I dont know who TOS is, but I suspect that they have a level of expertise way above what the peanut gallery here has. Why are their evaluations being discounted? Heck, until I see evidence on the field, I would say they were generous with us.....just sayin...
TOS= The Other Site
The rankings in my Original post were mine. The game was on the board of TOS.
Here are Bobby Burtons grades (who for my money has had the best pulse on the program since I’ve been around). There are two grades, first ones written out are his, the numerical grade is the avr. grade of all the board grades of the readers, not his.
Grading the position groups prior to spring practice on the following scale:
- National Championship Level (5)
- Big 12 Championship (4)
- 9-wins (3)
- Good but not a strength (2)
- Work to do (1)
Quarterbacks
Sam Ehlinger is expected to be at least one of the two or three best QBs in the league this season and more than good enough to lead a team to a Big 12 title. Ehlinger's ability to run the football gives his game a valuable addition. Yes, there are some chinks in the armor, like his somewhat lagging ability to push the ball downfield. But he's efficient and he's most certainly a winner.
Big 12 Championship Level
Survey result - 4.34 average
Running backs
Keaontay Ingram is a special runner. I don't think he's of the same caliber as Jamaal Charles but I believe he's an above-average runner in the college game. The problems at this position are two-fold. First, Ingram was injured much of last year and his style of running seems to invite injuries. Second, Daniel Young took a step back last season. Perhaps he didn't get enough carries to get in the groove or he just didn't see the holes as well as his peers, but Young was largely unimpressive. Maybe Kirk Johnson will help this year, or even true freshman Jordan Whittington. But I'll believe that when I see it.
9-wins
Survey result - 2.83
Wide receivers
While most will point to Collin Johnson as the unit's star returning player, and he deserves those accolades, I'm actually more swayed by the return of Devin Duvernay. Duvernay didn't drop a single uncontested catchable ball all season. That's flat amazing. In addition, I think John Burt will provide more punch downfield and Josh Moore gives the Horns a little more oomph in the slot. Then there's Bru McCoy who, if eligible, might emerge late in the season as the team's best receiving threat overall. Yes, he could be that good.
National Championship level
Survey result - 4.53
Tight ends
I like Cade Brewer as a prospect. I like Reese Leitao, too. They both look the part, have the athleticsim, toughness and general ability to be really good players. There's only one problem. I haven't seen either of them perform at a level that makes me think they can be the same sort of blocker/pass catcher combo that Andrew Beck was a year ago. It's a rare breed that can do both. Brewer is going to be a better pass catcher than Beck, but unless he totally changes his willingness to block, he's going to come up just short in the run game. Leitao can block in-line but what about as an H-back? I think the two primary players have talent. I don't know if they have the know-how. We could know more by the end of spring.
Work-to-do
Survey result - 1.95
Offensive line
With the addition of Parker Braun, this unit goes up a full grade IMO. Perhaps even more. Braun, a two-time all-ACC selection, is truly that good. Add him to Sam Cosmi and Zach Shackelford and the Horns have the best returning unit in the Big 12. What's more, the Horns have a ton of talented options waiting in the wings, and each of them have more seasoning on them than they would have in years past when the Horns struggled to even find five capable starters. There is no unit on the team that is coming into its own more. Yes, they need to find another capable tackle. But I think the Horns could get a double upgrade at the guard spots from a year ago, and ostensibly Cosmi should still be getting better and better.
Big 12 Championship level
Survey result - 3.61
Defensive line
Yes, the Horns have some pieces to the puzzle. There's no doubt that Malcolm Roach and Ta'Quon Graham can be Big 12 caliber players on an every-down basis. But major questions remain. Will Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn be ready for primetime just one year into their time on campus? Or, is Gerald Wilbon truly an adequate replacement for Chris Nelson if Coburn's not? Too many uncertainties, not enough answers. Even so, Marqez Bimage should be part of the answer, but only if he's fully healthy. A bigger question mark is where does juco transfer Jacoby Jones come out in all of this. If Jones is ready to play from day one, he could be a huge shot in the arm, especially on passing downs. Is the youth truly ready to blossom? I can't say that for sure. Still, there's enough talent to make reasonable expectations.
9-wins
Survey result - 3.13
Linebackers
No position on this team causes more consternation for me. With the departure of Gary Johnson, the Horns are losing someone truly special from a speed perspective. I feel like that lack of footspeed - because no one will be as fast as Johnson - will cause a domino effect for the entire defense and stress other parts of the Horns' defense more than we've become accustomed. We know that sophomore Joe Ossai is part of the solution. He's not particularly fast but he is a football player with an upside unlike any the Horns have add on defense in years. Senior-to-be Jeff McCulloch is servicable, but has been much better against the pass than run. That means a new player is going to have to step up and play a huge role. But we don't know who that will be because last year we really didn't see a lot of rotation from the LB position with Johnson and Anthony Wheeler get the vast, vast majority of snaps. Until we see what Todd Orlando tries to do this spring, this position is one of complete question marks for me. Like the DL, there's talent. But unlike the DL, there are more question marks overall.
Good but not a strength
Survey result - 2.44
Cornerbacks
I'm told Jalen Green is as talented or perhaps even more talented than any defensive back on the roster. I know that is a mouthful. But I've been told that by more than one insider. The key will be whether or not his talent shows out when the ball is snapped. I like Anthony Cook because he's potentially solid in a way similar to what Davante Davis provided the Horns last season. Josh Thompson should be able to handle the nickel, where his speed and length could cause some problems for offenses. What I don't like here is the depth unless a true freshman like Kenyatta Watson can somehow help out as soon as he gets on campus. Still, I think there are going to be real growing pains for this unit, especially in a league that sports receivers like Tylan Wallace, Denzel Mims and CeeDee Lamb and whose offenses know how to isolate corners and nickels.
Good but not a strength
Survey result - 3.07
Safeties
Texas has at least three safeties that I think can and will play in the NFL. With Caden Sterns, Brandon Jones and BJ Foster, Texas is loaded. There are some small areas of concern. Jones has not shown an ability to play the ball in the air. Sterns is not ideally fast. And Foster seems to still be learning the finer technique points of coverage. Still, this group is extremely good. They all make plays, which is what the game is all about. They are so good in fact that they should help lift the defensive unit overall. If Texas can only get a pass rush this fall, the safeties could make Texas an absolutely devastating defense.
National Championship level
Survey result - 4.77
Kicker/Punter
As freshman, both Cameron Dicker and Ryan Bujcevski solidified their roles as starters as the season wore on, which is typically a good sign for the year following. Of course, Bujcevski is still the bigger question mark since he's only been kicking a football for a year or so now. But, in all, Texas should have a place-kicker that can make the tough field goals and kick the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs. And the Horns should have a reliable and somewhat tested punter. You can't really ask for much more than that.
Big 12 Championship level
Survey result - 3.39
**
The results of the survey yesterday were telling in a number of ways.
Here were the final average tallies (from 1-5):
Quarterback - 4.34
Running back - 2.83
Wide receiver - 4.52
Tight end - 1.95
Offensive line - 3.61
Defensive line - 3.13
Linebacker - 2.44
Cornerback - 3.07
Safety - 4.77
Kicker/Punter - 3.39
**
The perceived three strengths of the team are the safety group, followed by the receivers and then the quarterback.
Frankly, I was a little surprised that more fans didn't place higher expectations on Sam Ehlinger.
After all, Ehlinger put the team on his back in some big games last year. At the same time, I understand his perceived limitations.
**
The units that I think that are "significantly" better than the survey results:
- Offensive line
- Kicker/Punter
The units that I have significantly lower expectations of than the survey results:
- Tight end
- Linebacker
- Cornerback
**
Of note, not a single response ranked the Texas quarterbacks, receivers or safety group below nine-wins. And only 11 people (of 109 respondents) even voted any of those groups below Big 12 Championship level.
Not a single fan said the Texas safety unit is anything less than Big 12 Championship caliber. They got all 4s and 5s.
**
It's pretty clear that Texas fans have the biggest question marks about the tight end position on offense and the linebacker group on defense.
**
Perhaps the biggest difference between my own feelings and those of the fans come with the disparity at "cornerback".
I feel like Texas has talent there but it's almost completely unproven.
