Daily Short #51, August 31st, 2017: Orlando's History, Defensive TDs, Best RB, OB Staff Fantasy Teams
presented by the Dental Offices of Wendy Swantkowski, DDS
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
I initiated a sort of "flash chat" last night in the forums saying I would answer the first five questions anyone asked in this morning's Short; it took all of 90 seconds to come up with the following:
How many ST/Defensive TDs will we have this year? @collinhookem18
I was surprised to find that Houston was actually tied for third in the nation last season in scoring defense on fumble and interception returns at five. That's almost double Texas' two-year total from 2015-2016 of three. Actually, there was not a defensive TD in 2016 but three in 2015 ...
(Holton Hill and Hassan Ridgeway vs. Oklahoma State)
(Malik Jefferson vs. Rice)
Herman's special teams at Houston averaged 2 special teams TDs per year (3 in 2015, 1 in 2016). So, I'll put the over/under of combined defensive and special teams touchdowns at Texas in 2017 at 4.5. It will match its best production of the last two years in the interception and fumble-return departments and will attain the average number of combined punt and kick returns that Herman's UH teams did in 2015-2016.
First 3 offensive plays (vs. Maryland)? @ScoutMLM
1) The first play will have some flash to it; I think Herman will try to pull a rabbit out of the hat early to start his coaching career at Texas and run something with some pop and sizzle. Sort of like he did in the spring game, where the first play was a jet-sweep-type play to Devin Duvernay with a pass-option for the ball-carrier. I don't think it will be that style of "trick play" per se, but I do think it will be play action off an inside-zone run look deep to Collin Johnson.
2) Assuming Buechele hits Johnson on the deep ball (and assuming Johnson doesn't score), the next two plays will both be inside-zone concept runs, specifically of the split-zone/zone-slice variety where the H-Back will line up as a sniffer play-side and come kick out backside should the QB elect to pull the ball and keep it.
Defensive rank at end of season? @orangeuglad
Todd Orlando's rankings in total defense as a defensive coordinator:
2016 (UH) 10
2015 (UH) 77
2014 (Utah State) 60
2013 (Utah State) 28
2012 (FIU) 48
2011 (FIU) 31
2010 (UCONN) 63
2009 (UCONN) 72
2008 (UCONN) 7
2007 (UCONN) 29
2006 (UCONN) 79
2005 (UCONN) 9
That's an average finish of 42.75 (which beats the hell out of what Texas has been finishing at lately) with blips into the Top 10 here and there with dominant defensive units. I think he'll blip into that elite territory at Texas sooner or later, but not in Year 1. For 2017, taking into consideration the talent he inherits on the defensive side of the ball, which is certainly the best he's ever had, I'd say it will be an above-average year for him en route to much bigger things in the future.
I'll say Texas finishes 33rd in total defense for 2017.
Former O-lineman you think you projected most incorrectly, former o-lineman you feel like your projections were spot on. @HookemTsu13
For Texas offensive linemen, the one I nailed once seeing him in person was Connor Williams. I was met with criticism for saying that one day of non-padded practices left me feeling like Williams' feet and balance reminded me of Jake Matthews. As we stand today, that will be the popular player-comp that NFL draftniks will surely use for Williams these three years later when he leaves for the league.
The bust was Darius James. I thought he was special and just don't know what happened.
Best RB this year? @Texaswins54
If you could guarantee me health, I'd tell you Kirk Johnson in a landslide, but you can't guarantee me health and neither can anyone else. In fact, I'm starting to worry a little that the kid could be a little snake-bit with this knee of his. With this being the case, I'll take Kyle Porter. He's a more complete back than Chris Warren and can be used in ways Warren can't in the passing game and even on stretch plays. He's plenty thick, but doesn't present the surface area to defenders that Warren does with his broad shoulders, massive chest, and upright running style. Given volume, I could see Porter growing into a player of the Doug Martin or Michael Turner archetype.
Which OB Staff Member Drafted the Best Fantasy Team?
12-team league; .5 PPR. Me, Anwar, Ketch and Dustin were all in the draft -- which do you think is best? I'll answer a little later in the thread regarding whose is whose.
Team 1
QB Jameis Winston
WR Julio Jones
WR Keenan Allen
RB Carlos Hyde
RB Kareem Hunt
TE Jack Doyle
FLX Lamar Miller
FLX Jamison Crowder
BENCH
D Martin
J Maclin
D Foreman
C Kupp
A Kamara
T Smith
D Lewis
Team 2
QB Cam Newton
WR Golden Tate
WR Larry Fitzgerald
RB David Johnson
RB Dalvin Cook
TE Rob Gronkowski
FLX Desean Jackson
FLX Randall Cobb
BENCH
R Burkhead
T Ginn
T Rawls
C Carson
T Lockett
K Wright
Team 3
QB Tom Brady
WR Brandin Cooks
WR Stefon Diggs
RB Lesean McCoy
RB Darren McFadden
TE Travis Kelce
FLX Tevin Coleman
FLX Kevin White
BENCH
M Bennett
B Marshall
J Ross
Jonathan Williams
J Charles
Joe Williams
L Murray
Team 4
QB Kirk Cousins
WR Odell Beckham
WR Davante Adams
RB Leonard Fournette
RB Mike Gillislee
TE Jordan Reed
FLX TY Hilton
FLX Pierre Garcon
BENCH
L Blount
T Riddick
J Brown
M Mack
A Gate
C Palmer
C Clay
presented by the Dental Offices of Wendy Swantkowski, DDS
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
I initiated a sort of "flash chat" last night in the forums saying I would answer the first five questions anyone asked in this morning's Short; it took all of 90 seconds to come up with the following:
How many ST/Defensive TDs will we have this year? @collinhookem18
I was surprised to find that Houston was actually tied for third in the nation last season in scoring defense on fumble and interception returns at five. That's almost double Texas' two-year total from 2015-2016 of three. Actually, there was not a defensive TD in 2016 but three in 2015 ...
(Holton Hill and Hassan Ridgeway vs. Oklahoma State)
(Malik Jefferson vs. Rice)
Herman's special teams at Houston averaged 2 special teams TDs per year (3 in 2015, 1 in 2016). So, I'll put the over/under of combined defensive and special teams touchdowns at Texas in 2017 at 4.5. It will match its best production of the last two years in the interception and fumble-return departments and will attain the average number of combined punt and kick returns that Herman's UH teams did in 2015-2016.
First 3 offensive plays (vs. Maryland)? @ScoutMLM
1) The first play will have some flash to it; I think Herman will try to pull a rabbit out of the hat early to start his coaching career at Texas and run something with some pop and sizzle. Sort of like he did in the spring game, where the first play was a jet-sweep-type play to Devin Duvernay with a pass-option for the ball-carrier. I don't think it will be that style of "trick play" per se, but I do think it will be play action off an inside-zone run look deep to Collin Johnson.
2) Assuming Buechele hits Johnson on the deep ball (and assuming Johnson doesn't score), the next two plays will both be inside-zone concept runs, specifically of the split-zone/zone-slice variety where the H-Back will line up as a sniffer play-side and come kick out backside should the QB elect to pull the ball and keep it.
Defensive rank at end of season? @orangeuglad
Todd Orlando's rankings in total defense as a defensive coordinator:
2016 (UH) 10
2015 (UH) 77
2014 (Utah State) 60
2013 (Utah State) 28
2012 (FIU) 48
2011 (FIU) 31
2010 (UCONN) 63
2009 (UCONN) 72
2008 (UCONN) 7
2007 (UCONN) 29
2006 (UCONN) 79
2005 (UCONN) 9
That's an average finish of 42.75 (which beats the hell out of what Texas has been finishing at lately) with blips into the Top 10 here and there with dominant defensive units. I think he'll blip into that elite territory at Texas sooner or later, but not in Year 1. For 2017, taking into consideration the talent he inherits on the defensive side of the ball, which is certainly the best he's ever had, I'd say it will be an above-average year for him en route to much bigger things in the future.
I'll say Texas finishes 33rd in total defense for 2017.
Former O-lineman you think you projected most incorrectly, former o-lineman you feel like your projections were spot on. @HookemTsu13
For Texas offensive linemen, the one I nailed once seeing him in person was Connor Williams. I was met with criticism for saying that one day of non-padded practices left me feeling like Williams' feet and balance reminded me of Jake Matthews. As we stand today, that will be the popular player-comp that NFL draftniks will surely use for Williams these three years later when he leaves for the league.
The bust was Darius James. I thought he was special and just don't know what happened.
Best RB this year? @Texaswins54
If you could guarantee me health, I'd tell you Kirk Johnson in a landslide, but you can't guarantee me health and neither can anyone else. In fact, I'm starting to worry a little that the kid could be a little snake-bit with this knee of his. With this being the case, I'll take Kyle Porter. He's a more complete back than Chris Warren and can be used in ways Warren can't in the passing game and even on stretch plays. He's plenty thick, but doesn't present the surface area to defenders that Warren does with his broad shoulders, massive chest, and upright running style. Given volume, I could see Porter growing into a player of the Doug Martin or Michael Turner archetype.
Which OB Staff Member Drafted the Best Fantasy Team?
12-team league; .5 PPR. Me, Anwar, Ketch and Dustin were all in the draft -- which do you think is best? I'll answer a little later in the thread regarding whose is whose.
Team 1
QB Jameis Winston
WR Julio Jones
WR Keenan Allen
RB Carlos Hyde
RB Kareem Hunt
TE Jack Doyle
FLX Lamar Miller
FLX Jamison Crowder
BENCH
D Martin
J Maclin
D Foreman
C Kupp
A Kamara
T Smith
D Lewis
Team 2
QB Cam Newton
WR Golden Tate
WR Larry Fitzgerald
RB David Johnson
RB Dalvin Cook
TE Rob Gronkowski
FLX Desean Jackson
FLX Randall Cobb
BENCH
R Burkhead
T Ginn
T Rawls
C Carson
T Lockett
K Wright
Team 3
QB Tom Brady
WR Brandin Cooks
WR Stefon Diggs
RB Lesean McCoy
RB Darren McFadden
TE Travis Kelce
FLX Tevin Coleman
FLX Kevin White
BENCH
M Bennett
B Marshall
J Ross
Jonathan Williams
J Charles
Joe Williams
L Murray
Team 4
QB Kirk Cousins
WR Odell Beckham
WR Davante Adams
RB Leonard Fournette
RB Mike Gillislee
TE Jordan Reed
FLX TY Hilton
FLX Pierre Garcon
BENCH
L Blount
T Riddick
J Brown
M Mack
A Gate
C Palmer
C Clay
