Football

by MMHorns on Feb 24, 2006 8:53 AM CST Comment 10 comments

Statesman had a couple of interesting Football tidbits this morning.

Colt McCoy is officially the #1 going into spring drills, but Snead will also practice with the first team. No surprise here and it doesn't mean too much, but if all else proves even throughout - our starter will be McCoy.
Hank the Tank will also practice with defensive ends this spring. He will continue to work with the offense on short yardage and goal line sets. Does this mean Melton has no shot at being a regular go to back? Sounds like it.

Have a good weekend.
Hook'em

Poll

Should Melton be in the stable?

Whoa Nelly - maybe he can get his pads low on defense

5 votes

Giddy up - I would like to see Henry rotated in consistently with the other backs

10 votes

Hold the reins - stick him in for short yardage and backup only

15 votes

30 votes | Poll has closed

All comments, FanPosts, and FanShots are the views of the reader-authors who create them.

0 recs | Comment 10 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

fullback

teach him how to block. hand it to him 4 times a game.

by jimmer on Feb 24, 2006 10:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

not the best poll

I tried to change it to add fullback as an option. It apparently won't let me once the poll has begun, but I agree - why not fullback?

Crystal Balls

by MMHorns on Feb 24, 2006 12:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes yes yes

Why are we the only ones clammoring for this? Could you build a better fullback?

Christ, would you want to take on a block from Hank the Tank? Hell no. You'd crumple to the ground and clear a hole for the runner.

Throw in the fact that you could utilize him as a runner and you've got the ultimate role for him.

This needs to happen.

by Peter Bean on Feb 24, 2006 11:08 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Since when did the texas offense really use a fullback? And really, do you ever see any sophisticated offenses that use a fullback more than a couple times a game? Texas' blocking schemes work just fine with linemen and tight ends, and Jamaal and Ramonce will do just fine with the ball in their hands. Why would you ever give the ball to a fullback when you can hand it to your more talented tailback? To catch the defense off guard? That might work against Rice, but that high school crap doesn't work against teams that field real D1 defenses.

Seriously, why the love fest for Hank? I mean, yeah, we all love a fat guy who knocks people over when they carry the football, but he's really not a good running back. Decent short yardage guy because of his size, but his instincts aren't good at all. I'll take Jamaal any day on short yardage over Melton because Charles is a powerful runner with quick feet and a nose for daylight. Remember Marcus Allen? Best short yardage guy ever, probably. Was he big? Nope, just had amazing instincts when running between the tackles. Melton is a good athlete with great speed for his size. Let him contribute where he's going to make an impact. Let's not waste his ability at a position where walk-ons have filled in just fine for years now.

I mean really, we have Jamaal Charles and Ramonce Taylor. Why would we ever hand the ball off to anybody else?

by Eric on Feb 24, 2006 12:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Come on

You're a smart guy, you know that "Just because we haven't done something before, we shouldn't do it now" is a fallacious argument. Just because there was no benefit to giving Ahmad Hall the football doesn't mean we shouldn't want a fullback who we -can- give the football to. Furthermore, we're not talking about centering the offense around the fullback. I'm interested in having him use that size to block like a crazy man. The icing on this particular cake is that you can give him the ball and let him rumble.

I had a conversation with a Missouri football player about the Horns and he told me Melton was disgustingly hard to tackle and wore his team out like crazy.

So why not let the big boy block and enjoy the benefits of having a fullback you can let crunch some runs, too? Wouldn't you want Mike Alstott if you could have him?

As for the rest, there's no bigger Jamaal Charles fan than me, believe me. I want him touching the ball. A lot. But it's not just gimmicky to use a good fullback when you've got one.

All that said, I do think Melton is still a raw runner. But I think he'd make a great fullback and can improve. Or not. Bah, who cares...

by Peter Bean on Feb 24, 2006 12:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

triple option

if melton had an extra year under his belt this past season, imagine what our triple option could have done with jamaal in the back field. it would have been nasty.

I definitely don't want to see melton getting a huge number of carries, but you fake to him all game and then finally slip him the ball in the 3rd quarter and no one is trying to tackle him. and when we hand it to charles we have a bulldozer in front of him to clear the way.

it would just be interesting to see how it worked. keep in mind we may have some trouble early with the passing game due to inexperience.

by jimmer on Feb 24, 2006 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Difference of Opinion

I didn't mean it to look like I was against doing something different with the offense. I have no problem with adding new wrinkles based on personnel. However, I just disagree on a couple of things. I don't think Texas' offense needs a fullback. The O line is great and the blocking schemes in place do not require a fullback. Ricky needed a fullback (and he had a damn good one in Ricky Brown) because the O line that Mackovic left Mack was ok, but not great by any stretch. Also, I just don't see the logic in giving the football to a guy who isn't as good as the other two guys on the depth chart. If you want a "change of pace" type of back, well, I'd rather it be Ramonce, who can take it to the house from anywhere, than Hank, who looks like a house. I love Hank as an athlete. The guy is pushing three bills and has good speed for his size. I think he'd be a waste at fullback. Put him on the D line where that speed and power can really be put to use.

by Eric on Feb 24, 2006 3:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

agree

to disagree

by jimmer on Feb 24, 2006 3:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's all in the name

I think Mack Brown made the decision on QB subcounsciously, A QB named Colt Mcoy has to play, it to perfect.

Melton also has to play, 3rd down and 2, 4th down and inches, 3rd and goal from the 3, bring him in. The other team knows exactly what you are going to do, But so what, see if they can stop the human cement mixer, no deception, no fooling around, no trick plays, we are going to run it straight ahead, stop us if you can. Pure brute strengh and skill to dominate the line. With the big strong O line, Melton is apart of that.

xerxes

by Xerxes on Feb 24, 2006 4:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

How about Melton at MLB?

I don't know if he's fast enough or quick enough for Chizik's taste, but he supposedly runs a 4.6 40, he's not averse to contact and seems reasonably nimble. I confess I have no idea how hard it would be to train him as a middle linebacker, but can you imagine him backing up the defensive line? To paraphrase Mr. T, I would pity the poor fool who eluded Okam and Robinson, only to be met by Henry Melton.

by Texas1969 on Feb 25, 2006 6:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs