SB Nation - Ryan Palmer

Morning Coffee Goes Pro

GhostofBigRoy — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:58:46 -0000

Texas Pro Day stocks. The Longhorns held their annual Pro Day for scouts ($) (and Packers GM Ted Thompson) on Wednesday, an important day for players looking to improve on their NFL Combine results (Ryan Palmer) or players who weren't invited to the Combine (Henry Melton).

Stock Rising: Henry Melton. The former Texas running back probably worked his way into the top half of the NFL Draft (fourth or fifth round) with his extremely impressive showing at the Texas Pro Day -- perhaps not the most impressive of the group, as Roy Miller and Brian Orakpo both allayed concerns, but Melton was the player who made himself the most money, running a 4.58 40 at 268 pounds (instead of the normal 225) and posting a 36.5-inch vertical. That raw athleticism, combined with his lack of experience at the defensive end position gives Melton a considerable amount of potential. As HenryJames notes, that 40 time makes Melton faster than the OU safeties.
Stock Rising: Quan Cosby. Though Cosby stuck with 4.57 40 from the Combine, he did perform extremely well in the passing drills, once regaining his feet to make a catch that IT's Ross Lucksinger compared to the David Thomas catch in the Rose Bowl. With his ability to use his body to shield defenders, his amazing hands, and leaping ability, Cosby won't be kept out of the league by his size, but the lack of upside will probably hurt him, as what you see is what you get with the "elderly" Mart product and former minor league baseball player.
Stock Rising: Roy Miller. Height has always been the concerns pro scouts have about Miller, but he did answer the questions he could -- running a 4.8 40 after a 4.98 at the Combine, while still adding 23 pounds since the end of the football season. His strength and first step helped Miller solidified his position in the middle rounds.
Stock Holding: Brian Orakpo. There wasn't much to prove for Rak that he didn't at the NFL Combine, considering his 4.7 40, 11-foot broad jump, and 31 reps at 261 pounds. Orakpo stuck with those numbers, but showed well in position drills and proved the health of his knees, essentially answering all the questions scouts had about him and making him a top-10 lock come April and possibly as high as five, a pick held by the Cleveland Browns, who play a 3-4 defense.
Stock Holding: Chris Ogbonnaya. OG ran a predictably mediocre 4.65 at the Combine and stuck with that number and worked at the positions he played at Texas (wide receiver, running back, and fullback). His versatility may land him a chance at the next level in the role he excelled at during his last season at Texas -- third-down specialist. He's probably a free agent pick up.
Stock Holding: Rashad Bobino. Everyone's least favorite linebacker (at least after Scott Derry and Robert Killebrew left) ran the slow 40 expected of him -- 4.7, but managed to turn in a remarkable 4.18 shuttle time that would have been second-best among linebackers at the NFL Combine. Adding his kamikaze tendencies and slow straight-line speed to his lack of height essentially eliminates him from NFL consideration, which isn't exactly a surprise. I would be greatly surprised if he latched on with a team even as a free agent. But I guess he bled for the program and stuff, so there's that.
Stock Holding: Ryan Palmer. Like Roy Miller, Palmer couldn't answer his biggest question mark -- size. At only 5-8, it doesn't mater much that Palmer ran a 4.53 40, much better than his 4.62 at the Combine, or that he can jump 36.5 inches in the air while standing still -- he's just too small. As the only thing separating him from some serious cash money, Palmer must wake up every morning and curse the cruel fate that dealt him a short deck.
Stock Falling: Aaron Lewis. For a player uninvited to the Combine and on the extreme margins of NFL talent, Aaron Lewis needed a strong performance on Wednesday. Due to hip and hamstring injuries, Lewis wasn't able to run a 40, but completed the shuttle in 4.45 seconds. Lewis will have to get healthy and make a strong impression at tryouts after the draft to make an NFL roster.
Post-college attendees. Texas players who completed their eligibility in the fall weren't the only participants on Wednesday. Former walk-on and track athlete Joe Davis worked out at wide receiver, perhaps giving himself a shot at landing a free agent opportunity with his 6-5 frame , while Eric Hall and former Texas receiver Myron Hardy worked out as well. Last year former Texas quarterback James Brown was pulled from the crowd to throw to the receivers, but this year it was native Texan and former Iowa quarterback Drew Tate and Austin resident Jeff Blake who did the honors.

D-Money names UT the favorite. Forth Worth Dunbar receiver Darius White, aka D-Money, currently has a27 offers from the best programs in the country, but there is one that stands above the rest ($) -- Texas. An Austin trip with his mom and brothers is in store for the spring game, while White says that his mom is advising him to take his time with the process. Considering the statements White made in the fall sounding like he was a lock to commit early, the trip seems to be about establishing a comfort level with the program for his mother, much like Reggie Wilson's trip last week that culminated in news of commitment shortly thereafter. If White's mother gives her stamp of approval at the spring game, White could be the 22nd commitment in the class, as many BONizens believe.

Mack Brown speaks. In his first press conference since before Spring Break, Mack Brown spoke about his team and the work left to be done.

Brown confirmed that DJ Grant did sprain his ankle, but disagreed with trainer Kenny Boyd's assessment that Grant would not participate in the remainder of spring practice, with Brown calling him day-to-day.
After horrible kick coverage last season, Brown says they are working harder on that than they have before.
Fozzy Whittaker is quickly developing a reputation as injury-prone and "tweaked" his ankle during the first part of spring practice.
In other injury notes, early enrollee defensive end Dominique Jones won't practice this spring, but fellow early enrollee Kenny Vaccaro is participating in individual workouts.
The coaches are no longer worried about the weight of 250-pound Cody Johnson, instead focusing on his body fat percentage, with Brown commenting that the staff doesn't want him weak from only eating salads.
Perhaps the most interesting news is that Ben Alexander has lost weight and is playing impressively. Of course, that leads to speculation that Alexander has looked good because Kheeston Randall hasn't, but it would greatly help the defensive tackle rotation if Alexander could have a breakout senior season, particularly against a team like Oklahoma State that runs the ball well.

Matthews down to two. Good news for Longhorn fans on Wednesday, as offensive lineman Jake Matthews told Burnt Orange Beat that he narrowed his list to two schools ($): Texas and Texas A&M. He's planning on visiting both schools soon, though he hasn't scheduled a visit to Texas as he has with the Aggies, with whom he has a higher level of comfort, partly due to his brother's attendance. Seemingly tired of the process, Matthews says that he will likely commit before having a chance to visit OU or USC, who haven't been completely eliminated, it seems.

Matthews will try to make it down to Texas in an effort to develop a higher level of comfort, likely for a practice or the spring game, which will be an extremely important visit. It doesn't seem like recruits have had problems getting comfortable in Austin or with the Texas coaching staff, so expect Texas to close the gap with the Aggies when Matthews does take his visit.

Wilson speaks, articulately. There might not be a Texas recruit in the history of the program with as interesting a story as Haltom defensive end Reggie Wilson. On Tuesday, at a news conference held in his school library, Wilson made the official announcement of his commitment to Texas. Wilson's maturity and perspective have always shown through in his previous interviews, but his new conference and appearance on "The Drive" clearly demonstrated how remarkably articulate he is ($) for a young man. Wilson sounded off on a number of topics during his interview, including the impact his trip to campus made on his family:

When we got on the campus my mom and dad and brother fell in love with the campus. And the things they offer in the business school and me telling my dad I wanted to major in business. Them being a top five business school in the country and all those things. My mom and my brothers were like yeah I think this is the right school for you.

For Wilson and his family, the considerations went beyond the campus or facilities -- older brother Winston wanted to know what would happen if Reggie got injured:

A major concern was that if he gets out of here and he's in Austin and playing football and he gets a season ending injury, what happens to his scholarship? That was basically what our concern was. And we were told 'Look if Reggie commits to us now, we guarantee him four years of academic scholarship. It's there. The athletic scholarship is there and it's going to be there. We are not going to take it from him.' So basically that was the biggest concern. My parents were concerned about that and I was concerned about that. So it was a snap of a finger to give them a commitment because they satisfactorily answered all of the questions we had.

A concern with Wilson talking about moving back to the Ivory Coast after his football career is that he might leave early for the NFL to have money to send back more quickly. Wilson tried to allay those concerns on Tuesday:

Some players decide to go to the NFL but I'm not one of those people who are going to the NFL [early]. I'm going to go the four years to get my degree. That's the plan I have and I'm not going to change it. You all can look forward to me playing four years of football there.

Finally, Wilson gave insight into the way that Texas coaches deal with blue-chip talent, developing personal relations that may last past the recruiting process, even if the player attends another school:

They're great people, I felt comfortable with them - coach Giles, coach Tolly, every one of them. I feel those are people who are going to be there for me regardless of football, football being there or not. And that's what really drew me closer to them.

Coach Tolly was the main one who got my attention. This is one thing coach Tolly told me, this is the main thing that got my attention, 'If you come to the University or if you don't come here I'll always be your biggest fan.' That really touched me to know that he liked me as a person and not just because I was a top recruit in the state of Texas or the nation, but he liked me as an individual.

Wilson will certainly represent the University of Texas in the best possible way and it will be interesting to hear more interviews with him later, though Mack Brown may well indoctrinate him before anything interesting comes out of his mouth while at Texas.

Sergio Kindle And His Big Decision

GhostofBigRoy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:57:30 -0000

In the ongoing saga of will-he-stay-or-will-he-go, surely to continue over the following days and possibly stretching until the mid-January deadline for underclassmen to declare, an NFL source has indicated that Kindle projects as a low-second round draft pick ($), too low for Kindle, who has said he would leave only with a first round guarantee. The evaluations were supposed to have already arrived or arrive in the very near future, so it's unclear whether the speculation about a low-second round grade is still in the realm of informed speculation, or whether Kindle has the evaluation in hand.

Such evaluations can't factor in possible performances at the combine, where Kindle would no doubt wow scouts with his combination of size and speed--he still runs a 4.55 despite having grown to 6-5 and 240 pounds. An incredible workout may not be enough for Kindle, as teams have only a year of film on him as a situational rusher and only seven teams with first round picks this year run the 3-4. Another mitigating factor is that Kindle struggled to reach the quarterback ($) when matched against Baylor's Jason Smith, a highly regarded left tackle. NFL scouts will surely view that match up with unfavorable interest in terms of Kindle.

In what was surely an important meeting, Will Muschamp traveled to Dallas after Christmas to meet with Kindle and his father to discuss Sergio's future in the program. Unsuprisingly, Muschamp gave Kindle and his father the assessment that Kindle needs to leave if given a first-round assessment. For Kindle to return, however, the family wanted assurances that Kindle would no longer be a situational player, as he was used for most of the season and the Fiesta Bowl, a situation Kindle dealt with well, but still found frustrating as a player believing he could impact the game given the chance.

Muschamp did make that assurance, telling Kindle's father the by next season he wanted NFL teams to view Kindle as an outside linebacker with exceptional pass-rushing ability. From all reports, Muschamp, Kindle, and Kindle's family left the meeting on the same page, which bodes well for Texas retaining Kindle's services for another year.

Another factor is the friendship that Kindle has with three of his senior teammates, now having played their last game in burnt orange. Kindle lives with Ryan Palmer and is close friends with Roy Miller and Brian Orakpo, the latter two about to make some serious money in the NFL.

Perhaps the hardest element of the process to tune out is the pressure on the family coming from outside sources. Agents hovering like scavengers over carrion, trying to convince Kindle's father that Sergio could be a millionaire in a matter of months. Even showing mock drafts for 2010 that list Kindle in the top five. Fortunately for the Loghorns and Sergio's family, his father is doing reasonably well financially right now, minimizing any pressure from the family for Kindle to make his money now.

This draft class is loaded with talented linebackers and several 3-4 rush linebackers: Brian Orakpo and Florida State's Everette Brown in the latter category and Brandon Spikes, Rey Maualuga, James Lauranaitis, Aaron Curry, and Brian Cushing in the former. With such stiff competition at the position, against players with more film than Kindle, it's unlikely a team with a first-round pick would take a chance on the relative unknown. Those high picks are simply too valuable and mistakes can set teams back for years, not to mention cost them significant amounts of money.

Weighing in on the side of the Longhorns is the development of Kindle's relationship with Muschamp ($). After two mostly unsuccessful years in the program played at a level well beneath the lofty standards established before Kindle even set foot on campus, it was Will Muschamp who finally found a way to reach and teach the exceptionally talented Kindle. Part of the solution was to unleash Kindle against opposing quarterbacks, leading to Kindle's infamous comment that the quarterback would be his prey. And prey he has on them, posting impressive numbers on the year (pre-Fiesta Bowl): nine sacks (second on the team behind Orakpo), 13 tackles for loss, 50 tackles, 15 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

It wasn't just important for Muschamp to establish a relationship with Kindle, it was also important to be able to maintain it. Kindle reportedly told people close to him during the middle of the season that he was leaning towards leaving for the NFL. That all changed after Muschamp was named coach-in-waiting, guaranteeing that he would be with the program to coach Kindle were he to return for his senior season.

Finally, there seems to be a sense from Kindle that he is ready to step into a significant leadership role filled this season by his senior friends and that Kindle is ready as well to secure his legacy as one of the great Longhorn linebackers. Were Kindle to build upon his success from this season, there's no doubt that the team would find itself in the national title hunt and Kindle would be in the running for national defensive awards, as Orakpo was this season. There's still a chance Kindle will bolt for the NFL, but right now it's more than even money he will once again step on the field as a Texas Longhorn.

Morning Coffee Is In Mourning

GhostofBigRoy — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:52:14 -0000

Credit to Texas Tech. First of all, Texas Tech deserves a lot of credit for winning the football game. Because make no mistake, Tech won the game. Graham Harrell threw a number of passes into good coverage that had to be perfectly thrown to find the hands of the Tech receiver. And they did. Repeatedly. Many observes nationally and in Texas still wondered before the game if Harrell was just another in a long line of "system" quarterbacks at Texas. He's not. Want evidence? Do system quarterbacks lead the Heisman race late in the season? It's also no coincidence that Harrell completed that final pass to Crabtree. According Ruffin McNeil, Crabtree and Harrell work on that throw often, including for at least an hour one day during the summer.

Many observers wondered if Mike Leach would abandon the running game, as he is known for doing. He didn't, as the Red Raiders picked up 105 yards against the Longhorns, as the two running backs averaged 4.7 (Woods) and 5.1 (Batch) yards per carry, respectively. He's also answered questions about a commitment to defense, promoting Ruffin McNeil, who has done an impressive job with the unit in about a year. Here's a prediction: A major program will finally offer Leach a first tier coaching job (it's overdue) and he will leave Lubbock.

It wasn't just the offense, however. The Tech defensive line was more talented by far than any other Tech line this century. The triumvirate of Colby Whitlock, Brandon Williams, and McKinner Dixon spent most of the game in the Texas backfield harassing Colt McCoy. The defense isn't among the handful of best defensive teams nationally, but it is one of the three best in the Big 12 (Texas, OSU, Tech, in no particular order).

Schedule advantage: Tech. Their game against Texas marked the second game in Tech's own gauntlet that still includes games against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Texas, on the other hand, was playing the last game of their four-game gauntlet. And it showed. Mack Brown on the injuries:

It's a very difficult week for our players and our coaches. They're emotionally and physically tired. They're banged up. Some may not play this week. A lot will not be able to practice this week after this stretch.

Last week, I wrote about Cosby, Shipley, and Ogbonnaya seeming tired and beat up from the tough, physical games they had played through. Cosby hurt his back during the game, while the ABC crew dropped the nugget that Cosby hadn't been hit in practice all week. Shipley looked fine physically, but dropped a crucial possible touchdown pass early in the game. Ogbonnaya looked like he lacked the burst that contributed to long runs against Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Brown said later in his Monday presser that Ogbonnaya has in fact been bothered by an ankle sprained against Missouri.

Finally happened. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, injuries took a serious toll. Ryan Palmer, unlikely hero of the 2006 victory in Lubbock, battled through hamstring and elbow injuries. Chykie Brown, the largest and most physical cornerback on the roster besides Aaron Williams, didn't play much after missing the OSU game with a sprained ankle. Jared Norton was sick for several days last week and I don't recall seeing him on the field. Roy Miller got dinged up before returning late. Brian Orakpo was finally injured while being held. In retrospect, it's surprising that it hadn't happened earlier in the season. Fortunately, Mack Brown said on Monday that his Texas career isn't over ($). Team officials reported on Monday that he doesn't have ligament damage, which is positive. Check out the screen shot of the play when he was hurt. Holding, much?

Big 12 officials are clearly not concerned about the rampant holding that goes on every game, but it's absolutely irresponsible to allow defensive ends to be injured because of it. The team is sending tape to the league office this week documenting the holding calls from the previous week, but that isn't working. They do that every week. It's time for Mack Brown to take a public stand about it. He has to protect his players and he makes enough money the fine shouldn't be an issue. Call it what it is. A travesty. And then tell the Texas offensive line to start doing it if the league isn't going to crack down. Apparently it's fine now for offensive lineman to tackle people. Make no mistake, though, the missed holding calls aren't the reason Texas lost. Tech was a better team that night.

Stats are for losers. Mack had a bunch of them this week during his Monday presser. The Longhorn defense tired early as Tech possessed the ball for 12:28 of the first quarter. Another reason they tired? Tech converted four third downs of eight yards or more in the first half. The defense also allowed eight explosive plays, while missing 15 tackles that contributed to 93 extra yards. That's three more missed tackles than last week. Unacceptable, especially considering the team worked on tackling last week, as it does every week.

On the offensive side, the wide receivers dropped seven passes, including the aforementioned potential touchdown grab that Shipley dropped. I don't think he's dropped a pass all year. Those seven drops made up half of McCoy's incompletions (14). If the receivers catch those passes, McCoy completes close to his usual 80% (79.4%), instead of a season-worst 58.8% (10% worse than his 68% game against UTEP). McCoy is now under 80% for the season (79%).

Extended appearance for mythical Fozzy creature. I might as well just make this a weekly segment. The running game is struggling again with OG hobbled by an ankle injury and so the Eyes of Texas turn once again to the mythical Fozzy creature, who may finally be absolving himself of mythical status. He gained 42 yards on six carries, while adding a catch for five yards, taking over running back duties in crunch time and providing Texas a chance to win the game.

It's not a myth that the kid is electric and needs to see the field more. Greg Davis called his first poor game of the season, repeatedly using the ineffective tight ends (I don't want to see them any more) and not giving Fozzy a touch until it was almost too late. Oh yeah, and that's not even mentioning the first offensive play call, which was horrendous. Stupid. Harebrained. Any number of other derogatory terms. The early season success has kept notoriously fickle Texas fans off his back, but more mistakes and a continual failure to use the Fozzy creature may very well resurrect calls for his job.