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Jake Matthews & OL Mindset

Posted by Scipio Tex on February 13th, 2009 under Football, Recruiting

We finally woke up from our slumber and offered and he’ll be coming to our February 28th Junior Day. It’s a $ site.

I thought that our lack of early interest had allowed that ship to sail, but the family is excited that Texas got into the mix. So we’re not dealing with a prideful kid who will take a “late offer” – and I’m amused that we now characterize a mid-February offer as late – as a slight. See Davis, Mike.

This is a great free story from Inside Texas and it details some of the reasons why I’m so excited by him as a prospect.

The most interesting OL to me are those that came to the position naturally after excelling athletically doing something else: playing DL, TE, power forward in basketball, or in this case, QB. Aside from the athletic ability that it suggests, they also bring a mindset to the position that’s very useful to their development.

Back when John Madden used to say things that were interesting – like twenty years ago – I remember him talking about the fact that a lot of OL grew up as self-conscious oversized fat kids who are naturally passive. They have been told all of their lives not to retaliate against little aggressive kids who start fights with them. You have to coax them into tapping into their aggression, and many never do.

So often the best OL are the ones who sprouted late after acquiring athletic skills doing other things – they’re quite comfortable asserting themselves and they’ll mash that little aggressive kid into the dirt without any encouragement. They’re also less prone to self-pity and sloth.

Marry a demonstrated baseline of athletic ability to a growing frame and combine it with elite level technique imparted by a NFL Hall Of Fame legend and one of the best football family pedigrees in history and you have a guy that is a must-take, no matter what our perceived depth at the position is.

Like Tre Hopkins, he also can play all three OL positions.

Further, I’m also convinced that whoever gets Matthews is also getting a leader – the kind who makes his teammates join him for 5:30 am sprints and brings them back to Houston for impromptu teaching sessions with Dad.

We haven’t had that guy on the OL in three years and it’s time that we found one. Or five.

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34 Responses

  1. GoodBooksNeighbor said:

    February 13th, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    With Hopkins and now Matthews (offered) does this mean there is potential for a future philosophical change in regards to the running game? If I understood your November blog correctly, these are the things your wet dreams are made of.

  2. dedfischer said:

    February 13th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    I thought Cedric Dockery was that guy.

  3. Scipio Tex said:

    February 13th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    GBN:

    I don’t think OL personnel will dictate the scheme change, but it’s good to have the right people in the pipeline when/if that change comes.

    ded:

    So did I. So did I.

  4. dedfischer said:

    February 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    For some reason, I can mentally picture him going on to become a world class pastry chef, which is an accomplishment itself. Making these little Longhorn-shaped kolaches with Earl Campbell sausages in them.

  5. Justaguy said:

    February 13th, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    Let’s play a game of what if? Say Texas wins a MNC in the next two years and Mack rides off into the sunset or the offices of the Longhorn Foundation. We know that Greg Davis will follow closely behind. Any thoughts what that means for the offense, MacWhorter, etc?

  6. Parlin Hall said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 5:07 am

    “They’re also less prone to self-pity and sloth.”

    These are my two strongest qualities, actually. And I run a 6.8 forty.

  7. glenn said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 5:40 am

    justa, that will be justa bout when the fecal matter in lubbock strikes the aero-impeller and a certain pirate will be loose on the streets with no obvious place to go.

    deloss will go to his deserved post in the administration and mack, as a.d., will readily agree to will’s choice for an offensive coordinator from hell.

    the pirate will discover that he can make money hand over fist in a nice town that applauds diversity and not have to schmooze except when he feels like it.

    that will make three coaches (that i know of) that either coached or played at u-no-where at least a little that found their environment in austin.

    don’ forget where you heard it first, loosie.

  8. uttotop said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 6:01 am

    glenn, the pirate thought seems to be a big reach from several POVs to me. Yet, in all his years no team has mastered how to defend his O scheme consistently, not to say we did not pretty well shut them down until a scoring flurry late in Austin two years ago.

    As to Matthews, I am very happy we offered and he just seems like a perfect fit for a number of reasons. Hope we can get him on the 40.

  9. Newy25 said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 6:01 am

    Leach coaching is Austin is as likely Bobby Knight coaching the women’s basketball team at Tufts University.

  10. glenn said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 6:40 am

    when stoops slimed into norman from florida, he brought the o.c. that had caused him the most fits in the s.e.c.

    with first-rate facilities and first-rate players — and with the ability to actually concentrate on offense again — that man could be genghis o.c. if teamed with a blistering defense.

    if that opportunity came available, i think much would depend on will’s opinion if will can put together fierce defenses in the interim.

    question is, who would will have for d.c.?

  11. glenn said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 6:56 am

    one concern for leach — or anybody else in the coaching profession — in austin is the local gendarmerie.

    austin isn’t like lubbock or norman or many other college towns in that no coach or player even gets so much as a warning without tacit approval from the school/coaching staff. leach would have to hire a ‘body guard’ whenever he partied to do his driving. (i think it’s great that he would need a driver at those times, it’s just that staff from most places aren’t accustomed to needing one.)

    i’ll save you fuckers with nothing to do a little time: gendarmerie – military body charged with police duties among civilian populations. in this case, ‘quasi-military’.

    ok, ok: quasi – seemingly or resembling.

  12. Groundhog Day said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 8:22 am

    Does Evan Washington get an offer? I would like to see him in a TX uniform as he also has great bloodlines. Not to mention the fact that he bleeds orange.

  13. Newy25 said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 8:42 am

    Without attrition the staff can only keep an offer for Matthews. If we have any attrition this Spring on the line Washington will be the first one offered. That scenario is entirely possible which is why the staff brought Washington in and told him to be patient. An offer could be there by late April or early May.

  14. Newy25 said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 8:44 am

    “We finally woke up from our slumber and offered”

    It is amazing that it is Feb 14th and an offer goes out for a Junior and people wonder what took so long. It is only a matter of time that Sophomore days will be the norm and kids will be committing at 15-16 years old.

  15. Scipio Tex said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    glenn:

    That was an enjoyable flight of fancy. Thank you. Mike Leach coaching next to Will Muschamp would lead to a Kevin Gilbride/Buddy Ryan moment.

    Groundhog:

    I would love to have Washington as his upside is outstanding. I agree with Newy’s analysis there.

    Newy25:

    Yeah, I agree. I’m waiting for the next Damon Bailey 8th grade commitment. Mack’s early recruiting has transformed the entire process for everyone.

  16. glenn said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    yeah, you might be right, scip.

    schade. i like leach and can see him as our football answer to abe lemons.

    i can dream, can’t i?

  17. Leach'sLiver said:

    February 14th, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    ‘gendarmerie’
    Glenn, thanks for clearing this up for me. I was almost certain a gendermerie was a person who could play with their tits while jerking off.

  18. Groundhog Day said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 7:32 am

    I think you have to take 3 a year and our three should be Matthews, Washington, and Hopkins. I’m not sold on Kelly and I’m certainly not sold on Buchanan and Poehlmann. Those guys have Tanner and Hall written all over them. However, I am very excited about Walters, Ashcraft, and Porter.

  19. Newy25 said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 8:32 am

    Hall is actually a pretty damn good center. He was the player of the game, IMO (not named Colt) against OU and pretty much saved our ass in 2007 with our horrible line depth. If all of our recruits turned out to be as effective as Hall we would never have attrition.

    And I have no idea how you have formed an opinion already regarding Buchanan and Poehlmann. Almost all linemen take 2-3 years, minimum before you know what they are going to fully develop into.

  20. Scipio Tex said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    Groundhog:

    You have to be patient on Mullet and Buchanan. They both need seasoning and strength before making a judgement.

    Newy 25:

    Regarding Hall, if by “pretty damn good”, you mean competent, we agree. He certainly tries hard, makes the right calls, and no one walks him into the backfield on every play like Matt Anderson.

  21. Scipio Tex said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    Justaguy:

    Ponder this: what if Mack is Will’s AD? Will he influence staff movement?

  22. Justaguy said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Glenn,

    I have no fucking idea what you said and in all honesty I am not sure that is a bad thing since I gave up heavy drinking years ago.

    Scipio,

    Good question and one I have thought about. Part of me wonders if Mack is a guy that can truly step out of it if he is still around or Will be truly given control.

    For the longest time coaches at UCLA were doomed in trying to follow John Wooden because they weren’t allowed to truly run the program their way.

    Agree

  23. glenn said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    are you talkin’ to me?

  24. HenryJames said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    Aggression can be coached out of you.

    Sincerely,

    Michael Huey and Kyle Hix

  25. Justin Mason said:

    February 15th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    You are full of crap HJ. A guy is either agressive or he isn’t. Coaching has nothing to do with it.

  26. Chef Killebrew said:

    February 16th, 2009 at 1:29 am

    Fuckin’ A!

  27. Scipio Tex said:

    February 16th, 2009 at 1:34 am

    Konrad Lorenz and I both agree on HJ’s pithy aggression comment.

  28. Groundhog Day said:

    February 16th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    Newy,

    Can we agree about Charlie Tanner? Yes, hall is serviceable but he is no Sendlein and I think Snow will be fantastic player for us. And I actually disagree about O-linemen. Yes, they need seasoning and strength, but you know what you have when they step on campus. Tray Allen is and will always be an overrated bust and the coaches knew it when he stepped on campus. On the other hand, the coaches knew they had something special with Studdard, Sendlein, and Blalock.

  29. Newy25 said:

    February 16th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    We will have to just disagree on the evaluation on linemen. Specifically the tackle is the one position on the team where physical development is as key to your success as technique and footwork. If you arrive at Texas at 18 years old as a gifted high school tackle you are probably not well suited (obviously there are exceptions) to take on the speed and power of a seasoned defensive end. Especially when they look for guys who might be 6′6/6′7 who have frames that need to fill out so they can remain quick and easy on their feet.

    Hall is no Sendlein? You mean the guy who started in the Super Bowl? I hope this is not our benchmark for centers going forward. I just want to make sure we are not falling in the ever so popular trap of the-younger-guy-is-obviously-better-the-coaches-are-stupid-and-playing-the-wrong-guy mindset. It obviously has happened before (see linebackers 2005-present) but it happens far less often than we as posters on the internets would like to admit.

    And to answer your question, I believe Tanner might be better suited for center than LG. I want my smart, overachieving do-it-all team player at center but at guard I want the guy who is one step away from being arrested for punching a police officer in the throat and lives for mauling Oklahoma linebackers on counter running plays.

  30. SlickStreet said:

    February 16th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    Sendlein–ah, for such a center again. Too many memories still of Matt Anderson and Jason Glynn being pushed back toward the QB.

    The OL columns are my favorite, btw.

  31. Groundhog Day said:

    February 17th, 2009 at 11:57 am

    Newy,

    Sendlein should not be the benchmark, but we have had such players as Glynn, Anderson, and Hall with Hall probably being the best of th bunch.

  32. Bow Shumbuckler said:

    February 17th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    “at guard I want the guy who is one step away from being arrested for punching a police officer in the throat”

    The best guards we’ve had were no such fools. What you’re really looking for are guys who love – really love – football. The Neils and Studdards and Blalocks (though he was an OT here) of the world. Give me that, plus a little old fashioned strength, and I’m in business.

    I like Tanner at guard but Snow even better.

  33. Varsity said:

    February 18th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Will Son of Spike be the next head coach at TTech? One west coast blogger thinks so.

  34. Spence Park Soap Box — Blog — 2010 Football Recruiting | Offense said:

    January 30th, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    [...] fighting like hell to change the attitude and culture of the program. Scipio at Barking Carnival wrote a great piece on Matthews last year that indicates why a kid like this is so crucial for where we are trying to go as a program. Not [...]

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