2011 Texas Big Board Update: Running Back

Mack took the backs he wanted in 2009 and 2010. He has taken one back he already wanted for 2011, and has offers out to only two more. I think there’s a combination of factors holding back the Texas running game, and recruiting is probably smaller than any of them:

1. Scheme. I don’t doubt that Davis can dial up a strong rushing attack, as he did with Charles a few years back, and Cedric, Hodges Mitchell, and Ricky before him. But the pass-happy scheme Davis and Brown have heavily favored in the Colt McCoy era has only given way to one successful rushing year in the past four seasons, and that was actually the Longhorns’ least successful year of football. To me this indicates that the emphasis on the Colt-friendly scheme limited the effectiveness of the running game, and could also indicate that when running a spread, Texas is a better football team when not expending too much effort to establish the running game.

2. Coaching. Major isn’t Rucker. He’s never really coached a strong rushing attack, as far as I’m aware. I think he’ll be fine as an OC someday, and maybe even as a HC, but I don’t think he’s meant to be down in the weeds of running back development.

3. Line coordination. The line has had some great players, and some who aren’t as great, but generally there’s been some dysfunction even between the good players. It hasn’t really seemed like a coherent offensive line, which could have harmed both the passing and running games.

I don’t relish the day that we have to stop Brandon Williams

I am completely and totally smitten.

. . . but i want to see it.

It is because all of them have been given a legitimate chance to be “the” guy and all of them have either not produced, been constantly hurt, been out of shape, or a combination of those.

but Applewhite has been handling the recruitments of Brown and Green.

Coaching, hmmm… The young man has to prove himself. Texas is trying to demonstrate running back recruits that they are more than a quarterback centered offense, by having a former star quarterback coach the running backs. Perception is important. Bottom line is we need to draw that line in the stand and get a commitment from Brown to show we can attract a national running back recruit.

but point made.

…after scrolling down this entire post, I thought I might help you out. Here’s how to reply. Also, learn how to use block quotes after you reply to the certain person (it’s much easier to follow your point). It’s pretty simple; all you have to do is highlight their text, and then hit the 4th icon ("), and

then your post will look like this.

and especially limited in the time that he can spend at a school talking with them. Mack offers them in his office and sometimes closes with them when he takes in-home visits. Otherwise, he is pretty removed from the day-to-day recruiting of every player.

No, not that you can’t use blockquotes…… that you are so sensitive to present and possible future criticism of Major.

Anytime a name (like Major is at UT) gets hired as a coach at his alma mater he is going to have more eyes on him than many of the other coaches.

Also, when he gets hired to coach a position that he didn’t play, and then that position struggles, or continues to struggle, of course he is going to be put under scrutiny.

And when he is heavily (and GoBR – or anyone else for that matter – never used the words completely or solely) involved in the recruitment of a National top 5 player at that position – yes his name will be mentioned on this site.

He will get plenty of credit if M. Brown comes aboard, and yes, he will get plenty of blame if not.

But the assistant coaches deserve a lot of credit for all the hard work that they do because they are the ones on the road all the time traveling to high schools. The assistant coaches identify the prospects and move the information up the ladder.

Brown deserves credit for establishing the climate that helps the prospects feel comfortable and for going through the tough task of deciding which of the many diehard Texas fans who play high school football are going to get the offers. Brown has put together the staff that does such a good job out on the road and his ability to put kids into the league has helped sustain recruiting momentum, as well as the success that he has orchestrated on the field.

There is plenty of credit to go around.

2010: Traylon Shead, four stars
2009: Chris Whaley (athlete), four stars

2008 was a little different, because it had a several projection RBs. Hales was a four-star sort of RB/WR, and Fitzhenry had three stars even as projected from a quarterbacking background. Jeremy Hills was four stars. Tre Newton, three. Turns out the most impactful of any of the RBs over the past three classes has been a three-star player. Kind of like Colt McCoy at QB.

And Bergeron is no slouch and should be helping to fill holes. I’d rather save our precious few spots for 5 star talents like Austin S-F than to just take another RB that won’t likely see the field.

I think Brandon Williams already having committed there will factor more largely into the decision and I think I saw that the Oklahoma coaches are going to sit down and figure out where they are with scholarships too, so I don’t know how long that offer will still be on the table for Brown.

and he has some upside as a guy who could carry the ball more. I think he’s kind of a taller, slightly lighter version of Cody Johnson, complete with the solid speed and good feet for his size. The coaches at times have wanted Johnson to earn more carries, so, no, I don’t think Bergeron can completely be pegged as a fullback.