy safeties must be punished with a long pass following backfield witchcraft. Ah yes, thank you for a midweek sip of Asset elixir.

Games are so much fun to watch these days, as you see Harsinwhite and Diaz mindfucking their opponents.

I think the most exciting part of this whole thing is that our coaches are building a whole new attitude and culture on the 40. Starting with strength and conditioning during the offseason to an offense that will run over you or go around you to an attacking defense with hungry young players. The future looks bright.

I think i have a guess on the nosy safety play. Could it possibly have been inspired by eric crouch against OU back in say 2000-2001? You know what im talking about….. ;) once for yes, ;) ;) for no

Thanks JS! Any word on special teams practice or how Tucker’s leg is doing? I guess that’s a Friday question.

Also I’m not sure a flea flicker would be the top secret special play. We’ve ran those before, although not this year. I guess it would work for nosy safeties, but if the play happens I’ll be looking for something stranger.

OMG, first a Norwegian movie about trolls on Netflix and now a practice report… What a night!

I’m jazzed!

The stuff about White tells the entire story about the transformation of our program. He’s ultra talented, but has the “what, me worry” gene like B.J. and Roy ( who still has it). Call it the Anti-Quan. His OC is appealing to his him and urging him not to wate his enormous potential. His position coach, on the other hand, is up his ass and saying “there is no free ride around here anymore, son”. I’ll wager that Wyatt will be the one who decides if he’s giving enough effort to be back out there. If he isn’t, it isn’t worth it to the new meritocracy to play him, no matter how much potential he has. And if he plays and backslides, he needs to be pined and given a one way ticket to the shithouse. Big time help is on the way at WR and if he’s too stupid to see that, then he’s SOL.

im calling it right now. ash had been doing pretty much nothing but running the option until recently when he pulled up a few times and hits shipley twice on the same pop route.

logic tells me that when the defense sees ash in there they are 90% sure he is running the ball, i think a well executed play action pass out of him could find a WR streaking downfield all alone. all we need it an aggressive nosey safety to bite…

JS,

Thanks for the clandestine report. When are you and The Highwayman going to put together a report on the remaining targets and percentages given that it’s about 5 weeks into the current season? Or did I miss it in my post call stupor?

Damn it’s nice to have the OC that helped scheme the way to 43 points on a Venables defense with inferior talent across the board.

I don’t know what sort of fun plays we’ll run against the Cyclones…but here’s hoping that the first third-and-10+ we get against OU, we run the Circus. Just to give Sooner Nation some dreadful flashbacks and a sharp reminder of who they’re dealing with.

Do you think Ash’s increase might be because Case has a little bit of a dead arm.

Any word on DJ Monroe? Some indication on here in earlier reports of something up with him.

Things i have learned. What we used to call a trick play is not a trick play, its standard issue in the Harsin/Applewhite offense. Based on down and distance, if its under 10 yards for a 1rst down, you dont know if its going to be a pass or run. Looking at a offensive set,and calling it a run or pass based on the set is a 50/50 gamble. If you look at that same set and motion,and you use logic or past tendency’s to call run or pass, its well less than 50%. I know this last thought will go against everything i just said, but it will prove my point. The play that will go over the top, will happen because of a tendency Harsin has developed in one play set we have seen in every game. If you think there is a tendency it will tun into a gotcha.

The young gun offense with McAsh at the trigger put up 14 points in 2 quarters vs BYU with minimal practice time prior to that game and 49 points vs UCLA when they were the focal point of Harsin’s time and effort for 1 week.

McAsh has had 2 more weeks of concentrated effort and scheming from Harsin going into this Saturday, so, yes, it is exciting to contemplate what might come out of all the target practice when they shoot live bullets vs ISU.

I have no idea what play is coming these days regardless of down and distance, the play call prior to the next one, player groupings, or whatever. My 12 year old granddaughter could tell you what play Texas would run with 90% accuracy for the last 4 years or so. Hell, even 3rd and short saw a throw deep down field against UCLA. The fact it should have been intercepted doesn’t change the fact that we are going to go against our past tendencies this year at various times. Do we self-scout like all the the other big boys these days?">)

Last year and as the futility of the first half of the BYU game, I had zero confidence in our ability to convert 3rd down plays, regardless of distance. I’m still nowhere near where VY and Colt had my mindset in these situations, but I’m not automatically conceding that the next play will be a punt most likely. It’s a good feeling. Fun again.

Is Thompson still getting reps on defense, or strictly at QB?

Thanks, JS. Fun team to watch.

Thanks for the report. Best info I get anywhere.
 This is the first Texas staff that I recall in the last 50+ years that utilizes all the resources available. Even in DKR’s best years & teams he had sound systems & played his best players because he knew (& usually the opponent knew) we had better personel & if we executed we win. 53 veer pass was an anomoly.He also had unlimited schollies so he didn’t have to compete against the great players sitting on our bench.
Among the many benefits of Diaz / Harsin / Major are the positive impact on the players & team because so many guys get to play & contribute & the comaraderie this builds. Also helps recruiting. Looking at the impact these new schemes have on opponents both our offense & defense cause opposings teams to read (pause) or risk getting burned. If they just attack eventually both our offense & defense will make them play.
Venebles once said he enjoyed playing against GD. Harsinwhite not so much. BTW if Venebles is so great why doesn’t he have a head gig, say at Florida?

nosy safety nullifier = hook and lateral from Ship to Davis. Just a wild guess.

or Ship/Davis to Goodwin.

And thanks, JS, for the always anxiously anticipated report. Can’t wait for Saturday.

I thought the Shipley pass for a TD against UCLA was partly about scoring, and partly about getting some looks on film to get in some DCs heads later.

OUs safetys in the RRS had the easiest assignment possible. They knew we would never go over the top so they could crash the LOS constantly.

HarsinWhite will give them some pause at least.

What we have on that side of the ball is so opposite from what we had before that I am just stoked out of my mind and I am telling you we haven’t seen anything yet. Give these guys another offseason and look out.

Thanks for the update JS!

I was watching the Horns “practice” on LHN Tuesday and Wednesday (More like position drills with commentary) and noticed that Mykkele Thompson was wearing GG’s number 7 while in QB drills. He & Miles were doing the simulated snap from under center & rolling right/left and throwing thru the (simulated) tight space (basket). They both threw pretty decent looking spirals.

Wouldn’t it be the $h!t if HarsinWhite incorporated a speed option package that included Thompson, DJ Monroe & Fozzy. Talk about a headache for the opposing DC!

Add these two looks to three or more gadgets that we’ll run in the coming weeks and it’s no wonder that Diaz had Harsin’s offense appropriately tabbed as "guys jumping out of helicopters and coming out of manholes".

Reminds me of my favorite Marcellus Wallace line: “If Butch goes to Indo-China, I want a n-waiting in a bowl of rice ready to bust a cap in his ass”

I missed it; what is wrong with John Harris? Is he hurt? What is the injury and how long will he be out?

Besides rooting for a win (obviously), the thing I’m most intrigued about is to see if Darius White can step up. Don’t think it’s a stretch to say this is the dude’s last chance. Except for Goodwin (and Hales, if you count him), we could return our entire WR corps for the next two years, and add Jones and Johnson (and DGB) to boot. Put up or shut up time. Second would be seeing the DeMarco Cobbs show; I hope he can get some run pre-OU.

Referencing some of the earlier comments in this post, I thought G. Greenlea was the guy that came into camp with the mono??

Jesus, will Jeremy Hills or T. Shead see any playing time some time soon? Seems to me they could contribute some how, some way. Thanks for the report.

Hills and Shead aren’t even getting garbage time snaps. Look for Shead to move to H-Back pretty soon.

And look for Hills to run for 200 yards and four TD’s in the next spring game, and to then be never heard from again.

@ Jake – Me too. I think it was Greenlea with mono. Snow was fine in camp.

Mono, chronically hungover, what’s the difference.

I believe Snow had mono this past Spring.

Harris, foot fracture…out rest of season.

flea flicka with ash = nosy safety

Nordberg, hear what you are saying about these two fellows; but, still a damn shame they’re just sitting on the sidelines. I wonder if Hills wishes he had played at a smaller school like Houston or Rice. And, the same goes for Shead. Perhaps, he would have done great at Baylor, North Texas, or Tulsa. Both look like good kids with impressive high school resumes. If we don’t see Hills play this year, I doubt he will next year. Luckily for Shead, he still has some time to step up and do something. Maybe against Kansas or Kansas St? Just wonder what is going through their mind.

I thought Hills quit football, or am I thinking of someone else?

^ you’re thking of Tre Newton.

Just wanted to clarify the confusion between Greenlea and Snow concerning Mono at the start of fall practice. It was Greenlea.

http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/colleges/2011/08/texas-freshman-ol-sidelined-by-mononucleosis-.html

I’m just going to go out on a limb, here, and state that the ISU game will probably be most fun to watch when Jantz has the ball. It should look like James Brown playing Frogger. An evil, heavy metal kind of Frogger, with Viet-Cong boobytraps.

Maybe Snow had it in Spring camp but I know Greenlea was held out of some of Fall practice because of it.

Bad news on Harris – I was really liking his blocking. Can he get a medical RS, if wanted? OTOH, this is White’s Big Chance, yeah?

Would love to see some Shead and/or Hills. Both seem to look good when we do actually see them, so what’s up there? Attitude? Effort? Failure to grasp the package firmly (no homo)?

With Malcolm showing that “something extra” that enables him to select running lanes with great vision (as opposed to some of the others, who seem to be still channeling GDGD’s exhortations to “move the pile!”) and then run through (not “break”, simply run through) arm tackles and bowl over DB’s and smallish LB’s… with all of that, we need someone who can spell him with some effectiveness to avoid the workhorse syndrome. Maybe Bergeron can step up?

Trying not to escalate the excitement too much, but the comeback against an admittedly not very good BYU and the domination of UCalLALA make it difficult. A solid result at Ames and a win of any sort in BigD would make it even harder, but we can damn sure dream about it.

Thanks, and keep up the good work, Chuy.

Thanks for the update , JS.

Considering Texas still almost beat ISU last year despite GD and GG doing GD and GG things, i’m pretty confident this game won’t be real close. We’ll see though.

Both seem to look good when we do actually see them, so what’s up there? Attitude? Effort? Failure to grasp the package firmly (no homo)?

As over used as the no homo is.. This Is how it should be used.. Well done sir!

I imagine a defensive coordinator reviewing video of the Texas offense, prepping his guys to defend it.

DC: OK guys, when you see this offensive formation, it’s a run. See the running back there and the tight end? Dead giveaway. Linebackers, are you listening?

Linebackers: Yessir. Running formation.

DC: Good. This is probably a running play here, right up the gut so be ready. It certainly could be a run so be watching for the run. It could be play action too, so be ready for the pass. Safeties, did you get that?

Safeties: Roger that, coach. Pass formation.

DC: Right, this formation is probably a pass, so heads up out there because it’s a clear passing alignment. Could be a halfback throwing and not the QB, so watch that halfback, but keep an eye on the QB too. Peripheral vision, we talked about that before. They might also pitch to a pulling slot guy—that Shipley fellow—so cornerbacks and defensive ends, watch for the pitch sweep end around thing. It’s coming right at you. Cornerbacks, pay attention.

Cornerbacks: We’re on it coach. Pitch sweep end around.

DC: Seriously guys, this is a high probability pitch-sweep formation so they could run off-tackle or non-QB personnel could possibly throw to someone who may or may not be a receiver. They will try to confuse you so watch for confusing things and adjust accordingly. Any questions?

Nosy safety play= fly sweep to DJ, double reverse pitch to Jaxon, toss back to Ash, backwards pass Major, toss up into booth to Harsin, bomb to Bergeron.

Either that or they sneak a second football on the field.

Am I close?

Snow had mono in Spring. Greenlea had it in Fall.

Put Ash under center and Case in the I, snap the ball and let them lateral back and forth to each other until the defense gets tired

Nice report, Jesus. Many thanks, Asset.

I’m trying to think of a deceptive play that could only be run effectively once. Maybe somebody is giving the defense more credit for making an adjustment than I am. I think many of the guessed plays could be used more than once as long as Harsin also continued to call plays that set them up. If it had to do with taking advantage of a poor alignment to a certain formation that might be easily corrected. Depends on the opposing players and coaches involved. I hope it is a wild success for the team, even if it is a one time only call.

The new wrinkle to punish the safety will be no wrinkle.

It wil be hailed as an aesthetic triumph like Rothko’s color field paintings.

“I’m trying to think of a deceptive play that could only be run effectively once”

Statue of Liberty baby. I think running it against ISU would be almost as funny as against OU- just a subtle reminder to them during their prep week.

fumblerooskie… I’m sure one of the lineman have wheels and could outrun the ISU d…

@ arriviste
Pulp Fiction, then Rothko.
youre infuego man.

That would be an amusing choice, stuck.

I seriously think the new play is going to be an add-on to the shipley pass. Shipley rolls out right and fakes the 10 yard pass to the TE or whoever. Passes back to ASH who is standing unmolested in the left flat, who drops a hammer to Davis/Goodwin.

I think it was “coming out of secret holes in the ground”

BTW, LHN showed the receivers going through the Leach-style drill of catching tennis balls at practice yesterday. Always hoped we’d start doing that drill. No sign of sand pits yet.

someone posted a link to this article on 247. bobby burton was asked if the staff there had any additional info about practices that they could pass along. bobby first said he’d heard nothing to contradict what the asset is saying here but that had some points to add:

* Only two of the young OL are considered “promising” at this stage and that’s Flowers and Cochran. Greenlea, Doyle and Hutchins just haven’t done much to think they will ever start at Texas. Greenlea has shown a little bit but he’s a guard not a tackle. Lots of time left between here and there but that’s what we here on the OL.

* Paden Kelley continues to practice better than he has during his tenure on the 40.

* Lots of kudos to Mykkele Thompson and Josh Turner in the secondary.

* David Ash has issues with some quick reads and is taking perhaps too many chances in the passing game. Overall, he has the tools, but he’s still trying to put it all together.

* Chris Jones has practiced better in recent weeks.

* Miles Onyegbule will continue to see more and more time because of his blocking and toughness. Onyegbule is also running ahead of Mykkele Thompson for emergency QB.

* Look for Dravannti Johnson to play a lot against passing teams.

* Joe Bergeron is not going away even though he’s clearly second to Malcolm Brown.

* Darius Terrell is starting to make a move because he’s becoming a more effective blocker and is a better pass catcher than Barrett Matthews.

* Do not sleep on DJ Monroe in the passing game.

Is Greenlea really not working at tackle?

That’s a little harsh on the freshmen OL. Ideally they would come in and redshirt and wouldn’t be counted on for 2-3 years.

See also: Malcolm Williams.

yeh -
 
OK, you’ve struck a nerve, because this is a pet peeve of mine. And it’s something I’ve been writing about since I used to rake Nunez over the coals.
 
Commenting on freshmen OL from a snapshot Can-They-Help-Us-Today perspective isn’t meaningful. Wisconsin’s coaching staff just broke out in riotous laughter. Everyone wants the elite plug-n-play talent (Blalock, Kennedy Estelle, Peat), but the core of your OL has to be developed. It’s the 2nd most technical position on the field and that has pretty powerful interplay with scheme and there’s a pretty obvious physical development curve.
 
Our failure to meet that curve is why we have a new OL coach, a new S&C coach, and a new OC.
 
Greenlea went from a season-ending knee injury as a senior to acquiring mono and showed up in August totally deconditioned. Handicapping the prospects of a true freshman OL who has had less than four weeks of college practice reps is board churn.
 
Hutchins is small. His struggle is with physics. You take him knowing full well that you can’t see what he’s about until 2013. Maybe he proves to be a bad take – and I have my own suspicions – but definitive handicapping on a 260 pound, 18 year old OG is just words.
 
We need to shake some lazy assumptions built during a period in which we were a pretty miserable developmental program – particularly on the OL. Namely: You are what you are forever more. OL is the most development sensitive position when you consider the effects of age, physical maturity, skill development, and scheme. These guys can get better. And sometimes their growth can be startling.
 
Go check the wisdom on Paden Kelley just weeks ago, much less as a freshman. You’ll find it interesting.

i hope you read the part where i said i was passing on info that bobby burton has picked up.

ie, those weren’t my comments. i pretty much posted that without comment simply because it is grist for the mill.

really liked what you had to say, by the way. pretty much how i see it.

Great news about Ash getting more snaps in practice but too bad that he is having trouble making the right read. What OCs often do in that situation is to have the QB focus on one half of the field (to simplify his reads). Now that the horns are down to 2 QBs, look for Ash to run much less inside and much more outside on rollouts (what a nightmare for a 190 lb CB to have to try to tackle 225 lb Ash with a full head of steam). Ash is such a running threat when he rolls out that there should be lots of passing opportunities for Ash while he is rolling out. The reads should be simpler when Ash is rolling out since he will naturally be focusing on half the field.

Ash’s ability to run makes a big difference in the running game. His size and power make it tough to replace an OLB with a safety because Ash has a good chance at running through a safety’s tackle and make run support by a CB physically dangerous for the CB. Ash’s ability to throw deep with velocity forces the D to cover the whole field. The current challenge for Harsin is to construct a package that uses Ash’s running ability (while minimizing risk to Ash), uses Ash’s big arm but simplifies decision making for Ash. Harsin’s plays are clever but at least as important is that his O is specifically tailored to the specific strengths and weaknesses of the individual players. He puts his players in a position to succeed rather than treating them like a bunch of cogs on the wheel.

WRs have to be good blockers in an O that focuses on running the ball but blocking well is not a natural thing for many (most?) WRs. Might need to play Grant and Fozzy as the 3rd receiver to get the required blocking while still not sacrificing pass catching ability.

Love the Norberg idea of moving Shead to H back or flex TE.

Maybe we see some of the Onyegbule package to spare Ash the risk of running inside.

more. i used to like to go to practices and watch leon manley work his charges. i agree that two years into the program some of those guys almost weren’t recognizable. searels is reminding me of manley and that’s a good thing.

yeh -
 
I did. If you passed it on, presumably you wanted comment on it.

Great point by Scipio re: big man development. Just like to add that many (most?) big men are still growing even in college so they are dealing with that growth (first you grow and then you fill out and get strong). It is normal that big men need a red shirt year to get their bodies prepared to fight the DL bad asses.

like i said, scip, what you said was right on target. i just didn’t want it thought that i needed the explanation. : )

kafka, particularly liked your observation that an emerging ash as a complete qb opens the possibility for miles and/or mykkele to take over part of the complementary package. anyway, if i were the iowa state or oklahoma d.c., i think i’d prepare for that. just in case.

I read that Nebraska, during their glory years under Osborne, had a development plan for their offensive linemen where they ideally wouldn’t become a starter until their RS-JR season. And their OLs were consistently a strength of the team year after year.

Yeh, it is exciting to think what Harsin is conjuring up for Ash. My wag is that he is going to have Ash roll out a bunch to pressure the D and simplify Ash’s decision making rather than have Ash sit back in the pocket reading defenses. If Harsin can solve this problem soon, that is construct an O that is sufficiently simple for Ash to run and fully uses Ash’s passing talents but is still difficult to defend, it will be a quantum leap for the horns’ O.

Always thought Coach Manley was the prototype of what a line coach should look like.

I expect to see a lot more of Ash in the next few weeks. The question all along was would he be ready by the OU game to throw long? And I think Harsin has brought him along slowly just for that reason, get him ready but don’t show what he can do. I think he is the surprise we have been holding back for this time of tough games ahead. I don’t think you can beat OU if you can’t throw long. You can beat them if you can.

Kafka, I think it’s to be expected for Ash to have a steep learning curve as an under center pocket QB. Unless I’m misinformed, he was spread guy in HS and the packages Harsin put together for him in Spring and Fall (with GG as starter) were all pretty much run and shotgun centric in a complimenary role. In a post-Gilbert offense, he is just now starting to get an opportunity to make that transition and, although I’d love to see him make it immediatley, that would be a tall order. Bye week notwithstanding, the practice reps he is getting in that role are an indication that the staff is more than willing to give him a chance at it and wants him to succeed as weel they should. Frankly, if they can get him to effectively develop that aspect of his game at any time before season’s end, that’ll be some pretty scary versatility in an offense that’s all about versatility.

As you state so well in your second paragraph, Harsin is all about putting guys in a position to succeed by knowing what they can and ca’t do. That is being done by running plays that fit their strenghts out of different formations/looks before our eyes. As you know, it can also be done by extracting potentially untapped strengths via practice reps, which I believe they are trying do with Ash. Best of both worlds and kudos to HarsinWhite for not just sitting back on their laurels and being content with McAsh in its current state.

agree, kafka. we’ve fielded a good-looking offense, but we have to remember who we’ve been playing against. we need a more generally functional david ash to start emerging now. your description for an approach that would speed up his integration sounds about right to me.

i can see us rely heavily on both ash and mccoy the rest of this season, and i really like the possibility of having several running qb or wildcat options, if that’s what develops.

man, it’s nice to have some innovation on offense. don’t want to belabor the point, but i wish i hadn’t gotten old waiting for it.

agree, jake. i think they are ‘growing’ a bunch of kids. another ‘innovation’ around here.

agree with you, too, 69. leon manley was really remarkable. darrell owes a lot of his success to him. we never hit the field that we didn’t have an offensive line that could get it done.

i’ve never seen searels working with his guys, but his results and the things i read about him really do remind of coach manley.

My two cents:

Anyone that thinks that the Power Read or Zone Read are going away in the Ash package is missing what we are building there and why what we are doing is so effective. Rather, I think Harsin is giddy to get Ash more of the offense installed with Ash so that he can bring those concepts into more of what we are doing. In fact, I would bet we will see McCoy run some zone read as well as a tendency breaker.

Thanks for the hard work as always guys.

I missed the official update on Harris. What happened with him?

Is Malcolm Williams beyond forgiveness at this point?

yeh, Searles has got be feeling like a licensed electrician who traded in a pair of wire cutters for a state of the art toolkit. We’re leveraging formations and blocking angles in a way that maximizes the OL play. What a concept!
I’ve watched with a combination of admiration and disgust as other programs with ostensibly a lot less raw material than Texas have done this to us (KSU anyone) while we struggled to even get contact from half our Oline on any given play. Thankfully, those days appear to be gone.

I personally question Case’s sturdiness in light of his risky improv style. Ash needs to be able to run the full show if called upon. This is smart on Harsinwhite’s part to get him more snaps even if he doesn’t start.

LHS I hadn’t thought much about that last thing you said, but it makes a lot of sense. Chase, like his older brother, appears to have an Intel pentium processor imbedded in his brain and a pair of quick feet. That’s a good zone read combination when combined with the elements of Mal Brown and unexpectedness (is that a word?).

jerryw – you echo my thoughts, exactly. I’ve been assuming that a lot of the Ash plays have been intended to set up the contradiction, so that Venables will be clueless early. I expect wrinkles in the wrinkles, which will be used against the ‘Clips, but ONLY if needed – I get the impression that Harsin does this a lot – that is, has stuff ready if needed to pull one out, but which will be saved for later in the season. I think it’s even better, which is that there are gadgets off the gadgets, too – and which I think is exactly why Shipley has already shown off his passing skillz… now, when the ‘Kat is outta the bag and Shipley rolls right, the DBs cannot commit to run support, and there’s one or two fewer bodies to knock down or avoid… and if you have motion behind Ship, fuck-oh-dear-me now what?

For me, though, the biggest and most unexpected sight of the season to date has been the emergence of McCoy Minor – Shipley Minor was expected, Malcolm was expected, the resurgence of the line was, if not expected, at least thought possible. The DB’s somewhat unexpected but again thought possible. The non-Kheeston DT’s nearly as surprising as McCoy.

We look pretty good, so far, and it sure looks like we’re gaining on it. I’m stoked.

“McCoy run some zone read as well as a tendency breaker.”

That would definitely be a tendency breaker.

Risks that you are willing to take when you have 4 scholarship QBs become less acceptable when you are down to 2 QBs with 10 (including the bowl game) games to go in the season. The strength of Harsin is that he understands matchups, particularly wrt skill strengths and deficiencies. Harsin is keenly aware of the lack of depth at QB and is adjusting accordingly.

The scheme is not the end, the scheme is a means to the end. The scheme will be adjusted to compensate for injuries, transfers, matchups, etc.

Can’t wait for saturday!

LHS -
 
I think that’s too clever by half. That’s not a tendency breaker, that’s a Case McCoy breaker.
 
Jake, don’t confuse mobility with running ability.
 
If Case runs zone read, it’s with a called hand off or the other team has five men in the box against a spread set.

I’m going to be sort of a contrarian about Case. I don’t think he would remain healthy if zone read is a large portion of his plays. Still, I think it could work without wrecking him physically. He would have to pick his spots to keep judiciously, but I would rather see him able to dodge or slide in an open field than getting blindsided in the pocket. The big question to me is does he have adequate speed to make the zone read work? Again, I think probably on a limited basis.

The pistol would simplify Ash’s footwork while still allowing for the downhill running attack that is the center of the horns’ O.

You can bet the deep ball has to be integrated soon or teams will start to squeeze the wideouts even more. That is where Ash will come to call. Opportunity will knock and you need a home run every now and then against the ou’s of the world.

Next week is going to be interesting for the sooner defensive coaches. They’re probably not used to having to come in to work during Texas week.

“That’s not a tendency breaker, that’s a Case McCoy breaker.”

Witty.

i agree that case shouldn’t be put in situations where his slight build would be at risk. i doubt we do that. he’s extremely valuable whether ash complements him or he complements ash. we’ve got to keep him in the game.

if he develops like colt did, that’s another thing, but right now i don’t think we risk it.

“Next week is going to be interesting for the sooner defensive coaches. They’re probably not used to having to come in to work during Texas week.”

The book on how to defend the horns is extended and modified every game. It will be very interesting to see what ISU comes up with. My guess is that they come out with their normal D (4-3) to see how that works. The horns will run efficiently on the ISU 4-3 and force ISU to frequently bring a safety down for run support. ISU probably mostly plays zone with their back 3 DBs to improve run support and to cut down on big plays. Case will be able to recognize when ISU has 8 men in the box (he could vs UCLA) and will have plenty of space to work with between the LBs up to focus on the horns’ run game and the deep 3 DBs in a zone.

After that ISU gets behind and starts taking chances and starts giving up big plays.

It could happen.

Running it as a tendency breaker, i.e., every once in a while, is not going to break him physically and he doesn’t have to be Walter Payton to get a jump on the defense if he keeps by making a correct read because the D, not expecting it, would be keying on MB and not expecting it, which is what I interpreted the definition of tendency breaker to be. Harsin can also use it with Chase and MB as play action—-again not with regularity but as a tendency breaker.

Anyone who would suggest using Case more than maybe once or twice in a game in that way deserves to be mocked, but I didn’t interpret what LHS said in that way and I certainly didn’t mean it that way. The quick processing and quick feet only matter in a situation where you have the element of surprise, make the proper read and consequently run to wide open space and then don’t try to go all Jim Taylor on the first tackler who comes along. I think Chase could do that—-but as a tendency breaker only.

Kafta, your right about rolling Ash out and using half the field, He played just that way in high school. It takes some time to ajust to the speed of the college game. I wish Harsin had coached GG his first year, his deal in high school was roll out and throw to a receiver running a quick curl. He threw at a non moving target and had to get it there quick, after the receiver turned. Thats why he never had any touch on the ball, he never learned it in high school. Ash has a GG type arm and Coach Harsin. Ash showed touch on those Shipley passes. He is going to be great soon. Case McCoy, well coached all his life, he will be great too.

Scip,

See Kellen Moore last year with Boise State, he ran ZR and he had keepers. I think we’ll see it but I could definitely be wrong.

Longhorn Scott is right, Case will take off this week, count on it. He will not run like Ash, more like Colt. Ive seen it, he may even be a little faster than Colt. Im guessing roll out pass/ run option to the wide side, and only one read on the pass before he takes off. He was good at that in high school. They may do it 2 or 3 times in the game.

requiem æternam dona eis, domine

i don’t know. maybe he would be fine if we are careful and timely about it. i would be extra cautious, that’s for sure.

Greenlea did get hurt the 4th game of the year last year, had the reconstructive surgery I would guess a month later, and at that time was slated to graduate early and be in Austin for the Spring.

Unfortunately, he made a bad decision to not go to Austin, stayed in Spring, REALLY enjoyed his last semester in high school, didn’t exactly kill himself getting into shape, went to Austin, had to adjust to being away from home, and got sick.

Saw him last Friday and he is getting in better shape, but he is not where he needs to be and I would suggest anyone who is judging where he can play based upon where he is right now physically is foolish.

Pacem.

Greenlea … is not where he needs to be…

No, but he’s a big ol’ hoss, and with Bennie riding his ass, he ought to be a big, fast, strong ol’ hoss before too awful long, yeah?

Tex Long,

Bennie will either make a guy like Greenlea an All-American for UT or an All-Conference player for Sam Houston State.

Well I feel refreshed. I hope the coaches’ apparent emphasis on filling the Harris void yields results. Based on the gist I’ve gotten from LHS’s posts it seems that blocking WR’s are crucial for pressuring the perimeter of the defense.

Q&A tomorrow?

… it seems that blocking WR’s are crucial for pressuring the perimeter…

Crucial? The word that comes to my mind is ESSENTIAL.

By increasing the practice reps for Ash, one critical thing that Harsin is trying to accomplish is to get Ash ready to be the main QB should Case get hurt. Ash’s problem is that he still has trouble reading defenses. An approach that might help would be to play Ash at QB when the horns are on schedule wrt down vs distance and play Case at QB when the horns are behind schedule wrt down vs distance (i.e. an obvious passing situation).

This substitution pattern would radically increase the number of snaps that Ash would play, thus speeding up his readiness to be the man at QB. It would significantly improve the horns running attack because it would replace a non runner (Case) at QB with a powerful runner (Ash) at QB for most downs. When Ash did pass, it would be against a D that was optimized to stop the run (presumably it would be easier to read this D) and Ash would be play action passing (where Ash’s big arm would be especially useful).

Case would come in on obvious passing situations where the D has the edge and Case’s superior ability to read defenses would be a big plus. By playing a lot fewer downs, the probability of Case getting injured is significantly reduced which increases the expected value for how long Case can play before he is injured. This also obviously tends to increase how long Harsin has to train Ash in how to read defenses adequately before Case is no longer available.

Case has not shown signs of being injury prone. Strange how people get a idea in their head and cant let it go.

Yea I think this is still an open competition. While I think McCoy has a good hold on the starting spot, the upside on Ash seems unlimited. Colt competed against Snead who was bound to be defeated, Ash is much tougher competition for Case.

Why are the coaches emphasizing a replacement for Harris? Somebody remind me how many catches Harris had in the first 3 games. I know he was a physical presence on the perimeter who would keep the corners from run tackling. But please. Mack: I think Darius White, Miles O., Desean Hales, and Bryant Jackson have a fighting chance at replacing the greatness of Harris…come on people.

“While I think McCoy has a good hold on the starting spot”

The undue attention that people put on who “starts” is really annoying to me (no offense to you, above poster). They’re co-starters. They both play, a lot. Ash may very well take the first snap tomorrow.

For anyone who doesn’t know the Jack Trice story (as in “Jack Trice Stadium,” where the Longhorns will play tomorrow), here it is.

Nordberg, I understand what you’re saying and I think that’s a great team-first mentality. But it’s simply not sustainable. Which one of these guys wants to be a co-starter for the next 3 years? Who was the last NFL quarterback to be a co-starter in college? (I guess Brady was a co-starter at Michigan). I like this plan right now. But don’t be naive, the competition is happening. This isn’t a Tebow/Leak deal where one is out the door after this season.

“Case has not shown signs of being injury prone. Strange how people get a idea in their head and cant let it go.”

Football is a violent sport with lots of injuries. QBs are targets. Case is vulnerable because of his slight build. The horns only have 2 QBs and one of them (Ash) is not yet prepared to run the whole offense. There is the possibility that Case could get hurt (just like anybody playing div 1 football can get hurt), so Ash has to be ready to run the whole offense asap.

“Why are the coaches emphasizing a replacement for Harris?”

Because Harris is a big guy who is an outstanding blocker. The horns are primarily a running team. In the UCLA game, the ratio of run to pass was 5 to 2. The key requirement for a team to run well is that it blocks well. To block well, a team needs good blockers. WRs that are big, physical and block well are hard to find.

True. But we’re going to have a tough time appeasing the 2012 receivers we’re bringing in. It seems to me that we’re trying to become an Alabama. That is fine. But forget stocking up on WRs. Cayleb Jones, Shipley, and Davis is all we need if we’re to become run-centric.

With full understanding that you all have other lives and things to do, I respectfully request a Friday Q&A. Working is lame, and I don’t want to do it today.

And the Jack Trice story is sad and inspiring. That journal entry gives me chills.

“But it’s simply not sustainable.”

But it may need to be sustained for this whole season. Clearly Ash is better suited than Case to be the QB of a team that primarily runs the ball (the horns rushed 50 times vs UCLA but only passed 20 times). The problem for Ash is that in obvious passing situations (where the defense has a clear advantage over the offense), he is not yet sufficiently competent at reading defenses and makes some poor decisions that can turn into turnovers. For now both QBs need to play, Ash to boost the run game to the next level and to improve his ability to read defenses/decision making and Case for obvious passing downs.

The reality is that so long as Ash is not ready to take over and run the offense by himself, the horns will be in deep trouble if Case gets hurt.

I’m not saying it will last for three years Benjy. I have no idea how long it will last. I was more taking issue with your declaration that McCoy has a strong hold on the starter’s spot.

“True. But we’re going to have a tough time appeasing the 2012 receivers we’re bringing in. It seems to me that we’re trying to become an Alabama. That is fine. But forget stocking up on WRs. Cayleb Jones, Shipley, and Davis is all we need if we’re to become run-centric.”

Because of QB inexperience/issues/limitations, Harsin does not have any choice right now but to be run-centric. Harsin is trying to fix this problem but it may take awhile. Harsin will have a balanced offense as soon as possible but that may not happen this season.

When I say ‘starter’ I mean the guy who takes the majority of the snaps. I don’t care who takes the first because it could be situational. I think I’m in agreement with both of you. I’m not declaring anyone the ‘starter’ But eventually our running game will be stopped, maybe this week or in Dallas. And it will be time to see which quarterback can make a play on 3rd & 8 and deliver with a linebacker blitz coming. The data so far suggests Case is best equipped. And Ash will be relegated to his package. But these two will not share the position in harmony for that long. Kafta, I hope it lasts through this year.

I mean, forgive the comparison, but Ash looks like Sam Bradford (because of #14) until he takes off running like he’s Cam Newton. There’s only so long you can keep this guy off the field. What remains to be seen is if he possesses the intangibles the Colt and Case have.

Case is the QB to have in on 3rd and 8 but Ash is the choice on 1st and 10, 2nd and 6, or 3rd and 3 (i.e. whenever the horns are on schedule wrt down vs distance) because of what he brings to the run game. There is no doubt that the set of plays that Ash is trusted to run will steadily grow.

Re: player harmony, Ash and Case will probably be fine. The fans may be a different story.

It should be mentioned that the horns’ OL really benefits from the emphasis on the run game. Pass blocking on 3rd and 8 against a good defense is brutal.

We aren’t stockpiling recievers. We have two commits in the incoming class and two OOS guys still in the recruting hopper with less than stellar chances to commit.

Boise Sate flung it around plenty while Harsin was there. We aren’t trying to become Alabama ( not that it would be a bad thing); we are trying to maximize the weapons we have. Yes we are a much better running team than in the last four years, but we aren’t going to abandon or minimize the pass by any stretch of the imagination, particularly over the long haul. Harsin is doing a helluva job of playing the cards he was dealt. When the new deck includes more top shelf WR’s, he will play them wisely and effectively as well (see Young, Titus).

“Re: player harmony, Ash and Case will probably be fine. The fans may be a different story.”

Kafka, no truer words have ever been typed.

Kafta, Case isnt Tim Tebow but he is not slight at 200 lbs. He could get hurt but it wont be because of a slight build. that is my point. The Boise QB is small @175.

A running team that can throw efficiently, anytime it pleases is a championship team.