What position will he play? MLB? He should be a 3-4 OLB, but UT plays him inside. So with one more season in Austin, will he be first round caliber ILB/MLB or at OLB/DE, which is what he played in HS? He has talent, but his production on bad defense lags behind others on UT and players on other Big 12 teams as well. The kid is very talented, but most of his career at UT has been more hype than production. So he will be a first round pick based on being a 5 star recruit that played out of position 3 years at Texas? He's the ILB of a 3-3-5 defense in a passing conference, all offenses have to do to avoid him is pass? I don't think he is great vs the run, so I would do what OU did and run right at him.
Game Week 7 – Kansas State
- Thread starter Godz40Acrez
- Start date
Charlie Strong’s much-maligned defense came out on Saturday against ISU with plenty to prove. And while the Cyclones’ incoming 1-5 record didn’t make them appear to be the most impressive of foes, their prior two games against Baylor and Oklahoma State had shown them to be plenty capable of dropping 40 if the Longhorn D had come out anywhere near as discombobulated as they had in the past three contests.
Instead, the front four was electric and a back seven that had collapsed like the Bluesmobile against any passing offense with a pulse, suddenly spent four quarters making pretty sweet music.
Saturday’s game was only one step, but it was a legitimate step in the right direction with plenty to build on despite the disappointing loss of Jordan Elliott. The challenge will be integrating athletes of Davante Davis’ caliber back into the “We’re all playing the same coverage, right, guys?” model before facing an opponent who can simply blow Bonney’s doors off in single coverage.
[More @ BC]
Injury Updates
Freshman DT Jordan Elliott suffered a knee injury in the 2nd half of the Iowa State game and HC Charlie Strong said he has an MCL injury. I spoke to a source yesterday who told me Elliott has a torn his MCL and is done for the year.
It’s obviously good news that it wasn’t the ACL or a more serious knee injury, as some guys can play through a torn MCL but there is no reason to risk further injury with the true freshman.
Another positive is that he won’t require surgery. Nonetheless it is disappointing. Elliot was one of the primary freshmen contributors on the defensive line. He played 20+ snaps vs Oklahoma and was set to play even more going forward. He’s expected to fully recover and be back to 100%.
RT Brandon Hodges went down vs Oklahoma with a leg injury and I was told he’d be out “at least two weeks, maybe three.” But it looks like that may change, I was told last night there’s a solid chance Hodges is suited out vs Kansas State on Saturday. I wasn’t told if he’ll start or even how much he’ll be able to play.
[TFB]
Freshman DT Jordan Elliott suffered a knee injury in the 2nd half of the Iowa State game and HC Charlie Strong said he has an MCL injury. I spoke to a source yesterday who told me Elliott has a torn his MCL and is done for the year.
It’s obviously good news that it wasn’t the ACL or a more serious knee injury, as some guys can play through a torn MCL but there is no reason to risk further injury with the true freshman.
Another positive is that he won’t require surgery. Nonetheless it is disappointing. Elliot was one of the primary freshmen contributors on the defensive line. He played 20+ snaps vs Oklahoma and was set to play even more going forward. He’s expected to fully recover and be back to 100%.
RT Brandon Hodges went down vs Oklahoma with a leg injury and I was told he’d be out “at least two weeks, maybe three.” But it looks like that may change, I was told last night there’s a solid chance Hodges is suited out vs Kansas State on Saturday. I wasn’t told if he’ll start or even how much he’ll be able to play.
[TFB]
Watched first half and some of 3rd quarter of ISU game. Noticed UT using for man front most of the time and that far less 3 man front. Malik was moved around to make plays, but it was Wheeler that stands out as the play maker of the two ILBs, vs the run and in cover, because they don't blitz him. Hopefully the tackling carries over to the remaining games. Wish they could force more fumbles and INTs.
The Wildcats rely on defense, physical running, and disciplined play. Jesse Ertz will start at quarterback according to Snyder, and appears to be a slightly lesser version of Collin Klein. Ertz is just south of 50% passing on the year, but he does present a run threat with a big physical body.
Ertz is assisted in the run game by Charles Jones, who is averaging 5 yards per carry and leading the team in rushing. Byron Pringle is the man to watch in the passing game for K-State. Pringle is averaging nearly 17 yards per reception, and he teams with Dominique Heath to create a formidable receiving duo.
The defensive side of the ball is carrying this team so far this season. The Wildcat defense ranks tops in the conference against the run holding opponents to around 90 yards per game on the ground. In home games this season, Kansas State is only allowing 58.3 rushing yards per game in Manhattan.
This game will come down to the K-State ability to stop D’onta Foreman and the Texas run game. If the K-State offense hopes score often, they will need to keep Jesse Ertz clean. The shoulder injury Ertz suffered could come into play as well if he is not completely healed.
If the Longhorns can enforce their run game on the Wildcats stingy defense, and continue their own defensive improvement they might be able to generate some momentum as they enter the second half of the schedule.
[HS]
I don't particularly like the idea of going conservative in this game. Why let the other team dictate our game plan to us? Thats what OSU did, and we lost. They gave us short passes, so we took short passes.
Snyder would love nothing more than for us to run straight into his defense. Stopping the run is what they do best.
Snyder would love nothing more than for us to run straight into his defense. Stopping the run is what they do best.
To be honest, this should be a game where play action pass will bring us some good opportunities to hit some open receivers. I would love for us to put in a few wrinkles like reverses and maybe even a flea flicker. This defense is quick to the ball and is going to go all out to stopping the run. It should leave us wide open for some opportunities if we can take advantage of their haste.
I said it last week I'll say it again this week. I don't care who the coaches are. At some point players gotta make plays. Receivers have dropped 2 perfect passes in huge spots
