A Tale of Two Quinns

[X Misn Tx]

I’m struggling with this assessment. While Baxter was RB # 1, and Blue is/was RB # 2, I don’t think you can say that Christian Clark would have been #3. What I’m saying is that we lost one of our top three backs, not two.

To me the significance of you losing Baxter is difficult to assess. Most expected a break out year this year, but frankly, many felt that he was a bit of a disappointment in his freshman year. Not an indictment or criticism of him, just an observation rooted in reality. Don’t get me wrong, Baxter is a big loss. But last year, the tough yards were made by Jonathan Brooks until got hurt, not Baxter.

Imagine this team with Brooks still on the roster. That would be something.

I'm just going off of what the 3-deep was at the time of the injuries.

 

[Horns11]

Been discussing the QB role with Aggies. Not the TexAgs type, but more rational persons.

When you swear an allegiance to a QB in the era of NIL, that's pretty much it. It's tough to go back on your word to a starting QB, and it's tough to fix problems with that starter if he's embedded into the system and has no motivation beyond draft position.

Therein lies the problem with OU's situation from the end of last year: the staff was completely fine with telling Gabriel to bow out and get a decent gig elsewhere because they had made a deal with Arnold. I don't even care about Hawkins or whether Thompson was actually ever going to play... they knew their allegiance would be to Arnold for the future.

A&M: "Weigman is our guy and we've done our best to build a program around him. Reed will be a nice changeup if we need one, but Weigman is our guy." Well, the **** hit the fan in the first half of the LSU game, and Reed saved the day. Now what? It helps that they have a new coach who can do whatever he wants, but not everyone has that luxury.

I fear that our coaches can't tell when's when for Ewers. They'll point to "17 straight completions" without any regard for the rest of the game (10-20 for 76 yards, 2 picks, 0 scores). He seems to be a part-time superhero. I'll take that over Swoopes or Case McCoy or whatever, but the loyalty can only extend as far as team success.

If we get into a situation over the next 3 games (and I think we will, especially against Arkansas) where we need the QB to be mistake-free, I'm fully counting on being disappointed. Whether that's a function of injury or not, the coaches have a responsibility to get the QBs prepared. Not worry about their draft status.

 

[baoklhorn]

Gerry Hamilton of OTF laid out for me this morning what I have been trying to process, and understand.

If the defense sits back in zone, perhaps two high, doesn’t disguise coverages much and doesn’t pressure, Quinn can be lethal with the short and mid range passes. But when the defense gets creative and has the athletes, when they pressure and disguise, Quinn has proven to be a liability. The book is out on Quinn.

We saw the former strategy from Vanderbilt yesterday in the first half, and Quinn hit 17 straight short and medium range passes. They changed their defense in the second half, and with just mediocre athletes on the other side, Quinn was average at best. Put elite athletes on the field like Georgia, TAM and a few others, and you are probably going to get an 11 sack performance over two games, or close.

Some choose to place much of the blame on the OL. Sure, they deserve some. And to his credit, Sark attempts to deflect criticism away from his quarterback.

True, the OL may not be playing at an elite level and they are making mistakes, but the quarterback has to help them. If he is unable to move around the pocket, get out of trouble and step up when he needs to, or take off, the outcome is not going to be good.

A sitting duck QB is an OLs worst nightmare, and with QE, that’s what we have.

Where am I going with us? If it was my decision to make, I would seriously consider moving to Arch after the bye week. Could he struggle? Absolutely. Could the offense potentially take a step back. Perhaps. But to me, it might be a risk worth taking given the ultimate goal this season. Arch brings a skill set that Ewers simply does not possess. A skill set that we are going to need to reach the highest heights.

Can Quinn get us into the playoffs? I think so. Can Quinn take us to National Championship? Without a Herculean effort by the OL, and brilliant play-calling and scheming by Sark, I don’t believe there’s much of a chance.

It was James Street and his masterful manipulation of the wishbone that took us to an NC in 1969. A transcendent Vince Young rose above, in 2005. And a versatile leader, Colt, took us to the precipice in 2009 before the injury. Each had a diverse skill set, and all three had leadership skills off the charts. If Quinn is a leader, he might be the quietest one I’ve ever seen.

I think it might be time for a change…if we believe that we have a reasonable shot at getting to the top of the mountain, this year.

All are very good points that I agree with. I recommend watching this weeks Monday presser, where Sark explains the parody of errors, untimely penalties, tipped balls that turns what would have been a
42 10 win into the 27 24 squeaker.
That being said, the best way to handle the next game and to avoid controversy is to let Quinn start, then pull him and replace with Arch if results are unsatisfactory. IMHO

 

[SabreHorn]

ba & Duke,

Y'all watch the OU game and how many times OU did NOT have a safety on the right side of the field or that safety cheated up before the snap. UGa did the same.

 

[WorsterMan]

If we get into a situation over the next 3 games (and I think we will, especially against Arkansas) where we need the QB to be mistake-free, I'm fully counting on being disappointed.

I too fear this, ESPECIALLY vs. the hawgs.

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

How did we go from an elite level "graded as one of if not the the best OL in the country" with a heisman candidate quarterback to the OL can't block Vanderbilt and our Heisman candidate cant be heisman candidate if the OL can't block in two games?

Something doesn't pass the smell test here.

 

[mchammer]

How did we go from an elite level "graded as one of if not the the best OL in the country" with a heisman candidate quarterback to the OL can't block Vanderbilt and our Heisman candidate cant be heisman candidate if the OL can't block in two games?

Something doesn't pass the smell test here.

Opposing defenses have found a way to frustrate Sark’s offense. It’s up to Sark to counter move.

 

[Horns11]

How did we go from an elite level "graded as one of if not the the best OL in the country" with a heisman candidate quarterback to the OL can't block Vanderbilt and our Heisman candidate cant be heisman candidate if the OL can't block in two games?

Something doesn't pass the smell test here.

It's hard to explain, but in a nutshell, we're not great in situational offense. Some offensive coaches thrive on other teams bringing pressure. Sark probably has an idea of what we're SUPPOSED to do, but the execution hasn't been there.

Having Baxter would help immensely on 1st and 2nd down, so we wouldn't be forced to throw it to the flats every damn time.

Opposing safeties don't even have to look at QE to know where the ball is going. He toyed with CSU when this happened, but you can't play street ball against SEC opponents as successfully.

I'd love to say that this will get better over time, but that time has elapsed. This OL group has been together long enough that we should be peaking. We're losing at least three of them (if not all of them because of early draft declarations or portalling), so it's not going to be easier for Arch next season.

 

[Chinstrap]

Hummm, that’s either a harsh criticism or a Sark indictment I’d say.

He has a lot of skill with his arm. If he needs to improve other areas of his game, I wonder which coach is better for him to get this development. Most talking heads think Sark might be the best quarterback coach at the college level. If Quinn needs better coaching, there is always the Portal.
I am a fan and think that he will finish his college career strong.

 

[ViperHorn]

Having Baxter would help immensely on 1st and 2nd down, so we wouldn't be forced to throw it to the flats every damn time.

Opposing safeties don't even have to look at QE to know where the ball is going. He toyed with CSU when this happened, but you can't play street ball against SEC opponents as successfully.

Amen

 

[Pomspoms]

I wonder if Arch should b starting.
Arch is better at the deep pass and scrambling!
Sure Quinn can hit a lot of short passes and complete many in a row but Arch can do the same thing.
Yes Quinn has more experience but if he is no threat to complete a deep pass then that works to the defense's advantage.
And then there is Arch's scrambling ability. He reminds me of a gazelle at times.
Does the preseason build up of Quinn effect Sark's decisions.

 

[Horns11]

Watching Mahomes and Mayfield last night was a lesson in coveting what's possible at our level:

-- Both QBs had the TE be the leading receiver (in Mahomes' case, over half the receptions were to different TEs). We have Helm, while Davis and Niblack are available and can contribute. It helped loosen up safeties and LBs for both the run game and eventually finding open WRs in man.

-- Both QBs had short scrambles to pick up 1st downs.

-- Both QBs only averaged about 6.5 per throw, but neither threw a pick while playing complementary football and not allowing their defense to be put in a bad position. The passing game was an extension of the run game. Mike Leach was always great at this.

-- KC had Hopkins make a couple of circus catches, which are fun to watch, but we have the talent at WR to do those 50/50 balls on occasion. Like Wingo.

-- Both defenses played well, so it shows that even if you have a QB firing on all cylinders, you still need help beyond the talent level.

I think the main takeaway is that you can have a QB play really, really well and it still not be enough for a team win, but having one who plays mediocre or even poorly is definitely enough to sink you.

 

[horninchicago]

I think QE is more mobile than this thread and others make him out to be. He has been prone to injury, hence why he is leery of running, IMO. He used to be able to run and get 1st downs. Not anymore.

 

[dukesteer]

I think QE is more mobile than this thread and others make him out to be. He has been prone to injury, hence why he is leery of running, IMO. He used to be able to run and get 1st downs. Not anymore.

HIC, I’ve been pondering your message since I read it about an hour ago. I was trying to remember a Texas quarterback less mobile than Ewers. I came up with no answer so I “phoned a friend.” He mentioned Simms, and Mark Murdoch, from the McWilliams era. (Who?) That’s an awfully long time ago.

When he’s on, QE is surgical in the short and medium passing game. Elite, and the best I can ever remember at Texas. But if the protection is not stellar and he’s not 100%, the calculation changes. And therein lies the issue.

Let’s just hope he’s on for the next (we hope) eight games. If he is, and if he gets the protection, we are all going to be very happy.

 

[horninchicago]

HIC, I’ve been pondering your message since I read it about an hour ago. I was trying to remember a Texas quarterback less mobile than Ewers. I came up with no answer so I “phoned a friend.” He mentioned Simms, and Mark Murdoch, from the McWilliams era. (Who?) That’s an awfully long time ago.

When he’s on, QE is surgical in the short and medium passing game. Elite, and the best I can ever remember at Texas. But if the protection is not stellar and he’s not 100%, the calculation changes. And therein lies the issue.

Let’s just hope he’s on for the next (we hope) eight games. If he is, and if he gets the protection, we are all going to be very happy.

He was also better in long passes. Look at the Bama game last year. 2 deadly accurate long TD passes.

I just think he is still hurt. If so, keeping him in is a disservice to you and me. Lol.

 

[dukesteer]

He was also better in long passes. Look at the Bama game last year. 2 deadly accurate long TD passes.

I just think he is still hurt. If so, keeping him in is a disservice to you and me. Lol.

Today will be interesting. Supposedly someone on Orangebloods, maybe Ketchum, reported this week something to the effect that Quinn was receiving special treatment for his ribs, or rib area.

Few have doubted that he has been injured since UTSA. In fact, I have no doubt that every opposing coach is fully aware of it, so I’m not sure why Sark has chosen not to come clean. There are no secrets out there.

If QE can get to 100%, we might see the Michigan and Bama version. That would be nice. If not, I would really like to see more and more of Manning.

 

[mchammer]

Today will be interesting. Supposedly someone on Orangebloods, maybe Ketchum, reported this week something to the effect that Quinn was receiving special treatment for his ribs, or rib area.

Few have doubted that he has been injured since UTSA. In fact, I have no doubt that every opposing coach is fully aware of it, so I’m not sure why Sark has chosen not to come clean. There are no secrets out there.

If QE can get to 100%, we might see the Michigan and Bama version. That would be nice. If not, I would really like to see more and more of Manning.

Looks better today. Good news for rest of season if he stays healthy.