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Spring Game Post-Mortem

Posted by Scipio Tex on April 5th, 2009 under Football

The replay if your cable is ESPN360 compatible.

Here’s what the coordinators had to say.

Assigning value to a zero sum game is a dubious task, but there is value in looking at individuals and specific areas of interest. The coaches mixed and matched personnel groups quite a bit, so I wouldn’t read too much into any group’s performance.

It was great to see some football. And no injuries.

Defense

They won the scrimmage overall. Pressure on Colt was solid and our DBs ate up our passing offense with gusting winds serving as their ally. Our DL didn’t make make me happy at the point of attack on a few running plays. They were disruptive on several of our half-assed zone runs, but got clobbered a few times when we ran out of 21 personnel.

Aaron Williams and Chykie Brown were dominating shutting down routes and choking off releases with great hand and footwork. Last year’s bend-but-don’t-break (which was understandable necessity) is no more. We’re old enough and physical enough now that we’re going to challenge everything. Should be fun to watch. Both Chykie and Aaron are cat-quick, will put their head in there in run support, and are focused.

Christian Scott led the team in tackles. Vicious in run support and his grasp of the D is coming around. Much more consistent and reliable than last year where he flashed great plays, but sometimes flubbed the routine assignments.

Earl Thomas was dominant and my scrimmage MVP. He had a pick 6 off of a beautiful read on Colt’s inside WR and he was comfortable both in man coverage on a slot WR or in two deep playing over the top. He’s a great football player.

Gideon was fine. Similar to last year. He needs to get stronger and faster and offer us something on the turnover ledger – either with picks or jarring hits. Does anyone have Brian Cushing’s e-mail?

Nolan Brewster made a nice play on a free ball for a pick and just looked much more athletic and fluid overall. He’s a very solid depth guy. Liked Marcus Davis in limited action as well. Curtis Brown looked very solid. More aggressive, more confident. Deon Beasley is also playing more consistently (and had a decisive punt return) but he’s on the outside looking in and will remain so. Muschamp is trying to build a defense based on physical play and consistency and those just aren’t Beasley strengths.

I liked the play of the LBs overall, but Keenan Robinson missed an important tackle against Fozzy on a TD run. He has to make that play – that’s OU/OSU style off-tackle bread n’ butter right there. That’s a consistent play – off tackle, straight power alley – that our LBs consistently under or overrun. They just don’t have a good feel for facing a traditional running game. Keenan was really active otherwise. Muck was Muck: solid, reliable.

Sergio Kindle was held out. Alex Okafor got a huge number of snaps in his place. He wasn’t outclassed and that’s pretty impressive for a guy who was playing against freaking Temple a few months ago.

Ben Alexander is improved and looks to have lost 25 pounds. Kheeston Randall did little to assure me that his light has turned on. Let’s be clear: #2 and #3 DT is a problem. Lamarr Houston really needs a buddy. There’s still time.

Offense

I’m not worried about Colt. Sherrod Harris had some shaky moments, but even when he threw the ball well, his receiver screwed him or the DB made a great play. He didn’t make a push for making Garrett Gilbert redshirt.

Seeing Malcolm Williams make two great plays – one on a KOR, the other on a sideline catch just out of bounds – along with some more mundane catches in the short passing game was gratifying. It’s pretty clear that the coaches won’t play guys who won’t catch the ball consistently or run the correct route and it’s good to see Williams in the reliable club.

Kirkendoll looked fast.

Dan Buckner needs to decide if he’s serious about football. I’m not sure he gets what offense we’re running – drops just won’t be tolerated.

TE play was horrendous. Greg Smith dropped an easy one, Ahmard Howard hot potatoed a ball into Brewster’s hands (evoking fond memories of a Peter Ullman volleyball set) and generally made the position a giant glaring negative. This is a cursed position full of bodies, no ballers, injuries, and injured kids who can’t find their classroom.

I was quite impressed with our ability to run with 21 personnel though I’m not sure how much of that was attributable to young Okafor and a subpar DT accounting for 1/2 of our DL. Still, our OL got down with good pad level and played with some intensity. We were a predictable monkeyfuck in our more traditional zone series though.

Really excited by the play of Britt Mitchell at OT. He’s legit. I’m very comfortable with him as a 3rd OT when Hix returns.

Vondrell and Fozzy both ran well. It’s not a mystery: RBs look good and can showcase skills when they have holes and a legitimate chance to do so. Fozzy looks like our 3rd down back, but we know that can change if he doesn’t block well.

Special Teams

We’ve got a half dozen guys who can make plays on kickoff returns and punt returns and Mack looks determined to play them. Good. No Courtnee Garcia “sure hands” punt return philosophy to be found. Coverages were uneven, but don’t sweat that. Our talent level is better across the board and I’m pretty sure we’ll get the right guys plugged in.

All in all, we are what we thought we were though our ability to run the ball situationally out of 21 personnel and the sheer quality of our DBs was impressive and above expectation. The play at TE and DT was not. Plenty of time left to address each though…

Let’s hear your thoughts?

BON’s are here.

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28 Responses

  1. bighornfan32 said:

    April 5th, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    The blocking surfaces took a step back today. I say either put in another WR or just put Mitchell as a third tackle on the line. Why bother being bad at both when you can at least be good at one.

  2. Tim said:

    April 5th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    Okafor is going to hurt some people this year.

    Malcolm Williams is good, very good, you don’t see many guys that big, that fast, that can catch.

  3. Coast to Coast Blogging: Early Spring Game Coverage | In The Bleachers College Football Blog said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 4:51 am

    [...] Brown doesn’t feel the need to worry. McCoy went 11-of-24 for 95 yards. The folks over at Barking Carnival have a nice recap of the Longhorns’ spring game highlighting both the offense and the [...]

  4. beowulf said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 5:08 am

    Every time I see the “zero sum” reference in regards the Spring game, I think of PhxHorn who used the phrase each year.

    And your analysis of the event is closer to his grasp and expression of things as anything I’ve read anywhere. Good post.

  5. justaguy said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 5:37 am

    Scipio,

    Great write up. Three things struck me talking to friends in Austin.

    First, I wonder if we have seen Gideon approach his ceiling in regards to ability? There is no doubt that last year there was a premium on having at least one guy in the secondary that made sure things were in order. With the maturation of Scott and Thomas do his physical limitations become more apparent as the mental edge he had narrow?

    Second, I wholeheartedly agree it isn’t time to start fretting over the defensive tackle and tight end positions. Not every player that might be a factor in the Fall were either on campus or physically able to take part in practice. There are concerns at this position, but there is also history of players at d-tackle especially coming in and making a contribution early.

    Finally, all too often people get worried when a young player doesn’t make an immediate impact. Scott and Trey Allen are examples. For some it takes a little bit of time and I don’t see anything wrong with the coaches getting the players together at certain positions (i.e. running back, defensive tackle, tight end) and putting out the challenge that there are starters minutes to be had for whomever comes back in August and shows they have done the work to earn the spot. Isn’t that the way this internal competition thing is supposed to work?

  6. glenn said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 5:39 am

    agree, beowulf. exactly.

  7. uthookem said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 6:11 am

    Re: Fozzy as a blcoker – I recall a play last year where his idea of picking up a blitzing LB was to get in the way and take a brutal hit. And, while not pretty, it worked and showed me he is not afraid to get his ass flat run over. He’ll be able to block.

    Hook ‘em!

  8. ed said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 7:04 am

    Scip: Thanks for an intelligible write-up . . . Stateman’s story is a joke, the usual print media blather emphasizing statistics that are meaningless under these circumstances.

    Since I have no video access, I was curious about several things. Maybe you, or someone, can fill in the blanks:

    Did Tray Allen see time at guard? Besides Mitchell, did any of the unproven OL look like they can contribute this fall? Were any of the young DL — Wilcoxin, Carter, D. Johnson — even visible?

  9. Truck's Son said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 7:17 am

    I saw Tray Allen play some guard. I thought he looked okay.

  10. Ecurbmanchild said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 9:38 am

    Scip, thanks for the write up. I have to disagree on Fozzie being our third down back. I don’t see that happening. Outside of that, I think you are right on.

  11. Scipio Tex said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 9:46 am

    bighorn32:

    We’re on the same page at TE.

    beowulf:

    Thanks. Highest compliment a Longhorn writer can be paid.

    justaguy:

    That’s my concern with Gideon. He was “redshirted” in high school and was 19 as a freshman. It’s possible he’s not going to have the improvement curve that younger guys do. Scott clearly gives us more, but he has to sway Muschamp that he can be trusted to make the routine calls.

    ed:

    Allen did see time at guard. He didn’t give me an impression either good or bad. D. Johnson looked good coming off of the edge. He’s a one trick pony in that regard, but that’s useful in the Big 12. He can never be a true LB and he’s too small for every down DE, but situational pass rusher might be a good fit for him.

    Carter made no impact.

    Wilcoxon is a ghost. I was hoping he was Derek Lokey. He’s not.

    Ecurbmanchild:

    Tre Newton may beat him out, but right now the coaches have Fozzy slated to be our 3rd down back. Take it for what it’s worth. Vondrell and Cody can’t do it, so it’s a process of elimination basically.

  12. Horncasting said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Remember when everyone was excited that a mystery DT commit (Wilcoxin) came to a camp and kicked the ass of the best OL in the state (Allen)? Man, did we ever read the results of that matchup wrong.

  13. Horncasting said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    Scipio – there has been quite a bit of talk this spring about running nickel as a base defense. Give our DL issues, do you think we can pull it off? Seems like the best prescription for a weak-at-the-point-of-attack DL is a running stuff LB corp, not pulling a LB in place of another S.

  14. HenryJames said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Nickel allows us to put Christian Scott on the field, and I’ll wager that he will be better against the run that whomever our third linebacker would be.

  15. Italians & Jews said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    I’ve been paying close attention to your write ups and this is one of your finest.I feel Ben Alexander improved alot, however.

  16. Scipio Tex said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    Horncasting:

    We’re running a base nickel. No question. If we need to stop the run we’ll outnumber it.

    I agree with HJ.

  17. Nth Handle said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    I can’t remember going into a fall camp hoping for more out of true freshman than this year. TE, RB, DT. That’s usually not a good thing.

  18. HenryJames said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    A freshman contributor tight end would be a luxury not a necessity. The best offense with our current personnel is the four wide.

    It’s going to be another year of running back by committee, but expecting an individual player to solve our faggoty running game is misguided. Unless that player is Vince Young or Ricky Williams. Chris Whaley is neither.

    It would be great to have another defensive tackle against Oklahoma State, but again it would only be great to have another defensive tackle against Oklahoma State. The rest of the schedule is manageable without it.

  19. uthookem said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

    As long as we don’t spot Okie State 30 fucking points and free west Texas wind energy, then I say we take ‘em down.

    Hook ‘em!

  20. Kafka said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    Four wide is OK if you have at least a couple of wideouts who can block an LB. It is hard to run without decent blocking. If you can not run well, the D can just play nickel, blitz the passer relentlessly and dare you to run.

    If you can’t punish a nickel D by running, then you lose a lot (most?) of the advantage of the hurry up offense.

    You can’t always pass effectively. Sometimes the weather does not cooperate (we see the effect of wind on the horns’ passing attack, rain or snow probably does not help much either). Sometimes the opposition will be much better defending the pass than the run.

    DT still sounds like a big worry. In addition to OkState, OU usually runs well and UT could easily face a strong running team in the bowl game.

    I could see the horns playing a nickel even against running teams. If you DBs like Christian Scott who really hit and tackle well, the nickel may defend the run just as well as a 4-3. One advantage of staying in a nickel all the time (if you have a good run support secondary) is that the hurry up offense becomes much easier to defend.

  21. Horncasting said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    “Nickel allows us to put Christian Scott on the field, and I’ll wager that he will be better against the run that whomever our third linebacker would be.”

    I guess I was hoping Scott would be one of the two starting safeties and the tradeoff would be between a 4-3 with Robinson vs. nickel with Gideon.

  22. justaguy said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    I don’t disagree about Christian being better than Keenan. Just don’t know if Gideon is better than either.

  23. retrobater said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    What is the status of Jarvis Humphrey? Any remote chance he
    can show up by fall drills?

  24. justaguy said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    From what I have been told Jarvis is out for this year recovering with the hope he comes back in 2010.

  25. Billy McCaffrey said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    Can Russell Carter be Maurice Gordon? Dude passes the eyeball test.

  26. Nth Handle said:

    April 6th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    The rest of the schedule is manageable without [a good second DT]?

    So you don’t think we will get to the BCS again.

  27. HenryJames said:

    April 7th, 2009 at 5:51 am

    I certainly think we’ll be in the BCS again, but I have no idea if the team we play will require us to have another DT or not.

  28. LonghornScott said:

    April 7th, 2009 at 9:05 am

    There is plenty of time for one of the younger DTs to develop between now and a bowl game. The bowl practices are probably the best portion of the season for development, in fact.

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