DB's for Fall '08

C

CraigHorn

500+ Posts
As has been discussed, we will have a talented, young pool of DB's to draw on next year. I'm excited about watching these guys develop and expect alot of mistakes, rapid improvement, and big plays. Also think our coaches are excellent here and cross-training will expand options.

Is this an accurate summary of those most likely to contribute? Who is most likely to slide from CB to S where we may be thinnest?

CB:
DBeasley, Chykie Brown [or S], Curtis Brown [health?], Palmer, Earl Thomas
Newcomers: D.J. Monroe, A. Williams

S:
Oduegwu, Christian Scott, Ben Wells, Chykie Brown (or CB), and Curtis Brown (or CB).
Newcomers: the best of Brewster and Gideon.



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ET is one of those who is listed as a CB on the roster, but it makes sense to me that he might see more action at S. Having said that, he's listed as 5'10... so that's a short safety--not that we haven't had a few of those.
 
Do we think anyone of them has the talent and/or experience to limit Crabtree. I am really worried about the Tech game with these young guys that I am not that familiar with. Who do you think has the ability to stay with him (although probably no one can shut him down)?
 
Tech @ Jones stadium is scary--def. one of the two or three toughest games of the year. I like very much the fact that we play them in game #9 which should give our DB's time to 'grow up' a good bit.
 
The philosophy of Coach Akina up to now has been four corners learn four spots, or five if you count the nickel. He has never been one for a true safety. Kelson was moved to LB as a result, IMO. But the new emphasis on hard hitting, aggressive play by Muschamp may alter this a bit. Akina can coach DB's, so no worries there. All I know is that Ishie better be healthy and be in the right spot, because he coaches are mentioning Gideon, Scott, and Thomas a lot. There will be a lot of job-sharing, a la Terrel- Aaron, to train and keep fresh legs on the field.

CB two-deep: Palmer/ Beasley
Chykie/ Curtis
Safeties: Ishie/ Scott
Wells/ Thomas
By the end of August at least two freshmen will be fighting for PT.
 
Is Curtis Brown expected to be healthy for the fall?

I wonder also about the assumption that he is too small for S. He has height and could fill out a good bit. When I look at the talent at CB, what's coming in in the form of Aaron W. and DJ Monroe, and factor in the pt that coaches will want to get the best players on the field, I can't help but think Curtis Brown could increasingly see time at S.
 
I think Brewster and Williams come in and see playing time this season. Brewster in 2 deep at safety position, Williams as nickel or dime back plus on special teams. Gideon and I think Monroe will redshirt.

Ishie may be more of a career backup type guy.

Beasley, Palmer, Wells, Scott, and Chykie Brown are farther along than the other DB's at this time. I would like to see Beasley and Chykie Brown at the corners, Wells and Scott at the safety positions. But we'll see. I think if you start with these 5 guys and rotate the top 3 DB's in and out you can't go wrong. Then add in Thomas, Cu Brown, Williams, Ishie, and Brewster as backups and special packages.
 
EPT: from everything we hear and see, the lofty expectations are warranted. The next few years should really be fun back there.

Hornpharmd: I like what you describe. Having said that, I think it likely that one of the five you mention ends up nicked or hurt, doesn't perform up to expectations, etc. And Curtis Brown will be there.
 
I know many of you didn't like the Kelson to LB move, so I assume what I am going to ask/suggest next may seem like blasphemy, but here goes...

What is the chance that Brewster red-shirts and moves to Sam? In his highlights he looked like a guy that could find the ball carrier through traffic quite well and then knock that **** out of him. I would imagine he could cover tight ends and has the speed to play sideline to sideline. Not sure about his ability to shed 300 lb blockers, but Brew at LB has crossed my mind.
 
Some guys are finished growing. Some are not. Kelson should not have been moved, but safety was full at the time, etc. Brewster at LB is not a stretch.

I agree about "not Palmer", but experience can trump talent, at least at first. I wouldn't expect Ryan to play as many minutes this year unless his experience can put him in the right places at the right times, more often than not. He will get his shot early on, and it will be his spot to lose. Senior leadership has its merits.
 
DB's will be fine. Screw Tech, Crabtree is the real deal, but harrell is a little ***** and Muschamp will put a bounty on his ***. We're winning the Big 12, so that's that!
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Certainly Brewster to LB is a possibility at some pt, although I am hoping to see him flourish at S. He appears to me to be a more talented version of Branden Johnson who signed as a DB in 2001 (listed as 6'1 190) and eventually ended up at LB.

There are at least three variables involved in these kinds of position shifts: (1) the player's physical growth and development, (2) team needs, (3) coaching philosophy. Sometimes, you find players talented enough to contribute at a high level at either of two positions. For example, I suspect Aaron Lewis could contribute at DT if needed, but I would hate to see it. I love him at DE. Looks like NB could end up helping us at either S or LB, although any early contributions would likely be at the former (and ST, of course)
 
One thing I think we will see is that on passing downs they will utilize the nickel and dime packages more. Probably going to have to use these packages against teams that run the spread offense as well...tech, Kansas, Missouri, etc. This will allow 5-6 DB's on the field and of course when you are doing that you need to have rotation. Thus anybody and everybody's favorite DB's should find themselves on the field quite a bit this year.

I do think this crop of players has the "potential" to be one of the best defensive backfields ever in the Big12.
 
I know I didn't make that statement Theo, but the way I see it is that this has the potential to be the best defensive backfield at Texas. Only time will tell if they have players worthy of acheiving top DB awards. Regardless of how talented the guys at the top are I think that overall there could be as much or more talent in the entire depth chart there.

I do agree though that 05 when you had Griffin and Brown at the corners and Huff and Griffin at the safety spot....plus Aaron freakin Ross coming off the bench and being the 3rd CB. That is just tough to beat. Michael Griffin could have received serious consideration for that DB award his senior year as well.
 
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