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 4 hours 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 4 hours 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]

[Aspann85]

1 hour ago, Califashorn75 said:

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

These people want to fill it with jags just bc they played it previously, albeit in a lower level league against lesser competition. Just fill it. They would be praising it now and then b*tching in season when they proved out to be turnstiles and then complain that we signed jags. No winning with whiners.

[Aspann85]

1 hour 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.  

This exactly. Been pounding this line for days but it falls on deaf ears of the “me want now” generation that doesn’t understand delayed gratification.

[DrunkBevo]

13 minutes ago, Aspann85 said:

These people want to fill it with jags just bc they played it previously, albeit in a lower level league against lesser competition. Just fill it. They would be praising it now and then b*tching in season when they proved out to be turnstiles and then complain that we signed jags. No winning with whiners.

U mean like all the jags that flood recruited and just left the program 

[Aspann85]

1 hour ago, DrunkBevo said:

U mean like all the jags that flood recruited and just left the program 

That’s the risk you take with high school kids, some pan out, some don’t. Doesn’t mean you want to backfill with guys who have proven they aren’t necessarily an upgrade just bc they took 1000 snaps against lower level competition.

[DrunkBevo]

25 minutes ago, Aspann85 said:

That’s the risk you take with high school kids, some pan out, some don’t. Doesn’t mean you want to backfill with guys who have proven they aren’t necessarily an upgrade just bc they took 1000 snaps against lower level competition.

Ill take my chances with a new oline coach bc this one isnt panning out

[snugsie]

I think theres a loss of confidence is flood and a bit of a stigma right now that our OL isn't good

[Beldar]

5 minutes ago, DrunkBevo said:

Ill take my chances with a new oline coach bc this one isnt panning out

35-8 last three seasons and really close to playing for NC. Think we win one if Brooks did not go down in Conf. Champ. game. Putting multiple players in NFL over last three years , some in first and second round. Look at 2010-2021 results. Watch out what you ask for. We have it pretty good right now. Flood turned down NFL jobs. Bet he gets offered again with coaching changes. Hope Facts don't confuse things.

[Beldar]

3 minutes ago, snugsie said:

I think theres a loss of confidence is flood and a bit of a stigma right now that our OL isn't good

He was good enough for Saban, so he is good enough for me. Who do you suggest we get that is better.?

 

[snugsie]

4 minutes ago, Beldar said:

He was good enough for Saban, so he is good enough for me. Who do you suggest we get that is better.?

 

Good enough for Saban mindset doesn't indicate present performance. He would be fired in a heartbeat for what happened last season.

[Chris Simons]

The Westlake kid is playing in the Natty...

[LonghornFan4Ever]

Just now, snugsie said:

Good enough for Saban mindset doesn't indicate present performance. He would be fired in a heartbeat for what happened last season.

100% agree.  Idc about what he did at other stops at this point because he now has a five year sample size of time at Texas.