The Kids Are All Right

by Barking Carnival Staff on Aug 29, 2010 9:07 AM CDT

I'm really very busy these days but some of the (over)reaction to last night's Steele/Madison game is going to force me to take a break from organizing my Pez dispensers and penning death threats to Michael Cera in order to set some things straight.

Even some normally astute observers are voicing some takes which puzzle me.

First, it's true that Malcolm Brown's weight gain is of the ice cream bar variety. As a long time fan of the Drumstick and Country Cookie I sympathize but obviously that's got to go. The good news is it's simply flab and nothing six weeks of dedication won't take care of and in fact some of that will likely disappear throughout the season.

I'd certainly feel better if we had a grown up for a S&C Coordinator but there are dozens of other potential motivators out there for Malcolm between now and kickoff 2011. Also it's not like the extra weight makes him a different runner. It's more indicative of questionable conditioning as evidenced by Malcolm's obvious exhaustion on the backside of plays late. If you looked at Brown as a runner and didn't see special I don't know what to tell you other than stop taking out payday loans to buy scratch-offs.

Also much is being made of Madison's ONE RETURNING DEFENSIVE STARTER!!! (distant thunderclap). Yeah that's fine. Sometimes those departing seniors get replaced by a Vincent Taylor. There was plenty of talent out there, all crowding the line and keying on Brown. Oh and he still went for 200 all purpose and two scores.

Also I see the tendency of some of our fans to castigate Aaron Brown as some sort of midget preemie version of Fozzy Whitaker.

Yeah, let's stop that. He's got excellent size and skills and is a potential all conference level player. He might specialize on a team like Texas or OU but let's not pretend he's not an outstanding player just because his name's not on the commitment list.

Also I'm a little puzzled by the tendency to compare Malcolm Brown to Cedric Benson. I see totally different runners and if we're talking about running style the more comparable Longhorn to me is Ricky Williams in his balance, vision, power and ability to cut at full speed. He doesn't quite have Rick's acceleration but that combined with his other attributes is what gave Ricky a potential NFL Hall of Fame skill set. Being a tick below that level should induce excitement and anticipation amongst our fan base and not garment-rending.

Also, be sure to check out our friends at Better Off Red who had some thoughts on the Malcolm Brown - Aaron Green match up.

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Comments

Minnesota. I offer you my slow-clap.
I have to admit watching Texas HS Football on ESPN in HD turned me on a bit. Perhaps I’m getting old, or more perverse, but I am starting to understand why Texas HS Football is so heavily supported in this state.
Took me a few years, and increased boredom in other media to figure this out, but here I am, now amongst the masses. I was impressed by the sheer talent on the field, each sideline packed full of assistant coaches-in my Lake Travis days (long before greatness on the field) I can’t remember coaches wearing headsets-and the crowd participation.
Now that I live in a talent cesspool (Houston) I may drag the wifey, or at least mistress, to some of these sporting competitions!
~Cheerio

by SportsJesus on Aug 29, 2010 9:29 AM CDT reply actions

MinnestoaHorn, yep Brown had a little bad weight on him. Hopefully, he enrolls early to prevent weight gain next summer. Steele’s line is awful, Malcolm might have been tired at the end of the game or he might have been a 17 year old kid a little frustrated that some 5’9’’ 225’’ bowling ball can’t open a hole for him. Brown loses the weight and in great shape by Week 5. Football practices in the Texas heat can take Ruben Studdard and transform him into Jamie Foxx. I think Brown played well. Ricky is a more apt comparision than Cedric, but hell I will take either.

Color me impressed with Aaron Green. Three yards and a cloud of dust is not Green’s bread and butter, but it wasn’t for Reggie Bush either. Green as a sophomore was compared to Bush every 5 minutes. Green seems to be all the way back from his junior injuries. Welcome back Reggie Jr., don’t let an agent/marketer buy your parents a house.

I hope Malcolm Brown is texting Green every night about playing together at Texas. Roommates Part 2? I certainly hope so, uninformed ABC broadcasters need some filler to talk about during our games.
Vincent Taylor is going to be a stud. Already 6’3’’ and 240 as a sophomore, will certainly grow some more. Great frame. Taylor took over the line of the scrimmage when he wanted to. Lived in Steele’s backfield in the first half. Let’s keep in touch Texas coaching staff.

Tommy Armstrong looked raw but electric and at times as fast as Green. Texas staff find a position for Mr. Armstrong. I think quarterback is out, but Armstrong is a take a wide receiver or defensive back. Get the ball in his hands, as long as he’s not taking a snap under center. Kid fumbled more than J-Mike Finley at a spelling bee.

SportJesus, I feel your pain. I also now reside in Houston. High school football in my part of town is either dodge bullets at the Lamar game or watch Jeremiah Briscoe dominate future Texas Fijis at Second Baptist games. Needless to say my part of town is high school football starved. Maybe that’s why people live all the way out in Klein.

by billfromlaketravis on Aug 29, 2010 10:26 AM CDT reply actions