Next season is going to be very interesting. Our QB is going to have a nice set of weapons to work with: 1. Jamaal Charles- This kid is going to be better than Ricky and Cedric in my opinion. 2. Limas Sweed- A big target for the QB. Dropped some easy catches last season, but hopefully will improve. 3. Billy Pittman- Him and Snead/McCoy could hook up a lot next season on the deep bombs. 4. Ramonce Taylor- I thought Ramonce was going to have a better season this year. Hasn't really established what position he plays, would like to see him more at flanker. 5. Quan Cosby- Showed some pretty good stuff out there this season, could use some more touches (punt returns).
Offensively, Texas is going to have superb skill players. If Blaylock returns that is 3/5th of the Oline returning and they should be dominant as well. If McCoy, Snead or Harris can give them OK QB play (I assume McCoy or Snead is likely since Snead is enrolling early) they will be hard to stop. Important but less critical is TE, who is going to do Thomas's role? I thought Taylor had an excellent all around year and look forward to him getting more touches, but all the RBs need to work on non-fumble drills. Where Texas should really shine is defense. Of the defenses top 10 in both scoring and yards (Bama, VT, Mia, OSU, Texas, LSU, Auburn), only Texas has 7 starters returning (in effect 8 starters returning, see below). In fact I think the defense should be better than last year. The leaving players were excellent (Wright, Huff, Harris, Ced Griffin), but basically 8 starting caliber players return (one of Ross or Brown, both excellent experienced corners, take over for Ced Griffin). The DL is mostly intact (only losing Wright), the secondary should be excellent even if not quite as good, and the linebackers should be significantly better that last year with the younger LBs from last year getting experience and the phenom recruits at LB/rush DE more than making up losing Harris. Texas front 7 looks fast and ferocious next year, and like I said the secondary should not be far off either. Potentially this could be the best defense in the nation. It is a good thing the defense is among the best if not the best. Because Ohio State could bring the best early season offense in the land right off the bat. I don't think anyone on paper matches Troy Smith, Pittman and Ginn in their difficulty to contain (also have maybe the top fresh RB next year as a bigger alternative to Pittman), and OSU oline is largely intact too. The good thing is OSU is likely to lose 8-9 starters off their defense, so Texas might be able to grind them up on the ground and through safe passes. They key to this game for Texas is getting off to a good early start to put a young QB in favorable situations and turning the hounds loose defensively.
Good take. I expect to see lots more 17-7 type scores next year, controlling the clock and letting our defense win. Probably won't see the quick strike offense of 2005 save for a few screens or play action passes that RT or Pittman take to the house. Luckily, as you said, Ohio State's D will be absolutely decimated by injuries this fall. Also, OU loses 5/6 starters from an already pathetic O-line, so the RRS shouldn't be much of a problem either. Here's what my depth chart looks like: QB - Colt McCoy/Jevan Snead (V. Young gone) RB - Taylor/Charles/Young/Melton FB - Chris Ogbonnaya WR - Limas Sweed WR - Billy Pittman WR - Quan Cosby TE - Neale Tweedie/Jermichael Finley (D. Thomas gone) RT - Adam Ulatoski (Will Allen gone) RG - Kasey Studdard C - Lyle Sendlein LG - Justin Blalock (moves to G) LT - Tony Hills (J. Scott gone) (Mike Garcia, Will Winston, Brian Carter graduate) Defense: DE - Tim Crowder/Aaron Lewis DT - Roy Miller/Derek Lokey (R. Wright gone) DT - Frank Okam DE - Brian Robison/Brian Orakpoo WLB - Robert Killebrew MLB - Rashad Bobino (Aaron Harris gone, #44 moves to MLB) SLB - Drew Kelson CB - Aaron Ross (C. Griffin gone) CB - Tarrell Brown FS - Michael Griffin SS - Matt Melton/Marcus Griffin (Huff gone) KR - Taylor/Ross K - Hunter Lawrence (FR, Pino gone) P - Trever Gerland (RS FR)/Greg Johnson
Baqui99, by all acounts Sergio Kindle is a beast and will be hard to keep off the field (#1 LB recruit in the nation). I assume he will start somewhere (OLB my guess, with Killebrew taking over at MLB, you think Bobino at MLB?). The athleticsm and depth at DE and OLB should be outstanding, I look forward to a more consistent pass rush from 4-5 guys. Rivals lists only 2 of 6 of OSU linemen (including TE) as seniors, so I assume they are mostly in tact. OSU could have a scary good offense. Beating them at the LOS is our only chance to contain them. Still, I think you are underestimate the offense. Without excellent QB play it won't be a great offense, but it still is a lot more loaded than most. Oline, RBs and WRs should be among the best in the nation, I'd hope they average PPG in the low 30s, with respectable QB play, high 30s.
At 6'3 Blaylock has acknowledged that he won't play tackle in the NFL. He's been so impressed with Adam Ulatoski that he's volunteered to move over to Guard next year to help prepare for the NFL.
Kindle is a beast, but I think he's still a little raw at LB. He will be in the mix, but I don't see him starting right away with the experience that we already have out there. He still needs to learn pursuit angles, pass coverage, etc to be an effective D1 OLB. There's been some speculation regarding Killebrew to MLB, but I think he did so well at WLB last year that Chizik would like to keep him there. I've always thought that Bobino is a natural MLB, as he struggled at times at the Sam Backer spot last season. Pass rush should be improved as Orakpo gets more reps, along with Aaron Lewis, who is a natural pass rusher. Roy Miller and Lokey should easily fill Rod Wright's shoes as well. Our offense shouldn't have any problem averaging in the 30's due to Rice, Sam Houston St, etc. But expect big games such as OU, Ohio State, Nebraska, and K-State to be lower scoring.
Has anyone noticed that our best recruits are on the defensive side. Our Defense didn't take a hit like OSU did and with some more seasoning from Chizik the returning starters should improve. I know they had Kelson at LB this year but I like him better at S. Anyway, if we win the Big 12 which looks more realistic than a repeat NC (though not out of the realm of possibility) I think it's gonna b/c of our D. They're gonna have to be the college equivalent of the 2000 Ravens, coz we have a big whole at QB. If I'm not mistaken Kindle, Beasley, Snead, and 2 other recruits are already starting classes so they're gonna be available for spring drills. This should defenitly help.
Just got back from the celebration. Blalock's got bad news for Big 12 defensive lines... Rod Wright was the best. He wants to be on the Fiesta Bowl sidelines next year. Let's get it done!
just got back from the celebration too.. im a little more skeptical about our D. i think our secondary is going to see a significant dropoff. -wheres kelson gonna play? he's an ideal chizik LB, but if he wants to play on sundays hes gonna have to learn S. i'd like to see Michael Griffin shift to SS (he hits like one) and see kelson FS. kelson needs to be on the field though. -linebacker play is gonna be a question mark too. i know kindle is a beast but we cant really expect him to just step in, but enrolling early will help. both killebrew and bobino progressed nicely as the season went on, im curious to see what they can do next year. -i still think selvin young can be a premiere back. he took the long road to recovery from ankle surgery. remember the beginning of 2004? alot of people thought he should cut into cedric benson's carries. he also ran back a punt and a kickoff in the same game as a freshman. in crunchtime during the last 2 rose bowl drives, it was selvin picking up all the blitzes seamlessly and giving VY time. JC is definitely a stud and can be a heisman winner when its all said and done but he needs to put on weight (hes also developed a little fumblitis). selvin is more well rounded and he can pick up tough yards and push the pile. if he regains his explosiveness and acceleration i think he can breakout year.
Baqui99 - since you seem to know so much which incoming freshmen do you expect to get regular playing time? Sergio Kindle LB Eddie Jones DE Lamarr Houston DE Deon Beasley DB Chykie Brown DB Jared Norton LB Montre Webber WR Phillip Payne WR Vondrell McGee RB J'Marcus Webb OL And is Taylor really expected to play runningback? He seems to have too many negative plays at RB compared to wideout.
Just got back from the celebration, good to hear Blaylock will be back, I'm sure Mack was thanking his stars that he'll have him back manning the OL.
Nah, look for Charles to be our starting RB next season, I think it's important for our QB (whoever it is) to have as many weapons at receiver as possible. Out of your list, I would say only Kindle, Webber, and possibly Jones have a chance to see some minutes on the field. I don't think Chizik will play freshman when our secondary is pretty stacked.
