Counting our blessings with this team.

H

horndfl

25+ Posts
Obviously, I can't speak intelligently on how this season will end, so keep that thought in mind as you read this. Nonetheless, I thought I'd throw out some thoughts on this team.

I was watching tape of the Baylor game and some things hit me that extend further than just the Baylor game. The thought that crossed my mind was "Do I appreciate the wealth of talent I'm seeing on the field right now?". The answer, in my head, is, "How can I?". I'm relatively young, so maybe you oldtimers can speak better on this than I, but I personally find the talent level on this year's team to be baffling.

We are absolutely loaded at virtually every position on the field. Just looking around, I noticed a few things at different positions.

At QB, several thoughts keep circling through my mind. One of the ideas that keeps occurring to me, especially when I visit this site and go to the games, is that Simms' talent and growth as a QB has really been lost on many of us. Even on me, to some extent. Watching the Baylor game only reminded me of that fact. He makes throws that few guys at any level can make. It's stunning at times. Another thought on this guy is the idea that the game really seems to have slowed down for him. Of course I want to see him perform against a great D before I really go overboard, but he truly seems to be making better decisions at this point in the season than I have seen him make in three years. Also, consider the level of talent we have stacked at this spot. Applewhite, Mock, Malone, Nordgren, and quite possibly Young, as well as Simms. That goes beyond depth and into the absurd.

At RB, just watching Benson, it's hard not to get excited about having him around for a while. No one ever gets a clean shot on this guy and he always falls forward. Everytime he gets the ball it seems like a 3 yard gain at worst. I know that's not true, but it seems like it. Add Brett Robin to the mix as a legit 3rd down threat, and, again, you have to love our weapons here. Top that off with a 2 time 100 yard rusher, from this season, running 3rd string for us, and you have a very strong, exciting group, obviously. Signing Albert Hardy will only add to that. At fullback, Trissell and Stephens have come a long way. Frankly, I was unimpressed by MT last season. This season is a different story. He is a damned solid blocking back and will only get better. Kudos to Chambers and Matt for working on this.

WR is so sick and hyped that it's almost ridiculous to revisit the position, but it's merited. We're so fricking deep in blue chip talent at WR that Tony Jeffery has a hard time getting the ball thrown to him. He's the #1 WR on many teams. Take Tech or ATM as examples. And look at Roy Williams. He has got to force DBs to **** all over themselves when he steps onto the field. If I had to make a WR prototype, I would likely base it off of him. After a tough start, he and his comrades are living up to their "Showtime" billing.

Does anyone realize how loaded we are at TE? Mike Jones is a 2 year returning starter and the guy is running 3rd string now. It really has nothing to do with his actions on the field either. Simply put, we just have 2 other guys with All-Conference, or better, talent. I truly wish that we would throw the ball more to these guys, but there's only one ball on the field, I guess. Consider further that we're adding David Thomas to the mix next season and you just have a sick, sick level of talent here. Mike Jones will certainly be missed. He's played his *** off for Texas and provided us with some great memories, such as CU in '00 and UNL in '99. Perhaps Eric Winston can fill his shoes early on as our situational blocking TE?

Our OL is ridiculous too. Mike Williams is phenomenal. Has anyone ever improved so much in two years? I have a hard time thinking of anyone. Shaun Rogers maybe. Kirk-Hughes has really developed as well. The growth and development of these two guys over the past few years is a testament, in large part, to Tim Nunez. I was wrong in my assessment of him two years ago. I firmly believe now that if you give him talent to work with, he can mold the talent to be a solid force for us. Watching Doane, TH, Dockery, and the sophs and fish grow over the next few years will be fun.

At DT, one thought continually passes through my head. Why does Tolleson not get more credit for the job he does here? This guy shaped CH and SR into the players they became. This year, he's taken Doiron, a former DE, Gordon, a former TB, and Tubbs, a former TE, and made them into a very solid group in the middle. Marcus Tubbs demands a double team from opponents and will be AC and maybe AA by the time he leaves campus.

Our DEs are very underappreciated. They are not asked by our D coaches to be all-out blitzing banshees, like DEs are at many schools. They keep contain and simply ruin the outside run to either side for opposing teams. Why would any team ever try to run outside on us? It seems to fail every time. The obvious exception was OU's option in the 2nd QTR, but more often than not, that play fails. Jermain Anderson also deserves plenty of credit for the job he's done filling in this season. Signing Pickryl and Michael Williams is important if we wish to keep the pipeline to the NFL connected after KT and CR are drafted over the next few years.

At LB, Derrick Johnson is shocking. This guy may be the best freshman, regardless of position, to ever step foot on the field at UT. He's the leading tackler on the #3 defense in the country as a true fish playing 50% of the time. He also leads the team in TFLs and is second in sacks. WOW. He will win a Butkus or 2 by the time he leaves here, if he stays healthy. An unbelievable talent and a true catalyst when he's on the field. Beyond Johnson, DD Lewis has stepped up his game tremendously in recent weeks. His progression from the past few years, and the beginning of this year, to now, is pretty fantastic. I hope he keeps up the big plays. Rawls and Jones, with their speed, have also given the defensive staff the flexibility to do some things on D that most coaches simply can't afford to do. Our plan against Tech and OU is a solid example. Signing Nicholson, Smith, Harris and possibly Sessions or Byrdsong, along with what we've got committed, will help the pipeline at this spot continue.

As for the DBs, it's simply amazing. Jammer is a once in a decade kind of guy, but then again, it seems like Babers is too. These guys shut down the opposing 1 & 2 WRs. Vasher is a rare breed as well. Brooks is steady and will certainly be missed. Pearson would start at most places and could do so here. Behind these guys, we have a wealth of talent. Geigger, Griffin, Harris, Briles, Huff, Ross, Vasher, Babers, Pearson, Collier, and hopefully Melton and McCullough all return next year. Unbelievable.

Could we have hoped for a guy to be as solid as a fish as Mangum at PK? I know he's had some misses, but he's far surpassed my expectations. Vasher is a gamechanger deluxe at PR. Ike would be near or at the tops in the nation in KR if our D would give up more TDs. Thankfully, they don't. Our ST coverage teams are terrific. We could definitely use some work in net punting and kicking off, but overall, our STs are certainly a strength. And I can't forget TJones. The guy is great at blocking kicks.

Anyway, I just thought I'd at least note this stuff. I am very pleased with the season to date. I am overwhelmed by our talent. We could well have 10-15 1st or 2nd round picks on our team right now out of our 2 deep. 3 in the secondary, 2 at DE, 1 at LB, 1 at DT, 2 at OL, 3-4 at WR, 1 at TB, and 1 at QB. WOW.

Brown and Co. have done a great job of getting these guys together and getting them up to play for each game. Nothing besides OU has even been close. That's refreshing. It's important that this team and staff finish well this year. It impacts everyone's psyche. On that thought, I think it also affects every recruits idea of our program as well. Win out this year and we may sign our best class yet under Brown. Scary.

So for the length. Anyone make it to the end of this treatise?
 
I agree that Brown's best class may be yet to come. And, as indicated, it will happen when Texas finishes really strong. This year I hope.
 
I made it to the end but I forgot what you said.

D-E-P-T-H.

I've seen a few rival fans over here posting tonight and some have commented that we've been lucky we haven't had more injuries. To that, I say: depth.

Where would we be hurt with an injury?

Tubbs sticks out for sure. That problem looks like it'll be addressed with next year's newcomers. On the other hand our 3-4 might lessen the blow, a lot.

The OL can take one or two hits this year but after that might have some trouble. Again, starting next year the red-shirt class should take care of that.

There simply isn't any other area of concern. Looking at a depth chart, TODAY, we could conceivably not land another new recruit over the next 3 years and still field a top 10 team. Scary.
 
I'm sorry horndfl. My wife was hollering something or other. What did you say after throw out some thoughts on the team???

HOOK 'EM,
Texdoc
 
i agree, the talent here is crazy, and its going to get better. our LBs wi8ll be better. our DLs, suprisingly, will get better. our OL will get better. Ced will get better. our WRs, because of marquis, will get better.

when we have a QB that isn't hitting his target 95% of the time, we are going to miss Chris Simms. the dude's physical ability to throw a football is unreal. the fun part about this team, is that this sentence: "______ ability to _______ is unreal" could be filled in about 20 different ways. amazing
 
...perhaps you should double post this on the recruiting board... it's a wonderful job of one of those open letters everybody loves so much. just change the title: "an open letter to recruits who want to win"

seriously, nice post.
 
I concur. I would expand that Mack Brown has impressed me enormously in the way he has discovered and solved the problems that have arisen in the last few years of this developing team. The special teams nightmare of NC State and all those years since Metcalf left of not having kicks returned for TDs. We can name guys that have excelled strictly on the special teams-- Ungar and Trahan-- who have become heroes.

I am also very impressed with Brown's handling of the team psyche. When they were young in the seasons previous to this one, he was fatherly and encouraging. Now they are older and he is tougher and more demanding, he wears this change of approach on his face. He wants a tough team and he is getting it. This also applies to the weird Texas thing for the last 20 odd years of sometimes not showing up at a game or seemingly not wanting to play hard in the little games and getting their *** kicked. I would say dealing with that horrible little trait has been a priority this year and he has been successful. I wish we'd had more tough games this season to prove all this.

And he keeps your "pipeline" flowing with amazing wealth of talent and character. Good kids who will take your head off come Saturday.

Mack Brown is so much more than just a good recruiter. I will be as happy for him as I will be for me when we win the big taco one these upcoming years. He will get his due.
 
horndfl, you are right on. I too watched the Baylor game and was marveled at our talent level. I just like the swagger we seem to have now. We dont have those lapses anymore of taking plays off. We get pissed off now. I saw a play where Rawls went after the whistle and DD stared down guys when his helmet got knocked off. I use to wonder like many here if we really wanted to kick some ***. Now I KNOW we do.

Maurice Gordon is really sticking out to me. Here is a guy who was a journeymam at best and is now a force on the defensive line. He is cat quick off the ball. Also, Roy seems to have found that killer instinct that he showed last year. He is beginning to dominate games when the ball is in his hands. Vasher is special. He is so versatile and he was adjusted to safety so well. I am just pleased with our team.

BTW, Do you think we will leave Vasher at safety or move him to corner. Also, is Monti Collier ready to step it up?
 
Horndfl - one of us has quit drinking, and it may be me.

Congrats on a great post - that says it all.

Not only is your analysis accurate right down the line (in regard to both players and coaches), imo, but it also reflects well on your integrity and guts -- as usual. Speaking from my personal perspective, this is the best Texas has looked on the football field since Darrell.

In particular, I appreciate your comments regarding Chris Simms. He may be the best quarterback we ever have had at the University of Texas.

Florida can have Rex Grossman, and Nebraska is a good home for Eric Crouch -- but we're the ones with the quarterback keeper.

And if we think it's good now, just wait until next year.

Hook 'em.
smile.gif
 
Dale--

I honestly think that MC would be a part of the rotation now if the staff had big plans. I do see him as an integral part of our STs in the next few years, however. Who knows?

Roma--

Good points in all areas. I agree about Brown's handling of the team. I hope he continues to demand the best from his maturing program each week.

CA--

Your sentence in quotes says it all.

justhookit--

No doubt depth is a team strength every week. I'm unsure if a team in college football matches up, depthwise, with us right now. UF and Miami, maybe.

kchorn--

Thanks for the thoughts. Agreed on the QB. I would not take another QB for our program over Simms at this juncture. He has handled his status with the team, fans and media better than I could have imagined. It's a testament to his parents and coaching.
 
Next year is the scary part for me. Next year the number one class will be seniors or red shirt juniors. With the new class coming in high in defensive studs, especially in need positions like linebacker and dline, the defense will be outstanding. The offense will have another year of confidence to a senior QB, incredible junior WR's, a sensational Soph running back and a boat load of offensive linemen that just redshirted. Next year this team will be insane and could be a very special season with a better schedule to run for the NC. The future is just talent on talent.
 
Great job on pointing out our blessings. I've been watching
Longhorn football for a LONG time, and the team we have on
field this year is right up there with the all time best. We owe
Mack Brown---big time. There is not another coach in the USA
that could have improved the Horns plight so drastically in a matter
of 3 to 4 years.
 
Some of the names that really stand out to me are Gordon, Trissel, Applewhite, Thornton, Brooks. Here are guys that this staff either discovered or developed. I think it's amazing that Applewhite put up the numbers that he did, or that Trissell worked his way up to a starting assignment. Brooks tackles like a man twenty pounds heavier, and Gordon was a freaking 220 lb tail back when he arrived.. This staff can develop talent.
 
Horn 79 - those are good points, and here's just a thought to add to your reference to the "one game".

Although this thought may seem to swim upstream, it actually was the Oklahoma game this year that may have convinced some of us about Mack. We already knew he was doing an exceptionally good job for Texas, but when the Horns stood in there against OU (with the debacle from last season hanging over their heads like the "sword of Damocles"), never yielded an inch in the game without a fight, and were in position to win it midway through the fourth quarter (when the pass to Sloan was short) -- then a lot of us felt the same way we did when Darrell busted the Sooners in the chops (but lost the game) in '57: we know better days are ahead, and that time is on our side.

It's the Horns -- not the Sooners -- that have the football program and coaches that we want, and it's the Oklahoma game that (despite the outcome) proved the point.

Texas was just as well-coached in the game this year as the Sooners. I won't say "moreso" until next year.

Hook 'em.
smile.gif
 
Another EXCELLENT post from dfl. Who are you? I think you are Kiper in disguise. Did you play college FB? You consistently amaze me with insightful and pertinent posts.
 
The wideout position is something else. I continue to believe that Jeffery is the single, biggest untapped talent on this team. Great hands, and quickest feet on the team outside of Vasher. Jeffery and Thomas are 100 catches combined for 1500 yards at practically any other school. Just not enough 'skin to go around here w/ all the talent at the position.

f henry james
 
Great post, Horndfl.

Not only is the talent level great, but execution and team chemistry appear to be fantastic as well. Talent plus discipline is a great combination.

Not to single any one player out, but your comments on Simms are on target. We all expected so much out of him that I'm not sure we really appreciate what he has become. You mentioned the Baylor tape, where his arm is well showcased. But look again at the CU tape. The diversity of throws and reads was staggerring for a guy who really is only in his first full season as a starter. From the bullets to Roy and Sloan for TD's, to the long over-the shoulder throw to Roy on the sideline, and even the should-a-been TD to Roy. Different passes all, and equally well executed.

I also echo your comments on Tolleson. Our DT play has been fabulous this year, despite young players or transfers from other positions. This guy has to be one of the best in the NCAAs. Our DE's may not be cut loose to blitz all the time, but the diversity of plays they execute well--the occasional blitz, excellent contain, and even pass coverage--is pretty amazing. They may be the best overall athletes on this team.
 
Good post Horndfl. The talent level is sick, and it will only get better. I 'll add that Mack Brown seems to do a better job of keeping his players motivated and focused this year than in years past, avoiding the letdown and stupid losses we have seen in the past. He seems to have learned about the pysche of these football players in this part of the country and what it takes to motivate them, when to kick *** and when to be their friend. Now people are finally beginning to see the talent that Chris Simms has and why he is the number 1 QB. I agree with you that I want to see Chris in a big game before I gush all over the keyboard and announce he is here.

I will also fess up about my doubts with Nunez and Davis. I think it goes to show that these kids, with rare exception ( Johnson, Benson) do not reach their potential for several years into the program and you have to be patient. Davis and Nunez are good coaches, not genies, and they need time with the kids.

Davis is doing a much better job of mixing up the plays and keeping the defense guessing. I hope he continues to be creative and unpredictable, as the season gets into the bowls we will need it. Opposing teams have a lot of film to look at by the end of the year and will shut you down if you don't add plays/mix up your trends on 1st and 3rd, etc.
 
Great point on Tolleson. How many times have we heard over the last few years how badly we'd suck after CH and SR were gone? Tolleson also has a good rep on the recruiting front, as well.

Hook 'em

Fritz
 
Good thread DFL,

It is very enjoyable to read solid and objective thoughts expressed by our fans. Recognizing the talent of the players and the coaching ablity of the coaching staff, while at the same time, reminding everone that the team is still young and will continue to improve.
There is so much more to being a good coaching staff than X's and O's. With a little luck or better execution we could be undefeated now. Even if we lose another game this year, we will be a stronger and better team than last year and will be even better next year.
 
when brown got here, I sort of laughed at the notion that a coach could actually lock down the state and have his pick of the best recruits, but he's done that. I heard an announcer say during one of our games this year, "Mack Brown says that in any given year, he will land 8 of the top 10 players in the state." That is unbelievable.

It's really gonna be scary around here when all of these guys get to redshirt their freshman year. We're at that point right now, and the next few years will be interesting, to say the least.
 
HornDFL-
Another awesome post.
It is great to think about the future that this team has in front of it. Texas is on the brink of being one of those sel-sustaining recruiting schools (ala Florida State historically) that just seems year in and year out to get the top players in the country.

After sitting through defensive debacles and heartaches in the past under Mackovic, to have a team that should finish in the top 10 for 3 years in a row in total D is awesome. And knowing that it will only get better is even more encouraging.
Everyone Forecasted Doom & Gloom for the UT D with the loss of SR & CH. Instead this could be the best Team D ranking in years!!

Hook em
 
I really enjoyed your post, dfl. It puts things into their proper perspective. I have been a bit peeved at the fans that have gone on and on about the loss to OU, how this year's easy schedule provided our big chance at the MNC, etc. I think those folks have it all wrong and miss the goal of the program under this coaching staff entirely. Mack and staff have maintained from the start that their goal was to recruit great talent year in and year out to build quality depth at every position. With recent Florida State and Nebraska teams as the on-field prototype, the goal was to be a serious competetor for both the Big12 title and National Championship every year, REGARDLESS of who is on the schedule.

The object, then, is to move toward that goal each year. The impatient critics don't get that this year's team is LIGHT YEARS better than last year's in most phases despite the loss to OU. Your post was a nice position-by-position review of why this is true.

I am old enough to remember some of our better teams from the past and I think we are finally getting to the point where some of the comparisons to those teams being made in other threads are apt. That speaks of the huge strides made by the program. As your post also points out, this young team will only get better next year and the year after. That is what this coaching staff is after and appears poised to bring about. After enduring a lot of years of mediocrity, I can uneqivocally say that this team is starting to look like the real deal. Thanks for stating the particulars of that climb so well.

Hook 'em,

hh
 
Great post horndfl.

I agree 100 %. Talent is really fun to watch. These teams we're playing now have been so outmatched it is extremely difficult to believe that many of them beat us at least once recently.

I'd like to see a little bit more creative use of some of our talent though. I think Victor and Ivan can continue to contribute if used in creative ways. It's not that I don't want Cedric on the field as much as possible, but I think it does something for your depth, team chemistry, recruiting, and RETAINING talented players if they see the field. Cedrick is the man, but I'm curious why Ivan just vanished.

That said, I love seeing Brett Robin too. All he seems to do is find the endzone whenever he is in there. I'd loved the run in the 4th quarter of the Baylor game. That certainly made us a little less predictable when he comes in.

Now, let's finish strong. Beat the hell out of Kansas, and a&m (and Nebraska for that matter)!
 
First of all, this is an awesome thread with excellent points made by several people.

Secondly, I am glad to see Simms get the respect he deserves. He has 20 TD's with two games to go, and we over-emphasized the run for at least the first two games.

Finally, for those of you that follow college football closely, you know that the biggest sign of a solid powerhouse program is the redshirting of players. Nothing speaks more volumes about a program's depth and talent level than the ability to redshirt players - and not just average players, but Top 100 players. For example, is there any doubt that a player like Sneezy Beltran, who was a Parade All American and an AAS Fab 55 player, would be starting at tailback for most D1 programs? Let's put it this way, when Babers got here in '99, he immediately had to be our nickel back due to a lack of depth in the secondary. This year we are redshirting Kendal Briles, Cedric Griffin, Michael Huff, Aaron Ross, and Rufus Harris. Every single one of those guys played in the Texas high school all star game in August. That tells me all I need to know about what Mack has accomplished talent-wise in 4 years.
 
I usually print threads like these and keep them in a drawer and read them every so often during the long off-season. Thanks to horndfl and everyone who has contributed - its nice to sit back and reflect on the positives.

Mack has said all along that the his goal was to build a program that would compete for the MNC championship every year. In four years I think he has accomplished just that and when considering the talent in the redshirts ranks and the strong recruiting start for 2002 it looks very much like this team will only get better.

I think this team and Mack's accomplishments often receive a lot of unfortunate criticims because Texas fans are so hungry for a title. And unfortunately, the BCS system which weighs SOS and losses so heavily contributes to the criticisms of this team since losing to a top 3 ranked OU team has put the MNC hopes in serious doubt. If there was a playoff system all of our fans would be doing jumping jacks right now because we know that we have one of THE best teams in college football, a team that could beat OU 5 out of 10 times, easily. Unfortunately, this year was not one of those times, and it seems that many fans are forgetting what Mack has built.
 
Really enjoyed your post, dfl. I told my wife last year that I thought 2002 (and perhaps 2003, if Mock can be the man) would be even better for the Longhorns than this year, because we're becoming a deeper and deeper team.

I'll never forget watching the FSU-VT championship game, and thinking about what it must be like to have that kind of depth. FSU just kept rotating fresh people in on defense, and without any dropoff. We're reaching that state. Each year's recruiting class seems to run just a little bit deeper than the last, and the number of "potential starters" per class seems to be higher and higher.

Really fun time to follow the horns. Watching the end of the Baylor game I couldn't help thinking that our 2nd/3rd string offense looked better than several of our 1st-team 1985-1997 squads.

Ahmad Brooks has a great quote in a Ketch (Pay) interview:The Link
"Q: What has changed the most since you have been at Texas?
A: I think when I look back to my freshman year, I would say the type of athletes that are being brought in here. If I would have walked in here as a freshman and seen some of the guys that are here now, it would have been very intimidating. "
 
I don't think this post has garnered its due attention. For the fans that are relatively new to following Texas football, namely the Mack Brown era, I can understand your sense of entitlement. You've never seen a bad football team.

But for someone like me who endured the Mackovic era and you older Horns who can now see us beginning to come full circle from our true glory days, this post capsulizes why we should be ******* ecstatic about the future of Longhorn football.

I sang the eyes after Route 66, after my delusional national title hopes were dashed. I watched Tyson King and Dusty Renfro against Colorado's Rashan Salaam and remember being happy when they tackled him for a 5 yard gain and putting CU in a 2nd and long. And I rememeberJohn Mackovic taking out our two best receivers, Pinkney and Adams, on 4th and goal against the aggies, only to run a pass play. WTF?

Anyway, thanks for the post dfl and TTT.
 
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