December 18, 2024 • 19 mins
Cameron Parker and C.J. Vogel talk Texas Football as they preview Saturday's showdown against the Clemson Tigers. They discuss the struggles on offense, Quinn's health, the status of Isaiah Bond and Kelvin Banks, transfer portal additions and subtractions, and C.J.'s prediction for Saturday.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Continue to talk Texas football as they will host the
Clemson Tigers in three days at DKR in the first
round of the College Football Playoff. And here to help
me preview this game, my good friend CJ Fogal from
on Texas Football. CJ, let's start off with this game Saturday.
What do you see as being the key battles in
(00:20):
game that will ultimately decide this outcome.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, I think there's a couple, right. It's protecting the
football for Texas, it's execution in the red zone. All
of that comes down to the running game and Quinnie
ers right, you know, And so if you want to
come down to just simple terms, that's how well does
the offense execute?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Clemson is very opportunistic defensively, twenty five turnovers for us
this year, you know, they're up there top three in
the country and turnover margin, which is very key for
beating teams when you're eleven point underdog as well. So
for me, it's just as simple as find ways to
execute in the short red zone, something Texas necessarily hasn't done.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Over the last two weeks.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah, the turnovers would be part of thinking Clemson's both
losses or all their losses. They have not forced any
turnovers defensively on the red zone side. You mentioned that
from Texas. What have you seen that has been plaguing
Texas in the red zone?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, Look, this has been kind of a magic question
over the last two years. And I thought Texas had
done a good job early in the first half of
the season of figuring that out. Of course, you know,
they went on a pretty good six or seven games
stretch to start the season in terms of converting red
zone trips into seven points, and that since dissipated quite
a bit. And look, I think it starts with the
(01:35):
running game. I'd like to see maybe some Jared Gibson
on the downhill ability. I'd like to see maybe some
Arch Manning providing some of that quarterback run that package
that looked pretty good against Texas A and M. Let's
be honest, So I don't know the one on one
routes are there for Isaiah Bond if he's completely healthy.
We've seen Matthew Golden be a one on one threat
all throughout the year. Texas has to find ways to
(01:57):
create those simple throws for Quinnie was in the red
zone in that sense eluded them in the second half
of the year.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, you mentioned Isaiah Bond's injury. I think there's been
three key players on offense. Obviously it's been injured and
not been playing one hundred percent Quin you weres of course,
Isaiah Bond, and then Kelvin Banks who missed the game
last week. How ready to go? Do you think those
guys will be come Saturday?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, I've heard Quinn is completely back to full health.
Of course, not practicing with the brace. He's been slinging
the rock for the last two games with it on
since then, obviously with the bye week that is now
off of his injured ankle. Calvin Banks maybe not one
hundred percent, but good enough to give it a go
on Saturday. That's what I've been hearing recently as well.
(02:39):
He's been practicing with the first team as of Monday
and Tuesday. That is expected to be the case Wednesday
as well as Texas is back on the practice field currently.
And then Isaiah Bond maybe a little bit less of
an optimistic approach there with his ankle. Of course, he
got rolled up on by Trey Wisen late in that
Georgia game. Was seeing with a crutch with a boot
(03:00):
leaving the Mercedes Been Stadium two Saturdays ago in Atlanta.
I don't think that he's going to be one hundred percent.
I do think he will try to suit up and
give it a go. How often will he be a
difference maker? I lean towards not so often given the
status of that ankle.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, Oklahoma game he had one catch five yards, and
that was really the beginning of his ankle problems. I mean,
the first five games of the season, CJ didn't have
a game worse than fifty yards, but since then only
one game above fifty yards. In the last three games,
he's had three catches for about forty nine yards. How
much of the offense struggling red zone and not being
able to put up the numbers that we used to
(03:39):
see them put up in the first half of the season.
How much of that do you think is on Isaiah
Bond not being properly healthy and also Texas just not
really having a true number one running back.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, I think you can point to both being quite
a big of an issue. Right You know, with Isaiah
bon specifically, he probably more than anybody on the team
right now offensively at least has that instant impact trait
to him and that's his speed, right. We've seen it
twice this year where you know, he catches a bubble,
he finds a crease or a sliver on the outside,
and he's gone. You know, I don't think that anybody
(04:10):
else on this roster at the moment has that, and
you know that's kind of been what's missing is that
big play home run ability. Texas has done great whenever
you pick up you know, eight to twelve to you know,
run for three and you kind of chip your way
down the field, but that leads you right to.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
The red zone.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Right in came We've talked about it. Texas struggles exactly there.
So for Isaiah Bond specifically, his absence has taken away
that instant home run, that instant touchdown from the Texas offense,
and that's certainly hurt them. But for the running game specifically,
you know we've seen this year not necessarily having that
true number one hasn't hurt them all that much.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Maybe a little bit in the red zone.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
But you know, again, when you've rushed for three hundred
and thirty yards against Kentucky and Texas A and M
to end the red season, you're feeling pretty good. About
what Trey Wiser has been able to do. Now, it's
just about finding that offensive rhythm up front with the
offensive line, making sure that one the quarterbacks protected. Two
those lanes are created and it starts with those big
bodies up front.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
The run will come as a result.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And I think that Clemson is a team that you'll
be able to see some success with in that run game.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
You mentioned the deep ball and not having that deep
ball threat because I see a lot of stuff on
Twitter and message boards and no doubt probably in your
mentions as well as CJ about you know, well Quinn
can't throw the deep ball, Well who's he throwing to?
Because I mean we saw two years ago, well in
Texas really just had Xavior Worthy. You had a broken hand,
and that was about it. Struggle with a deep ball
(05:40):
passing attack. But then I thought last year it improved
and I think that was a lot about to do
with with Worthy being healthy and also the addition of
Ady Mitchell. I don't see another receiver like that. It
could be Isaiah Bam, but he's not healthy. Maybe John
day Cook, but you know he's gone from the program.
The one deep ball he did have, he did drop
Ryan Wingo. I think it is a great intermediary guy,
but he doesn't seem to be able to win that
(06:00):
one on one matchups and doesn't seem to have that
straight line speed that would be able to impact the
game in the deep ball manner.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, that's kind of that big hindrance with the absence
of Isaiah Bond.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
You know, look, we've seen Matthew Golden win a few
jump balls, right, He's had some success, had a big
catch against Texas A and m had one against Michigan.
It had one against Georgia right in the SEC championship game.
But is he the guy that Texas is gonna draw the.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Big play for? Well, at this point he might have
to be.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And I don't think that's necessarily to your point, the
big strength of his game, but you kind of have
to rely on who you got out there.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And you know, you're you're right.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You know, Texas has trusted Ryan Wingo to go up
there and win the fifty to fifties and it just
hasn't necessarily fallen his way. Right, that's partially on the quarterback,
that's partially on the young wide receiver. Maybe not positioning
his body, maybe not timing the jump, whatever the result is,
the ball's fallen incomplete and that that's just, you know,
a down that you don't get back. And part of
(07:00):
me cam, I think I tossed this idea to you
earlier last week. But when Texas was driving down the
field for that game time field goal against Georgia to
lead into overtime, you saw Sark go back to what
ended the season in twenty twenty three with those fades
that ad Ni Mitchell in the red zone, right, he
went back to back to Ryan Wingo on those kind
(07:23):
of outside fades to the end zone, and you know,
one ended up with a fifteen yard pass interference and
the other fell incomplete. But I'm sitting there thinking, you know,
we've been here before. You know, where's the creativity. You
have a time out left, find something that works. And
what had been working in that game it was the
underneath was the quick slants, the digs, the whips, everything
that Coin could just sit back, throw and let the
(07:44):
guys create after the catch.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
It was working. The intermediate was working as well.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Some part of me still kind of holds out that
reservation that you know, there's still a fail safe in
there for sark and is just toss it up to
the big body on the outside and pray that he
comes down with the one on one win.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
That just hasn't been case over the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Interesting you mentioned arts Manning. Of course, you know he
came in on that the first and ten to start
overtime against Georgia, had the good touchdown run against A
and M. Kind of surprised we didn't see it more
against Georgia, And I wonder if some of that is
just as hard as start just holding on to some
of these packages for later in the playoff. And I
want to ask you, do you think we're gonna see
(08:23):
Arts more in this playoff game? Or do you think
Texas will be able to get by without showing all
of their cards against a Clemson team that really, you know,
isn't one of the top twelve teams in the country,
but god in thanks to the a SEC championship win.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
You know, it's pretty interesting, right, you know, you use
it against Texas A and M, but you don't use
it against Georgia.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
What's the difference? Right?
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You could argue the Georgia game had more at State
and it did, right. SEC championship was on the line,
why would you not use it. It's not to hold it back,
it's not to hide. It started own film, right. He
scored a touchdown his first touch against Texas A and M.
I look, if you have it, why not use it
because there's certainly something there that you can utilize, and
that's his legs.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
The plus one math that goes into a running quarterback
or a mobile quarterback.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Changes the entire complexion of a defense.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And even if it's just for you know, a look,
you know, get it out there, force a timeout, force
the defense to adjust, because if they don't, you have
a look that you want, you can certainly utilize that.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Texas A and M. Look, he was on the field
for force snaps.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
One of them ended up being a touchdown, another one
ended up being Texas A and M wasting a timeout.
I would use him at least for five or six snaps,
given the red zone boes of recently. But look, that's
why I'm talking to you and not head coach of
the Texas Longhorns, so that but I think you have
to utilize him. If not, there's a lot of what ifs.
(09:42):
If the season doesn't go as planned.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
And I wonder how much of it is just is
Sark just does he not trust Arts to make throws
because in you know, it's been very very small sample size,
but in Georgia A and M, we just saw Arch
run the football, we didn't see him throw it. I
wonder if some of that has just Sark just afraid
of Arts, maybe made making a mistake and turn the
ball over in the red zone.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You've made mistakes with your normal quarterback. So what's the.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Difference, Yeah, a fair point. I think Texas can get
by Clemson without needing Arch, maybe Arizona State. But if
you get to Oregon and semi finals and that's the course,
that's a hypothetical, I think you're gonna need more Arch
manning and less Magically. The offense is back to where
it was at making the season. All let's talk about
the offense, about quaint and Arch. I think this game
(10:27):
on already comes down to the defense.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I think again it starts with the front. You know,
that defensive end group, that defensive line group. Can you
stop film off in the running attack. If so, you'll
have a good, you know, chance of making Clemson very
one dimensional team. Also, on the edges. And we've seen
Texas be very good against running and mobile quarterbacks in
the past. Right, that includes Jaln Milroe last year, Jason
(10:51):
being at Kansas where they kind of have that triple option. Look,
you know, it was basically stymy throughout the entire afternoon.
Marcel Reid, Michael Hawk, It's Diego, Pavia, Taylor Green. The
list goes on and on. Texas has faced a lot
of mobile quarterbacks. How many have truly hurt the long ones?
Not many, right, maybe Dylan Gabriel late in that Oklahoma
(11:11):
game twenty twenty three. Aside from that, I don't think
that Texas was hurt by really any of them in
the run game. So that's more at testament to the
scheme in the game plan of saying, hey, ed rushers,
if you're not getting home, make sure he's not getting
to the outside, and make sure that you're containing and
allowing this top end secondary to make plays on the
Football's on the football live to see another down. Don't
allow the big explosive play with the quarterback run.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Talking with CJ. Fogel from on Texas Football and on
Texas football dot Com. Okay transfer portal windows open. We
seen Texas take three takes. Now it's kind of slowing
down a little bit. What have you made so far
of the three editions they have made? And do you
think we're gonna see anything more in the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah, definitely, Texas.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Look the windows open for another ten days and you'll
have some coaching changes. As January comes around, you'll have
the spring window, You'll.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Have grad transfers.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Texas will certainly see that rise double at least probably
triple if.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I had to guess right now. But they sit with
three right.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
One's a two time All Conference punter, Jack Bomester from Utah.
Really big addition there. Of course, special teams maybe took
a step back this year. It's normally been really good
and I still think Jeff Banks is a tremendous special
teams coordinator, but now he's got a big leg at punter,
which is a big deal in my eyes. Brad Spence,
a guy that's come on late, was a bit undersized
out of high school, out of Houston. Four and a
(12:28):
half sacks, a guy that can play the middle two
hundred and forty pounds that's going to fit right in
with you know, some of the sec size that Texas
is posting right now.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Plus you can utilize.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Not just Anthony Hill blitzing and utilizing him in odd
front packages, but Brad Spence. He's already shown so far
that he can get to the quarterback. Had a sack
against Texas and Fateville this year.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
And then Cole Brivard.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Look, Texas is in a big time market for defensive lineman.
They've got one in the fold with Bravard, to his
twenty three career starts a big time guy over the nose,
which you don't find very often in the portal.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Texas has won at defensive line.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I think they need three more, but we'll see where
they go when that window closes in ten days. I
would expect the Longhorns to have a couple other additions.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Okay, let's start with wide receiver Eric Sionolton Reteorgia Tech.
It sounds like he's going to end up at Auburn.
Do you think this is a spot where Texas will
wait until the next portal window after the postseason to
add a receiver.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Yeah, I think that's interesting, right.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
It might come down to just what's the end decision
for some of the receivers on campus, right. I do
think Isaiah Bond is headed to the NFL draft. I
do think Matthew Golden is also headed to the NFL draft,
But I don't think that one holds as much, you know, confidence,
if you will, you know, I do think that there
is a little bit of a margin, a little bit
(13:47):
of a window for Texas to make a push to
retain Matthew Golden. The question is if you don't, do
you have a plan in place for that other wide
receiver spot again, because look, I think wing Goo and
More coming back is great.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
You got some really talented freshman coming back.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Parker living Stones make a lot of noise and practice
already as well.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
But you like that reliability.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
You'd like to have that experience in production at the
wide receiver spot. And Singleton kind of fit the exact
mold that you were looking for with his ten three
one hundred meter speed.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Yeah, and you also have Jimmie French coming back cleek Lockett. Interesting.
I could see Isaiah Bond returning just because of all
the injuries he's had this year bringing down his draft stock.
I can see Matthew Golden going for sure. We like
kicker spot do you think Texas makes a move. They
do have Spencer Barnett, the Westlake freshman, obviously burn Auburn
not having a good year, and he still has a
(14:37):
year let of eligibility.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah, this is an interesting one because look, a year ago,
Texas fans are probably clamoring for him to win the
Kicker of the Year award, right, you know, and that's
unfortunate that it's kind of turned to this. Right he's
sixty seven percent on the year. That's not gonna fly
at Texas. It's not gonna fly at many SEC programs
looking to compete for a national championship. I bet Texas
(14:59):
toy around for a portal kicker, you know, and we
kickers are tough to find Texas, you know, for whatever
the jokes are, you know, they've had a great run
of kickers success, right Nick ros justin Tucker.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
You know, you go all the way back.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
There's kickers there, including Cameron Dicker, that have kind of
set the standard for what kicking should be at Texas.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And you have a good one, you got to hold
on to him.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And right now, I think Texas might be in the
market for one. When it comes down to the portal.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Okay, one other spot in the transfer portal the branch
brothers Sakaya branch obviously a speedster at USC, a great returner,
but as a price tag of probably seven figures, and
also his brother's sign a branch who has had a
lot of trouble defensively at USC. What do you what
do you make of those two guys and what do
you think Texas will do with them?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Look, if it was just zachar Rai and the portal,
I think Texas makes a big time play for him. Now,
if it's a package deal with the Zion as well
the safety that you mentioned, that changes quite a bit
because do you pay the premium for both knowing that
one likely isn't going to be in You're too deep.
I think that's worth fair because this Texas secondary room,
especially at safety, has a lot of star power right
(16:05):
There's three five stars waiting to get on the field
that weren't on the field this year, and another borderline
five star that was injured off the field. So it's
a crowded room right now, and I know that. Look,
you'd like the difference maker that is Zachariat Branch. You'd
probably like to add some depth. But at the same time,
are you willing to go above and beyond with the
paycheck wise when we've not necessarily seen that be the
(16:26):
case for Longhorns and other portal recruitments.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
You mentioned Cole Brovard from Purdue. He's going to transfer
to Texas defensive line depth. You worried about that, Texas
losing a couple guys, including sad Deir Mitchell, who I
think entered the portal and then went back out of
the portal during our interview just now about two more times.
What do you make of the Texas line defensive depth
right now?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Yeah, no, it's it's a scary site.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
You know, you got eighty six total snaps of the
guys on campus right now, plus you add the three
true freshmen coming in the twenty twenty five recruiting class,
and it's not a lot.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You know.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Luckily, Texas has already landed one right to Culbervard ou
to Purdue. That's a guy that I've pimed in already
to be a starter over the nose. You know, that's
a big body, six fourth or ind and thirty pounds again,
twenty three starts under his belt, three hundred and sixty
something snaps over the a gap this year, it's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Now you got to find something next to him.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
And look, I do think Alex January is going to
be a big time player at Texas, but you got
to get him to the point where he's completely ready.
And look, it takes a physical freak to step in
day one become a contributor as a true freshman. Let's
see if any of these three in the twenty five
class become one of those guys. Because we saw it
briefly from January and he had some good moments. That's
(17:38):
a tough thing to ask. Last question for you.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I know it's Wednesday, but do you have an early
prediction yet for Saturday's game between Texas and Clemson.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Look, I don't have a score locked in yet, but
I do think this is going to be a game
that's pretty close in the first half. And that's kind
of weird thing because Texas normally start out pretty well
first half.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You know these I believe they've only allowed something like
ten points over their last five contests in the first
half of football games. And offensively, they're tremendous. Clemson offensively
they're also really good. But like Lincoln Riley, his brother
Garrett Riley, the offensive coordinator at Clemson. Look, he stumbles
in the second half. One adjustments needed to be made.
(18:20):
Results tend to take a tumble. So look Clemson, for
whatever the reason, their fourth quarter scoring difference is not favorable.
I think it'll be a close first half and then
you'll see Texas kind of pull away with some of
that depth, with some of that top end talent that
is sitting in the Burnt Orange, not the Clemson orange.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
He is Cjfocal from mon Texas Football and on Texas
Football dot Com. Hey, thanks for time in and I'll
talk to you Saturday.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Absolutely, Cam, I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yes, Sir Cjfogel from on Texas Football, give him a
fall on Twitter at Cjfogel underscore OTF Texas Clemson three
days away first round College football Playoff, the first year
of this college football player expansion, and Texas will have
a sold out crowd. Just announce at Daryl K. Roll
Texas Memorial Stadium. All right, more than come here on
(19:09):
the Craigway Show, including Little Texas Basketball. As we continue
on this Wednesday afternoon here on AM thirteen hundred, the
zone
Continue to talk Texas football as they will host the
Clemson Tigers in three days at DKR in the first
round of the College Football Playoff. And here to help
me preview this game, my good friend CJ Fogal from
on Texas Football. CJ, let's start off with this game Saturday.
What do you see as being the key battles in
(00:20):
game that will ultimately decide this outcome.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, I think there's a couple, right. It's protecting the
football for Texas, it's execution in the red zone. All
of that comes down to the running game and Quinnie
ers right, you know, And so if you want to
come down to just simple terms, that's how well does
the offense execute?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Clemson is very opportunistic defensively, twenty five turnovers for us
this year, you know, they're up there top three in
the country and turnover margin, which is very key for
beating teams when you're eleven point underdog as well. So
for me, it's just as simple as find ways to
execute in the short red zone, something Texas necessarily hasn't done.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Over the last two weeks.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah, the turnovers would be part of thinking Clemson's both
losses or all their losses. They have not forced any
turnovers defensively on the red zone side. You mentioned that
from Texas. What have you seen that has been plaguing
Texas in the red zone?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, Look, this has been kind of a magic question
over the last two years. And I thought Texas had
done a good job early in the first half of
the season of figuring that out. Of course, you know,
they went on a pretty good six or seven games
stretch to start the season in terms of converting red
zone trips into seven points, and that since dissipated quite
a bit. And look, I think it starts with the
(01:35):
running game. I'd like to see maybe some Jared Gibson
on the downhill ability. I'd like to see maybe some
Arch Manning providing some of that quarterback run that package
that looked pretty good against Texas A and M. Let's
be honest, So I don't know the one on one
routes are there for Isaiah Bond if he's completely healthy.
We've seen Matthew Golden be a one on one threat
all throughout the year. Texas has to find ways to
(01:57):
create those simple throws for Quinnie was in the red
zone in that sense eluded them in the second half
of the year.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, you mentioned Isaiah Bond's injury. I think there's been
three key players on offense. Obviously it's been injured and
not been playing one hundred percent Quin you weres of course,
Isaiah Bond, and then Kelvin Banks who missed the game
last week. How ready to go? Do you think those
guys will be come Saturday?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, I've heard Quinn is completely back to full health.
Of course, not practicing with the brace. He's been slinging
the rock for the last two games with it on
since then, obviously with the bye week that is now
off of his injured ankle. Calvin Banks maybe not one
hundred percent, but good enough to give it a go
on Saturday. That's what I've been hearing recently as well.
(02:39):
He's been practicing with the first team as of Monday
and Tuesday. That is expected to be the case Wednesday
as well as Texas is back on the practice field currently.
And then Isaiah Bond maybe a little bit less of
an optimistic approach there with his ankle. Of course, he
got rolled up on by Trey Wisen late in that
Georgia game. Was seeing with a crutch with a boot
(03:00):
leaving the Mercedes Been Stadium two Saturdays ago in Atlanta.
I don't think that he's going to be one hundred percent.
I do think he will try to suit up and
give it a go. How often will he be a
difference maker? I lean towards not so often given the
status of that ankle.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, Oklahoma game he had one catch five yards, and
that was really the beginning of his ankle problems. I mean,
the first five games of the season, CJ didn't have
a game worse than fifty yards, but since then only
one game above fifty yards. In the last three games,
he's had three catches for about forty nine yards. How
much of the offense struggling red zone and not being
able to put up the numbers that we used to
(03:39):
see them put up in the first half of the season.
How much of that do you think is on Isaiah
Bond not being properly healthy and also Texas just not
really having a true number one running back.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, I think you can point to both being quite
a big of an issue. Right You know, with Isaiah
bon specifically, he probably more than anybody on the team
right now offensively at least has that instant impact trait
to him and that's his speed, right. We've seen it
twice this year where you know, he catches a bubble,
he finds a crease or a sliver on the outside,
and he's gone. You know, I don't think that anybody
(04:10):
else on this roster at the moment has that, and
you know that's kind of been what's missing is that
big play home run ability. Texas has done great whenever
you pick up you know, eight to twelve to you know,
run for three and you kind of chip your way
down the field, but that leads you right to.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
The red zone.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Right in came We've talked about it. Texas struggles exactly there.
So for Isaiah Bond specifically, his absence has taken away
that instant home run, that instant touchdown from the Texas offense,
and that's certainly hurt them. But for the running game specifically,
you know we've seen this year not necessarily having that
true number one hasn't hurt them all that much.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Maybe a little bit in the red zone.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
But you know, again, when you've rushed for three hundred
and thirty yards against Kentucky and Texas A and M
to end the red season, you're feeling pretty good. About
what Trey Wiser has been able to do. Now, it's
just about finding that offensive rhythm up front with the
offensive line, making sure that one the quarterbacks protected. Two
those lanes are created and it starts with those big
bodies up front.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
The run will come as a result.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And I think that Clemson is a team that you'll
be able to see some success with in that run game.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
You mentioned the deep ball and not having that deep
ball threat because I see a lot of stuff on
Twitter and message boards and no doubt probably in your
mentions as well as CJ about you know, well Quinn
can't throw the deep ball, Well who's he throwing to?
Because I mean we saw two years ago, well in
Texas really just had Xavior Worthy. You had a broken hand,
and that was about it. Struggle with a deep ball
(05:40):
passing attack. But then I thought last year it improved
and I think that was a lot about to do
with with Worthy being healthy and also the addition of
Ady Mitchell. I don't see another receiver like that. It
could be Isaiah Bam, but he's not healthy. Maybe John
day Cook, but you know he's gone from the program.
The one deep ball he did have, he did drop
Ryan Wingo. I think it is a great intermediary guy,
but he doesn't seem to be able to win that
(06:00):
one on one matchups and doesn't seem to have that
straight line speed that would be able to impact the
game in the deep ball manner.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, that's kind of that big hindrance with the absence
of Isaiah Bond.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
You know, look, we've seen Matthew Golden win a few
jump balls, right, He's had some success, had a big
catch against Texas A and m had one against Michigan.
It had one against Georgia right in the SEC championship game.
But is he the guy that Texas is gonna draw the.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Big play for? Well, at this point he might have
to be.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
And I don't think that's necessarily to your point, the
big strength of his game, but you kind of have
to rely on who you got out there.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And you know, you're you're right.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You know, Texas has trusted Ryan Wingo to go up
there and win the fifty to fifties and it just
hasn't necessarily fallen his way. Right, that's partially on the quarterback,
that's partially on the young wide receiver. Maybe not positioning
his body, maybe not timing the jump, whatever the result is,
the ball's fallen incomplete and that that's just, you know,
a down that you don't get back. And part of
(07:00):
me cam, I think I tossed this idea to you
earlier last week. But when Texas was driving down the
field for that game time field goal against Georgia to
lead into overtime, you saw Sark go back to what
ended the season in twenty twenty three with those fades
that ad Ni Mitchell in the red zone, right, he
went back to back to Ryan Wingo on those kind
(07:23):
of outside fades to the end zone, and you know,
one ended up with a fifteen yard pass interference and
the other fell incomplete. But I'm sitting there thinking, you know,
we've been here before. You know, where's the creativity. You
have a time out left, find something that works. And
what had been working in that game it was the
underneath was the quick slants, the digs, the whips, everything
that Coin could just sit back, throw and let the
(07:44):
guys create after the catch.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
It was working. The intermediate was working as well.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Some part of me still kind of holds out that
reservation that you know, there's still a fail safe in
there for sark and is just toss it up to
the big body on the outside and pray that he
comes down with the one on one win.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
That just hasn't been case over the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Interesting you mentioned arts Manning. Of course, you know he
came in on that the first and ten to start
overtime against Georgia, had the good touchdown run against A
and M. Kind of surprised we didn't see it more
against Georgia, And I wonder if some of that is
just as hard as start just holding on to some
of these packages for later in the playoff. And I
want to ask you, do you think we're gonna see
(08:23):
Arts more in this playoff game? Or do you think
Texas will be able to get by without showing all
of their cards against a Clemson team that really, you know,
isn't one of the top twelve teams in the country,
but god in thanks to the a SEC championship win.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
You know, it's pretty interesting, right, you know, you use
it against Texas A and M, but you don't use
it against Georgia.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
What's the difference? Right?
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You could argue the Georgia game had more at State
and it did, right. SEC championship was on the line,
why would you not use it. It's not to hold it back,
it's not to hide. It started own film, right. He
scored a touchdown his first touch against Texas A and M.
I look, if you have it, why not use it
because there's certainly something there that you can utilize, and
that's his legs.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
The plus one math that goes into a running quarterback
or a mobile quarterback.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Changes the entire complexion of a defense.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And even if it's just for you know, a look,
you know, get it out there, force a timeout, force
the defense to adjust, because if they don't, you have
a look that you want, you can certainly utilize that.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Texas A and M. Look, he was on the field
for force snaps.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
One of them ended up being a touchdown, another one
ended up being Texas A and M wasting a timeout.
I would use him at least for five or six snaps,
given the red zone boes of recently. But look, that's
why I'm talking to you and not head coach of
the Texas Longhorns, so that but I think you have
to utilize him. If not, there's a lot of what ifs.
(09:42):
If the season doesn't go as planned.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
And I wonder how much of it is just is
Sark just does he not trust Arts to make throws
because in you know, it's been very very small sample size,
but in Georgia A and M, we just saw Arch
run the football, we didn't see him throw it. I
wonder if some of that has just Sark just afraid
of Arts, maybe made making a mistake and turn the
ball over in the red zone.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You've made mistakes with your normal quarterback. So what's the.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Difference, Yeah, a fair point. I think Texas can get
by Clemson without needing Arch, maybe Arizona State. But if
you get to Oregon and semi finals and that's the course,
that's a hypothetical, I think you're gonna need more Arch
manning and less Magically. The offense is back to where
it was at making the season. All let's talk about
the offense, about quaint and Arch. I think this game
(10:27):
on already comes down to the defense.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I think again it starts with the front. You know,
that defensive end group, that defensive line group. Can you
stop film off in the running attack. If so, you'll
have a good, you know, chance of making Clemson very
one dimensional team. Also, on the edges. And we've seen
Texas be very good against running and mobile quarterbacks in
the past. Right, that includes Jaln Milroe last year, Jason
(10:51):
being at Kansas where they kind of have that triple option. Look,
you know, it was basically stymy throughout the entire afternoon.
Marcel Reid, Michael Hawk, It's Diego, Pavia, Taylor Green. The
list goes on and on. Texas has faced a lot
of mobile quarterbacks. How many have truly hurt the long ones?
Not many, right, maybe Dylan Gabriel late in that Oklahoma
(11:11):
game twenty twenty three. Aside from that, I don't think
that Texas was hurt by really any of them in
the run game. So that's more at testament to the
scheme in the game plan of saying, hey, ed rushers,
if you're not getting home, make sure he's not getting
to the outside, and make sure that you're containing and
allowing this top end secondary to make plays on the
Football's on the football live to see another down. Don't
allow the big explosive play with the quarterback run.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Talking with CJ. Fogel from on Texas Football and on
Texas football dot Com. Okay transfer portal windows open. We
seen Texas take three takes. Now it's kind of slowing
down a little bit. What have you made so far
of the three editions they have made? And do you
think we're gonna see anything more in the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah, definitely, Texas.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Look the windows open for another ten days and you'll
have some coaching changes. As January comes around, you'll have
the spring window, You'll.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Have grad transfers.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Texas will certainly see that rise double at least probably
triple if.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I had to guess right now. But they sit with
three right.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
One's a two time All Conference punter, Jack Bomester from Utah.
Really big addition there. Of course, special teams maybe took
a step back this year. It's normally been really good
and I still think Jeff Banks is a tremendous special
teams coordinator, but now he's got a big leg at punter,
which is a big deal in my eyes. Brad Spence,
a guy that's come on late, was a bit undersized
out of high school, out of Houston. Four and a
(12:28):
half sacks, a guy that can play the middle two
hundred and forty pounds that's going to fit right in
with you know, some of the sec size that Texas
is posting right now.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Plus you can utilize.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Not just Anthony Hill blitzing and utilizing him in odd
front packages, but Brad Spence. He's already shown so far
that he can get to the quarterback. Had a sack
against Texas and Fateville this year.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
And then Cole Brivard.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Look, Texas is in a big time market for defensive lineman.
They've got one in the fold with Bravard, to his
twenty three career starts a big time guy over the nose,
which you don't find very often in the portal.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Texas has won at defensive line.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I think they need three more, but we'll see where
they go when that window closes in ten days. I
would expect the Longhorns to have a couple other additions.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Okay, let's start with wide receiver Eric Sionolton Reteorgia Tech.
It sounds like he's going to end up at Auburn.
Do you think this is a spot where Texas will
wait until the next portal window after the postseason to
add a receiver.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Yeah, I think that's interesting, right.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
It might come down to just what's the end decision
for some of the receivers on campus, right. I do
think Isaiah Bond is headed to the NFL draft. I
do think Matthew Golden is also headed to the NFL draft,
But I don't think that one holds as much, you know, confidence,
if you will, you know, I do think that there
is a little bit of a margin, a little bit
(13:47):
of a window for Texas to make a push to
retain Matthew Golden. The question is if you don't, do
you have a plan in place for that other wide
receiver spot again, because look, I think wing Goo and
More coming back is great.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
You got some really talented freshman coming back.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Parker living Stones make a lot of noise and practice
already as well.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
But you like that reliability.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
You'd like to have that experience in production at the
wide receiver spot. And Singleton kind of fit the exact
mold that you were looking for with his ten three
one hundred meter speed.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Yeah, and you also have Jimmie French coming back cleek Lockett. Interesting.
I could see Isaiah Bond returning just because of all
the injuries he's had this year bringing down his draft stock.
I can see Matthew Golden going for sure. We like
kicker spot do you think Texas makes a move. They
do have Spencer Barnett, the Westlake freshman, obviously burn Auburn
not having a good year, and he still has a
(14:37):
year let of eligibility.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah, this is an interesting one because look, a year ago,
Texas fans are probably clamoring for him to win the
Kicker of the Year award, right, you know, and that's
unfortunate that it's kind of turned to this. Right he's
sixty seven percent on the year. That's not gonna fly
at Texas. It's not gonna fly at many SEC programs
looking to compete for a national championship. I bet Texas
(14:59):
toy around for a portal kicker, you know, and we
kickers are tough to find Texas, you know, for whatever
the jokes are, you know, they've had a great run
of kickers success, right Nick ros justin Tucker.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
You know, you go all the way back.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
There's kickers there, including Cameron Dicker, that have kind of
set the standard for what kicking should be at Texas.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And you have a good one, you got to hold
on to him.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And right now, I think Texas might be in the
market for one. When it comes down to the portal.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Okay, one other spot in the transfer portal the branch
brothers Sakaya branch obviously a speedster at USC, a great returner,
but as a price tag of probably seven figures, and
also his brother's sign a branch who has had a
lot of trouble defensively at USC. What do you what
do you make of those two guys and what do
you think Texas will do with them?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Look, if it was just zachar Rai and the portal,
I think Texas makes a big time play for him. Now,
if it's a package deal with the Zion as well
the safety that you mentioned, that changes quite a bit
because do you pay the premium for both knowing that
one likely isn't going to be in You're too deep.
I think that's worth fair because this Texas secondary room,
especially at safety, has a lot of star power right
(16:05):
There's three five stars waiting to get on the field
that weren't on the field this year, and another borderline
five star that was injured off the field. So it's
a crowded room right now, and I know that. Look,
you'd like the difference maker that is Zachariat Branch. You'd
probably like to add some depth. But at the same time,
are you willing to go above and beyond with the
paycheck wise when we've not necessarily seen that be the
(16:26):
case for Longhorns and other portal recruitments.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
You mentioned Cole Brovard from Purdue. He's going to transfer
to Texas defensive line depth. You worried about that, Texas
losing a couple guys, including sad Deir Mitchell, who I
think entered the portal and then went back out of
the portal during our interview just now about two more times.
What do you make of the Texas line defensive depth
right now?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Yeah, no, it's it's a scary site.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
You know, you got eighty six total snaps of the
guys on campus right now, plus you add the three
true freshmen coming in the twenty twenty five recruiting class,
and it's not a lot.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You know.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Luckily, Texas has already landed one right to Culbervard ou
to Purdue. That's a guy that I've pimed in already
to be a starter over the nose. You know, that's
a big body, six fourth or ind and thirty pounds again,
twenty three starts under his belt, three hundred and sixty
something snaps over the a gap this year, it's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Now you got to find something next to him.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
And look, I do think Alex January is going to
be a big time player at Texas, but you got
to get him to the point where he's completely ready.
And look, it takes a physical freak to step in
day one become a contributor as a true freshman. Let's
see if any of these three in the twenty five
class become one of those guys. Because we saw it
briefly from January and he had some good moments. That's
(17:38):
a tough thing to ask. Last question for you.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I know it's Wednesday, but do you have an early
prediction yet for Saturday's game between Texas and Clemson.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Look, I don't have a score locked in yet, but
I do think this is going to be a game
that's pretty close in the first half. And that's kind
of weird thing because Texas normally start out pretty well
first half.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You know these I believe they've only allowed something like
ten points over their last five contests in the first
half of football games. And offensively, they're tremendous. Clemson offensively
they're also really good. But like Lincoln Riley, his brother
Garrett Riley, the offensive coordinator at Clemson. Look, he stumbles
in the second half. One adjustments needed to be made.
(18:20):
Results tend to take a tumble. So look Clemson, for
whatever the reason, their fourth quarter scoring difference is not favorable.
I think it'll be a close first half and then
you'll see Texas kind of pull away with some of
that depth, with some of that top end talent that
is sitting in the Burnt Orange, not the Clemson orange.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
He is Cjfocal from mon Texas Football and on Texas
Football dot Com. Hey, thanks for time in and I'll
talk to you Saturday.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Absolutely, Cam, I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yes, Sir Cjfogel from on Texas Football, give him a
fall on Twitter at Cjfogel underscore OTF Texas Clemson three
days away first round College football Playoff, the first year
of this college football player expansion, and Texas will have
a sold out crowd. Just announce at Daryl K. Roll
Texas Memorial Stadium. All right, more than come here on
(19:09):
the Craigway Show, including Little Texas Basketball. As we continue
on this Wednesday afternoon here on AM thirteen hundred, the
zone
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