Malik Jefferson

T

Texas Lawhorn

100+ Posts
What this coaching staff has done to Malik is criminal. Played the kid out of position, made him doubt his instincts and crushed his spirit. Then they bench him against KSU? He has not been playing well but I blame that in large part to the coaching he is receiving. I think top flight recruits will take note. What a shame.
 
msdw24 said:
How so? Of the pile of crap that is our entire D he is one of very few bright spots. His talent is being diminished by an inept coaching staff that is beyond bad.
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Because he hits the wrong hole 1/2 the time, can't get off blocks, and doesn't make plays. This isn't pee wee. If you can't produce, someone else will take your job. If he wants to not get benched, make a friggin play once in a while. His effort sucked all game. I kept waiting for him to make a play. He made one open field tackle that I can remember. How about a pic? I don't think he has one all year.
 
He looks like something is wrong. He is not the same player he was last year. His energy and focus are off kilter. Whether its coaching or something else is the question. However, a great coach would see this and fix it. We don't have a great coach.
 
wadster said:
Because he hits the wrong hole 1/2 the time, can't get off blocks, and doesn't make plays. This isn't pee wee. If you can't produce, someone else will take your job. If he wants to not get benched, make a friggin play once in a while. His effort sucked all game. I kept waiting for him to make a play. He made one open field tackle that I can remember. How about a pic? I don't think he has one all year.
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plus he has been useless in pass defense since the first game of 2015.

That all said, proper position coaching should help him.
 
I kept my eye on Malik all day today. I had him in my mind as next DJ. He does not attack the line of scrimmage with proper reads, does not attack blockers, gets his *** pushed around, and is basically eating up playing time for someone who is more hungry to succeed!!
 
I wonder is MJ the poster child for what is wrong with this team? Did he, along with many others in the secondary come in with all the accolades and think that collectively because they were supposed to be great that is just what would happen without the necessary work on things like fundamentals and reading offensive keys. I don't have any idea if that is even remotely accurate but the in the field evidence certainly raises the question. If it is the case it is another indictment of the staff and an inability to show these kids what it takes.
 
Someone said he's playing out of position. How so? It seems like he jumps around and lines up where ever he wants to before the snap.
 
I also wonder if this is something non-football related. It was just last February on National Signing Day that he was the face of the program! He was in that room with coaches standing next to the fax machine, tweeting his head off. I remember thinking when the "Florida Five" made their official visit two years ago against WVA, that this was a group that was a program changer. They may still be. It's hard to be 1,000 miles from home, playing at this level and keep your grades up. Was sure something that I could not have done.
 
Walking Boss said:
I wonder is MJ the poster child for what is wrong with this team?
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I like this observation. I suspect that there are defensive coaching minds that can look at the film of Texas and pinpoint what is wrong. There is no doubt that the issue is coaching and I suspect that Strong and company do not have an understanding of how to fix the problem. They -- the coaches -- are confused, and that is what we are seeing manifested on the field. This is astounding given Strong's pedigree, but clearly whatever skills he was proported to possess prior to coming here have not been on display at Texas.
 
But what defensive mind would want to come to Texas when you are running an offense that can put your defense right back on the field in the blink of an eye.
 
SAMMCHornfan said:
But what defensive mind would want to come to Texas when you are running an offense that can put your defense right back on the field in the blink of an eye.
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Aggs got theirs right. Payed the money, but got their man and it sure has changed everything on their D. Sure they lost to Bama, but Bama would beat us by 70. Their D is much better since Chief took over. The most disappointing part of this regime is our coordinators have been so inadequate. Finally found an O coordinator, but took 3 years. Now we have nothing on D.
 
I love Malik Jefferson. I love his passion, his leadership ... and his self-discipline. He has said, himself, he's not playing well.

Maybe the move to MLB wasn't a good choice? IDK ...

But one thing I HAVE noticed is that more often than not, our guys try to arm tackle. The noggin COULD HAVE been in FRONT of the ball carrier. They COULD HAVE wrapped-up, but they consistently go for the arm tackle rather than drive through and wrap-up. That effort usually results in slinging around the carrier ... and falling off.

I'm nobody. I got to play in HS because they NEEDED me for the spot (1A in the 80s), but I remember tackling drills.
 
wadster said:
Because he hits the wrong hole 1/2 the time, can't get off blocks, and doesn't make plays. This isn't pee wee. If you can't produce, someone else will take your job. If he wants to not get benched, make a friggin play once in a while. His effort sucked all game. I kept waiting for him to make a play. He made one open field tackle that I can remember. How about a pic? I don't think he has one all year.
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MJ is not and never will be a middle Linebacker. He has no idea how or any desire to take on blocks.

And that is what a Middle Linebacker MUST do well. Hell that is the definition of a middle linebacker. I think he would be a good outside linebacker with some coaching.

Roach should be Middle Linebacker NOW. Or the freshman #23. I think they are the only two that have shown any desire or natural talent to play the position.
 
I agree about Roach at MLB.

Regarding MJ, it's a shame how this staff has diminished the effectiveness of what was the face of the program less than 60 days ago.
 
wadster said:
Aggs got theirs right. Payed the money, but got their man and it sure has changed everything on their D. Sure they lost to Bama, but Bama would beat us by 70. Their D is much better since Chief took over. The most disappointing part of this regime is our coordinators have been so inadequate. Finally found an O coordinator, but took 3 years. Now we have nothing on D.
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Not sold on our OC......No trick plays ..nothing to jump start us when our vanilla offense isn't working, no game adjustments when we need them. poor game decisions....First and goal we put 18 in and we score EASILY.....Late in game when we have to have a TD, and its first and goal or close to the ten.....18 on the sideline and we don't score. WTH ????
 
I really thought he'd have this kind of year under this staff, but it's still been amazing to watch it play out. Not much is more fun than watching someone who's been underutilized basically come to life in front of you and blow up like he's done this year.
 
Nice Thread Resurrection.

We still have problems using proper tackling technique overall ... and Malik in particular.

Still love him, though.
 
Really? This year the kid has some of the best tackling form I have seen played at that position at UT. Last year he was a bust under Strong. But this year he's been our best LB since DJ. My opin.
 
Last season, Malik's two biggest issues were identifying and filling the correct gap, as well as shedding blocks. Strong even mentioned this on numerous LHN "Rewind" shows.

This season? Huge diff. I believe that Charlie and Crew tried to coach-up Malik, but just lacked the correct methods/techniques/communication to make a difference. OTOH, this staff....

It's like @ProdigalHorn said:
Not much is more fun than watching someone who's been underutilized basically come to life in front of you and blow up like he's done this year.
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As I said, I love this guy, but I think he'd be a LOT better if he'd put his noggin on the proper side of the runner.
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From what I can tell, almost no coaches teach form tackling anymore, not at the HS, college, or pro levels. We laughed at him at the time, but MB was right, there is a tackling epidemic in America.
 
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