Horns247 Board

I think we may see a better year for Davis in terms of his play, but it may not translate to numbers. Texas' desire to run the football and the emergence of Shipley will diminish the number of opportunities for Davis. As long as he doesn't let the possible lack of opportunities affect his game I think he could be a great weapon on play action type plays.

I'm much more optimistic for Davis than only 3 TDs. And I think he tops the other numbers predicted. If Ash and he can get their timing down on the PA calls his numbers could shoot through the roof. He could get 3 TDs on PA calls alone during the OOC play if they can get the kinks in their timing worked out. I think they will. 60+ catches, 800+ yards, 5+ TDs.

Anyone else want some tasty burnt orange kool-aid? This batch is niiiiiiice.

I dont disagree at all Bobby. I just think its possible that the stats look a lot better this season if Ash and Davis (or Goodwin) can make strides with PA. I just dont think Ash has to become a top 20 QB for that to happen. But no doubt, the run will have to set up the pass a lot..thus the emphasis on perfecting the PA.

Davis should be terrorizing the Big XII on the PA post all year long. It should have happened last year, but our pass protection resembled reheated dog poo, and Ash was often a beat late or Case couldn't get it there. Pass pro should be much better this year, and hopefully Ash eliminates that second of hesitation. Add any kind of TE threat catching balls underneath combined with Shipley working the middle and you have the basis for a nice complementary passing game to our power running. That's before you factor in Goodwin, Harris, the specialists and the frosh making their contributions in the air and on the ground.

I can't tell you how much I think actually being able to run the offense with a bit of pace will help as well. Not all of the time, but at moments when the defense is off balance. Moments Harsin has proven adept at identifying.

And let me say one final thing. Go back and watch our games from 2011 while focusing on the offense. The plays were there to be made time and time again. It's execution at this point. Not like the last offensive system that required other worldy execution or feats of athleticism for often meager results, but just solid execution. Harsin will put our kids in position to succeed. They just need to go ahead and do it.

Bobby's right in that we're still a year away from being good through the air, but serviceable will more than suffice this year, and we should definitely be able to reach that level.

This is a make or break year for Davis. To me, he's a James Kirkendoll at best. If he's wide open and playing against inferior competition, he does fine. But when it's time to play agains the big boys, he completely diasappears. He had a chance to really help Ash out early on against Cal and he coulnd't come up with those third down catches. Yes, they weren't easy but an above avg D1 WR should catch those.

He has also left his qb hung out to dry numerous times. Terrible ball skills. I remember a play in the 2011 Spring Game where Gilbert underthrew a fade in the endzone and Davis simply let Diggs overpower him and come up with the interception. Did the same thing on a deep ball against BYU. In the OU game he let a defender strip the ball from him and take it the other way for six.

His performance against tamu was just horrible. He should have come up with two to three passes but dropped him. The only thing he did of any consequence was not fall down on that 1st and 15 play on the last drive which ended up netting a personal foul and automatic first down.

Hopefully he's healthy and has his mind right because we have 3 freshmen WRs who can easily replace him and it won't get any easier with Oliver and possibly RSJ in 2013.

I know, right?

And those catches were as a junior and senior IIRC. He did almost did zilch his first two. As for OSU, that alone is worth bonus points.

You forget who was throwing to him, certainly not David Ash so let's not pretend like that had no bearing.

Mike Davis success will come down to the improvement of the offensive line. This offense is only going to be as good as the offensive line. QBs need time to throw and time to throw DIRECTLY effects the timing between QBs and Receivers. We CANNOT have a serious injury at the OT tackle position in 2012.

Agree for the most part. The OL will obviously help out tremendously, but the progression of Ash will also have a huge impact on Davis. Even if the OL improves, they're not going to be able to give Ash all day to throw; he'll still need to make the right reads and throw at the right time.

With Davis it's consistency in everything he does that's key. That's from talking to a few folks close to him. Consistency not just during games, but in his preparation, his mental approach and effort. If he fixes that, it'll go a long way towards him being the player many expected him to be when he signed, myself included.

I think this is the year we find out about the ability of the position to coach to develop his players.