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Part 1 of 3 Parts
Jerry Scarbrough's True Orange The Newsletter and E-Mail/Fax Service for the True Texas Longhorn Faithful Volume 11, No. 20, August 13, 2001 Horns Happy About No. 5 Pre-Season Ranking, But Coaches, Players Say They Have to Earn It Coach Mack Brown and the Longhorn players are happy about their No. 5 ranking in The Associated Press' pre-season poll because they say it shows respect for the program. But they also say it means nothing unless they prove they deserve it. "We can embrace the pre-season predictions because they show respect for the University of Texas," Brown said Saturday, following the first full-team practice, "but, starting today, I've got to do a better job of putting it behind us." "It's really a beauty contest," he said. " It's a farce that sells papers and hypes the season, but it means absolutely nothing." "What's important is today's practice and tonight's practice, and what's important tomorrow will be tomorrow's practice. We've got to take care of our business on the field every day." History certainly supports Brown's feeling. The Longhorns haven't finished in the top 10 since 1983, but they've been there in the pre-season several times. And, while it is painful to recall, Oklahoma was ranked No. 19 in the pre-season poll a year ago, well below Nebraska, Kansas State and Texas, and we all know the Sooners went 13-0, beat all three of those teams handily and won the national title. This pre-season poll had Florida No. 1, Miami No. 2, OU No. 3, Nebraska No. 4 and Texas No. 5. Brown said it was nice to have three big 12 teams in the top 12 because it "shows respect for our conference," but he also said, "it will be very difficult for us to have three teams in the top five when the season ends." That's definitely true because Oklahoma plays Nebraska and Texas, and whoever wins the South title will have to play Nebraska or whoever whip the Huskers in the Big 12's Northern Division. The good news for the Longhorns is that Oklahoma is the only pre-season team in the top 25 on the regular season schedule. That is countered by a double dose of bad news. First, the AP writers and the Big 12 coaches ranked the Sooners over the Longhorns, and they are pretty familiar with both teams. Second, if the Longhorns beat the Sooners, they will have two killer post-season games, one against a powerful and probably undefeated team from the Northern Division and, if they win that one, a Rose Bowl date against someone like Florida or Miami for the national title. But the Horns' best chance to get there is to take it one step at a time, and the coaches and players are saying that's what they are going to do. "It's one thing for people to pick us, but it's up to us to do it on the field," said senior LB De'Andre Lewis. "We control our destiny and we have to work hard and take care of business day-to-day and game-to-game." "If we work hard every day and show up ready to play hard every game, the other stuff will take care of itself." Junior QB Chris Simms echoed those sentiments, saying, "This team is more experienced now. We know we have to do it on the field and the stuff in the papers and in the polls won't mean anything unless we do it on the field." For those of you who want to know how the Longhorns are rated in everyone's pre-season articles, I haven't seen all of them, but I have seen the major ones and Texas is ranked No. 1 by the Sporting News, No. 3 by Lindy's and ESPN, No. 4 by Sports Illustrated, No. 5 by the AP, No. 6 by USA Today/ESPN (the coaches' poll) and Street & Smith, No. 8 by Football Diges and No. 15 by Athlon. And, like Mack Brown, I'll tell you it means absolutely nothing. Last year is proof of that. Some people also say Texas' schedule will keep the Horns out of the national title game, even if they win all their games, because it doesn't include enough tough teams. That talk means nothing, too. Any team that wins a Big 12 division title, then wins the league championship game and is undefeated, will be in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 3. Now that we've covered the what-if's, let's look at what is happening with the Longhorns as they begin preparations to live up to those lofty pre-season rankings. The highly ranked freshman class had four workouts last week before the first full team workouts started Saturday. The freshmen weren't in full pads, but it was clear from watching the limited contact that was allowed that DT Kaelen Jakes of Valencia, Cal., DE Eric Hall of Clarksville, Tenn., LB Derrick Johnson of Waco, RB Cedric Benson of Midland Lee, and several of the great group of offensive line recruits are as big and fast and talented as advertised. Players can't really dominate until they don full pads, which will happen Wednesday, but Benson, while working with the freshmen Tuesday and Wednesday, and then with the full team Saturday and Sunday, simply explodes after taking a handoff. High school coaches and players who faced him always said he had great speed and power and moves, but they said the one thing that set him apart from other great backs was the way he accelerated into the hole. He hasn't lost any of that acceleration, and, even without getting an opportunity to work in pads, he was running with the third team in practice Saturday and Sunday, behind junior Victor Ike and sophomore Brett Robin. Ike worked very hard during the off season and is sporting more muscles than ever before. He doesn't seem to have lost any of his great speed. Let's look at the team on a position-by-position basis, based on the limited practices so far: OFFENSE Quarterback Simms is clearly No. 1. There is no quarterback controversy like there was last season when Simms lacked experience and Major Applewhite wasn't fully recovered from knee surgery. Applewhite underwent surgery on his other knee last season and the severe knee injuries have eroded some of his once lethal talents. He is No. 2 Redshirt freshman Chance Mock is big and fast and has a strong arm and the coaches will make sure he plays this season. Freshman Matt Nordgren is very big, has good speed and a strong arm, and he will redshirt unless disaster strikes. The Sporting News not only picked UT to win the national crown, it picked Simms to win the Heisman Trophy. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns last season and he has to get better at looking off receivers or he'll have more interception problems this season. In the three practices he had Saturday and Sunday, he still seemed to home in on his intended receiver very early. His progress in that problem area, in my opinion, will determine whether Texas can compete for conference and national honors. Running Back Ike's main asset is blinding speed, and the coaches want him to show more consistent power. Robin's main asset is his steadiness. He runs every play perfectly and gives great effort. Will Ike's speed and Robin's dependability hold off Benson? I doubt it. We won't know for sure until the team starts some serious contact, but, unless he gets hurt, Benson will play a lot in the Sept. 1 opener against New Mexico State and I think he will be either be starting or splitting time with the starter before mid-season. Junior Kenny Hayter and sophomore Ivan Williams also are in contention, but Brown said Sunday they both need to cut down on fumbling to have a chance to play. Fullback Junior Matt Trissel is the returning starter, but redshirt freshman Will Matthews is bigger and faster and will push him for the top job. Junior Chad Stevens is a good blocker and receiver and also will play, particularly on passing downs. Wide Receiver Sophomores Roy Williams and B. J. Johnson starred last season as true freshmen and will be even better this year if they stay healthy. Sophomore Sloan Thomas also looked very good as a true freshman. Junior walk-on Kyle Shanahan suffered a cut in his leg jumping over a fence, but should be back in time for the first game. He is an outstanding receiver. Senior Montrell Flowers also will play a lot. Redshirt freshman Tony Jeffery also will get some playing time. All of them are dangerous. This position is loaded. Tight End Sophomore Bo Scaife has remarkable speed and receiving skills for a tight end and he appears to be completely recovered from knee surgery. Sophomore Brock Edwards is much bigger and also has very good speed. He started some games as a true freshman last year. Senior Mike Jones is the best blocker of the group and is sure handed, but he lacks the speed of Scaife and Edwards. Left Tackle Junior Robbie Doane held the job throughout the spring, but is getting a big challenge from JC transfer Alfio Randall. Left Guard Junior Derrick Dockery and sophomore Tillman Holloway both started at times last year and both are very talented. The Horns usually don't substitute much in the offensive line, but coach Brown says both Dockery and Holloway will play a lot. Center Senior Matt Anderson is the returning started and clear No. 1 center. Junior Beau Baker is working at center and guard, and redshirt freshman Jason Glenn is a talented newcomer who will push for playing time. Right Guard Senior Antwan Kirk-Hughes is one of the top offensive linemen around when his shoulder is healthy, and Brown says it appears to be sound and ready for the season. The loser of the Dockery-Holloway battle at left guard probably will be the backup at both guard slots. Right Tackle Senior Mike Williams is the returning starter and one of the top tackles in the country. He will be backed by talented redshirt freshman Lionel Garr. DEFENSE Left End Junior Cory Redding led the team in sacks last season with 6.5 and is bigger and stronger this year. Junior O. J. McClintock was his backup, but he suffered severe cuts to his right hand and arm in a household accident and the coaches are trying linebackers Reed Boyd and Marcus Wilkins at end until he recovers. Brown said McClintock probably will miss the first three or four games. Left Tackle Sophomores Adam Doiron and redshirt freshman Stevie Lee are battling for the starting job. Both have talent and both played well last year as true freshmen. Lee got a medical hardship because he broke a bone in his foot in the second game, so he is again a freshman. Right Tackle Sophomore Marcus Tubbs played well last year standing in for injured senior star Shaun Rogers, and he has been looking great in the early one-on-one drills. Maurice Gordon, an end last year, was a great pass rusher in the spring after moving inside and looks like he is ready to be a prime-time player, particularly against passing teams. Right End Sophomore Kalen Thornton started the final nine games last year as a true freshman and looks like he is ready to emerge as one of the top ends in the Big 12. He was a freshman All-American last year. Senior Jermian Anderson is his backup and is a good pass rusher. Strongside Linebacker Senior Lee Jackson, a former starting strong safety, is the starter and is a sure tackler with the speed to blitz or cover tight ends or backs on pass plays. He is backed by former starter Tyrone Jones, another senior. Middle Linebacker Senior De'Andre Lewis is a big, fast linebacker who has been a starter since his redshirt freshman year. He is backed by redshirt freshman Austin Sendlein, a tough run stopper. Weakside Linebacker Senior Everick Rawls has started since his sophomore year. He is a good run stopper withe speed to blitz and help on pass coverage. With Boyd and Wilkins helping at end, speedy true freshman Derrick Johnson will have an opportunity to earn playing time. Left Cornerback Senior Quentin Jammer is rated by the pro scouts as the nation's top cornerback prospect. He is big and fast, and, true to his name, is very good at jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. Senior Ervis Hill is a fine backup. Right Cornerback Junior Roderick Babers started last year and is a strong cover corner with excellent speed. Sophomore Nathan Vasher, who also is contending for a starting safety job, is his backup. Strong Safety Vasher and fellow sophomore Dakarai Pearson are battle for the starting job. Both are very talented. Free Safety Again, it is Vasher competing with senior Ahmad Brooks for the starting job. Both are former cornerbacks with good speed and coverage skills. SPECIAL TEAMS Punter Junior college transfer Brian Bradford is running ahead of redshirt freshman Justin Smith. Both kick for good distance and get good hang time, but Bradfor has been more consistent. Placekicker Two freshmen walk-ons - David Pino of Wichita Falls Rider and Dusty Mangum of Mesquite - have both been impressive in the first week of drills. Both have been accurate consistently up to 40 yards and both have had some success at longer distances. Pino had scholarship offers from Nebraska and Tennessee and actually committed to the Cornhuskers at one point before deciding to walk on at Texas. If one of the walk-on freshmen can solidify this position, it will really help the team's chances in close games. SUMMARY The Longhorn receiving corps, including the tight ends, is unequalled in the country in terms of quality and quantity. The defensive backfield is very good and will be one of the nation's best. At quarterback and in the defensive line, the Longhorns are very talented. The offensive line is a strong pass-blocking unit and is working on getting better at run blocking. The linebackers, as a group, are solid. The question marks are at running back and place kicker, and talented freshmen could answer both those needs. This should be Mack Brown's best team at Texas. 900 Number Updated Daily I update my 900 number every day with football and football recruiting news. The number is 1-900-288-8839. It costs $1.59 a minute. You must be 18 or older to call.
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