Spring Timeliness Part II: Defense

We are a couple of turned ankles away from having our defensive backfield go from strength to liability. It’s good that we catch Tech early this year and sans the Pirate. I still have visions of limping, over matched safeties chasing Wes Welker all over the field.

I was going to say: “Assuming we don’t again fail to show up against A&M” but now that we’ve failed to show up against A&M one way or another for nearly half a decade, I’d say that’s a trend.

I watched the Spring game on TV while reading and updating the thread at Shaggy Bevo. My take on Whaley was similar to yours…he just got taken down by polly pocket in the open field with a full head of steam. Then I was doubly baffled that the online response was a ravekakke of adulation and testaments of self love in the name of Chris Whaley. Cognitive Dissonance: Most powerful force in the universe.

isn’t every team in college a few turned ankles away from having their best position become a point of weakness?

Scipio – you should work on getting Kenny into the ring for some sparring. At least during the offseason, so that he doesn’t put any of our guys into a coma.

The Yellow Rose is a few turned ankles away from a “private room” full of limping hookers.

We should be ok. Since Muschamp got here, nobody’s been playing in Manolo’s.

Here’s hoping Aaron Williams has a senior season.

Aside from reading about GG, reading the defensive write-up is so much more comforting than the offensive one.

Corner is the only thorn in my side as we’ll lose our top 3 going into 2011. It’s like the O-line on D. Don’t call me Aaron and the UPSs will be stout this year, though.

There’s pretty much no part on D that worries me. God, I love me some Muschamp.

Very high on Adrian White also. Had the chance to watch the kid in several practices this past spring and he’s gonna be a good one. He got decleated a few times by Desean Hales which tells me he needs a good year or 2 in the weight room. The flipside is that he’s not afraid to stick his nose in there and mix it up. An essential trait to be a successful CB in this conference. Now he’s not Kenny Vaccaro, but he’s not Deon Beasley either.

Strength can be obtained, aggression cannot.

And I’m not worried about a turned ankle at corner. I’m worried about a injury to Randall or C. Scott. We’re pretty much F’ed at that point.

If things break right, there’s no reason we can’t play for all of the marbles, again.

“I was impressed with the little guy coming up fearlessly and making the tackle when so many corners attempt a turf dive foot grab. I’m not looking at you Deon Beasley. Love White’s competitiveness.”

If I recall, Deon had the tackle of the game in Stillwater in ’07. Laying on his stomach, avoiding contact like a girl, he pulled off the foot-grab. That was the single most epic comeback in the history of sports, so the turf-dive foot-grab technique holds a special place in my heart.

Kenny Vaccaro, he’s not white, he’s not black, and he’s not Mexican. He’s our knockaround Vaccaro

“None of them are Kindle or Orakpo…”

I might actually disagree there. Sam Acho has a chance to be just as good as either of them. He might lack the freakish athletic ability, but he makes up for it with his outstanding strength, run support and intelligence. My expecations for Sam are just as high as they were for Orakpo or Kindle going into their senior seasons. Single digits sacks would be a dissapointment.

And if you ever need a babysitter or someone to take your dogs for a walk, he’ll sense it and be at your doorstep the next day with an autographed jersey and a lock of Oscar Giles’ hair.

Ferdinand the Bull. Awesome. Hopefully there are not flowers growing on the field.

I agree, kittytitty. Acho has several traits that suggest another dominant force on the corner or wherever Muschamp lines him up. There won’t be an offensive down played against Texas next year that the opposing offense won’t need to identify where he is and account for him.

With the way we’re recruiting on that side of the ball these days, Arakpo/Kindle/Acho types are going to be pretty much the norm.

“If things break right, there’s no reason we can’t play for all of the marbles, again.”

This.

nice article. if eddie jones and okafor step it up this year, we’re going to wreck opposing offenses.

tevin mims will play because he’s already a freak of nature and can rush.

vaccaro. having a vengeful safety is sweet. but two destroyers in the back actually makes me wish for passes over the middle.

I’m worried about the abilities to diagnose and close at safety. Earl Thomas had both in abundance. Now, we have some hitters, some diagnosers, but no closers, and none that can even do two of the three. Safety is to be closely watched in summer camp to see how good the defense will really be.

“Kenny Vaccaro drank nine Red Bulls and snorted cayenne pepper pre-scrimmage and then attempted to decapitate several teammates. You don’t have to look hard to see that he was a champion powerlifter in high school when he uncoils his hips on someone. I’m curious to see the winner in his internal race between anger management and stardom. "

Dude, this first and last sentences in this paragraph, might be the funniest thing I’ve seen on this site. Outstanding effort. I agree with all your takes. For Roberson, however, I hold out hope he could make a nice fullback to compete with Bergeron.

“Their ability to tunnel may come in handy though.”

That sir, was excellent.

Eddie Jones is my pick for Orakpo award next year. Kindle got it this year. I think Jones goes a long way towards putting himself into the 2nd or maybe even 1st round with an incredible Sr season.

Scipio – assume you are still high on E. Acho?

I think the only way to attack us is to spread the field, get us in nickel/dime and then run it right up the gut. Problem is that very few teams play like that, Rich Rodriguez maybe. There are no holes otherwise. Attacking the safety will be the only other option and if Scott and Vaccarro can prove that they can cover a little, then I like this D better than last years.

The LBs are going to be so much better with a year under their belt. Hell, I thought Earnest was better than Muck by the end of the year as it was. Acho and Robinson will be our first NFL backers since Johnson. Is that right?

I too see a huge breakout year for Eddie Jones and the word from inside is that Okafor is the best true 4-3 DE prospect we have had. Acho is the proven x-factor. He can either be an all-conference DE or if he can move inside, it gives us 4 big time talents up front at all times. I will be watching the use of Acho with anticipation. Isn’t it great to have a coach that does his damndest to get the best football players on the field?

“Acho and Robinson will be our first NFL backers since Johnson. Is that right?”

Not if you count Muck.

Bates -
 
Everybody in the league is two turned ankles away from rolling a sorry secondary out there. It’s just the breaks.
 
Sydney -
 
Ravekakke. Well played.
 
Levander –
 
There’s little doubt in my mind that Kenny could be a force at 185 in MMA in short order if he put his mind to it.
 
nordberg -
 
Agreed. I don’t think we’ll see it, absent a NFL lockout. Williams is a first round layup from where I sit.
 
hg03 -
 
Agreed.
 
UTwildcatter -
 
I’m going to add Knockaround Vaccaro to Ravekakke in the thread highlights package.
 
Kitten -
 
I love Sam Acho, but as a pure athlete, he’s not Kindle or Orakpo. No question he’ll have game impact and be a stud though. The fact that he’ll tutor an at-risk kid on the way to the QB is a bonus.

Jim –
 
We can’t in any way duplicate what Earl Thomas gave us in that respect. Or the flexibility he offered as a corner/safety. So we just need to accept that. The hope is that Scott and Vaccaro can produce in forced fumbles what Earl did in picks. You also have to factor in that Curtis Brown and Aaron Williams with an extra year of maturity are going to be a formidable corner duo. They’re going to funnel stuff inside effectively and that will simplify reads quite a bit.

Holy Cow -
 
I think the Roberson to FB move happens when the new shiny LBs arrive this summer.
 
06 UT -
 
If Eddie plays himself into the 1st round, we’ll have had a really good year.
 
Horncasting -
 
Love E Acho. Love All Acho. Each Acho. Every Acho. We should all unleash the Acho inside of us to make this a better world.

Acho! Ocho! Uno!

And

Acho! Uno! Ocho!

Two of my favorite things to yell when either of the Achos make a tackle.

Muschamp has been high on Roberson. I haven’t really seen the things he’s been talking about in Roberson’s brief appearances (both last year and this spring), but I really doubt he’ll move to FB.

“Tolkien Dwarves” is a great phrase and I may use it to impress my real life friends. Sorry in advance.

I think I have our new defensive team motto for this season. It could also be the new nickname for DKR. The answer lies below. $10 says Sailor will get it first.

Handsome Kevin got a little off track
Took a year off of college
And he never went back
Now he smokes too much
He’s got a permanent hack
Deals dope out of Denny’s
Keeps a table in the back
He always listens to the ground
Always listens to the ground

So I say
I say welcome,

Looks like Carter took Scipio calling him a 6.5 personally. He’s gone.

Jeffcoat and Wilson were going to make him a 4th teamer. Good transfer.
 
Vaccaro similarly eclipsed Ben Wells’ ambitions.

A couple weeks ago I saw Kenny V playing in a 4v4 basketball tourney on 9 foot rims at the Fiji house during roundup with Aaron Williams, Okafor and some others!! First of all, this was unbelievable entertainment after I got over the fact that any one of them could have easily broken an ankle with the way they were rising up trying to throw it down and swat shit on the frat daddies. Secondly though, Vaccarro was no doubt the most intimidating one out there. He would stare down dudes after making a nice play like his life was on this game. Dude’s cold-blooded.

Times have changed. Back in my day that would have been Brock Fitzhenry, Gilbert, and Blake Gideon.

What in the name of Farrah Fawcett is going on over there? You’re a couple a blocks from the Tri-Delt house and you’re watching Fijis get their asses kicked by real athletes. Don’t you kids have any ambition today? And stay off my lawn!

I’m watching Gladiator right now while reading this. Frekin A! Muschamp must make his guys watch it before every game. If only our Oline could find the tape.

welcome to the boomtown!

(david and david)

vibe,

Your Longhorn Snuggie is in the mail.

Ha. That’s one of my favorite albums, Art. Baerwald’s first solo is a great one too. I remember buying it at Waterloo right after eating at El Arroyo on a Sunday a million years ago so I’d have something to listen to on my drive home to Houston.

Now, back to football. Good stuff on this thread.

I just asked Barton to expand his selection up top.

Don’t know that I can expound too well. But, our one weakness is our 2nd DT. That is why Mus is trying Acho there. Problem is, if you try and attack there, Earnest does what he does best, plug the hole, stuff the run. So you have to get him off the field by going to 3 or 4 wides. Then you see if you can do what Bama did and occasionally get through the line to the 2nd level, let our safety take a bad angle and pop it outside. Difference could be that instead of said safety, we might have two headhunters back there that won’t just come up and contain. They will look to bring the wood and make a play on the ball.

You aren’t going to get wide on us with our DEs and Acho/Robinson at OLB. I completely agree with Scipio that the three CBs will show vast improvement, they almost always do yoy. As much as Chykie gets knocked, he would start for every team in the Big 12. So you better have a damn good TE or 4th WR that can get iso’d on one of our safeties either down the seam or 20 yards downfield on the sideline. If Scott and Vaccarro can cover those routes, you aren’t left with a hell of a lot of options. So, even with the loss of Thomas, I believe that the improvement in our three CB + adding Scott makes this a better unit than last year. Of course, I could be wrong.

As an aside, me and 3 whiteys combined to win the Fiji low hoop tournament my sophomore year. I don’t know if it was impressive or depressing that we took 4 Texas DBs/WRs to the woodshed in the finals. It just goes to show how much the overall athleticism has increased on our football team in 20 years. Those were lean times.

what if DJ monroe switches back to CB to make up for C/C brown and arron williams,

Muschamp doesn’t care for midget corners.

Monroe seems like a ticking time bomb similar to Vacarro, but for different reasons. I’ll be shocked if both complete their four years of eligibility.

well, we know he is good at batting balls

Good thoughts Barton, I don’t see how teams have much option but 3 or 4 wide. If you play Texas from the I-formation you are replacing Chykie Brown with Emmanuel Acho and that’s bad offensive calculus if you are trying to pound the ball. I know Alabama did that well but they are a better power-running team than anyone in the Big 12 and it’s not close.

3 wide and the slot receiver is matched up with Aaron Williams (another defeat) and while the TE draws a safety/LB there aren’t any terrifying TE’s in the league that I can think of. A fourth wide receiver might get a favorable matchup against a linebacker, dimeback or safety but that isn’t much to work with, particularly when dealing with Acho and co. in the pass rush.

I think a perimeter rushing attack from the 11 personnel with deep shots off play-action and misdirection are the way to go but there isn’t a lot of field that is favorable to attack against this group. My concern is what Scipio hinted at, the loss of Earl Thomas and his multiple interceptions. Hopefully more experience at linebacker, big hitters at safety and 3 NFL caliber corners with a lot of starting experience can cover what has been lost.

I agree Nickel. The only weakness of our D is the same one as last year, which is power running up the middle from a 3 wide set. That gives offenses like bama’s the opportunity to outsize us man on man. Our other starting safety getting burnt for a TD here or there could be considered one, but I don’t think we will get beat by one good play.