Texas Safety Injuries: Scott Done, Gideon Likely Available
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Dec 6, 2011 11:30 PM CST
in Texas Longhorns Football
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PrintApparently being a Texas safety in the Baylor game was just as painful as watching the Texas safeties, the ones not named Kenny Vaccaro, that is. The university announced on Tuesday that senior Christian Scott underwent wrist surgery that will end his career, while fellow senior Blake Gideon's streak of starting every game as as Longhorn could be in jeopardy after fracturing his left hand.
Scott returned from his three-game suspension for a pre-season assault charge to help fill in for Nolan Brewster, who had to give up football after multiple concussions, and turn in some of the more solid performances of a mostly uneven career. In fact, Scott's legacy will probably focus more on his off-field issues -- the assault and a season missed to poor grades -- than his play on it.
A well-considered prospect out of high school, Scott's highlight moment probably came in 2008 replacing Gideon against Kansas, when he spoke to some potential with a couple hard hits against the back who knocked Gideon out of the game, current defensive end Toben Opurum, a fellow Texas product himself. Unfortunately, as time went on Scott's lack of explosiveness and inability to change direction sunk most of that potential.
As for Gideon, well, suffice it to say that there's a element of the fanbase pushing for Gideon to go gently into that dark night. He'll be wearing a cast, but if he's able to play, it seems likely that he'll be out on the field for the first snap to keep that starting streak alive. As well he deserves.
The good news is that he can't tackle any worse with a cast, right? Right? And before you bring that comment, consider that Gideon had four tackles and seven missed tackles against Baylor. That's a simple, stone-hard fact that says everything you could possibly want to say right now.
A bigger story here -- and the long-term positive for the Longhorns -- is that the loss of Scott means more reps at safety for likely replacement Adrian Phillips. The trickle-down effect during the 15 practices, essentially the equivalent of another spring practice, should help the development of freshman Mykkele Thompson, everyone's favorite alternative for the Wildcat. Sorry folks, Akina found that dude and recruited him to Texas. An actual winning evaluation. Guy's not one to cross on something like this, yanno?
The future for Texas at safety may not be now, but it's definitely closing in. It's a future with a little more speed (okay, a lot more speed) and a little more agility as well. As long as that future can line up correctly, the athleticism should take care of most of what remains.
Doesn't that make for a brilliant tomorrow?
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GoBR, you are so right.
It’s pretty obvious to see the rapid pace by which Gideon is digressing in performance. And Scott has been far worse as he’s been lost in space since the 1st game he’s played. It’s just calling-out Longhorns, individually, and blaming them for all ails that some of us take issue with. That is all. He’s been the starter because nobody else will step up.
Yeah, I don’t know if I’ve seen many players at all that have, little by little, performed worse as they have gained more experience and playing time. With 51(?) straight starts & several good moments (ala the great INT Saturday vs. RG3) & games, he has easily justified his low recruiting ranking (2 stars?). Not much was expected of him, as opposed to other safeties. He had a very solid 1st 2 years (albeit alongside ET) but has struggled mightily since then. There has GOT to be something wrong with him for him to have beome this bad of a tackler. His play against 0U and BU was just terrible. I just wish someone – anyone – coulda jumped him in the depth chart, at some point, to be used situationally. Problem was, the coaches just couldn’t find anyone better. That’s about to change, though, in the near future.
Against Baylor, I seem to recall Gideon wearing a huge cast on his wrist & hand. He might have even caught the INT with it on. Was this put on during the game or did he actually start the game with this club on his hand?
He did have a broken back in high school
not sure if it’s bothering him again, but I am sick of his non-tackling ways. Anyone else notice the play in front of the sideline where he just pushed the receiver down and he fell forward about another 3 yards. What the heck is he doing out there? I cannot recall him ever wrapping up, always going for the big hit. Plus I still haven’t forgot 2008.
"If crime was justified by need it would be the occupation of the masses."- Chief Gillespie
I remember him having the injury from high school.
It may be a part of this. But, in his 1st couple of years, he was absolutely bashing people. Now, he just has such trouble breaking down in the open field to topple a ballcarrier. It’s not really like he’s afraid of hitting someone. It’s almost as if he has just lost a lot of balance & agility since his 1st couple of years.
I just can’t use that dropped INT as my signature moment for him. That happens so many times to DBs during the course of a game, it’s almost a regular thing now. I’ll remember him more for the NCG INT than anything … just like I won’t be remembering the play after the dropped INT as a signature moment for Earl Thomas. After the game-to-game thrill ride that was Longhorn football in 2008, that loss was almost like it was destined to happen. I’ll think more of the hole they dug for themselves than anything – then the super-human effort that Colt succeeded at in getting them back into the lead – but I’ll mainly remember the stupid stupid poll voters & anti-Texas coaches’ votes that gave the poll #s to 0U. Texas was the best team / talk of college football for 2 years running and they didn’t end up with a crystal football nor a Heisman to show for it. That’s what I’ll remember.
Gideon
really appreciate Gideon for the 4 yrs of blood, sweat and tears. But i’m glad and pretty excited to turn a new chapter with our next safeties.
I will always respect Gideon
He worked hard, he played hard, and he represented the university well while being a leader for his teammates. He definitely was not one of the better safeties we’ve seen at Texas, but he generally performed well, and if not for a tiebreaking controversy (and to be fair, his own dropped interception) as well as Colt McCoy’s injury, he might have been the starting safety for one or two national championship teams. Not bad. There is no need for many fans to blame him for being a four-year starter; blame the people behind him who could not unseat him or blame the coaches for not taking a chance with a younger, more athletic guy.
Scott had more potential and it was disappointing how much of his career panned out, especially with the off the field issues. Still, I wish him the best. At the end of the day, he still contributed in burnt orange.
by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 7, 2011 1:44 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Very Well Stated
+ mucho
Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen
by realmccoy on Dec 7, 2011 7:00 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
+1, TES
Blaming Gideon for playing hard and not being as skilled as Earl Thomas, Michael Huff, is terribly unfair.
Blake should never have been a freshman starter, maybe not a starter at all. But if the staff failed to recruit better, develop better, and had to play Gideon . . . why is that Gideon’s fault?
Or blame the coaches
For some lazy recruiting back then. Yes this includes Akina, for all his good.
Follow me on Twitter @GoHornsGo90
Prolly an Excuse
But perhaps Blake broke his hand early and it was a major part of his tackling performance. I am sort of Gideon apologist – based solely on the fact that I respect both Boom and Manny and they have always started him.
Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen
by realmccoy on Dec 7, 2011 7:10 AM CST via mobile reply actions
And ...
I blame his getting exposed on the coaches who should know what his limitations are and could scheme to protect those weaknesses, including subbing him for more athletic guys when downs dictate doing such. My biggest problem with all the criticism is they ignore the positives that he brought. Some of those won’t show up on the stat sheet. Much like you, I can be an apologist for Gideon and I thought he looked hurt most of the game. That’s on the coaches not seeing it and making the appropriate subs to protect him. It’s one in a growing list of gaffes by this year’s staff. IMO.
by Inveigled&Foozled on Dec 7, 2011 7:32 AM CST up reply actions
I Think Manny has Learned
That the Texas D needs be aggressive. Playing soft zone, even if it is the right strategy, just saps the energy from our CBs. Even the body language is noticeably different. When we tried to “contain” OU and Baylor we really sucked. Aggie has a heckuva a passing game (not at OU/Baylor level) and the pressure got to them.
Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen
Body language wasn't there.
I think you are correct about the strategy draining the players. I didn’t see the fire and that could be because we were going to be passive against Baylor. It certainly appeared that way on the field. If we were going to do that, then I think more blitzing would have been appropo. Given RGIII’s preference to roll and throw to the right, I would have spent more time forcing him to the left. Either through blitzes, line shifts, or other alignments that brought additional pressure from his favored side. Then, the zones would have made more sense. There are some other things we could do as well, but I’m guessing those things we’ll focus on this spring.
by Inveigled&Foozled on Dec 7, 2011 1:35 PM CST up reply actions
And ...
I blame his getting exposed on the coaches who should know what his limitations are and could scheme to protect those weaknesses, including subbing him for more athletic guys when downs dictate doing such. My biggest problem with all the criticism is they ignore the positives that he brought. Some of those won’t show up on the stat sheet. Much like you, I can be an apologist for Gideon and I thought he looked hurt most of the game. That’s on the coaches not seeing it and making the appropriate subs to protect him. It’s one in a growing list of gaffes by this year’s staff. IMO.
by Inveigled&Foozled on Dec 7, 2011 7:31 AM CST reply actions
Gideon a Bust?
I could scream everytime I hear that—he was a 2* recruit. He would have started most anywhere in the Big 12. But, it’ll be good to see the newbies, as we work on the DBs for 2012.
The Gideon Paradox
For me, the play that most epitomizes Gideon’s career was the interception in the 2009 National Championship game on Alabama’s first quarter (first possession) fake punt. On one hand, Gideon makes a great catch on an under thrown pass and denies Alabama a first down on a trick play. On the other hand, for a player thought to be so heady, he should have just knocked it down. The Horns would have had 1st down on the Bama 20, instead of the 38. Maybe that 18 yard difference means McCoy doesn’t get hurt, we punch it in for 7, instead of 3, and blah, blah, blah…
That's a pretty good way to put it.
I didn’t think much bad of the INT, at the time, because we all know how HUGE of a momentum changer an INT can be. It definitely jazzed up the players and got the stadium rocking in favor of Texas. Had Colt not got hurt, this never would have been an issue.
Couple of thoughts from that picture above...
Ryan Broyles has some ripped up calf muscles and why does Gideon always lean forward like he’s finishing a race when he’s chasing someone. Did he run track in high school and it’s just a habit, but to me he looks really stupid with that head lean after he gets burned.
Now on the other hand I think it would be really cool if Marquise had done that on his long TD catch. Somewhat of a nod to his track skills.
"If crime was justified by need it would be the occupation of the masses."- Chief Gillespie
Who will we bash without GD, GG, and BG?
See ya later, alligator and sheep-mater.
Garrett Greenlea has the most "G"s in his name so it's gonna have to be him.
Hopefully, it won’t end up being Jonathan Gray.
We would be in the MNC game this year but for Garrett Greenlea.
See ya later, alligator and sheep-mater.
by Paleface Horn on Dec 7, 2011 9:42 AM CST up reply actions
Duh
It was a rhetorical question.
See ya later, alligator and sheep-mater.
by Paleface Horn on Dec 7, 2011 4:03 PM CST up reply actions
hahahahaha
but you forgot to say “duh.”
See ya later, alligator and sheep-mater.
by Paleface Horn on Dec 8, 2011 6:58 AM CST up reply actions
Nobody would describe me as a BG fan
As a fan he has always frustrated me and been a source of disappointment. Others will say oh the coaches this or the players behind him that. For me that is splitting hairs and shifting facts to suit your point of view.
In the end he played, not as well as those before him, ET and Huff, but he represented the U that I love so much and for that I will always be grateful. I hope he can play this one last game, maybe not because he earned it with talent but because it sacrificed so much in time, sweat, blood, and pain.
Because being a Texas fan means never having to say you're sorry.
Agree with everything you've said
What I never understood about Blake, in addition to what has already been said, is how he consistently brought too much, too late…like he tried to make up for his shortcomings with big hits after the play was basically over. But, on balance he always displayed effort, passion, toughness, coaches credit him with being a “coach on the field”, he’s been a credit to the program off the field and he’s probably an overachiever given limitations that he and the coaches both know that he has. Frustrating? Yep. Inconsistent? Not sure. But I think he’s given everything he has to the program and deserves our respect.
My explanation
for this is that he’s always two steps late/behind. When you’re two steps behind you are perfectly set up to hit the guy hard after he’s caught the ball or whiff if he makes a sudden move. You’re also in the right place to “join in” on a tackle someone else is already making, get a late hit penalty after someone else made the tackle, or knock your own player trying to make a tackle out.
It also explains why he has recovered several fumbles, someone else is making the tackle and knocks the ball out, the guy two steps late is in perfect position to jump on the fumble. Also, if a ball is knocked in the air by a receiver or defender actually on the receiver, the player two steps away has a good shot at getting the tip drill pick (or dropping it) and I recall several of his picks/drops being of this variety. Finally, if a ball is severely underthrown (see pick in endzone against Baylor, though that was likely zone) by the quarterback, the guy two steps behind the receiver is in position to pick it off as well.
He must have been two steps ahead of everyone else in the thinking department before every play b/c he was almost always two steps behind physically during the play.
I believe Akina has sent 11 of the past 12
defensive backs who have started at Texas to the NFL. I’m guessing the lone one not to go would be Ryan Palmer. It’s gonna be 11 of the past 14 after this year.
"If crime was justified by need it would be the occupation of the masses."- Chief Gillespie
Was it all defensive backs or just cornerbacks?
I remember seeing that number as well and I thought it was referring to CBs. I could be wrong. Either way, it’s pretty impressive. Diggs and Byndum will just add to the list….
Yeah Diggs, Byndom, and Vaccarro will be added to that list
and hopefully a couple of the other freshman. Out of Turner, Thompson, Evans, and Scott, I would guess we got at least two or three more pros with their talent and Akina’s teaching. Can’t forget about Phillips, expecting big things out of him next year as full time starter.
"If crime was justified by need it would be the occupation of the masses."- Chief Gillespie
Off the top of my head
I believe that you are correct. Incredible and a great point. Going back to around 2004 or so, I can only think of a handful of guys who started more than a couple games who didn’t go on to NFL careers — Marcus Griffin, Erick Jackson, Palmer, and Brandon Foster.
Follow me on Twitter: @GhostofBigRoy
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by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Dec 7, 2011 11:43 AM CST up reply actions
Brandon Foster
Had a short stint with the Colts I believe. No sure about those other guys
Marcus Griffin.
I believe I saw him in a game earlier this season and was very surprised. Can’t remember the team, though.
Sorry Christian Scott but damn
I cant fathom how Christian Scott is on a D1 scholarship (or FBS), especially playing for Texas. Bad tackling, no speed, bad angles and a bad attitude.
Hats off to both BG and Scott for their dedication and effort as Longhorns.
IMO both were underperformers at the safety position and I’m looking forward to the future at the position. Hopefully a future with speed, agility, a basic understanding of angles, and tackling ability.
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad" - Unknown
You can't count on much in this crazy Longhorn world...
…but you can count on Gideon whiffing on at least one or two tackles a game on a one-on-one situation. All hail the kid for his dedication and living up to his fullest possible potential and what have you, but wow, I stopped being surprised when Gideon whiffs on a tackle years ago and now just chuckles when he does it. I don’t know if that says something or what, but there you have it.
Because we're Texas and we're evil. DUH.
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