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Posted by Scipio Tex on April 2nd, 2009 under Uncategorized
Now for Greg Davis:

On expectations of the spring game: There are some young guys who have not been in that setting very often, so we want to see them with the crowd there and the band there, coaches working from the boundary and not shouting assignments out to them and see what they know and how they’ll react to that situation. We want to play a lot of different kids, a lot of different combinations in that setting and we’re going to be looking at certain things, certain plays. Mainly, we just want to go out and function and compete.
Function and compete. This sounds like the recipe for a guy who just took his Viagra before heading to BW3 trivia night. C’mon Greg, say that that you want Malcolm Williams to knock Jared Norton out on a crackback block. Say you want to score on Muschamp like it was prom night. He talked shit to you in his press conference! Screw that Muschamp guy.
Ah, he mentions the crowd and band factor. I love that some of our players will wilt because of the presence of a tuba. “Man coach, I can’t concentrate – I keep hearing percussion and fucking woodwinds!”
On the depth within the wide receivers: When [Jordan] Shipley gets back, we probably will be as deep at receiver as we’ve been. And last year, we were pretty deep there. Last year, I thought it was probably the deepest overall group that we’ve had. With the movement of John Chiles out there, he’s really improved out there. [James] Kirkendoll is now a year older. Brandon Collins is a year older. Malcolm Williams has had a really good spring, Dan Buckner, and you throw Shipley into that mix. That’s a group that we can play a bunch of different players. It has a chance to be the deepest group. Last year, Quan [Cosby], Shipley, Malcolm Williams, James Kirkendoll and Brandon Collins, I thought it was a deeper group than Roy [Williams], B.J. [Johnson] and Sloan [Thomas]. That group you had three guys, one that’s still playing in the pros and the other two that played some in the pros. Last year’s group was really deep with guys who could go in, play and function. The guys we’ve got working now, I think we’ll have a chance to be as deep as last year’s group. I think that Malcolm Williams brings that threat [to go vertical]. We saw spurts of it last year. He’s a big guy, got great speed and he’s been more consistent this spring catching the ball. Because we play a lot of man-to-man, we’ve gotten a lot of work on different things against tight coverage. So I’ve been encouraged by him. Malcolm is a tremendous worker. He really studies the game. He just needs to be consistent in catching the ball.
He’s right. We are deep. Like Marianas Trench deep. Kant deep. That doesn’t mean that this our best WR corps at Texas, but we’ve got a lot of guys that can play. Having forty nine scholarship WRs is a good way to guarantee that a few of them will pan out.
Thought: Malcolm Williams’ comfort with catching the ball will likely increase commensurate to our willingness to throw it to him. I’m just sayin’. When you own a big gun, wheel it out and fire it at some people. That’s why I cut all of the sleeves off of my dress shirts.
On John Chiles’ performance this spring: I think John made a great decision in that when we talked right before spring training, he brought it up to me that Colt [McCoy] was coming back and he would only have one year left after Colt. He said, “I really think my best position may be wide receiver.” At that point, I was thinking he wanted to go through spring at quarterback. But John said, ” Coach, if I’m going to do it, I need to do it now. I need to get out there and learn the nuisances of it.” He found that he was in quarterback-shape, but he wasn’t in wide receiver-shape. I think he’s lost about eight to nine pounds over the course of spring training. He’s really, in the last part of spring, come on and been the productive guy. He’ll play a position at which we throw a lot of balls real quickly to him and take advantage of his ability to break tackles. John has shown that ability to catch the ball and do something with it after the catch.
Ah, “the nuisances of the position.” I have to know if Greg said that or if it was improperly transcribed.
As for John’s ability to do something with the ball after the catch – consider me as hailing from Missouri. Not Hannibal though. Cuz of my name.
On the offensive line’s performance this spring: We’ve got good depth in the offensive line. We’ve still got some young guys that we need to bring along, but right now we have seven or eight guys in the offensive line that we feel real good about, that they can go in and play in a ball game.
Translation: we pass protected pretty well.
On the tight ends this spring: Ahmard Howard and Greg Smith have a good battle going on at tight end. It’s a shame that D.J. Grant got hurt early in spring because he was doing some really good things. He kind of brought to that position what we’ve been use to, a guy who can stretch the field and not have to substitute and play four wide receivers as much. I’ve learned that Ahmard Howard can help us there. I’ve learned that Greg Smith has got his weight down and he can help us there. They’ve got a good battle going on. They’re not guys that are going to stretch the field by nature, but they do have good hands and can catch the ball underneath. The biggest thing is if they can just give us an extra blocking surface up there, and they’ve shown signs of doing that.
Jesus, we can’t catch a break at TE.
“An extra blocking surface up there…” Ha. When a coach describes you as an “extra blocking surface” he’s not wildly enthusiastic about your abilities. I often describe Trips Right as an “extra blogging surface.” We’ll leave it at that.
On D.J. Grant’s performance before his injury: I was encouraged by D.J. [Grant]. He was a guy who wasn’t afraid to put his nose in there, and he was guy who could run and stretch the field and obviously catch the ball, typical as a wide receiver. Speed wise, he’s just in the middle of the pack. You move him inside and he’s running routs from in there and then all of sudden he’s real fast. He’s dealing with linebackers and nickel backs as opposed to corners. He’s not scared of contact at all.
DJ – get healthy. And study. A lot.
On the running backs this spring: There’s good competition going on at running back. One day, one of them steps up and then the next day the other one steps up. That’s an encouraging thing. Having said that, I’d like one of them to just run off and take the job. We’ll have to wait until August to see if that happens. Cody [Johnson] was having a really good spring. He’s a guy that’s got really good vision. Obviously, he’s the bigger of the backs. He’s done a good job. Antwan Cobb has done a nice job at fullback for us. He really has. He’s a smart guy. He’s got good flexibility in his hips, so he has great snap at contact. They give us some flexibility if we go to two backs to be able to do some things. [Ryan] Roberson, we’ve just looked at him a little bit, but we’ve seen enough to know that he has some of the some things we’ve talked about with Antwan. He’s got nice hip bend and nice flexibility. From being a linebacker, he has good punch at contact.
Our competition is so good at RB that none of them can secure the job. Uh, right. This is like a guy saying that he has so many women after him that he can’t get a date.
I think we should pick a starter based on the casting of lots before each offensive series.
I can’t wait to see more from the FB position!!!!!!!!
On the power running game despite the injuries: We’ll continue to do that whether or not it’s two-back or one-back, from under center or in the gun. You can’t lose sight that the most important thing for offense is to score points, and that’s our job. With Colt, you’ve got to give him some opportunities to score points. Having said that, we still want to run the ball better as a general rule than we did last year. We’ll keep working on being able to do that – mainly in situations where we’re ahead and we’re trying to grind the ball or trying to take some air out of the ball to help our defense.
Will this also help us not to call a zone play with reach blocking in our end zone in Lubbock with an injured RB while the opposing defense is pinching inside?
On splitting up the quarterbacks for the spring game: Colt and Sherrod [Harris] will take the most snaps. Trevor Walker and John Paul Floyd, we’ll try to get them some snaps. The spring game, typically, is not a bunch of plays. We’ll be smart with him [Colt] in what we ask him to do. He’ll play most of the snaps with the first group.
I feel like John Paul Floyd is really coming on. You?
On who has emerged as key players this spring: Obviously, John Chiles having gone out there to receiver and been there from the beginning. He has shown he needs to be in the mix and will be in the mix, especially if he keeps working like he did this spring. David Snow picked up, for a freshman, right where he ended up late in the season. He’s a guy that can play center and both guards for us, so that’s been encouraging. Then, probably the guy [who's emerged] is Britt Mitchell. With Kyle Hix playing the first seven days of spring and then Britt taking over there, he’s really had an opportunity because he’s played with the first group, the orange group, to show that he’s going to be a heck of a player for us. So he would be a guy that I would point to that maybe the fans were unsure of or just didn’t know his name, who has really come on and had a great spring. I like that he’s athletic. He’s a tight end and same old deal. You move a guy from tight end to tackle, all of sudden he’s really athletic. He’s got great punch. He’s a bright guy. He understands different things. That tackle position is so critical because of as much as we throw the ball.
Good for Britt. I’m glad to hear he’s coming along. If he can play well enough to allow Tray Allen a move inside, all the better.
On the importance of the spring game for the offense: It’s important my offense stick its fist up Will Muschamp’s ass. Boom on that, motherfucker. We want to see execution. We want to see the guys go out and take care of the football. We want to see them compete. Unlike a ball game, we’ll be looking more at plays. We want to move the ball obviously, but we also want to get some things on tape. We want to get some ball carriers some carries. It’s more of a working day for us than it is a game day. The biggest thing is getting off the field, letting the players get out there and they can’t hear us screaming the last minute instructions and let them function the way it would be in a ball game. We want great effort. We want great intensity, but at the same time, we want to evaluate some players.
Did he really say that to Muschamp? It’s on.
Bartoncreek said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Tranlation of entire press conference: We are going to throw it all over the field and I don’t give a fuck about any semblance of a running game. We are what we are and I am who I am. Also, I don’t know shit about our line but Mitchell used to be a skill player so he must not suck. Our TEs all should move to O-line except DJ. Our WRs are badass and Chiles will be lucky to get one of my patented tunnell screens a game. Our RBs are average and I’d rather not give any of them more than a couple of touches a game. Oh by the way, I just mentioned the fullback position to fuck with kchorn. Thanks for coming and please refer all your future questions about the running game to Mack or Major, I’m done with that shit.
Vasherized said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Clearly Antwan Cobb is the key to a magical season, golf pricks bedamned.
Without him last year we came up just short.
This year he goes Apocalypto out of the backfield, leads the team in rushing from the FB position and causes CTJ to lobotomize himself with a new age religion.
I also like how Davis is stealing Muschamp’s brass balls verbiage. Greggo hasn’t said the word “punch” since college. (it’s a swear word). Muschamp said it yesterday. Coincidence?
Britt Mitchell emerging as a serviceable tackle would have to be the most welcome surprise of the spring.
Nordberg said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Although guard seems to be Allen’s natural position, I’m not sure he’d be in a position to get more PT there or not. Tanner isn’t going anywhere, and he’s not going to take any snaps away from Snow or Huey.
Scipio Tex said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I’m not necessarily interested in him getting more snaps. Just finding our best tackle options. It might also set him up better for next year and allow Mason Walters and Mitchell to man OT.
dedfischer said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I’ve never seen a team that could zone block worth a fuck without a badass center. It’s why the Colts can’t run the ball when Jeff Saturday is injured. Davis should just give Walters the job and never look back. That’s if he’s planning on that quasi-zone thingy, dilly he used last year.
Scipio Tex said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Unfortunately zone blocking not only requires great center play, but a level of coordination amongst the OL that many NFL teams can’t pull off.
And we’d never make an OL personnel choice based strictly on the running game.
dedfischer said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I addressed the Rocky Top piece at Sailor’s request. Not sure if you caught this writeup, but you might enjoy it with regards to OL personnel.
The General said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
. . . and we don’t recruit zone blocking types of lineman.
-
bighornfan32 said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
“’An extra blocking surface up there…’” Ha. When a coach describes you as an “extra blocking surface” he’s not wildly enthusiastic about your abilities. I often describe Trips Right as an “extra blogging surface.” We’ll leave it at that.”
Not only did he call them blocking surfaces, but that they have shown signs of being blocking surfaces. Not even full fledged blocking surfaces. So in other words, they are slightly better than having 10 men out there.
Scipio Tex said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Exactly. Ha. Good point.
Coach how am I doing?
Son, you are showing signs of being a blocking surface type construct. A carbon based lifeform of questionable sentience.
Coach likes me!
exuLt said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
O the subtle nuisances of the B wide out position.
exuLt said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Urps. Next time I’ll finish reading the article first.
Black Scholes said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I’m with Chiles. Blocking for a WR is a nuisance. But a required one at Texas.
Newy25 said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
So much pessimism about the unit that will fist fuck the entire conference to the tune of 40+ points per game.
The mere fact that they are even talking about running better downhill is enough for me now.
RansomStoddard said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Bartoncreek nailed it. We have abandoned all hope of ever running the ball again.
Texoz said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
John Paul Floyd?
That sounds like something Keef Richards mutters when asked to name his favorite Beetle.
hot wire said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 pm
“Bartoncreek nailed it. We have abandoned all hope of ever running the ball again.”
Why-cause of one down year? Texas ran the ball just fine with Charles and his 1600 yards rushing in 2007. Stylewise, the way the Horns run may not be satisfying for some or over manly, but yards are yards. With the efficiency of the passing game and the direct emphasis on improving the run next year, the Horns running game should be dramatically improved. Also, the RB’s at Texas under performed their talent level last year. The talent at RB is there.
Chiles may just show up as a more athletically gifted version of Quan – just without the experience. I look for him to make some exciting runs after the catch. His athleticism may end up surprising some of the people who are down on him.
Pull My Finger said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
John Paul Floyd:
Ah yes, the articulate haircutting Pope of Mayberry is slinging the pigskin on the 40…
uthookem said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Wow, Newy…it’s not like the coaches haven’t talked ad nauseum, each year, about a better downhill running game…I’ll believe it when I see it.
Hook ‘em!
SL Xpress said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
“Chiles may just show up as a more athletically gifted version of Quan – just without the experience. I look for him to make some exciting runs after the catch. His athleticism may end up surprising some of the people who are down on him.”
If any of that happens, I’ll be plenty surprised. He has no wiggle. He goes down with an arm tackle. I’ve been unimpressed. And I think you’re underestimating Quan Cosby.
M said:
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Davis…our Legacy Coach. If it weren’t for Colt, sometimes we wouldn’t score a single freaking point.
Martin Heidegger said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 am
Kant couldn’t find his Dassein with a flashlight.
TKO said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 am
John Paul Floyd: Wasn’t he the third drummer for Spinal Tap who spontaneously combusted? Or the one who asphyxiated on vomit…not his own?
Nordberg said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 am
He’s probably a serial killer.
Unlike Mad Dog, who’s a cereal killer. Wordplay!
Trips Right said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 am
This article proves that Scipio could write for the Dallas Morning News. Insert the words “My Take” and I’d assume he was “funning” with us.
Vasherized said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 am
He has a long way to go to reach Marty B’s level of blogospheric stylings but I guess some people are just born with it.
LOL (Laugh out Loud)
dedfischer said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:42 am
Sometimes I think Martellus is much smarter than anyone gives him credit for, and at other times…..well. That’s out there, but the creativity requires a degree of intelligence.
Shirley Jackson said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:42 am
I have a great idea on how to choose a running back. Now, where did I put that pile of rocks …
Nordberg said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 am
Continuing the theme, Marty B is like a real life Tracy Jordan. Someone should trick him into thinking he’s an astronaut.
dedfischer said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:10 am
This is funny as shit.
Scipio Tex said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 am
You’re mean.
dedfischer said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:13 am
He actually used a Swiss Army Knife reference. I was thinking spork.
Art Vandelay said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:15 am
Speaking of the 82nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays…..
If you have some time today or Saturday in Austin head over to Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Marquise Goodwin is more than worth the price of admission. Saw him last weekend at a track meet in Dallas. Kid is unreal! His family was decked out in burnt orange. He will be competing this weekend in the 100 meters, long jump, triple jump, 4×100 relay, and 4×200 relay.
Trust me – you will be blown away by this high school senior, especially as he throws up a “Hook’em” with every victory.
Dust Storm said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 am
Yeah ded, I had Austin Burns at 37 on my board..
DFL'sPlasticSpork said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:13 am
What?
glenn said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
i see that griffin has as one of his standard topics ‘what 2009 will hold’. i haven’t been reading him. how does he answer that for ou olinemen?
Scipio Tex said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 am
So much pessimism about the unit that will fist fuck the entire conference to the tune of 40+ points per game.
Dropping 40+ on Missouri isn’t really what having the running game is about. It’s about winning the big games. We’re not going to beat Florida in a MNC title game throwing the ball 70 times.
sinless1 said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:14 am
Well if you ever wanna meet a alien holla at me.
the Bobs said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
not to belittle anyone, especially a Longhorn, but…
IF you held a draft of only Big 12 players, the only way Chris Hall would come in the top 37 is if the Detroit Lions were involved in the drafting…
Peyton Manning; Lion said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
“it is what it is”.
sEa 2 SHINING sEa said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Everything changes-everything.
NO WAKEUP CALLS said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
That’s right, Scipio its all about strategy.
No Maid Service said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
70 times?
Newy25 said:
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Dropping 40+ on Missouri isn’t really what having the running game is about. It’s about winning the big games. We’re not going to beat Florida in a MNC title game throwing the ball 70 times.”
I guess the game in Dallas no longer qualifies as a big game? Florida has their own issues, mind you. They are no lock to be in the Rose Bowl. And their offense has a few issues of their own like they no longer have uber stud WR Harvin to have the ball shot-putted to.
Blueshorn said:
April 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I wish we could get a serviceable run scheming surface and play-calling surface. One that wouldn’t have our QB retreat several yards and hand off to a standing-still tailback without a blocking surface in the fucking endzone when the ball’s on the one.