The Five Biggest Disappointments of 2006: #5 - Frank Okam

by Peter Bean on Jan 19, 2007 9:56 AM CST in Texas Longhorns Football

Expectations for Frank Okam were tremendous heading into the 2006 season. When I chatted with Chip Brown just before the season started, he raved, "Their [Roy Miller and Derek Lokey] fire will help ignite Okam, who should be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft by the time he's done. (He should have a tough decision to make after this season about whether to leave early. He's got that much potential.) Okam is also moving from the nose to the 3-technique (lined up on the outside shoulder of the guard, where it will be harder to double team him.)"

Okam did consider leaving after this season to turn pro, but wisely decided against it. After a lackluster, injury-riddled 2006, his stock wasn't anywhere near its potential peak value. Okam finished 2006 with a mere 38 tackles - down from 48 in '05. He had only two sacks, six tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hurries. His performance earned him a nod in the "Honorable Mention" category of the All Big 12 team.

The high hope was that Okam would be a disruptive force in the middle of the line who forced teams to spend big chunks of blocking capital on. Okam never really got going, though, and was hindered by several nagging injuries that didn't fully heal until the end of the season. Not surprisingly, his two best games of the year were probably A&M and Iowa.

One of 2006's biggest disappointments, high hopes will be placed again on Okam heading into '07. Along with Lokey and Miller, Texas has a chance to have a tremendous interior defensive line. But not if Okam doesn't elevate his game from the 2006 letdown.

--PB--

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I like this top 5 thing.

2006 was a disappointment. I am a Horn fan that thinks that anything less than a MNC is a disappointment. I know it is probably pretty small minded of me, but it is what it is. On the note of Okam. I think he really suffered when Lokey went out. I feel that Lokey is the keystone to the d-line. His pad level and compact power between blockers sets up everyone to get single blocks. Lokey is the one that gets the double team and lots of times splits it. Okam is best when he can abuse a lonely O-lineman, not when he has to take on 2. He doesn't get low enough off the line because he is so damn big. I think that with Lokey back, Okam should spend a lot more time in the backfield. I am really excited about Orakpo and am eager to see some Eddie Jones too.

by kicker @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 19, 2007 10:33 AM CST reply actions

Couldn't agree more

Consider: Texas had 28 sacks in the seven games Lokey played and just 10 in five games thereafter.

by Peter Bean on Jan 19, 2007 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

Not only that

But i think Lokey was doing a damn good job at situational FB as well. He's an intimidating presence for an interior d-lineman or any LB, to see him coming at you when you're trying to get to the running back along the goal line.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on Jan 19, 2007 12:53 PM CST up reply actions

i think that Sergio

has taken his job, though. I want to see Lokey primarily on defense.

by kicker @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 19, 2007 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

Is number one

the secondary or Henry Melton? Linebackers possibly?

by bamfor on Jan 19, 2007 10:44 AM CST reply actions

One a day

Gonna roll these out one a day.

Coming next is Most Pleasant Surprises.

Each day will have one surprise, one disappointment, counting down to #1.

by Peter Bean on Jan 19, 2007 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

Im gonna be a punk.

And say i think i know who the #1 Most Pleasant Suprise is.

But then again, i have been wrong before. Cant wait to see though!

by lalonghorn on Jan 19, 2007 6:18 PM CST up reply actions

Texas D line = Bermuda Triangle

Tubbs, Wright, Redding, Robison, etc.

As fans we expect too much. We keep waiting for that next Hampton/Rogers combo, but even in the NFL these guys are still elite. They don't exactly grow on trees.

I suspect Okam will be one of those steal picks in the 2nd round or late 1st.

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Jan 19, 2007 10:48 AM CST reply actions

Gotta be at safety.................

but it might not be the players as much as a bad defensive scheme. They really wanted to enforce the run defence first, and that cost us some big plays.

Just Remember, No Matter What Happens, ou SUCKS.

by ouALWAYSsux on Jan 19, 2007 10:51 AM CST reply actions

for sure.

the vicious run defense was absolutely -torched- by the play action. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing I love more than a swarming secondary laying paint on running backs with no remorse. I loved the agressiveness and speed, but sometimes you just gotta stay with your man and fight off a block if it ends up being a run that gets past the front 7. Once again it all goes back to the front 7 not getting penetration in the second half of the year. The linebackers and d-line were not making the plays at the LOS, so the secondary started to creep up to support--BOOM, play action pass for 35 yards. It starts at the line.

by kicker @ Burnt Orange Nation on Jan 19, 2007 10:57 AM CST up reply actions