SB Nation - Cedric Dockery

Previewing 2009 Wyoming Opponents: Texas Longhorns

Jeremy Mauss — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:47:15 -0000

More photos » by Harry Cabluck - AP

(AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

Is this year Pasadena or bust --unless you are College Football News who predicts three loses-- for the Texas Longhorns, because with some erie similarities from the 2005 season to the 2009 season. The Horns are coming a good season, but there was controverisy over the Big XII tie breaker rules the league has that gave Oklahoma the nod over Texas even though the Longhorns won the head to head matchup. During the offseason no changes were made to that rule.

The offense which was amazing last year which was 5th nationally, but was third in the Big XII by averaging just over 42.2 points per game which was .2 more then Missouri. The offense returns eight starters with big losses come from the departures in RB Chris Ogbonnava, WR Quan Cosby,RG Cedric Dockery so the offense should stil be fine. WR Cosby was the team leader with 92 receptions and since Texas just reloads however those receptions will not be that easy to replace.

When looking for replacements to take over Cosby's spot on the field looks to be speedster James Kirkendoll, but also look out for junior Brandon Collins who has been praised by QB Colt McCoy. Both of these receivers are top notch recruits and Collins was a four star from the 2006 class while Kirkendoll was a four star from the 2007 class.

The tight end might be scrapped entirely after injuries have decimated the top few candidates to start, and it is anyones guess if or who Mack Brown will stick at that spot.

Obviously the quarterback situation is great for Texas as they have Heisman Trophy runner-up in Colt McCoy. McCoy did it all for Texas which included a mind boggling 76.7 percent completion percantage as well as averaging 8.91 yards per attempt. Not exactly sure who McCoy can improve off those numbers, or even staying in the 70 percentage.

McCoy is poised to challenge for the Heisman and is most likely to win it in 2009. The reasoning because the Heisman voters are most likely not to vote for a back-to-back winner --even though Tim Tebow did receive the most first place votes last year-- which almost certainly eliminates Bradford; not because of skill but because of voters tendancy. With all the hype surrounding "The Choosen One" and the Gators it will be hard to provide a good enough season where anything less then a BCS title is considered a failure.

When I mean most likely to win it does not constitute as a guarantee, but if Texas wins the Big XII--which means the 'Horns will be in Pasadena for the BCS title game-- and is anywhere close to his 2008 numbers he will be striking the pose in New York.

The only downside to McCoy and the Texas offense is the running game, because Texas did not have a premire back in 2008 and the team was lead in rushing by Colt McCoy with 561 yards and carries with 136 attempts. Getting running yards was not the problem, but Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis strayed from the run and leaned much more on Colt McMoy and the pasing game. The 2009 Longhorns must find a balance and incorrporate the run more, so that the team can be more balanced which could provide for big plays in the passing game.

The offensive line is very experienced with 91 career starts but the line was a much better passing line then a run block offensive line. Which is another reason why the team trended toward more passing plays then running plays. Also, consider that Texas nearly exclusively is in the shot gun formation which can hinder running plays by taking too long to get to the line of scrimmage. The running backs themselves will be used in a roation or situational role with Vondrell McGee the likely starter, then there is Fozzy Whittaker who is the most versitale of the backs, and then Cody Johnson who wll be the short yardage specialist.

Defensively well it is the Big XII which is why conferene stats are more of a tool to use when measuring success then national defensive rankings. The rush defense was amazing which was first in the Big XII by giving up only 83.54 yards per game, and even more impressive was the 3.05 allowed per rush; oh also the 'Horns just happened to be third nationally as well in total rushing yards allowed. There is concern because they lost three key defensive line man to the NFL In DT Roy MIller, DEs Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton, so the rush defense could take a hit.

The pass defense is seventh in the league in yards allowed, which normally would be sound for alarm, however defensive passing yards are misleading when it comes to good teams. Any time Texas was up by 8 or more points the Longhorns were ninth in the Big XII in passing yards.

The Horns have playmakers in the secondaery with Earl Thomas, Aaron Williams, and Chykie Brown then there are a few more who could start for nearly any team in the country, so look for them to make big plays on defense.

The season really comes down to two games that could be a loss and then a third that has the potential to be a loss, and all three are in a row. There is always the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma then the potential trap game at Missouri, and then legitimate threat Oklahoma State which is also on the road.

SB Nation Big 12 Preview: Texas Longhorns Team Capsule

Peter Bean — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:02:25 -0000

More photos » by Harry Cabluck - AP

Before he hands Will Muschamp the keys to the machine, Mack Brown wants another national title at Texas.

Browse more photos »

The SB Nation Big 12 preview will post on Friday at The Ralphie Report. The following is the Texas team capsule for the conference-wide preview piece.

When Texas has the ball: Texas returns 8 starters (Lost: RB, Chris Ogbonnaya, WR Quan Cosby, RG Cedric Dockery) from an offense a year ago that averaged a healthy 6.5 yards per play. The name everyone knows is ~~deserving~~ Heisman ~~winner~~ runner-up Colt McCoy, who led the team in rushing attempts and rushing yards in 2008. He also did a little passing: Following an up-and-down sophomore season, McCoy transformed into a robot last season, setting the single-season NCAA record for completion percentage in a season (76.7%), throwing a school record 34 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions. If there's a legitimate critique of last year's outstanding offense, it would have to be the razor thin margins on which the Longhorns relied; looking forward to this fall, Texas would like to rely less on McCoy being a superhuman by bolstering the running game and finding more big plays.

The running game: Texas wasn't a poor rushing team a year ago, but the rushing attack was inconsistent and prone to disappear, necessitating McCoy's otherworldly performances to keep the engine humming. The offensive line is experienced, if not spectacular, returning four starters (LT Adam Ulatoski, LG Charlie Tanner, C Chris Hall, and RT Kyle Hix) who, combined with RG Michael Huey (3 starts in '08) enter the fall with 90 career starts between them. Both starting tackles are excellent in pass protection, but the question for this line will be their ability to create running room in the rushing offense. To that end, Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis appears committed to introducing more plays under center and more man blocking, but for the offense to truly reach its fullest potential, the unit will need to open holes in the running game when McCoy is in its favored 11-personnel, with McCoy in the shotgun, flanked by a tailback. Like last year, a triumvirate of tailbacks will rotate situationally, with Vondrell McGee the likely nominal starter, Fozzy Whittaker the do-it-all Ogbonnaya role, and Cody Johnson the short yardage specialist.

The passing game: Replacing departed WR Quan Cosby won't exactly be a cinch, but if Texas fails to do so, an impressive number of promising candidates would have to fail. In the spring, the speedy James Kirkendoll (now also having a great fall camp) got the starting nod at the Sub-B wideout position formerly occupied by Cosby, but fans are watching fellow junior Brandon Collins closely as well, particularly after Colt McCoy commented at Big 12 media days that Collins was poised to break out for a tremendous season. Behind those two, a small army of unproven young talents will compete for playing time, among them converted QB John Chiles, as well as the speedy DeSean Hales (RS-Fr), DJ Monroe (RS-Fr) and Marquise Goodwin (True Freshman). Returning to man the flanker position is The Roommate, Jordan Shipley, a 1000-yard receiver in 2008 with 11 touchdowns. On the outside, Texas expects big things from third-year sophomore Malcolm Williams, whose football skills are catching up to his outrageous athletic talent. (Expecting an update on the tight end position? It's cursed, thank you very little; we decline to name names.)

When opponents have the ball: If Texas is on your television screen on January 7th in Pasadena, this unit will be the reason. Don't get us wrong: Colt McCoy deserves all the attention and accolades, but it's the potential of this defensive unit that makes us most confident in Texas' chances to roll through the conference unblemished.

Rush defense: The Longhorns held opponents to a paltry 3.05 yards per rushing attempt last season, but they lose three starters -- DT Roy Miller and DEs Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton -- to the NFL. Texas faces serious questions about the viability of the DT position in particular this fall, with only the exceptional Lamarr Houston returning. Vying for viability alongside him will be the senior situation space eater Ben Alexander, unproven sophomore Kheeston Randall, and recently converted offensive lineman Tray Allen. None of them needs to be spectacular, but at least one needs to prove himself capable of solid, block-eating play for 30-35 snaps a game. The rest of the work can be done by the talented, probably underrated, group of defensive ends and linebackers who will rotate heavily to keep everyone fresh. Everyone knows about Sergio Kindle, but by November, expect ends Eddie Jones and Sam Acho to be names every Big 12 quarterback knows as well. As for the linebackers, Texas has four players we absolutely love ready to lead what will prove to be the best tackling team in the conference: Rod Muckelroy, Jared Norton, Keenan Robinson, and Emmanuel Acho,

Pass defense: Two words come to mind: Un. Fair. The secondary may not prove as statistically dominant as Will Muschamp's 2003 title-winning LSU squad (too much help in run support for that, we suspect), but they'll make just as many big plays, and give top receivers in the conference more than a few forgettable nights. Both Earl Thomas and Aaron Williams look like First Team Big 12-level performers, Chykie Brown's not far behind, and Blake Gideon, Christian Scott, Curtis Brown, and Deon Beasley would comfortably start for at least 9 schools in the conference. This group is damn good.

The schedule: You could call it a two-game schedule (vs OU in Dallas, at Oklahoma State) and wouldn't draw much argument from the gallery. Beyond those two monsters, Texas's next three toughest tests all come at home: Texas Tech, Colorado, and Kansas. A road trip to Missouri on their homecoming might be a potential trap game (sandwiched between the two Oklahomas), but with a new quarterback and a questionable defensive line and secondary, an upset would be truly stunning. As for the non-conference schedule... well... maybe Texas just wanted to welcome home Bill Snyder? Yeah, that's it.

The outlook: Anything short of a 12-0 trip to the Rose Bowl will disappoint Texas fans, and for good reason. The talent cycle hits a peak this year, there's experience, skill talent, depth, and a favorable schedule. And some bitterness, too. Texas rightly felt hosed by the BCS system last season and will approach this season with a sense of focus, urgency, and more than a little hostility. That's a good thing for a program under Mack Brown that struggles when it's comfortable. All eyes on Dallas, then, for one of the biggest regular season football games of the last decade. We predict a Texas win and, two months later, a return trip to Vince Young Stadium West.

Poll

Predict Texas' losses in 2009.

None -- See you in Pasadena.

554 votes

1 -- Oklahoma

35 votes

1 -- Oklahoma State

64 votes

1 -- Other

18 votes

2 -- OU and Oklahoma State

19 votes

2 -- Other

7 votes

3 or more

1 votes

698 votes | Poll has closed

Completely Random Post-Draft Thoughts

Saintsational — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:00:14 -0000

More photos » by Bill Haber - AP

7 months ago: New Orleans Saints football coach Sean Payton answers questions about the Saints selecting Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins 14th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft at the team's training facility in Metairie, La., Saturday, April 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Browse more photos »

Againts All Odds

Have you stopped yet and thought about how many players the Saints have actually added to their secondary and even the linebacking corp this off-season. I mean, they're not screwin' around this year and I am lovin' it. Compare that with the last two off-seasons of attempted improvement and 2009 blows them both out of the water. The Saints might actually have some legitimate depth on defense for the first time in quite a while. With so many new faces and a new defensive coordinator the odds have to be in the Saints favor that this defense is finally improved. The Saints are giving my cautious optimism a run for the money.

Undrafted Free Agents

It's now time for NFL teams to start signing players whose phones never rang on draft day and hope to find a hidden gem at a discounted rate. The Times-Pic claims that Payton is going to sign ten players during this period. The Saints currently have nine of those players, as reported by the Times-Pic. Here is the list so far:

Player Position College

CB Danny Gorrer Texas A&M

G Cedric Dockery Texas

WR Chris Vaughn Louisville

LB Jonathan Casillas Wisconsin

CB Reggie Jones Portland State

G/T Augustus Parrish Kent State

C Alex Fletcher Stanford

QB Patrick Cowan UCLA

RB Herb Donaldson Western Illinois

Also, last I checked safety Derek Pegues from Mississippi St. has still not signed with anyone. Pegues was a moderately ranked safety that many mock drafts had going in the middle rounds but was never selected in the draft. I know we've got a crapload of players now in the secondary but it might not hurt to give him a look. Or perhaps the fact that every other team passed him up speaks for itself.

Yo Mickey!

Mickey Loomis just loves him some trading. For a guy who said...

"One thing we wanted to do as best we could was to maintain as many of our picks next year as we could."

...Loomis sure didn't do a great job sticking to that plan. The Saints gave up their 2010 fifth round pick in their trade up to acquire punter Thomas Morstead. We also know they were very interested in moving back into the first round to grab "Beanie" Wells which I would have to imagine would have required giving up a 2010 pick or two. None of this shows me any sincere interest in actually holding onto future draft picks.

And by the way, I never weighed in on the whole possible trade for "Beanie" Wells situation so here is my official stance: ridiculous.

More-stead

The more I hear about punter Thomas Morstead the more I think I'm beginning to like this pick. CSC reader YESSaints (hat tip) claims he's got some insider information and speaks very highly of Morstead. That seems to be right in line with other talk I've been reading around the internet. I think we all need to wait it out before cursing this move. It might turn out to be genius.

ESPN Grades the Saints

Just watched ESPN's NFL Live as they graded every teams draft by division. The Saints received a C as did Carolina. The Falcons and Bucs were both awarded with a B. No doubt the lack of picks this year plus the drafting of Morstead were major factors in the Saints getting just an average grade. After a current total of 645 votes 61% of Canal Street Chronicles readers would give the Saints a B. I'm with the readers on this one. I don't even know why I watch that show every day.

The Hits Just Keep on Coming

Sunday set a new Canal Street Chronicles record for most hits in a single day. Yesterday we broke that record. We will also set a new record for most hits in a month. Thanks to everyone out there reading.

Scout Profile: Derrick's Brother, Cedric Dockery

KevinE — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:00:12 -0000

Derrick Dockery's brother, Cedric Dockery, will be available as a late round pick in the NFL draft. He missed half of the 2006 season with a torn ACL, but returned to the field in 2007 and in 2008 he was named honorable mention All-Big 12 by The Associated Press for his Offensive Guard play with Texas.

Height/Weight: 6'3" - 314 lbs
40 yd dash: 5.34 (pulled hamstring)
Vertical Jump: 28in
Broad Jump: 8'4"

Positives: Athletic frame with room for additional growth. … Flashes explosive upper-body strength. … Good leverage. … Gets under his opponents' pads and can drive them off the line to create a hole. … Plays with some nastiness. … Looks to pancake his opponent. … At least adequate initial quickness. … Physical use of hands to engage the defender. … Looks to help his teammates. … Good bloodlines. … Brother, Derrick, is a former UT standout and now plays for the Buffalo Bills.

Negatives: Inconsistent in many phases of the game. … Inconsistent hand placement and has only marginal hand quickness. … Drops his head too often, resulting in missed blocks in both the passing and running game. … Struggles to keep his feet when blocking on the move. … May still be favoring his knee. … Needs a medical check on his right knee due to the surgery undergone in 2006 after tearing his ACL.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/517018

Note: Derrick Dockery was a 3rd round pick in 2003.

Here's a recent video interview of Cedric Dockery at Texas. He's already engaged, loves God, and seems to be a really genuine guy. It fits the mold with everything I've heard about Derrick. (starts at 3:00 mark)

Images via: media.scout.com, cache.gettyimages.com

Poll

Is Cedric Dockery worth drafting with the 6th round pick?

Yes, the ACL injury doesn't bother me and Bugel can fix his technique

250 votes

No, Skins can draft someone better in the 6th round

64 votes

I don't care, as long as the pick does not go to a kicker

98 votes

412 votes | Poll has closed

Being Billy Devaney - G

Tackle Box — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:10:51 -0000

First let me say, sorry for getting the BBD up so late. This has been a rough week and I've had absolutely zero time to myself. It's going to be border-line hectic for the next couple of weeks so I'm just going to have to ask you to hang in there with me. Deal? I hope so...

Now, at this time, I've come to the conclusion that we need to take the BBD series in a slightly different direction. As far as positions that are an immediate need for someone who can step in and provide an impact (or at least step in and be a starter), we've covered them. MLB, OT, WR, SS, CB, and DT are all major areas of need for the Rams and while it might not be realistic to think we can solve all of those positions in one off-season, I'd like to think the team is determined to either solve or patch those areas with a focus on the remainders next year. But that doesn't mean the job is done. There's still areas of depth and future that need a little tending to so that's what we're going to look at today when we dissect the Offensive Guard position.

So, now the change. Before, I was breaking down the roster, then a look at what was available in free agency, and finally what the top picks in the draft would look like in regards to that position. Now, since we're not necessarily looking for a star at these positions, it's probably safe to say they won't be looking to free agency to fill these needs, so I'm going to forego looking at free agency. Now there might be someone cut loose during training camp that would come in at a bargain price, but right now most of that is simply speculation. Plus, we are at the point where spending money on a free agent to fill one of these backup positions would have to wait on getting draft picks signed.

Also, I'd like to point out, I'll no longer be looking at what is available in the first 4 rounds of the draft. I think it's safe to say, the Rams won't be drafting a Guard in the 2nd round. The top 4 draft picks are probably spoken for and will shake down among the positions listed above, so it's pointless to even consider any of the top guys in the draft.

So, with that being said, let's take a look at the Offensive Guards.

So, as far as the Guard position is concerned, the Rams are fairly healthy. The guys on the roster may not exactly be the future, but they're definitely good enough to count on for a season or two. So, let's look at the roster.

Richie Incognito - 6'3" 330 - Signed through 2009 - Well, I guess he's not officially signed, but the team did make a tender to the restricted free agent and it would cost any team signing him a third round draft pick so it's safe to say he'll be with the Rams this season. Anyway, Richie is everyone's favorite football player around here, right? Umm... Well, he's got amazing talent, is ornery as all get out, but also often displays the maturity of a 4-year old. He has some versatility in that he can play either Guard position as well as Center. Hopefully the new coaching staff can harness this creature and he becomes a mainstay on the Line (he is only 25 years old and has a lot of service time ahead of him). If not, it's probably Siyanora before the 2010 season rolls around.
Jacob Bell - 6'4" 295 - Signed through 2013 - When the Rams made this signing last off-season, many of us loved it. Then Bell had a bit of a disappointing 2009 campaign which resulted in some talk of him being a bust. Put me in the camp of those who are still optimistic about Bell. He's only 28 and with the addition of Jason Brown as Center, I think we'll all see a much improved version of Jacob Bell next season......that is unless he's playing Right Tackle.
John Greco - 6'5" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Talk about a man of mystery. As a thrid round pick last year he rarely played last season, when he did it was near the end of the season when no one was watching, and Rotoworld.com doesn't even have a picture of him. Add this to his almost cult like following here (well, sortof) and I'm starting to think Mr. Greco is the Rams version of Brain Barton. All signs point to a guy who's young and who has talent. If Bell actually does play RT, then Greco's probably the man to start at Guard, but even if Bell doesn't make the switch, it's probably safe to say Greco might still be in the running to start if he impresses in the pre-season.
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Sure, Goldie's probably more of a Tackle, but he's kind of a utility man for the Rams line in that he can play (and pretty much has) every position on the line. He's not a Pro-Bowler by any stretch of the imagination, but he's an important piece to the depth and stability of the Offensive Line. He can start in a pinch and not be a disaster. Actually, that's probably a little harsh. Adam is more than competent at every position he's asked to play and it seems as if he's accepted his role in the NFL, which makes him even more valuable.
Roy Schuening - 6'4" 308 - Signed through 2010 - Schuening is a depth guy. He's probably not going to start, but he's young, got attitude, and does a decent job at Guard.
Mark Setterstrom - 6'4" 314 - Signed through 2009 - Setterstrom is a guy that lends depth and flexibility to the offensive line. He's cheap and young but he's had plenty of issues with injuries. Strictly a depth guy at this point.

So, there you have it. There's top talent and there's plenty of depth and versatility. Not too shabby especially after looking at positions like Cornerback and Wide Receiver the past couple of weeks.

As far as the draft, it wouldn't be the worst thing for the Rams to look to add someone in the later rounds who might have some upside. Is there anyone who fits that bill? Who really knows when you're looking toward the last few rounds of the draft and you don't know who's going to slip through the cracks and whatnot. But let's see what's projected to be there after the 4th round.

(Here's MockingDan's Offensive Guard rankings)

Louis Vasquez - Texas Tech - 6'6" 335 - Vasquez might not quite be there in the 5th, but there's always a possibility. If he is, the Rams would be hard pressed not to draft him (if they've satisfied their more pressing needs and really want a backup Guard with potential). He's big and really impressed in the combine putting up 39 reps (more than any other Offensive Lineman. Vasquez excelled as a pass protector but can also get after it when run blocking as well. Can be a bit of a mauler.
Anthony Parker - Tennessee - 6'3" 300 - Parker played 39 games for Tennessee. He might project out more as a Center due to his size,which is a position he's played in the past, but he's probably a better Guard. He's faster than the average lineman (5.08 40-yard). Was 2nd Team All-SEC in 2009.
Ray Feinga - BYU - 6'5" 331 - Is actually pretty quick on his feet with great lateral movement and has great size. He was named to the All-Mountain West First Team and was part of a very successful BYU offense where he was used primarily in 1 on 1 situations. Has shown the ability to succeed in both pass and run blocking.
Andy Kemp - Wisconsin - 6'6" 315 - Was named a All- Big Ten Honorable Mention and at one point started 20 consecutive games for the Badgers (broken hand). Some scouts prefer Kemp to teammate Kraig Urbik (projected as high as the 3rd round) since he is a "typical Wisconsin power football player. He won't start but he'll be a good backup."
Travis Bright - BYU - 6'5" 329 - Named to the All-Mountain West Second Team. Another part of the powerful BYU offense. Is older than the typical draftee (26) since he served on a Church Mission and while his potential is somewhat limited, he should be able to step in and play right away as a backup. Might be able to sign Bright as an un-drafted free agent.
Rich Ohrnberger - Penn State - 6'2" 291 - Was named as an All-Big Ten First Teamer and AP All-America Third Teamer. Had a good senior campaign at Penn State. Doesn't have great size but makes up for it with improved technique and great physical play. Extremely talented and considered to be a great teammate.
C.J. Davis - Pittsburgh - 6'3" 310 - All-Big East First Teamer. Started at Left Guard his entire career at Pittsburgh until a late injury caused a vacancy at Center where Davis finished out the season. Made 42 consecutive starts and is considered an accomplished run blocker.
Cedric Dockery - Texas - 6'4" 320 - All Big XII Honorable Mention two years after tearing his ACL. Played well after coming back from the injury.

And the list goes on and on. After Dockery, you start to see a common theme. Guys who can excel in at least one aspect of the position, great size, and usually played in systems where there was great success either running or throwing the ball. Some other names to consider are Jaimie Thomas (Maryland), George Bussey (Louisville), Roland Martin (Michigan State), Paul Fanaika (Arizona State), Greg Isdaner (West Virginia), Roger Allen (Missouri Western), and Seth Olsen (Iowa). All of these men would provide depth, but I'm not sold on their potential.

For the Rams to get potential along with one of these picks they're really going to have to do their homework, pick someone who matches up perfectly with their coaching staff, and simply get lucky to some extent. If I were trying to do this a safely as possible, I'd probably target Travis Bright of BYU. He's not going to be a starter for you 4 or 5 years down the road (probably), but he is mature and extremely reliable and could step in and spot start in a second.

However, if I were determined to add someone with real potential, I'd have to target Vasquez, Parker, and Feinga. All three of those guys would be good late picks and you could probably get Parker or Feinga a round or two later than you'd find Vasquez.

So, there's your late round look at the Guard position. Honestly, the Rams probably have enough depth at this position, but as we've seen before, you really can't have enough quality depth on your offensive line. There is great value in knowing your backups can step in and not miss a beat if and when they're called upon.

Not having quality depth at the Center position caused a lot of problems for this team last season (and probably in the season before) and I don't see this regime allowing that to happen again at Center or any of the other Offensive Line positions.

It's just too costly and can absolutely wreck your season.

Recruiting Spotlight: Garrett Porter

GhostofBigRoy — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:58:44 -0000

With Signing Day rapidly approaching and the great majority of the Longhorns' 2009 class already committed, it's time to look at each individual prospect.

Vitals

Name: Garrett Porter

Position: Offensive tackle

Height: 6-6

Weight: 308

Speed: 5.2 40-yard dash

High School: Odessa Permian

Rating (Rivals): Four out of five

Strengths

With the possible exception of Thomas Ashcraft, who is still quite athletic for his build, each of the offensive lineman committed to Texas in 2009 is extremely athletic. Porter is no exception, with excellent feet for his size. That athleticism makes Porter versatile -- able to play inside at guard or outside at tackle and able to drive and reach block, while also trapping well and moving in space to attack defenders in the second level and lead the convoy down the field on screens. Porter maintains that athleticism by working to put on the right kind of weight ($) -- muscle, not fat. Remember, the idea here is to physically shape lineman after they get to Texas, not re-shape them.

His combination of size, agility, quickness, and long arms also helps in pass protection, where he moves his feet well and has the flexibility to settle into the proper position, areas in which he worked hard to improve. Saying that he's a good pass protector is an understatement -- Rivals ranked him ($) as the best pass protector in the country last summer, though a rising prospect like DJ Fluker may have passed him since then. Still, the accolade speaks for itself. As with his run blocking, Porter uses his hands reasonably well, but has room for improvement.

The Timmons high top fade? Sweet. Porter's chin beard? Uh. No. Shave it, son.

Porter had a chance to show off his skills at the US Army All-American game early this month and performed well, using his superb footwork and mobility ($) to excel in one-on-one drills in practice at guard and tackle. During the game, Porter made himself essentially invisible, meaning he didn't get beat on any pass plays and performed solidly, if not spectacularly, with his second level-blocking when called upon. His performance stood in stark contrast to the highler-rated Fluker, who had serious struggles in the game -- none of the West quarterbacks "protected" by Fluker are going to line up to have him block for them again. Unless they're masochists, which doesn't seem like a successful attribute for quarterbacks.

In a final assessment of Porter's strengths, it becomes apparent that Porter has a rare blend of athleticism, versatility, and well-developed technique honed through sound coaching, self-awareness, and hard work that will put him in a position to make significant contributions on the offensive line at Texas, though they might not be immediate.

Weaknesses

The offensive lineman version of poor pad level is their ability to use their hands. Good offensive lineman deliver a strong punch to the defender to knock them off their course and balance. It's not that Porter is incapable of doing it, as he deals with stunting, twisting, and slanting defenders well, it's just that his punch needs to pack more power and occur more consistently

Porter was generally good in the week of practice leading up the to Army game, but he did struggle occasionally with the speed rushers ($) coming off the edge. That didn't show up in the game, so it's hard to say it's much of a concern. Really, there isn't much to dislike about Porter, as befits a recruit of his caliber.

Verdict

One of the major criticisms surrounding the running game at Texas, besides perhaps the pure scheme of it, is the schizophrenic nature of recruiting at the position. Some members of the line are maulers and some members work better in space and reach block well. What makes the 2009 lineman class so special is that each one of the lineman is versatile enough to succeed in whatever blocking scheme the Longhorns decide to employ, even Ashcraft and his doughy lower body. Obviously, Garrett Porter figures prominently in that equation and the Texas coaching staff deserves significant credit to get a group of lineman with a cohesive vision. There are no questions about Porter's ability to function in the current Texas running and blocking schemes, but he and the rest of the lineman also provide the coaches with schematic flexibility across multiple positions for the future.

With an opening or two in the guard rotation, that's the position at which Walters, Ashcraft, and Porter will compete for playing time in '09, with Walters having a shot at center. Though Porter has the skill set to remain outside, he also has the ability to play inside at guard as the tackle rotation is essentially set. Since Buck Burnette is an idiot, Cedric Dockery is gone, and Chris Hall is probably the weakest link on the offensive line, there is a slight chance that Porter could play in 2009, but might be better served by redshirting a year. Ashcraft has more experience at guard and Walters can play both center and guard, so Porter could find himself on the outside looking in and redshirt. Adam Ulatoski will graduate after the coming season and Kyle Hix the year after, with the backups at both positions heading into their junior years. With a redshirt year for Porter, that puts his best opportunity to start outside in 2011, when he and Walter should be in position to take over the starting tackle roles. However, it would surprising if Porter didn't see the field at least in 2010 in the guard rotation.

Garrett Porter video here ($).

Brain's Game: Texas 52 - Rice 10

Horn Brain — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:38:04 -0000

I'll update this later tonight with my take on the game from my seat, but for now, here's a few choice quotes:

Rice Head Coach David Bailiff:

On what prompted the offense's false starts: It was a lot louder than it was at Vanderbilt and louder than we tried to simulate in practice. It was a great venue for a football game, and I think that had a lot to do with it more than anything. The one fourth down at the 50 where we had the bad snap...that was crowd noise.

You can make a difference, Texas. Be freaking loud.

Colt "Baby Tebow" McCoy:

On surpassing Major Applewhite on the all-time TD passes list: It was awesome. I think that he [Major Applewhite] actually called the play. I honestly didn't think about it until after the game. It's a blessing, but we still have a long season ahead of us, and I hope we get to throw a lot more.

You don't say?

Sergio "Freakin" Kindle:

On whether or not Coach Will Muschamp let the pass rushers have a little more freedom in the second half: He basically just told us whoever could get there, get there. In the second half, we knew we weren't getting to the quarterback and he was completing passes, so we knew we had to get there and slow down his rhythm.

Chase Clement will sit straight up in bed tonight in a cold sweat when he remembers what Kindle whispered in his ear.

Cedric "Socrates" Dockery:

On the offense's performance on the season so far: I think we're doing well. The sky is the limit for us. We can do a lot better. We still had some mistakes in the protection, but other than that, I thought we played well.

I think the O-line gave up one, nearly two sacks and would have given up a safety if anyone academically eligible to play at Rice was also athletically elligible to tackle Vondrell McGee. So yeah, you can do better. This is better.

Your thoughts while you wait?

[Note by Horn Brain, 09/21/08 1:34 AM CDT ] Read my full Brain's Game post after the break.

It appears that 54b was off by a factor of two in predicting that the Nerd Herd would 3.141592654...-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust their way to a final tally of 3.141592654... points. They actually averaged 6.3 ypa passing, almost exactly 2*pi. Perhaps if you transformed their play diagrams into radial coordinates they would find the endzone a few more times, but I doubt that the change would do much to alleviate the effects of the Owls' low offensive and high defensive Knudsen numbers. Plus, our dudes are like, way bigger than theirs.

The recap starts with Colt. What a difference a year makes, eh? This time last year we were wondering if Colt had hit his ceiling, should we put in Chiles and build for next year, has anyone ever seen Chiles throw a pass, I don't care because he's obviously better than Colt. Today I heard the same sorts of fans who were leading the "Colt sucks" charge last year screaming "put Colt back in!" during Chiles' series. How about his rush TD? He bowled over two guys and didn't fumble. While I'd really rather Colt slide and let Cody Johnson do the bowling, you've got to get just a little pumped as a team when your QB runs over two defenders on the goal line. Colt has been as close to perfect as we could ask for so far this season, and, knock on wood, that continues indefinitely.

For Colt's shredding of opposing teams to continue in the realm of BCS conference teams, the offensive line has to be more consistent in keeping bad guys out of our backfield. I realize that Rice blitzed more than their tendencies against us, Greg, but they're still Rice, which means that we should not have Colt sacked once and nearly twice, nor should it take Mcgee breaking an easy tackle for a non-Rice LB to avoid a safety. You saw the effects of poor OL play on two straight plays in the first quarter: First, McGee was swallowed before he could take a step in the backfield after the shotgun handoff, then we had Colt 2007 reappear for a moment and chuck a duck after running for his life from the OMG UNBLOCKABLE RICE D! Naturally, we dominated them for much, much more of the game than we showed weakness, but I fear that those kinds of plays could be frequent enough against OU, Mizzou and the like to kill drives or cause turnovers. Consistently good to be great, Mack.

Cody Johnson was your most impressive rusher by a wide margin today. The asterisk that must be placed beside that statement is that CoJo played almost exclusively in the second half, long after Rice had dried up into crispy little Quaker cakes with cinnamon sugar. The fact that he's been so consistently effect in the role of "bludgeoning club" makes me want to see him get a chance against a fresh defense. He would make the shotgun triple option very deadly by forcing the defense to stop for a moment and consider that Colt may have just handed the ball to a 255 pound cudgel with wheels. Meanwhile, Colt and Fozzy are debating over which one of them is going to score this TD.

Blaine Irby was absolutely maimed on the drive that would yield Colt's record-breaking TD pass to Cosby. I think that the reason he was injured was not simply because of the low tackle, as I think that's the only way I've seen a TE tackled for the past two years, but rather because he dropped the pass. I think he has a routine in his mind that's something like: Catch and secure football, defend against knee-splosion, ..., Heisman. Unfortunately, step one took longer than expected, and he didn't have time to protect his knee from a hit that he's taken at least three or four times already this season. Result? Carnage. We may not have a TE receiving threat this year, unless they want to move over one of our big guys from WR or throw passes to a 295 pound converted tackle. This is a big loss for us this year and we all hope Irby's career isn't over at Texas.

All I can say about the receivers is that either Greg Davis needs to quit whimpering about that INT Buckner gave up at UTEP and call some real plays for the young guys or Colt needs to get them together and run some serious drills to build some chemistry. We are not going to have 200 yards passing if our whole attack is Shipley and Cosby and running backs against OU. Hooray! Shipley, adversity, Cosby, consistency. We need a serious playmaker at WR.

Flea flicker? Seriously? That crap only works in Tecmo Bowl (Pass 2! Pass 2!). I think the point of that play is to open up the running game by forcing the safeties to at least consider their assignments before selling out against the run. I don't know that it would have worked against OU, however, as our running game hasn't shown the ability to strike fear into any DB with more than one schollie offer yet. If a team decides to clamp down on our running game, however, we now have a few ways to hurt them. This is a new development, please stay tuned for updates as events warrant.

According to Kindle (above) and also at least one other DL, Muschamp unleashed the pass rush in the second half to great effect. Why the hell don't we do this more? Whatever, I'm not going to second guess a guy who can hold anybody out of the endzone for 12 plays from inside the 5. That was very, very encouraging to see. Last year we would have said "Aw, screw this" and let them score after three plays. Then Lokey and Okam would go study for their LSAT on the offense's next drive.

The defensive back play was all over the place. Earl Thomas can't tackle and looks lost in pass coverage on occasion, Blake Gideon continues to disappear for long stretches (I can't tell if that's really good or really bad with these guys, but I'll go with good since I like what I've seen so far from Blake), Chykie Brown tackles like a freaking linebacker (not a 5'11" dude from Texas, either), and I'm completely fine with him starting over Beasley now, and Palmer alternates between making smart plays and getting juked out of his jock by a quarterback. Chykie is my new favorite DB, simply because of the way he mans up for the tackle.

Kindle is the most athletic linebacker, Muckelroy is the smartest, and Bobino has the least reason to be out there. I saw Sam Acho outrun him and he's too freakin' short to matter at the line when he gets blocked on one of his patented kamikaze blitzes. Norton may not be much of an immediate improvement, but he at least has the potential to be not a black hole of suck sitting right in the middle of our D. Keenan Robinson had a play where he tackled Clement by simply throwing a tackle or a TE into him. Want.

The crowd was good on third and fourth downs, but that was about it. Two most annoying things: Yelling TEXAS! literally twenty times and getting no reply whatsoever, and killing a good round of TEXAS! FIGHT! because we stopped to boo Rice when they came in. Sheer idiocy. You'd think AT&T made more money than FSN during the game with the amount of cell phone usage. "Overheard"-style quote of the game?

Girl 1: "So why do you even come to the games?"

Girl 2: " Well, I like 'em, but I need a really good game, you know? Like when we won the Rose Bowl in the Bowl Game (?), that was f***ing awesome, but I just get bored at the other ones."

Girl 2 may be waiting quite a while for a good game, in that case.

Final note: the Godzillatron played a cool intro video with James Street highlights and no one knew what was going on. Girl 2 asked why we used to wear more red "back then". Whills is rolling over in his grave... er, bed.

Player	Position	College
CB	Danny Gorrer	Texas A&M
G	Cedric Dockery	Texas
WR	Chris Vaughn	Louisville
LB	Jonathan Casillas	Wisconsin
CB	Reggie Jones	Portland State
G/T	Augustus Parrish	Kent State
C	Alex Fletcher	Stanford
QB	Patrick Cowan	UCLA
RB	Herb Donaldson	Western Illinois