A Quick Offseason Workout Update
by Scipio Tex on Jul 9, 2009 12:27 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns and Other Football
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PrintSome trusted friends & family took in the Longhorns 7 on 7 workout in the Bubble (there's a cheerleading camp going on at the practice fields) yesterday and had some things to share:
Garrett Gilbert's shoulder is healthy and "he was throwing lasers." He's a legitimate 6-3/6-4 200+ and he has a broad frame. He'll go 6-4 225+ when he fully matures and though he won't be a zone read running threat at the college level, he's mobile with good feet. GG was not known for having a particularly big arm in high school, but it appears that the shoulder surgery rehab has benefited him in terms of arm strength. He runs the drills with the backs and linemen and then grabs a few reps with the receivers when Colt lets him.
Colt McCoy's accuracy is off of the charts, his footwork is improved, and his timing throws in the mid-range passing game is the stuff of Swiss watchmakers. Our DBs were blanketing the WRs and Colt kept fitting the ball into tight spots. He's unquestionably the team leader and the other players interacted with him like he was the gruff Dad that they were trying to impress with their antics off of the high dive. He lets everyone have fun to a point and then he reins it in and refocuses the participants - occasionally barking at young receivers who don't absorb his instruction or make a shitty decision on an option route.
Pretty structured for a non-practice with no coaches - everything works on a clock and players all get their reps in. A lot of former Longhorn players were on hand (like Brian Orakpo, Griffin) and one definitely gets the sense of continuity that engenders, not to mention the motivational aspect of having several millionaires who used to be your teammates loitering around.
DJ Grant is a rock hard 220 and still runs like a WR. He'll be a huge deep threat up the seam. He's also reliable working in tight spaces. You won't see any volleyball set interceptions from him. Any team that tries to cover him with a LB on an inside release is conceding a potential six. Obviously, we won't know what he can do as an extra blocking surface until the pads go on.
Dan Buckner is filling out with good weight. He struggled with getting a good release last year and though some of that is technique, a good bit of it has to do with upper body strength and explosiveness out of his stance. He at least looks a lot stronger.
Malcolm Williams is still a physical freak and now looks like a polished physical freak.
On the DB side, we look really good. Crazy good. It's obvious that these guys will be the strength of our defense this year and we've got at least seven DBs who can play at a high level and 2-3 freshmen who would be grabbing meaningful snaps at any other Big 12 school.
Aaron Williams & Earl Thomas were particularly impressive. Both have really filled out without sacrificing quickness and have big time ball skills. Earl's ability to play midfield safety or run up to the LOS and man-n-jam give us a lot of coverage flexibility.
A lot of the skinny kids from last year have filled out and you're going to see a much more physical secondary. Expect more forced turnovers, more big hits, and a lot of depth. That also bodes well for our special teams play.
The players are all unfailingly polite and pose for pictures and sign autographs with enthusiasm. Definitely some really good guys on this team. Bitches Must Be Kicked seems like a very long time ago.
One last thing: David Snow is put together like a brick shithouse. He has some kids ahead of him with a lot of skins on the wall, but if we don't make him a co-starter rotating in at Center/Guard I'd be fairly surprised.
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With your prose style, even effusive on you looks good.
by exuLt on Jul 9, 2009 12:41 PM CDT reply actions
“He’ll be a huge deep threat up the seam.”
That’s what she said.
by Michael Scott on Jul 9, 2009 12:43 PM CDT reply actions
My fantasy league is starting to incorporate EBS’s. You get double points for receptions, yards & interceptions. There are no deductions for fumbles or tipped interceptions to make it fair. Next, we’ll figure out a scoring system for long-snappers.
by Eskimohorn on Jul 9, 2009 12:45 PM CDT reply actions
exuLt:
I’m not not telling you anything. I promise.
I’m always effusive in July. I ride that wave until August.
by Scipio Tex on Jul 9, 2009 12:45 PM CDT reply actions
“You get double points for receptions, yards & INTERCEPTIONS.”
I meant touchdowns, but perhaps we should give points for at least getting a hand on a tipped pass.
by Eskimohorn on Jul 9, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions
BLT at Lunch: 6.50
3 Beers: 15.00
This post after that: Priceless.
Thanks.
by BatesHorn on Jul 9, 2009 12:54 PM CDT reply actions
Crack hit indeed. Are the 7 on 7s open-access?
by whoopspat on Jul 9, 2009 1:07 PM CDT reply actions
I love it when you and GD say “blocking surface.”
by Blueshorn on Jul 9, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions
Most brick shithouses I’ve seen had pretty crummy masonry work.
by Injun Joe on Jul 9, 2009 1:20 PM CDT reply actions
Colt McCoy’s accuracy is off of the charts, his footwork is improved, and his timing throws in the mid-range passing game is the stuff of Swiss watchmakers. Our DBs were blanketing the WRs and Colt kept fitting the ball into tight spots. He’s unquestionably the team leader and the other players interacted with him like he was the gruff Dad that they were trying to impress with their antics off of the high dive.
I’d run through a wall for Colt!
by Sergio Kindle on Jul 9, 2009 1:35 PM CDT reply actions
This website sure is obsessed with tu football. Obviously, your real rival is yourselves
by Ruff Stuff Texas Aggie on Jul 9, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions
Expect more forced turnovers,
Presumably, we will still not accept gift wrapped turnovers.
by PatronSaint on Jul 9, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions
I take back everything I said about Colt in the beginning of his career. He just didn’t look like much to me coming in after Vince and I was just waiting for Snead or Brantley to come in and take over. I am glad to be so wrong. Dude is a badass.
by shockthenation on Jul 9, 2009 3:30 PM CDT reply actions
David Snow is indeed built like a brick house, though he didn’t seem to smell like shit to me. I was talking with him and Chris Hall and he made dwarfs Chris.
by bighornfan32 on Jul 9, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions
and he made dwarfs Chris.
Is that anything like filet Oscar?
by BrickHorn on Jul 9, 2009 3:41 PM CDT reply actions
Not sure but I love the filet at Dwarfs Chris.
by Bartoncreek on Jul 9, 2009 3:45 PM CDT reply actions
I was going to say it’s the 8oz filet at Ruth’s, but Bartoncreek beat me to it.
by Art Vandelay on Jul 9, 2009 3:53 PM CDT reply actions
“We will not. That would be gauche.”
You’re such a kissy kissy Francophile. Bet you’re bucking for an invite to the Legation party this weekend. Freedom fries are the main course.
by Bastille Day on Jul 9, 2009 4:03 PM CDT reply actions
great to hear. thanks a bunch.
if memory serves, david thomas was about 220 at grant’s age wasn’t he? i bought the tape of frenship’s championship game that year and david was slight enough in high school to play wideout, linebacker, and return kickoffs in addition to his tight end play. he caught everything he could get to in that game.
i remember d.j. from an all-star game having very good hands. i’m really excited at the thought of what he might be bringing to our game.
saw garrett twice last year, including the championship game. he looked then like he could hit what he needed to. really good to hear that his strength has improved. colt really improved by his junior year. bet garrett gains a good deal more, too.
great, great stuff. thanks.
by glenn on Jul 9, 2009 4:17 PM CDT reply actions
bastille day!
my wife and i got to go with some french friends from her school way back years ago. i’d go back in a heartbeat. we had a super time.
by glenn on Jul 9, 2009 4:19 PM CDT reply actions
You’re such a kissy kissy Francophile
Actually, he’s a JamesFrancophile.
by Vasherized on Jul 9, 2009 4:22 PM CDT reply actions
okay… I’ve re-read this three times, looking for the catch…
re: the entire Colt paragraph: “God bless you, Ryan Perriloux!!!”
by the Bobs on Jul 9, 2009 6:25 PM CDT reply actions
“David Snow is indeed built like a brick house, though he didn’t seem to smell like shit to me. I was talking with him and Chris Hall and he made dwarfs Chris.”
thats what happens when you are on the phone while typing.
by bighornfan32 on Jul 9, 2009 8:42 PM CDT reply actions
Like the frog and the scorpion story, I have to be true to my nature and complain about something. The fact that Snow is not already a starter is an enormous mistake by the coaches. Dude is huge, strong, has great technique and near flawless footwork.
by RansomStoddard on Jul 9, 2009 9:22 PM CDT reply actions
“The fact that Snow is not already a starter is an enormous mistake by the coaches. Dude is huge, strong, has great technique and near flawless footwork.”
All true, but has he bled enough?
by Levander Williams on Jul 10, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions
Charlie Tanner has nekkid pictures of someone.
by Nordberg on Jul 10, 2009 8:16 AM CDT reply actions
Tell Malcolm and Dan not to gain too much weight or once they bust the magic 220 number is a move to tight-end for them. Can’t have a receiver actually big enough to break a tackle.
by Captain Obvious on Jul 10, 2009 1:39 PM CDT reply actions
Guys Im worried, do we have enough Tightends on the roster?
by Worried and Uninformed on Jul 10, 2009 3:03 PM CDT reply actions
if our o-line struggles at run blocking this year. mcwhorter and greg davis should be fired
by john on Jul 12, 2009 5:21 PM CDT reply actions
Charlie Tanner has nekkid pictures of GD and GD has nekkid pictures of someone.
by Austin180 on Jul 12, 2009 8:34 PM CDT reply actions
You gonna eat that cheeseburger?
by Jorvorskie Lane's 17th FUPA on Jul 14, 2009 11:46 AM CDT reply actions
Thanks for the report Scip.
Heard from another source that Christian Scott has passed Gideon at safety. Same source was also very complimentary toward Williams and Thomas.
by hopefulhorn on Jul 14, 2009 2:39 PM CDT reply actions
If Blake Gideon never regains his starting position, he’ll still be full of memories of the year he made the pivotal play that allowed Texas to win the Big 12 and compete for the national championship.
by SL Xpress on Jul 14, 2009 2:56 PM CDT reply actions
Yes. Unhealthily so. I have nightmares of the exuberance I showed after I mistakenly thought he caught that pop up, and I’m certainly not going to blame myself for actions I can never take back.
by SL Xpress on Jul 14, 2009 2:59 PM CDT reply actions
Hell, even I am pissed at him dropping that ball.
by Bill Little on Jul 14, 2009 3:22 PM CDT reply actions
Since we’re going to mostly be in a 4-2-5-ish alignment, won’t both Gideon and Scott be starting anyway?
by Nordberg on Jul 14, 2009 3:44 PM CDT reply actions
I thank God for you each day since that ball game Craig.
by Jeff Ward on Jul 14, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions
Nordberg—fair point. Sounds like Gideon and Scott will play safety and Thomas nickel-back in the 4-2-5.
by hopefulhorn on Jul 14, 2009 7:53 PM CDT reply actions
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