The Deep Dig
UTEP Part II: Offense
presented by Wendy Swantkowksi, DDS
Looking for experienced, family and cosmetic dental care in the Houston-Memorial area? Go with the best! OB sponsor Wendy Swantkowski, DDS. Call 281-293-9140 and find out why so many Orangebloods members are her patients!
Offensive Line Thoughts and Grades
TL;DR version: The right side of a patchwork offensive line held up serviceably versus UTEP while the (normally superior) left side struggled.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OFFICIAL OL GRADING LOG
72 LT Elijah Rodriguez - 69 snaps
3 sacks, 1 run-stuff and 1 TFL allowed
1 holding penalty
DEEP DIG GRADE: 73.00
Unacceptable. We had to run the numbers two; then three times, then four — rechecking each step — to ensure the crowd that Rodriguez’ performance only graded out this bad. During the game, many thought it was sure to end up as the worst game graded all season - an idea that was worrisome even at such an early time since we’re talking UTEP.
Sure enough, Rodriguez did a few nice things in the run-game to generate some positive grades at times at the contest, and this helped to mitigate what would otherwise be a complete disaster. As things stand, it was just a disaster.
Connor Williams can’t get back soon enough.
It’s been our official stance at the Deep Dig that the “value over replacement” is no greater for any starter in the entire Texas offense than Williams.
77 LG Patrick Vahe - 69 snaps
1 QB hit, 1 run-stuff and 1 pressure allowed
2 knockdowns created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 74.57
At least it was an average performance out of Vahe. The Deep Dig scale was designed to make a 75-score be the baseline for an average D1 player, but since, the scale has adapted with the game and our own level of collective expertise to where the line of true “unacceptability” is actually more like 74.5 points as can be seen in the new grading scale image above. Vahe played a game versus UTEP that was clearly one where he played down to the level of his backup line-mates thrust into duty.
The Deep Dig has stewed over, charted and graded every snap that Patrick Vahe has taken at Texas.The only game in which Vahe dipped to this level of play (sub-75) was against Oklahoma State in 2016.
64 C Jake McMillon - 59 snaps
1 TFL allowed
1 knockdown, 1 pin created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 75.16
Jake McMillon’s grade versus UTEP was higher than former starting C Taylor Doyle’s grades versus Rice (comparable), Cal, OSU, TCU (much higher), Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor.
This was another grade we were largely surprised by. Congrats to Jake McMillon on stepping in and delivering an acceptable-plus performance versus UTEP despite having been the OL equivalent of “posterized” at points. Starter Zach Shackelford exited the game after only 10 snaps and was replaced by McMillon.
McMillon, now a redshirt sophomore, had made some noise as Shack’s backup while the freshman early-enrollee missed time this fall in camp with an ankle. McMillon’s grade is clearly superior to Shackelford’s pathetic 71.71 versus Notre Dame, but we’re comparing apples to potatoes to poe-TAH-toes and we call it off.
63 RG Alex Anderson - 65 snaps
1 run-stuff allowed
4 knockdowns created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 75.46
He’s played, during his snaps versus both Notre Dame (28) and now UTEP, better than everyone’s favorite breakout candidate and senior-leader Kent Perkins. The problem is, we’ve now been officially waiting on a Kent Perkins breakout for two seasons based on potential. It certainly didn’t start versus Notre Dame where his 71.67 score per the Deep Dig was not only the lowest of all 10 scores in 2016 thus far, but would rank second-lowest of ALL SCORES in 2015 just in front of Marcus Hutchins’ 2015 performance versus OU where he allowed two QB pressures and one run-stuff in just 30 snaps.
58 RT Brandon Hodges - 69 snaps
No disruption allowed
1 knockdown created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 75.28
You might as well say hello to your new starting RT, our dark basement sees no way that one-time incumbent Tristan Nickelson steps immediately back in to an anointed role as the starter when Hodges has been performing serviceably during two Texas wins; and far from a primary point of concern when ascertaining risk.
Who’d’ve thought we’d be talking about Brandon Hodges in the Deep Dig as a more dependable option than Perkins coming out of Game 2?
56 C Zach Shackelford (injured) - 10 snaps
51 RG Terrell Cuney - 10 snaps (1 run-stuff allowed)
78/92 RT Denzel Okafor - 5 snaps (3 at RT, 2 at jumbo TE)
74 LT Jean Delance - 3 snaps
Say goodbye to the redshirt scenarios, plots or schemes involving Delance and Okafor.
Time to start thinking of them as legitimate contributors on the two-deep and primary potential options in the case of season-ending injury to either starting tackle. Should such an event happen later in the season, it’s not out of the question that one will have developed by then enough to step ahead of Nickelson, Buck Major (currently injured) or Garrett Thomas.
As for other freshman OL options, Tope Imade remains a non-participant thus far on offense as do J.P. Urquidez and Patrick Hudson. Both Urquidez and Hudson are virtually assured to redshirt in the official opinion of the Deep Dig.
Skill-position snap counts and one-liners
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SKILL PARTICIPATION CHART
Quarterback
7 Shane Buechele - 61 snaps (60 at QB, 1 at WR)
18 Tyrone Swoopes - 10 snaps
13 Jerrod Heard - 1 snap
- Can you guess which play Buechele was at WR?
Running Back
25 Chris Warren - 47 snaps
21 Kyle Porter - 19 snaps
41 Tristian Houston - 3 snaps
- D’Onta Foreman can’t get back soon enough.
Wide Receiver
1 John Burt - 51 snaps (48 at RWR, 3 at LWR)
11 Jacorey Warrick - 41 snaps (41 at slot)
9 Collin Johnson - 36 snaps (36 at LWR)
3 Armanti Foreman - 32 snaps (32 at LWR)
6 Jake Oliver - 25 snaps (25 at slot)
2 Devin Duvernay - 19 snaps (19 at slot)
13 Jerrod Heard - 19 snaps (19 at slot)
4 Lil’Jordan Humphrey - 11 snaps (11 at RWR)
8 Dorian Leonard - 9 snaps (9 at RWR)
- It was the first official offensive action for freshmen Collin Johnson, Devin Duvernay and Lil’Jordan Humphrey.
- Dorian Leonard had a beautiful TD catch that showed off sticky hands and the ability to track a football that was thrown on an absolute rope from QB Shane Buechele.
- A few members of our dark basement interjected that if it would have been John Burt running the route, that he would have probably fought the football at the catch point. (We don’t necessarily agree as a consensus, but the opinion is worth noting, given the existing notion that Burt seems above criticism from the fanbase).
- Collin Johnson’s first extended offensive action as a Longhorn (only one snap on offense versus Notre Dame) won’t be an overly memorable one for fans, but it’s hard to say he doesn’t pass the eyeball test.
- Johnson just looks different from all the others with his length and size. It certainly makes identification easier for the purposes of our charting.
Tight End
47 Andrew Beck (19 at H-Back, 7 at split TE, 6 at inline TE)
44 Quincy Vasser (2 at inline TE, 1 at H-Back)
- Andrew Beck spent more time as a split tight end — out wide as a receiver — than he did as an inline player next to the tackle but most certainly spent the majority of his time, as usual, at the H-Back.
- With Caleb Bluiett missing the game, there was less usage of the tight end as an inline blocker.
As we move onward to Cal, with a starting offensive line seemingly intact and back up to full-speed, we wish our basement’s luckiest dwellers safe travels to the West Coast.
We thank you, once again, for reading.
UTEP Part II: Offense
presented by Wendy Swantkowksi, DDS
Looking for experienced, family and cosmetic dental care in the Houston-Memorial area? Go with the best! OB sponsor Wendy Swantkowski, DDS. Call 281-293-9140 and find out why so many Orangebloods members are her patients!
. . .
Offensive Line Thoughts and Grades
TL;DR version: The right side of a patchwork offensive line held up serviceably versus UTEP while the (normally superior) left side struggled.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OFFICIAL OL GRADING LOG
72 LT Elijah Rodriguez - 69 snaps
3 sacks, 1 run-stuff and 1 TFL allowed
1 holding penalty
DEEP DIG GRADE: 73.00
Unacceptable. We had to run the numbers two; then three times, then four — rechecking each step — to ensure the crowd that Rodriguez’ performance only graded out this bad. During the game, many thought it was sure to end up as the worst game graded all season - an idea that was worrisome even at such an early time since we’re talking UTEP.
Sure enough, Rodriguez did a few nice things in the run-game to generate some positive grades at times at the contest, and this helped to mitigate what would otherwise be a complete disaster. As things stand, it was just a disaster.
Connor Williams can’t get back soon enough.
It’s been our official stance at the Deep Dig that the “value over replacement” is no greater for any starter in the entire Texas offense than Williams.
77 LG Patrick Vahe - 69 snaps
1 QB hit, 1 run-stuff and 1 pressure allowed
2 knockdowns created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 74.57
At least it was an average performance out of Vahe. The Deep Dig scale was designed to make a 75-score be the baseline for an average D1 player, but since, the scale has adapted with the game and our own level of collective expertise to where the line of true “unacceptability” is actually more like 74.5 points as can be seen in the new grading scale image above. Vahe played a game versus UTEP that was clearly one where he played down to the level of his backup line-mates thrust into duty.
The Deep Dig has stewed over, charted and graded every snap that Patrick Vahe has taken at Texas.The only game in which Vahe dipped to this level of play (sub-75) was against Oklahoma State in 2016.
64 C Jake McMillon - 59 snaps
1 TFL allowed
1 knockdown, 1 pin created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 75.16
Jake McMillon’s grade versus UTEP was higher than former starting C Taylor Doyle’s grades versus Rice (comparable), Cal, OSU, TCU (much higher), Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor.
This was another grade we were largely surprised by. Congrats to Jake McMillon on stepping in and delivering an acceptable-plus performance versus UTEP despite having been the OL equivalent of “posterized” at points. Starter Zach Shackelford exited the game after only 10 snaps and was replaced by McMillon.
McMillon, now a redshirt sophomore, had made some noise as Shack’s backup while the freshman early-enrollee missed time this fall in camp with an ankle. McMillon’s grade is clearly superior to Shackelford’s pathetic 71.71 versus Notre Dame, but we’re comparing apples to potatoes to poe-TAH-toes and we call it off.
63 RG Alex Anderson - 65 snaps
1 run-stuff allowed
4 knockdowns created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 75.46
He’s played, during his snaps versus both Notre Dame (28) and now UTEP, better than everyone’s favorite breakout candidate and senior-leader Kent Perkins. The problem is, we’ve now been officially waiting on a Kent Perkins breakout for two seasons based on potential. It certainly didn’t start versus Notre Dame where his 71.67 score per the Deep Dig was not only the lowest of all 10 scores in 2016 thus far, but would rank second-lowest of ALL SCORES in 2015 just in front of Marcus Hutchins’ 2015 performance versus OU where he allowed two QB pressures and one run-stuff in just 30 snaps.
58 RT Brandon Hodges - 69 snaps
No disruption allowed
1 knockdown created
DEEP DIG GRADE: 75.28
You might as well say hello to your new starting RT, our dark basement sees no way that one-time incumbent Tristan Nickelson steps immediately back in to an anointed role as the starter when Hodges has been performing serviceably during two Texas wins; and far from a primary point of concern when ascertaining risk.
Who’d’ve thought we’d be talking about Brandon Hodges in the Deep Dig as a more dependable option than Perkins coming out of Game 2?
. . .
Reserves
56 C Zach Shackelford (injured) - 10 snaps
51 RG Terrell Cuney - 10 snaps (1 run-stuff allowed)
78/92 RT Denzel Okafor - 5 snaps (3 at RT, 2 at jumbo TE)
74 LT Jean Delance - 3 snaps
Say goodbye to the redshirt scenarios, plots or schemes involving Delance and Okafor.
Time to start thinking of them as legitimate contributors on the two-deep and primary potential options in the case of season-ending injury to either starting tackle. Should such an event happen later in the season, it’s not out of the question that one will have developed by then enough to step ahead of Nickelson, Buck Major (currently injured) or Garrett Thomas.
As for other freshman OL options, Tope Imade remains a non-participant thus far on offense as do J.P. Urquidez and Patrick Hudson. Both Urquidez and Hudson are virtually assured to redshirt in the official opinion of the Deep Dig.
. . .
Skill-position snap counts and one-liners
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SKILL PARTICIPATION CHART
Quarterback
7 Shane Buechele - 61 snaps (60 at QB, 1 at WR)
18 Tyrone Swoopes - 10 snaps
13 Jerrod Heard - 1 snap
- Can you guess which play Buechele was at WR?
Running Back
25 Chris Warren - 47 snaps
21 Kyle Porter - 19 snaps
41 Tristian Houston - 3 snaps
- D’Onta Foreman can’t get back soon enough.
Wide Receiver
1 John Burt - 51 snaps (48 at RWR, 3 at LWR)
11 Jacorey Warrick - 41 snaps (41 at slot)
9 Collin Johnson - 36 snaps (36 at LWR)
3 Armanti Foreman - 32 snaps (32 at LWR)
6 Jake Oliver - 25 snaps (25 at slot)
2 Devin Duvernay - 19 snaps (19 at slot)
13 Jerrod Heard - 19 snaps (19 at slot)
4 Lil’Jordan Humphrey - 11 snaps (11 at RWR)
8 Dorian Leonard - 9 snaps (9 at RWR)
- It was the first official offensive action for freshmen Collin Johnson, Devin Duvernay and Lil’Jordan Humphrey.
- Dorian Leonard had a beautiful TD catch that showed off sticky hands and the ability to track a football that was thrown on an absolute rope from QB Shane Buechele.
- A few members of our dark basement interjected that if it would have been John Burt running the route, that he would have probably fought the football at the catch point. (We don’t necessarily agree as a consensus, but the opinion is worth noting, given the existing notion that Burt seems above criticism from the fanbase).
- Collin Johnson’s first extended offensive action as a Longhorn (only one snap on offense versus Notre Dame) won’t be an overly memorable one for fans, but it’s hard to say he doesn’t pass the eyeball test.
- Johnson just looks different from all the others with his length and size. It certainly makes identification easier for the purposes of our charting.
Tight End
47 Andrew Beck (19 at H-Back, 7 at split TE, 6 at inline TE)
44 Quincy Vasser (2 at inline TE, 1 at H-Back)
- Andrew Beck spent more time as a split tight end — out wide as a receiver — than he did as an inline player next to the tackle but most certainly spent the majority of his time, as usual, at the H-Back.
- With Caleb Bluiett missing the game, there was less usage of the tight end as an inline blocker.
. . .
As we move onward to Cal, with a starting offensive line seemingly intact and back up to full-speed, we wish our basement’s luckiest dwellers safe travels to the West Coast.
We thank you, once again, for reading.
