Mack has announced the season-opening depth chart for the 2008 Horns' football team, and the news may be most remarkable for its surprises (and uncertainty) in the identity of both the starters and the backups.
Here's a list of some of the eye-openers:
(10) Co-Starters - the 2008 Horns currently have "co-starters" listed at nine (that's right, 9) of the 22 starting positions. Interestingly, 6 of those first-team co-starters are listed on defense ... while 3 of the first-team co-starters are listed on offense.
Muschamp apparently is going to wait until Game Day and then determine most of his official starting lineup on the basis of what he sees on the football field when the players are involved in live action.
(9) Sergio Kindle - here is an instance where Muschamp apparently is convinced (at least at the moment), and Kindle is listed alone as the 2008 Horns' starter at strongside LB, ahead of Kennan Robinson. For those tracking the progress of the player who arguably is the preeminent individual talent on the defensive side for the Horns, this appears to be good news.
(8) Aaron Lewis - this is one of the most intriguing "moves" on the current depth chart. Lewis actually is listed as a "co-starter" at DT with Lamarr Houston (who is listed first on the depth chart) -- which either is discouraging news regarding Houston's progress, or (and this appears to be the more likely alternative) is good news regarding Aaron's ability.
(7) Henry Melton/Aaron Lewis/Eddie Jones - seldom does the same player get mentioned twice in a top-ten list, but Aaron Lewis also is listed as a "co-starter" at DE with Henry Melton -- although Melton is listed first on the depth chart. There is nothing shocking about Lewis (who has considerable experience at DE) being listed up there with Melton, but it is interesting that: (a) Melton has held on to the starting spot, so far, and (b) that Lewis has moved past national-level blue-chipper Eddie Jones at DE.
Sergio Kindle and Eddie Jones appear to be moving in opposite directions on the season-opening depth chart for the 2008 Horns.
(6) Sam Acho & Emmanuel Acho - our opponents this Fall may be asking: "who are these guys?"
From virtually unheard-of status, both Sam Acho and Emmanuel Acho have moved up the Horns' depth chart with remarkable quickness (which happens to be a trait they both possess on the football field). Sam Acho now is the backup for Brian Orakpo at the "Quick" DE, and his younger brother, true freshman Emmanuel Acho already is the backup at weakside LB for Roddrick Muckelroy.
Watch out for the Achos.
(5) Earl Thomas & Christian Scott - who would have thought that Muschamp would "stack" these two players at "Right Safety" (as the playing position is listed on the depth chart)? This decision would appear to knock either Thomas or Scott out of the starting lineup in our secondary, and open the door for ...
(4) Blake Gideon & Nolan Brewster - this may be the biggest surprise on the season-opening depth chart. Gideon and Brewster are listed as "co-starters" at "Left Safety (as the playing position is listed on the depth chart). So, apparently, one true-freshman or the other will be in the Horns' starting defensive lineup (to help direct traffic -- both Gideon and Brewster reportedly are very perceptive players) when Texas hosts Florida Atlantic this weekend.
(3) Michael Huey - there is no real surprise here, because Huey is listed behind Cedric Dockery at RG, and that's where both of them have been playing in our Fall practice sessions. What is foreboding about this situation is that Huey, by all reports, is an unusually talented player with exceptional size (6-5, 315) and athleticism at OG ... and we arguably could use Huey in the starting lineup for the RRS vs. Oklahoma's big defensive tackles.
Surely, Mack will not wait until "after" the RRS on October 11 to move Huey into the 2008 Horns' starting lineup.
(2) Greg Smith - this guy is another big (6-4, 295) surprise on the depth chart. A senior letterman, Smith actually started out at TE for the Horns, but moved inside to help us at offensive tackle ... and now Smith, who is a devastating blocker at TE and also is a serviceable pass receiver (big target), is listed as a "co-starter" at TE with Blaine Irby. This could work out well for the Horns and our two-TEs alignment.
(1) Running Back Committee - we have five RBs (Vondrell McGee, Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whittaker, Cody Johnson and Jeremy Hills) ostensibly listed as "co-starters" on the current depth chart ...
... although Mack has Vondrell listed first, then Chris & Fozzy in the second-team slot, and then Cody and Jeremy in the third-team slot. Still, all five players are listed as co-starters, and it is interesting to think about how Cody Johnson and Jeremy Hills might be able to help the 2008 Horns, particularly if there are any lingering injury issues with Fozzy.
We'll see what happens.
Hook 'em.
Here's a list of some of the eye-openers:
(10) Co-Starters - the 2008 Horns currently have "co-starters" listed at nine (that's right, 9) of the 22 starting positions. Interestingly, 6 of those first-team co-starters are listed on defense ... while 3 of the first-team co-starters are listed on offense.
Muschamp apparently is going to wait until Game Day and then determine most of his official starting lineup on the basis of what he sees on the football field when the players are involved in live action.
(9) Sergio Kindle - here is an instance where Muschamp apparently is convinced (at least at the moment), and Kindle is listed alone as the 2008 Horns' starter at strongside LB, ahead of Kennan Robinson. For those tracking the progress of the player who arguably is the preeminent individual talent on the defensive side for the Horns, this appears to be good news.
(8) Aaron Lewis - this is one of the most intriguing "moves" on the current depth chart. Lewis actually is listed as a "co-starter" at DT with Lamarr Houston (who is listed first on the depth chart) -- which either is discouraging news regarding Houston's progress, or (and this appears to be the more likely alternative) is good news regarding Aaron's ability.
(7) Henry Melton/Aaron Lewis/Eddie Jones - seldom does the same player get mentioned twice in a top-ten list, but Aaron Lewis also is listed as a "co-starter" at DE with Henry Melton -- although Melton is listed first on the depth chart. There is nothing shocking about Lewis (who has considerable experience at DE) being listed up there with Melton, but it is interesting that: (a) Melton has held on to the starting spot, so far, and (b) that Lewis has moved past national-level blue-chipper Eddie Jones at DE.
Sergio Kindle and Eddie Jones appear to be moving in opposite directions on the season-opening depth chart for the 2008 Horns.
(6) Sam Acho & Emmanuel Acho - our opponents this Fall may be asking: "who are these guys?"
From virtually unheard-of status, both Sam Acho and Emmanuel Acho have moved up the Horns' depth chart with remarkable quickness (which happens to be a trait they both possess on the football field). Sam Acho now is the backup for Brian Orakpo at the "Quick" DE, and his younger brother, true freshman Emmanuel Acho already is the backup at weakside LB for Roddrick Muckelroy.
Watch out for the Achos.
(5) Earl Thomas & Christian Scott - who would have thought that Muschamp would "stack" these two players at "Right Safety" (as the playing position is listed on the depth chart)? This decision would appear to knock either Thomas or Scott out of the starting lineup in our secondary, and open the door for ...
(4) Blake Gideon & Nolan Brewster - this may be the biggest surprise on the season-opening depth chart. Gideon and Brewster are listed as "co-starters" at "Left Safety (as the playing position is listed on the depth chart). So, apparently, one true-freshman or the other will be in the Horns' starting defensive lineup (to help direct traffic -- both Gideon and Brewster reportedly are very perceptive players) when Texas hosts Florida Atlantic this weekend.
(3) Michael Huey - there is no real surprise here, because Huey is listed behind Cedric Dockery at RG, and that's where both of them have been playing in our Fall practice sessions. What is foreboding about this situation is that Huey, by all reports, is an unusually talented player with exceptional size (6-5, 315) and athleticism at OG ... and we arguably could use Huey in the starting lineup for the RRS vs. Oklahoma's big defensive tackles.
Surely, Mack will not wait until "after" the RRS on October 11 to move Huey into the 2008 Horns' starting lineup.
(2) Greg Smith - this guy is another big (6-4, 295) surprise on the depth chart. A senior letterman, Smith actually started out at TE for the Horns, but moved inside to help us at offensive tackle ... and now Smith, who is a devastating blocker at TE and also is a serviceable pass receiver (big target), is listed as a "co-starter" at TE with Blaine Irby. This could work out well for the Horns and our two-TEs alignment.
(1) Running Back Committee - we have five RBs (Vondrell McGee, Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whittaker, Cody Johnson and Jeremy Hills) ostensibly listed as "co-starters" on the current depth chart ...
... although Mack has Vondrell listed first, then Chris & Fozzy in the second-team slot, and then Cody and Jeremy in the third-team slot. Still, all five players are listed as co-starters, and it is interesting to think about how Cody Johnson and Jeremy Hills might be able to help the 2008 Horns, particularly if there are any lingering injury issues with Fozzy.
We'll see what happens.
Hook 'em.
