hornpharmd
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Time to take an indepth look at the horns OL and DL going into the fall practices.
Offensive Line:
LT Ulatoski / McGaskey
LG Tanner / Huey
OC Hall / Burnette
RG Dockery / Mitchell
RT Hix / Allen
Incoming freshman: Poehlman OT, Snow OG, Buchanan OT should all redshirt unless injuries dictate a need to play. Buchanan came in for the spring and would be the logical choice to play 1st if needed.
Ulatoski started final 7 games at RT in 06 and started 9 games there in 07. Started at LT in bowl game vs ASU and will start at LT in 08. At 6-8 310 he has the frame and experience to be a very good pass blocker at LT and to protect Colt's backside.
Tanner started 9 games in 07 at LG including last 4 games of the season. Listed 6-4 300 he will likely be the starter at LG in 08. His backup will be rising sophomore Huey who at 6-5 315 played in all 13 games at OG in 07.
Hall started 12 games as a sophomore in 07 starting at each of the 5 OL position in at least 1 game. He looks to be starting OC in 08 but could move to other positions if needed. He is listed at 6-4 300. His backup is Burnette who could start at OC if Hall is needed elsewhere. Burnette appeared in all 13 games in 07 and started the last 2. He is a very good backup at OC with huge potential, and is listed at 6-3 320.
Dockery started 1st 6 games of 06 before ACL injury in OU game. In 07 he returned healthy and played in all 13 games, starting 11 at RG. He will be UT's lone senior offensive lineman and is listed at 6-4 320. Dockery's backup is sophomore Mitchell who played in 12 games as a frosh in 07 and is listed at 6-5 300. Huey and Mitchell who serve as primary backups at OG positions also were teammates at Kilgore HS.
Hix played all 13 games at RT as a true frosh in 07 starting the bowl game. He returns as the starter at RT in 08. He has prototypical OT size and is listed at 6-7 320. His primary backup should be Allen who played 9 games at OT his true frosh season in 07. At 6-5 320 he has the size to play OT and will do so in 08. He may also play OG down the road.
If my math is comprehensive and correct, UT brings back 45 starts from last season (out of a possible 65). 4 of the 5 primary backups saw action last season in nearly all of the 13 games. Only exception is McGaskey who redshirted last season. This OL unit will build upon where it left itself at the end of last season after the injuries to Hills and Griffin. The future outlook for this unit is also very bright as there will only be one senior in 08 (Dockery) and his backup will have 2 years of experience at the same position when 09 rolls around.
Defensive line:
DE Orakpo / Jones
DT Miller / Lewis
DT Houston / Alexander / Wilcoxon
DE Melton / Acho
**this lineup will need tweaking
Ellis and Higgins are not on the current roster. True frosh Randall and Humphrey could see playing time this year even with Houston and Lewis spinning inside. Muschamp wants to create pressure on the opposing QB this year and primarily by getting a 4 man push up front. He prefers quicker smaller DT's for his schemes and moving Houston and likely Lewis inside will give him just that. This is contrast to the bigger space eating DT's of UT's past including Wright, Okam, Tubbs.
Orakpo played in all 13 games in 05 as a backup and earned Big 12 defensive freshman of the year honors. He played in all 13 games in 06 as a backup again to Crowder and Robison. He entered 07 as the most experienced DE on the roster and looked to have a breakout year. After an illegal chop block sprained his knee in the opening game he returned for the OU game and played less than 100% down the stretch. He finished the season starting the last 7 games and compiling 9 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 12 pressures, 2 PBU, and a FF. Appearing the healthiest he had all season in the bowl game he was UT's defensive MVP with 3 TFL, 2 sacks, and a pressure. He returns in 08 at 100% health and looking to have that breakout season that he missed out on last season due to injury. After coming in his frosh season at 210 Orakpo has added muscle and is now listed at 6-4 260.
Miller appeared in 10 games as a true frosh in 05. He then played in 13 games as a sophomore in 06 and started the final 6 games of the season. He appeared in all 13 games as a junior in 07 and served basically as a co-starter to Okam and Lokey. Has played in 36 career games, starting 6, and has compiled 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 16 pressures, 2 PBU, and a FF. Like Orakpo he enters his senior season 100% healthy and with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. Also like Orakpo he is a workout warrior and considered one of the strongest player on UT's roster in 08. at 6-2 300 he is a big man with a motor.
Houston appeared in 11 games at DE as a true frosh in 06. In 07 he appeared in 13 games and started 11 of them at DE. He comes back in 08 with 24 games of experience and 11 starts. Although listed as a DE there is strong indictation that he will be used on the interior as DT in 08. Muschamp wants the best players on the field. By moving Houston over he not only accomplishes that but also solves his issues at DT concerning depth. at 6-2 275 Houston will be a force on the inside and ready to showcase what he can do. We could expect to see him play both DT and DE this fall.
Lewis played 8 games in 05 as a backup DE as a true frosh. He played in 13 games as a soph in 06 and started 3 after Robison was injured. He started the 1st 6 games of 07 before also being sidelined due to injury. Like Houston he could move inside. You could expect to see Lewis and Houston lining up next to one another as well in order to get the best 4 players on the line of scrimmage. Overall in his career he has compiled 17 TFL, 5 sacks, 22 pressures, 4 PBU, 1 FF, and 3 FR. Like Orakpo he comes off an injury season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and ready to prove what he can do. At 6-4 265 he is the most versatile player on the DL and can play a number of positions including special teams if needed.
Jones played 11 games as a RS frosh in 07. He comes off a shoulder injury and should be an impact player and valuable backup in 08. He is listed at 6-3 260.
Melton comes back in 08 for one last season to show what he can do before leaving for the NFL. With Houston and Lewis likely spinning inside he could see more playing time in 08. He has a big frame at 6-3 265 and provides both size and speed being that he was a RB his true frosh season.
Even though the DL lost Okam and Lokey from 07 they bring back 4 seniors (Orakpo, Miller, Lewis, Melton). Houston and Alexander are both juniors and bring 3 total years of experience as backups with them. As mentioned previously Houston was a starter at DE last season. Thus this DL returns a starter in Houston spinning inside, a starter in Orakpo returning 100% healthy, a co-starter last year in Miller, and a 10 start senior in Lewis who can play both DE and DT. The horns could potentially lineup Orakpo/Miller/Houston/Lewis which represents 3 seniors and 1 juniors who are basically all returning starters.
The DL should be the strength of the defense in 08 and likely the entire team.
Overall there appears to be much to be excited about regarding these 2 units for UT this fall. Since much of the game depends on the play in the "trenches" this could bode well for both UT's offense and defense this upcoming season.
Would appreciate your thoughts.
Offensive Line:
LT Ulatoski / McGaskey
LG Tanner / Huey
OC Hall / Burnette
RG Dockery / Mitchell
RT Hix / Allen
Incoming freshman: Poehlman OT, Snow OG, Buchanan OT should all redshirt unless injuries dictate a need to play. Buchanan came in for the spring and would be the logical choice to play 1st if needed.
Ulatoski started final 7 games at RT in 06 and started 9 games there in 07. Started at LT in bowl game vs ASU and will start at LT in 08. At 6-8 310 he has the frame and experience to be a very good pass blocker at LT and to protect Colt's backside.
Tanner started 9 games in 07 at LG including last 4 games of the season. Listed 6-4 300 he will likely be the starter at LG in 08. His backup will be rising sophomore Huey who at 6-5 315 played in all 13 games at OG in 07.
Hall started 12 games as a sophomore in 07 starting at each of the 5 OL position in at least 1 game. He looks to be starting OC in 08 but could move to other positions if needed. He is listed at 6-4 300. His backup is Burnette who could start at OC if Hall is needed elsewhere. Burnette appeared in all 13 games in 07 and started the last 2. He is a very good backup at OC with huge potential, and is listed at 6-3 320.
Dockery started 1st 6 games of 06 before ACL injury in OU game. In 07 he returned healthy and played in all 13 games, starting 11 at RG. He will be UT's lone senior offensive lineman and is listed at 6-4 320. Dockery's backup is sophomore Mitchell who played in 12 games as a frosh in 07 and is listed at 6-5 300. Huey and Mitchell who serve as primary backups at OG positions also were teammates at Kilgore HS.
Hix played all 13 games at RT as a true frosh in 07 starting the bowl game. He returns as the starter at RT in 08. He has prototypical OT size and is listed at 6-7 320. His primary backup should be Allen who played 9 games at OT his true frosh season in 07. At 6-5 320 he has the size to play OT and will do so in 08. He may also play OG down the road.
If my math is comprehensive and correct, UT brings back 45 starts from last season (out of a possible 65). 4 of the 5 primary backups saw action last season in nearly all of the 13 games. Only exception is McGaskey who redshirted last season. This OL unit will build upon where it left itself at the end of last season after the injuries to Hills and Griffin. The future outlook for this unit is also very bright as there will only be one senior in 08 (Dockery) and his backup will have 2 years of experience at the same position when 09 rolls around.
Defensive line:
DE Orakpo / Jones
DT Miller / Lewis
DT Houston / Alexander / Wilcoxon
DE Melton / Acho
**this lineup will need tweaking
Ellis and Higgins are not on the current roster. True frosh Randall and Humphrey could see playing time this year even with Houston and Lewis spinning inside. Muschamp wants to create pressure on the opposing QB this year and primarily by getting a 4 man push up front. He prefers quicker smaller DT's for his schemes and moving Houston and likely Lewis inside will give him just that. This is contrast to the bigger space eating DT's of UT's past including Wright, Okam, Tubbs.
Orakpo played in all 13 games in 05 as a backup and earned Big 12 defensive freshman of the year honors. He played in all 13 games in 06 as a backup again to Crowder and Robison. He entered 07 as the most experienced DE on the roster and looked to have a breakout year. After an illegal chop block sprained his knee in the opening game he returned for the OU game and played less than 100% down the stretch. He finished the season starting the last 7 games and compiling 9 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 12 pressures, 2 PBU, and a FF. Appearing the healthiest he had all season in the bowl game he was UT's defensive MVP with 3 TFL, 2 sacks, and a pressure. He returns in 08 at 100% health and looking to have that breakout season that he missed out on last season due to injury. After coming in his frosh season at 210 Orakpo has added muscle and is now listed at 6-4 260.
Miller appeared in 10 games as a true frosh in 05. He then played in 13 games as a sophomore in 06 and started the final 6 games of the season. He appeared in all 13 games as a junior in 07 and served basically as a co-starter to Okam and Lokey. Has played in 36 career games, starting 6, and has compiled 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 16 pressures, 2 PBU, and a FF. Like Orakpo he enters his senior season 100% healthy and with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. Also like Orakpo he is a workout warrior and considered one of the strongest player on UT's roster in 08. at 6-2 300 he is a big man with a motor.
Houston appeared in 11 games at DE as a true frosh in 06. In 07 he appeared in 13 games and started 11 of them at DE. He comes back in 08 with 24 games of experience and 11 starts. Although listed as a DE there is strong indictation that he will be used on the interior as DT in 08. Muschamp wants the best players on the field. By moving Houston over he not only accomplishes that but also solves his issues at DT concerning depth. at 6-2 275 Houston will be a force on the inside and ready to showcase what he can do. We could expect to see him play both DT and DE this fall.
Lewis played 8 games in 05 as a backup DE as a true frosh. He played in 13 games as a soph in 06 and started 3 after Robison was injured. He started the 1st 6 games of 07 before also being sidelined due to injury. Like Houston he could move inside. You could expect to see Lewis and Houston lining up next to one another as well in order to get the best 4 players on the line of scrimmage. Overall in his career he has compiled 17 TFL, 5 sacks, 22 pressures, 4 PBU, 1 FF, and 3 FR. Like Orakpo he comes off an injury season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and ready to prove what he can do. At 6-4 265 he is the most versatile player on the DL and can play a number of positions including special teams if needed.
Jones played 11 games as a RS frosh in 07. He comes off a shoulder injury and should be an impact player and valuable backup in 08. He is listed at 6-3 260.
Melton comes back in 08 for one last season to show what he can do before leaving for the NFL. With Houston and Lewis likely spinning inside he could see more playing time in 08. He has a big frame at 6-3 265 and provides both size and speed being that he was a RB his true frosh season.
Even though the DL lost Okam and Lokey from 07 they bring back 4 seniors (Orakpo, Miller, Lewis, Melton). Houston and Alexander are both juniors and bring 3 total years of experience as backups with them. As mentioned previously Houston was a starter at DE last season. Thus this DL returns a starter in Houston spinning inside, a starter in Orakpo returning 100% healthy, a co-starter last year in Miller, and a 10 start senior in Lewis who can play both DE and DT. The horns could potentially lineup Orakpo/Miller/Houston/Lewis which represents 3 seniors and 1 juniors who are basically all returning starters.
The DL should be the strength of the defense in 08 and likely the entire team.
Overall there appears to be much to be excited about regarding these 2 units for UT this fall. Since much of the game depends on the play in the "trenches" this could bode well for both UT's offense and defense this upcoming season.
Would appreciate your thoughts.
