So Roy, what do you think about Tre Newton getting some playing time this season? He is 2 inches taller and at least 10 pounds heavier than Fozzy. Newton also has the hands to excel in the passing game.

Get Lache

As Oggie is from the SL, I was always partial to watching him play. Although I didn’t know him personally, by all accounts he was a smart student and incredible athlete. He was recruited as a WR, originally started his career as a blocking back, and migrated to 3rd down back/occasional starting RB by his senior year.

The fact that he started at WR surely explains his excellent hands and capable route-running; moreover, the exposure he got at the FB position helped him with blitz pick-ups, pass protection, and reading the holes in the Horns run scheme. When you mention versatility, you ain’t kidding.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it may be some time before the Horns see anyone as versatile as Chris O on their offense. He wasn’t the biggest talent or most athletic, but he was incredibly valuable to this team, and (if at all possible) probably under-appreciated on an incredible Texas team last year.

Replacing Roy Miller is obviously high priority for the success of next year’s team, but my thought is replacing what Ogbannaya brought to the table will be just as difficult.

Reading blitzes requires depth of knowledge, as the running back must understand the line calls from the center, while also reading the defense himself to take note of any linebackers or safeties creeping up to the line of scrimmage, indicating a possible blitz.

In texas’ offense, the RB’s main concern on blitz is the Will LB. He can essentially ignore one half of the field, the strongside, b/c the TE is responsible for the SLB. The RB will only be watching for a FS blitz, which is really the responsibility of the QB to see, b/c the hot receiver there (assuming 11 personnel) will be backside.

The RB has a check release on the WLB; if he blitzes, he stays in to block, if he drops back in coverage, the RB runs his called route.

The RB doesn’t need to understand the line calls from the center, b/c the center is looking for Mike first; the RB is focused on Will, and assuming he is aligned in base, he will be opposite the strongside, so the WLB will be right there.

Vision is the most important, since cut-back lanes often open on the back side of plays and because the zone scheme doesn’t pre-designate where the hole will open.

This is also not true; the zone scheme texas runs pre-designates a point of attack on every running play; the line calls designate how they are going to block to get a double-team at that point of attack. To say there isn’t a pre-designated hole is simply false.

y’all are overrating Ogbonnaya a lot.

He was solid in blitz pick-up, but mediocre running the ball (38 yds rushing per game? really?), and a solid receiver out of the backfield. He was a third-down back masquerading as a feature back b/c y’all really didn’t have anyone better than him to put on the field as the starter. That is more an indictment of the other playersd at the position than it is a compliment to Ogbonnaya.

Saying he was versatile b/c he could run the ball, pick up the blitz, and catch the ball out of the backfield isn’t really saying much, b/c those are all requirements for anyone who wants to play RB for texas in Greg Davis’ scheme.

my point is that it isn’t going to be difficult to replace him, simply b/c he wasn’t that great

he was just an okay back, someone who would have been replaced if not for the paucity of talent currently at the RB position at texas

because he should’ve been replced already, but we didn’t have anyone talented enough to replace him? Thats your point? Well said.

and said that we don’t have anyone who can do those things as well as him (both of which you admitted out in your posts with a paucity of intellect)…. making him ….. wait for it……..Difficult to Replace!

This is what makes the internet so frustrating. Its like arguing with someone who is drunk.