Everything you say is absolutely true, Doppel, but... so what?
That's the way OLs are for everybody and that's the way OLs have always been, but the whining coaches at Texas and the sympathetic local media have convinced us that we're "poor Texas." We're thin on the OL. We don't have any depth. We have injuries. Oh woe is us."
When it happened in 2014, I ate the cheese. I was like, "This is terrible but it can't be helped. Charlie had to kick those lazy pot smokers off the team. Who knew Espinoza would go down?"
When it happened three years later, I refused the cheese.
The previous coaching staff spent the last three years ensuring a 2014 wouldn't happen again by seeking out, assessing and plugging in early three star treasures in Connor Williams, Patrick Vahe and Zach Shackleford while bringing in Terrell Cuney, Alex Anderson, Elijah Rodriguez, Tristan Nickelson, Garrett Thomas, Buck Major, Brandon Hodges, Tope Imade, Denzel Okafor, JP Urquidez, Jean Delance, and Patrick Hudson and moving Jake McMillon from the defense.
In an interview on August 28, 20187, Tom Herman said, "Excitingly, I think our strength on both sides of the ball is the line, offensive and defensive line. I think we still need to find a consistent, productive right tackle. Thos other four guys may be the national championship year at Ohio Statt that I was a part of, that might be the only other offensive line that could compare with these guys so I'm excited to see them play."
Brandon Hodges became a graduate transfer, Jean Delance transferred, and Elijah Rogriguez went out before the season with a season ending surgery on his high ankle sprain. Patrick Hudson tore his ACL and was lost for the season in the second game. Connor Williams suffered a torn meniscus in the third game of the year and was out for seven games. Zach Shackleford suffered a concussion in the seventh game and was limited for four games. Denzel Okafor missed the TCU game.
Those things happen.
Other teams have injuries too. Other teams have to start inexperienced players. Other teams start freshmen. That's life.
I'm just tired of all of the excuses.