Why is Texas struggling to solve our guard issue

[ZPHookem]

We think Baker can kick in and play guard but we haven't seen it. We still have a huge hole at LG. That was our biggest issue going into the portal. The portal is now closed and we still don't have an answer. LSU just signed the guard from Maryland and Tech just signed the guard from Louisville. What is our plan to solve LG? 🤘

[Joe Zura]

Why is Texas struggling to find a guard KYLE FLOOD end of story lol

[Califashorn75]

We aren't.  Sark's not done. There are over 300 guards yet unsigned in the portal. Evaluation takes time. 

[AZ Longhorn]

My read: Sark and the roster construction team are committed to "big game hunting"... but big game hunting only has a chance of working if there's big game out there. 

Translation: no elite Guards have entered the portal, and Texas has not been willing to settle for what has actually hit the portal like other programs have. We have had no interest/involvement in the top of the market that has actually hit the portal (the guys from Maryland, West Virginia, Louisville). 

To combat the problem that no elite Guards were willingly entering the portal, we tried to "create some big game" by recruiting elite guys into the portal. They gave Guarnera a home run swing, but came up empty. Then they were reportedly trying to recruit another guy, the "mystery Guard", all the way up to the entry request deadline last night... but as of 11:15 this morning, Bobby didn't know whether that guy decided to enter or not. 

There is still line to play out here. But my answer to your question, is that it's possible Sark and staff kept holding out for an "elite Guard" market that never actually materialized. 

Edited 1 hour ago by AZ Longhorn

[ElCafetero]

idk what you’ve been seeing but swain, pope, and mark have been on fire

[drag worm]

27 minutes ago, AZ Longhorn said:

My read: Sark and the roster construction team are committed to "big game hunting"... but big game hunting only has a chance of working if there's big game out there. 

Translation: no elite Guards have entered the portal, and Texas has not been willing to settle for what has actually hit the portal like other programs have. We have had no interest/involvement in the top of the market that has actually hit the portal (the guys from Maryland, West Virginia, Louisville). 

To combat the problem that no elite Guards were willingly entering the portal, we tried to "create some big game" by recruiting elite guys into the portal. They gave Guarnera a home run swing, but came up empty. Then they were reportedly trying to recruit another guy, the "mystery Guard", all the way up to the entry request deadline last night... but as of 11:15 this morning, Bobby didn't know whether that guy decided to enter or not. 

There is still line to play out here. But my answer to your question, is that it's possible Sark and staff kept holding out for an "elite Guard" market that never actually materialized. 

Agree to the Big Game hunting theory, but in regards to a “lack of candidates” to target this isn’t a game of who enters the portal it’s about negotiating with agents behind the scenes and recruiting players TO the portal. We did this with the Michigan guys and we didn’t close. We moved on to some other targets who went elsewhere as well. We prioritized Cam Coleman and we won. We’ll see how things sit when the dust settles but as of now I haven’t seen the same conviction to signing the best of the best along the offensive line. 

Edited 1 hour ago by drag worm

[AZ Longhorn]

1 minute ago, drag worm said:

Agree to the Big Game hunting theory, but in regards to a lack of “candidates to target” this isn’t a game of who enters the portal it’s about negotiating with agents behind the scenes and recruiting players TO the portal. We did this with the Michigan guys and we didn’t close. We moved on to some other targets and went elsewhere as well. We prioritized Cam Coleman and we won. We’ll see how things sit when the dust settles but as of now I haven’t seen the same conviction to signing the best of the best along the offensive line. 

Agreed that failing to get guys into the portal is functionally the same as a "portal loss." Ultimately, the guy liked what another school had to offer more than what Texas had to offer. 

[Rocky P]

Maybe these names arent good and texas isnt going to settle.  Its either elite or roll with what we have.  We also dont know these players demands.  They could be demanding things like guaranteed starts and sark isnt willing to give that. There are a lot of variables that we dont know that go into these decisions.  Its bot black and white.  So while we see these names and are like ooo and ahhh.  Sark may see them and be meh.  

[Rocky P]

3 minutes ago, AZ Longhorn said:

Agreed that failing to get guys into the portal is functionally the same as a "portal loss." Ultimately, the guy liked what another school had to offer more than what Texas had to offer. 

There is a difference though between losing a player to their og school and losing to a different transfer school.  The players we tried to lure out and werent able to took less money.  Loyalty still counts and the elite players arent as worried about the money because they know the nfl is in their future 

[HornyHorn]

4 minutes ago, Rocky P said:

Maybe these names arent good and texas isnt going to settle.  Its either elite or roll with what we have.  We also dont know these players demands.  They could be demanding things like guaranteed starts and sark isnt willing to give that. There are a lot of variables that we dont know that go into these decisions.  Its bot black and white.  So while we see these names and are like ooo and ahhh.  Sark may see them and be meh.  

Maybe. But if rolling with what we have was a possibility all along, I’m not sure why they let all the guys that were next up leave…

[Rocky P]

3 minutes ago, HornyHorn said:

Maybe. But if rolling with what we have was a possibility all along, I’m not sure why they let all the guys that were next up leave…

Next up according to who?  

[drag worm]

13 minutes ago, Rocky P said:

Next up according to who?  

The people who recruited them? 

Cruz, Kibble, Stroh, Brooks, Neto all were recruited to help take over when the 2024 starting line needed reloading. They’ve all been flushed from the program. That’s an issue worth questioning regardless of who we might pull in here at the final hour. 

[BVH]

Theres no way our coaches dont at least bring some guys in.  Going into next season with our current OL would be coaching malpractice and a fireable offense, especially after this season. 

[Springhorn]