Personnel discussion

by SelimSivad on Dec 28, 2007 2:12 PM CST Comment 18 comments

So Mack tweaked the lineup a little bit after "all starting jobs were open." I'm curious what some other BONers think about this and individual player performances. A few suggested topics:

Chris Hall starting at Center over Buck Burnette. I can't recall, was Buck injured? Or did Mack just decide that Chris was the man?
Which opened up the RT position for Kyle Hix, and Tanner got the start at LG. I'm no OL expert, what did you guys think about these moves and their performance?

Starting LB's: Norton, Muckelroy, Derry. 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Killebrew and Bobino must have been outplayed in practice, eh? BTW any news on the injuries to Kindle and Lewis? The LB corps should be a monster next season.
Playing Ogbonnaya split out as a WR? He's had some success catching the ball this season, but mostly in screens and quick outs. Was he just a decoy or did the coaches like the matchup? Does he have the speed to be out there?
Um, can we move Lamarr Houston permanently to kickoff returner?
John Chiles, Vondrell McGee and the Zone Read: a match made in heaven. I'm still wondering if JC#7 can throw the ball, though.

Sorry I don't have more insight to add, but I thought I would get the discussion going.

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oh yeah

and I liked the trick play with Quan throwing the ball, even though it didn't work out. Shows some much -needed imagination in the play calling department.

We should fake every punt when it's 4th and 1.

by SelimSivad on Dec 28, 2007 2:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re:

Quan was an outstanding QB in highschool. He decided to go the pro baseball route. Behind Armhad Hall, he's my second favorite 'Horn (non-Vince division).

by GoHorns on Dec 28, 2007 3:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Ahmard Hall"

I didn't even know him when he was a longhorn :)

In Mack & Rick We Trust.

by Cyrus on Dec 28, 2007 8:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is our only offensive trick play. See last year, we ran it at least twice, once in the KSU game where Limas dropped a TD, and one or two other times I can't remember. The thing that was hilarious was yelling "PASS!" as soon as the second reverse is tossed, watching Quan leap over the bodies of pancaked lineman, and then seeing him lob a hopeless bomb into double coverage (except when we're down against KSU, and Limas drops it wide open). This is not imaginative or smart, because we don't run a double reverse, or really even a regular reverse. It takes a week to develop, and anyone who was fooled by one of the reverses has plenty of time to go find Shipley or Finley downfield and start boxing out for the rebound. I don't like it.

Growing up, I only fed Jared Norton paper. That's why he eats plays.

by Horn Brain on Dec 28, 2007 8:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll add...

... That I love the fake punt, though. That play still works probably 50% of the time or better even if the defense plays the fake. We need to add something that goes out wide, though, in case teams start defending it properly.

Growing up, I only fed Jared Norton paper. That's why he eats plays.

by Horn Brain on Dec 28, 2007 8:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i think it works 100% of the time so far

I've seen them run it with bobino about 5 or 6 times over the last few years and i can't recall one time that it didn't work. I even think I remember Mack saying (after they ran it earlier this year) that it had never failed.

by billyzane on Dec 28, 2007 8:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

... But I was saying that that play would probably work much better than 50% of the time even if the defense is waiting on it, which I don't think was the case every time. Didn't know it was perfect so far, though. I freakin' love that thing.

Growing up, I only fed Jared Norton paper. That's why he eats plays.

by Horn Brain on Dec 29, 2007 9:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've got to say...

I really liked seeing Chiles out there for 12 plays. On his 12 snaps, the offense gained 108 yards and scored 2 TDs. That's 9 yards per play! I think he could really inject some energy into the offense next year if he plays 10-15 snaps each game. Hopefully, he can improve his passing skills enough to where he can attempt 3 or 4 passes in his 10-15 snaps.

Muck, Norton and Sergio seem to bring more energy and play-making ability to the defense. I think they could be really solid next year.

by Misterserious7 on Dec 28, 2007 2:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

FYI

Someone has to point out that PB called for 10-12 snaps for Chiles. This is the first post I've seen with the actual number from last night. Nicely done, Peter.

My kid may have given up a costly fumble against OU, but at least he's never been accused of face raping.

by Shake on Dec 28, 2007 2:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jamaal says he's coming back

ripped off from statesman.com:

"Right now, I’m probably coming back. I didn’t think I did that good in the game. Next year maybe I’ll be up for the Heisman. I will come back."

so we get a "probably" and then "I will." We've heard it before, but I honestly think with the strength of this years RB group in the draft, he'll decide to stick around.

If 161 yards and 2 TDs is not "that good" he's setting his goals pretty high.

by SelimSivad on Dec 28, 2007 2:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wishful thinking...

I wish McGee was little bit more like JC...

McGee tends to put his head down too soon instead of looking for open gaps...I think he has a great build for a RB and he can be a solid RB if he improves his runner's vision

my first born shall be named vy

by hookemkp on Dec 28, 2007 2:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Vondrell

he's got a lot of time to improve. Jamaal has really made positive changes to his playing this year, I think with time McGee's maturity will come along to complement his raw talent.

by SelimSivad on Dec 28, 2007 2:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see the QB position open

up for competition.

Let Harris, Chiles and Colt all compete.
Colt still plays like a high school QB at times and his arm isn't getting any stronger. I don't see any upside to him.

The only way you keep someone like Colt at QB is if the defense plays like the 85 Bears.

I'm sure this opinion is controversial for some -- but I just think Colt has hit his ceiling.

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Dec 28, 2007 3:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I think Colt showed last night that he is the guy. I think we can win a MNC with Colt, honestly. I hate to play the what if game, but if we actually show up against KSU and if we give the ball to JC against A&M we might be playing in the national title game. Again, there are so many teams in the country that can be saying the same thing but, we were so close to playing in a BCS game.

Colt, IMO, played only one poor game and that was against KSU and we lost more b/c of not giving JC the ball and poor special teams than Colt's poor play (the four ints didn't help). In the A&M game, Colt played poorly but we still had a chance to win at the end. All we needed was a defensive stop.

Colt has his limits but a VY comes along once a generation and he was average in his first two seasons. He will never be VY but Colt might be the second best qb that UT has had in the past 8 years. He, IMO, is definitley better than Applewhite and I think slightly better than Simms.

Chiles looks like a poor man's VY and i don't think he can be a good qb. Chiles has not really showed any flashes of brilliance like VY did in his freshman year. I don't know about Harris but I would take Colt. I think Colt can lead us to the promise land. He can't carrie us to the MNC but he can be like a Craig Krenzel or Ken Dorsey. The key with Colt is getting the right scheme and teaching him some better pocket presence.

Drinkin' Brown

by IHN on Dec 28, 2007 6:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Loved Seeing Drew Kelson

I posted an article about him earlier this week and it was good to see him have a nice game. I think he was back in at linebacker? Had a sack, forced fumble that went out of bounds and was his usual play-making self. I hope it isn't too late for the coaches to see what he can do. Oh wait...he's graduating. Right.

by Hot Hands on Dec 28, 2007 4:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Colt McCoy

check this out:

Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
-----------------------------------------------------
Charles, Jamaal 27 173 12 161 2 48 6.0
McCoy, Colt 16 147 63 84 1 30 5.2

Colt rushed for 147 yards not counting the lost yardage on sacks and negative plays (63 yds, quite disturbing in itself).

He averaged 5.2 yards per carry even with the sacks included, and gained only 26 positive yards less than the Jamaal-American.

Outstanding! Now Jamaal needs to teach him the secret of holding on to the football.

by SelimSivad on Dec 28, 2007 5:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Can Colt run the ball?

Yes. Admit it, Colt-haters. He not only can run it, but he has to run it. Now if we can just get him to quit trying to do too much with every snap, we're set.

Growing up, I only fed Jared Norton paper. That's why he eats plays.

by Horn Brain on Dec 28, 2007 8:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ogbonnaya

If im not mistaken he was a wide reciever or tight end in highschool, so seeing him out there isnt that far of a shot, plus he has been great out there all year. But the speed question is very true i dont know much about his speed so i cant really comment on that

by blazzinken on Dec 28, 2007 10:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs