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My Thoughts on Bill Little’s Travelin’ Meat Circus

Posted by dedfischer on September 23rd, 2008 under Football

With Tech not on the tube, I had the opportunity to DVR the Texas game and do a little scouting of the enemy.  I didn’t really focus too much on schemes and playcalling, but merely wanted to see the talent the 2008 Longhorns were rolling out.  I only picked up at the start of the 2nd quarter and watched until the end of the 3rd, but here’s what I saw regarding your players:

Quarterback

Colt McCoy is playing as well as any QB I’ve seen this year.  Put him in Mizzou’s offense, and he could do everything Chase Daniel does, except McCoy’s a better runner.  I know from experience that you’re playing with fire by making your QB win ball games for you, but it appears to be extremely effective with McCoy’s current level of play.

Running Back

I know how it happens at Texas Tech, but I can’t figure out how the University of Texas gets to draft their recruits every year and the best thing they can roll out at TB from this state is Vondrell McGee.  The guy didn’t impress me in the 2nd half after Charles went down against Tech last year, and I don’t think he’s gotten any better.  I counted 4 plays in the 2nd quarter where your OL blew Rice 5 yards off the ball and nobody touched McGee for 3 yards and that’s exactly as far as he got on each carry.  Sure enough, at halftime, he had 8 carries for 28 yards even though your OL was dominating.  McGee just doesn’t make anyone miss and doesn’t have that extra gear to turn technically perfect form tackles into arm tackles.  Cody Johnson is a better option, but he’s damn sure not going to juke anyone or run by them.  At a minimum, he’ll push the pile forward.  Chris Ogbayannaannana is the same guy he’s been for the past three years.  A good receiver out of the backfield.  I was disappointed I didn’t get to see any of the highly-touted Fozzy Whitaker.   He’ll start the day he gets back, and you’ll need him against OU. 

Wide Receiver

I hear Texas fans moaning about have Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby as your first two options, but you could do a lot worse.  Every time I see them play, all they do is get open and catch the football.  Plus, a healthy Shipley looks like he can run a little.  Most of all, these two guys seem to be on the same page with McCoy.  Sometimes you’re better off rolling with Carlos Francis and Wes Welker than Jarrett Hicks and Joel Filani, even though they don’t look as good on paper.  I like that Collins kid, too.  Bad luck for Irby, you hate to see that happen.

Offensive Line

Outside of McCoy, this is the most entertaining unit to watch on the Texas offense.  It’s an interesting melting pot of talent and randomness.  At guards, you’ve got two guys that will play 10 years in the NFL with Dockery and Huey.  At tackles, you’ve got two Marlon Winn’s.  At center, you’ve got the biggest 8th grader from Covington Middle School.  When the ball is snapped, it results in a delicate waltz of blowing DL off the ball, mental confusion on stunts and blitzes, and comical efforts at attempts to pull and block LBs in space.  The guards will get you past every team save for Oklahoma and possibly Missouri, but overall your running game will be much like your backfield, which is utilitarian.  When these guys all get synched up together, they’re a pretty good run blocking unit.  Ulatoski and Hix are solid when they know exactly who to block and go do it.  However, concentration errors result in blown assignments when confronted with movement as well as the occasional offense of not opening up far enough when facing speed rushers.  Or opening up too far.  Marlon Winn is better in pass protection, while Uley and Hix are the superior run blockers, which makes sense given the nature of trade for their respective offenses.  I would give Burnette a few more snaps at center simply to determine, if he’s a better option.  Hall just doesn’t have the mobility of the other guys you roll with, and at times your zone blocking resembles Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville on the flanks and more like Pickett’s division at Gettysburg in the middle.  When Hall gets help from Dockery or Huey, it works pretty well.

Defensive Tackle 

If you weren’t a fan of moving Lamarr Houston to DT, then you should be by now.  Even when facing double teams, he plays with his pad level low enough to hold the point of attack.  That, coupled with his quickness and ability to penetrate, gives him the potential to become the next Lex Steele of Big 12 DL.  Roy Miller is still a stud as well.  These guys will make your LBs look much better than they are throughout the season.  Aaron Lewis also mixes in nice with these two guys.

Defensive End 

Brian Orakpo is the same guy he always is.  He’s definitely not a liability, but a guy with more tools than Tim Taylor, should dominate a team like Rice.  Except he doesn’t, really.  There wasn’t really much that impressed me out of Henry Melton or Eddie Jones, but I do think Sam Acho is the 3rd best DE on your team.  I’ll get to the 2nd in a minute.  Overall, they’ll be solid against the run, but you shouldn’t have to bring 6 guys to get pressure on Rice. 

Linebackers

When Muckelroy figures out where the ball is going, he gets there in a hurry and possesses the demeanor required to wreck shit up.  I like him, and I can’t believe the depth chart I’m looking at lists the guy as a senior.  Where the hell has he been?  It seems like he just signed the other day.  In the spell I watched, Muschamp rolled with mostly a nickel and dime look, and the only other two guys I got a look at, were Norton and Kindle.  It appeared Muschamp had one LB dropping into zone coverage at the snap and anther playing the run or blitzing, since your DTs were having their way with guys who will be operating on their ACLs in ten years.  That, or Norton, has poor recognition skills and doesn’t play downhill enough to be great at the position.  He’s fast and can hit, so he’s neither a weakness or a strength.  Serviceable is a good word.  I have no idea why Kindle is playing LB.  First of all, I saw him play in high school and he’s the best tailback on your team.  Secondly, it’s a waste of time to re-wire a guy with that much physical ability and pent-up aggression into figuring out where he needs to be in zone coverage.  He’s the best pass rusher on your team whether standing up or playing with his hand on the ground.  Kindle is subject to using that aggression in getting too far upfield, which would result in many pantsings by Chase Daniel on zone read plays, but with those DTs and his ability to get to the QB, the rewards would seem to outweigh the risk.  He’s too good of a talent not to have on the field at all times in some capacity.  Shit, give him the ball.  I know he can run through arm tackles.

Secondary 

As everyone probably knows by now, I’m not a big fan of Cover 2.  It doesn’t really seem that simple to me, and the reason it works in the pros, is because players are paid to learn it, and if you don’t, you go operate a ferris wheel.  At the college level, and especially Texas, it would seem much easier to take a souped up athlete like Chykie Brown and tell him that every receiver who lines up in front of him, should be wearing him as a shirt for 4-5 seconds until Sergio Kindle finishes consuming the carcass of whatever QB is dropping back in the pocket each week.  However, some of these guys tend to get over coached at complicated schemes given they’ll only be a contributor for 2 or 3 years in most cases.  Hell, most safeties in the NFL aren’t ready to contribute in that amount of time with a Cover 2 scheme, and only then, do they still have some growing pains on the field.  But, what do I know.  The talented, young corners and safeties look like exactly that.  Talented.  Young. Inexperienced.  Confusion abounds in the timing of switches, and teams should be able to exploit this given the lack of pass rush when not blitzing.  We’ll see, but that’s what I saw in 2 quarters of play against Rice.

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63 Responses

  1. HenryJames said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 am

    I like him, and I can’t believe the depth chart I’m looking at lists the guy as a senior.

    You’re looking at the wrong depth chart. He’s a junior.

  2. dedfischer said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 am

    That’s what I thought. Damn, Rivals.

  3. BatesHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 am

    Strong stuff, dedfischer.

  4. Big Satan said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Truer words than this were nevers spoken.

    “At the college level, and especially Texas, it would seem much easier to take a souped up athlete like Chykie Brown and tell him that every receiver who lines up in front of him, should be wearing him as a shirt for 4-5 seconds until Sergio Kindle finishes consuming the carcass of whatever QB is dropping back in the pocket each week.”

  5. dick said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 am

    Is man to man really the way to guard a spread offense? Isn’t that what carl reese tried to do with some less than ideal results against OU/Tech?

  6. dedfischer said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 am

    I also meant to add that Chiles should go to the coaching staff and asked to be moved to RB. He needs to get a look at that position because he’s not going to see significant playing time in his career at QB.

  7. dedfischer said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 am

    dick, I’m not sure, but it seems as if the team that play Tech with Cover 2 typically concede defeat, while the teams that man up and maul our WRs at the line (Alabama, Mizzou, Colorado), tend to at least give themselves a fighting chance.

  8. dedfischer said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 am

    Also dick, I’ve enjoyed watching some of the Cover 1 with man under, I’ve seen. I’m by no means a coverage guru, though. My answer would be to sack the QB, which appears to be what Muschamp is trying to do with all the blitzing.

  9. RansomStoddard said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 am

    You nailed it. There are at least 6 positions on the team where the personnel decision is baffling. Other than Baylor and I State, we have the most mediocre rb’s in the league.

  10. BrickHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 am

    Is man to man really the way to guard a spread offense? Isn’t that what carl reese tried to do with some less than ideal results against OU/Tech?

    I’m a big fan of man-to-man pass coverage, but I don’t know if it’s feasible anymore against the spread.

    Reese’s Ds got torched in ‘00 and ‘03 against the Sooners. But they held up very well in ‘01 and ‘02.

    Similarly, Reese’s pass defense was torched by Tech in ‘02 and ‘03, but played them very well in ‘00 and ‘01. And you can chalk up the ‘02 shellacking in part to a bad rash of injuries and illnesses, causing us to play without Marcus Tubbs and Kalen Thornton and to field at least a couple of DBs who were playing at less than 100%.

    Basically, I’m on the fence about playing man-up against the spread. With the right personnel and a good pass rush, it can probably be very effective.

  11. EyesOfTX said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am

    “I hear Texas fans moaning about have Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby as your first two options, but you could do a lot worse. Every time I see them play, all they do is get open and catch the football. Plus, a healthy Shipley looks like he can run a little. Most of all, these two guys seem to be on the same page with McCoy. Sometimes you’re better off rolling with Carlos Francis and Wes Welker than Jarrett Hicks and Joel Filani, even though they don’t look as good on paper. I like that Collins kid, too. Bad luck for Irby, you hate to see that happen.”

    I don’t moan about having Quan and Shipley as our first options, but do have a concern about whether they will be able to create the same space they’ve created in this first three games for themselves when we run up against OU and the other real teams on our schedule. I didn’t think either had the ability to actually stretch the field prior to the season, but Shipley has become so adept at executing these double move routes that even Greg Davis feels the need to actually run them, which is a really good thing.

    All in all, we are better off at this position than we had any right to expect before the season began.

  12. Horncasting said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 am

    What scheme did Robinson use against Tech and OU in 2004? That year, and those games in particular, have felt like the best pass defenses we have had under Brown.

  13. BrickHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am

    What scheme did Robinson use against Tech and OU in 2004? That year, and those games in particular, have felt like the best pass defenses we have had under Brown.

    That OU game was nice for our pass defense, but we gave up 300+ yards on the ground. We won the Tech game, but surrendered 400+ yards through the air.

    I’ll take Reese’s ‘01 bunch, probably the most underrated defense in UT history (by our fans, at least). In the ‘01 OU game, we yielded a paltry 143 passing yards and only 206 total yards. And in the Tech game, our D gave up only 260 through the air and another 37 on the ground.

    The ‘01 Texas defense flat-out dominated. Even the seeming disasters at the end of the season (CU in the Big 12 game and UW in the Holiday Bowl) were largely the fault of our turnover-prone offense.

  14. Craig Way said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 am

    When do the mods here remove the Orange and White and replace it with Red and Black for TTU and UGA?

  15. Huckleberry said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 am

    Agreed 100%. The 2001 team actually grades out neck-and-neck with 2004 as Mack’s second-best team after 2005 even with the extra loss. I say that because I know BrickHorn is a big fan of computer ratings analysis.

    And that defense was the #1 defense in the nation, and that fact really isn’t appreciated enough. They had a lapse in the second half of the Holiday Bowl, but as he said above, it was a great defense. Best I’ve watched at Texas as I was only 6 years old for the 1983 season.

  16. EyesOfTX said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am

    It was a great defense, but one that bit on every last bit of misdirection Oregon threw at it in the Holiday Bowl. Every bit. Major gave Oregon two easy first half TDs in that game, but that defensive performance that night was one of the most inept I’ve ever seen.

  17. BatesHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am

    I loved that defense to, but after watching Chris Brown cut back against the defense for the 20th time in CU 2, it got a liiiiiitle frustrating.

  18. dick said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 am

    Washington?

  19. BrickHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am

    It was a great defense, but one that bit on every last bit of misdirection Oregon threw at it in the Holiday Bowl. Every bit. Major gave Oregon two easy first half TDs in that game, but that defensive performance that night was one of the most inept I’ve ever seen.

    You are mixing up two completely different Holiday Bowls. The ‘00 team got snakebit by a series of misdirection plays against Oregon.

    The ‘01 team played Washington in the HB. The D was put in an early hole by the offense, and gave up big yards to Jeremy Stevens, but held on well enough to allow Major to bring us back for the win.

  20. BrickHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 am

    I loved that defense to, but after watching Chris Brown cut back against the defense for the 20th time in CU 2, it got a liiiiiitle frustrating.

    I was too pissed off at the offense for turning the ball over four times, often less than 30 seconds after the D had just swung the momentum with big stops (including 3-and-outs). Anyone who blames the D for that game (or ‘02 OU, for that matter) qualifies for an Honorary echeese Degree.

  21. BrickHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am

    I say that because I know BrickHorn is a big fan of computer ratings analysis.

    Guilty, as charged.

    You never answered my question about posting your rankings methodology. Have you? And, if so, where?

  22. Black Scholes said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 am

    Greg Davis doesn’t do himself any favors by refusing to adjust to the the strengths/weaknesses of our RBs. If McGee is going to remain in the rotation let’s focus on what the kid can do to produce some yards.

    I don’t know if we’re going to be able to count on Whittaker this season. It certainly feels like it’s going to be a lingering/nagging thing that makes him a sporadic contributor.

    Kindle at RB? At this point, it’s not the most absurd thought I’ve read. What was his style in HS? Edwin Simmonsish?

    Watching the flailing and confusion by our DBs is really distressing, young or not. Something has to change. Does Akina see it or not is the question.

  23. EyesOfTX said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Shit, I am mixing up the freaking Holiday Bowls. jaysus.

  24. BRAGGonUT said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Solid effort, dedfisher.

    My only quibble is that I do not think Dockery is a 10-year NFL guy. He may earn a paycheck but not 3 contracts IMO.

  25. Huckleberry said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 am

    You act as though we’ve been to multiple Holiday Bowls under brown or something.

    Brick -

    What is the question about the methodology? I don’t think I read it.

  26. EyesOfTX said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 am

    “You act as though we’ve been to multiple Holiday Bowls under brown or something.”

    They’re just all running together on me at this point.

  27. BrickHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 am

    Have you ever posted a summary of your methodology and, if so, can you provide a link?

  28. BRAGGonUT said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 am

    Huck i asked you some unanswered questions on your computer ranking post as well.

    BTW, someone mentioned here in the comments and I agree…I still think giving Chiles a chance to run the ZR as the RB is an option that we have not yet explored — he would scare some DCs from that position.

  29. dedfischer said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Bragg, I don’t think Davis has anything to lose by giving Chiles a shot at RB. I also think DeSean Hales might be a better option as a Noel Devine type player for the plays you run. You need some smaller, fast guys that can get to the corner and then cut off the blocks laid by your guards. They either go down for 3 yards just like they do now, or they juke some LB and go the distance.

  30. Huckleberry said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am

    I will address the questions on the ratings post.

  31. 8straight said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:36 am

    After reading this I’m not sure UT is good enough to win another game. Who would have thought we had so many mediocre players and coaches?

    By the way, my guess is that it isn’t Davis’ call to move Chiles to running back. Why do you think it took Melton two years to get to DE?

  32. dedfischer said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 am

    I still think you’ll go 10-2.

  33. bighornfan32 said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Fozzy is definitely the future (injuries and coaches willing). I think when he is healthy, the running game will go from mediocre to at least above average. Its really unfortunate that Irby went down, because I think with Fozzy and Irby in the game, we would have a pretty potent, explosive offense.

  34. Shockthenation said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    Wasn’t OU’s offense freaking terrible in 01? Tech in 01 was in year two of Leach implementing a system that was two years removed from Spike.

  35. BrickHorn said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Shock,

    We held both OU and Tech well below their season averages for total and passing yards. And Tech was #5 in the nation that year in passing yards per game – not exactly a slouch.

  36. srr50 said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    “BTW, someone mentioned here in the comments and I agree…I still think giving Chiles a chance to run the ZR as the RB is an option that we have not yet explored — he would scare some DCs from that position.”

    The problem is that idea already scares our head coach and OC.

  37. Shockthenation said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    “We held both OU and Tech well below their season averages for total and passing yards. And Tech was #5 in the nation that year in passing yards per game – not exactly a slouch.”

    That is impressive. I just felt like those two schools offensively are entirely different animals now as opposed to watching them both in 2001. Our big win that year was CU who beat us when it mattered most.

  38. ponderos said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm

    OU’s ‘01 offense with Nate Hybl was one of Stoops’ most anemic groups. The defense, however … different story.

  39. Stuck in MN said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    10-2? Really? I just can’t see us losing less than 3. Call me a bad fan but I’m marking the OU game as a loss already. Mizz, KU, Tech we’ll be very lucky to win 2 out of 3 considering our pass D. Throw in the obligatory surprise against CU or OSU and I’m still seeing 3 or 4 losses.

    As far as Sergio, I remember we played him at RB a couple of times his first year and he hit the hole hard and the pile moved. I’d love to see that experiment.

  40. Mack Brown's 10 win seasons streak said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    “I still think you’ll go 10-2.”

    damn right we will; I might be 3-7 against that asshole stoops, but no other program can match my streak of 10 win seasons.

  41. Art Vandelay said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    You got all that in 2 quarters? Good stuff. Agree with you on Sergio and DeSean Hales as possibly our best RB’s. I saw Kindle play a playoff game against Allen and it took (5) John Hagy wannabees to get him down.

    I can’t get that Starship song out of my head. Not fair to Ron Franklin.

    Speaking of Edwin Simmons…. has anyone seen my 20 year old Edwin Simmons let’s get naked backyard party T-shirt? Classic.

  42. jc25 said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    YES.

    That is all.

  43. Mysterious Package said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    How how we gone from Ricky and Benson to Vondrell? Our running game is average at best.

  44. Dude said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    Kindle is twice as valuable to us as a QB rusher and screen disruptor than as a RB. (That would not be true if we did not have Colt.)

    Hall is the best option right now at center. He’s smart and doesn’t get driven into the backfield by fireplug nose guards as often as the other options. I think Hix is a little overrated at this point but still has plenty of time to improve and be the player we think he can be.

    I had hoped we would have seen more out of Cu Brown to this point. Extreme quicks, but not so physical is the problem.

    Vondrell looks to me like he has tired legs, like he was overworked in camp. Last year he came in always fresh.

  45. BiggUggly said:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    I too saw Sergio in high school. He resembled Earl Campbell more than any RB that I’ve seen.

    This staff makes many confusing personnel decisions.

  46. steven said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 12:53 am

    Geez, if you are like that when watching one of our games and against Rice, I can only imagine how it must be when you are watching Tech. It was a good and informative post.

    Not trying to dog the guy, but I wonder if Kindle will ever be an every down player, aside from a situational pass rusher. He just doesn’t seem to have his head in the game or a high maturity level, even for a juvenile football player. I always see him pumping his chest and pointing to the sky for just every little thing he seems to be involved in. And while this is all understandable and not exactly uncommon in the college game, he seems to do it more than most and he was playing against Rice of all people. In constrast, I just watched a sophmore Georgia LB who is every bit as good as Kindle (probably better) and plays every down, and when he makes a spectacular play, of which he had many, the dude just goes about his business like nothing happened. No pointing to the sky or beating his chest a million times, he just goes out and makes another play.

  47. dedfischer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 3:59 am

    That’s the difference between Brian Duncan and Marlon Williams. Duncan knows in his head he made some bad plays, while all Williams thinks about is the one good play he made and how much of a bad motherfucker he is for doing it.

  48. Dude said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 5:41 am

    “I too saw Sergio in high school. He resembled Earl Campbell more than any RB that I’ve seen.”

    You didn’t watch any UT games from ‘95 to ‘98?

  49. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 10:52 am

    As for Chiles moving to RB and Melton taking 2 years to get to DE. I think this shows one of the issues with our program. We give the parents of the “Kids” too much influence.

    IMO- Chiles is only at QB still, probably because Chiles and his parents are too damn stubborn to realize he sucks shit at QB, but has a future as a RB. Especially with the Zone Read and the plus side to putting Chiles at RB would be we wouldn’t have to call it the “Q-Package” anymore.

    The Q-Package is a damn joke. It’s nothing new or creative. It’s the same damn plays we run with any other 3rd or 4th receiver, except we sub our shitty egotistical back-up QB instead of a WR or RB (depends on how we’d like to announce to the defense that we are going to humor Chiles and give him the ball). I for one have heard and seen enough of Chiles. He hasn’t impressed me, not even once. I say screw him and let him transfer if he doesn’t want to move to RB. We are good with Sherrod Harris and Gilbert anyways.

    With Melton, it’s been reported that his Dad finally had to tell Mack that to move him to DE and he’d start to see results. Mack should have moved his ass to DE right after OSU his freshman year and things may be different for Melton right now.

  50. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 11:03 am

    As for Vondrell’s suckitude, I think it’s because he hasn’t been allowed to get into a rhythm. RB’s need more than 8 handoffs to develop rhythm for a game and Vondrell certainly hasn’t had 20 touches a game to prove that he is the answer.

    Shit, since coaches can’t make up their damn mind we find ourselves without a feature RB and an assload of talent to work with. Come on man, they can’t all be the same!!!!

    The Coaches see who is good, why the hell haven’t they decided who the starter is and start practicing. RB is a position you grow into with reps and if your reps are divided up between 2 or 3 other RB’s…well no shit you haven’t been able to take the position. You only get about 8 touches a game and probably the same at practice.

    Coaches need to give motherfuckers a chance and if means hurting somebodies feelings, well tough shit. These aren’t elementary school kids. My Friend has a younger brother who is the same age and he is shooting Iraqi’s right now and nobody seems overly concerned about his feelings.

    So…I say give Vondrell the same type of carries we used to give Benson…somewhere between 20-25 carries a game and I think we’ll all see we have very capable RB’s.

    Who the fuck gives a guy the ball 8 times and expects him to deliver a 100+ yard game?!?! Cody Johnson had like 15 carries against Rice and dude’s needed to change their underwear after the game. Imagine.

  51. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 11:18 am

    I’m happy with a 37-year old 5.0-40yard dash Cosby and The Ghost. But, I can’t figure out where the hell Malcolm Williams has disappeared to and why the HELL do we keep putting midget receivers on the field?

    My Theory is that players who play aren’t always the best FOOTBALL PLAYER, but the better all around student-athlete who also loves Jesus and has 2 parents that aren’t gay.

  52. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 11:19 am

    I’m not trying to hijack this thread, but I’ve been banned from Hornfans too many times and I can’t vent anywhere else!

    Anybody have any feedback on some of my thoughts?

  53. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 11:28 am

    Blaine Irby is a huge loss, but I think we’ll overcome. Nobody is giving Ahmad Howard or Ian Harris a second look and I think we’ll be really happy with what they show.

    I’ve stood next to both of them at the open practices and they are HUGE. I mean Tall and very Athletic, not pussies. Both of those guys have skills to be starting at many other schools, so I’m not hitting the panic button yet. They have NFL bodies and now we just need to give them some reps in a game. They are unknowns at this point, but if the coaches can find their nutsack and give a relatively unknown player a serious opportunity, then I think we’ll be very happy with either or both.

    Coach Brown loves to protect his players from failure, but if you don’t put them on the field, then they can’t succeed either! There are always 2 sides to a pancake!

  54. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 11:37 am

    I totally agree about Hall. He is not impressive however, instead of worrying about his on the field performance, please consider that he loves Jesus….Fanatically. So, how can that be bad in a game of violence and bad intentions? He is a starter until he graduates.

  55. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 11:37 am

    I think Hix and Huey are going through their Sophmore Slump and traditionally, our players do have a level of suckage during their Sophomore years. There are always exceptions and I think these 2 specifically, pull it out and finish the year strong.

    IMO, Dockery is as lazy as his brother was when he was at Texas and that ain’t all bad, he’ll just never be special or great. He will make some $$$.

    Ulatoski also makes it to the NFL for at least 2 contracts and I think he eventually develops into a starter at the next level, but I see him taking the Jonathan Scott or Tony Hills Jr. route to get there. He’ll be a mid-round draft pick.

  56. Stuck in MN said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    Nothing to add, I just wanted to break up the Hippie Killer string of posts.

  57. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    As far as our DL is concerned, I think we are alot better than we have been in a long time.

    Lamarr Houston is a machine. He will get himself drafted and I really hope he’ll be back next year.

    Roy Miller is the first DT that I can remember since Casey Hampton or Shaun Rogers that actually is visible in the games. He’s a vocal leader and doesn’t just lead by “Example” (Leading by example is code for doesn’t say a word and nothing gets a 18-22 year old fired up more than somebody who quietly goes about his business leading by example).

    Roy Miller is a real-ass leader and a grown-ass man. I fully expect him to wipe his grown-ass man, ass with the Rimington Award winner this weekend. Dude is not afraid to speak up and put folks in check.

    Every year we hear how dominating our DT’s will be and every year they fail to even show up for more than 1 game (Take your pick which game Baylor or Rice). Rodrique Wright, Frank Okam, Marcus Tubbs have all sucked so far in the NFL and weren’t great when they were at Texas. Lokey really made his presence felt as our Fullback during goalline stands, but color me unimpressed with any of our DT’s until…..Roy Miller showed up. This guy is a certified bad-ass. I’m so glad he didn’t go to BLOW U.

    Orakpo has shown only one pass rushing move. The Bullrush. But even with his Bullrush, he’s been getting more pressure on QB’s than I can remember in quite awhile. If he can incorporate a Rip Move or a Swim Move with his pass rushing skills, (Nobody needs to teach him this, he’s been playing DE since High School and should have figured out by now that there is more than one pass rushing move) he can be pretty damn dominating. Doesn’t he run as fast as Andrew Kelson, shit, I’m surprised he hasn’t just run by people and murdered a QB.

    Henry Melton, he wasted his time here trying to be cute as a 270 pound Tailback who refused to lower his shoulder and now Sergio Kindle is taking all his snaps on pass rushing downs. Oh well…I think he has NFL potential, but I see him less and less each game and that gives him less of an opportuntiy to make an impression on scouts and develop himself.

    I guess coach could have humored his request as a RB, but after he showed he didn’t have the sack to run over a DB in the OSU game, he should have had the decision made for them.

    Our coaches honor their word and if they tell a player they can try out at a position, they honor it and I love it. I just don’t think the kid should dictate what he wants to the detriment of the program (see Chiles). I say once the suckitude is obvious, coach needs to step in and make obvious decisions for the player.

    I’m surprised we haven’t see more of Eddie Jones, Acho or Russell Carter.

  58. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    LB’s.

    Kindle is the shit. This is the first year he has seen the field extensively and like our young DB’s I see him getting more and more comfortable.

    I don’t think Kindle is trying to bring attention to himself. I really believe he is a very emotional player and it’s hard for him to control himself in a game. I think this is what is going to make him special. He has all that energy and aggression that is pent up and he is dying to hit somebody. He’s been waiting for awhile and I think it just feels good for him to be on the field and making plays.

    Muckleroy, Norton, Randall will all be in the NFL.

  59. Hippie Killer said:

    September 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    Beasley is regressing. I think it’s attitude though, because we’ve all seen his ability. Chykie Brown is no slouch and has as much ability as Beasley, so all things being equal who would you play?

    IMO, Muschamp is giving Beasley an attitude adjustment and Chykie Brown isn’t going to let the opportunity slip by.

    It’s really a moot point because both are on the field at the same time. When we run our Nickel package I see Beasely, Palmer, Brown, Thomas and Gideon and that is a damn good defensive secondary to me.

    What I can’t figure out is where the hell is Scott, Wells and Curtis Brown?

  60. SausageFest said:

    September 25th, 2008 at 7:30 am

    That, coupled with his quickness and ability to penetrate, gives him the potential to become the next Lex Steele of Big 12 DL.

    If you didn’t catch this reference and at least crack a smile, dedfischer will be taking up Mancards on your way out…

    Great write-up, ded.

  61. steven said:

    September 25th, 2008 at 9:43 am

    Don’t want to get HipHop started again, but he reminds me of Miller58 on Hornfans. I guess Miller is suffering from disassociative personality disorder. Get back on your medication dude.

  62. jacal01 said:

    September 25th, 2008 at 9:47 am

    All this critiquing of our running backs, and yet noone calls out Major Applewhite by name. That kid has a such a teflon aura right now. But I’m sure that if you scratch the surface hard enough you’ll find Greg Davis at the bottom of it, anyway.

  63. Hippie Killer said:

    September 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

    I think our backs would be fine, but they need more than a couple of hand-offs a game. Working into a rhythm is hard to do when you are playing every other series.

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  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post We Have Our Answer   12 minutes ago

    And yes, it appears JoPo wrote pretty much the same thing. It’s hard to believe with all the national talking heads, fans, and everyone in between saying otherwise, but I think it’s the only conclusion to draw for anyone that really watched this team.

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  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post We Have Our Answer   12 minutes ago

    And yes, it appears JoPo wrote pretty much the same thing. It’s hard to believe with all the national talking heads, fans, and everyone in between saying otherwise, but I think it’s the only conclusion to draw for anyone that really watched this team.

    SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });

  • Hiphopopotamus wrote a new blog post: We Have Our Answer   15 minutes ago

    Normally, after a big win or a crushing defeat, I don’t know what to think, say, or feel, because I can’t. And that what makes this one different; it’s just as painful, but I saw it coming. Instead of getting blindsided by the oncoming traffic, I was able to brace myself for the

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  • whiskey commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour   33 minutes ago

    I’m with you the off season is already old. I’m ready for the season to start. NDS I am completely fascinated by the Tech vs. Lech business. I can’t believe they ran off the guy that put them on the map and subsequently ended up with an arguable upgrade in Tubs.

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  • whiskey commented on the blog post Spring Preview: Tech Offense   38 minutes ago

    Ded 9-12 wins is pretty optomistic. I like it. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Tubs can do with them this year especially on D. I’m surprised you think the QB battle between Sticks and Nick will be close. Interesting, I figured Sticks was a runaway. I hope Corndog

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  • dedfischer wrote a new blog post: Spring Preview: Tech Offense   1 hour, 21 minutes ago

    Got a little time this morning and I’m rearing to talk some football.  Here’s what the depth chart looks like headed into spring and a few thoughts:

    Offense

    QB  Sr. Taylor Potts/Sr. Steven Sheffield – We’ve all annointed Sheffield as the starter, and I think that’s the case if we continue to run 99% of our snaps

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  • Black Scholes commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest: Post Mortem   4 hours, 16 minutes ago

    lawdog – on the topic of regression, this crew can’t compare with the senior seasons Thomas and Atchley put up. Something ain’t right in this scenario. Mason topped out his sophomore year and Pittman last year.

    Wangmene is ‘Manos de Piedra’ redux, so that was really never going to work out.

  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Top Ten Reasons Why Cal Can Beat Duke   6 hours, 16 minutes ago

    This would probably go a bit better if you read it in your Bobby Knight voice and it had two decades worth of goodwill built up from its gratuitous appearance on a popular late night television show. But oh well.

    1) Interior Worries. As in the Bears shouldn’t have any defensively

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  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Round 2 Saturday Recaps   7 hours, 13 minutes ago

    We talked about the upset of the decade in this post, but I watched some other great basketball today I’d like to comment on.

    For me, the theme of the day was well-played basketball. I’m not only talking about what Northern Iowa did, I’m talking about the other seven games being really well

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  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas   7 hours, 26 minutes ago

    Just a phenomenal game.

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  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Recapping The South   7 hours, 37 minutes ago

    Udoh was a fargging beast in that game. Very athletic player.

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    Jesus. I think I see four horseman on the horizon.

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  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Madness Magic: Northern Iowa Upsets Kansas   8 hours, 5 minutes ago

    Today reminded me why I love this tournament so much. A good friend of mine mentioned to me that college basketball is the great equalizer of all athletic endeavors. At least of the sports we care about. He’s right.

    For instance, you can have a 40 inch vertical, be Iverson quick,

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  • Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   8 hours, 9 minutes ago

    Patrick,

    Unless you’re completely retarded, you know precisely what I meant. The closest any Big 12 team has gotten to winning the infamous Fuller Cup is the 2007 Texas squad. I can’t remember a team being that horribly undisciplined as a whole aside from the insane OU teams of the 80’s. That’s not

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  • Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   8 hours, 9 minutes ago

    Patrick,

    Unless you’re completely retarded, you know precisely what I meant. The closest any Big 12 team has gotten to winning the infamous Fulmer Cup is the 2007 Texas squad. I can’t remember a team being that horribly undisciplined as a whole aside from the insane OU teams of the 80’s. That’s not

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    Please make yourself welcome and Adam will be by shortly to keep you up to date on all Michigan State Spartan happenings.

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  • Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Barnes worst team   8 hours, 25 minutes ago

    I suppose anyone could be your “favorite Longhorn basketball player” but Ford did more than just about anyone…although Durant is clearly better. Ford’s supporting cast was better than Durant’s in his sophomore year. Durant’s had more talent (Augustin, James, Abrams) but Ford’s was more developed (Boddicker, Ivey, Mouton, Thomas) and had worked with him for

  • Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton?   8 hours, 32 minutes ago

    Crazy Joe, your thoughts intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

  • Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton?   8 hours, 35 minutes ago

    This notion of Hamilton as being a disaster area on defense is all a bit much. He rebounds extremely well which, if it wasn’t obvious, is extremely important in this game since it secures possession of the basketball. Winning in basketball is achieved through the scoring of baskets and it’s necessary to possess the basketball

  • Ojnab Bob commented on the blog post Best Opening Round I Can Remember   8 hours, 45 minutes ago

    I posted earlier about how Collins’ effort just crippled Kansas today, but what amazed me the most was his complete inability to stay in front of his man on defense. UNI got a LOT of good looks out of penetration/pass after one of UNI’s modestly gifted athletes blew right by Sherron. The best

  • Scipio Tex wrote a new blog post: Best Opening Round I Can Remember   9 hours, 57 minutes ago

    At least it’s shaping up that way if Sunday delivers.

    As disappointed as I was in last year’s opening weekend of March Madness, this one is exceeding all expectations. Putting aside the fact that my bracket now resembles Kabul after the Taliban rolled through in ‘96 – a map of ordered failure –

  • J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three   10 hours, 24 minutes ago

    Thanks for the kind words, Trips.

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  • J commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three   10 hours, 25 minutes ago

    You know who’s bitter and angry as fuck? This guy —> ME.

    I can only hope our returning players (whoever that may be) remember this and realize they need to play motivated EVERY FUCKING GAME and put forward 40 MINUTES of effort each game.

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  • Raoul Duke commented on the blog post Rumor Alert–TMG   10 hours, 56 minutes ago

    Kid seems like a fantastic collegiate player. I haven’t seen any NBA info. Is he a legit prospect?

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  • Raoul Duke commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three   11 hours, 3 minutes ago

    Tough day for Sherron on O and D.

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  • GoHornsGo90 commented on the blog post Bradley or Hamilton?   11 hours, 47 minutes ago

    To leave or stay?

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition   11 hours, 48 minutes ago

    KSU moving on led by a hot shooting Pullen. BTW, White Mormons can shoot FTs. 22 for 25, I think. Imagine if we could shoot like that.

    Wake’s coming back on Kentucky. They’re within 25 right now…..

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Bid Dance: Day Three   12 hours, 6 minutes ago

    Just wanted to say I feel for you guys. As a Texas fan I know how this feels even if it’s from a football perspective.

    I still think you’re the best basketball team in the country, and unfortunately you ran into a team that packed a Villanova circa 1985 type game today. Meaning they

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  • ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition   12 hours, 15 minutes ago

    Wow. Wake won’t break 50. Not surprising really — we should have beaten Wake and they are not a very good team.

  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post NCAA Tournament Open Thread: Weekend Edition   12 hours, 21 minutes ago

    Kentucky doing their best to beat Wake by half hundred. Close call….