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Members of the OB staff answered a handful of questions from the community on Tuesday morning including thoughts about Casey Thompson's spring game, the biggest worry heading into 2019 and other odds and ends:
AD: You're not first and you should be most worried about the linebacker depth coming into next season. Texas may need contributions from at least one true freshman should injuries occur to either Adeoye or McCulloch.
AR: Begins and ends with linebacker
AD: With Todd Gurley's situation being so enigmatic right now -- the team trading up to draft a really good rookie and the offseason news that his knee is going to have to be managed as it's arthritic, I think Bell belongs in the discussion to be taken around where you would take Gurley. The offense he's going to is not PIT, but let's not forget that Darnold was showing a lot of great signs to end last year and some pieces are in place. The sheer volume he'll get as a dude getting paid as much as he is could make up somewhat for a drop-off in proficiency of offense. In PPR leagues, I have them stacked up like this currently:
Saquon Barkley, NYG
Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
Alvin Kamara, NO
Christian McCaffrey, CAR
Melvin Gordon, LAC
Todd Gurley, LAR
LeVeon Bell, NYJ
JS: Personally, I think Leveon is going to find out the hard way that he had it pretty good playing with the OL talent at Pittsburgh (not to mention Ben). He'll get a bunch of touches, but I'll be mildly surprised if he ever matches the production he had with the Steelers.
DM: I don't have rankings, but I won't be drafting Bell. I think there will be enough drop-off to make taking him where he'll likely go a risk.
AD: I am of the correct opinion. That is that sausage is delicious and 1/3 of the Texas Trinity of BBQ. I prefer an Elgin or Taylor-style loose-pack. Also, I'm of the opinion that deer sausage in links is the second-best thing that you get out of harvesting one behind the backstops/loins. I don't like cheap sausage, or BBQ restaurants that order theirs out. It's getting tricky to know who truly makes it in-house, because many can now claim their own "mix" or recipe, but thanks to a few new companies, restaurants can pick ingredients off a boilerplate form and call it "theirs", when, in actuality, it is just sort of a custom, third-party deal.
AD: Yes, he will. I expect a nice turnaround for ARI this year on offense, especially if the defense takes steps back. My favorite rookie WR pre-draft was AJ Brown, but now, with landing spots known, the obvious top option is N'Keal Harry who was my WR2 in the class. He gets Tom Brady as his QB in a Gronk-less offense, when his red-zone production in college was one of the best parts of his profile. BB has never taken a first-round WR, so it's clear he has ways he can envision Harry being used right off the bat. Remember, Chris Hogan is gone now, too.
AD: While he doesn't have the power of Okafor, Cosmi plays with the best leverage and motor while keeping his feet the best getting to the second level. He is best despite not being the strongest functionally at this point in his development.
AD: I'm not totally sold on the transfer LB market as of right now, so by process of elimination I'll take option A. I think that a freshman like David Gbenda could end up having a chance to turn heads and we should to give Orlando the benefit of the doubt when possible. He's masked various deficiencies on defense every year so far.
AR: No.2
I think having numbers in that room will help. Texas needs depth at that position.
AD: I know very little since four are gone for last year, but the center Creed Humphrey (?) was a freshman last year and maybe the one I was most impressed with in a vacuum. Regardless of who lines up around him, he'll be a terrific piece to build around -- so it's not like OU was completely decimated in that unit. At least Humphrey will be a pain in the ass for two more years before he leaves early.
AD: We can't forget that he was swindled by his receivers who dropped seven (7!) balls, and still managed to look halfway decent as a passer. I've always been a bigger fan of his as a thrower of the football than anything - his touch and the catchability of his footballs is something I've viewed as outstanding since the first time I saw him -- I didn't have any preconceived notions of his running ability baked into my evaluation, so seeing him run and move like he did was clearly a plus. In a spring game where it was hard to take away many things offensively due to the wind, I came away impressed with Thompson given all these factors.
DM: The conditions were brutal for throwing, but I liked what I saw. He made decisions with confidence, showed comfort with the offense, felt the pocket pretty well, and made a couple really nice, accurate throws. He looked like an improved player.
AR: I thought he played well, but his receivers didn't help him out. I don't really focus on his running stats because it's easy to do that when you can't get hit. Overall, everyone associated with the program believes he had a great spring, and that's the easiest way for me to judge his performance.
AD: Wrong: Desmond Harrison
Right: Connor Williams
AR: Dead Wrong: D'Onta Foreman
I remember after the spring game prior to his junior season, a reporter in the press box asked which standout will we probably never hear from again this season. I went with Foreman. Oops!
Dead Right: Andrew Beck
I stood on the table for him last year during a podcast, and the backlash was bad. I ended up being more right than wrong.
AD: I honestly don't think I've missed on a draft evaluation of a UT prospect since I started working here and it's been hard to have many hits given the lack of players. It's all been pretty obvious.
AD: The FeederWise product from Wild Bird Centers.
AD: Elway gets an A from me for having the sense to not reach for Lock in the first with as bad as he wanted him. When you take a guy with his profile where the Broncos did, THAT's how you mine value in the draft. Loved the trade back to make the Fant pick. Dalton Risner fits in great immediately at the RG and all of the sudden the OL is looking OK now that James is in tow from MIA if we can just get Bolles to take that next step at LT. Dre'Mont Jones was an excellent value. In all, a great draft. You should be happy that Elway is apparently not a complete moron.
AD: 89.5
1210.5
11.5
AD: Cosmi, Braun, Shack, Angilau, Okafor/Kerstetter
AD: Even when we see two-RB sets, there will be a TE in the game - it's just how this staff does business. There will be a TE in the game on 99% of offensive snaps.
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
Members of the OB staff answered a handful of questions from the community on Tuesday morning including thoughts about Casey Thompson's spring game, the biggest worry heading into 2019 and other odds and ends:
AD: You're not first and you should be most worried about the linebacker depth coming into next season. Texas may need contributions from at least one true freshman should injuries occur to either Adeoye or McCulloch.
AR: Begins and ends with linebacker
AD: With Todd Gurley's situation being so enigmatic right now -- the team trading up to draft a really good rookie and the offseason news that his knee is going to have to be managed as it's arthritic, I think Bell belongs in the discussion to be taken around where you would take Gurley. The offense he's going to is not PIT, but let's not forget that Darnold was showing a lot of great signs to end last year and some pieces are in place. The sheer volume he'll get as a dude getting paid as much as he is could make up somewhat for a drop-off in proficiency of offense. In PPR leagues, I have them stacked up like this currently:
Saquon Barkley, NYG
Ezekiel Elliott, DAL
Alvin Kamara, NO
Christian McCaffrey, CAR
Melvin Gordon, LAC
Todd Gurley, LAR
LeVeon Bell, NYJ
JS: Personally, I think Leveon is going to find out the hard way that he had it pretty good playing with the OL talent at Pittsburgh (not to mention Ben). He'll get a bunch of touches, but I'll be mildly surprised if he ever matches the production he had with the Steelers.
DM: I don't have rankings, but I won't be drafting Bell. I think there will be enough drop-off to make taking him where he'll likely go a risk.
AD: I am of the correct opinion. That is that sausage is delicious and 1/3 of the Texas Trinity of BBQ. I prefer an Elgin or Taylor-style loose-pack. Also, I'm of the opinion that deer sausage in links is the second-best thing that you get out of harvesting one behind the backstops/loins. I don't like cheap sausage, or BBQ restaurants that order theirs out. It's getting tricky to know who truly makes it in-house, because many can now claim their own "mix" or recipe, but thanks to a few new companies, restaurants can pick ingredients off a boilerplate form and call it "theirs", when, in actuality, it is just sort of a custom, third-party deal.
AD: Yes, he will. I expect a nice turnaround for ARI this year on offense, especially if the defense takes steps back. My favorite rookie WR pre-draft was AJ Brown, but now, with landing spots known, the obvious top option is N'Keal Harry who was my WR2 in the class. He gets Tom Brady as his QB in a Gronk-less offense, when his red-zone production in college was one of the best parts of his profile. BB has never taken a first-round WR, so it's clear he has ways he can envision Harry being used right off the bat. Remember, Chris Hogan is gone now, too.
AD: While he doesn't have the power of Okafor, Cosmi plays with the best leverage and motor while keeping his feet the best getting to the second level. He is best despite not being the strongest functionally at this point in his development.
AD: I'm not totally sold on the transfer LB market as of right now, so by process of elimination I'll take option A. I think that a freshman like David Gbenda could end up having a chance to turn heads and we should to give Orlando the benefit of the doubt when possible. He's masked various deficiencies on defense every year so far.
AR: No.2
I think having numbers in that room will help. Texas needs depth at that position.
AD: I know very little since four are gone for last year, but the center Creed Humphrey (?) was a freshman last year and maybe the one I was most impressed with in a vacuum. Regardless of who lines up around him, he'll be a terrific piece to build around -- so it's not like OU was completely decimated in that unit. At least Humphrey will be a pain in the ass for two more years before he leaves early.
AD: We can't forget that he was swindled by his receivers who dropped seven (7!) balls, and still managed to look halfway decent as a passer. I've always been a bigger fan of his as a thrower of the football than anything - his touch and the catchability of his footballs is something I've viewed as outstanding since the first time I saw him -- I didn't have any preconceived notions of his running ability baked into my evaluation, so seeing him run and move like he did was clearly a plus. In a spring game where it was hard to take away many things offensively due to the wind, I came away impressed with Thompson given all these factors.
DM: The conditions were brutal for throwing, but I liked what I saw. He made decisions with confidence, showed comfort with the offense, felt the pocket pretty well, and made a couple really nice, accurate throws. He looked like an improved player.
AR: I thought he played well, but his receivers didn't help him out. I don't really focus on his running stats because it's easy to do that when you can't get hit. Overall, everyone associated with the program believes he had a great spring, and that's the easiest way for me to judge his performance.
AD: Wrong: Desmond Harrison
Right: Connor Williams
AR: Dead Wrong: D'Onta Foreman
I remember after the spring game prior to his junior season, a reporter in the press box asked which standout will we probably never hear from again this season. I went with Foreman. Oops!
Dead Right: Andrew Beck
I stood on the table for him last year during a podcast, and the backlash was bad. I ended up being more right than wrong.
DM: Yes. Whittington/Ingram.
DM: I don't think he's ever not going to be a good head coach recruiter. His ability to connect with players and families is top notch.
AD: I honestly don't think I've missed on a draft evaluation of a UT prospect since I started working here and it's been hard to have many hits given the lack of players. It's all been pretty obvious.
AD: The FeederWise product from Wild Bird Centers.
AD: Elway gets an A from me for having the sense to not reach for Lock in the first with as bad as he wanted him. When you take a guy with his profile where the Broncos did, THAT's how you mine value in the draft. Loved the trade back to make the Fant pick. Dalton Risner fits in great immediately at the RG and all of the sudden the OL is looking OK now that James is in tow from MIA if we can just get Bolles to take that next step at LT. Dre'Mont Jones was an excellent value. In all, a great draft. You should be happy that Elway is apparently not a complete moron.
AD: 89.5
1210.5
11.5
AD: Cosmi, Braun, Shack, Angilau, Okafor/Kerstetter
AD: Even when we see two-RB sets, there will be a TE in the game - it's just how this staff does business. There will be a TE in the game on 99% of offensive snaps.
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