Mack Playing Freshman

by txlonghorn on Jan 18, 2007 7:03 PM CST Comment 16 comments

Since we are talking about who should be starting in the secondary next year many of you said it was going to melton and griffin because they were seniors.

You guys are probably right and Mack needs to get away from playing seniors and play the best players no matter what class. Over the past couple of seasons he has lost games because of him being afraid to put freshman on the field until it was to late. Granted their have been instances, Sloan, B.J., and Roy but rarely has he done it. Was one example.

If he said Chris Simms is my qb from day one we would not have had that controversy. Who remembers when he was scared to put Ced Benson in the game vs. OU and his reason was pass protection same thing Da Bears are saying (when we all know its that Lovie doesn't want to affend the veteran). Ced Could have won us the game that year. But mack was to scared and then after the game Mack realized it.

Remember in 2003 by Mack not starting VY from day one. He had to put in Chance because he was more "experienced" what a joke. That cost us the Arkansas game and then he put in VY to save his job vs. K-State. That was the beginning of the VY legend.

Then Mack didn't reward Vince with start instead he put in Chance on the first series and he throws a pick on the second pass of the game (Game Over and the rout is on). Why Mack? He always does this after he needs the guy. Following my trend here. How about in 2004 when he didn't put in RT vs. OU when we desperatly needed a spark in a game that was really winnable and that we could have won and(in my opinion should have won) if Mack wasn't scared. After the OU game in 2004 he decides to put him in.

I know that there have been instances where he has played freshman but don't go JoePa on us Mack.
Play the best players. We have a chance to run the table next year with our schedule. Its probably a two game season. OU and A&M and thats it.

So don't repeat the same mistake over again. If a freshman or underclassmen are better than a senior or junior start him. Please because Marcus Griffin needs to get out of the secondary put him on special teams.

For once do something that Bob Stoops and Pete Carrol do.

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Well......

You can't hang that Sow loss on Chance Mock. He led our offense to 28 points which is plenty enough to win a home game. That Arkansas offense ran right over our face for 265 rushing yards!! Arkansas led the time-of-possession stat by 10+ minutes! They played keep away with the ball and our defense owned that loss.

Had Major Applewhite been granted the real opportunity to retain his starting position his senior season, he would have finished with close to 11,000 career passing yards. He has all of those passing records because he was the better QB.

Mack does need to start more underclassmen. Way too many seniors start for no other reason than spending time in the program.

Simms still holds the school record for INT's returned for a TD. Even today, the guy continues to repeat the same mistakes! He refuses to move laterally in the pocket to create passing lanes, he has numerous balls knocked down at the LOS, he locks on to receivers, he refuses to look off the safeties, he takes too many sacks and his TO numbers suck.

--- We have pansies scheduling our patsies. ---

by HornChamps on Jan 18, 2007 7:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Chance

I'm not saying Chance was to blame for the loss but VY would not have let us lose in that game. Chance played pretty well but during the middle quarters our O got bogged down because of the qb pressure.

VY would have escaped the rush and helped out our running game which went absolutely no where for the the first part of the season until VY got in there.

Remember the K-State game which VY led us to victory. Thats exactly how the Arkansas game went except that we lost. Our offense got run over and our offense couldn't run the ball or protect the passer. VY came in and we won.

Vince Young is a beast.

by txlonghorn on Jan 18, 2007 8:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Simms wasn't that bad.

Applewhite was not that better either. Remember in 2000 vs. OU. Who played better? Neither did. The major folklore has been built on four games the nebraska game (twice) the Colorado game and the Washington game.

People need to let go of Major. He wasn't that great. He didn't win a title just like Chris didn't win one. Yeah he has two victories over OU but they sucked back then.

Mack made the right choice to stick with Chris. Major was a good and gritty player but he couldn't make the throws that Chris could.

Vince Young is a beast.

by txlonghorn on Jan 18, 2007 8:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's a tough choice

The mental capacity of Major on the field was second to none - that is, his understanding of who should be where and why, etc. That is why he is such a hot coaching commodity now.

The physical aspects of Chris Simms were phenomenal. Strong arm, pedigree, good size, etc. If anything, he threw the ball too hard at times and never seemed to develop the touch necessary to excel.

Thus, who do you play? The kid that can make the throws or the one that knows where to throw?

Personally, I'm kind of glad that Jevan decided to transfer, as it would have been the second coming of this debate. Colt is clearly the gritty player that understands the intricacies while Jevan seemed to have the upside on the physical side of the equation.

Bottom line, both Major and Chris were solid college QBs. They should both get their due.

by the usual suspects on Jan 18, 2007 10:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You have no clue

Major was the best QB on the 40 acres up until the moment VY stepped foot here. Period. You don't need a laser rocket arm in college, you just need to know where the ball should be put, and then put it there, and that's why Major should have gotten the nod.

The 2000 OU debacle was more than a retarded ass dual QB issue. It was a conditioning, coaching, and mental toughness issue. OU owned/destroyed the LOS on both sides of the ball because they were better prepared mentally and physically than our guys, period.

Mack underestimated the athletes that OU had, and Stoops' ability to get them ready. He then overestimated that ability every game up unitl VY took control in 2005. 2001 was completely winnable, except that when your game plan is run left, run right, throw long for an incomplete, you aren't going to go very far. 2002 was again winnable, and we had hybil down, but then for some reason we never learned that when you rush a QB that runs like a RB with the strength of a FB, you probably shouldn't blitz on every fucking 3rd and long.

by Hornbud on Jan 19, 2007 8:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Matt Melton graduating?

I thought his eligibility is up.

I see it being Robert Joseph and Marcus starting at safety.

The freshmen that I think will start would be Tray Allen and Chykie Brown (RS).

by FBuck on Jan 19, 2007 1:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think Keenan Robinson

is going to get some serious playing time at Linebacker. Between him and I hope Sergio Kindle getting increased playing time, we should have a couple of speed backers for the next few years.

I also think that Brown will get starting time at CB, and Mack might as well start Tray Allen first day, the kid can play.

Just Remember, No Matter What Happens, ou SUCKS.

by ouALWAYSsux on Jan 19, 2007 9:02 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

dvehabovic...

With exception of your comments on Applewhite, which might be the dumbest thing I've ever read, you make some solid points. I agree that Mack sometimes values tenure with the team way too much, and when there is a more talented player on the bench it becomes grossly apparent.

HOWEVER, could you please work on your writing. You make some valid points on this website, but it takes a lot out of me (and I know I'm not the only one) to read your incoherent stream of consciousness sometimes. It reads like you've had too much to drink. If that's the case, it's a simple fix: only comment sober. If not, you have some stuff to work on.

The degree says TCU, but the heart says "Hook 'em"

by TCU Horn Fan on Jan 19, 2007 10:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

i think

he has cleaned it up a lot.
I dont agree with the Major viewpoint, but the writing is getting more legible.

by kicker on Jan 19, 2007 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Pete Carroll

I agree that Mack needs to become sort of like Pete, but not to that extent. Carroll opens up every position during spring and fall drills, and the player with the best practices becomes the starter. It doesn't matter if it's a freshman or senior, anyone can play at any time. Thats also why he has such recruiting success. Incoming recruits know they have a chance to prove themselves as freshmen and get playing time early.

I think Mack should do that with the most questionable positions (secondary, most obviously). But for ones where there's really no debate (WR, QB as of now), let the #1s practice normally.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on Jan 19, 2007 12:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

One other thing that philosophy might lead to

Pete Carroll also has alot of players who leave early. I wonder how many leave because they know he overlooks the seniority. There is always a chance he will pass on the Sr to play the stud freshman.

by lalonghorn on Jan 19, 2007 6:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree and disagree

When it comes to returning players, they pretty much keep their position with Mack. It shouldn't be that way. Let me give you an example.

Colt, in your estimation should automatically get the nod because he was a proven winner. OK, I have no problem with Colt. He has proven to be a really good QB. For this exercise, let's just say that Sherrod Harris is the next VY and maybe even more. Blasphemy, I know, but until we see him play no one can say with certainty that he won't be. Remember that fans wanted VY to switch to WR.

Anyway, if Sherrod were the type of player that leads a team to several championships, how can you know it if you don't give him a shot to compete?

I agree that you have to have room to take into account their previous performances. But, how can you know that the "best player available" isn't the one behind the incumbant if you don't open up every position, if not just a little?

If it weren't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable.

by GoHorns on Jan 22, 2007 2:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Pete's system is working

Pete Carroll's USC team will have 10 returning starters on their defense next season. I can't recall a Mack team ever returning 10 starters on either side of the ball. Given Pete Carroll's 5 consecutive Conference Championships, 4-1 record in BCS Bowls and 2 consecutive NC's, I'd take a few Texas seniors leaving early so we could better emulate Carroll's success.

In Pete Carroll's 5 drafts, he has placed more players in the NFL draft than Mack has in his eight(8) drafts. His players leave early because they are confident Carroll's staff has properly prepared them for the next level.

Players taken in the NFL Draft:
Year....USC....Texas
2002.....2.......2
2003.....5.......4
2004.....4.......4
2005.....5.......3
2006....11.......6
______
Total...27.......19

'99-'01 UT picks- 7
_______
........27.......26

--- We have pansies scheduling our patsies. ---

by HornChamps on Jan 19, 2007 8:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mack is no Pro HC

BUT he is a hell of a college head coach. He is a father figure who likes his senior players to get a chance to play before graduation. He does make a good atmosphere here at UT. That's why so few underclassmen declare for the draft.

I think it's a good thing that he is not like stoops or carroll. There is a difference between college and pro sports. College sports are not JUST about winning. If I was a highschool kid, I would have preferred to play for Mack. Duh!

by longhornie on Jan 19, 2007 11:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Who in the hell would prefer their coach to be like that pompous 'bag Carroll? Ugh.

The Humanitarian!

Barf.

by Peter Bean on Jan 21, 2007 5:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

When the USC media machine mentions Back to Back NC's it should have a disclaimer.

As if the BCS doesnt have enough problems with determining the teams that play for the title. You have the AP complicating things with its "crowning" of their champion.

by lalonghorn on Jan 21, 2007 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs