What Harris' Injury Means For The Horns
by Peter Bean on Aug 14, 2007 12:52 AM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Football
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On the one hand, it's welcome news, in that the the damage isn't to his ACL. And there's not a major tear. Still, it's an injury to the player who was most likely to win the #2 quarterback job. Before we get into the effect on Harris and John Chiles, let's talk about the injury itself.
The official line from Belmont is that the coaches hope Harris will be back in time for the season opener. You can shelve that projection, without question. The quickest Harris could be back from an MCL sprain is three weeks, and that's if this is the most mild strain imaginable. If the strain is a more serious tear, Harris could be out as long as 8-9 weeks. No one at UT's going to talk about that at this point, but fans - even without knowing the full extent of this injury - should count on Harris being out for at least the season opener and most likely longer.
What does that mean for John Chiles? To begin with, he's your backup quarterback in week one. And if the coaches are serious about giving Colt's backup real action this year, then redshirting is off the table. With Harris' injury, it's time to start thinking seriously about John Chiles' usage in 2007. He will play, in some capacity.
I think one practical consequence of this is that Chiles to wide receiver is not going to be considered. With Harris sidelined, the depth at quarterback is now a serious question mark. If you let Chiles run about the field in a multi-position role and he gets hurt, you're left with McCoy and G.J. Kinne, and there's no chance the coaches let that happen. Harris' injury could mean John Chiles will be holding a clipboard unless he's on the field relieving Colt McCoy.
Mack Brown did address the situation with reporters Monday afternoon:
And there you have it. All the talk about John Chiles as a multi-dimension weapon is out the window as of Monday. The more interesting question is whether the coaches would consider using Chiles in a Tebow-esque role, bringing him in as a running threat in situational packages. I noted above that using Chiles in that manner comes with significant risk. If Harris were to be sidelined for a significant amount of time, risking your only real backup quarterback option is tough to pull the trigger on.
With that said, Mack said something during today's presser that caught my attention (in a good way):
I'm not seeing any real discussion of this in the mainstream press or, even, at Orangebloods. Mack Brown just asked a very sophisticated and deeply important question. What do we mean when we say the running game needs to improve? Do we mean that Texas needs to rush more often and with greater success in 2007? Or do we mean that we need to fix the running game in "must have" situations?
In my mind, that he's even asking me this question (coupled with his note about how tempting it is to go All Colt All The Time) leads me to believe Mack's more interested in the second question than the first. I can't emphasize how critical that is (if I'm right). Texas doesn't need to "fix" the running game in the way a lot of fans are talking about it. This is not a Ricky Williams or Cedric Benson offense. And it is not a Vince Young offense. Yet, it has enormous potential to be an incredibly potent offense, provided the attack is centered on a pass-first plan with complementary running.
The only catch is, when Texas is in short to-go situations or inside the red zone, there must be an improvement from last year's performance. I think, by posing this question today, Mack Brown is hinting at his understanding of this priority. Texas doesn't need to chase the Rushing Holy Grail. Texas needs to have an effective short yardage running game. If that falls into place, everything else is already set.
It's in that sense, then, that it becomes worthwhile to think about how you use John Chiles. If the coaches are honed in on the improvement being in short yardage and goal line situations, then they're going to be incredibly tempted to use Chiles as a weapon who can help with those improvements. Is it worth the injury risk? That's certainly not an easy question.
We've still got 18 days left until football, but I can't tell you how nice it is to have this much football to talk about in one post. I was really, really starting to drag at the end of July.
Hook 'Em
--PB--
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"GJ" just doesnt roll off the tongue
can he change it to something else?
by the other Andrew on Aug 14, 2007 1:03 AM CDT reply actions
I just planned
to call him Kinne in sort of the way Cartman says "Kenny"
UT Offense vs Florida 2006 Offense
From an outsiders point of view, I'm just your average sports fan and love watching top caliber sports, I think of last year's Florida's offense when looking at this year's UT offense.
There is not a dominant running game but a running game that demands your attention and can burn you. Where I see the most similiarities is the game breakers UT has in the passing game much like Florida did last year. Speed and more speed are on the perimeters of the offense and will pose significan risks to the defense.
The main reason I think of these two offenses is the quarterback situation. Chris Leak was a fine passer, although not great, and could execute the offense and run just a bit to keep the defense unsettled. I see the same characteristics in Colt McCoy. Colt is a much more accurate passer, in my opinion, than Leak. Colt also has the moxy to run when he has to and the smarts to know when to take advantage of his running ability.
The final piece I think about is when it comes to Tim Tebow. Florida used him in a unique situation as a change of pace but also to gain valuable experience. I don't know how he will handle the main job or if his passing ability will be all that great but he definitely changed the pace of the game when he entered.
Can UT do this with John Chiles? I think Chiles is a terrific option as a change of pace guy and not someone to just get minutes in mop up duty. The only fear I have is if he breaks amazing plays and the fans start thinking of Vince. The last thing Mack needs is another Applewhite/Simms situation. Saying that I believe Mack will sub Chiles in a significant amount of time early in the game at the start of the season.
All I can think about in this comparison is Florida's offense. In fact I think UT will be top 5 in the nation this year in offense something Flordia wasn't. I'm just really curious how Mack will handle the quarterback situation especially now Sherrod may be down a long portion of the season.
Good luck guys hope you have another dominant season.
by sportsfan on Aug 14, 2007 8:01 AM CDT reply actions
An advantage of pass first.
A pass oriented scheme would complement J. Charles style of running. With a load of good receivers and a QB as efficient as Colt that leaves linebackers without support from cornerbacks and safties.
Hopefully this means open space for JC to use his speed.
If your team is not good at running inside then you should play to your strength. Last year the light bulb never went off, with good receivers, talented tight ends and fast running backs maybe running inside is playing into the hands of the defense which just stacked the inside.
With all that talent they should spread the field with three or four receivers to make the slower linebackers have to cover the greatest amount of territory. If you run to one side or the other then your can play 6 on 5 instead of running inside into 7 on 8.
short yardage running game
As i remember it (and without looking at any stats), we had a pretty effective short yardage package until Lokey broke his leg last year.
I envisage Chiles as being effective when we can spread a defense out, not necessarily in short yardage situations, and not in goal line situations where he's not going to be able to run outside the tackles.
I also don't understand the Chiles/Tebow comparisons. Tebow was used as a glorified fullback last year. Does anyone think Chiles is going to be used as a Tebow-like battering ram in short yardage situations? Chiles might be best used like Percy Harvin, but not Tebow.
Of course, all this is moot at this point, as Chiles is the #2 and has to get a command of the entire offense.
by cortexas on Aug 14, 2007 9:43 AM CDT reply actions
2006 Florida Offense
Does anyone else think this type of offense might have been one time deal? Using backup quarterback as a fullback/runningback was possible for this offense due to the lack of dominant RB and the inadequate play-making abilities of Chris Leak.
Also, having an offensive guru like Urban Meyers doesnt hurt.
I mean, this discussion of a back-up qb probably didnt exist last year. Yes, Colt did get hurt and a solid back up is much needed. But it was due to our lack of short-yardage game and red-zone offense. Chiles is not a player who can run over defenders.
Inside the Redzone...
in 2005, it was automatic. Watching the games you just knew that we would score. Last year though, I would wish for us to score before we got inside the 20 because then it was an automatic field goal attempt. We have to improve inside the redzone if we want to take the Big 12 Championship...
thoughts
It seems like a redshirt for Chiles is unlikely at this point, and he'll be the #2 QB at the start of the season. However, assuming Sherrod's injury can heal in a matter of weeks (let's hope), that means we'll have a solid #3 guy, as well as Kinne as last resort.
Thus, using Chiles in special situations wouldn't necessarily mean risking the "only realistic backup."
With regard to the running game, I have a lot of confidence in Jamaal's abilities - I'm optimistic that he's going to have a huge season. And "OG" Bonaya will hopefully help out in short-yardage and goal line situations.
MCL
Are tricky injuries... a sprain to the ligament can set up for problems in the future...
Hope it's minor...
Mack Brown for Pres!!
Hook 'Em
by wbransdo on Aug 14, 2007 6:23 PM CDT reply actions
actually, Peter, I think it is what Mack says
it is.
The texas offense is searching for an identity, and the coaches need to figure out this offseason what that identity is.
Foremost as an offensive coach, you HAVE to know what your bread-and-butter play is on your offense. You have to KNOW what play you can call, no matter what, that will get the yards needed. Even if you told the defense that this play is coming, you need to be able to execute it. The identity of your offense is crafted around this one play (or the series containing this play).
As an example, let's look at Texas A&M last season. A&M ran a true spread option offense ('true' as opposed to the misnamed spread option Florida was running, which was really a spread single wing offense). The base plays of a spread option offense are the inside veer in the running game, and the mesh series in the passing game. A&M was so effective running the inside veer in their running game, that they never really depended on anything else. The identity of A&M's offense last season was as a power running team, but the basis of that identity was the inside veer. When A&M needed yards, in a 3rd or 4th down and short to go, EVERYONE in the stadium knew Lane was getting the ball, but they couldn't stop it (with the exception of the Army game, where Grant Dickey completely whiffed on his trap block). A&M was a power running team, that was their identity.
Now, A&M was able to run so well b/c they had an experienced OL that excelled at run-blocking. I heard opposing fans say, "Well, A&M runs a 'high school' offense, our defense should be able to stop that." This claim would turn into rants during gametime, as they watched their defense unable to stop the 'high school' offense. The reason their defense wasn't able to stop the 'high school' offense is b/c their DL and LBs would be on the ground instead of making a play. You tailor your offense (and therefore, your identity) to what your OL is able to do well, b/c if your OL can't execute, it doesn't matter what scheme you want to run, it won't work.
If texas wants to be a true spread offense, where the pass sets up the run, they had better make damn sure their OL excels at pass-blocking first, moreso than run-blocking.
As to using Chiles in a Tebow-esque role, I wouldn't count on it.
The basis of Meyer's offense is the single wing. They just call the wingback the H-back. If you ever watch any of their games, you'll see the H-back in position as a wingback in their spread sets; this gives them a built-in strongside for any running plays. When Meyer installed the 'Tim series', which was the short yardage series Florida ran in short yardage, he just pulled in his spread set, and had the offense set up in a basic, balanced single wing set. The series was already built into the Florida offense, though.
texas doesn't have anything like this in their offense. I think if texas is going to use Chiles as a short yardage back, we're really going to be looking at inside zone plays for the QB from a spread set.
I think people who hope to see Chiles used like Tebow was also ignore the fact that Tebow is built like a fullback; Chiles is built like a WR. Tebow is a powerback, Chiles is not.
To clarify
I don't want Chiles used as Tim Tebow was used. At least not literally. Chiles isn't a fullback/bullhorse.
Rather, I'm suggesting that you could use - similarly to Florida - a more mobile quarterback to give you greater flexibility with your running options in short to-go or goal line situations. I don't wanna see Colt McCoy run the zone read that VY mastered. I wouldn't mind seeing Chiles try it, though.
I have no doubt Chiles would excel in running
Dart Option (Read), as well as the rest of the Dart series.
The question with Chiles is, how well can he pass the ball?
If he can make the throws necessary to make the spread offense work, he'll be fine coming in as a change-of-pace. If he is only brought in to run the ball, you'll see teams telling their DEs to crash every time, just so their linebackers can get a free shot at the QB. Or, they'll stay flat and stuff the give to the TB. Either way, the series will be too predictable.
The beauty of the Tim series that Florida ran is that he had three options on every play.
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