Photo via HookEm.com
Tom Herman, it is your show.
Herman gave strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight the keys to his football program in January. McKnight and Herman are soulmates when it comes to coaching (his words, not mine), so there was no hesitation. McKnight pushed his players during offseason workouts. Players went from resistance to acceptance pretty quickly. When you have experienced two consecutive five-win seasons and no bowl appearances – sounds weird to type that – Longhorn players are desperate to win. McKnight’s program is designed to help players excel late in the football season, and it appears the workouts were successful.
On Tuesday, Herman gets to work on-the-field with his new squad when spring practice begins. He will have 15 practices to assess his players and implement the offensive and defensive systems of Tim Beck and Todd Orlando, respectively, with the Orange-White game being played on April 15. Hey, it is just practice, but the closest to real football we are going to get until the season opener in September.
I was recently on Orangebloods Radio (weekdays from 1 to 3 p.m. on The Horn 104.9 FM), and Geoff Ketchum wanted to know what three things would Herman need to see for this to be a successful spring. I started thinking about what Herman needed from each position, and here are my thoughts.
Quarterbacks
Being able to mention Sam Ehlinger in the same sentence as Shane Buechele is already a win for Herman. No, I am not saying Buechele is so good, this should not even be a topic. Instead, I am saying Ehlinger’s presence means there can be a legit quarterback battle this offseason. It is not like seeing either quarterback will force you to be inebriated by halftime. Lonnghorn fans should know the winner of this battle will be able to run this offense and not be a liability.
Herman needs Ehlinger to push Buechele so hard for a starting role, Longhorn observers leave the spring game ready to contact @UTwiz about joining the Ehliger fan club. We have heard about Ehlinger being an Alpha Male with leadership qualities, but Buechele was the guy former coach Charlie Strong praised for practicing in the street with teammates after the stadium lights shut off on a weekend night. We heard all about Buechele organizing team workouts, and the infamous ping-pong tournaments he dominated. In other words, Buechele may not be a vocal leader, but has many leadership qualities. If Ehlinger’s presence helps Buechele to improve, it is a win for Herman. If Ehlinger ends up being the No.1 quarterback after the spring, Herman has a guy who unseated a 12-game starter.
Offensive line
Texas no longer has guard Kent Perkins, but the Longhorns are pretty stacked in this room. The Longhorns return Connor Williams (tackle), Patrick Vahe (guard), Zach Shackelford (center), Jake McMillon (guard/center), Brandon Hodges (tackle), J.P. Urquidez (tackle), Patrick Hudson (guard), Jean Delance (tackle) and Elijah Rodriguez (tackle). Most Longhorn fans expect Hudson to compete for Perkins’ job, and there may not be a drop-off if he earns that position.
Herman previously told me he wants Williams to emerge into a leader this offseason. It is clear Herman is a fan of Williams, but needs him to become a vocal leader. Williams is usually a man of few words - at least during media interviews - and Herman’s challenge is getting him to say more. To be fair, Perkins was viewed as the leader of that unit last year, so this is a new role for Williams.
Running backs
Yep, just another excuse from me to write about Chris Warren, and I will take it. Warren has impressed everyone in the building with his work ethic during winter conditioning. He has lost 10 pounds and added muscle in the process. Warren will have the opportunity to work with running backs coach Stan Drayton, who has earned the reputation of turning good running backs into great ones. If Warren can stay healthy, he has a chance to become an elite running back.
Herman needs to see the guys behind Warren step up and push for significant playing time. Kyle Porter, Kirk Johnson, Toneil Carter excelled in high school, but must prove they can do have success at this level. Longhorn fans should keep an eye on Carter in the spring. If he develops into a solid backup option, Herman will be sitting in the catbird seat.
Receivers
This is the most talented position group on Herman’s team. Herman gets to work with Collin Johnson, Armanti Foreman, Dorian Leonard, Jerrod Heard, Devin Duvernay, John Burt, Lorenzo Joe and Lil’ Jordan Humphrey. The backups would be starters at most smaller schools.
Last season, former offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert struggled to feed the hot hand For instance, Duvernay caught an 80-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against Kansas State. It was the only time Duvernay was targeted in that game. I do not get the feeling Herman will make that mistake.
It is definitely time for Foreman to live up to the hype. Everyone knows Foreman was a stud in high school, but this is his time to shine. His brother is months away from being drafted, and their dream is to play in the NFL. Foreman has been working hard to eventually join his brother. If Foreman can stay healthy and show some explosiveness, Herman will have a reliable No.1 receiver.
Photo via HookEm.com
Tight ends
This is rough. Andrew Beck is recovering from a broken foot, leaving Peyton Aucoin, who is a blocking tight end. Honestly, Herman may need to look on the roster and see if anyone can be converted. Maybe Humphrey can do it if he added 10 pounds this offseason. He should consider asking Shaka Smart is he has any players interested in playing football.
Other than that, this group will be a work in progress.
Defensive line
Anyone who watched Houston’s games the past two season knows those teams were great up front. Ed Oliver led a defensive unit that sacked Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson 11 times during a 36-10 victory last season. Many of those 11 sacks were by four defensive lineman, and none required more than five. Texas did not have anything close to that productivity from its defensive lineman last season.
Herman needs somebody on the defensive line to step up during the spring. Chris Nelson and Poona Ford are the incumbent leaders at defensive tackle, but are hovering around 6-feet. This might open the door for defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (6-foot-4, 318 pounds), who committed to Herman’s program at Houston before backing out. In addition, this is a huge offseason for defensive end Charles Omenihu. He played in every game last season (seven starts), but needs to have the same impact as Jackson Jeffcoat.
Photo via San Antonio Express-News
Linebackers
This is another position of strength for the Longhorns. Texas has Malik Jefferson, Breckyn Hager, Malcolm Roach, Naashon Hughes, Edwin Freeman and Anthony Wheeler. With Orlando promising to shorten the rotation at this position, the battle for playing time is going to be intense. Hager will get a look at middle linebacker since everybody in this room is being cross-trained. Meanwhile, Jefferson is finally bouncing to the outside at the Will.
I will avoid the obvious Jefferson discussion and focus on Hager. Considering Hager was asked to put his hands in the dirt last season, his play as an undersized defensive end was impressive. That being said, it looks like Orlando wants Hager to be a traditional linebacker, which may help him excel. If Hager can firmly plant cement himself as a starter, Herman may have a group of linebackers that he loves.
Photo via HookEm.com
Cornerbacks
This is one group of guys who really need some stability. Jason Washington is the third defensive backs coach at Texas in the past three seasons. Everyone in the room loved former defensive backs coach Chris Vaughan, but clashed with Clay Jennings, his replacement, last year. Washington has given them a clean slate. More importantly, he has the personality of Vaughan, a likable guy who players could relate to.
If Holton Hill and Davante Davis can duplicate their freshmen performances, Orlando and Herman will have plenty of options. When Hill and Davis started in 2015, most Longhorn observers believed the cornerback position was secure for at least two more years. They struggled last season and now have a fresh start. Kris Boyd and John Bonney should be the top cornerbacks heading into spring practice. A push by Hill and Davis strengthens that room.
Photo via HookEm.com
Safeties
There were several times when safeties looked out of position and confused during the past two seasons. Some will blame that on Dylan Haines. Others will blame Jason Hall. The schemes were so bad, Strong demoted former defensive coordinator Vance Bedford midseason. It is hard to pinpoint only one problem in this group.
Herman should be thrilled if P.J. Locke, DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones are competing for playing time in the spring. Locke’s experience as a nickelback should help his confidence during this offseason battle. Elliott is a hard hitter who showed flashes of potential. Jones was one of the nation’s top safeties in high school. If Herman is happy with three guys in this group, he should consider that a win.
Kicker
If Strong had a good kicker the past two seasons, he still might be at Texas. Nick Rose was very inconsistent in 2015 – Longhorn fans will never forget that missed extra point against Cal. Trent Domingue was so bad last season, Strong had to bench him. Ironically, Chris Naggar was begging to join the team, and never received an opportunity to compete during fall camp.
Well, time will tell how good Joshua Rowland is. Herman should be happy if Rowland is more consistent than Domingue and Rose.
Punter
Herman needs Michael Dickson to fully recover from a hamstring injury. If Dickson is healthy, Herman is set at this position.
Photo via HookEm.com
Let the Herman show begin on Tuesday.
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
Every parent has been there
Wait for it …
Wait for it …
Sports On A Dime
1. Honestly, I have no clue if Texas fans will see incoming freshman Reese Leitao on campus after he was arrested for allegedly selling Xanax this past week. However, hopefully his arrest forces other promising athletes to think twice about the people they associate with. I am guessing what Leitao thought might be harmless fun probably feels like the worst mistake of his life.
2. Jarrett Allen, it has been fun. Enjoy the NBA:
3. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but try your best not to buy into stock rising/stock falling from draft analysts this weekend. The majority of NFL teams set their draft boards based on college film before the NFL scouting combine. Joe Haden ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at the combine, but made it to the Pro Bowl and was drafted seventh overall by Cleveland. Antonio Brown ran a 4.56 40, and was near the bottom of the wideout class in bench press and jumping drills. The biggest benefit for teams is having their doctors examine players for preexisting injuries and face-to-face interviews. Try not to get sucked into the predraft craziness.
4. Former Texas running backs D'Onta Foreman learned all about the medical examination portion of Indy this past week. Texas will reportedly hold its pro day on March 28, which might be enough time for him to heal and run drills in Austin.
5. That being said, John Ross killed it. I know, what about my previous combine rant? If Usain Bolt had football film, he would be in the NFL. Ross’ tape will be confirmation bias for most NFL coaches and general managers.
6. I think Tony Romo in Houston or Denver is the best fit for him. Can he stay healthy for 16 games? I do not know, but he is a better option than the quarterbacks in those cities.
7. I do not even trust him to make my food without problems:
8. So, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith wants the NFL to reevaluate its stance of marijuana punishment:
“I think that there is a better way,” Smith told USA Today, “to evaluate players who test positive for marijuana to figure out whether or not they have just a recreational use issue, whether they have an addiction problem, but equally important, whether or not they’re using marijuana as a result of some other issue that we’re not even looking for – whether there is a depression issue, whether there is an anxiety issue. And currently, the way the system works, that evaluation, that therapeutic look at the player isn’t occurring.
“I believe if the players vote on it, it will be a policy that is in the best health and safety interest of the players, and we will treat it the same way that we treated changes in the collective bargaining agreement to make concussion protocols safer, practice on field safer, ways to ensure that players are treated the right way for injuries, and that’s our obligation as a union.”
You know when would have been a good time to send over this proposal to the NFL? During collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the NFL in 2014.
9. I loved nearly everything about Keith Thurman’s win against Danny Garcia. Thurman was active, always moved, did not allow Garcia to hurt him with counter punches, and controlled most of the fight. I did not love seeing him coasting in the last three rounds. That strategy nearly cost him the win. Thurman does not need to fight the winner of Errol Spence vs. Kell Brook or Shawn Porter vs. Andre Berto. He needs to focus on getting a pay-per-view fight, which means Manny Pacquiao or Timothy Bradley.
10. It is time for Paulie to hang it up and focus on his broadcasting career before he sustains long-term damage:
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