Jefferson's Contract a TEXTBOOK example of why (most) guys should return for Senior Year

"And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the youths,
A young man devoid of understanding,"
Proverbs 7:7

It's official.  Malik Jefferson signed his first NFL contract this week.  Details (from overthecap.com):


That's it?!?

That contract is nothing for an athlete with Malik Jefferson's level of skill.  He should make significantly more than that.  He's that talented.

Instead, he's making less than $1 million per year (in a league where your career could end on any given play).  We've heard conflicting reports on how much of it is guaranteed (some say $0, some say only the $700k signing bonus, some say about half)...but the fact remains the contract isn't even fully guaranteed.  Pretty small payday.

Imagine, instead, a world where Malik returns for Senior year.  If he has a monster Senior season (the most likely outcome), he's a first round pick and gets paid accordingly.  Even if he only has a so-so year, he's still a likely second round pick.  Obviously, there's a chance he gets hurt.  But, given the contract he just signed, there wouldn't be a big difference between getting hurt in the NFL and getting hurt playing for the Longhorns.

Bottom Line: It's a damn shame for Malik, but this is a lesson that should be hammered into the head of every draft-eligible student-athlete from now until eternity....

Longhorn results (finally) beginning to match potential!!!

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Galatians 6:9

We'll get to the kicking game, but otherwise we were very content with what we saw in last night's double overtime victory over an always difficult Kansas State team.

While neither was perfect, both the offense and the defense turned in solid performances against a challenging opponent.  The defense gave up a few big plays, but also stepped up and made several other plays when they had to.  On offense, Sam Ehlinger and a multi-faceted running game continue to impress.

But, unfortunately, there's the kicking game.  Junior Kicker Joshua Rowland missed two fourth quarter field goals.  Had Rowland hit either, overtime would have been avoided.  While the rest of the team stepped up during overtime, this was an unnecessary risk to an otherwise encouraging performance.

And it's not like this is a new issue.  Rowland is now 4 for 9 kicking field goals this season.  And this follows on the debacles we've seen recently with Trent Domingue and Nick Rose.  This has been a problem for several seasons and we have no idea why it hasn't been addressed.

That being said, it's also worth noting that the mistakes never spiraled out of control.  When they were made, they were acknowledged and contained.  That, right there, is the difference between Tom Herman and Charlie Strong.

Finally, we don't have time to go into detail, but props to the following: Chris Warren, Kyle Porter, Toneil Carter, Reggie Hemphill-Mapps, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Jerrod Heard, Malik Jefferson, Breckyn Hegar, while punter Michael Dickson remain a freak of nature!!!

Bottom Line: If they can get the kicking issues resolved, this team can be dangerous!!!

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Christmas Eve in Austin....

"Do not be furious, O Lord,
Nor remember iniquity forever;
Indeed, please look—we all are Your people!"
Isaiah 64:9

Eventful council meeting last night.  Our original plan had been to discuss it today, but it's late and we feel like talking about Football instead.  If you don't like it, start your own blog.

Obviously, tomorrow marks the beginning of the Tom Herman era.  We honestly don't know how we feel about it.  We'd love to believe the optimistic case, but we hope you'll pardon us if we've heard the hype machine before.

For the Longhorns to be successful this season, the following needs to happen:

• Shane Buchele needs to stay healthy.

• They need to learn to convert first downs in medium yardage situations; this was a consistent shortcoming during the previous coach's tenure.

• With Swoopes and D'Onta Foreman gone, they also need to establish the short yardage game.

• On defense, they need to dramatically improve their coverage of the middle of the field.

• Malik Jefferson needs to become A LOT more consistent...but we have a funny feeling Breckyn Hegar is going to be the one everyone's talking about at the end of the year.

• The pass rush has been the one pleasant surprise the past few seasons; this needs to continue.

• Finally, most important of all: THEY NEED TO STOP TAKING STUPID PENALTIES AND GIVING AWAY SLOPPY FUMBLES.  This is a team that lost five games last season by less than a touchdown.  If they had simply take care of the penalties and turnovers, they would have won several of those games.
• Note: This is where you'll know if Tom Herman has made a difference.

Bottom Line: We'll see, but we don't think we're gonna be able to sleep tonight.

Longhorn Spring Game Strengthens the Pessimistic Case

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

We attended UT Football's spring game this afternoon...and we weren't impressed.

With a newly onboarded coaching staff, we were looking for evidence of crispness, discipline, and hustle.  We found little.  The penalties continue.

This team will go as far as Shane Buchele takes them.  In a day where the rest of the team was forgettable, Buchele passed for two touchdowns and ran for another.  The Longhorns are going to need him this fall.

The sloppy play continues.  There are still too many penalties, there were too many dropped passes, and drives still stall out way too early.  For as much money was spent to turn over the coaching staff during the off-season, we see more of the same.

On offense, Buchele was joined (at times) by Jerrod Heard, Devon Duvernay, and running back (#30) Toneil Carter.  Buchele's ability to successfully navigate mid-range yardage situations has improved since last season...but the question is by how much?!?  Sam Ehlinger wasn't notable.

The defense was kinda "meh."  The pass rush continued to be above average, but they also continued to give up too many yards in the middle of the field.  Malik Jefferson visibly dogged it every time he came on the field.

Bottom Line: With the legislature in town, we'll throw out a suggestion.  Attach a rider to the budget that cuts off state funding to any public university whose football program has four consecutive losing seasons.  At some point the alumni have to revolt...right?!?

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Then again, at least WE BEAT BAYLOR!!!

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."
John 15:16

2016 Texas Longhorns Football can be characterized as brief flashes of brilliance intermingled with long stretches of bumbling ineptitude.  Tonight, the brilliance surpassed the ineptitude by the thinnest margin possible.  But we're not gonna lie: beating Baylor was REALLY frickin' sweet and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Once again, #SugarShane Buchele (#7) and D'Onta Foreman (#33) led the attack.  Unfortunately, they were accompanied by a non-existent run defense, too many penalties/turnovers, and some flat-out strange playcalling from Charlie Strong and Sterlin Gilbert on offense.  In the end, however, an offense that can put up yards and points in bunches covers a lot of sins.

The teams combined for 1200+ yards of offense.  Baylor quarterback Seth Russell consistently owned the middle of the field, rushing for 138 yards in 15 to 30 yard chunks.  On the Longhorn side, D'Onta Foreman's 250 yard performance made him the first Longhorn running back in a decade to rush for 1000 yards.

Otherwise, some notes:

• This team has absolutely no run defense. Seth Russell has too much room to run all afternoon.  Even worse was the lack of adjustments once the issue became obvious.

•  Cornerback P.J. Locke (#11) had a pick and made several big plays on defense.

• Amanti Foreman (#3) and Tyrone Swoopes (#18) both had first half fumbles; while Foreman's goal line mishap was followed by a safety on the first defensive play, there was no way to know that would happen at the time.

• Speaking of Swoopes, the way he was used today made no sense.  Strong/Gilbert kept lining him up at running back in situations where it wasn't appropriate.  Swoopes was visibly out of sorts all afternoon which led to him coming up short on a potential game-tying 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.

• Fox End Breckyn Hager (#44) continues to impress.

• Shane Buchele had a mostly strong performance, including a late touchdown to Andrew Beck (#47), but he had one hand-off in the second half where he literally handed the ball to the opposite side of the runner.

• Malik Jefferson (#46) should have had a fumble recovery for a touchdown with about 14 seconds remaining, but he got hosed on the call.

Bottom Line: Charlie Strong will depart the forty acres with a winning record (2-1) against Baylor; file that away for some future bar trivia night.

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Longhhorns first Touchdown (Buchele to A. Foreman):



Longhorns Second Touchdown (D. Foreman long run):



Longhorns Third Touchdown (D. Foreman short run):



Longhorns fourth touchdown (Buchele to Beck):



Game winning field goal:



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