Breaking Down the Defensive Class

We delayed posting the defensive corollary to the offensive white paper because of the Ridgeway/Santos/Cottrell weekend prior to National Signing Day. Then noble warrior Torshiro-san bowed towards the East as he embarked on his soul searching journey to follow the sun. Hopefully he discovers the true meaning of life while looking reflexively in his crimson (and cream) soaked samurai sword. With Many Diaz as his spirit guide, I trust he will.

So with a couple surprises delaying our post, bigdukesix and TipsyGypsie bring you the final grades for the Derrick Johnson side of the ball for the class of 2012. After all the hours spent writing and learning about these Longhorns, I must admit I feel a bit solemn.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to it, shall we?

DEFENSIVE END: A
(4) Caleb Bluiett, Hassan Ridgeway, Bryce Cottrell and Torshiro Davis

Tipsy’s Take: Two weeks ago this class had the chance to be [Willie]Bluiett crying in the rain[/Nelson] all by his lonely. With Ridgeway’s very real near switch to the agglolswaggbowelmovement, Cottrell’s verbal committment to Oregon and Davis seemingly heading towards LSU, the staff had to scramble. And scramble they did. They lassoed Ridge from the heard of cliff-ward bound lemmings, they made a fair enough proposal that Cottrell broke up with Eugene for that damn hipster Austin, and then to top it off they pulled one of the coups of the cycle by allowing LSU to flip Torshiro for them.

My high grade stems from the versatility of this group personified by Rideway’s power and Torshiro’s starter block get off. Think of what you’d like your edge players to do and this group can do it, whether you’re looking for a 3-4 end, strongside and weakside ends for the 4-3, or even the ability to rush from an OLB position in a 34 look. Multiplicity wasn’t just an Oscar snub.

I’m highest on Ridgeway as the 12 year NFL vet, but also love the athletic versatility that Davis brings. I think Bluiett and Cottrell are wait and see guys, though both should provide valuable depth and a shortage of “t’s” in the team embroidery.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: A+
(9) Paul Boyette, Alex Norman, Malcom Brown and Brandon Moore

Tipsy’s Take: This is a fantastic grouping. UT landed two guys that should provide positive if not play making snaps from the start, a high upside guy in Norman, and Boyette, a guy that will be given time to develop and maybe crack the depth chart as it thins and more “t’s” are made available.

Moore is the giant bodied replacement for Kheeston Randall. He’ll occupy blockers while UT’s legion of quicker tackles shoot gaps. He’ll keep the linebackers clean and provide heft in goalline and short yardage situations. Stay low, big man. Brown is for my money the best defensive tackle in the country. I once wondered if his unkempt coif was indicative of slovenly nature. Turns out it’s just ‘old man I don’t give a fuck’ hair and that makes it awesome. While you wonder what his toenails look like, I’ll lament Honey Badger wouldn’t go out in public like that, but Malcom Brown does.

To me Norman is the most underrated prospect in the class. He swims upstream with ferocity that would impregnate a barren and sponged woman. He has a masterful first step and for the most part plays low. Though he’s lost a DJ Monroe in order to reshape his body, he needs to build strength. That will come and if for some reason he doesn’t show to be a defensive difference maker he could provide depth in the interior offensive line. I opined when he signed that he would be nationally recruited as a guard if that was his preferred destination. If they do switch him – or anybody for that matter – hopefully they do so decisively. I’m tired of seeing positional schizophrenia. I fully expect one of our former linebackers that are now playing fullback to ‘sack’ Ash at some point.

LINEBACKER: B
(4) Alex De La Torre, Peter Jinkens, Tim Cole and Dalton Santos

Tipsy’s Take: I actually fretted over the grading of this position before Mr. Truck Pull volunteered to drop Tennessee. For reasons I’ll let Shuttlesworth expound on, landing Santos was a game changer for this position. I think Santos will push Steve Edmond both on and off the field, but hopefully not at Gatti’s.

I like the fire Jinkens brings and expect him to be a difference maker on special teams provided he doesn’t combust prior to kickoff. He’s the type of guy that won’t allow any team he’s on to come out flat, as the pregame Skyline lockerroom can attest. Prior to exacting vengeance from DeSoto there was Peter, leading his contemporaries in a crunk off with tears streaming down his face. Hopefully he channels his energy properly, otherwise he’ll be pecking fights at the coinflip for fear that upperclassmen nobles will be taking land and title in exchange for a bloodless resolution. Jinkens has to gain weight, everyone knows this, but I can see some games where he’s a monster – specifically spying a mobile QB – and others where he doesn’t make much of an impact outside of his pregame recitation from the Book of Ray.

I like Cole as a Malcom Brown security blanket and as a program guy who will provide heady play and effort. Every team has the underappreciated glue guys and I think that’s Cole’s niche. De La Torre might want to start making appointments with Dr. Melfi because I think he’s going to bounce from one position to the next as needs dictate. This never happened to Herschel Walker, Herschel Walker declared to Herschel Walker.

DEFENSIVE BACK: B
(4ish) Orlando Thomas, Bryson Echols, Adrian Colbert and Kevin Vaccaro

Tipsy’s Take: First it’s important to keep in mind that this list could include Kendall Sanders and Daje Johnson at some point, while possibly excluding Thomas.

For now, we’ll go with this grouping. ‘B’ might be a bit high – and bd6 – may disagree, but to me Colbert bumps this position by a letter grade by himself. I’m that high on him. The kid gets ‘it’ and by ‘it’ I mean ‘life’ and the role work ethic plays in it. He’s supremely athletic and also has the will to maximize. Obviously the number one boon to being a track star is speed, but too seldom is the required work ethic it takes to be a great sprinter mentioned. Colbert comes prepared with Bennie Wylie’s mindset and that along with his athleticism and intelligence will fast track him to playing time. This is the kid that along with Adrian Phillips gets in the very short “who will replace Kenny Vaccaro” line. The fact that his real life voice is how I imagine Frank Caliendo to impersonate Michael Huff is the cherry on top.

Bryson Echols’ athleticism gets overlooked because he’s already technically nuanced. That’s about as rare as a left footed black kicker – which he also is. I saw him once in high school and I was sold. He reminds me of the traditional nickelback (not the unconventional Vaccaro type) that comes in as down and distance predicates. I’m not sure he’ll ever be a full time starter, but I do expect him to be a full time contributor. Consider me a Bryson believer.

I don’t really know what to make of Duke Thomas, other than he is an electric twitchy athlete that’s already on campus. Being an early enrollee is a great development for both the staff and Thomas as they look to find his ideal role. Vaccaro brings his brother’s aggressive demeanor. Both only see red. Unlike his brother, he’s a blank canvas, both in epidermis and how his ceiling projects. Get him to campus, get him to Wylie, etc.

bd6: I’m not going to go into as much detail, as Typsy and Scipio have done such a great job in that department.

For most of the year it seemed that this class was heavily slanted towards the offensive side of the ball, with most of the blue-chips on that side of the ball, and most of the questionable takes playing on D. The offense is still loaded, and there might be a few head-scratchers on defense, but I’m much higher on the group as a whole.

Like most great defenses on the field, the strength of this defensive recruiting class is up front. Elite defensive tackles are the most valuable recruits because they’re in such short supply. Aggressive, athletic, 290+ pound men are the rarest of commodities. And with all due respect to Eddie Goldman, Texas landed the best tackle in the country in Malcom Brown as part of an outstanding four man group. Goldman is large and powerful but lacks Brown’s explosiveness. MBII will play early as part of Texas’ six man tackle rotation, which will obviate his tendency to fade somewhat as games go on.

Brandon Moore is extremely large (6’5”, 335). At a minimum, he gives Manny Diaz some formational flexibility to match whatever the opposing offense throws at him. You want to run the ball? Moore will clog the middle and keep Edmond and Hicks clean, allowing them to clean up the ball carriers. You’re running the spread? Diaz can go nickel with the two quickest tackles (Whaley, Jackson), and the two quickest linebackers in the league.

Norman was unfairly punished in Rivals’ rankings for his sub-par performance at the Under Armor AA game, but is still a solid Boyette may be a future guard. Both guys will have the luxury of red-shirting, and then easing their way into the lineup. Defensive tackle is a position where it helps a great deal to be a grown-ass man, and a couple of years with Bennie Wylie before being thrown out onto the field will mean a lot in terms of holding up at the point of attack.

With only four returning players, defensive end is a position where Texas needed to add both depth and talent. Consider it done. Eight is a good number to have at end, especially considering the shallow in-state talent pool in 2013. I’d hope Davis and Ridgeway get worked into the lineup a bit next year to prepare the team for the post-Okafor and Jeffcoat era. Cottrell and Blueitt have intriguing athleticism and provide depth moving forward.

At linebacker, this was just one of those years where there weren’t any truly elite talents in-state apart from possibly one kid with terrible grades. Santos is a hard pipe-hittin [person], which should be fun to watch. Jinkens is in the Corey Nelson small but fast mode, ideally suited for deployment against the Big 12 spread offenses. Alex De La Torre is a future fullback imo. Tim Cole is reportedly a really charismatic and outgoing kid, so if nothing else he’ll end up a team leader.

Kendall Sanders would be the second most talented defensive player in this class if he plays DB, but seems set on WR for the moment. Echols strikes me as a high-floor, low-ceiling type. Vacarro has a lot to prove. Colbert is one of the more exciting players in the class for me because in addition to his great track speed, he relishes contact. And that’s something you just can’t teach. He’ll join Santos in going to work on opposing offenses with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch.

49 Responses

striker said:

February 7th, 2012 at 2:14 pm

Why the Lil Vaccaro? He does not have great size or even average size, upon which does not have great speed to make up for the lack of size. This is not high school where you do not face 200 lbs players that can run like a rabbit. Div 1 is a 200 pound and 4.5 speed league backfield. Scout rated him as 136 CB in the country. Why the risk, he may turn out to be the best CB in the country but why the high risk when you could have had others???
Louis L'am Jones said:

February 7th, 2012 at 2:29 pm

I think Santos will push Steve Edmond both on and off the field, but hopefully not at Gatti’s.

Definitely not. If he’s going to put on bad weight, he needs to do it at Salvation, Home Slice, East Side Pies, or — leaving pizza, moving toward BBQ — Franklin’s.
rolandv said:

February 7th, 2012 at 3:06 pm

Lil Vaccaro is going to be good. He plays football just like his brother. He attacks the LOS on run plays and isn’t afraid to lay the wood. His coverage skills look great to me, aggressive and seems to be in the right place when breaking up passes. I think he is going to be a pleasant surprise in a year or two.
striker said:

February 7th, 2012 at 3:43 pm

I hope your right rolandv.
I just think he pulls down the rankings and his level of competition is suspect. Thus wanting comfort in his size and speed to accompany the lack of competition. I guess we will know in about 2-3 years.

I guess I should have asked, how would the rankings of the DB change if LiL Vaccaro was not on the list?
Capt. Insano said:

February 7th, 2012 at 3:45 pm

So…are you just copy and pasting the posts from Inside Texas?

If you are going to be that lazy, why not just get rid of the site altogether and have everybody go to Inside Texas dude?
PVogel said:

February 7th, 2012 at 3:53 pm

[i]He swims upstream with ferocity that would impregnate a barren and sponged woman.[/i]

this had my dying.
Great work.

And a great class.
I’m real excited about being a Longhorn fan for the next 3-4 years.
PVogel said:

February 7th, 2012 at 3:53 pm

apparently i messed up the italics because im an idiot
tipsygypsie said:

February 7th, 2012 at 4:11 pm

WTF are you talking about? Bigdukesix writes for this site, I write for IT. Since we both wrote this we posted it where we write. Cosm has been putting out great content without us. Only a pure douchebag would suggest shutting it down. You cry a lot. And calling me lazy? Oh ok. Kindly point me to your free blog.
Texastough said:

February 7th, 2012 at 4:24 pm

Where’s the offensive breakdown you lazy p.o.s.???

Yeah thats retarded. Tips, you deserve to be paid for what you do – provide great info packaged in a great writing style. The ‘cosm really took off when you and JS showed up, glad you’re still involved here but happy for y’all at IT.
Capt. Insano said:

February 7th, 2012 at 4:28 pm

Hey Tipsy,

You seem sensitive.

Have you taken your midol today?
Capt. Insano said:

February 7th, 2012 at 4:31 pm

Tipsy and Shuttleworth started getting paid by IT as soon as they sold-out, Texas Tough.

Are you new to the internets?
coolhorn said:

February 7th, 2012 at 4:31 pm

Hey Tips, I appreciate that you’re keeping your stuff on IT mostly free, and still coming around here with good stuff too. I also appreciate Duke Six and the others that are working to keep the ‘Cosm viable. I do miss the Jesus, and wish he’d do a few more things on this site, since I’m to cheap to front the money for IT.
mattdubya said:

February 7th, 2012 at 4:32 pm

more like capt. rimsano am i right
tipsygypsie said:

February 7th, 2012 at 4:52 pm

Sorry Cool; you’re too cheap to pay, I’m out of “free” time. Thanks for understanding. Only a lowly piece of shit would take it as a personal slight. Speaking of which, still waiting for the link to that free blog you’ve been tending to the last two years, Insano.
RedmondLonghorn said:

February 7th, 2012 at 5:01 pm

“Only a pure douchebag would suggest shutting it down.”

Accurate label is accurate.
Dagga Roosta said:

February 7th, 2012 at 5:34 pm

Wow, Insano. WTF are you doing accusing sports bloggers of “selling out”?

“Man, it’s just selling out, man. You gotta do it FOR THE ART, man. You don’t cut off your dreadlocks and you don’t SELL OUT to the MAN, man. OCCUPY THE ‘COSM!” (freebase rip)

Stop being an unappreciative twat.
Dagga Roosta said:

February 7th, 2012 at 5:47 pm

And besides, bigdukesix has stepped up in a major way. The ‘Cosm is still on my daily reading list due to him. Nice work BD6, keep it up.
Horns05 said:

February 7th, 2012 at 5:47 pm

Ha. I’m waiting for fellache to chime on captain insano’s thoughts
edsp said:

February 7th, 2012 at 6:55 pm

No offense, anybody . . . I’m waiting for some provocative/intelligent/creative thoughts on our defensive signings — that being the title of this excellent post.
STLaw said:

February 7th, 2012 at 7:17 pm

Back to the article…

I really like this defensive class. I think we have a few darkhorses here. Norman is one. He has shown serious ability to set his mind to something and achieve it (ie losing a shit ton of weight on his own to become a badass).

I also like Colbert’s upside. Our DB stable is becoming very stocked and very fast. Echols seems like one that provides depth but can contribute more if he works at it. His upside is there, just needs to achieve it.

MB2 will be a 3 and out. I hate to say that but it’s more than likely true. However, the 3 years he is here will be the worst for opposing RBs and QBs.
STLaw said:

February 7th, 2012 at 7:20 pm

Oh and living in Atascocita for the past year, I have seen Boyette play numerous times. Holy cow that kid is big and strong as hell. He is raw but the potential is there. I think he loses a little weight and Bo teaches technique. After that, I think he will provide solid depth in the DT rotation.
6th street said:

February 7th, 2012 at 8:58 pm

TG,

I dont have a problem with you guys jumping to IT for the payday. Its a capitalistic society. More power to you.

But when you guys launched this site, every other post was riddled with jokes about pay sites and how much better the ‘Cosm was.

Like I said, I have no problem with what you guys did. Wish I could find a way to make a buck off of talking Longhorn football. Sounds like a hell of a gig. But dont act like its not a big deal that you guys decided to jump ship and be a part of the “establishment” that you spent months scoffing as you built this site up.
mileslong said:

February 7th, 2012 at 10:38 pm

Capt. Insano now making a bid to be the biggest asshole on two different sites, what other UT sites do you poison insano?
Scipio Tex said:

February 8th, 2012 at 1:43 am

I think I may be a little higher on our DB class as I think Colbert is a potential stud, Thomas is a really good athlete, and Echols is a useful depth piece.

I can’t see DT as an A+ even with Brown.
Heisman 98 said:

February 8th, 2012 at 2:47 am

Ridgeway will be one of the immediate impact players, if not THE immediate impact player. If you haven’t watched last year’s NFTC OL vs. DL highlights on ESPN website, treat yourself:

http://search.espn.go.com/2011-nike-football-training-camp-tcu/videos/6

Starts off with Jake Maulerson manhandling the first DL up. Michael Starts gets beaten like a 3 legged mule by Ridgeway, then gets handled by Maul when he lines up as a DL against Maul.

Maul needs to be an OT. I see prototype 10-15 year NFL LT with an additional 40 pounds on his frame, which he looks like he could handle easily.

Ridgeway was named DL MVP of the camp. Also check out part one of the OL vs. DL matchup at the end where the OL knows he’s going to get trucked by Ridge and just holds on for dear life with first a chokehold, then an outright bearhug hold and Ridge still beats him to the QB mark.

Ridge and Malcom Brown will anchor the DL for at least 3 years. Look a the other vids on the site if you want to see Jinkens dominating as LB MVP of the camp and Daje Johnson dominating at CB. Jake Oliver has one play and looks every bit his listed height of 6’4″, looks very physical and very smooth running his route and catching the ball.

We are truly setting up championship runs with this class and last year’s class. Speed galore but more beasts on the line since the famed Classes of Beef of the 90′s and early 2000′s.
Daddy said:

February 8th, 2012 at 6:00 am

Scipio said, “I think I may be a little higher on our DB class as I think Colbert is a potential stud, Thomas is a really good athlete, and Echols is a useful depth piece.”

I agree. I think our DB class was pretty good, especially if Sanders moves over from offense. However, I think our LB class is weaker than it was rated. I don’t see any one of the linebackers being better than our current starters. So we will probably be looking at a drop-off at linebacker as the current guys graduate. It worries me a bit because this year’s linebacker crop in Texas high schools is a little weak. I have heard talk that Marcell Harris (from Florida) may eventually spin down, though. We could definitely use him in the future.
Magnitude said:

February 8th, 2012 at 6:58 am

“He swims upstream with ferocity that would impregnate a barren and sponged woman.”

Holy Shit that was funny!
Magnitude said:

February 8th, 2012 at 7:24 am

Our D-back roster is an embarrassment of riches. We have the two best corners in the conference and the best safety in college football. OSU’s secondary is the only thing that even gets close to comparing to ours in this conference. But where really leap out past them is in our depth. Phillips is a badass (did you see that tackle he made of Ifeldi while he was being held by Cal’s TE). The kid is a competitor. Mykkele T. and Sherroid E. are more talented than most of our fellow conf. member’s starters. Colbert is starting to look like a bigger version of Earl Thomas. Josh Turner is our 3rd string CB and already has more “wow” moments (in games) than a lot of college footballs starting corners. And Kendall Sanders has the distinct possibility of leaving Texas as the greatest UT CB since Aaron Ross! Then add in the moderately talented and filler guys like Jackson and Echols who are already READY for bigtime Div 1 FB. I think we have the avaliablility to “waste” a scholly on a fringe CB who happens to have great tenacity and loves our program. What say you?
Davey O'Brien said:

February 8th, 2012 at 8:10 am

I agree D-Tackle is rated two high with the perfect grade. Too much is made of Moore having played at Bama early. It is great he saw time and I like what he has to offer, but he also ended up at a juco which means there was something that went wrong.

Maybe he missed Bo, if so great, but I do have that one question and at the most he is a two year starter. That means Boyette and or Norman need to come through after 2013 which means potential. A+ grades aren’t dependent on potential.

Defensive back depends on Sanders and Johnson. If they play corner the grade is highly underrated. My concern on Echols is I am still waiting for a DeSoto kid to hit big outside of Von Miller and Byron Hanspard. Maybe I am still scarred from Casey Painters, but the schools seems to put out a great deal of talent that just hasn’t shown at the next level like you would have thought by now. Maybe he is the first to do so at Texas.
RedmondLonghorn said:

February 8th, 2012 at 8:28 am

Daddy:

I think Santos is a big time player at MLB and I think Jinkens has the potential to be a pretty good Acho/Robinson/Hicks equivalent in a couple years. You don’t have to replace 3 LB studs in every class.

Davey:

I agree with your general points, but Marcus Tubbs went to Desoto. I’d say he hit big, in more ways than one.
Mysterious Package said:

February 8th, 2012 at 9:04 am

Should we be recruiting for depth or difference makers?
tipsygypsie said:

February 8th, 2012 at 9:17 am

Davey: As usual, not a whole lot of disagreement. My high grade for DT stems from me liking the staff replacing Randall’s size immediately and also I’m bigger on Norman than most. Moore making it to the NFL wouldn’t be the first time Saban’s refuse did so. As for the DB’s obviously the grade would be higher if KS or DJ were slotted there. I’ve posted that UT got the two best CB prospects in the state and is letting them start on offense.
RedmondLonghorn said:

February 8th, 2012 at 9:50 am

MP:

You have to recruit for both. You can’t sign a class where every recruit is a five-star or a high four-star player. It isn’t possible and I’m not sure it would even be desirable.

Looking back at several years of classes from the likes of USC (in the mid-aughts) and Alabama (more recently) illustrates this point. There are three-star and even some two-star players on both of those lists.
Gman said:

February 8th, 2012 at 9:51 am

Insano, it’s simple…you don’t like it, leave and don’t come back.
Horncasting said:

February 8th, 2012 at 9:55 am

I agree with the A+ grade for DT.

As I said over at BC, I think not only is Brown the best DT in the country this year, but he is the best DT recruit that Mack Brown has landed at Texas. Then you add in a possible immediate contributor to fill the one apparent void left by graduation/attrition, and a high upside project and I don’t see how it gets any better.

Either way, we are debating levels of greatness, which is a nice position to be in.
CFSV said:

February 8th, 2012 at 12:19 pm

I love what I am hearing in the Humidor.. County Fair sounds brutal, which is perfect, wasnt the word from some folks at Tech that Bennie got the team fast but they lost muscle? or was it that they got big but lost speed? Either way sounds like Bennie is going to push these guys past the limits to make them better.

If we land all of the guys the Cigar thinks we will this weekend, I absolutely think we slow play everyone else with the exception of Swoopes.

I am interested to see the “Mock Pro Combats”.. I personally like the tradition and old school feel of the Uniforms, but I think we have to keep up with the times so I have no problem with changing uni’s 2-3 games a year, if it helps lure in more talent year after year, as long as the uni is not completely off the wall or in anyway similar to Marylands.
Jesus Shuttlesworth said:

February 8th, 2012 at 1:20 pm

Horncasting nailed the Malcom Brown eval. Guys that big shouldn’t be able to house wide receiver screens. Yes, he looked like a grizzly toting a walnut.

As for “County Fair”, lots of vomit and nary a spoon to be found is what I heard.
RJ44 said:

February 8th, 2012 at 1:30 pm

Ahhh the great Jesus!
codaxx said:

February 8th, 2012 at 1:39 pm

funny thing is where does the over-all defensive grad go if Daje and Sanders play CB? One could argue that Daje and Sanders are the best CB prospects in Texas this yr.
CFSV said:

February 8th, 2012 at 2:32 pm

And now my post makes no sense… Humidor was posted above

I was a little hesitant to comment since it was copy and pasted… But love the info.. Thanks JS and Tips even though I wasn’t supposed to read it.
Scipio Tex said:

February 8th, 2012 at 2:42 pm

Guys, don’t post shit verbatim from a pay site.

If you want to communicate the gist of something, feel free.
stevelonghorns1 said:

February 8th, 2012 at 4:18 pm

gosh, you guys need to take a warm lavender bubble bath! b*tching about everything and everyone? i’ll take my info anyway i can get it and be HAPPY.
this post was excelllent as always for us die-hards who want to feel like we are part of the
next naty! bring it on Shiro! Shreveport is lovely this time of year. Just Longview is better!
Mysterious Package said:

February 8th, 2012 at 5:13 pm

Sure hope we are not coasting this year. Have read that we are in on 3 or so OOS guys. That’s not going to be enough with this crop in state. I am expecting another top 5 class and top 1 or 2 as stars average. We are not out of the woods yet and need a complete badass crew coming in like our last class. That’s the bench mark I’m setting for our coaches. We may not have the numbers but we should be looking for major quality this year.
STLaw said:

February 8th, 2012 at 8:21 pm

I agree with Codaxx…Put Sanders, Daje, Colbert, and Echols in the same DB class and to me that is the best or top 2 DB class in the country.
John Galt said:

February 9th, 2012 at 9:47 am

@Insano

“So you think that money is the root of all evil? Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can’t exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?”

are you moocher or looter?

@ 6th Street

‘Cosm did used to dig on pay sites but the reason is because ‘Cosm felt it had better content…not the principle of paying for content. They were making the case that their content was a better value than paysites at the time (I agree as I read ‘Cosm and BC daily and subscribe to the paysites). “joining the establishment” is a guilt-by-association fallacy.

I’m also a day late so odds are no one will read this but I have a question anyway. With A&M leaving and WVU joining, nearly every school other than K-state runs a spread offense. This is one contributing reason to Torshiro’s signature. Shouldn’t we expect to see more contribution from guys that will operate in a base nickel (speed LBs and DEs) than space-eaters? To that point, I know Diaz isn’t married to traditional (4-3 / 3-4 / 3-3-5) formats but what do you guys think is the most likely personnel grouping for our base defense in 2012?
HP said:

February 9th, 2012 at 12:37 pm

Norman was injured at the Under Armor game correct? For that matter Cayleb was playing thru injury as well, why does rivals tweak guys who clearly didn’t play at full spread.
Davey O'Brien said:

February 10th, 2012 at 8:30 am

redmond,

Here is one big difference about Marcus Tubbs versus many of the other kids who have come out of the DeSoto program, he was a tight end who grew into another position and wasn’t viewed as a finished product coming out of high school.

In many ways they seem to be the best and worst of high school prospects. Great kids, great athletes, really fundamentally sound, and the question is then raised how much upside? DeSoto to me has been a bit on an enigma. I can’t say with all certainity that doesn’t bias my views. Can’t say it is watching them self-destruct in the relays at regional last year or as mentioned before I have been scarred by Casey Printers.

The very question on Echols is how much better can he get and while he did play well against Skyline they haven’t exactly been a gold mine of great college players at wide receiver to date. Prospects yes, proven talent in college no.

I guess the question goes back to weighing upside versus knowns. It is something that is tough to explain or quantify.

Tipsy,

Agreed on the potential in the defensve tackles. My point is just that you can’t have a perfect grade when at least half of the group would be viewed as rawer talent. An A grade I will buy, but for A+ I really would want to see something along the lines at a position of Roy, BJ, Sloan, and TJ and even with that potential that group underperformed as a whole.
hecox20 said:

February 11th, 2012 at 12:21 pm

Thanks for the read….Time will only tell and I hope that your grades are correct!!!!
Dr. Von Gigglesworth said:

February 12th, 2012 at 10:05 am

Nick Rose is going to be one of the most physically imposing kickers you’ve ever seen.

Works out at the same gym as I do.

Watching the guy decline press rep 225lbs right now.

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Durham Smythe Commits to Texas

Rumors of Penn State’s Demise Were Perhaps Exaggerated

Looking at Texas’ Two-Year Recruiting Depth Chart

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