Texas made the way-too-early top 20

[BrownCounty]

Texas gets better every year.  Just not in any way the casual observer can see.

Next year all of our six losses will probably be by a TD or less.

And to this I sadly say, POTD.

[utee94]

Yup.  Maybe by 2020, we'll be able to go 6-6 with each and every loss by only one point.  That would be some serious progress!

[BrownCounty]

To be fair, on objective terms we did finish above .500 this year.  I'm going to view it that way, and hope it progresses from there.

I have already stated that I'm not sure Herman is the guy who gets us back to 10-win nirvana, but I do believe he is at minimum a stepping stone.

[longhorn320]

90% of all coaches are stepping stones

[CousinFreddie]

Texas gets better every year.  Just not in any way the casual observer can see.

Next year all of our six losses will probably be by a TD or less.

Brilliant post, and a great example of the Hookster tip-toeing carefully around the mythical ECFGs.
Maybe someday they will actually reward you!

[utee94]

Brilliant post, and a great example of the Hookster tip-toeing carefully around the mythical ECFGs.
Maybe someday they will actually reward you!

They did, in 2005.  So I guess we're due again in 2040.

[Mr Tulip]

Recruiting OL in college is insanely difficult. What you want to end up with is 10 guys around 310 with explosive first steps, an unrivaled understanding of defensive postures and blocking schemes, and a nasty streak where their heart should be.

What you start with is a whole gaggle of 17 year old kids in the 280-ish range who have never left home. Who can add muscle and not slow down, and which ones  had to hit the weight room every day to max out at 280? Which ones can pick up the nuances of footwork to be that coveted left tackle, and which ones will be straight ahead guards? Who's going to study those collegiate stunts and twists, and who's going to get caught blocking air when a late LB blitzes his gap?

Rarely does a OL player come from high school ready-made. They're almost all projects. Texas has a lot of projects right now (some of those projects are in the MASH unit as well). This years' high school class isn't chock full of good prospects, but Texas has a couple. More immediately, they also have several interested graduate and JUCO transfers.

A good OL is more than the sum of its parts. Chemistry and the ability to anticipate is key. You don't know what you've got until someone beats on it in anger. Then, it's too late to do anything about it.

[CousinFreddie]

Nice analysis Mr T

[CharleyHorse46]

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.  

[Thumper]

Droog is right about recruiting OL is tough.  OU had a 5* (Montgomery?) and one of the highest rated OL they ever had decide to give up football without playing a snap.  Others took a weird path such as Lane Johnson who came in as  JUCO QB, moved to TE, DE, then to LT and a 1st round NFL pick.  OU's 2005 line was a disaster even though 4 of them went on to NFL careers.
Attrition is normally high for OL.  I once read programs need to bring in 5 OL every class to be able to field a 2 deep.  The OC and OL coaches make a big difference as well.  Kevin Wilson wanted his OL to be able to run Bill Bedenbaugh wants maulers.  One of the reasons I hated to see Smitty go was his ability to develop players the way their position coaches wanted them to develop.  Kevin Wilson/Josh Heuple had very complex blocking schemes which meant the smartest center started even though they might be undersized such as Jon Cooper or Ty Darlington.  When Riley came in as OC, Darlington said he was "insulted" by the small number of blocking schemes but they let the OL mesh better and get the best athletes out there.
I just hope the Sooners can keep Bedenbaugh for a long time to come.

[TexasFan]

We lost to Texas Tech 

[BrownCounty]

In P5, you gotta win the trenches.  I just wonder where this registers on Herman's radar.

Well blow me down!!

Herman hired Auburn's OL coach and made him co-OC.  Looks like Herman does value what goes on in the trenches.

I am impressed with this move, but it does have a Mack Brownish feel to it.  Why?  Because we had to title the guy "co-OC".  Methinks Mack is teaching Hermie how to play CEO.

Anyway, I like the acquisition.  Good move!

[utee94]

Yeah, remember in 2013 when Mack hired back Greg Robinson for "quality control."  Not as insurance against Manny Diaz of course, just for "quality control."

Perhaps we now have a new "Co-OC" whose job will be "quality control" as well.

Anyway, pretty much ANY changes to the offensive coaching staff will be improvements, so here's hoping.

[Mr Tulip]

Since Texas already has both an OL coach and an OC, this is a nudge to Warehime (the current OL coach) that he needs to update his resume. Herman developed and executed the offensive game plan against Mizzou by himself. Obviously, he won't be able to do that through an entire regular season, so someone's being the OC.

Hand likes to run the "run 'em hard in the middle, then pass when they're bunched up" type spread favored by Auburn. He's also done work integrating RichRod's pass happy spread from West Virginia's championship era. He's fully conversant in OC-talk, and stresses having a plan to bait defensive coordinators with tendencies - then going against them. He'll be involved in game planning, and can relay how his OL plays from the field, but likely won't start off calling plays during game time.

That can change if all the excuses I made for Tim Beck turn out to be just that. If a functional OL still has him misfiring, Hand can run the game just fine.