Doin' The Coach Dance

by Peter Bean on Sep 27, 2007 11:57 AM CDT in Football Comment 19 comments

If the changes at linebacker so many fans are eager for is going to happen this week, the coaches sure aren't ready to talk about it. As reporters begin to hone in on the obvious need for change, the coaches have started in on the Coach Dance.

Try, if you can, to make sense of this quote from Duane Akina ($), which was a response to a question about whether it was time to switch to the clearly superior young talent at linebacker.

"There are still certain things in term of alignment or understanding formations and maybe cheating or sacrificing some of your disguise that helps you get your job done. Not every formation or pre-snap puts you into the exact same spot. At times they are still getting in a base alignment, but maybe it's a three-by-one alignment and maybe they can cheat a little. There are just little things that can help them after the ball is snapped and getting the job done. They are playing hard. They are running and they are physical. We just want to make sure they are getting some opportunities because they all run very well."

Thanks, Coach. That definitely clears it up.

Akina is not alone in this, of course - Mack Brown's doing the dance himself. From his Wednesday presser:

We’re not sure what we're going to do. We always sit down on Thursday and decide what we're going to do with our substitutions and that's really, really important and especially with this heat. (Substitutions) will be more important in the early part of the season than it will during the latter part. Jared Norton and Roddrick Muckelroy have played a lot and they've played well.

That's at least a coherent response, but it's well short of a commitment to the young guys.

I will say that I don't necessarily think the Texas coaches should act differently. I don't expect, or even want, Brown and Akina to come out and tell the media, "Killebrew has been lousy. Bobino looks lost. Derry is too limited to hold off the younger guys for much longer."

I can say that from my little soap box, but the coaches can't. And shouldn't. And won't.

But as clear a difference as there's been between the two groups of players, I hope the press keeps the heat on the coaches. More than that, though - I hope that if, in truth, these coaches think this change is inevitable, they don't stubbornly refuse to do so until we lose. Texas fans want wins. We especially want wins over Oklahoma. And the team? If those veterans are as good a leaders as the coaches say they are, the goal of winning conference championships will be more important to them than the minutes they're on the field.

Right? Right.

--PB--

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unfortunately....

i don't think playing kindle, norton and muck will make much difference vs. OU.

by cortexas on Sep 27, 2007 1:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

playing the young LB's

might not be the deciding factor, but it will help limit that OU offense because all 3 of them are capable of running with OU's runningbacks/tight ends and the attitude they bring to that position is too valuable to miss out on.

by mvplonghorns on Sep 27, 2007 1:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LBs

Playing Norton and Muckelroy the majority of the snaps will make a lot of difference against OU. Go back and look at the past 4 games. I will bet you that the majority of the yardage made on the outside were accomplished when Norton and Muckelroy were NOT in the line-up. They know how to defeat their blockers and run to the ball. Forget Akina's coach speak. Who cares if they don't always recognize a formation. They are so much more athletic than the others that they make up what short comings they might have. Also, PLAY Vondrell!

by UTeed on Sep 27, 2007 1:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

new kids on the block

Mack addressed this somewhat in the radio show last night. He said they're looking for the most productive players, which means consistency. He suggested the younger guys might show flashes of excellence, but don't get the consistent production.

However, I'm sure they're going to play. It doesn't really matter to me who is the "starter" on the first play of the game.

by SelimSivad on Sep 27, 2007 1:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

But ...

In real game-time situations, how do they know since they won't give ample opportunity for the young guys to demonstrate a level of consistency along with their talent? Chicken and egg. Instead, we'll take consistently mediocre play. Doesn't make sense to me but I'm not getting paid close to $3 mil per year either.

by CyHorn770 on Sep 27, 2007 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I googled 'Akina' and this is what came up

Akina

Explains a lot, maybe.

by Caradoc on Sep 27, 2007 2:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Time for an email campaign

I've already sent a couple this week.
You can email Mack at kasey.johnson@athletics.utexas.edu

Akina's is amy.biegel@athletics.utexas.edu

I kept mine concise, clean, and relatively respectful, but I let em know what was going on.

by DogTown on Sep 27, 2007 6:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LBs and Chilles

I'd rather you just say thank you and walk on by...

by MeatchickenHorn on Sep 27, 2007 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LBs and Chiles

Sorry, hit the wrong button above....anyway,
K State is our last chance to try Muck and Nort in starting positions...if we do, it will motivate the current guys for the soonies as well.
I also would really like to see Chiles and Colt on the field at the same time.....watching Boise State tonight, and the innovative plays they run shows the world of creative plays that are open to Texas.

Put the talent on the field.

I'd rather you just say thank you and walk on by...

by MeatchickenHorn on Sep 27, 2007 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Back in 1992...

The University Of Michigan had a group of 5 freshmenn come in and start over seniors and juniors who were incompetent. The result 2 final four appearances, 2 national championship games. Sometimes you just have to make the right call.

Definitely not saying that our young LB's are the equivalent of Webber and Jalen Rose on the basketball court. Or that their impact would be that monumental. But I'm just saying, sometimes you have to give yourself a better chance of being competitive. That's just my opinion though.

by saveadre on Sep 28, 2007 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You forgot

The final result, paid players, destruction of program.

by Wells on Sep 28, 2007 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No i didnt forget...

The UM team was nowhere close to a final four in the previous years. Yes, they lost but in TWO championship games. Forget about the paid players part, thats not the point of my comment. The point is, you had younger talent on the roster who were able to play the position better. The illegal stuff that went on was off-court issues. I'm strictly speaking of the impact they had on the team success while they played and trying to relate it to us putting in younger talent if it can be more productive.

by saveadre on Sep 28, 2007 10:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was just joking

But I think that is a hard comparison to make. Basketball and football are very different games and the amount of playing time for young players is much greater for basketball players than football players.

by Wells on Sep 28, 2007 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oooh!!!

damn man. i was ready to debate. =) and yeah, i admit that its a tough comparison to make. but in our case i just feel like we could do more, and we're not. it worked for ohio state to play freshmen and sophomores last year. i think we could make some adjustments as well.

fyi... did you know chris webber received cash and hookers in the 8th grade?

by saveadre on Sep 28, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs