Spring Football notes
by BMG on Feb 8, 2010 4:23 PM CST
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A few notes heading into spring ball...
- Marquis Goodwin will not be practicing with the team this spring while he competes on the UT track team. While this shouldn't come as any surprise as we all know Goodwin is the nations top long jumper and sprinter, it is unfortunate because you would like to see Goodwin and Gilbert develop some chemistry. On the flip side, QBs and WRs typically develop a lot of their chemistry during 7-on-7's in the summer.
- Chris Whaley is going to start out at RB, but True Orange is reporting that the coaches are considering him at TE. This is definiltely not a good sign to me. From all accounts, Whaley was a hit during bowl practice and his future looked bright. Now I'm hearing he's still pushing 240. There's no way he'll be the breakaway back Texas needs at that size. Whaley was supposed to be the difference maker in the backfield in 2010 but those hopes are taking a big hit right about now. My guess is that Demarco Cobbs ends up getting a long look at RB. He is not as big as Whaley but still bigger than Newton or Fozzy and has good speed. Shead has some potential, but he seems like a redshirt candidate and a long term project. The running back situation is worrisome, but it really doesn't matter who is back there if the offensive line can't run block better.
- Mason Walters continues to be hampered by an injured foot and he'll be sitting out. Not only is this an issue in terms of developing critical depth along the line, you also have to worry about whether or not he'll be able to recover. A lot of times with foot injuries, they can get re-aggravated if weight doesn't come down.
- Emanuel Acho is going to be limited due to hernia surgery. This isn't a big deal, and might be good for us to see if guys like Ryan Roberson or Dravanti Johnson will ever see the field on defense.
- Nolan Brewster is out with a shoulder injury.
Over all, we should avoid setting lofty expectations for this spring given the situation that we're in. With the seniors that left plus Earl and considering the injuries and departures above, none of the units or position groups can be considered a "strength" going into the spring. The secondary will not have to practice against Goodwin or any of the incoming freshman WRs. The O-line won't have a Kindle or Houston on the other side of the line to work against. That said, The d-line will be facing what could very well be the weakest o-line Texas has fielded in spring ball in the Mack Brown era. Fortunately for us, its all in the family because if the season started today we would be in some trouble.
To me, a successful spring would have the following:
- Gilbert continues to develop
- The offensive line develops a two deep. Here's hoping that Poehlman, Porter, & Kelly find a place on the depth chart and can contribute. The only thing worse than having a bad line is having no one behind the starters who can contribute if things fall apart.
- The TE situation clears up. At this point, if its Whaley or Dominique Jones so be it. Find someone among all the talented athletes we have that can catch, stretch the field, and block
- DJ Monroe's role in the offense is defined.
- Christian Scott hits the ground running. I don't expect him to light it up the same way Earl did his first spring, but Scott will have to show that he can play the run and the pass.
- Another DB emerges. Losing Marcus Davis hurt. Losing Earl as the nickle hurt more. We need Kenny Vaccaro or Eryon Barnett to be able to step in if the need arises in the secondary.
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that's a recipe for disaster
Gideon doesn’t have the athletic ability to man up, let alone impersonate Earl Thomas. I don’t think Scott does either. Thomas was a unique guy – the athleticism of a corner and the physicality of a safety. Earl’s versatility allowed Muschamp to change up between zone and man-to-man while showing the same look. Furthermore, when Earl and Williams were out there in coverage we basically dictacted that the ball either was going to (a) the guy Chykie was covering, or (b) the safety valve.
If you look at the guys we have in the secondary next year, you wonder how we could possibly play man against a spread team. Next year there are 3 corners currently on the roster with experience in coverage (the Browns and Williams). Gideon is a great compimentary guy in coverage – he reads the play well and has a knack for being around the ball – but you cannot expect him to cover someone man-to-man the way we did with Earl.
by BMG on Feb 8, 2010 4:58 PM CST up reply actions
C. Scott
coukd be better against the run then E. Thomas. I think the DB’s are all good. Hopefully some of the young players step up.
Gideon
will never be Thomas… C. Scott can be though. C. Scott will play the Thimas role and Gideon and Brewster will switch in and out.
Gideon has shown a lot of improvement from his freshman year to this last year
If he continues to improve, he’ll be something to contend with in the backfield.
dj monroe
i think we need to use him like a percy harvin on sweeps he showed potential vs bama.
he has to get stronger and better hands though.
Cody Johnson is weighing in at what, 240-250?
Maybe Whaley is looking at trying to be your every-down back, and thinks he needs some real muscle.
Put Whaley @ 240 out there and switch him in and out with DJ Monroe or Goodwin.
A successful Spring is when GG gets plenty of repetition with his receivers.
They either have to get better at catching passes with heat or he needs to learn to take something off of the pass. Practice. repeat.
True Orange
True Orange is a newsletter that a guy named Jerry Scarbrough publishes. It used to be a glossy, four-page affair, delivered by mail, but he started offering an e-mail service several years ago for $99 per year. I have his contact info; if you want it, leave an e-mail address.
Excellent questions and comments, BMG
Lotta the same ones I have.
I view spring training different than a lot of folks do. I don’t see it as a time to pick a starting team, a backup unit, that kind of thing. I see it as the best chance for the young players to prove they belong, that their year or two in the background (redshirting or playing mop-up minutes) has gotten them ready to be first- and second-quarter contributors in a few months.
Earl Thomas materialized in ST two years ago, Colt four years back, Blaylock did it in the spring of 2003. All were full-time starters as redshirt freshmen.
There are some critical holes on this team that need filling: 2-3 DT jobs, 3 starting spots in the O-line, replacements for Shipley and Buckner and Goodwin (who will return) in the receiving game. It also gives the coaches a chance to experiment. Summer is the time to pick a first team, a second group, figure out a playing rotation.
While I generally agree...
I do think that this spring is a bit different because of the amount of key positions that are changing over. QB, #1 WR, 3 OLs, DE, DT, LB, and S. Not to mention the fact that among those are the unquestioned leaders of the offense and defense. There is no doubt in my mind that in order to reach 10 wins this year, we’ll need everyone’s best and maybe a bit more. Its not about picking the starting units, but we do need to see some signs of life from a host of highly talented and touted, but still uneventful guys. Furthermore, Mack’s message to the returning players on signing day was simple — he told them that they better be ready to work hard because come summer, a true freshman may be trying to take their job. Last but not least who are the leaders on this football team?
We don’t need answers to all of these concerns, but I hope that some of the fog starts to clear.
Those are some sobering bullet points
Winning games is all about winning the battle in the trenches. With all the losses on defense and overall mediocrity on the offensive line, my expectations have lowered to about a 10-win season ending at the Alamo Bowl, setting up a promising year the season after next.
by goingforthecorner on Feb 8, 2010 7:43 PM CST reply actions
Don't underestimate our D-line.
Remember we were in this same position after last season and having to replace Roy Miller, Derek Lokey, Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton. We’ll have guys step in. That’s why they were recruited to Texas.
Close...
Aaron Lewis was recently departed. Lokey left the year before. A lot of people keps saying we lost 4 starters but really Houston was the 4th starter on the D-line when healthy.
Lokey/Okam left at the same time as probably the smartest DT combo in the history of college football
I do agree that we’re still good at D-line, though
D LIne
the d-line is definitely the position with the most talent waiting in the wings. I agree that come August, we won’t be too concerned about this unit’s ability to produce. My point was simply that in years past our very talented O-lines and D-lines have competed hard against each other in practice which in turn made both units better. This year, neither unit will be at its peak (and the O-line will be far, far from it), which makes you wonder how they will be impacted.
Ten Wins
The strength of the program is strong when ‘tempered’ expectation yields a minimum of ten wins. It’s good to be royals, no?
by DaGoose on Feb 9, 2010 11:25 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Very good, sir. Royalty. Well put.
I see the Tech game as the key. Lose there and an 8-4 is not out of the question. Win there and beat OU and even 1-2 losses otherwise probably doesn’t block us from the Big 12 title game.
But that four-game run (with an open date between OU and Nebraska) will be extremely demanding emotionally and, of course, figures to produce at least some physical problems.
our d-line will be fine
we have the talent at d-tackle there young. muschamp has proven he can get them ready see this year.
defense will be damn good if scott steps up.
this defense will carry us through the year till the offense catches up. supposedly the coaches are moving to way more pro-style to improve the running game.
worried about Mason Walters
I feel like the rest of it will work itself out but it’s hard to see us protecting GG from OU’s D-line without Walters playing, and well
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