Depth Chart (Defense)

H

hookemurph11

< 25 Posts
To go along with the other post, here is my defensive depth chart for next season. My 2-deep:

DE-Brian Orakpo/ Eddie Jones/ Sam Acho
DT-Roy Miller
DT-Ben Alexand/Aaron Lewis
DE-Lamarr Houston/ Aaron Lewis/ Henry Melton

(I was told by a friend that that coaches were talking about moving Lewis to DT next year. He seems about 30 pounds light to me, but this friend would'nt make it up and has been a good source in the past).

LB-Sergio Kindle/ Keenan Robinson
LB-Jarred Norton/ Babino
LB-Rod Muckleroy/ Dustin Earnest

(strongest unit on the team. the starting three are kick ***, not to mention that Babino, who will play often, has tons of experience. Freshman Dravanti Johnson may also see quality pt).

CB-Ryan Palmer/ Chykie Brown
SS-Ishie/?
FS-Christian Scott/ Ben Wells
CB-Dion Beasly/ Curtis Brown

(It's hard to say what Aaron Williams, DJ Monroe and Nolan Brewster will do this year. Williams is supposed to be a stud. It might be hard to keep him off the field, but I bet he does'nt play much).
 
I think you are refering to DT Brian Ellis. He is still on the team and I do expect him to play next year. He infact might backup Miller or Alexander. However, I put Lewis there only because of a friend who told me he heard that Lewis would be moved to DT. I doubt it will happen, but we are deeper than usual at DE right now.
 
Not bad. pretty much the same as i would put down. Yeah, brian ellis should be a 2 team DT also, as of now. all this without the incomming FR. they Might change some things. many should at least see the field at some point.
 
I think Lewis would be pretty good at tackle in obvious pass rushing situations. I would think we could use Melton the same way, especially since he seemed to struggle containing the run playing at end at times, but looked good rushing the passer.
 
Two players always stuck out last year.

EVERY time Norton was on the field, he was in on a tackle.
Same with Acho, I know he was young and played a limited role, but when he was in the game he always seemed to put pressure on the QB.
 
Ellis was a redshirt freshman in 07 and I literally don't think he stepped one foot on the field. I have to think there's something there (grades, effort, something) but I'm not counting on him to see a whole lot of time at DT.

Mack said in his press conference that both Jarvis Humphrey and Kheeston Randall will play DT as true freshman. I'm not real sure what to expect from Tyrell Higgins or Michael Wilcoxon and although Aaron Lewis has played a little DT in his career here, I think he is much better suited to being our #3 or #4 DE.

Either Blake Gideon or Nolan Brewster (or both) will play as true freshman at safety. They have to due to lack of depth.
 
I think DE is the strongest unit on the team. With Lewis, Orakpo, Houston, Jones, Acho, and Melton all returning....then add in Carter. With that depth it is possible to see Lewis at DT a little, especially since there is the need.

There is a 2 deep at LB without Johnson or Acho so it will be interesting to see how they develop....likely both should be able to redshirt this season. Earnest put on some weight and I am interested to see what kind of speed he has. Norton should start this year and is really looking like a big mean MLB now. Now that Derry is gone Muck can wreak havoc as well.

In the secondary you have to think that Scott, Wells, and Thomas are going to show up this year. I am thinking that all 3 of these guys could get looks at safety this year but if I had to pick 2 I would say Scott and Wells. I would like to see the following 2 deep:

CB
Cu Brown / Thomas
FS
Scott / Brewster
SS
Wells / Oduegwu
CB
Beasley / Palmer

Chykie Brown and Earl Thomas should fight for backup CB spots. Williams should get looks in dime and nickel packages in the very least, and special teams as well. I think Monroe and Gideon redshirt.
 
most likely Aaron Lewis will start at LE over Houston, at least at the begining of the year.

Bobino will probably be moved to OLB so that both he and Norton will start along with Muckleroy. i still don't think that the coaches think Kindle is ready. my friend keeps saying that Kindle is a bust because he has done nothing special so far. not even started a game. (Derry started over him in the Holiday Bowl.)
 
Kramer Horn: Bobino has played all 39 of his career games (started 38) at Middle LB. I doubt the coaches will switch that for his final 14 games. He's a hell of a back up to Norton.

I think that, if healthy, Kindle will start at OLB. I don't know why you'd say he's a bust. No, he hasn't been an All American yet, but I think he's shown signs of being a very dominant player.
 
Bobino saw most of his snaps at "Will" in '05.

He's a helluva' good soldier (and has a ring to prove it), but I don't see Muchamp awarding playing time for meritorious service.
 
I know this has been talked about before..... but is Scott Derry coming back? I know he was a senior last year but people said that he could gain a medical redshirt or something else that would grant him another year of eligibility.
 
Lewis isn't moving to DT full time. He will continue to be used at DT in passing situations, a role he is familiar with at Texas. Melton will also be used in a similar fashion.

Kindle's spot will be interesting b/c he will be out this spring. Dravanti will get a lot of snaps this spring to impress the new DC. I imagine Dustin will see alot of snaps there as well.
 
Derry has played in the post season senior bowl games. That precludes him from coming back. He's married, graduated, and moving on with his life. Maybe he will try to be the next FA LB from Texas. D.D. made it. No one thought he could either.
 
Johnson coming in for the spring has to be a huge plus. I am very interested to see how Robinson steps up as well. Depth chart at that position should look something like this:

SLB
Kindle / Earnest / Johnson
MLB
Norton / Bobino
WLB
Muckelroy / Robinson / Acho

I think Norton and Muckelroy are the hands down favorites to win 2 of the starting jobs. Acho won't be in for the spring and you can see him redshirting this year possibly, similar to what Robinson did a year ago. Earnest has bulked up and with Kindle being out for the spring this will give him more looks and with a new DC this could work out in his favor. Johnson being in for the spring (only defensive player in for the spring I believe out of the 08 class) is exciting and will provide a 2 deep for the spring. He should play this year IMO.

The LB position should be much improved this year. They are gaining experience and actually starting to look like LB's.
 
How is Lewis doing after his surgery on his collarbone? I understand he is out for Spring an a chance he could miss the season. I think he got injured - broken collarbone in two places on the Chris Jesse play.
 
I am pretty sure that Will is going to decide the starters for D. This gives me hope that Jared will start instead of Rashad.
 
Some years it's not about who's best, but who's left. When games are close, not enough back-ups get in to train, and when injuries happen, the quality of play drops. It's a vicious cycle, which hurt the team last year. Without the Co-DC duties, I hope that Akina can get four CB's and four safeties ready to play every game, and see some more of the others on a spot basis. We're going to need all the help we can get, considering the style of play that the Big 12 is going to.
 
Kindle will start, nobody is going to take his spot. And if he stays healthy, he will be an AA. He was very nasty at the end of last season. The more snaps he got, the nastier he got.
 
kindle might not redshirt, but he certainly may not be ready to go at the beginning of the season. also, i know lewis has been talked about at dt, but i just don't see that happening. he is solid at de.
 
Lewis would go to DT only on obvious passing situations. it wouldn't be a full time move. Miller, Alexander, Ellis, Humphrey will probably be 2 deep at DT. We have been spoiled at the DT position in years past but it could still be a good one. Just more of an unknown than usual.
 
A line with Lewis, Orakpo, Miller and (insert name here), will be a force to contend with. Just please don't anyone get hurt. We have a great rotation at end, but tackle may depend on freshmen. Hence Lewis may get some snaps at tackle. He has in the past.
 
Start, schmart. It's all about rotation. If Lewis is getting reps at tackle, Houston will be at end. Who cares who "starts"? We just hope they all get healthy and stay that way.
 
They rotate the DE's in quite a bit so I don't really think it matters who starts. Orakpo is the #1 DE on the team right now though but other than that I think Houston, Jones, and Lewis are all about even. Just rotate them in heavily.

Miller has practically been a starter the last few seasons. He is a good pass rusher and will be a good replacement for Lokey. I am interested to see what we get out of Higgins and Wilcoxon, but either way we should see 1 or 2 of the young DT's coming in getting reps. If I had to guess I would say Alexander is the other starter right now unless they decide to make a big change and go with Miller and Lewis or something.
 
It matters to me who starts because they can set the tone for the game. Especially since I believe Jones and Houston are better than Lewis. Acho is going to be nice also. Carter is another player thats going to do well at DE.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Recent Threads

Back
Top