Ehlinger is the starter...

I am actually very happy to be having a conversation about two very good qbs that could start and reports of a very good freshman qb backup. Nice.
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This is a big upgrade from the Gilbert, Ash, Case McCoy, Swoopes, Heard debates.
 
Being a true freshman last year, and considering the high level of play he showed at times, I think Sam deserves a healthy amount of slack for his errors of judgment. Just on evaluating the overall performance relative to his college football experience. The kid has a huge heart, loves being a Longhorn, and loves to compete.

The bar is higher for him this year, though, and I’m optimistic he will elevate his game accordingly.

I’m a fan of Shane too and expect he will contribute this year as well.
 
Just wondering. Would it make me look terribly dumb to suggest that Sam sort of reminds me of Marty Akins, Alan Lowry and Eddie Phillips, and Shane sort of reminds me of Colt and Major? (Which of the five do you like best?)

It seems to me that Tom has been in love with Sam from the “get go”, and if Shane is on the pine all season, do any of you blame him if he transfers his senior year? Tom seems to like running quarterbacks and I assume that he will be on the recruiting trail for more running quarterbacks in the next few years. Perhaps one such recruit puts Sam on the bench as well because they tend to be able to start early in their career due to the style of offense. (Anyone who doubts that, please explain last year.)

This is the nature of the quarterback position in college football. And failure to manage the quarterback position has been the Achilles heel of many college coaches. Does anyone come to mind? I do not believe Tom will be in this graveyard of coaches. At least I hope not.
 
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Chinstrap said:
It seems to me that Tom has been in love with Sam from the “get go”, and if Shane is on the pine all season, do any of you blame him if he transfers his senior year?
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I was surprised that he did not transfer after last season, given how apparent it was that Herman favored Sam over him. Glad Shane is here because I do expect him to get playing time should Sam get hurt (a strong possibility).
 
BabHorn said:
I was surprised that he did not transfer after last season, given how apparent it was that Herman favored Sam over him. Glad Shane is here because I do expect him to get playing time should Sam get hurt (a strong possibility).
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He appears to be a very strong competitor and I read that he bought into the offseason conditioning program to come back and fight for the starting job. Good young man and Texas is fortunate to have him this year. But I cannot blame him for whatever he decides to do his senior year if Sam nails down the job for the entire season.
 
Maybe Shane recognizes that being "the backup" at Texas is better than being the starter at say University of North Texas or some other directional school. Not sure any of his attributes would make say UCLA beg him to come throw for them....could be way off but, similar to Chris Warren conversations, please don't give Buechele assets he doesn't possess.....
 
zuckercanyon said:
Maybe Shane recognizes that being "the backup" at Texas is better than being the starter at say University of North Texas or some other directional school. Not sure any of his attributes would make say UCLA beg him to come throw for them....could be way off but, similar to Chris Warren conversations, please don't give Buechele assets he doesn't possess.....
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You are selling him short based on playing hurt two years ago and without an FBS line last season. ou and any school who wants an intelligent above average passer would take him in a minute. However, I believe he would just quit football and play baseball since any pro athletic career is there.
 
ViperHorn said:
You are selling him short based on playing hurt two years ago and without an FBS line last season. ou and any school who wants an intelligent above average passer would take him in a minute. However, I believe he would just quit football and play baseball since any pro athletic career is there.
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Similar to Chris warren the proof will be in the pudding. Sam isn’t a danger to transfer either if the roles were switched. They should both run out their eligibility at Texas. They’ll both play plenty of games/snaps.
 
It would have been interesting to see what Shane could do his second year in Sterlin Gilberts offense if Herman had kept him.
Shane was pretty good as a freshman, as well.
It just seems Herman has an offense he wants to run and will try to fit the best person into it.
Mack and GD finally realized they had to fit the offense to the talent. (VY)
But, Herman's offense worked at OSU so I'm waiting to see how it goes.
Sam should be fine and Shane is insurance.

Now my faith in Beck is another thread.
 
It would have been interesting to see what Shane could do his second year in Sterlin Gilberts offense if Herman had kept him.
Shane was pretty good as a freshman, as well.
It just seems Herman has an offense he wants to run and will try to fit the best person into it.
Mack and GD finally realized they had to fit the offense to the talent. (VY)
But, Herman's offense worked at OSU so I'm waiting to see how it goes.
Sam should be fine and Shane is insurance.

Now my faith in Beck is another thread.
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^ Completely agree with @moondog_LFZ on all the above. I would add that Shane was better as a freshman than Sam. Hopefully Sam is improved this year as Herman & Co. are committed to this offense.
 
Dionysus said:
Being a true freshman last year, and considering the high level of play he showed at times, I think Sam deserves a healthy amount of slack for his errors of judgment.
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Hear! Hear!

People have forgotten that in the "old days" freshmen played on the freshman team. All of them. No matter their skill level. Sam would have played six games with the Shorthorns in those days.

I think DKR even said they you could expect to lose one game for each sophomore you started. That was probably back when players played both ways, but you get the point. Eighteen year olds weren't considered to be emotionally ready to play at the varsity level. All things considered he did a great job.
 
p_town_horn said:
Let's tap the brakes on the Sam bashing. Who was the last true freshman qb to amaze you? How was his line and run game?
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Wasn't Randy McEachern a freshman. He was impressive--for a freshman.
p_town_horn said:
His biggest flaws (to my eyes) were the turnover problem, bailing on the pocket too quickly, and downfield accuracy.
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Uh, yeah. Those turnovers were THE problem for Sam. The big problem for me was that they kept happening, even in the last regular season game. That was incredibly disappointing. No one would be happier than me if Sam's brain is working better this year.

His heart is unquestioned. Its like a linebacker's. A QB has to win games with his brain, and his arm. If Sam can get that combo running well then we'll win 11 games. If not, then the defense will have to play outstanding to get us to 9.
 
caryhorn said:
Wasn't Randy McEachern a freshman. He was impressive--for a freshman.
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McEachern was a freshman in eligibility. He was a freshman at UT in 1974, I believe. I think he redshirted his first year, was out with injury the 2nd, and was a 4th stringer the 3rd year and never saw the field. He may have also been injured for most of the 3rd year - I'm not sure. People forget that Ted Constanzo was injured before the season started. Otherwise McEachern would have had to wait for one more guy to get hurt before he had his chance.
 
p_town_horn said:
Let's tap the brakes on the Sam bashing. Who was the last true freshman qb to amaze you? How was his line and run game?

Sam averaged just under 300 yards per game for the games he got serious playing time. Not bad with a patchwork o-line. He also led the team in rushing despite only starting 6 games and getting solid playing time in 8. ~250 yards per game passing is not bad considering he was a true frosh with line problems and we had no run threat from the RBs.

His biggest flaws (to my eyes) were the turnover problem, bailing on the pocket too quickly, and downfield accuracy. Turnovers were largely a true freshman problem (trying to do too much and be a hero) and bailing too early happens when your line is terrible at pass pro. It is better than holding the ball too long and creating negative plays (a Shane problem).

Down field accuracy was the only fundamental flaw to his game that I saw. Supposedly that has improved. But I will take a QB with some accuracy issues but who can make plays happen. He is great at extending plays and converting 3rd downs. A little more help this year and some better situational awareness and Sam is going to do very well.
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that's a good overall summary
 
4th_floor said:
McEachern was a freshman in eligibility. He was a freshman at UT in 1974, I believe. I think he redshirted his first year, was out with injury the 2nd, and was a 4th stringer the 3rd year and never saw the field. He may have also been injured for most of the 3rd year - I'm not sure. People forget that Ted Constanzo was injured before the season started. Otherwise McEachern would have had to wait for one more guy to get hurt before he had his chance.
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4th, that's pretty much what I remember about McEachern and his time on the 400 Acres.
 
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