Phil Steele Review, Part Two: Unit Rankings (Offense)

by Peter Bean on Jun 22, 2007 11:09 AM CDT in Football Comment 13 comments

We began last week with a review of Phil Steele's positional ranking of Longhorns; we continue today with a look at his unit rankings, divided into two parts - offense and defense.

Quarterbacks

Texas #11

Phil's Comment: Colt McCoy played even better than expected in his first year completing 68% with a 29-7 ration filling the large shoes of Vince Young. he iss now a soph and shouldd be even better. Sherrod Harris (PS#23, rFR) and true frosh John Chiles (PS#8) are capable backups.

In last week's positional ranking review, there was much criticism of Steele's placement of McCoy at #22 on the quarterbacks list. Phil doesn't do much in the way of explaining his methodologies, but I ventured a guess that he might have been hedging a bit because of Colt's injury. I had a friend this week also posit that the rankings might have more to do with pro potential, in which case we needn't concern ourselves much with the list at all.

Either way, Steele's unit ranking of Texas at #11, along with the commentary, tell us that he's anything but down on McCoy. (Additionally, McCoy is listed at #7 on his Heisman Trophy list - further evidence that Steele recognizes how good McCoy was last year, and could be in 2007.)

The comment that Harris and Chiles are "capable backups" is interesting, if only because neither has seen a snap of live college football before. It's going to be interesting to see how much progress these two made over the summer.

Phil's Top 10 Quarterback Units: Louisville, Hawaii, West Virginia, USC, New Mexico State, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan, Kentucky.

Running Backs

Texas #13

Phil's Comment: Jamaal Charles (PS#6) is 200 lbs and was #1 in the Big 12 and #5 in the NCAA in the 100M (10.23). He has rushed for 1709 (6.2) the last 2 years. Chris Ogbonnaya (PS#33WR), rFR Vondrell McGee (PS#20) and true frosh Foswhitt Whittaker (PS#18) supply the quality depth.

Seems fair enough to me. The fact is that neither Charles nor Selvin Young excelled last year, and though you won't find many who are higher on Charles than I am, this is a "prove it" season for JC. By prove it, I mean - do it without VY alongside you.

I'm most curious to see who between McGee and Ogbonnaya emerges as the complementary back.

Phil's Top 10 Running Back Units: Arkansas, West Virginia, USC, Texas A&M, Clemson, Navy, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon, Arizona State

Wide Receivers

Texas #5

Phil's Comment: Limas Sweed is 6'5" and was 1st Tm Big 12 with 46 (17.4). Quan Cosby (PS#9DB) had 45 (11.7). TE Jermichael Finley (PS#18WR) had 31 rec (12.0) and backup WR Jordan Shipley (PS#7) had 16 (14.3). Nate Jones (PS#21) had 13 (11.8). Billy Pittman has 69 rec the last 2 yrs. The unit returns intact.

You could make a case that this is the nation's best receiving corps - and certainly its deepest. We're splitting hairs, though. Steele correctly identifies this as a huge team strength for Texas. I'm positively giddy about the passing attack this year.

Phil's Top 10 Wide Receiver Units: California, Louisville, Hawaii, Purdue, Texas, Florida, Alabama, New Mexico State, Florida State, Oklahoma

Offensive Line

Texas #30

Phil's Comment: None.

Phil's only got comments for his top 15 units, and Texas ain't one of 'em. Nor should they be.

Phil's Top 10 Offensive Line Units: Texas A&M, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, BYU, USC, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Wisconsin

--PB--

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Comments

Its tough to argue with PS

He's like a football god or something. But, in looking through his coverage of Texas I notice him putting several players very high who have not played at all yet. He also listed some squad players on his three deep. I also noticed that he had Colt as the third best qb in the Big12 behind TTech's Harrell and Mizzou's Daniel. I guess that makes some sense. Harrell threw 44 td passes and had something like 100 more attempts than Colt. But Daniel isn't much more experienced and didn't have a statistically better year than Colt. Why rate him so high?

PS has Texas rated as a legit MNC contender, which I think is overly optimistic. However, he also has Texas leading the Draft Day Party Hangover with 30 points. Usually, even according to PS, teams high on that list have a worse year because of all the talent they lost. It is very rare in Steele's analysis for a team with more than 24 Draft Party points to have a better year after losing so much talent. But, it has happened.

by Arby A on Jun 22, 2007 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Daniel is a true junior, Colt RS sophomore

coming into this season

This will be Daniel's third year playing, Colt's second. I think that is a significant edge in experience.

Daniel played without a running game, and basically IS the Missouri offense; if you watch them play, they depend more on Daniel than texas does on McCoy, b/c they have fewer offensive weapons than Colt does to work with.
I would guess that is why Daniel is ranked higher than McCoy.

by Beergut on Jun 22, 2007 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No argument Daniel's a great athlete...

... but then there's that unfortunate nose-picking incident.

Officially a Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Jun 24, 2007 2:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would put the WR's

corp as #1 and I don't think I'm being too much of a homer. Aside from maybe Lville's X receiver I can't imagine there is a single player on those teams ahead of Texas that could crack the 2 deep. I would take this group over the Big 3 (there, I said it).

I've noticed on O-line rankings -- and not just with Phil, teams that have run first offenses tend to have O-lineman who get the most pub (BYU aside). The maxim of O-lineman seems to be great running equals quality lineman. Guys from run teams tend to get drafted high, too.
Maybe it's true, maybe not or maybe I'm just imagining something. It's possible they just have a great playcaller baiting D's or a top flight RB. Maybe all the O-lineman do well is run block, but they can't move their feet to pass block.
What ever the case may be I think good pass blocking is under valued.

That being said I think the O-line at Texas will be mediocre to good. The starters aren't much of a drop-off, it's just the back-ups with a question mark.

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Jun 22, 2007 11:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't agree more about the receiving corp.

And I am baffled by how "under the radar" they have been this offseason. I haven't seen a single publication that sang the praises of Limus Sweed to his just due, nor one that counted us in the top 3.

Homer or not, this is by far the best group I've ever seen on the 40 acres. (save Roy)

by nematode on Jun 22, 2007 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steele

Has Limas as his #1 WR in the nation.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jun 22, 2007 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweed

when he's not trippin' balls, that is.

by SelimSivad on Jun 22, 2007 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OL rankings

I've noticed on O-line rankings -- and not just with Phil, teams that have run first offenses tend to have O-lineman who get the most pub (BYU aside). The maxim of O-lineman seems to be great running equals quality lineman. Guys from run teams tend to get drafted high, too.

It is easier for sportswriters to take a look at an OL, see good rushing numbers and a high number fo returning starters and say, "They're a great offensive line" than it is for them to look at passing numbers and determine whether or not the O-Line is stellar (although many try to do that using sack numbers as their gauge).

What ever the case may be I think good pass blocking is under valued.

I disagree strongly; on average, the highest paid position in the NFL after QB is Left Tackle. LT's don't get drafted b/c of their run-blocking ability; there is a premium on them b/c they protect the right-handed QB's blindside, and the best are worth their weight in gold.

If he comes out early, the first OL taken in the draft next year may be Mississippi's LT Michael Oher, and it isn't b/c he's a great run blocker.

by Beergut on Jun 22, 2007 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

See part two

of part two...shouldn't that be part 4?
http://www.burntorangenation.com/sto...

by Wells on Jun 22, 2007 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

it looks like Steele looks at stats first

star power, second.

Louisville, Hawaii, West Virginia, USC, New Mexico State, Texas Tech, and Kentucky all put up freak numbers in their offensive systems for their respective QBs. USC is the only 'traditional' offense of the above eight, everyone else runs some version of the spread.
If it was based purely on the player and not the stats, I think Colt Brennan of Hawaii would be #1.

by Beergut on Jun 22, 2007 6:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs