Football Articles
The Good Shepard
Posted by HenryJames on February 18th, 2008 under Football, Recruiting
Few teams get even one Rivals 100 QB in a year, but Texas has the chance to get two this year. These two guys are ranked among the top dozen players in the country and both are huge Texas fans.
They’ve already got a commitment from Lake Travis’ Garrett Gilbert, the top drop back QB in the state and maybe the nation. Texas fans should be ecstatic, right? Not exactly. Now you know what it means to be a Texas fan under Mack Brown.
The reason some Texas fans are not ecstatic is the treatment of the other QB, Russell Shepard from Houston Cypress Ridge. Shepard is a huge Texas fan as are his parents. So his visit to Texas a couple of weekends ago should have been a sure thing. Shepard has said that he doesn’t mind playing another position if quarterback doesn’t work out, but he does want to be given a fair shot at playing quarterback.
And we proceeded to fuck it up.
There are reasons for this I won’t go into, but Brown told Shepard that he really wanted him but wouldn’t offer him as a quarterback. The Texas coaches are leaking to anyone who will listen that they have too many quarterbacks on campus and Shepard just won’t be able to get enough snaps.
Consider this scenario:
Shepard enrolls as a freshman and redshirts. McCoy is a senior. Harris and Chiles are both juniors. The next year McCoy is now gone, and Harris and Chiles are both seniors. So going into Shepard’s second spring training at Texas, he’s only competing with Gilbert and Kinne. That doesn’t even take into account transfers. Any coach making $425,000 should be able to manage enough snaps for 3 quarterbacks.
We’ve offered guys with half the talent of Shepard the opportunity to play quarterback, and Shepard has the intangibles needed to thrive in a Greg Davis offense. I’m not talking about putting up stats. All our QBs have done that. I’m talking about making plays off schedule and willing the team to win. Vince is the only quarterback under Brown that has had both and consequently the only one to lead Texas to any kind of championship.
Yet it’s like we learned nothing from the Vince years. If you remember, we offered a guy named Billy Don Malone at quarterback before we offered Vince. Tim Brewster had to convince Brown and Davis that Vince was a take before he exploded his senior year and everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Then they sat him behind Chance Mock for over a year because Mock had a ‘better grasp of the offense.’ So we’re dealing with a staff that values the classic drop back qb who does what he’s told most of all.
Oh, and Shepard is this year’s bell cow meaning a handful of other top players in the Houston area are watching to see where he ends up.
Perhaps the greatest crime in Ancient Greece was hubris against the gods. Well, we’ve committed hubris against the recruiting gods, and divine retribution has been swift. Over the weekend, Shepard visited Texas A&M and says they might be his new leader. Then it was announced that Gilbert has a torn labrum and will have to have surgery to repair it.
How it all plays out depends on whether or not you’re a glass is half empty type. The optimists say the Shepard will be a Horn and Gilbert’s labrum will be fine with surgery. The pessimists (realists?) say Texas’ fucked it up with Shepard beyond repair and that Gilbert will not be the player he was before the surgery.
Texas coaches have invited Shepard back for another visit this weekend, and it appears they are trying to clear up any ‘misunderstandings.’ If Shepard makes it into Austin this weekend, it will be a good sign. If he doesn’t, it again depends on whether or not you’re a glass is half empty kind of guy.
I say he ends up at Texas.
Share This
54 Responses
Leave a Reply
Related Articles
-
46
Shepard to LSU
By HenryJames on March 4th, 2008 -
108
Huge Recruiting News For Baylor
By Trips Right on February 15th, 2010 -
34
Junior Day
By Scipio Tex on February 9th, 2008 -
20
Russell Shepard’s coach hates America
By HenryJames on March 6th, 2008 -
15
2010 Recruiting began today
By HenryJames on February 7th, 2009
Activity
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
Outstanding “around the horn” type article. Can’t believe it’s almost 6 months until college football. The “U” from ESPN, while fun was nothing more than a 90 minute commercial for the greatness of Miami football. It would have been better if someone, other than a fan, took a critical look at that
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Black Scholes commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
Hearing nothing that leads me to believe Cory Joseph is on his way to save Barnes’ ‘offense’. Hope this staff is making some contingency plans.
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
Nickel,
Yea, I think AB may move if he can get assurances he won’t slide past the teens. Going 25 or so is a much different story. I think he should probably come back if he’s in the mid-20’s but not having a clear vision of what the rookie salary scale might look like
-
GoHornsGo90 commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton? 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
The great thing about Joseph is he is a hard worker and great defender, just like Avery. This means he won’t be in the dog house like JH and JBC were all season fro their terrible defense and effort. He is also a perfect pick and roll/pick and pop PG who is smart and always
-
GoHornsGo90 commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
Don’t see Bradley as a kind of guy that goes through that kind of disappointment, sees how unprepared for the NBA he is, and goes to “get his” in the draft. Maybe Hamilton, but not AB.
-
dick commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 2 hours, 6 minutes ago
we will be better than an 8 seed if all 3 of those come back. i’ll be adjusting my expectations accordingly which will make season much better
-
Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
Hmm, great article, more or less of the same subject I wrote on for today.
I think we are in exact agreement that Bradley should probably go if his draft grade holds steady in the 15-25 range because he’ll probably not get a better contract if he waits but simply demonstrate his ceiling as a player. -
uthookem commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 2 hours, 46 minutes ago
…but by conference play, we will HAVE to start Thompson if we want to optimize our potential.
Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!
Pains me to hear that, as we all pined for Hamilton to start all season long (except ipowers, that is). What makes you think it will be different with a
-
Nickel Rover wrote a new blog post: Bradley or Hamilton? 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
Basketball:
Bradley or Hamilton? In an ideal world they are both back next season. Withought knowing how well they are responding to Barnes’ style or what kind of draft grade they are looking for it’s hard to project what they will do.
Bradley has been listed as a mid-first round guy but I have trouble seeing it.
-
Trips Right commented on the blog post Second Round Bets 3 hours, 26 minutes ago
What a horseshit bank, but Mary’s the right side
-
Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post Big Dance: Day Two 3 hours, 42 minutes ago
Was pretty disappointed with OSU’s shitburger last night though. I’ve never seen Anderson so bad…almost looked hurt. 5-2 first round isn’t bad though.
We really ought to get 4 team into the Sweet 16 though, with only Missouri having much of an excuse to not advance.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Hiphopopotamus wrote a new blog post: Bid Dance: Day Three 3 hours, 44 minutes ago
A little late getting this up today, as our first game is already in the second stanza, but we’ve got plenty more to keep us all fat and giggly.
Lunch
2) Villanova v. 10) St. Mary’s – I like this to be a highly entertaining, competitive game from beginning to end. St Mary’s will likely jump out
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
NorthDallasSooner commented on the blog post Rumor Alert–TMG 3 hours, 51 minutes ago
Cameron Clark, #5 3-position player in country (Scout) from Sherman, Committed. T.J Taylor, 3 star two guard from Denison, committed. We seem to have Texoma bottled up. Lots of others “interested.”
This is a rumor at this point and not confirmed, so we’ll see.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 4 hours, 5 minutes ago
Texoz,
As much as we need to find an identity on offense, we also need to address our defensive schemes. If JCB and JH are two big contributors and we play a 6′6″ guy at 4 and a foul prone freshman in the middle then we need to re-examine our principles on defense. We
-
dick commented on the blog post Second Round Bets 4 hours, 19 minutes ago
I ended up going the other way and taking St Mary’s. Unfortunately, we’ve all become experts at basketball team collapses this year and Villanova’s collapse looks too familiar.
I really like Washington today for the reasons you mentioned. I have them in my Calcutta too so I have a lot riding on them.
I am
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Recapping the West 4 hours, 22 minutes ago
Yea, Mack was very good. He got really hot in the right game. Aubrey Coleman was pretty good too. And your definitely right Jordan Crawford. He’s fun to watch….
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Jorgrama commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 4 hours, 43 minutes ago
Barnes has lost two longtime assistants and gained Paulino and Ogden–two guys who really only know what he’s taught them. Seems like he should look to the outside for some methodology.
Two, got to recruit fewer projects. Fewer spindly white guys that need to gain 30 pounds of muscle. Fewer all-purpose guards who you
-
Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Recapping the West 4 hours, 44 minutes ago
Thanks Patrick. UTEP played dumb and Butler was en fuego. Be nice to have a Shelvyn Mack on this Texas team, huh?
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Recapping the Midwest 4 hours, 46 minutes ago
There were lots of fireworks and exciting games in this region. Let’s start at the top.
Kansas vs. Lehigh
Lehigh never had a realistic shot, but I’m sure they gained Kansas’ respect as a sixteen seed. They’re pretty athletic, especially inside. Again, I ask the tournament selection committee; this was the worst team in
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Recapping the West 5 hours, 6 minutes ago
Great recaps, Trips, er Kev. Keep pumping out the great content. Sorry about UTEP…..
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Rumor Alert–TMG 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
NDS,
What will your team look like w/o those two guys? Who do you have coming in???
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Nike U in Turmoil 5 hours, 23 minutes ago
Getting off a sinking ship. Bellotti is supposedly very much like Mack in his affinity for the media. I’ve always wondered about the assumption that Mack would be happy as the Texas AD when he could just go get a cushy analyst job. Mack clapping in studio would be great TV, no??
-
Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Recapping the West 5 hours, 24 minutes ago
The Wild West was anything but considering all games played according to seed except for Vanderbilt and Murray State. Let’s start with the big dog.
Syracuse vs. Vermont
The Orange took an early first half lead and never looked back. Using five players with double figure scoring, and a new-look zone missing interior presence Arinze
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 5 hours, 25 minutes ago
AAS wrote a dumbed down version of this subject today. Barnes says he’s bringing in another guard. Good, because I feel very confident in our depth in the front court. Alexei, white stiff #1, and white stiff #2 make me ooze with confidence especially behind a true freshman and undersized 4…….
Barnes, asked
-
Farmer Ted wrote a new blog post: Suh Meets with Lions 5 hours, 45 minutes ago
Not too long ago we laughed at the idea that a team would consider taking anyone ahead of Ndamukong Suh in the NFL draft. Now it appears very possible — even likely — that the Rams will take QB Sam Bradford with the #1 pick, which would give the Lions the next shot at Suh
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Black Scholes commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page 5 hours, 48 minutes ago
Hamilton needs 1-2 years to seriously work on the deficiencies in his game. He goes now, and in a couple of years he’s “whatever happened to …?”. The risk is while he might get drafted now on potential, if he can’t/won’t develop as a player he won’t even have that to offer in
-
NorthDallasSooner commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour 6 hours, 14 minutes ago
“Coincidentally I maintain a subscription to Texas Monthly magazine in an effort to keep up with my roots in some way, shape or form. The April issue showed up at my house this afternoon and features a fairly in depth article about the ongoing drama between Texas Tech and the Dread Pirate Leach. The more
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Recapping the East 6 hours, 17 minutes ago
Again, no news is good news when you’re one of the top seeds in the region. That motto holds true in the East as the top four seeds advanced.
Kentucky vs. East Tennessee State
This was a blood bath from the tip. Anyone that thinks this young Wildcat club may have one eye on the
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
NorthDallasSooner wrote a new blog post: Rumor Alert–TMG 6 hours, 26 minutes ago
It’s certainly unconfirmed, but I got this email this morning from a friend who follows the hoops program very closely. Stay tuned……
“A very reliable source close to the OU BB program told me yesterday TMG is gone. He packed his bags and unless Capel can talk him out of it our PG for the future has left
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour 6 hours, 44 minutes ago
Great survey, whiskey. I miss football a lot.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
ChrisApplewhite said:
February 18th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I will withhold judgment until Shepard decides, but boy do we know how to stir up hornets nests for no good reason.
You don’t punt on 4th and short late in a game when you’re behind, and you don’t snub great athletes for no good reason. The football Gods aren’t New Testament folk, they are the mean Old Testament, fire breathing, grudge holding kind of rulers.
Nordberg said:
February 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Looks like we told Gilbert that we’d only be taking one QB. That’s the only way any of this makes any (little) sense.
Woody Bombay said:
February 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I have really dialed it down on following recruiting lately, but this situation makes me a little sick.
Oh, and I didn’t know that Shepard wears #10. Oy vey.
sinless1 said:
February 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Touchdowns are over-rated, and this Shepard kid scores almost every time he touches the ball. I can see why the coaches are wary.
Objective Aggie said:
February 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hopes are high among us that we land him. Given our history of late defections, however, I don’t hold up a great deal of optimism. See, there’s this Reggie McNeal guy…
For my money, I think he ends up at OU and becomes a three year starter.
DBH said:
February 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
“Looks like we told Gilbert that we’d only be taking one QB. That’s the only way any of this makes any (little) sense.”
That’s exactly what happened.
I saw somewhere that Shephard may skip our second Junior Day in favor of LSU’s, this weekend. If Perriloser quit, I’m sure Miles will tell him what he wants to hear, just like Sherman.
The Source said:
February 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
HJ – exactly
Unforgivable if Mac doesn’t sign Shepherd. Hands down the best player in Texas. Let Garrett Gilbert be recruited to play another position, oh, you mean he can’t play another position???
GJ Kinne is nothing but a holder.
EyesOfTX said:
February 18th, 2008 at 11:32 am
The recruiting of QBs in this program has been an unmitigated clusterfuck for 5 years now. No reason to think things will change at this point.
Soldier of Orange said:
February 18th, 2008 at 11:43 am
The funny thing is that G. Davis is really good at calling a game when circumstance and the talent on hand combine to dictate that he whipsaw teams between power and option attacks. My favorite string of games in the G. Davis era came after the Oklahoma beating and before the Holiday Bowl fiasco in 2003. After the OU game, everybody was about to get fired causing G. Davis to get religion real fast. He ditched his self-indulgent, idiosyncratic play-calling and turned Vince and Cedric loose behind a salty offensive line. Texas ran the ball 2/3 of the time in those game and the offense flourished on a consistent basis as a result. The string culminated with thrashing of A & M during which Texas ran the ball something on the order of 60 times while throwing it on only 8 occasions. If my memory serves me correctly, the passing game during the string was predicated primarily on play-action.
The fans were content. It wasn’t the fault of the staff that we missed a BCS game. It was those quirky BCS rules. All was forgiven. The heat was off. Even I thought that G. Davis might have learned his lesson. The problem was, that with the heat removed, Davis felt free to do whatever he pleased, and he did just that. In the Holiday Bowl, like a dog returns to its vomit, G. Davis returned to his insipid offensive philosophy with dissasterous results.
It is not in the least surprising that Davis slavers over GG and gives the cold sholder to RS. GG allows him to run the offense which he prefers to run (you know that one that put up 7 points on the Aggies in Austin). What is sickening is that his talent for offensive design is much better suited to the employment of skills such as those exhibited by RS.
ChrisApplewhite said:
February 18th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
The fundamental problem is that Gilbert is, undeniably, the best QB to run the system Davis wants to run.
Of course Davis isn’t sitting in the film room watching both prospects thinking “well, I suck, so I better take the kid that can make up for it.”
The only two people on Earth who think Davis does a good job are the only two who can call the shots on this one.
Unless Major or Kennedy or someone can get Mack’s ear on this, we could definitely give away the best player in Texas to a direct rival.
But I’m with stupid, I think we eventually get him. Mack does really want him, and Shepard really wants us, and that’ll probably win out in the end.
Nordberg said:
February 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
If we really told Gilbert that he’d be the only QB in this class, then we’ve painted ourselves into a corner in a monumentally stupid way. Tell Gilbert that we’re not going to say no to a talent like Shephard, and if that scares off Gilbert then so be it.
mack_brown said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
i want to prove that i can win a national championship without a vy-like qb. we need more qbs like colt.
The coach formerly known as Fran said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Most of his highlights are zone reads which will work perfectly in our option attack.I won’t have to desroy his passing skills like I did with Stephen.Wait a minute….I’m retired…my bad.. never mind.
(If he goes to the Ags or Land Thieves he will make you pay dearly every year.)
Major Cult said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I don’t know about this kid. There were at least two of those highlights that he didn’t score a touchdown on. He’s no Major.
13evO said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
If it’s a choice between Gilbert and Shepard, you have to take Gilbert based on our personnel (tons of receivers who won’t want to block 66% of the time and wait for Shepard to develop as a passer).
Shepard is more Brad Smith than Vince Young (who was a seasoned high school passer). Hell, I thought it was Brad Smith Freshman year in his highlight reel.
Name another program that recruited 2 five star quarterbacks. You have to be realistic here.
CrazyJoeDavola said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I would gladly take a Brad Smith.
Nordberg said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
“Name another program that recruited 2 five star quarterbacks. You have to be realistic here.”
I don’t know, but there are two in the state of Texas now that both want to be Texas Longhorns. It’s almost worth it even if one never plays a down just to keep him away from a&m and oklahoma.
Major Cult said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Shepard interview (down the page) at: LINK
Sounds pretty strong on Texas. And he likes The Major. What a great kid!
RichUT said:
February 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
We’ve got a commitment from a 5 star QB, but we’re crying because it’s February and we don’t have a commitment from 2? Give me a fucking break.
How many schools will be lucky enough to sign a 5 star QB this year at all?
I personally don’t think you get both of these guys in the same class, and taking Gilbert was the right call. (Or at least it was the right call before it was revealed that he needs a torn labrum repaired)
The amount of man love Shepard is getting is unlike anything I have ever witnessed. Expectations for what he will do are already unreasonably high, and the kid can’t even vote.
Be happy with Gilbert. He’s the third 5 star QB we’ve gotten under Mack, and the first 2 turned out pretty damn well.
TaylorTRoom said:
February 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I think if Shephard is willing to go to TAMU (which runs an offense that is not suited to his skills as a QB) because they promised him that they are recruiting him as a QB and only a QB, there is a good chance that he really wasn’t serious when he said he would be willing to switch positions. He may have said that because he wanted to get an offer from Texas (which he did).
EyesOfTX said:
February 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Sheperd does realize that Sherman is going to run a West Coast-style offense at Aggieland, right?
ChrisApplewhite said:
February 18th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I highly doubt Sherman thinks he’s recruiting a Detmer. He knows what Shepard is, and will either change the offense, or lie to get him on campus then put him at WR.
I call that second one the Urban Meyer.
RansomStoddard said:
February 18th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Wow, great interview from the kid. Isn’t it well known that Mack promised Gilbert that if he committed UT would not recruit another qb? I’d say that pretty much seals it if Shepard wants to play qb.
CrazyJoeDavola said:
February 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
“Isn’t it well known that Mack promised Gilbert that if he committed UT would not recruit another qb?”
It’s certainly a meme that’s been floating around. As for it being actually true, I think only a few people know that for sure, and it’s in none of their interests right now for that to be firmly established.
Scipio Tex said:
February 18th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
“Name another program that recruited 2 five star quarterbacks. You have to be realistic here.”
Florida has three five star QBs within one year of each other; two from last year’s class. They’re trying to secure another five star in this year’s class.
CallKevin said:
February 18th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Looking at past history of 5-star QB’s is silly. There haven’t been comparable situations. There have only been about 25 5-star QB’s per Rivals. Another 10 or so would have been if Rivals had been giving out more 5-stars over the first few seasons.
Looking at years in which 2 5-star QB’s came from the same state:
2002 CA Ben Olson, Trent Edwards
2004 PA Anthony Morelli, Chad Henne
That’s it. You can make a case for Vince and Reggie, but Reggie was an athlete per Rivals.
This is a unique situation, and ideally we’ll take advantage of it.
RichUT said:
February 18th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Shepard is an Athlete per Rivals.
SadFan said:
February 18th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Shepard will pick the school that offers him a assured qb spot. Mack should do what it takes to sign him. It would be worth it just to keep him out of Norman or College Station.
Buzzard Lips said:
February 18th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
You take the best you can every year and let their play sort them out.
I thought that was the general rule?
It’s not like we don’t have too many kickers on scholarship… oh wait…
beowulf said:
February 19th, 2008 at 4:21 am
Excellent review. That’s all.
Pete Carroll said:
February 19th, 2008 at 6:39 am
“Name another program that recruited 2 five star quarterbacks”
That would be MY PROGRAM, muthafukas. I never ran into a 5 star prospect I didn’t like – QB, RB, LB. Besides, less than half of the 5 star prospects will turn out to be legitimately awesome. It’s retarded to think that all you have to do is get just one and then expect him to be Carson Palmer.
echeese said:
February 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Sheppard, doesn’t have the arm strength to secede in Davis’s offense.
Mack and the staff no what they are doing.
Of course no one will admit they were wrong in five years when Gilbert is accepting his second Heisman Trohpy and,
Shepperd is the back-up safety at Sam Houston.
NateHeupel said:
February 19th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
“Mack and the staff no what they are doing.”
The empirical evidence would imply otherwise.
“Of course no one will admit they were wrong in five years when Gilbert is accepting his second Heisman Trohpy and Shepperd is the back-up safety at Sam Houston.”
You mean when Gilbert is getting sacked for the 14th time in his career by A&M and mourning a career where he went 0 for OU under Greg Davis?
Go back and look at the record of UT’s pocket QB’s against OU. It’s like reading a a Greek tragedy. Then look at Vince “Burnt Orange Jesus” Young and the 2005 National Champions. VY laid a beating on OU so brutal that Venables had to buy a lifetime supply of Preparation H.
Old Tex said:
February 19th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Heupel,
I don’t understand why you bring up Vince Young. We’re not talking about Young, we’re talking about Russel Shepard. Shepard is not Vince Young. There is only one Vince Young. Shepard is closer to Pat White than Vince Young.
I will say that Shepard has shown a remarkable ability to amass a cult-like following among Texas fans. I suppose that has got to count for something.
HenryJames said:
February 19th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I’m perfectly ok with Shepard being closer to White than he is to Young. In the last Fiesta Bowl White led West Virginia to more points and total yards than any Texas quarterback has under Mack Brown.
Unbiased Horn said:
February 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Old Tex,
Both Pat White and Vince Young ripped OU a new asshole the last time. I don’t think you are mking your point.
scagnetti said:
February 20th, 2008 at 1:43 am
in every case, the kid – if he gets here, and thats a big IF, hence the column – is gonna sit and play every other fourth quarter like chiles, IF THAT.
going into his second spring, the staff will talk about the chances he never had to throw the ball, and throw it back on the recruit.
shepard plays half a season as a slot guy, goes across the middle against the Land Grabbers, gets chewed up, spit out, then transfers to TAMU. then beats Gilbert at the end of garret’s senior season…
im taking odds on this very scenario.
TaylorTRoom said:
February 20th, 2008 at 4:42 am
I think it’s very smart of the Ags to offer him as a QB only. They have a good freshman coming in (Dorman), and their offense is so poorly suited for Shephard that he will quickly realize he can’t get playing time at QB in it. He’s likely to switch to receiver quickly. Besides, maybe he’ll convince some other blue chips to join him there.
EyesOfTX said:
February 20th, 2008 at 5:19 am
Yeah, Taylor, I agree. Sherman is something of a system guy, and he only knows one system. He may promise to make changes to get Shepard on campus, but that would be like Mackovic promising Leon Fuller he’d have control of the defense.
HenryJames said:
February 20th, 2008 at 6:19 am
I’d be surprised if Sherman actually runs the WCO this year. Every quarterback on their roster is a dual threat guy so his hand may be forced. And it’s not like Cromwell doesn’t have any experience with a running quarterback.
TaylorTRoom said:
February 20th, 2008 at 6:49 am
HJ, I have to disagree with you this time. Sherman has stocked his staff with NFL guys (something he tells every recruit he can). These guys are professionals who view the spectrum of good offensive schemes as spanning from the Holmgren WCO to the Reid WCO. They have probably never looked at a zone read or lead option as something that looks like a good idea to try. I’m sure they absolutely believe their offense is the best, and that they are just the guys to teach it.
SadFan said:
February 20th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I dont know about yall but I want every five star prospect as far from College Station as they can get. I dont care if Shepard goes as a qb or a WR, it still worries me.
NateHeupel said:
February 20th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
“Both Pat White and Vince Young ripped OU a new asshole the last time. I don’t think you are making your point.”
Bingo.
UT won’t win the Big 12 with pocket passers. OU will manufacture new ways to mindf*ck Greg Davis and continue sending UT to the Bowls of the Spanish San’s (San Diego and San Antonio).
Unbiased Horn said:
February 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
“Go back and look at the record of UT’s pocket QB’s against OU. It’s like reading a a Greek tragedy.”
To be fair Nate, this is not correct either. Mack is 3-2 with Colt and Applewhite against OU, the two QBs that Gilbert should favor heavily.
Any team would be better with Vince Young as their QB, no matter the system nor the era. You can’t say therefore all teams should have dual threat QBs. Or you could, I prefer them that’s for sure.
DBH said:
February 20th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
“UT won’t win the Big 12 with pocket passers. OU will manufacture new ways to mindf*ck Greg Davis and continue sending UT to the Bowls of the Spanish San’s (San Diego and San Antonio).”
This can’t be right. Kirk Bohls and Clendon Ross both told us Mack made “all the right moves” after the aTm game. Clearly, Greg Davis isn’t the problem or he would be gone.
DBH said:
February 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
unichorn must be suicidal.
DBH said:
February 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
“To be fair Nate, this is not correct either. Mack is 3-2 with Colt and Applewhite against OU, the two QBs that Gilbert should favor heavily. ”
Major beat OU under the disastrous John Blake and then won in Stoops’ first year of rebuilding. The following year, it was 63-14.
Colt won when the idiot Bomar got kicked off the team and Stoops replaced him with a WR.
Let’s get real.
Unbiased Horn said:
February 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Bomar sucked, let’s get real. wins are wins, it’s not a greek tragedy. we lost by 50 in games without a dual threat and games with a dual threat to OU, including VY
TaylorTRoom said:
February 21st, 2008 at 4:58 am
The WR at QB that Mack and Colt beat in 2006 is on an NFL roster as a QB. Actually, I think he has the most successful NFL career of any Sooner QB ever. Makes you wonder why he only started one season at OU.
CallKevin said:
February 21st, 2008 at 6:24 am
TaylorT, Thompson didn’t make an NFL roster as a QB. He was undrafted, cut from the practice squad by the Packers on 9/11, and signed with the Titans on 1/9/08. Until he’s on an active roster during the season, that doesn’t count to me. As for the most successful NFL career of Sooner QB’s, if you don’t count Aikman then you’re probably correct.
NateHeupel said:
February 21st, 2008 at 8:56 am
Unbiased, let’s be reasonable.
VY never had a fair shot in the 65-13 beating. Mack was too busy playing three card monty with his QBs. Remember who started that game?
Colt McCoy only needed Paul Thompson to throw, what, 3 or 4 interceptions to win? On his own merits, he had an unimpressive, but not bad, game in 2006.
As for Paul Thompson, he’s the first OU QB under Stoops to come out of college in one piece (White-ACLs, Heupel-elbow) if you don’t include Hybl who transferred in.
ugh said:
February 21st, 2008 at 10:30 am
For me to commit to a school
first of all I am looking for good academics.
Then, does that coach put people in the league every year.
Then I look at their quarterbacks coach and also the quarterbacks that he has coached in the past or present and how successful they have been throughout the year.
Lastly the style of system they run. I would like to be in a spread gun formation or a west coast pro style. “
Gary Pinkel said:
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Rumor is Shep is LSU-bound.
Donte Grieb said:
January 15th, 2010 at 12:20 am
You definitely need to know that this is my alltime fav blogs.