Connect with your Facebook Account

• Contact

Football Articles

36

College Football: Breakout Teams in 2009

Posted by Scipio Tex on July 2nd, 2009 under Football

Now that the July Rubicon has been forded and my mourning for Michael Jackson has ended, our attentions can turn in earnest to college football preview magazines and preseason prognostication. Like many of you, I will purchase several terrible college football magazines with outdated information (Jarvis Humphery’s development at DT will be key for the ‘Horns!), poor analysis (2008 Preview Headline: Can West Virginia prevent the inevitable Ohio State/Georgia national title game?), and uninspired writing (_____ will provide much needed depth and experience). Why do I do it? It’s part of my summer ritual and the bright glossy pictures are yarn dangled before a civet.

Plus, I just need it.

If you want to soothsay, it’s crucial to be able to identify breakout teams and separate the traditional powers from the traditional pretenders. Last year’s prognostications were particulary bad across the board for all of the magazines and online purveyors (see CFN’s 2008 Top 10) largely because of a consistent overfascination with name brand skill position talent.

Like Pro-Activ, I don’t have many hard and fast rules when it comes to projecting a break out, but here are a few tips for care and maintenance in anticipation:

Experience

Generally, we’re for it. However, the value of football experience, like The Dave Matthews Band, is consistently overrated because of its persistence, easy familiarity, and ability to play the harmonica in lengthy self-indulgent jam sessions.


OMG! You’re so quirky and real, Dave!

The first fallacy of overvaluing experience is that returning lots of talentless older players is good. See last year’s predictions for A&M to go to a bowl. I laughed at every magazine that lauded our LB corps experience in ‘06 and ‘07 or bemoaned the loss of “National Championship LBs!” in previewing ‘08. Trust me, we’re not alone in this transgression and if you can discern the dead weight in other programs – and relying on the opinions of their fans or beat writers is generally a terrible idea – you’ll be well ahead of the game. Count the experience that matters.

This year’s Vanderbilt squad returns 17 starters from a 7-6 team that went 4-4 in SEC play and won their bowl game. A conventional analysis posits that they’re on an upward trajectory and will exceed last year’s record – perhaps even be a bit of a dark horse in the weak SEC East. Sounds good. But would it be impolitic to point out that they somewhat suck? This is a key consideration, you see.

The second fallacy of fetishizing experience is the idea that it’s equally valuable in all positions. It’s not.

Look hard at: QB, OL, DB. All things being equal, the value of experience at QB, OL, DB is much greater than WR/TE, LB, DL, RB. Don’t misinterpret this, dear internet buffoon: I’m not arguing that the other positions don’t get better over time or that it’s advisable to start four freshmen DL, I’m simply pointing out that there are certain positions that consistently allow improvement by leaps and bounds with skill development, unit cohesion, and physical confidence. A badass RB is a badass the day he steps on campus. OL and DBs truly play together as units – most of the other positions play in parallel. QBs with twenty starts stifle a yawn when they see a blitz; QBs with three starts avoid blitzes by flinging the ball straight up in the air and digging a trench for their feces.

I can name a half dozen All-American level DBs at Texas who were hard to watch early in their careers (Richard, Huff, Griffin, soon to be Earl Thomas) only to blossom into elite talents with a little seasoning. You can’t do that with LBs, RBs, or DL.

Catalysts

For a team to make a jump above expectation they need an individual, a unit, or a new coordinator/scheme to take it to the next level.

If you’re looking for a single player catalyst, look hardest at QB. Specifically, a QB with a couple of reliable targets, a returning OL with some quality, and low expectations stemming from mental errors or an injured OL resulting in protection issues. Think Cal’s Kevin Riley and Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen.

As for unit catalysts, look hardest at the defense – particularly a young one that took lumps, made a lot of mental errors in the passing game, and returns their DBs. That was Florida last year.

If you’re counting on a new offense to give a team the edge – have a quick conference with Tommy Tuberville. It’s fool’s gold. And if it’s the solution, it’s generally the solution in Year 2 and 3.

Schedule

There are two sides to this coin. First, to deny the importance of a forgiving schedule is foolish. But stressing it too much lulls you into Buckeye-itis – yes, the Big 10 is navigable, but they’ll have to play a quality team eventually if they want to claim the prize. The key is to project forward into the bowl season and make sure that your pretender won’t be unmasked. The SEC/Big 10, SEC/ACC mid-tier bowl matchups are helpful here.

Coaching

There are certain dudes I trust to deliver the goods. If a coach is prone to a pretty high beta, you have to balance that big upset win with their inexplicable loss to a scrub two weeks later. Public perception doesn’t always match the reality here either. Mike Leach’s Tech teams are often portrayed as erratic. They’re actually incredibly consistent. For that reason, projecting Notre Dame to break out worries me. Weiss has coached like a dickhead for two years in a row. I digress…

2009

So factoring in all of the above, I like the following to turn around or increase their fortunes this year:

Southern Mississippi


This Eagle player was given a small white child to raise as part of his sociology lab

Yes, really. Southern Miss. Mississippi’s 3rd school. Ole Miss will get all of the in-state attention, but this is a team flying under the radar. In addition to returning 19 starters, Southern Miss returns their entire OL (four SR, one JR)and their entire DB group. QB Austin Davis is a baller (23-8 TD to INT, 508 rushing yards – a poor man’s Colt McCoy). RB Damion Fletcher was 1st team All CUSA in ‘08 and in ‘06. They even have a 6-6 WR named DeAndre Brown who had 1117 yards receiving last year. They’ve got experience in the trenches and weapons at every level. The defense will be better (last year’s D had only four returning starters; over their last four games they gave up a total of 35 points) and I’d be surprised if they don’t manage a 10 win season and become a surprise BCS contender. Head coach Larry Fedora is the X factor here – he got them off to a slow start last year.

California


Peyote say: ten wins!

All of their OL have started some games, scatbacks Jahvid Best & Shane Vereen are damn good, they return their entire DL intact, and they return all four secondary starters. Kevin Riley has been a disappointment at QB, but he has the tools, an experienced WR crew, and a running game to build off of. This is a double digit win football team that has a good chance of surprising USC when they travel North. If Riley can perform at the level Tedford has gotten out of most of his QBs, this could be a legitimate top 10 team.

Notre Dame


I have a hunch

Yeah, it pains me me as much as you and I don’t trust Weiss, but Notre Dame is likely headed to a BCS bowl unless Weiss is as big a failure at college coaching as he is at Jenny Craig. 4/5 OL starters return. Jimmy Clausen – douchebag – will turn the corner this year throwing to an elite WR corps of Floyd and Tate along with a top notch TE in Kyle Rudolph. 3 of the 4 DB starters return. The schedule is forgiving as well. This team will resemble the 10-3 2006 team greatly: very good offense, average defense, whipped in a bowl if they face a real opponent. Still, they’re likely to be on your television after New Years.

Arkansas

They return 18 starters, but I’ve never seen a more brutal schedule: Georgia, @ Alabama, @ Florida, @ Ole Miss, @ LSU. That limits their upside, unlike the teams I profiled above. Like the Miami Hurricanes, I expect Arkansas to improve qualitatively a great deal, even if it’s not reflected in a giant leap in record. Unlike Miami, I trust the Razorback coach. They’ll go to a bowl and beat the dogshit out of whatever mid-tier opponent they play assuming they’re not a walking infirmirary by then. Mallett is a good fit for Petrino’s offense and they should be able to scrap together enough defense with ten returning starters who took a beating last year as sophomores and freshmen.

Baylor

Robert Griffin is the truth. Any questions? Baylor will improve on their 4-8 mark and manage a bowl for the first time since 1994. Aside from Griffin, I love their LBing corps, their DL has some potential with key transfers like DT Phil Taylor and they return 3 of their 4 DB starters. They shouldn’t pose a threat to the Sooners or Longhorns, but don’t pencil Oklahoma State in Waco in their loss column just yet.

Wildcard picks:

UTEP

Possibly this year’s Tulsa or Rice. I love QB Trevor Vittatoe, he has some targets, they return an underrated and physical OL and Price is a very solid coach when not being bilked by strippers. The defense is beyond a disgrace, but if they can cobble together even a modest improvement, a strong-armed QB is all you need to take you to a Conference USA championship. If you’re a Longhorn fan, you need to become a strong UTEP advocate because our anemic OOC schedule has the potential to submarine us. A team like UTEP winning nine would help our cause immensely.

Nevada

Like UTEP, this is a pick totally contingent on their ability to develop some semblance of a defense. QB Colin Kaepernick is a guy you should familiarize yourself with: a 6-6 white Vince Young wannabe who threw for 2800 and ran for 1100 last year in the innovative Pistol offense. He was the WAC POY. He has an outstanding RB named Vai Taua who topped 1500+ last year on the ground. Like UTEP, Nevada will have to rely on outscoring people. Even a modest improvement in defense will get them to 9 or 10 wins. They also play Notre Dame early, which should be interesting.

One of these two wildcard picks will pan.

Honorable Mentions:

Miami, North Carolina, Illinois

Miami has a tough schedule, but I don’t like their head coach. UNC has the right tools on defense and offense and I like Butch Davis, but they need to show more consistency. Illinois is coached by Ron Zook – ’nuff said.

Talk to me.

__________________________

For teams that may struggle a bit this season, see: And They All Fell Down

Article Tags:

, , , ,

More from this Barker


Share This

  • StumbleUpon

36 Responses

  1. Trix for Kids said:

    July 2nd, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    Great mention of Nevada’s Pistol offense. A variant of the spread with the one RB lined-up 8-yards deep directly behind the QB in the shotgun. Opens up so many possibilities in both the run and pass game. I still curious why I haven’t seen an imitation of this offense yet. Kaepernick is fun to watch.

    While I concur with your comments re: Weiss, when I look at Notre Dame’s schedule, I can’t help but think that 10-3 is a worst case scenario for the loathsome Irish.

    Also agree that Arkansas will be much improved.

    I think that Cal and Va.Tech are candidates to crash the BCS party.

    I think Cincy repeats in the Big Least conference (yuck).

    Disagree on UNC. I think the hit to the skill positions (WR in particular) prevents them from making any real noise in 2009, though I like their direction for post-2009.

  2. Scipio Tex said:

    July 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    I really like the Pistol. Obviously, it places a burden on your QB to run and throw equally well, but it’s a handful to defend.

    I actually believe Cincy takes a big step down, as I detail in my second piece.

    We’re on the same page with respect to the Irish. Forgiving schedule, legit offense.

    I find the ACC hard to get a grasp of – it’s shaping up as another year of parity there. If anyone breaks out, I favor UNC or Va Tech.

  3. Loadholt's Lost Money said:

    July 2nd, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    Greg Davis would be a dipshit not to take a look at the Pistol. I’ll leave it up to everyone else to not the logical next step there. Kaepernick is definitely fun to watch, one of the most exciting quarterbacks most people don’t know about, maybe the most exciting. Their running back from 2007, Luke Lippincott, will be back after a medical redshirt, so the backfield will be deep.

    Will DeAndre Brown be ready when the season starts? He didn’t quite Tyrone Prothro his leg, but he had a pretty nasty-looking break. Big-time talent, though if he gets healthy.

    Robert Griffin is downright scary. He will give OU and Texas all they can handle before he leaves Waco. Will it result in a w? That’s definitely up for debate with what Briles is doing up there.

    This post is a breath of fresh air in the off-season.

    I would ask how the preseason mags manage to write nothing of real interest, but that would just be stupid.

  4. Capt. Insano said:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 am

    I can’t figure out why the pistol is so hard to defend against.

    Don’t the linebackers just need to key in on the OG?

  5. Ragglefrock said:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 am

    How much of a dive does OU take without an experienced OL? Does that put their National Championship hopes on hold (pun intended)?

    According to your analysis, the losses at WR don’t matter as
    much.

  6. CloseToJumping said:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:59 am

    Great write-up. I agreed with what feels like all of it. I’ve been talking up Notre Dame to anyone that will listen and the response is almost homogenous that I am an idiot. For bringing it up, as opposed to the general “you’re an idiot” which is tougher for me to counter.

    I’ve read a lot of all of the magazines but have not even bothered looking at the write-ups on Southern Miss. I didn’t realize they had so much coming back and I don’t remember seeing them last year.

    To whoever mentioned not seeing the Pistol emulated, I know that it has been incorporated into the LSU offense, as I remember seeing them run it with degree of regularity last year. I know I’ve seen others doing it too, just don’t remember who they were. I wish Davis would incoporate it, but he’ll probably wait 4 more years to do it and then get credit for being “innovative” when he does it.

    Here’s one for you – If Washington goes 4-8 or 5-7 after 0-12 last year, is that a breakout season? If Locker stays healthy, I could see them maybe pulling that off with some breaks.

  7. Ricky said:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 am

    I am not sure I see any way our OOC schedule hurts us this year outside of a one-loss logjam for a spot in the MNC game or another ridiculous 3-way divisional tie. No matter what we would likely get a BCS bid with one-loss. If we lose two the season would be an enormous disappointment and unless that still somehow garnered us a spot in the MNC game, I would probably care less about our bowl game.

  8. Capt. Insano said:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 am

    You may care less…but you’ll still be watching.

  9. Emmett Fitzhume said:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    Been a Cal fan for a few years, so obviously I’m hoping that Cal does break through. Though the team looks good on paper, the Bears have a frustrating tendency to tank when expectations are high. If they are ever going to beat the Trojans again this is the year, but Tedford always plays them not to lose. This is not the way for a less-talented club to beat USC.

    It will certainly help if Riley stops randomly hurling passes into the stands.

  10. Petey said:

    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    I agree that Notre Dame should be good next season. It is critical to their success though that Clausen makes strides to being a better QB. Clausen played really well in the bowl game, but his development went backwards at times last season.

  11. Miketag said:

    July 5th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    I like UNC. Davis finally should have all the pieces in place. I am not sold on the Baylor hype just yet, unless 6-6 defines a breakout year. ND should win 10.

  12. NorthDallasSooner said:

    July 5th, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    it’s kinda funny to see a Nevada Wolfpack love session break out on a burnt orange site. They’re really fun to watch and Kaepernick is a real talent. I would LOVE to see them knock off ND in the opener. That alone might sink Weis.

    ND–I can’t disagree with the BCS predictions, but ONLY because their schedule is ridiculous. They may play in a BCS bowl and not really be a top 30 team.

    UT’s OOC—

    ———————————————
    Ricky- I am not sure I see any way our OOC schedule hurts us this year outside of a one-loss logjam for a spot in the MNC game or another ridiculous 3-way divisional tie.
    ———————————————

    That may very well happen. How? You play Okie State in Stillwater, we play them in Norman. They’re not going to win in Norman but are capable of beating you in Stillwater. Fine by me, of course, but………..

    The University of Texas (and it’s football program) calls itself a leader. Is it? Academically, no question. Football. Look, here’s the deal.

    Leaders aren’t leaders because of what it says on their business card or front of their jersey in this case. Leaders are leaders because they ACT LIKE LEADERS. Behavior defines leadership, not hierarchy. UT football’s current non-conference scheduling philosophy is not the behavior of a leader.

    Now I can tell you all I want, and you can call me what you want, when I say that Oklahoma is the current “leader” in this league. Certainly the 6 B12 titles is the leading cause, but Joe C’s approach to non-con scheduling is a big part. In the next ten years, Oklahoma finishes a home and home with Miami (2009) and has contracted home and home series with Florida State (’10-’11), Notre Dame (’12-’13), Tennessee (’14-’15), Ohio State (’16-’17) and LSU (’18-19).

    I don’t write this note to be an ass, moreso it’s to challenge you guys to DEMAND of Mighty Mack to quit playing all JV games in September.

    In this league everyone is entitled to one or two “freebies.” The Big 12 is tough enough that it’s best teams needn’t paly murderer’s row in September. But, we, and I mean we, should play one “national” matchup, one “beatable name” matchup and two paycheck games.

    Now, before you commence calling me names, think about yourselves as season ticket holders. Do you really want to see UTEP, Rice, UL-wherever and Wyoming, or do you want to see Florida St., Notre Dame, Tennesee, Ohio State and LSU come to Austin in the next ten years? I know a few of you are old enough to remember when, between 1990-1995 Penn State, Virginia, Syracuse and Notre Dame visited Austin. That ND game was the SHIT! And the hottest ticket in Texas.

    Remember the Ohio State series in ‘05-’06? I’m just sayin’

    MAKE YOU DECISION MAKERS CHANGE THE PHILOSOPHY. IT’S GOOD FOR YOU. IT’S GOOD FOR THE LEAGUE.

    and don’t ever fucking agree to play in Laramie, Wyoming again. Leaders don’t do that.

  13. Facebook User said:

    July 5th, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    NDS – Not sure you will engender a lot of umbrage on this site with those comments.

  14. RansomStoddard said:

    July 5th, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Here’s a complete list of all the new ideas, creative twists and hard-to-defend innovations Greg Davis has installed in the Horns’ offense in the 213 years he has been OC:

  15. MIA said:

    July 5th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    NDSooner makes a lot of sense.

  16. Crazy Joe Clark said:

    July 5th, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    you forgot Mike Sherman’s waistline

  17. Ricky said:

    July 6th, 2009 at 8:15 am

    NDS, the Big 12 South is so ridiculously strong right now, it is easier to get a BCS bid than it is to get a spot in the Big 12 Championship! I don’t have a big problem with our current scheduling (this year aside, I would have been fine if Arkansas hadn’t reneged)…at least we haven’t scheduled any non-FBS teams and I hope we at least avoid taking that ‘lead’.

    I don’t see any rationale for playing even teams that were once great like Miami, FSU, or Tennessee. The current system is all about going undefeated. In fact, if your name is OU or UT you can get an all-but-guaranteed BCS bid with one loss, so why risk getting that loss in some essentially meaningless September game. Only ND has the luxury of losing 2 or 3 games and getting a guaranteed selection by the BCS bowls.

    Would I like to see us play ND and OSU in one season or USC and Georgia in the same year? Sure, but why do I have to watch those games in September when it only risks our potential for playing one of them instead in January when both teams are firing on all cylinders? Drop two of those September games and give me a playoff and I’ll get to really see how my team stacks up against the best.

    Ultimately I don’t think our schedule is too far out of whack. We have UCLA and Ole Miss over the next 4 years and I am assuming Arkansas will be in the mix for at least one game. I don’t want to get into scheduling potentially ‘good’ games, especially when it is made up of traditional weak sisters be they BCS teams like Cincinnati (I am sure that series was scheduled with the idea that they would win their conference!) or BYU or Air Force. I don’t think you can brag about beating these sorts of teams if they end up winning 9 or 10 games that season (no one I know tried to fluff Rice up to much!), because in a normal year (unlike OU’s 2005 w/TCU) they should pose little opposition and or enthusiasm from the fan base(Who the hell got up for OU’s game against Cincinnati?).

    When the real leaders give us a system that rewards playing a tough OOC schedule or at the very least doesn’t punish at team for it, then I’ll be at the forefront calling for a schedule more like the one you are proposing, but at this stage there is no reason to do it. The outcomes certainly haven’t proven OU’s method is best. They get beat regularly by us and by their January opponent.

  18. TaylorTRoom said:

    July 6th, 2009 at 8:34 am

    OU last won a MNC in 2000. Their non-conf schedule that year? Three home games- UTEP, Arkansas State, and Rice.

  19. Ag_in_TX said:

    July 6th, 2009 at 9:37 am

    Watch out for Arkansas State.

    Watch.

    Out.

  20. ed said:

    July 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Arguing about SOS is kinda pointless. It takes years to get a big name on there, and by then you or they may be Purdue or Mississippi State.

    As long as Texas wins 10 every year and recruits at the current level, they’ll ALWAYS be in position to achieve a top-two rating — as long as the Horns get to the Big 12 title game. Getting beat up (physically) by Tennessee and Oregon State in September is a good way to make OU’s task in October a lot easier.

  21. Dickie V said:

    July 6th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    Playoff, Baby . . .

    Sooner dude – you guys lost to Oak St in Norman and set the longhorn nation off into a major QB controversy – or at least exacerbated it. Eff off for that. We would have been content to go to the Holiday bowl again without that disaster in Dallas.

    Or maybe we went there anyway.

    Point is . . . a sooner win in Norman over the pokes is no guarantee. . . . especially this year.

  22. Tuesday Morning Linkage: | In The Bleachers College Football Blog said:

    July 7th, 2009 at 5:01 am

    [...] Tex at Barking Carnival looks at teams who he thinks could have a breakout year in 2009, and what are the key ingredients behind these breakout [...]

  23. ponderos said:

    July 7th, 2009 at 5:14 am

    Dickie. If you throw out the Schnellenberger and Blake years (we’ll gladly do that), OSU has beaten OU in Norman exactly once in the past 33 years and three times since World War II. The scores since that 2001 upset are 52-9, 42-14 and 49-17. Stoops also shelled them 44-7 at home in ‘99. So, not only is a win in Norman likely, but so is a woodshedding.

  24. Adam Nettina said:

    July 7th, 2009 at 7:59 am

    I think UTEP is a great pick, but I would include Texas A&M as a ‘wildcard’ if they can ever get their defense in order. I know everyone wants to talk Baylor, but I would not be surprised if A&M finished ahead of the Bears this season.

  25. Ricky said:

    July 7th, 2009 at 9:04 am

    ponderos,
    Texas has only lost to OSU once since the inception of the Big 12 (Mackovic’s horrid last year in Austin). So if Sooners and the media are going to suggest we are likely to lose in Stillwater even though we haven’t lost to OSU since Brown took over, then we are certainly within our bounds to think that an OU win over them is not a shoe-in (no has said that OU is likely to lose, just that there is no guarantee of victory, even if the game is in Norman).

  26. ponderos said:

    July 7th, 2009 at 9:23 am

    Ricky. I’ve never (any year) suggested OSU would beat Texas. The media hypes OSU every year, only to watch them crumble at critical times – every year. No reason to think this year is any different.

  27. TaylorTRoom said:

    July 7th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    You know, I kind of like Michigan to break out this year. They were weakest on offense, but return all the starters but the QB there (which may be good). They only return 5 starters on defense, but have Greg Robinson as the new DC. Their three toughest games (PSU, tOSU, and ND) are all at home, and their first four games are Western Mich, ND, Eastern Mich, and Indiana, all at home. I think they have a great shot at winning 9 this year.

  28. BatesHorn said:

    July 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    Ricky- I love your positive attitude about OSU this year and if you could bottle it, I’d buy, but looking at our defensive line and OSU’s rushing attack is giving me a severe case of redass.

  29. CloseToJumping said:

    July 8th, 2009 at 7:50 am

    The guy mentioning ATM above needs to put the bong down for a while and sit the next few out.

  30. ponderos said:

    July 8th, 2009 at 8:09 am

    I know everyone wants to talk Baylor, but I would not be surprised if A&M finished ahead of the Bears this season.

    Way to set the bar high there.

  31. Scipio Tex said:

    July 9th, 2009 at 10:50 am

    Taylor -

    Michigan will break out in the sense that they’re not going to go 3-9 again and will probably qualify for a minor bowl. So they’ll break out in the way that Baylor will break out – from misery to near respectability.

    However, given that they are Michigan, I grade them on a harder curve. Unfair and arbitrary? Yes. Makes sense to me? Yes.

  32. Gene Claude said:

    July 13th, 2009 at 9:41 am

    QBs with twenty starts stifle a yawn when they see a blitz; QBs with three starts avoid blitzes by flinging the ball straight up in the air and digging a trench for their feces.

    Not Benjamin Button Daniel.

  33. Gene Claude said:

    July 13th, 2009 at 9:46 am

    Scip, query: Have you actually looked to see if your hypothesis about returning experience at OL and DB is more important is supported by the numbers? Makes sense, I’m just curious, especially about the DB part. And, when you say “experience” do you only mean game experience, or program experience? Guys like Kevin Rutland and Munir Prince don’t have much game experience, but significant program experience, and I’m curious what your take is on that.

    Great stuff, per usual.

  34. Scipio Tex said:

    July 13th, 2009 at 9:56 am

    GC:

    I haven’t tested it quantitatively. I’m kind of curious to do it now. It’s just something I noticed a few years ago and I’ve always used it as a key measuring stick, generally to good effect.

    I value Game Experience 2X over Program Experience.

  35. Travis said:

    July 13th, 2009 at 10:40 am

    Everyone forgets that we played that same Tcu team in 07 just like ou did last year but of course when we do it, we are refusing to play real teams and when they do it… Wow what a leader ou Is, what a joke. By the way just thought I would say this site is becoming a favorite, scipio Tex you always write very good stuff , even the posts are actually people that understand football and our love for Texas football.

  36. Gene Claude said:

    July 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    Scip, I agree. I’ll get with Euclid and see if we can come up with a way to test it. Going to be tough to mine the data for it. I had always considered experience at DB to be less important than QB and OL, on par with LB, WR, etc. But what you say makes sense.

    Judging secondary work is so difficult. Context and line play have huge effects that are well nigh impossible to separate from secondary play.

Leave a Reply

Follow Us

Related Articles

Hot Forum Topics

Activity

  • Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Did Rick Barnes use a plant last night to distract KU players?   ago

    We call her Big Monday.

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

  • Ag_in_TX commented on the blog post Post-Mortem: Texas Tech Red Raiders   ago

    How did this post make you not seem like an idiot?

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

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Thoughts on the win in Austin   ago

    Great write up. I’ll be rooting for you to keep Calipari on the schnide.

    That typed, I envy your program and hate you for it. fuckers

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

  • Blake Stansbery commented on the blog post Recruiting the Trenches   ago

    I like my wine in a box…. I like my wine in a box GIIIRL

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

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   2 minutes ago

    Rucker, holla.

    It’s almost as good as playing in Fort Bliss open runs.

  • skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   3 minutes ago

    Ground hog,
    “This team is well coached. Watching Penders teams play was like going down to Harlem to watch pick up basketball. ”
    Just one example of a well coached defensive team. A 22 point run KU and as Self said that does not happen everyday. This is not a well coached team.

    I said that Penders

  • texasengr commented on the blog post 2011 Texas Football Recruiting   6 minutes ago

    The General,

    I think the WR screen you were looking for could be seen at ~1:55. However, this was an effective play, so we really don’t know how he will take the blow from an unblocked defender 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Did Rick Barnes use a plant last night to distract KU players?   8 minutes ago

    We commented on the lass during telecast. Thanks for, getting this up, so to speak.

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

  • skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   15 minutes ago

    EP, careful those word will get you a rebuke from Peter Pan. Those words should not be heard until March if we are disappointed by this talented team. Lets wait until the season is a complete train wreck then lets file a legal brief that is in lawyeris to explain what a fuck up season

  • Mister Mike commented on the blog post Recruiting the Trenches   15 minutes ago

    Sailor’s sponsoring it? Holy shit…that likely means goats, togas, and lots of cheap wine.

    Welcome to the network!

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

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   19 minutes ago

    Bates, thanks man. That means a lot.

  • skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   44 minutes ago

    Yeah your right, penders teams were at least fun to watch play. Barnes offense is pretty bad not as bad as Tom’s but its all relative to who is watching the worst offense in Texas history.

    “His teams did not play D, did not box out, and were generally unsound in the fundamentals of the game.”
    Close

  • czarcw commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   45 minutes ago

    Our hoops team is the basketball version of Major League.

    Jake Taylor = Damion James
    Pedro Cerrano = Dexter Pittman
    Willie Mays Hays = Avery Bradley
    Roger Dorn = Justin Mason
    Isuro Tanaka (Major League II) = Dogus Balbay
    Rube Baker (Major Leauge II) = Jordan Hamilton

    If Craig Way starts drinking whiskey during the broadcasts, it’ll complete the analogy.

  • Farmer Ted commented on the blog post Recruiting the Trenches   48 minutes ago

    Nice job with this – and welcome to the network, on behalf of Better Off Red. See you at the Fantake retreat in Vegas that Sailor Ripley is sponsoring this summer!

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

  • J Rog commented on the blog post Game Day: Spurs vs. Lakers Open Thread   52 minutes ago

    Fell apart in the fourth quarter again. Can’t give up 28 points to close out a game. Spurs, Longhorns….heartache once again.

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

  • Farmer Ted commented on the blog post Thoughts on the win in Austin   55 minutes ago

    Nice job Hiphop. Very nice to win what is probably the toughest game on the schedule handily, although the Hawks obviously caught UT at a good time.

    The Morningstar FT was terrible and hilarious. He said the ball was wet, which clearly means Texas was cheating somehow. Would the second chance off balance leaner

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

  • Nickel Rover commented on the blog post Another night, another would-be hero   56 minutes ago

    I don’t think McCoy played anywhere near the level of Suh and the numbers make it clear that he did not. Suh had twice as many tackles (77-31), sacks (11-5) and nearly tackles for loss (22-14.5). Suh also broke up 10 passes, if he gets stonewalled on the rush he doesn’t allow it to take

  • skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   57 minutes ago

    We are bound to the past no matter how great the past is, we are bound to fail if we do not look to the future.
    The End

  • J Rog wrote a new blog post: Missed Opportunities: Spurs vs. Lakers Recap   1 hour, 2 minutes ago

    Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.  This game was served up on a silver platter for the Spurs and they managed to fumble it like a Minnesota Viking in the playoffs. 

    I think perhaps Will Ferrell can describe my emotions on the current state of the Spurs season better than I. 

     

    The Spurs hung around for most of the

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

  • slugfest commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   1 hour, 5 minutes ago

    EP, I get your point, but I don’t think the fact that Texas hasn’t won a tourney came as an underdog doesn’t support it. Teams are favored because they are better. The odds that they win are greater than those who are not favored. It’s not like Texas goes into games with a secret weapon

  • Mister Mike commented on the blog post Did Rick Barnes use a plant last night to distract KU players?   1 hour, 10 minutes ago

    I think KU should demand an immediate investigation. Find someone to get to the bottom of this.

    I volunteer myself.

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

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Top 8 Teams in College Hoops   1 hour, 13 minutes ago

    Georgetown?

  • RRR commented on the blog post Thoughts on the win in Austin   1 hour, 13 minutes ago

    Good write up, hiphop. I love the versatitility of the Morris twins on defense. Xavier Henry is probably the key to a big run in the tournament. If he starts hitting open looks, the inside game will really open up. Post to post passing is fun to watch.

    It’s pretty nice when

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

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   1 hour, 17 minutes ago

    PB, just talking. I’m not ready to replace him but something has to change. The comment about playing 3 on 5 three quarters into the season is just astoundingly bad.

  • Blake Stansbery commented on the blog post Petrino Building Fence Around Arkansas   1 hour, 26 minutes ago

    Here is more info on Frazier. He is such a great player, and Arkansas needs to land him in a big way.

    http://www.kiehlfrazier15.com/Home.html

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow1mOrMQXYw

    These Highlights are from his Sophomore year, and he had a bigger and better 2009. OH MY!

  • Blake Stansbery commented on the blog post Petrino Building Fence Around Arkansas   1 hour, 26 minutes ago

    Here is more info on Frazier. He is such a great player, and Arkansas needs to land him in a big way.

    http://www.kiehlfrazier15.com/Home.html

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow1mOrMQXYw

    These Highlights are from his Sophomore year, and he had a bigger and better 2009. OH MY!

  • Blake Stansbery commented on the blog post Petrino Building Fence Around Arkansas   1 hour, 26 minutes ago

    Here is more info on Frazier. He is such a great player, and Arkansas needs to land him in a big way.

    http://www.kiehlfrazier15.com/Home.html

    These Highlights are from his Sophomore year, and he had a bigger and better 2009. OH MY!

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   1 hour, 28 minutes ago

    It takes more time…unless you’re a Kentucky fan.

  • RRR commented on the blog post Mid-Season Thoughts and OU Pre-Game   1 hour, 30 minutes ago

    Thanks Trips. I’m hoping for lots of Willie Warren trying to be Sheron Collins. TMG in sync is the scariest thing to face in Norman. That or we get beat up on the boards which seems to be recurring theme of Texas Tech road games.

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

  • slugfest commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem   1 hour, 31 minutes ago

    I don’t think it’s a case of RB not being able to coach, or doing a poor job of coaching. If you read the entirety of Katz’ blog post, he clearly sounds like a coaching searching for answers — answers that come in the form of players contributing, doing what they are coached to do.