Texas practice updates

[jtk1519]

Practices are closed to all public and media so anything coming out is second-hand info, but Geoff Ketchum did an interview with Burnt Orange Nation based on conversations he had had with those watching the practices and on what he had seen. Ketch is a good spin man, but he provides some good updates and it's football talk. That has to be a good thing. Anyway, here are some interesting updates...

I think one guy that seems to be a lock to end up as one of the starting cornerbacks is Deon Beasley, at least if the first six workouts is any indication. He's been outstanding and is making plays on the ball, which has helped separate him from the pack a little. A couple of other corners that have improved their stock are Brandon Foster and Chykie Brown. Foster has lost about ten pounds since the end of last season and looks like the player that many thought he would be when he was recruited and Brown continues to emerge. Privately, Duane Akina will tell you that Brown has a chance to be the best DB he's ever coached and that includes all three of his Thorpe Award winners.

If Kindle and Muckelroy aren't starting on opening day, it's because they are injured. Both players have been outstanding through the first week of camp and I've had some people tell me that Kindle might be having the best camp of anyone on the defensive side of the ball. He's really starting to let his talent take over now that he's a little more comfortable. Muckelroy would have been a starter last year had he been healthy and most of the staff feels like he's the best linebacker on the team coming into the spring. In my opinion, the only returning starter that will keep his job is middle linebacker Rashad Bobino.

Charles has been outstanding this spring, but the coaches are still leery about turning the entire running game over to him. Expect them to try and increase his carries throughout the season if they see that he's able to handle the workload. The guy that I think will be sharing a lot of those carries is McGee and he is having a breakout camp right now. A quick and explosive runner, McGee gives the team a big-play threat with a different running style than Charles. True freshman Fozzy Whitaker has also shown some flashes and the team is still trying to figure out what to do with Chris Ogbonnaya. All three of those guys are having good camps, but Charles has been the best guy by a mile thus far.

http://www.burntorangenation.com/

[Firebird]

I hate you, Mack Brown. Why can't you be more like Fran and make UT be crappy?

[WestPlano006]

I just watched some footage from todays spring practice at OU. All I can say is watch out for DeMarco Murray come the RRS.

[jtk1519]

jtk wishes he could watch the LBs practice first hand. There has to be some awesome battles going on there. The experience and leadership of Bobino, Kill and Derry vs. the freakish raw talents of Kindle, Muck and Norton. On top of all that, they are finally being taught by an actual LB coach. The mere idea numbs jtk's brain.

[svhorns]

Practices are closed to all public and media so anything coming out is second-hand info, but Geoff Ketchum did an interview with Burnt Orange Nation based on conversations he had had with those watching the practices and on what he had seen. Ketch is a good spin man, but he provides some good updates and it's football talk. That has to be a good thing. Anyway, here are some interesting updates...

good stuff JTK... I talk to a buddy of mine last night thats on the team... He said Colt is looking real good... thought they aren't practicing in pads yet... he said he was hitting everyone in stride... he also said he looks bigger and faster...

[svhorns]

jtk wishes he could watch the LBs practice first hand. There has to be some awesome battles going on there. The experience and leadership of Bobino, Kill and Derry vs. the freakish raw talents of Kindle, Muck and Norton. On top of all that, they are finally being taught by an actual LB coach. The mere idea numbs jtk's brain.

I really hope Killebrew doesnt start next year... he needs to know how to control himself after a play... hes the Dennis Rodman of the Horns...

[Favpack]

How many times do I have to say Vondrell McGee?

Charles better get serious -- or he sits a lot next year.

And, has anyone done less with more than Henry Melton? The UT coaches should have polled the SLC coaching staff two years ago - they would have given a unanimous vote to Hammer-less Hank - pass on him.

[HUM398]

How many times do I have to say Vondrell McGee?

Charles better get serious -- or he sits a lot next year.

And, has anyone done less with more than Henry Melton? The UT coaches should have polled the SLC coaching staff two years ago - they would have given a unanimous vote to Hammer-less Hank - pass on him.

Charles over McGee for now. If He really is improving by as much as people are saying. Then he will have us droping our jaws come september.

McGee will be a fantastic addition... But I really do think the coaches will eventually give Jamal the reigns.

I cant wait for the spring game.:D

[KT2000]

Chykie Brown will be an All-American before his career is done. He has absolutely enormous potential in my opinion. I got to see him play for North Shore, and was very impressed. He has the prototype frame for an elite corner at 6'2, and he's got long arms and legs. To top that all off, he's got 4.3 speed and isn't afraid to hit someone.

[HUM398]

Chykie Brown will be an All-American before his career is done. He has absolutely enormous potential in my opinion. I got to see him play for North Shore, and was very impressed. He has the prototype frame for an elite corner at 6'2, and he's got long arms and legs. To top that all off, he's got 4.3 speed and isn't afraid to hit someone.

I love the kid...and if he is anywhere as good as he was in High school. Look out.

I like Corners that arent afraid to lay someone out...

[KT2000]

When Coach Aymond says, "This is the most talented kid I've coached in 30 years," I pay attention.

[drgnbkr]

How many times do I have to say Vondrell McGee?

Charles better get serious -- or he sits a lot next year.

And, has anyone done less with more than Henry Melton? The UT coaches should have polled the SLC coaching staff two years ago - they would have given a unanimous vote to Hammer-less Hank - pass on him.

Woof......

[Texasfrog]

When Coach Aymond says, "This is the most talented kid I've coached in 30 years," I pay attention.

Ya, that would be saying something from the North Shore coach. That school has been a college factory.

[Favpack]

DB - U should continue


Haha - I'm a poet.

[drgnbkr]

DB - U should continue


Haha - I'm a poet.

Okay...lazy woof....

[jakerz]

Melton is moving to DE I hear. We'll see if he can step his game up before his career is over.

[Texasfrog]

I just watched some footage from todays spring practice at OU. All I can say is watch out for DeMarco Murray come the RRS.

What ?? Did he look really good running against OU Scout defense ?;)

[Favpack]

Melton is moving to DE I hear. We'll see if he can step his game up before his career is over.

Yeah- he'll step right into Robison's position - yessirreee. Sorry - giving the kid a chance - I'm all about that.

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

Watch out---It might be an all-Houston area secondary

Watch out for Joseph--FS from PAM

and in-coming Freshman---Earl Thomas from WO-S, same HS as Deon Beasley.

And Melton has been mis-used in my opinion. Charles and McGee in the same backfield together-----it's a wrap for someone D cause not only do you have to worry about the RUN, we got the WR's that will burn you deep, and can take a lick.

by the way---oklahoma has Murray, but guess what---UO STILL SUCKS!

[jtk1519]

good stuff JTK... I talk to a buddy of mine last night thats on the team... He said Colt is looking real good... thought they aren't practicing in pads yet... he said he was hitting everyone in stride... he also said he looks bigger and faster...

They started in pads last wed. and had two full pad practices before a full pad scrimmage in front of the high school coaches on Sat. Pics from that scrimmage...

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/photoviewer/?photo_id=current#id=030307

You'll notice Fozzy in the second to last picture. Dude is a stout.

As for Chykie Brown, jtk thinks he will be a better version of Aaron Ross. He seems to have the same kind of build with the ability to knock you on your tail. Chykie probably has a speed advantage though. Ross didn't have world-class straight line speed, but his recovery speed was incredible.

[HUM398]

They started in pads last wed. and had two full pad practices before a full pad scrimmage in front of the high school coaches on Sat. Pics from that scrimmage...

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/photoviewer/?photo_id=current#id=030307

You'll notice Fozzy in the second to last picture. Dude is a stout.

As for Chykie Brown, jtk thinks he will be a better version of Aaron Ross. He seems to have the same kind of build with the ability to knock you on your tail. Chykie probably has a speed advantage though. Ross didn't have world-class straight line speed, but his recovery speed was incredible.


How big is Sherrod Harris? he has gained alot of weight the last time i saw a picture of him.. He is stout. Great back up for Colt if he were to go down.. Chiles isn't to bad either.

Fozzy is def getting bigger, i thought he was way to small in HS...and he has gained some serious weight from what i can tell.

Chykie is a freak.

[jakerz]

How big is Sharrad Harris? he has gained alot of weight the last time i saw a picture of him.. He is stout. Great back up for Colt if he were to go down.. Chiles isn't to bad either.

Fozzy is def getting bigger, i thought he was way to small in HS...and he has gained some serious weight from what i can tell.

Chykie is a freak.

Sherrod Harris has to ability to take Colts spot...and I think he just might do it! ;)

[HUM398]

Sherrod Harris has to ability to take Colts spot...and I think he just might do it! ;)

I know he does. Sherrod offers a little bit more for the position. But i would still like to see Colt get a shot sense he is the seasoned QB for now.

[jakerz]

I know he does. Sherrod offers a little bit more for the position. But i would still like to see Colt get a shot sense he is the seasoned QB for now.

VY totally changed the QB posistion at UT. That offense is meant for a QB like Sherrod or J.C. I love Colt, but....:eek:

[TrojanHorse03]

VY totally changed the QB posistion at UT. That offense is meant for a QB like Sherrod or J.C. I love Colt, but....:eek:

Your absolutely right about VY changing the position. I don't know about since he's been at Texas but in high school I wasn't impressed with Sherrod at all as a passer or a runner either and I'm well aware those Bowie teams werent very good at all. Mack Brown certainly isnt a critical type nor is he gonna tip his hand this early. But I'm gonna go on the type of limb that makes people say what in March and oh in September. Don't be surprised next year if Greg Davis creates some packages for John Chiles next year similar to what Florida did with Tebow last year. Not only will it keep defenses off balance but it'll also protect Colt.

[HUM398]

Your absolutely right about VY changing the position. I don't know about since he's been at Texas but in high school I wasn't impressed with Sherrod at all as a passer or a runner either and I'm well aware those Bowie teams werent very good at all. Mack Brown certainly isnt a critical type nor is he gonna tip his hand this early. But I'm gonna go on the type of limb that makes people say what in March and oh in September. Don't be surprised next year if Greg Davis doesn't create some packages for John Chiles next year similar to what Florida did with Tebow last year. Not only will it keep defenses off balance but it'll also protect Colt.

I disagree with you about Sherrod. He is plenty good as a passer, and is very deceiving with his legs. Now he is no where near the talent as VY...but he is good enough to get the Job done if his number is called.

[TrojanHorse03]

Well I'm sure we may agree to disagree on that. But let me also add in my opinion neither one of them starts over a healthy Colt McCoy and that Sherrod's a solid backup.

[HUM398]

Well I'm sure we may agree to disagree on that. But let me also add in my opinion neither one of them starts over a healthy Colt McCoy and that Sherrod's a solid backup.

I think your right about that...

[jtk1519]

Sherrod is up to about 220 now and looking at Chiles, he's every bit as big as Colt is now if not a little bigger. Colt is supposed to be around 210 and jtk would not be surprised if Chiles is 215 or better judging from the pictures. And at the risk of going all aggy forearm crazy here, Chiles has some serious calves.

Nobody is going to take Colt's job unless they can prove they can manage a game and play with the same poise Colt has exhibited. That is no small task and despite their tremendous athletic ability, jtk doesn't expect Harris or Chiles to do that this year.

BTW, the idea that this offense is built around a guy like Vince is false. Texas runs the same base offense as the Indianapolis Colts and jtk does not think that Peyton Manning and Vince Young have too much in common from an athletic standpoint. The difference is in how the two teams vary their offense. Indy's is more pass focused while Texas' is more run focused. However, since the base offense is the same, it's easy to switch back and forth. In fact, Indy switched up their offense from the regular season to the playoffs converting to a run based, clock control offense for the playoffs. It is that easy to switch back and forth, but it takes a lot longer to make the adjustments at the college level. You saw Texas do some of it through the year last year, but any major changes would have to be done in the offseason.

[HUM398]

Sherrod is up to about 220 now and looking at Chiles, he's every bit as big as Colt is now if not a little bigger. Colt is supposed to be around 210 and jtk would not be surprised if Chiles is 215 or better judging from the pictures. And at the risk of going all aggy forearm crazy here, Chiles has some serious calves.

Nobody is going to take Colt's job unless they can prove they can manage a game and play with the same poise Colt has exhibited. That is no small task and despite their tremendous athletic ability, jtk doesn't expect Harris or Chiles to do that this year.





and you hit it on the head. I don't expect Colt to lose his Job this coming year, Colt has that experience that is very valuable...and he proved that he is capable of managing the game last season.

[Mad Hatter]

yea anyone who watched texas last year saw them move more towards a passing attack then a ground game. This was due to a number of reasons but i dont expect it to change much. Colt is a very good passing QB and we have a very deep and talented receving core. Ill say it again by the time colt is gone he will have reset the Passing numbers for UT in the books.

[jtk1519]

yea anyone who watched texas last year saw them move more towards a passing attack then a ground game. This was due to a number of reasons but i dont expect it to change much. Colt is a very good passing QB and we have a very deep and talented receving core. Ill say it again by the time colt is gone he will have reset the Passing numbers for UT in the books.

Texas was somewhere around a 55/45 run/pass offense last year and jtk hopes that with flip flop. A 45/55 run/pass offense would only mean throwing the ball about 6 or 7 times more per game, but that should be enough to force the defenses back some thus opening up running lanes. Even a 40/60 run/pass offense would be great. Texas no longer has the kind of RBs that you just feed the ball to and ride them to wins. Jamaal is not physically capable of that at this level. You don't measure this running game's success by number of carries as you did with Ricky and Cedric. This running game's success has to be measure with yards per carry and you get that number up by throwing the ball, spreading the field and opening up the front so that the RBs can get into space and do what they do best.

[jakerz]

I hope Colt keeps his job, and I think he will. What I'm saying is, Sherrod has the potential to step up and take Colt's job, as well as John Chiles. For the next 5 years look for Texas to recruit mainly Dual-Threat QB's. Just like last year, this upcoming year, 09'....etc.

[mtbray]

Texas was somewhere around a 55/45 run/pass offense last year and jtk hopes that with flip flop. A 45/55 run/pass offense would only mean throwing the ball about 6 or 7 times more per game, but that should be enough to force the defenses back some thus opening up running lanes. Even a 40/60 run/pass offense would be great. Texas no longer has the kind of RBs that you just feed the ball to and ride them to wins. Jamaal is not physically capable of that at this level. You don't measure this running game's success by number of carries as you did with Ricky and Cedric. This running game's success has to be measure with yards per carry and you get that number up by throwing the ball, spreading the field and opening up the front so that the RBs can get into space and do what they do best.

Do these numbers include all those god d**** little screen passes?

[TrojanHorse03]

Your absolutely right about VY changing the position. I don't know about since he's been at Texas but in high school I wasn't impressed with Sherrod at all as a passer or a runner either and I'm well aware those Bowie teams werent very good at all. Mack Brown certainly isnt a critical type nor is he gonna tip his hand this early. But I'm gonna go on the type of limb that makes people say what in March and oh in September. Don't be surprised next year if Greg Davis creates some packages for John Chiles next year similar to what Florida did with Tebow last year. Not only will it keep defenses off balance but it'll also protect Colt.

I said the above first but this espn article http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2791865 is going out on that limb with me. Let tell me how I came to this conclusion. Part of it was just wishful thinking. But the rest was Texas is my ridiculously early number 2 team in the nation because I not even being a longhorn fan feel they are the most talented team in the nation(theyre just inexperienced in some areas) and that's led me to keep up with everthing about Texas in the spring because as some who's obssessed with college football I like stating informed analysis on it based as on equally obssesive research(and apartently I LOVE run on sentences :D ). And when they've asked Mac about the Qb situation for next year he's made a few references to Florida's 2 headed attack. And I see more the a passing resemblance. People love Colt as a passer and his receiving options but seem him as nothing more than slightly above average as a runner much like they did Leak last year. And the word on Chiles is while his head has been swimming as a passer he's been routinely breaking off the big run in practice creating some buzz. I personally think with some questions about Jamaal Charles being able to do the heavy lifting and last years running game being a HUGE dissappointment I think creating a few plays each game for Chiles will be a creative way to take some pressure of Colt and Charles and bolster the vital running game.

[Mad Hatter]

id like to see some packages with Chiles and McCoy in there at the same time. Chiles is a pretty decent reciever by all accounts and if he trul runs a 4.3 then his speed needs to be on th field at all times.

[svhorns]

Do these numbers include all those god d**** little screen passes?

LOL:D

[Redhoss]

I hate you, Mack Brown. Why can't you be more like Fran and make UT be crappy?

:D :D :D

[0utlaw]

id like to see some packages with Chiles and McCoy in there at the same time. Chiles is a pretty decent reciever by all accounts and if he trul runs a 4.3 then his speed needs to be on th field at all times.

If that's the case(on what you stated on Chiles as WR),then Chiles should be one of those Randaal EL type of recievers.:D

[Vols4Ever]

I loved Sherrod Harris at Bowie ---- but he is the enemy now.

GIG EM AGGIES

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

Chiles runs every bit of a 4.3, and Sherrod is also quite an athlete himself. When he first went down to Austin, I expected the Horns to move him (Sherrod) to safety, being that he has played the position quite a bit, or another skill position. Chiles was pretty good as a reciever when he played it his junior season at Summit. I can't remember his stats, but they weren't bad, and he was also seeing time at QB also during that time. One thing was for sure, you had better jab him at the line, and if you didn't, you could hang it up.