Britt Mitchell is the Weak Link of the Entire Offense

As you saw when Britt went out with an injury.

(Btw, any news on his injury?)

Seems like a waste of a year to only play him a few plays.

So Britt is the tissue paper link in an offensive chain of paper clips.

The real weakest link is whoever is running an offense where the weakest OL player gets no help from a RB/TE/FB/scheme/coaching/development and gets hung out to dry repeatedly.

1. It appeared on camera that Mitchell has at least a sprained knee and will likely be out this week if not next (Oklahoma State). Mitchell does not hold up well when he’s not careful with his footwork – if he gets pushed onto his left foot, it’s over. Hopkins played well against Iowa State I thought because he’s been in six games and usually plays 5-6 plays at a time in place of Walters at G, and those were his first snaps at tackle. Not surprisingly, on his first snap at tackle, which was an obvious passing down, Greg Davis gives him no back or TE help, and the DE blows by Hopkins and Gilbert gives up the fumble. After that, though, Hopkins played well enough I thought. If anything, he has quicker feet than Mitchell, and might provide greater backside protection on runs to the middle and left. Likely he will be vulnerable to the power rush because he doesn’t have the long arms a tackle should have.
2. Snow has played guard and not done well because he’s vulnerable to 3-technique DT’s. Where he excels is in getting underneath a nose tackle or getting a combo block on a DT at the 2 or 3 position and then getting upfield into a LB. Texas can run the ball if they leave him at center, but not if he plays guard.
3. Walters is an awesome guard and might be all-conference next year once he gets a little better at pass blocking. He’s a good athlete for a OL and is simply outstanding at pulling on Power plays or counters and traps. IMO he is the key to Texas running because of his ability to pull and Huey’s inability to do so. He should stay exactly where he is.
4. Assuming Trey Allen comes back next year, he likely will take RG and Walters might move to LT. However, it’s certainly possible that Westerman will be good enough to take LT, and Paden Kelley or Hopkins will take RT, and Walters will move to LG.
5. Garrett Porter has gotten some snaps at center in a couple of games without disaster and remains a good backup for next year.

As far as the rest of this season, I like a backfield of Cody Johnson and Monroe/Fozzy/Newton. Cody can block at least as well as Roberson and proved against Oklahoma that he can catch passes downfield and possibly block for the wide receivers (since they aren’t going to do it for themselves). I think the coaches have gotten stuck in a rut with their use of the running backs in certain “packages” (If GD ever had a killer tendency, it’s that). With Cody plus a scatback, we could run I formation, pro set, shotgun with split backs, Ace (one back with CJ as an Hback), and even go 4 wide with Cody to pass block all in a no-huddle offense that emphasized running over passing. One can dream.

the key to a successful one is continuity. By using the suggestions you had you ultimately move 3 people in order to make one change. That upsets whatever continuity you had going on and you not only are you inserting one new person but you are changing the positions of 2 others.

Listen, I agree Britt Mitchell has been sub par. No doubt about it. But if you are going to make a change in season it is best to make one, not 3.

Walters has been a little slow to pick up pass protection and it’s important to remember that his projection as a Left Tackle star was based in his athleticism, not his on field performance where he was a lethal center. Also, he could be a badly needed star inside for us if he can hold down the left and pull as Burnt pointed out.

Mitchell is listed as starter this week with Kelly as backup at RT and Hopkins can’t fill in for him because he’s starting at Right Guard in place of Huey, who is out for the year.

You can be sure Hopkins will start somewhere next year because of how the staff has used him to plug holes all over the line this year. It’s important now though that other guys get good looks at tackle since we’ll be starting 2 new ones next year.

My best bet on the current staff’s pick on the line would be:
LT: Hopkins
Given how much playing time they’ve invested in him I think he’s the best bet. Personally, I want to see what Kelly, Walters and also Blake BrockenMeyer’s protege Mark Buchanon are capable of at some point this season as they are all more prototypical LT types than Hopkins.
LG: Walters
Like Burnt said, they move the more experienced guards here because the passing game is most highly prioritized by Davis.
C: Snow
He’s not moving, he can be all-conference at this position, if he isn’t already.
RG: Allen if he’s healthy, otherwise I’m betting on Ashcraft. All this assumes one of the freshmen doesn’t come in ready to take over somewhere, btw. That’s a very real possibility.
RT: Whoever is deemed least worthy to play LT. Kelly seems like a good bet given that he’s been 2nd into the fire after Hopkins this year.

It should be very clear from this year’s personnel that Texas should be built around running the ball. Even if it wasn’t it’s blindingly obvious about next year’s unit.