Perused ShaggyBevo and learned a few things:
1.) Most fan bases are wildly overoptimistic this time of the year but Cal and Texas both seem to have a reluctant/skeptical bent to their excitement
2.) They've switched their offensive system to a full spread. They believe this will allow them to mix read option with more wide open and simpler passing reads for their QBs.
3.) Lots of cultural change going on over there. Strong continues to run folks out of the program. Thank god FreshFunk isn't a longhorn fan or he'd be on a suicide watch. They put every key returning player on the hot seat where they sat and had the coaching staff tell them why they weren't good enough and what they had to do to improve - D staff evaluated O players and vice versa
4.) The incoming frosh class is apparently outworking the returning team in the weight room and 4-5 of them are pushing to play right away and challenging their older teammates. Some bad blood may be brewing as a result
5.) They just timed the team in the 40 and an SEC media person who was in attendance said they are among the fastest teams in the country, especially on defense
6.) The fans believe their defense will be wicked good again this year albeit with some youngsters playing key roles at LB and in the secondary
7.) They are very worried about their OL despite 4 returning starters given how poor they were last year. A true frosh who was an EE is currently in the lead to start at RT.
8.) General view is that Charlie Strong was a great hire but that the cultural changes necessary to turn the thing around may take 3-4 years
9.) The optimistic Texas fans see the OL improving a lot especially in run blocking and Jonathan Gray having a big year with a handful of big plays in the passing game. They believe they will see fewer TOs and negative plays and that a strong run game and defense will mitigate QB concerns
10.) Swoopes is seen as the likely starter but concerns abound about his confidence. They all believe he needs to play well against ND to get his mojo back
11.) They view the biggest near term gain from Strong as the HC being S&C which they claim has improved markedly
12.) Couldn't find a single discussion about Cal and not that many about ND
1.) Most fan bases are wildly overoptimistic this time of the year but Cal and Texas both seem to have a reluctant/skeptical bent to their excitement
2.) They've switched their offensive system to a full spread. They believe this will allow them to mix read option with more wide open and simpler passing reads for their QBs.
3.) Lots of cultural change going on over there. Strong continues to run folks out of the program. Thank god FreshFunk isn't a longhorn fan or he'd be on a suicide watch. They put every key returning player on the hot seat where they sat and had the coaching staff tell them why they weren't good enough and what they had to do to improve - D staff evaluated O players and vice versa
4.) The incoming frosh class is apparently outworking the returning team in the weight room and 4-5 of them are pushing to play right away and challenging their older teammates. Some bad blood may be brewing as a result
5.) They just timed the team in the 40 and an SEC media person who was in attendance said they are among the fastest teams in the country, especially on defense
6.) The fans believe their defense will be wicked good again this year albeit with some youngsters playing key roles at LB and in the secondary
7.) They are very worried about their OL despite 4 returning starters given how poor they were last year. A true frosh who was an EE is currently in the lead to start at RT.
8.) General view is that Charlie Strong was a great hire but that the cultural changes necessary to turn the thing around may take 3-4 years
9.) The optimistic Texas fans see the OL improving a lot especially in run blocking and Jonathan Gray having a big year with a handful of big plays in the passing game. They believe they will see fewer TOs and negative plays and that a strong run game and defense will mitigate QB concerns
10.) Swoopes is seen as the likely starter but concerns abound about his confidence. They all believe he needs to play well against ND to get his mojo back
11.) They view the biggest near term gain from Strong as the HC being S&C which they claim has improved markedly
12.) Couldn't find a single discussion about Cal and not that many about ND
