Tag: jd pickell

JD PicKell discusses what happens if Texas wins it all in 2024

One college football analyst thinks a national title changes the conversation around Steve Sarkisian.

Steve Sarkisian has endured his fair share of outside criticism since taking over as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns. The doubt persisted last offseason.

College football analyst Tim Brando famously suggested Texas could duplicate Texas A&M’s 2022 season in which the Aggies went 5-7. Others doubted that Sarkisian would ever win 10 games in Austin.

Nearly a year later, those beliefs look as off base and premature as they sounded then. Texas won 12 games, won the Big 12, throttled Alabama on the road and made a College Football Playoff.

One college football analyst thinks the Longhorns can move even higher and into the top tier of the sport with one accomplishment in particular. On3 Sports’ JD PicKell voiced what winning a national title would mean for the Texas football program on his podcast, The Hard Count.

“If they win the national championship and do what I just said they could potentially do with how they would reload on the line of scrimmage defensively and how they could have those weapons translate, we talk about Sark as a great builder.

I think if Texas gets it done this upcoming season and wins it all, I think you put Texas in that Tier 1 category (with Georgia).”

PicKell believes the key to Texas winning a title begins with further development from its quarterback, Quinn Ewers.

“I think the first ingredient is Quinn Ewers staying healthy, something he hasn’t done just yet in Austin. And then you also see him take another massive step as QB1 in Austin. … (In 2023), he threw for 3,400-plus yards, 22 touchdowns, six picks, completed 69% of his passes.”

The On3 Sports college football analyst specified what a national title season looks like for Ewers.

“Now, if you’re going to make the jump to national title kind of quarterback, I think you probably have those numbers somewhere in the range of 3,700, 3,800 yards. I wanna see probably 35 touchdowns. And I wanna see somewhere in the range of five interceptions or less. Keep that completion percentage number about where it is.”

For Ewers, that would mean a 13 touchdown increase from his 2023 campaign. With his four top receiving targets in Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jordan Whittington all departing, that leaves a high bar for the Longhorns signal caller to reach.

It’s uncertain if Ewers can elevate his game to that level with minimal chemistry between he and his top receiving targets for 2024. If he can, Texas is primed for a title run.

JD PicKell previews Week 2 matchup between Texas, Michigan

One college football analyst weighs in on Texas vs. Michigan.

Seldom does a Week 2 game determine a team’s postseason fate. One early meeting in Ann Arbor has playoff implications for two blue bloods.

The Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines play this season. It’s their first meeting since Texas quarterback Vince Young carried the Longhorns to a Rose Bowl one-point victory in the 2004 season.

The winner of the game launches itself toward the top of college football. The loser significantly decreases its margin for error.

On3 Sports’ JD PicKell described the Michigan team Texas will face on his show, The Hard Count.

“You’ve got some really key pieces back… with Kenneth Grant (and) Mason Graham on the D-line, with (tight end) Coleston Loveland, but it’s a new team in regards to, you’re gonna have a new quarterback, I believe they are 128th in returning production. For context, there’s only 134 teams.”

In contrast, PicKell views the game as an opportunity to prove Texas’ 2023 season wasn’t a fluke.

”For Texas, this is a chance for them to reemphasize what happened last year and say, ‘no, no, no. That’s who we are now. Folks talk about Texas having a flash in the pan… ‘Texas will come back to being Texas. Don’t worry about it.’ You go and beat the national champion at their place early on in the season? That is an identity defining thing for this team and for Steve Sarkisian and what he’s built there.”

Despite the above points in Texas’ favor, PicKell reasons that a game played in the 20’s could favor Michigan. The Wolverines figure to have a strong defense despite all that they lose. That said, there’s a reason Texas has been viewed as a road favorite. The reason is the other side of the football.

Michigan is set to replace starting quarterback JJ McCarthy, all five offensive linemen and its top two wideouts from last season. It’s not much different than what LSU lost on offense after its 2019 national title season. The Tigers fell back to earth the following season.

More concerning for the team is the inability to exploit the Longhorns’ defensive weakness: Its pass defense.

Without returning its downfield threats, Michigan can’t stress the Texas secondary like teams with speedy downfield threats could in Oklahoma and Washington. And while Coleston Loveland is an elite tight end, Texas could neutralize him far easier than it could slow Washington receivers.

The Texas defense could thrive against a run-dependent attack forced to play football in a 20-yard box. Alex Orji, who has just one college pass attempt, could be asked to lead the Michigan offense at quarterback with few viable downfield receiving threats. He could need an offensive line with five new starters to dominate the line of scrimmage.

It’s possible that Texas struggles against the Michigan defense, but it’s unlikely they get outplayed by the Wolverines offense. Should Texas score 20 or more points, the Longhorns might be in the driver’s seat.

We’ll see how the game unfolds when Texas and Michigan battle in Week 2.

On3 lists Garrett Nussmeier as a breakout star in 2024

On3’s JD Pickell has high hopes for Garrett Nussmeier in 2024.

With [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] off to the NFL, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] is set to be LSU’s next starting quarterback.

Nussmeier’s time has been long awaited and highly anticipated. He’s played sparingly his first three years in Baton Rouge but has 1,720 yards and 11 touchdowns under his belt.

Now taking over the full-time role, the hopes are high. On3’s JD Pickell agrees.

“If he’s guilty of anything, it’s loving to sling that football downfield,” Pickell said.

With LSU’s talent at wide receiver and [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] taking over at offensive coordinator, Pickell expects the offense to look similar to what it was last year.

“Dude can sling it. I want to make sure you leave this segment knowing that,” Pickell said.

“I think you’ll see that offense continue to churn at a really high level,” he added.

Nussmeier led LSU to a win in the bowl game, throwing for 395 yards and three touchdowns, including leading a game-winning 98-yard touchdown drive.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

CFB analyst JD PicKell says ‘Texas has arrived’

Competing for a national championship is much more important than being “back” ever was for Texas.

The Texas Longhorns are about to play for a spot in the national championship. In fact, they are favored to win their semifinal match with Washington and trend as a predicted title winner for several college football analysts. With that comes the dreaded debate of whether or not the team is “back.”

The debate over whether or not the team is back has always been silly, but hasn’t prevented many from bringing up the phrase.

College football analyst JD PicKell echoed the sentiment that debating the phrase is just debating semantics. There’s no truly agreed upon measure of what being back means. According to PicKell some are always going to disagree with the sentiment.

The college football voice shared that even if Texas were to win a national title this January, somebody somewhere will argue that they won’t win consistently in the SEC. The nonsensical fan to which he refers certainly exists and probably had Texas, not Alabama, losing by double digits in Tuscaloosa a couple months ago.

PicKell shared that while Texas may not be back, it has arrived. Texas is competing for a national championship and just won its conference. That’s all Longhorns faithful really cared about doing. Whether or not that means the team is back doesn’t matter.

Texas is different. It’s a wholly different Longhorns squad that will take the field in the College Football Playoff than in any past season. This team is a force to be reckoned with and not to be messed with.

Texas will look to take home its first ever College Football Playoff win when it takes on Washington on New Year’s Day.

J.D. PicKell identifies depth, continuity as reason to buy ‘Horns

J.D. PicKell isn’t overthinking on the Texas Longhorns. They aren’t back, but they’re for real.

J.D. PicKell has no intention of overthinking his Texas prediction. Put simply, the depth and continuity is such that it should put the Longhorns firmly into the Big 12 title conversation. If everything falls right, the team’s ceiling could be even higher.

PicKell sees depth as a key component to this Longhorns squad that separates it from past teams on the Forty Acres. He shared the following of the team’s talented depth.

“The difference in this Texas team vs other Texas teams is the depth and the continuity.

They’re not just talented at one position group. They’re talented across the board and they’re deep across the board. … The depth there is very, very real. I had someone tell me this is one of the deepest teams they’ve had in the last decade.”

It is by far the deepest roster the Longhorns have had over the last decade. There haven’t been many deep Texas teams in recent years because the development was not there in the past two regimes.

This staff is different. It would seem head coach Steve Sarkisian and his coaching staff have wisely prioritized development over winning games over early in their time in Austin. And now that the development is such that the team can go out and win in 2023. PicKell discussed what Texas could look like in its third season.

“If you don’t have it together by Year Three, I don’t know what to tell you. I think at this point in time there’s some good faith baked in there with what they’ve done in terms of a positive trajectory from the last couple of years. So bottom line, Texas, back or not back I don’t know. But I promise you they are for real.”

There’s little reason to overthink Texas in 2023. The depth, continuity and collection of proven commodities should translate to more wins this season.

JD PicKell: Texas reaching ceiling is tied to starting QB Quinn Ewers

The plan for 2023 success is straightforward: Texas needs a great season from Quinn Ewers.

Texas’ path to a Big 12 title is simple and straightforward. The team needs starting quarterback Quinn Ewers to be a championship level starter.

JD PicKell agrees with that sentiment and shared the following thoughts on Ewers’ importance.

“If he reaches his ceiling, if he’s a top five quarterback for Texas, they’re gonna be in Jerry World.”

The above statement is true, and perhaps much more. If the Longhorns get a top five quarterback in the country with this offensive line and receiver room, Texas is going to the College Football Playoff.

In reality, he probably will not be that good. He probably will not be in New York for the Heisman, and I would be stunned if he completed anywhere near 70% of his passes.

A realistic expectation goes as follows: 3,000 yards, 30 touchdowns and between 62% and 64% completion rate. With the current receiving corps and how long his offensive time will give him to throw, that expectation is well within reason.

Texas’ season hinges on Quinn Ewers being solid and stable. If he gives the team that kind of performance, the Longhorns will win 10 games and a conference title.

WATCH: JD PicKell says time for patience with Texas football is over

The Longhorns are no longer given any slack if they struggle in 2023.

As a college football head coach you are only given so long of a grace period to find success before you are shown the door. Continue reading “WATCH: JD PicKell says time for patience with Texas football is over”

WATCH: Greg McElroy explains why he believes Ty Simpson will be QB1

Greg McElroy explains why he believes Ty Simpson will be QB1!

We are in the middle of the 2023 SEC media days taking place at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee.

On Wednesday, Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide will take center stage and the question that will spark the most discussion is certain to be about the ongoing quarterback competition between Jalen Milore, Ty Simpson, and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner.

While in Nashville for this week’s festivities, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy joined On3’s JD PicKell to discuss the competition and offered up some interesting thoughts on who he believes will eventually be named the starter in Tuscaloosa.

“I think Jalen Milroe is a tremendous talent,” McElroy said. “I think he’s a gifted football player. The explosiveness goes without saying. The guy’s ridiculous. Just get him the ball and see what he does with it. But there was a problem last year with turnovers and it wasn’t just the A&M game. Of 16 offensive turnovers for Alabama last year, he accounted for five of them. Having played in that offense and lived life under Nick Saban, he doesn’t forget those things very easily. So I think he’ll have to work his way back into the good graces when it comes to ball security.”

“Tyler Buchner’s been there for a very short period of time,” McElroy explained. “It’s very difficult to win the team in that short period of time. I remember back in 2014, Jake Coker transferred up from Florida State and he was supposed to be the guy. He just lost out to Jameis Winston in a great quarterback competition. Then there was this guy that was also on the team and Blake Sims had been there for four years and developed relationships with guys on the roster. So when it was close in fall camp, the guys naturally gravitated to the guy that they knew and that was Blake Sims. Ended up having a good year and Coker comes in in ’15 and wins a national championship, but he had to wait his turn for a year.

“So I think when I look at those two aspects and a guy like Ty Simpson, it’s not like he was a guy that was underrecruited or is an underachieving guy. He just hasn’t had the opportunity yet.”

McElroy certainly knows a thing or two about playing quarterback at Alabama under Nick Saban, and he definitely understands that coach Saban puts a premium on taking care of the football and managing the game.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for continuous coverage of the 2023 SEC media days and the ongoing quarterback competition in Tuscaloosa!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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On3’s JD PicKell says Alabama is one-million percent a statement team in 2023

After missing out on the playoffs this past season, 2023 is a statement year for Nick Saban and Alabama according to On3’s J.D. PicKell.

As the month of June ends, we are roughly two months from the start of the 2023 college football season. With 2023 being the final season of the four-team playoff, it is time for teams to make a statement and to either establish or re-establish their spot among the elite of college football.

On3’s J.D. PicKell believes Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide perfectly fit the narrative of a statement team in 2023.

“They are one million percent a statement team when it comes to this upcoming season,” PicKell said. “The statement they would like to make is ‘did you forget about us?’ I think, even more so, ‘how did you forget about us?’ They want to remind everybody that Bama is still Bama.”

Many believe the Saban-Alabama dynasty is over, but PicKell doesn’t believe that.

“They want to remind a lot of people in other circles of the SEC that Nick Saban has not lost his touch at all,” PicKell said. “Yes, Georgia is back-to-back national champs. No one is taking that away from them. But I think for Alabama, if they were able to get back to the College Football Playoff, I think that would send a very clear message to everyone else.

“The statement will be very clear. ‘We’re not going anywhere. You really forget about us? Really? You thought we were going to fade into that? You must not know what we’re about here at Bama.’ Get back to bully ball, that’s going to be a big piece of it for Bama to make that statement.”

“Bully ball” is certainly what coach Saban wants to get back to on each side of the football, and the hiring of Tommy Rees and Kevin Steele are prime examples. Rees is a throwback, pound the football, play-action pass-style offensive coordinator. Steele is an old-school, hard-nosed defensive coordinator.

With Alabama kicking the 2023 season off in a couple of months, it will not take long to find out what type of statement coach Saban and the Tide can make!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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“Prove it year” starts Saturday for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers

Quinn Ewers can inspire plenty of confidence with a good showing on Saturday.

One of the biggest events of the Texas football offseason will take place on Saturday.

The 2023 squad takes the field for its Orange and White game on April 15. The game is big for several players looking to earn starting jobs this season, but the eyes of the fanbase will be on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Ewers had a roller coaster season last year. The highlights saw Ewers playing at a high level against Alabama and Oklahoma. The low points took place against Oklahoma State and TCU where the Texas passing game went absent without leave.

The Southlake product will look to show fans he’s taken the next step on Saturday. JD PicKell of On3 Sports discussed that topic ahead of the preseason exhibition.

You want to see him look comfortable. … Show me that you have had some more “aha moments” like Steve Sarkisian talked about when he went into the spring. He says it’s starting to make sense more and more for Quinn Ewers.

Inherent in the above sentiment is Ewers needs to improve not only in accuracy but in footwork and reading defenses. If we see him play more consistent football, Texas is set up for a conference title run. We’ll have a firmer grasp on his progression after Saturday’s performance.