Jerrod Heard
- Thread starter Dionysus
- Start date
I35
5,000+ Posts
I think Heard is one of those guys that goes to practice and really doesn't stick out. But get him on the big stage in a game he turns it on. Some players get those competitive juices going and just performs at a very high level that will even impress the coaches. Yes he is a winner.
Heard is the ultimate security blanket for the Horns in the current recruiting situation. Gentry is gone and Murray is tenuous at best, both due to the possibility of his remaining with A&M and with his possible departure for MLB. And even if Murray comes, he will be a true freshman probably splitting practice time with baseball. I assume Heard will be here come what may.
I find it troubling that so many of our fans have written off Heard despite the fact he has not taken a snap just because Coach Strong and Coach Watson made the wise move (in my opinion) to redshirt a true freshman. While it would be better to add another QB to the roster, a RS freshman Heard on the roster means we have scholarship QB with 4 years of eligibility that has potential.
The excitement and unknown of the new sometimes makes people forget they were just as excited when the kids already on the roster, esp. the ones who redshirted , first came here. And, these kids have a year or two under their belt, in the gym, etc.
They don't all pan out nor will everybody in this class this year. It's just how the cycle goes but it's a fun one as long as you keep it in perspective. Another thing to remember in all of this is that highlight reels are just that, HIGHLIGHT REELS. They are supposed to look like superstar all-world studs or it would not be a highlight reel.
They don't all pan out nor will everybody in this class this year. It's just how the cycle goes but it's a fun one as long as you keep it in perspective. Another thing to remember in all of this is that highlight reels are just that, HIGHLIGHT REELS. They are supposed to look like superstar all-world studs or it would not be a highlight reel.
H
Hu_Fan
Guest
agree, agree, agree.... and the pic of Heard is a reminder what an outstanding uniform is Texas. Photos like that happen on a slightly overcast mid-day when the color temperature favors rich tones. (I may have the terminology wrong, a photographer will know better than I)
Burnt Orange never looked so good. Thanks for the collective observations on Heard. Right on.
Burnt Orange never looked so good. Thanks for the collective observations on Heard. Right on.
OrangeClad
250+ Posts
I don't think everybody is writing off Heard, at least as a general rule. I think most believe that there is a big difference between high school ball and big stage Division 1 football and that of the many excellent high school QBs that enter Division 1, some make the transition and can play at that level, a relative few really excel at the level and many never pan out. Betting your rent money on who makes it and who doesn't isn't smart practice and if done regularly, will leave you homeless at some point. In the last 5 years, there would be a lot of us homeless as we have watched a bunch of UT QBs, including the Gatorade player of the year, consecutively flame out for various reasons and have no capable backup.
It then got worse 2014, when there was no backup period and Ty was forced to play on days when it just wasn't working for him and any other QB would have already been pulled in that situation. This further burned into our brains the absolute need to have a full roster of QB options, all studs in their own right from high school so that there are options each time one doesn't pan out.
Heard had such hype in high school and we all read and heard for years while he was in high school that he was a sure thing, much like we are now reading about Murray, and he was the future of Longhorn football. Heard then showed up at fall camp and struggled, like most freshman QBs, couldn't earn even the 2nd team spot over someone whom had not been polished at QB and won state championships in high school, but was deemed a long term project. So, it became obvious that Heard was not an immediate impact player, but a regular progressing QB who at some point could hopefully excel and compete. When, or at this point even if, he does is still unknown. Hence, the masses wanting to fill the roster with stud talent to compete and like Heard before he got there, getting excited over the posibilities of every flavor of the month, guaranteed absolute sure thing stud high school QB who flirts with us.
Heard was a beast as a high school QB. I hope he progresses into a beast as a Division 1 college QB. But I'm also not betting my rent money on long odds and even perceived sure thing high school QBs are long odds, as we all should have learned over the last few years.
It then got worse 2014, when there was no backup period and Ty was forced to play on days when it just wasn't working for him and any other QB would have already been pulled in that situation. This further burned into our brains the absolute need to have a full roster of QB options, all studs in their own right from high school so that there are options each time one doesn't pan out.
Heard had such hype in high school and we all read and heard for years while he was in high school that he was a sure thing, much like we are now reading about Murray, and he was the future of Longhorn football. Heard then showed up at fall camp and struggled, like most freshman QBs, couldn't earn even the 2nd team spot over someone whom had not been polished at QB and won state championships in high school, but was deemed a long term project. So, it became obvious that Heard was not an immediate impact player, but a regular progressing QB who at some point could hopefully excel and compete. When, or at this point even if, he does is still unknown. Hence, the masses wanting to fill the roster with stud talent to compete and like Heard before he got there, getting excited over the posibilities of every flavor of the month, guaranteed absolute sure thing stud high school QB who flirts with us.
Heard was a beast as a high school QB. I hope he progresses into a beast as a Division 1 college QB. But I'm also not betting my rent money on long odds and even perceived sure thing high school QBs are long odds, as we all should have learned over the last few years.
D
dillohorn
Guest
I think more people are worrying about having a backup for Heard than they are about Heard's ability.
Brad Austin
2,500+ Posts
I think what is lost on many observers is the elevated level of tools needed to succeed at the next level. So often we see dominant HS QB's struggle to pass effectively in college. Same as lights-out college QB's unable to make a dent in the pros. It's very telling in the simple phrase used by pro scouts that a QB can/can't "make all the throws". Most college QB's can get the ball there to the throws. But "making all the throws" means they can hit the spot with a strong accuracy and velocity to beat NFL caliber corners from shutting the already small windows they allow.
Each level is an eye-popping jump in talent in regards to the players they are facing. Which makes dissecting the films of these recruits so important in judging their ability to be effective at the next level in terms of how fast they might hit the field. In watching Heard's films it was clear to me his throws had a ways to go to tighten things up for the next level. I see the same in Locksley. He's not a guy that's ready to come in and start as a true Frosh. Nice touch, but needs to tighten the throws up to add velocity and accuracy. A task learned through next level coaches improving his mechanics and with much repetition. Not sure on Murray as I refuse to break his play down until the ink is dry.
Of course then there's the whole ability to read much more complex defenses, learn to rapidly cycle through progressions and choose the right target on a level needed to combat faster game speed, and on and on. It's just a whole new world behind center from HS to college. Only a rare few can adjust quickly enough in a summer to take the reigns. Certainly not writing off Heard is the new leader of our team in 2015 now that he's had/will have ample time to adjust his game. TS has now had all the time and experience needed to show us his celing is low and these adjustments won't get us where we need to be.
Each level is an eye-popping jump in talent in regards to the players they are facing. Which makes dissecting the films of these recruits so important in judging their ability to be effective at the next level in terms of how fast they might hit the field. In watching Heard's films it was clear to me his throws had a ways to go to tighten things up for the next level. I see the same in Locksley. He's not a guy that's ready to come in and start as a true Frosh. Nice touch, but needs to tighten the throws up to add velocity and accuracy. A task learned through next level coaches improving his mechanics and with much repetition. Not sure on Murray as I refuse to break his play down until the ink is dry.
Of course then there's the whole ability to read much more complex defenses, learn to rapidly cycle through progressions and choose the right target on a level needed to combat faster game speed, and on and on. It's just a whole new world behind center from HS to college. Only a rare few can adjust quickly enough in a summer to take the reigns. Certainly not writing off Heard is the new leader of our team in 2015 now that he's had/will have ample time to adjust his game. TS has now had all the time and experience needed to show us his celing is low and these adjustments won't get us where we need to be.
BevoJoe
10,000+ Posts
I think Heard is "the guy" for 2015. He should be running the offense from Day one. At this point, any QB we get in the recruiting process will not have any game expereince. I question whether or not Swoopes is even a viable option as a backup. I think the compteition at QB between Heard and Murry would be interesting to watch, if Murry signs and we would not see much of a drop off between the two if one has to come out of a game. It'll be interesting to watch how this all plays out.
Handler XIII
1,000+ Posts
I'm still bummed we didn't get to see him 2014. Can't wait to see him next year!
jayakris
2,500+ Posts
It's a good thing that we didn't see Heard this year. Or we might have ended up with two QBs with shattered confidence, playing behind that OL, in a team that would have lost 2 or 3 games due to ST depth itself in any event. Better to shatter the confidence of the guy who never had the winner confidence anyway. Sorry for being brutal about it.
If Heard were to play, it would have been in the later games, and KSU, TCU and Arkie defenses weren't the right ones against whom to throw in a true freshman, in his first few games.
If Heard were to play, it would have been in the later games, and KSU, TCU and Arkie defenses weren't the right ones against whom to throw in a true freshman, in his first few games.
ProdigalHorn
10,000+ Posts
Recruiting season tends to make you forget the guys you picked and were excited about last year. That'll all change when Hear's running an offense he's more comfortable with this spring. Excited about seeing what he can do - I'm just hoping he has some competition!
Hang and wait!....this is a multi year project..give him a chance....I'm glad he has 4 years....make Tyrone work harder....boys I expect more wins next year but once again the oline is a huge ? Absolutely no developed depth on the oline....hopefully we get us a special teams coach!
BevoJoe
10,000+ Posts
^^^^This especially the OL and ST. The QB situation is not good in terms of experience, but may or should be improved in abiliy to play the position and not "blow up" under pressure. If the OL improves Heard and the newer guys should have a much better season than what we just witnessed in the '14 outing. Some of the young gusy coming in amy be good ST to start. There are some headhunters that are commitments that can blowup a return. We'll see though. I think 2016 & 17 are going to be really good years.
I haven't forgotten about Heard...and am pretty excited about the potential. For me the dream scenario would be to have both Heard and Murray available, given their apparent style similarities.
As pointed out above, it is very interesting to access the performances of the 5 star recruits at the different stages of their careers, in HS, college and the pros. I am one of the folks that finds it somewhat hard to criticize Mack Brown for our QB woes. We appear to have brought in the talent, with Gilbert, Brewer, Woods, Ash, etc. I also have a hard time faulting the legacy selection of Case McCoy because had one of the other players developed acceptably, perhaps Case would not have seen the playing time that he did.
We have missed on plenty of players -- Luck, Barrett, Manziel, RGIII -- but if you study the track record of NFL teams, their track records are probably even worse. High first round picks like Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, David Carr, JaMarcus Russell and others flamed out, at considerable expense to those franchises. In fact, one could argue that those ill-fated selections are still haunting most of the associated franchises, excluding perhaps San Diego.
So what's the answer? I suppose it's depth (as in multiple options, like Ohio State had this year), luck, and a very good OL.
Back to Heard, I am very excited about the prospects for him this year. But whether it is Heard, Heard and Murray (Hey, I can hope), or someone else, in a best case scenario we cannot expect too much, at least in September.
Perhaps the best I can remember might have been redshirt Colt McCoy. He started slow against OSU but, by mid season, he was really cooking. Of course, he had a pretty good line in front of him.
As pointed out above, it is very interesting to access the performances of the 5 star recruits at the different stages of their careers, in HS, college and the pros. I am one of the folks that finds it somewhat hard to criticize Mack Brown for our QB woes. We appear to have brought in the talent, with Gilbert, Brewer, Woods, Ash, etc. I also have a hard time faulting the legacy selection of Case McCoy because had one of the other players developed acceptably, perhaps Case would not have seen the playing time that he did.
We have missed on plenty of players -- Luck, Barrett, Manziel, RGIII -- but if you study the track record of NFL teams, their track records are probably even worse. High first round picks like Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, David Carr, JaMarcus Russell and others flamed out, at considerable expense to those franchises. In fact, one could argue that those ill-fated selections are still haunting most of the associated franchises, excluding perhaps San Diego.
So what's the answer? I suppose it's depth (as in multiple options, like Ohio State had this year), luck, and a very good OL.
Back to Heard, I am very excited about the prospects for him this year. But whether it is Heard, Heard and Murray (Hey, I can hope), or someone else, in a best case scenario we cannot expect too much, at least in September.
Perhaps the best I can remember might have been redshirt Colt McCoy. He started slow against OSU but, by mid season, he was really cooking. Of course, he had a pretty good line in front of him.
jayakris
2,500+ Posts
There is hardly anything in college football as well-established by statistics as the futility of playing true freshman quarterbacks and hoping for a great season. It's extremely rare for a true freshman QB to look good immediately. Even the early enrollee true freshmen. I think there is something like 3 or 4 times higher chance for a good year by a red-shirt freshman compared to a true freshman, depending on your criterion on what is a good year (need to find where I saw the stats on this).
Barring a miracle, I wouldn't expect Kyler to be better than Heard immediately, Then again, he could be that very rare case of a guy who is ready too. Who knows. Even among the true freshmen, the good ones would usually look good by the end of the season though, despite some losses and inconsistency initially.
For instance, Teddy Bridgewater lost his first 3 starts including one where they scored just 7 against somebody like Marshall, before going 5-2 in the final 7 games. In the next two years he went on that 23-3 run.
Barring a miracle, I wouldn't expect Kyler to be better than Heard immediately, Then again, he could be that very rare case of a guy who is ready too. Who knows. Even among the true freshmen, the good ones would usually look good by the end of the season though, despite some losses and inconsistency initially.
For instance, Teddy Bridgewater lost his first 3 starts including one where they scored just 7 against somebody like Marshall, before going 5-2 in the final 7 games. In the next two years he went on that 23-3 run.
Weekly Prediction Contest
* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC
Recent Threads
-
2025 Recruiting - Football
- Started by moondog_LFZ
- Replies: 2K
- Recruiting
-
2026 Recruiting-Football
- Started by cnb
- Replies: 424
- Recruiting
-
2028 Recruiting-Football
- Started by everette
- Replies: 6
- Recruiting
-
What a mess.
- Started by Pickle_Nuts
- Replies: 10
- Recruiting
-
2024 Recruiting - Football
- Started by Joe Fan
- Replies: 3K
- Recruiting
-
Adrian Peterson says:
- Started by 1sahorn
- Replies: 12
- Recruiting
Prediction Results Threads
