Finding 25 :: The Offense 25-21
by Seth C on Jul 19, 2010 9:00 AM CDT
in Texas Tech Football
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PrintDuring spring practice, head coach Tommy Tuberville stated that he wanted to find 25 players on defense that he thought could play. With the season just around the corner, it's time to speculate who those 25 players might be (for offense and defense) and how they might fit into the grand scheme of things. This is not a top 25 list and the players are not listed in any particular order other than they're the top 25 players who I think will make an impact on each side of the ball. We'll alternate between offense and defense.
The List
Defense: 25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
Offense: 25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
#25 | Cornelius Douglas | 5-9/192 | SO | IR
Rationale: Douglas was touted as a guy that was making plays all spring, and during the spring game he didn't disappoint. Just to take you back a bit, remember last year, at the beginning of the year, and Douglas was receiving snaps as the quarterback in the "Wildcat" formation (when Eric Morris ran this formation, it was called the "Elf Formation"). I'm guessing that Leach saw this play-making ability and the new staff sees the same thing. For me, Douglas makes this list as I think he's one of just a handful of players that I think can make a simple 5-yard pass into a 60-yard touchdown. This offense needs all of the playmakers that it can get, not that there's anything wrong with the receivers, but having a guy that can be explosive is worth something to this team and can be a headache for opposing defenses.
#24 | Bo Whitney | 6-4/230 | FR | TE
Rationale: For those of you who don't know, Whitney is the tight end that played quarterback in high school, but ended up playing tight end for Hargrave Military Academy. Right now, there's only two tight ends on the roster, Ryan Haliburton and Nancy James. The only film I could find on Whitney is when he played quarterback, but I think he's athletic enough and has enough size to be somewhat effective at tight end. I'm not expecting 20 catches or anything like that, but if this offense needs a couple of tight ends to block inside the 5 yard line, then give me Haliburton and Whitney.
23 through 21 after the jump.
#23 | Deveric Gallington | 6-3/325 | SO | RG
Rationale: I love the fact that Gallington, Okafor, and Waddle all lost weight during the spring. For those of your keeping track, Gallington was over 350 last year and now he's at a svelte 325. Personally, I think this bodes well for Gallington and the rest of this group as they were too big to be effective and I'd guess that they may regain some quickness they didn't have. Gallington has had a couple of years under the tutelege of Matt Moore and if he's not ready to start now, then I don't know if he'll ever be. There aren't a ton of guard options, which means that Gallington better be ready to play and start at right guard from the outset, otherwise, you could see some shifting of players.
#22 | Steven Sheffield | 6-5/190 | SR | QB
Rationale: Of course. I think that Sheffield is fantastic and what he did, albeit on a very limited basis, was impressive. The only thing that wasn't impressive was the fact that Sheffield he threw 3 interceptions inside his own 20 yard line. I'm also concerned about Sheffield's ability to heal. He's had an ankle injury for what seems like 8 or 9 months. Like a lot of you, I tend to think Sheffield should get the nod, but I'd be lying if I wasn't a little concerned about Sheffield being able to take a beating over the course of the entire Big 12 season. Add to the fact that one of the best facets of Sheffield's game is that he's mobile, which means that he's willing to take off out of the pocket and take a few more hits while using his legs. I don't think that Sheffield is a china-doll, but as I said last week, I think that Sheffield and Potts will both see time this year.
#21 | Justin Keown | 6-4/302 | SR | C
Rationale: Keown is came out of the spring as the first-string center. I was a bit down on Keown early in his career, but he's been pretty darned servicable as a backup and to be honest, I've been really impressed with what Keown does on the field. If it were me, I'd rather have Keown start at center, which would then free up Chris Olson to play at a handful of positions, if necessary. If Keown starts at center, then I like this group of offensive linemen much, much better. Having Olson as a back-up to every position helps indefinitely. But back to Keown, I've grown to like Keown's demeanor on the field, plays with some attitude on the field, and he's got plenty of strength to play inside.
Thoughts, comments, agreements and disagreements are welcome.
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But...
is it muscle or just weight gained from not being able to fully workout for 6 months?
by TheScarletandTheBlack on Jul 19, 2010 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions
I imagine, being as skinney as he is, that the only way he can gain weight is through muscle. But who knows.
if any skinny like the skinny i am, that's the case
by kevinkinsler on Jul 19, 2010 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions
What I was thinking...
there’s got to be a point when you become not as active (but you’re probably still eating the same) that you’re metabolism slows some. He’s been out for 6 months now, and according to some is still nursing that foot back to health. I don’t think it would be out of the question that he might have gained some of the weight in fat and not pure muscle.
by TheScarletandTheBlack on Jul 19, 2010 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions
you cant gain that kind of weight in just a few months, most of that is going to be fat. unless hes on the ’roids, which would be blatanly obvious on his frame. I would say some of that added weight is muscle but mostly fat.
"Once in a while, a pirate can beat a soldier." -Mike Leach
"What's mounted on his wall, defensive backs?" (in reference to Taylor Potts)
How many months?
The change in Stick’s weight was only noted in one recent article (as far as I know). So all we really know is that he apparently weighs about 15-20 pounds more than his published playing weigh from last year’s roster. We don’t know wether the weight gain has been gradual or recent. I can’t imagine the training staff allowing their potential starting quarterback to put on 10-15 pounds of fat. My second semester at Tech I easily put on 10 pounds of muscle without adding an ounce of fat. (I was skinny back then like Sticks.) What I CAN imagine is the Tech training staff and the orthopaedic surgeon teaming up to put him through an extensive rehab program designed to increase the strength of every football related muscle group since his first injury back last fall. There is a principle of human physiology known as “Wolfe’s Law.” It describes the phenomenon within human bones where the bone will remodel under stress. If you apply stress to a bone on a daily basis, the trabeculae inside the bone and the boney cortex (the hard outer shell) will respond by thickening and realigning to optomize strength. In other words, you actually strengthen the skeleton by doing load bearing exercise and muscle building. If the doctors and training staff were applying these principles to Sticks, you would expect to see gradual weight gain and lengthened rehab. (Which, by the way, is just what I think we have seen.)
by Colonel 71 on Jul 19, 2010 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You can gain that weight in just a few weeks, but it won’t be good weight. It’ll be mostly fat, unused glycogen stores, and water. If he gained 20 pounds (or 15, whatever) in the last six months, the vast majority won’t be mucsle. But the overall point is the additional weight, regardless of true composition, should help him be a little more durable. A world class athlete (ie. bodybuilder who competes) can’t add more than about 15-20 pounds of muscle in a year without drugs. The body just doesn’t work like that.
He can quickly trim fat and define things and LOOK bigger in six months, but he’d probably actually weigh less.
But if Tech wanted him to pack on 15-20 more pounds, they can do that in 6 months and he can still keep his quickness. But most of it won’t be muscle mass.
Thank you....
muscle is very hard to make with out chemical help. Putting on twenty pounds of muscel mass in a year is working your ass off and eating a whole bluefin tuna worth of protine everyday.
FORZA ROSSI
I can’t disagree with the selections as these folks clearly are going to be the SMU starters or the 2.5 deep rotation barring an injury in August camp. However I was curious the rank ordering of the numbers? Are these the most important least important or just a random order of positional players – Seth?
I hope Sheffield starts. For all those intangibles which make the game memorable to us fans. I agree With Olson getting on the field mostly because he is a smart hombre. J. Keown is one of those guys who can make or break this season. As the center goes so goes the season. Corndog seems poised to get 40- 50 touches this year- he in my view unlikely to start unless Lewis or someone else in the Wide receiver corps is injured (demoted). On the defensive side o f ball I bet you pick on Bront Bird as the Middle Linebacker. Bird is another intelligent player who will have a monster role in any success the Raiders may have in 2010.
"do routine things routinely"
Correct, this is just a list
of the top 25 players, but not in any order. Completely random.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
That is a good 5 guys who have a chance to be on the field or who will clearly play
We have all be watching Douglas since his arrival on campus and he is pretty much on schedule to make some noise this year.
I wonder if Whitney will play as a true freshman. Haliburton was moved over because he is big. I don’t know that he is athletic or if he played TE in HS. James was recruited because he was a guy we ability to block as a TE. He is clearly a small TE, but also poses a threat as a reciever, which causes some problems for opposing LB’s, if only to make them think about the threat. Coach Brown sounds as if he is expecting the TE play to come from Haliburton and James.
I still think that even at a svelte 325 that Gallington, or anyone in general, is too large. Man, that is a lot of weight to carry.
I have little more to add about the qb situation than I have said in the never ending who-is-the-best-qb discussions at this and other sites…it is going to work out however it does…and I am going to have fun watching the games.
I am really happy for Keowen, He has been a patient developing player who has made good as we all hoped. I do rue the notion that someone as good as Olsen is in a back up role…it just does not look to be fair to him, IMHO.
women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans
Ankle Injury??
The discussion on Stephen Sheffield always cites his “ankle” injury. I watched the Nebraska game on TV and remember distinctly the play he got hurt. A rushing defensive lineman stepped on his foot as he was retreating to pass and get away from the rush. It was a very awkward event and what I thought at the time was a freak injury.
However, you have referred to the injury as an ankle injury and I’ve seen it referred to similarly elsewhere. I could have sworn he had his foot broken by having that lineman step and twist on it as he fell back. I’m curious about whether there has been an official report on the injury because I know Leach would never disclose this type of information, but the subsequent re-injury occurred during the Tuberville regime.
Having suffered eight fractures of my left anle and about thirty serious sprains and fractures of my right ankle over a thirty year period of playing sports, I’m somewhat an expert on ankle injuries. Since this appears to be the foot Sheffield throws off of, it will be harder to play with a chronic injury than if it was his “stepping forward” foot.
I was hoping someone could illuminate me and everyone else as to the true nature of this injury and whether Sheffield will fully recover and be able to play full time in the upcoming season (assuming he wins the position).
He had surgery on his foot...
and not the ankle (to my knowledge). I, like you, am curious too about these reports citing his ankle. I also always thought it was the foot and not the ankle due to siituation in which it was injured.
by TheScarletandTheBlack on Jul 19, 2010 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
His ankle my foot!
I’m pretty sure it was a foot injury too.
"I can't believe I finally decide to let a girl into my life and she tries to eat me" - Zombieland
You're right, it wasn't an ankle injury, but a foot injury.
I’m not sure what I was thinking, other than I wasn’t thinking.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
I think we will be fine with either QB because....
tubs will run the ball more than we did last year. Let’s face it both QB’s are really good and both QB’s have somewhat of a downside.
Potts- can take a hit, has a strong arm, has to be more of a pocket passer, cracks under pressure, not a mobile.
Sticks- has the “it” factor, more mobile, opens up the play book a little more with roll outs, can run, seems to get hurt easier, had 3 INT’s inside our own 20 yrd line.
The key this year will not be our QB play but our RB(s) play. They will be the best play makers and get the most touches. Hopefully this will take a lot of pressure off who ever is the QB and make this offense rock even more in the passing game!
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Jul 19, 2010 2:57 PM CDT reply actions
As good as any other list
All those you have listed will be critical components to a successful season. For me, that would equate to about 10 wins, or more with just a bit more focus and fewer mistakes. All those returning gained a good bit of experience last year. The change in coaching should actually help in Tech’s case, unlike some other teams who have gone under change. As I recall, there were not really any examples that mirrored Tech’s situation. Whereas most coaching changes happen due to lack of production, Tech’s production was very good, bordering on great. This should translate into some interesting results this year, hopefully in a positive way. We have the experienced people in place, with enough talent backing them up to expect some form of improvement, with next year being another transition year that could play out to be something better than we saw in 2008. I like the talent being brought in, but that returning talent is pretty good, too. We all have an idea who should be among the main 25, it will be fun to see if Seth and the rest of us are all on the same train of thought.
TTpilk Psalm 117:
1 ¶ O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
great lists, seth...
…both O and D.
nice to see this kind of in-depth analysis (even if you did, LOL, give sticks an ankle injury!).
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