INSIDETEXAS.COM
SEPTEMBER 2016
BOOM! TYRONE SWOOPES AND THE LONGHORNS TAKE OUT THE IRISH
1
2
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in this issue
A Golden Start |
by
6
Justin Wells
Texas took down Notre Dame in a Sunday night thriller at DKR.
When Scheme Discovers Talent |
Paul Waddlington New offensive staff makes the most of talent on hand.
Texas Rolls Pas UTEP |
by
Joe Cook Longhorns move to 2-0 with win over Miners. by
Nightmare in Berkeley |
by
Justin Wells
The Bears put up 50 to edge Texas.
Strong Vows to Fix Defense |
Joe Cook Charlie Strong looks to fix holes after Cal loss.
Defenseless in Stillwater |
by
Boyd Ian has five thoughts about the loss to the Cowboys.
Bedford Demoted |
by Ian
Bill Frisbie After another terrible performance, Strong will call plays on defense.
Recruiting Notes |
by
Justin Wells Updates from the recruiting trail. by
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16
22
28
30
36
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6
EN START
AUSTIN — Texas found an offense. Texas found a QB. And Texas also found a way to win in front of 102,315 fans at DKRTexas Memorial Stadium to open 2016. insidetexas.com
7
- TEXAS VS NOTRE DAME -
I
n short, Charlie Strong found an identity.
the extra point block, and they tie the
The last two plays were like a vintage
And it involves two signal-callers.
score back up. But we still had a great
Mack 18-Wheeler. First, Swoopes ran
kickoff and we were able to pin them
through two ND defenders, knocking one
Quarterbacks, Shane Buechele and Ty-
down. We didn’t allow them to just drive
out of the game. The next play will be
rone Swoopes, a freshman and a senior,
the ball and get the field goal to go win
remembered for a long time. Swoopes
combined for six touchdowns to lead UT to
the game. Those two quarterbacks, I had
took the shotgun snap, made a guy miss,
an improbable 50-47 double overtime win
the conversation with them, and I told
danced through the pile, lowered his
over No. 10 Notre Dame.
Swoopes, I said actually with both of them,
shoulder into a Fighting Irish LB, then dove
The Odd Couple helped produce 517
I told them, ‘Buechele’s going to start, and
into the end zone and into the hearts of the
total yards in the Veer and Shoot’s debut
I said Swoopes, ‘You know what’s going to
largest crowd in Texas Football history.
in Austin. And Strong couldn’t have been
happen in this game? You’re going to have
happier.
an opportunity to go win this football game
“He said, like I said earlier, he told me I
for us,’ and you look what he did. He came
was going to have an opportunity to go win
“A great team victory by our team,” said
in there with his 18-wheeler package, and
it and I believed him,” said Swoopes about
Strong. “Just loved the way that we just
we knew he was going to play well.”
Strong. “And we got a chance, we got it
Shane Buechele
down inside the 5 and the offensive line
played and we came out, we had energy from the very beginning, and then we
On the first possession of overtime,
did a great job blocking and doing what
got up by 17 and they were able to come
Buechele led UT down to the goal line,
they had to do and I did what I had to do
back and recapture the lead. And I said a
then Swoopes came in to punch in the
and we came out with a great win.”
year ago that we probably would have lost
points. All Texas needed now was a stop.
that football game because we wouldn’t
That didn’t happen. Notre Dame’s first play
have known how to finish and we wouldn’t
of the extra frame was a 25-yard jail break
have known how to continue to just play
screen to C.J. Sanders for the TD and
Buechele’s first collegiate start went
through.”
another series of OT.
quite well; 16-of-26 passing, 280 yards,
Strong sees the duo as complimentary in
Notre Dame got close in the second OT,
for 33 yards and a score. After Buechele
style and mannerisms.
but had to settle for a Justin Toon 39-yard
hit speedster John Burt for a 73-yard
field goal, and a brief 47-44 advantage.
touchdown on the second play of the 3rd
And about that freshman.
two TDs, and one INT. He also rushed
quarter, Texas had its largest lead, 17, and
“They had so much confidence in one another that you watch, we got the score
Very brief.
8
all the momentum that 6th Street could handle.
back on offense. Then we end up getting
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- TEXAS VS NOTRE DAME -
Strong agrees.
get that win.
the past two seasons, Strong’s squad
“You have a different team now,” said
And having two unselfish quarterbacks
answered the bell.
Strong. “You have a small group of seniors
sure makes his job easier. Especially in
that provide so much leadership, and
a day and age where QBs transfer on a
“Well, you look at it and you love to see
then you have a young group where you
regular basis.
that,” Strong said. “You always need a
have a large amount of sophomores and
signature win and where’s that signature
freshmen. They don’t know any better.
“It’s a blessing and what you see is, like
win, and you hope you can get one where
You know, a lot of times with young guys,
any other position, is you see talented
it gets you going. Even last year, you go
those guys have so much confidence, so
guys and our job as coaches is to be able
beat Oklahoma and feel like, okay, we
much flair about them, they’re just going to
to find a way to utilize talent and that’s
have seven more games in the season.
go out there and say throw it to them, or I
what we did and that’s what happened
Now we’ve beat this team and it’s one of
can beat a guy deep or I can do this. And
tonight along with all those other guys be-
the tough teams in our conference. Now
you’re hoping that we’ll be able to maintain
ing able to make plays from series in and
maybe we can go out and play well these
that. But it’s our senior class, and what
series out.”
final seven weeks, which we didn’t do.”
they’ve done and even up to this point just
But just like a heavyweight boxer, the Fighting Irish fought back. And unlike
how hard they’ve worked from January to
When DeShone Kizer hit tailback Josh Ad-
Strong admits this is a different team in
now.” New OC Sterlin Gilbert made one
ams on a perfect wheel-route to take the
2016. In the past, they might’ve lost this
hell of a debut.
lead back, 35-31, with 10:57 left in the 4th, all the air was sucked out of the raucious
matchup blowing a late 17-point lead, but not these Horns.
“Number one, it was a huge great team
crowd at DKR. And when Texas couldn’t
“That’s the best part. The offense has changed. The defense, we still have some work to do. We had a couple of brain farts, I guess you could say, got off track a little but, but I think the biggest thing now is just capitalizing and making sure that when we have a lead like that, we go out and dominate.” And the biggest difference? “The excitement part,” said Jefferson. “It’s a family. You can tell that everybody is playing for each together and the person next to him. That’s what makes the emotions become a part of it because you see guys going out there fighting every play trying to make something happen. And passion; a word Jefferson used a lot. “It’s a lot of love. A lot of love around here,”
John Burt
Jefferson said. “Very, very different. Last year I had a good game against Notre Dame, and I didn’t feel like I did anything
win and that’s first and foremost. I’m
move the ball the majority of the last quar-
because we didn’t win, and I didn’t contrib-
extremely, extremely proud of our kids,
ter, the youth and inexperience seemed to
ute to anything. So I think the biggest part
just what they did to be able to fight and
be too much for these young Horns.
now is just moving forward from that. We
respond series after series, and then you
“I just have to go out there and make
have a couple more games this season,
get into overtime and just being able to re-
plays,” said Malik Jefferson, with a team-
there will be some challenges. People are
spond the way they did. I’m just extremely
leading eight tackles and a sack. “When
going to try and knock us off, but we’ve got
proud of all those guys on both sides of
it’s a big moment, people have to step
to stay focused and consistent.
the ball to be able to fight and battle and
up. I was watching all those guys. Big
insidetexas.com
9
- TEXAS VS NOTRE DAME -
time players make big time plays in big
time and we were all tied with 3:29 remain-
After both teams traded 3-and-outs for the
time moments. And that’s what we were
ing.
remainder of the 1st quarter and into the 2nd, Buechele scored on an 1-yard keeper
focusing on. We could not let them in the end zone. We had that one bloop because
In the past two years, we’ve seen how
at the 7:13 mark. It also featured Jerrod
we had some miscommunication, but the
this movie ends. The missed extra point
Heard’s first and second catch, the latter a
second time we came out there, we were
against Cal. The horrendous penalties
54-yarder that he almost crossed the goal
prepared.”
and dropped punt versus Oklahoma State.
line with.
Except this time, the third feature of the Buechele led Texas on a 8-play, 68-yard
trilogy was better than the original.
The Fighting Irish responded.
drive, culminating in a D’Onta Foreman Kizer hits St. Brown again, this time for a 30-yard score and tied the game back at 14-all. After this play, the Longhorns turned it on. Texas scored right before the half with a Swoopes 1-yard plunge, and then Buechele hit Burt for a 73-yard pitch-andcatch TD that had the burnt orange faithful buzzing for the first time in years on the 40 Acres. A Trent Domingue 25-yard field goal at the 9:14 mark of the 3rd gave UT its biggest lead of the night, 31-14. Then it all fell apart. The Golden Domers scored 21 unanswered points and it took UT’s final quarter and overtimes to come away victorious. Age, inexperience, and playing the nation’s No. 10 team caught up to the youthful Horns. But the dual threats at QB
Malik Jefferson
fed off each other in the best display of unselfish team play.
19-yard scoring jaunt. Texas had taken the
Notre Dame got on the board first. De-
lead back, 37-35. But not for long.
Shone Kizer came out firing when he hit
Some bright stars shined on Sunday
Equanimeous St. Brown with a 13-yard TD
night. DL Chris Nelson made a career-
“Tyrone [Swoopes] is a great player, and
pass capping a 7-play, 78-yard drive that
high eight tackles. D’Onta Foreman’s 131
he’s a great quarterback,” said Buechele.
took 2:58 minutes. Kizer finished 15-of-24,
yards rushing were the third most all-time
“I was thankful to be able to go out there
215 yards, and a career-high five TDs. The
versus Notre Dame for UT. Jon Burt had
and play, and just seeing Ty run out onto
fact ND coach Brian Kelly played a 2-QB
111 yards on six grabs, and one TD. Jake
the field I know he’s going to be doing
system was a little mind-boggling. Malik
Oliver tallied 36 yards on three catches
great things. It was just really exciting
Zaire, last year’s 38-3 author in South
as well.
going 1-2, 1-2, and being able to win the
Bend, was a paltry 2-of-5 for 23 yards. On the injury front, a handful of Long-
game was awesome. It was really special. Tyrone is a great guy, and he’s a great
Texas took very little time to answer when
horns went down last night. Kris Boyd
quarterback. We couldn’t win the game
Buechele ran onto the field to instant ap-
had cramps early in the game. Dylan
without Ty. Him executing the way that he
plause and instant results. The Veer and
Haines didn’t play the second half due to a
did and executing the way the team did,
Shoot jumped into first gear when they ran
head injury, and Kent Perkins and Tristan
we came out with a great team win.”
11 plays covering 75 yards in less than
Nickelson both were banged up. Boyd
three minutes. When Buechele hit Armanti
should be fine, but the others are yet to be
Kicker Trent Domingue’s extra point was
Foreman on a fade route, Money’s feet
determined.
blocked and returned by Shaun Crawford
gave the UT freshman his first collegiate
for two critical points at the most crucial
TD and tied the game at 7-all.
10
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- TEXAS VS NOTRE DAME -
WHAT THEY SAID... CHARLIE STRONG “What a great win tonight. It was just amazing. Just
TYRONE SWOOPES
to see our crowd. I’m so
“He said, like I said earlier, he
happy for our fans, be-
told me I was going to have an
cause they needed
opportunity to go win it and
it. Our fans really needed
I believed him. And we got a
that. We’ve been down for
chance, we got it down inside
so long and people have
the 5 and the offensive line did
been talking about us. It
a great job blocking and doing
was a night for us to just
what they had to do and I did
make it right. At least for one game, for one game. I’m just so proud of our football team.”
NAASHON HUGHES “It got loud. That was the loudest I’ve ever heard DKR, so that was fun. It was fun. For those freshman, they come and they see a full packed house stadium, and this is what they’ve dreamed of when coming here. It just shows that if you work hard and do it right, your dreams can come true.”
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WHEN SCHEME DIS By Paul Waddlington
12
SCOVERS TALENT T
he reason so many of us were excited about the Sterlin Gilbert offense is that its simplicity and versatility
puts athletes into good situations and lets them play with instinct, aggression and from muscle memory instead of
injecting indecision, paralysis and hesitation. Clarity and a clear role playing to your strengths are the key to athletic success. Instead of sniping players for what they aren’t, real coaches find work for what the players are.
In the process of creating clear roles and clear direction, something amazing happens: players suddenly “discover” talent. This applies to every member of the offense - from the offensive line to the skill players. The upshot of all of this is what we saw on Sunday evening. Players that Longhorn fans have discounted, criticized, minimized or even outright mocked, prove to be capable, quality athletes within a real system that plays to their strengths. I knew this from studying other programs, but even I was surprised at how cleanly it applied at Texas, too. CONSIDER: Jacorey Warrick - Strong’s preseason praise for “Petey” drew a lot of sighs and eye rolls. It’s OK. We can be honest here. That praise was warranted. Warrick had two catches for 35 yards (including a stop route that he caught in the 1st OT, made an explosive upfield cut and took to the Notre Dame 5 setting up a Tyroneasaurus score) and he fielded 3 punts for 30 yards. Where has that first step from a stop and lateral shake been during his Longhorn career? Certainty of role + space = results.
Jake Oliver - Three catches, 36 yards. He had two huge 3rd down conversions and Charlie Strong’s Monday morning press conference was revealing of our offseason Black Ops: Jake lost 25 pounds from last year, he has the best hands on the team and he consistently murders our DBs on slants in the red zone. Oliver is our guy to body up smaller DBs inside and move the sticks. He’s also a plus contributor in the running game. The big possession receiver with glue hands now has a clear role and clear expectations.
Jerrod Heard - Two catches for 73 yards, including a huge 68 yard go route. His success in the slot was predictable (well, at least by me), but the courage
13
- Jerrod Heard -
to make that move against the backdrop of
yards and three touchdowns does little to
touchdown run - ridiculous) were some-
the QB situation and a supposed log jam
describe the full impact of the violence he
thing we’ve not yet seen from him. We saw
at WR took some guts. Heard is a special
wreaked on the Irish and how we wore
a legit NFL prospect running back. Not a
athlete and his first step brings to mind
down a very physical defense. Swoopes
big guy who can run fast in a straight line.
former Pitt WR Tyler Boyd. He’s only going
played with poise, aggression and grace -
A hat tip goes to Pat Moorer, but scheme,
to get better.
happily supporting a true freshman starter,
scheme, scheme.
Armanti Foreman - Armanti has been
knowing he still had a valuable role and that he’d have his moment to shine. The
The Longhorn OL - Other than Perkins,
better in theory than on the field for two
coaches played this beautifully and any
Vahe and Williams, our OL two deep was
years. His touchdown catch to tie the Irish
folks still babbling about QB roles should
a giant question mark. Players like Zach
at 7 set the tone for the game and while 3
recognize the value that Swoopes brings
Shackleford, Alex Anderson, Jake McMil-
catches for 25 yards might seem a modest
to the offense.
lon, Brandon Hodges, Tristan Nickelson, Elijah Rodriquez - they all played, battled and can walk around campus with pride. These unsung, doubted and dismissed all battled a physical Notre Dame DL and certainly didn’t play flawlessly, but zero sacks on the QB, 517 yards of offense, 236 yards of rushing running up-your-sphincter power plays later, these guys proved that they’re now playing at a higher level. It turns out OL like movement, simplicity and angle advantage. They’re far from perfect, but good systems don’t require perfect. And that’s the point. Andrew Beck - Some Longhorn fans love to show a video of Beck missing a block in space against Iowa State on a WR screen and then muse at what recruit might replace him. They miss that the play design was garbage, ISU is tipped off before the snap by our formation and maybe 250 pound dudes shouldn’t be asked to track down a cheating DB in open space?
Jacorey Warrick
Yesterday, Beck played as a physical motion lead blocker on our inside power and Swoopes packages and he gutted
box score contribution, Notre Dame had to
D’onta Foreman - Some already con-
respect him outside and it spread the field
sidered him a star, but that’s the best he’s
blocks after limping off of the field with a
that much wider.
ever looked by a mile. I don’t really care
badly twisted ankle. Different role, different
about what he did to Kansas last year, but
player.
Tyrone Swoopes - The Swoopes Pack-
24 carries for 131 yards at 5.5 per pop is
age is a carryover from last year, but to his
staggering when you consider that he had
credit, Gilbert saw it as a valuable addition
no run longer than 19, his ball security was
to the offense rather than a desperate
flawless and his quickness-to-hole, con-
novelty act. Tyrone’s 13 carries for 54
ditioning and tackle-breaking ability (his
14
himself back into the game to throw more
insidetexas.com
Anyone noticing a pattern yet?
TEXAS TOO MU BY JOE COOK
16
AUSTIN — Charlie Strong has 8.5 by 11 inch pieces of paper pasted everywhere around the Moncrief complex that say things like “Believe,” “Stay Humble,” “Don’t Believe the Hype” and “We Have Done Nothing Yet” in order to try and keep his team grounded even after a big win against Notre Dame and a No. 11 ranking insidetexas.com
UCH FOR UTEP
insidetexas.com
17
- TEXAS vs UTEP -
W
hile Texas took a few minutes to really get the offense go-
In celebration of his 21st birthday, sophomore Jerrod Heard hauled
ing after multiple pre-game injuries across the board, they
in the first two receiving touchdowns of his career, the first being
eventually reached the end zone five times on its way to a convinc-
the opening score of the game. Buechele delivered a ball to Heard,
ing 41-7 victory over the UTEP Miners.
who jumped over a defender in the end zone to make the play. Heard finished the evening with six receptions for 46 yards and two
Texas moved the ball into the red zone on the opening drive, but a
touchdowns, and said the position came pretty easy to him.
mistake near the end zone delayed Texas’ first touchdown as senior Jacorey Warrick fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a touch-
“The transition was fun,” Heard said. “It’s really easy. All you have
back. After this early mistake, the Texas offense moved down the
to do is beat the defender down the field and go catch the ball. It’s
field with freshman Shane Buechele at the helm and sophomore
not that hard, but it’s fun and I enjoy it.”
Chris Warren, who rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown. Texas played the field position game in the middle part of the opening quarter, including downing a Michael Dickson punt on the 1-yard line. Freshman Brandon Jones blocked a punt, giving the Horns the ball inside the Miners 10. Texas could only manage three points from the extremely short field, with the field goal coming off the foot of senior Trent Domingue. UTEP’s standout running back Aaron Jones responded early in the second quarter with a 51-yard run to the end zone. That run would prove to be the only UTEP score on the evening, as the Texas defense held the Miners to 208 yards of total offense and only 10 first downs on the evening. Sophomore Breckyn Hager led the Texas defense with eight tackles, including a sack. True freshman Malcolm Roach played extended minutes on the evening, recording a sack of his own. Texas struggled to move the ball after freshman center Zack Shackelford and backup right guard Alex Anderson came off due to injury in the second quarter, with only Anderson returning. Although the unit had troubles, head coach Strong was able to utilize his team’s depth to navigate his team to victory, even from players he did not expect to have a big say in the game “You look at Alex Anderson,” Strong said. “I was teasing him. I said, I never, ever thought you would be running out here starting a game, and all the players started laughing just to loosen them up.” Although he joked with his players, it is part of what Strong has been trying to build through recruiting the past two seasons. “We’re just beginning to build it where we can get two-deep where if a guy does have an injury, you feel very comfortable with the next guy moving in,” Strong said.
Jerrod Heard
18
In order to move the ball with an injury-riddled offensive line, Texas
insidetexas.com
- TEXAS vs UTEP -
utilized quick passing and wide receiver screens to move the ball
After leading the team in both receptions and yards on the evening,
down the field before the half, with Buechele finding Warrick in the
Warrick was happy to have a game in which he stepped up to lead
end zone on a back corner throw to give the Horns a 20-7 halftime
the Longhorns to victory.
lead. With Texas able to move the ball on offense through the air, Strong and offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert can attack opposing
“I’m just honored and glad to be here and be a part of this team,”
defenses with his wide receivers.
Warrick said. “We’ve been working hard, and now we’re seeing that 2-0, so we’re headed in the right direction. We don’t want to get
“It’s just really fun watching,” Strong said. “The competition is so
complacent. We want to take it one game at a time.”
fierce because you can go out with [Devin] Duvernay, you can go out there with Jake Oliver, and then you can go outside with Collin
Strong has already moved on to next week’s opponent, Cal. While
[Johnson] and you can go outside with [John] Burt, and [Dorian]
the Golden Bears has gone through some bumps in the early part
Leonard making the big catch that he made, Lil’Jordan [Humphrey]
of the season, Strong is not going to let the PAC-12 opponent
coming in there making a catch. You just had so many weapons.”
surprise him.
The Longhorns scored twice in the third quarter, the first on War-
“We know we have a tough road test next week going out to Cali-
ren’s 1-yard run. The second came on a deep fly route to junior
fornia,” Strong said. “We’re going to have to play much better than
Dorian Leonard, who caught the ball in stride on his way to the end zone. Texas’ final score came on a wheel route from Buechele to Heard, who was open in the back corner of the end zone. Domingue converted both of his field goal tries and every point-after on the evening. Buechele, whose final stat line had him at 22-for-27 for 244 yards and four touchdowns and 11 carries for 50 yards, said the entire team was prepared for UTEP following the emotional Notre Dame victory. “We can be happy with that win, but we have to move to the next one,” Buechele said. “We have to prepare well each week and try and go out there and get a win.” Chris Warren
Buechele noted his offense struggled early, but picked up the scoring after straightening out their issues.
what we played tonight, but any time you are on the road, you’re going to have to pack your defense.”
“We started a little slow, but I liked the way we finished,”Buechele said. “We just have to start fast, continue executing with our tempo, and just play like how we finished all four quarters.”
insidetexas.com
19
- TEXAS vs UTEP -
WHAT THEY SAID... SHANE BUECHELE
BRECKYN HAGER
“I didn’t know I was going to run that much tonight, but it’s kind of fun to get out there and run a little bit. I have to learn to get down.”
STERLIN GILBERT “He just continues to do a great job of growing and learning except by no means do we have a veteran quarterback. I mean the guy is just
“Since camp, we’ve become a team.
a two game starter here at college
Whether its just hanging out all day, we all
football so he’s got a lot of room for
love each other. We don’t want to let each
growth and improvement, the thing
other down. We’re plating for each other
about him is that he is really honed in on it, he’s a student of the game, he’s really motivated to be a good player.”
out there. The worst thing I can do is let my teammates down. Anything else is irrelevant. I’m playing for those guys out there; they’re playing for me. And that’s what’s starting to happen.”
41 - 7 23 171 245 3-12 1 26:01
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FIRST DOWNS RUSHING YARDS PASSING YARDS THIRD DOWNS TURNOVERS TIME OF POSSESSION
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10 135 73 3-15 1 33:59
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21
NIGHTMARE
22
Photo courtesy of University of Texas Athletics
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IN BERKELY by Justin Wells
BERKELEY — Texas rolled into California with enough swagger to fill up AT&T Stadium. But Davis Webb and the Cal Bears burst that bubble in a 50-43 shootout with an ending that seemed like something out of the Twilight Zone. insidetexas.com
23
- TEXAS vs CAL -
C
al’s Webb sprayed the football
24), and held the ball longer (31:47-28:13).
first downs. That’s inexcusable. Especially
around like Machine-Gun Kelly to the
But, as with much of Charlie Strong’s time
for a team that had 21 penalties in its first
in Austin, they find new ways to lose.
two games.
native Vic Enwere, tallied 110 yards on
“This is a tough and disappointing loss,”
The expected result was a high-scoring
18 carries, and two TDs (should’ve been
said Strong.” We gave up too many big
affair. You just didn’t think UT would
three, but he did his best Desean Jackson
plays on defense, had our chances on of-
come up on the short end. The freshman
impression, dropping the football before
fense and turned it over a couple of times.
Buechele didn’t seem as sharp after a
he crossed the goal line during the game’s
In our first road game, we expected to play
roughing the passer penalty in the 1st
final seconds, in which Dylan Haines
better. I don’t think the defense will hold us
quarter, in which he suffered a chest injury.
recovered the loose ball but the Big 12 of-
back, we just have to get defensive stops
He returned to the field three series later
ficials decided that wasn’t to be). But that’s
and we have to make plays on defense. If
and still hit Jacorey Warrick on a 41-yard
an entirely different story.
you go back to the start of the second half,
TD at the 7:43 mark of the 2nd quarter. It
we were able to get off the field.”
gave UT a 31-21 advantage and most of
tune of 396 yards on 27-of-40 passing and four total TDs. His running back, Texas
When the Texas (2-1) defensive line was
the stadium’s momentum that was 65-35
stopping the run, the secondary was
Yeah, no kidding. It’s because Texas
missing tackles, blown assignments, and
went back to using Breckyn Hager and
flat-out getting beat off the line.
Malcolm Roach putting pressure on Webb.
Webb answered hitting Stovall for a 29-
Navy Blue and Gold to Burnt Orange.
Something that worked the week before
yard TD pass bringing Cal within three, 31-
Cal’s WR Chad Hansen had the game
against UTEP, but was completely forgot-
18. But two series later, Texas freshman
of his life. He notched 196 yards and two
ten in the 1st half in Berkley. A half that Cal
Brandon Jones blocked Cal punt into the
scores on 12 catches, and added a two-
produced 35 points.
back of the end zone for a safety as the
point conversion for good measure. Fellow wideout Melquise Stovall added six grabs
Horns regained their mojo. Then the penalties. My God the penalties.
for 74 yards and a TD.
That was lost in less than a minute when There were four drives in the 2nd half that
Buechele tossed an INT, resulting in
This is a game Texas should’ve won. They
resulted in drive-crushing penalties. On
Hansen’s first TD of the night with :55 left
had more total yards (568-507), rushed for
those drives, Texas had four yellow flags
remaining in the 1st half, and gave the
over 300 yards, had more 1st downs (34-
for 59 yards, including two that took away
Golden Bears back the lead and excitement in the crowd heading into halftime. The Foreman brothers kept UT in this game down the stretch. D’Onta had a 47-yard TD scamper that gave Texas back the lead early in the final stanza. He finished with 157 yards and two scores, while Armanti snagged four catches for 72 yards. D’Onta’s running partner, Chris
Photo courtesy of University of Texas Athletics
Warren added 119 yards and two TDs as
Chris Warren
24
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well. When you have two 100-yard rushers and four combined scores, you should win. “It wasn’t a talent issue,” said Breckyn Hager. “It wasn’t a scheme issue. It was an execution issue. We have as much talent as anybody. We just have to execute.” The elder statesman of the secondary, Sheroid Evans, took full responsibility.
- TEXAS vs CAL -
Breckyn Hager
“It’s not an issue with being young,” said Evans. “We all watch film together. We didn’t show up. We didn’t show that we put in extra hours of studying our opponent and we’ve got to get back to it next week.” “We just didn’t execute,” said Buechele. “Scoring 43 points doesn’t matter when the result is a loss.” The prevailing theme from the players was that it was their fault. The coaches said it was on them as teachers. “We have to play better knowing our whole attitude when you’re on the road and how your preparation has to be,” said Strong. “Having two home wins and then coming out on the road, we have to have our team better prepared and we didn’t.”
Photo courtesy of University of Texas Athletics
We’re seeing a group of guys who have completely bought in. We’re seeing them
still just average football players. Maybe
“We can’t do anything about the loss
say the right things and act unselfishly. But
the secondary was overrated. Maybe the
now,” said Tyrone Swoopes. “Nothing can
at some point, these losses that should be
play-calling was too. And maybe it’s time
change that. We just have to focus on Big
wins need to be wins. They have to at the
the defensive coordinator at Texas answer
12 Conference play.”
University of Texas.
questions about how he’s the captain of the worst defense in school history.
However you look at it, Texas is still work
Maybe we should’ve seen this coming.
Bedford doesn’t address the media after
in progress. Coaches included.
Maybe the talented youth was still too
games. But his kids do.
young. Maybe the senior leaders were
insidetexas.com
25
- TEXAS vs CAL -
WHAT THEY SAID... CHARLIE STRONG “I don’t think that the defense will hold us back, we just have to get defensive
CHRIS NELSON
stops and we have to make plays on
“We just came into the team defensive
defense. If you go back to the start of the
room and talked to each other, feed of
second half, we were able to get off the
each other, and ask what can we do to
field. And right there in the fourth quar-
make the defense better?” Nelson said.
ter, we were able to make some plays, but
“What areas can we fix? Situations like
we do have to get better on defense.”
that, we can’t really be too down on ourselves. We try to uplift each other for the next game.”
PAUL BOYETTE “We can’t let one game harp on our season and make our season go down. We’re like a jet taking off. Every game we’ve got to keep building and keep climbing.”
43 - 50 34 307 261 7-15 2 31:47 26
FIRST DOWNS RUSHING YARDS PASSING YARDS THIRD DOWNS TURNOVERS TIME OF POSSESSION
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24 111 396 7-15 0 28:13
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STRONG VOWS TO FIX DEFENSE BY JOE COOK
AUSTIN — While head coach Charlie Strong can now hang his hat on a 2-1 record and a vastly improved offense, similar issues that plagued last season’s 5-7 team have reappeared on the 2016 team.
T
exas gave up more than 40 points to
After fielding another question about how
the field and got to see more of because
Notre Dame to start the season, al-
he would specifically get involved, Strong
he’s a play maker. He plays the game you
provided a simple answer.
like the way for it to be played. You want to
lowing multiple long plays through screens and short passing. Texas gave up 50 points
see a lot of those guys, and you’ll see them
to Cal, allowing multiple long plays through
“The defense can be fixed,” Strong said. “I’ll
screens and short passing. For Strong, he
get more involved. We’ll get it fixed.”
could not be happier he has a bye week to
because they’ve earned the right to play.” Strong has a week off to evaluate who gets
work on fixing what is wrong with the Texas
Strong was asked about his current
to play and how they will be coached. With
defense.
involvement in defensive coach’s meet-
the non-conference schedule now com-
ings, and said he sits in, but does not run
plete, the focus shifts to Big 12 play.
“We’ve had three games to evaluate and
those meetings. He does not plan to begin
get a chance to just get a look at what our
running them, but he will definitely be more
“Our conference starts now,” Strong said.
issues are,” Strong said. “We’ve had some
involved.
“Our conference starts now. Everything
issues there on defense. Offense is good enough to put up a lot of points.”
starts. Our goal is in front of us. We said “I sit in the meetings,” Strong said. “When
that we want to go win the conference. Now
we go through the defensive calls, I’m
we have a chance to go do it. It starts on
After Saturday’s loss, Strong knows that
sitting in there and I pitch in what I feel we
the road again. It’s a tough thing. Now we
there is immense pressure on his defensive
need to go do and make sure everybody
have to go back on the road, and it’s up to
coaches to make sure their unit improves
has an understanding. I don’t get involved
us as a coaching staff to get them ready to
after fielding a historically bad Texas
so much in telling them this is what we have
go play on the road, and we’ve got to be
defense last year. While Strong never got
to go do. I’m sitting in the meetings and
able to handle adversity.”
specific on what he would tell the coaches
listening to everything they’re saying.”
to change, he knows adding his presence is a good start.
At the end of it all, Strong made it abunPart of the changes Strong knows needs
dantly clear he has to adjust. Strong plans
to be made on defense is putting his more
to make sure that happens.
“I can get more involved and I will be more
talented players on the field, regardless
involved,” Strong said. “It goes back to
of their age. One of the players that has
“It will get fixed,” Strong said. “The defense
accountability. I told our coaches you are
earned playing time is freshman Brandon
will get fixed, I can tell you that. It will get
a direct reflection of your position. I expect
Jones.
fixed. Whatever I need to do to get it fixed,
that each and every week when we go out
it’s going to happen. We’ll get it fixed.”
there and compete that coaches will be held
“He’s all over the place, the he goes and
accountable just like I’m held accountable
blocks a punt,” Strong said about Jones.
for how this team goes out and performs.”
“He’s someone that you have got to get on
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29
DEFENSELESS IN by Ian Boyd
STILLWATER — Some of the many dark thoughts that entered my mind during the second half of that game included such notions as, “I wonder how badly Forewarrened is injured?” “Where did Justice Hill come from?” and “Is there such a thing as a Pyrrhic defeat?” 30
N STILLWATER
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31
- TEXAS vs OKLAHOMA STATE -
J
ust the other day I was telling @shanew21, “if Texas insists
either that you drop the field safety down over the slot and play
on playing the 3-4 against spread sets and if Shane can’t
cover 3 or else you have to send one of those outside linebackers
throw deep then they’ll lose this game.” They did, he couldn’t, and
out over the slot to play cover 2. That’s why Texas’ 3-4 set has
so it was that Texas continued its run of road incompetence under
been predictable enough for me to dub it the “Hager is coming…”
Charlie Strong.
package, because you could be reasonably certain that he was coming on the blitz when the alternative is “Hager is chasing (op-
THOUGHT #1
posing slot receiver).”
THAT WAS A HORRIBLE DEFENSIVE GAME PLAN Sometimes Hager came on the blitz, other times he chased. What were they thinking?
Oklahoma State’s top slot WR Jalen McLeskey had four catches for 109 yards and two TDs. On the day Mason Rudolph threw 28
As I noted in my preview, Baylor held OSU to 3.9 yards per carry
passes for 392 yards (14 yards per pass), three TDs, and zero
playing a 3-2-6 dime package. Despite this fact, readily available
INTs. In case you skipped the part in parenthesis, I’m going to
to anyone with access to a television set and a media guide (or
go ahead and repeat the fact that Oklahoma State averaged 14
the internet), the Texas defensive staff felt that they needed to
yards every time they threw the ball.
play a 3-4 package in order to contend with OSU’s spread offense.
Beating Oklahoma State is all about staying on top of “possession receiver” James Washington (three catches, 91 yards, and a TD before Roach knocked him senseless), flooding the passing lanes, and getting a base pass-rush on Mason Rudolph. Stopping the run is truly secondary in an anti-2016 OSU game plan. Texas opted to regularly send extra pass-rushers, concede passing lanes, and failed to stay on top of Washington. Normally when coaches do something I don’t expect or understand I assume they probably know something I don’t and try to figure out what it might be. I can’t do that here, this was bafflingly awful.
THOUGHT #2 D’Onta Foreman
THAT WAS A TRULY HORRIBLE DEFENSIVE GAME PLAN
Not only did Charlie and his defensive staff borrow a game plan There’s a reason even the Pittsburgh Steelers rarely play base
from the 1990’s to stop a modern, spread passing attack, but they
3-4 personnel anymore and it’s that big, pass-rushing outside
didn’t even play the run well either! Justice Hill had 25 carries for
linebackers can’t get to the QB before he’s thrown the ball to a
135 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and a TD.
wide open slot receiver. As would have been obvious to anyone with access to Oklahoma As I noted in my preview, that package against a slot WR requires
32
State film, they ran a lot of two-back zone concepts with a lead
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- TEXAS vs OKLAHOMA STATE -
blocker. Stopping those kinds of run requires quick fills at inside
Despite this disadvantage, Buechele threw 33 passes for 239
linebacker and good overlap play from your secondary. Of course,
yards (7.2 yards per pass), one TD, and one INT.
Texas was all-in on stopping everything with aggressive play
The one INT was a bad one but that was a pretty gritty and solid
from the outside linebackers and the constantly rotating faces in
performance on the road for the true freshman. Texas’ offensive
the secondary all failed to provide good support against the run.
staff is clearly doing all they can to set their guys up for success
That’s how you give up five yards per carry to a main back despite playing a run-focused set. Additionally, I don’t think rotating so many players in the defensive backfield is serving Texas’ efforts to play good fundamentals and to leverage and tackle the ball as a unit. I know everyone wants to jerk starters and stick youngsters in there every time something goes wrong but I think the staff should simplify things and roll with the guys who prove they can do it in practice. Substitute less often and only to spell tired people, stop jerking everyone in and out of the game until communication and cohesiveness are team strengths. Texas gave up at least seven points due to coverage busts in the second-
Shane Buechele
ary, a new weekly tradition. and dropped 31 points on a solid defense on the road.
THOUGHT #3 FUTURE OPPONENTS ARE GOING TO CHEAT TO STUFF
Future opponents are going to key in on the fact that Texas seems
THE RUN
unwilling or unable to take deep shots. Eventually some team is going to load the box while playing press-man and I’m not sure
Unless I missed one or two (and it couldn’t have been more than
how Texas will respond. Hopefully with well placed deep shots of
that) Shane Buechele never even attempted, much less com-
the variety that Buechele was throwing regularly before he went
pleted, a deep ball in that game. His one fade to Dorian Leonard
to the locker room against Cal. It looks like this team is going to
was a dead duck that spent so much time in the air it drew a pass
have to outscore some good offenses to win games in the Big 12.
interference.
THOUGHT #4 When your freshman quarterback in an offense that’s all about
SPECIAL TEAMS?
going deep in the passing game, comes to a road game wearing a protective vest and never takes a deep shot, opponents are
Texas has a ton of natural advantages that come from all of the
going to take notice. What’s more, Texas had a RB draw play for
vast resources and tremendous talent they can bring to the 40
this contest that looked designed to punish teams for dropping the
Acres. One of them is on special teams. If your roster is perpetu-
linebackers to sit underneath the stop routes. Why do you think
ally being reloaded with aggressive young athletes that want to
they suspected they’d need that play?
prove they belong on the field then it shouldn’t be hard to field a good special teams unit.
insidetexas.com
33
- TEXAS vs OKLAHOMA STATE Charlie has completely passed up trying to leverage this advantage
Going 7-5 with a promising freshman quarterback, an exciting new
and Texas has often been lucky to break even on special teams
offense, a few big wins, and no bad losses might’ve been enough
from week to week. Against the Cowboys, Texas couldn’t even per-
for Charlie to get another year with the talent he’s assembled in
form at the level you’d expect from a lower-rung Texas high school
Austin. This was a bad loss and indicative of a staff that doesn’t
team on a Friday night.
deserve that extra year.
To miss more than one extra point in a season is pretty embarrass-
The offensive staff are doing a great job, credit to Charlie for as-
ing, to miss three in a single game (as well as a field goal) is frankly
sembling them in Austin after his initial hires went so poorly, but
remarkable. There may have been some questionable bull-rushing
a lot of coaches could assemble good offensive staffs with Texas’
allowed (you’ll notice that Texas later returned the favor against
resources. Charlie needs to be a plus at recruiting, overseeing his
OSU, which is frankly too unlikely to think that there wasn’t some-
trademark defense, and managing a cohesive overall team effort.
thing slipping past officiating), but this isn’t the first game where Texas has been incapable of kicking the ball through the uprights
The defense is an absolute mess and seems to be regressing
from short range.
in terms of tactics. The overall team effort is poor and the units don’t work well together. This team virtually never looks mentally
There was also a long special teams return surrendered to the
prepared to play on the road. The recruiting has been great but how
‘Pokes and an absence of any game-changing plays that could
long will that last with these results on the field?
have turned the game around. Lots of people are going to throw in the towel after this game and As I quipped on Twitter, “apparently Texas’ special teams don’t work
I can’t blame them. At this point it looks like Charlie is just bailing
without involving special forces.”
water out of a sinking vessel.
THOUGHT #5 Charlie can’t afford losses like this
YOU HYDR AT E
34
WE DON ATE
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- TEXAS vs OKLAHOMA STATE -
WHAT THEY SAID... VANCE BEDFORD “Right now, we’ve got to slow down a snowball going the wrong
STERLIN GILBERT
direction on defense.”
On QB Shane Buechele: “It’s still growth with him. “He’s just got to
MALIK JEFFERSON “One of the problems we’re
learn and just got to see some things.”
facing is we’re not believing in what we do”
31 - 49 26 329 239 6-16 1 29:22
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22 163 392 7-15 0 30:38 35
STRONG TAKES CON by Bill Frisbie
36
insidetexas.com
NTROL OF DEFENSE AUSTIN -- Charlie Strong will coach Texas’ beleaguered defense the rest of the season now that coordinator Vance Bedford has been demoted, the head coach affirmed at his weekly press conference following the 49-31 loss to Oklahoma State. The declaration comes just one week after Strong said another staff shakeup would not help the team. “I just think, at this time, right now, we need to do this,” Strong said, before adding, “At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what’s right for the program.” What a difference a day makes, and the 49-31 embarrassment at Oklahoma State was one of those days. Strong knows he can’t have any more like them. Saturday’s defensive debacle marked the 10th time in 29 games that Texas has lost by 18+ points under Strong. Bedford will now coach the secondary alongside assistant Clay Jennings. Strong has now dismissed/demoted eight assistants in just 2 ¼ seasons. “I don’t think this is desperate measures,” Strong said. “I’ve talked with Vance and the defensive staff, and they understand it. It’s not a matter of desperation as it is (them saying), ‘Hey. Coach. You’ve got to go do it’. I know this: I’ve done it before. I know where I can help us. Sometimes you have to bring new energy to some of these guys. I’m just hoping this will be a good move for them, and it will be.” Bedford’s demotion comes on the heels of two straight losses in which the defense was shredded for 99 points (106 actually).The 2015 defense was, statistically, the worst in program history. Now, Texas is on pace to shatter the school record for points-allowed after yielding 38.5 ppg in four outings. Maybe it was a morbid sense of curiosity that prompted Athletic Director Mike Perrin to attend a Monday press conference for the first time this season, or maybe Perrin wanted to make sure Strong stuck to the script. The reason, apparently, had nothing to do with offering Strong the level of support that Perrin extended last. That kind of assurance has yet to emerge, Strong acknowledged. “I guess he’s making sure I’m okay,” was Strong’s attempt at gallows humor. “I haven’t jumped off the stadium yet.”
37
- stream of consi__sness -
The defense, however, has careened over a cliff like Thelma and
at .500 since then. Whatever evidence that Texas can now handle
Louise.
prosperity has yet to manifest itself on the field.
The defensive demises, and the latest spin of Texas’ coaching carou-
That’s why Strong is now fielding questions about his own job security.
sel, was so distracting that reporters asked just two questions about
The perception, Strong was bluntly told, is that he mismanages his
Saturday’s opponent who just happens to be…umm, hang on…let me
staff and that his team is disorganized.
check the schedule…oh, yeah…Oklahoma. “When you talk about not being organized, I’d like to know what quesLast season’s upset of the Sooners was (briefly) dubbed as Strong’s
tion they’d like to ask me. We know what’s happening. With the staff,
signature win, but the program has gone 5-5 since then.
changes are going to be made.”
“I go back to that game all the time,” Strong said, “because that could
Strong was asked why anyone should believe his vow to “fix” the prob-
have been the turning point right there. It takes one game to turn your
lem when he’s made those kind of promises for more than two years.
program. Now, we’re at a point where we know how to handle (a big
Strong said he “would hope” fans would believe him but, frankly, it’s a
win).”
promise Mack Brown made during each of his last four years on the job. It means that players who have been with the program for at least
Upon further review, the 50-47 double-overtime season-opening
four years are, again, hearing question about the head coach’s job
against Notre Dame wasn’t a “big win”; it was Fool’s Gold. It marks the
status. As such, Strong has already instructed the Horns to “go play
only matchup this season where a coordinator at both schools have
and let me handle everything else. It doesn’t matter because what’s
either been dismissed or demoted. The 2015 season-ending win at
going to be said is going to be said. We were in a similar position last
Baylor came against a fourth-team QB, and the programs remains
year, and we went through the same thing last season.”
Poona Ford (95)
38
insidetexas.com
- stream of consi__sness -
It’s just that last season was a 5-7 season. The problems have nothing to do with talent, Strong continues to insist, and he tried to double-down on that message during Sunday’s team meeting. That’s when he presented the remainder of the 2016 schedule and, team-by-team, told players that the only program that matches Texas’ talent level is the one it faces Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. Strong was wise to not similarly assess the levels of coaching of each program. If the problems are continually listed in terms of missed tackles, miscommunication, improper alignment, gap integrity, mistrust, or even trying too hard, it harkens back to oldest of football adages: it all comes back to coaching. Now, Strong is going to go back to the one thing he does best: calling a
Vance Bedford
defense. “Play-calling is a rhythm. You’ve got to
have confidence, you can start believing you can do it. I could put in
get in rhythm, and you’ve got to try to keep people off-balance, especially against the really good offenses in our conference…What’s hurting us right now is we’re not tackling well and we’re not getting turnovers. When you get turnovers, you’re limiting possessions for the other offense. That’s what we’re not doing right now.” Inquiring minds want to know: what practical difference can Strong make with the defense?
a scheme right now, and they would all be fired-up, because they’re thinking ‘This is for me. I’ve got a chance to go make a play.’” I’m not superstitious, but I’m beginning to wonder who at Belmont Hall broke a mirror: it’s been seven years of bad football in Austin. If there’s a silver lining, other than RB D’Onta Foreman is expected to play Saturday, it would be found in Strong’s closing statement. The only other time he coached a defense this bad was the season before Florida won the 2008 NC. There’s little question that Texas has the
Strong’s response had more to do with the intangibles.
playmakers to still be in the mix for the Big 12 title, and there was little
“It’s not so much that you have to go in and make a big change. Sometimes when they hear a different voice, and they hear me all the time, and now it’s like, ‘Here he comes, he’s going to run the defense’, and they know I’ve run the defense before. You’re trying to
question entering the season that the Longhorns are a year away. The biggest question, now, is who will be head coach at The University of Texas come January.
give them a shot of energy and give them some confidence. If you
insidetexas.com
39
Kraken_Texas_mechanical.indd 1
5/19/11 2:17:09 PM
RECRUITING NOTES by
Justin Wells
cornerback commitments take visits
T
he two CBs from the Class of 2017, Josh Thompson and Kobe Boyce, took official visits over the weekend. Thompson hit Fort Worth to see
his former school TCU and Boyce went to Norman to watch Oklahoma get humbled by Ohio State. On the surface, this would look uncomfortable. Your two DB pledges visiting a former girlfriend and potential date could be asking for disaster. Except in this case, it wasn’t. In fact, both prospects asked the Texas staff if they could visit and Strong told both of them to go. Remember, he’s crazy like that. Strong trusts his kids and they know it. It’s one of the reason’s his players buy-in so easily. When there’s a mutual trust, good things happen. About Boyce: “It was real nice,” said Boyce about Norman. “It was good they lost too (insert smiley face emoji).” And Strong was cool with you heading over to the other side of the Red River? “Yes sir. (Strong) wanted me to visit,” Boyce said. About Thompson: “It was cool, but no worries,” said Thompson. “I’m all Texas.”
JOSH THOMPSON
When I wanted to talk more about his visit, he wanted to talk more about the
photo: Justin Wells/IT
emergence of his close friend, Texas safety Brandon Jones.
Austin. Amazing! That’s my bro. I knew he would he worked his butt off.”
“It’s great seeing him do so well,” Thompson said. “I’m so ready to get to
These two are good to go.
Join the Conversation www.insidetexas.com
RECRUITING NOTES Manning Named US Army All-American
O
mar Manning is gracious. In every aspect of life.
Football is the fun part after being named to the Army All American team and receiving
his jersey in a ceremony in the auditorium of
After a slow start, his Lancaster Tigers have
put it into gear after an opening-season loss.
The Tigers are 4-1 (2-0 in district) with a road
battle against Mansfield Summit on the docket.
Lancaster High School on Tuesday. Just the
“Coach Gilbert has been putting together a
country means something to him.
executing,” Manning said.
opportunity to honor his family, school, and his
great game plan and my teammates have been
“It’s just a great honor,” said Manning, one
As for recruiting, the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder
Texas for 2017. “It’s been a dream of mine
sonal Top 5. While most prospects are tweeting
I’m headed in the right direction. It’s a great
it in a more humble and modest way.
of the top wide receivers in the nation, and in since I was younger. Hard work paying off.
honor to represent my country and play with some great players too.”
one loss, but they’ll get it together. They are moving in the right direction.”
“I saw the Spring tape, and I saw how it was
going to be,” Manning said. “When I saw the Notre Dame game, I was like ‘yeah, this is going to be a great system.’”
While most schools use one or two coaches in most prospects’ recruitments, Texas uses four.
keeps a lot close to the vest, including his per-
Manning talks to OC Sterlin Gilbert, WR
a weekly Top 10, Manning quietly goes about
well as the big man, Strong. Williams stopped
Four teams to watch are Texas, TCU, OU,
coaches, Charlie Williams and Jeff Traylor, as by Lancaster last week.
“My relationship with Coach Williams is
great,” said Manning. “We talk about things on the field and off the field. He’s a great person.”
Strong is also involved, as well as Austin Westlake signal-caller and Texas QB commit Sam Ehlinger, who keeps close tabs on the 4-star from the Metroplex.
“I’ve talked to (Strong) a few times face-to-
face,” Manning said. “I like the type of person he is and how he cares about more things than football — just life in general.”
Manning mentioned possible taking an official visit to TCU this weekend for the OU game,
and maybe hitting Lubbock (with a teammate)
for a Texas Tech game. I’ve also heard a Texas OV could happen later in the season.
A&M has re-entered the picture,” based on
how they’ve played this year, they’re in there.” OMAR MANNING - photo: Justin Wells/IT
But I don’t know if they’re a real threat just yet.
It means something to Manning.
and Texas A&M. And the Longhorns get mentioned first.
At the end of the day, it still looks like a
try everyday,” Manning said. “So playing that
“They are still one of my top teams, of course,”
just grateful to be an Army All American and
so it feels good to do that.”
great. The offense is doing great. They have
“They put their lives on the line for our coun-
game for them, they get to come and watch it,
42
Manning said. “Shane (Buechele) is doing
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Texas-TCU battle. But for now, Manning is continue heading into the right direction.
RECRUITING NOTES Filiaga and Sneed showing interest in Texas
W
hile Strong and his staff have their
and family. So my gut says Texas is right in the
they miss on one of those three, they’ve got
sights on who they want for 2017, two
thick of this.
three others they really like - Charleston
names keep coming up in recruiting circles that make me believe UT could make a serious push
Rambo, CeeDee Lamb, and RJ Sneed. You Now, Mr. Sneed.
closer to NSD; Chuck Filiaga and RJ Sneed.
bunch, but the staff doesn’t feel confident pullFor the 6-foot-2, 185-pound WR from Cypress
Let’s start with Chucky. The 6-foot-6,
could throw Lewisville’s Tyrell Shavers in that ing him away from Alabama and nor do I.
Ranch, recruiting hasn’t been as much fun as
335-pound 4-star OL from Aledo prospect is an unknown in the recruiting world. Not that coaches and writers aren’t acutely aware of the massive young man from the west coast, it just seems nobody can get a decent read on where this kid is leaning. The guy is making the rounds. He was named an Army All American last week. He visited Oregon officially earlier in September and will be hitting Michigan for another OV this weekend. For the longest it seemed Texas would be on the outside looking in, but Strong and OL coach Matt Mattox have made up some major ground with Filiaga and his mother. That’s right; mom is a Texas fan and enamored with Charlie Strong. Color me shocked.
RJ SNEED - photo: Justin Wells/IT
it seems. The 3-star, underrated IMO, recently
Now Sneed’s offer sheet is noteworthy: Ala-
He visited UT unofficially for the Notre Dame
de-committed from TCU. Not sure if it was
bama, Auburn, Michigan State, Cal, and Ole
game and I believe it was that night that planted
a mutual parting of the ways, but Sneed has
Miss. I’m hearing the Runnin’ Rebels are the
a seed that Strong/Mattox could harvest closer
made it known to college recruiters; I’m avail-
front-runners at the moment. Oxford is nice
to February. Mattox even stopped by Aledo
able.
this time of the year. My question is what are
to see Filiaga last week as Texas continues to build on that relationship.
A&M, Tech, and UH thinking letting this kid One of the schools he’s reached out to, consis-
potentially leave the state? Or Texas for that
tently; Texas.
matter.
but with Chuck’s family now in North Texas,
Now, we know Texas wants three WRs in 2017.
My gut: If Texas misses on one of the Big 3,
staying closer to home is important for Chuck
Those are clearly identified in Damion Miller
Sneed becomes a priority. He’s already built
and his family. He’ll still visit Oklahoma and
(John Tyler), Jalen Reagor (Waxahachie),
a good relationship with WR coach Charlie
Nebraska so this recruitment is still in its
and Omar Manning (Lancaster). Miller is in,
Williams and if he visits Austin in the future, it
infancy.
Manning looks good, and Reagor is still a
might mean an offer could be near. We won’t
work-in-progress.
know that in September, but we will closer to
We used to think he would return to California,
My gut: A source close to the staff tells me they are making “major strides” with Filiaga
the end of the season. But UT’s contingency plans are as such - if
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