Texas' Linebackers

[jtk1519]

I found this article very interesting. Texas' new DC is making some pretty big changes with the LBs, but I really like what he's doing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Horns toe the line with new plan
New defensive coordinator doesn't care how big the player — he measures talent with a stopwatch.
By Suzanne Halliburton
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, August 16, 2005

They've given themselves a couple of vicious nicknames — backbone breakers and head busters — that would lead one to believe that the young Texas linebackers know how to pop a running back silly.

But now, in the Longhorns' post-Derrick Johnson era, the youngsters are an experiment as new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik tries to put the speediest of players directly behind the tackles and ends.

"Size," says Chizik, "is very overrated."

Chizik employed that philosophy at Auburn, when he coordinated the top-scoring defense in the country in 2004. Last year's 13-0 Tigers team fielded two linebackers who weighed less than 210 pounds. Three of the four players in the secondary were at least as heavy as two Auburn starters at linebacker.

Midway through preseason drills, the Texas experiment is yielding good results, coaches said. Still, the only given among linebackers is that senior Aaron Harris, starting for his third season, will troll the middle of the field.

First, a look at their tinkering:

•Eric Hall, a senior and last year's starter at strongside linebacker, now is getting a look at defensive end, leaving open the spots at both weakside and strongside.

•Sophomore Drew Kelson, rated as the top strong safety prospect out of high school in 2004, has been moved to outside linebacker. He's 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 215 pounds. And that's 20 to 30 pounds lighter than last year's starting outside linebackers.

•Redshirt freshman Rashad Bobino, who stands 5-10 when he's wearing his shoes, also has been moved to the outside rather than sitting the bench as an understudy to Harris.

Bobino, who lost 24 pounds in the off-season, is now a compact 216. He tackles like someone who is angry and bored with hearing he's too short since he donned shoulder pads in junior high.

"Being told you're too short, that gives guys like us motivation," said Harris, who is a shade under 6 feet, only two inches taller than Bobino.

•Eric Foreman, a sophomore, also is a candidate for playing time on the outside. He has the NFL prototype body (6-4, 230). But he is working to live up to the nasty, backbone-breaking nickname.

Last year, he walked away from a likely starting spot at linebacker and requested a move to quarterback, where he was fourth-team.

•Robert Killebrew, a sophomore, seems the likely replacement for Johnson, the two-time All-American who was a first-round draft pick and last year's Butkus Award winner as the nation's top linebacker.

Well, make that occupying Johnson's spot on the depth chart. Any replacement for Johnson, by definition, would have to be one of the best defensive players in the country.

"First off, D.J. is D.J. There is no replacing him," Killebrew said. "We should put that idea up in a closet."

There is no depth chart, so coaches are loving the competitive nature of the practices as they try to decide who will play alongside Harris when Texas starts the season against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 3.

"I don't think there's a weak link in our two-deep (roster) right now," Killebrew said. "What we lack in experience, we make up for in talent."

Kelson, if necessary, could move back to safety, where he would back up senior Michael Huff.

He split time between safety and linebacker at the end of last week. He says he has no preference.

"I'm comfortable wherever I'm asked to play," Kelson said.

Bobino, who initially talked about the nicknames, pointed out his goal and those of the other youngsters.

"Every time I go onto the field," Bobino said, "I want to do something that makes the crowd go 'ooooh.' "

http://www.statesman.com/horns/content/sports/stories/longhorns/08/16texfoot.html

[wide-e-wide]

Watch Killebrew and Bobino....seriously....
God we are gonna miss DJ though.
Why the (bleep) didn't Parcells draft him?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAArhahfghahgahagghahgh....stupid...... ..

[jtk1519]

Everybody I have talked to raves about Bobino. Mack himself has had some pretty high praise for the kid. I think Bobino and Kelson on either side of Aaron Harris would make for one helluva group of LBs. You talk about speed.

[wide-e-wide]

Whatcha think about Huff and Griffin?....
And Selvin on the rebound?
How about J-Mike from little-bitty Diboll,Tx.?
Dude the 'Horns are so stacked this year....
It's gonna be lovely.

[jtk1519]

Whatcha think about Huff and Griffin?....
And Selvin on the rebound?
How about J-Mike from little-bitty Diboll,Tx.?
Dude the 'Horns are so stacked this year....
It's gonna be lovely.

I saw one site that had the Longhorn's secondary listed as the best in the nation. We already know that the D-line is arguably the best in the nation. Now to hear about the strides being made with all the talent at LB... it's pretty amazing. Combine that with the best DC in college football and you have the makings for one helluva defense. Maybe good enough to overcome GD's shortcomings as an OC.

Speaking of offense... Where do you start? Selvin is said to be bigger, stronger and as healthy as ever while maintaining his speed. Ramonce Taylor is... well, Ramonce Taylor. He is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Then there is Wilkerson who has been putting on a show during practice from what I understand. We havent even mentioned Jamaal Charles yet (he has had to sit out because of some NCAA red tape).

Everybody I know who has been to practices (before they were closed to the public) raves about how good the passing game looks. Vince is lightyears better throwing, but more importantly, the receivers are stepping up. Sweed is looking good as is Nate Jones. Billy Pittman has really blown some people away and could be one of the much needed deep threats Texas needs. Shipley has run on some bad luck, but I have been told he should be ready to go by the first game. Then you have David Thomas, Neale Tweedie and Finley who will be awesome from their TE/WR positions.

The ONLY area of this team that has me concerned is special teams. They have to be improved over last year if the Horns want to beat the likes of Ohio State. Ted Ginn must not be allowed to touch the ball... PERIOD.

[wide-e-wide]

What about Quon?
Stick Cosby in on special teams...right?
Who are you gonna kick it off too?....
Like the other team is gonna do a lot of kicking off anyway though.
I agree...the team is solid throughout. My only concern was special teams...
But I think the Taylor muff in the Rose Bowl was fluke...the kid has skills.
And will be solid.
As far as Selvin goes...watch out....Dude looks awesome.
I really wanted to see him step it up last season...But the Pigs thought otherwise...but that gave him another year of eligibility....
Call me crazy...but we should red-shirt Jamaal and go with what we got...

[jtk1519]

What about Quon?
Stick Cosby in on special teams...right?
Who are you gonna kick it off too?....
Like the other team is gonna do a lot of kicking off anyway though.
I agree...the team is solid throughout. My only concern was special teams...
But I think the Taylor muff in the Rose Bowl was fluke...the kid has skills.
And will be solid.
As far as Selvin goes...watch out....Dude looks awesome.
I really wanted to see him step it up last season...But the Pigs thought otherwise...but that gave him another year of eligibility....
Call me crazy...but we should red-shirt Jamaal and go with what we got...

As I understand it, Ramonce, Wilkerson and Quan could be the return men. Quan is still learning the WR position. He has some sick speed and moves, he just has to work on catching the ball. I personally think Wilkerson could wind up being the best return man. He's small and slippery with great moves and sick speed.

[wide-e-wide]

I remember sitting at my desk at work the day Quan said he was coming to UT....Baylor fans just knew......just knew...he was coming to BU....
So the local Baylor show on ESPN radio was waiting for the word right?.....
Suddenly...they come on and say....."It ain't happenin'....he went to the evil empire" exact words......
I was laughing my *** off.....my boss (a UT grad) met me at my office door laughing too...it was classic...
When asked by the Waco Tribune why he chose to go to UT......
Quan stated " I just didn't see any future at Baylor...that's all"
bwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaha
That's still funny.

[jtk1519]

BTW, wide... I got your PM but when I tried to reply it said your inbox is full. I dont know what is up with Horfans, but the boards arent down. Try this link to get to the boards...

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/myhornfans.php

[wide-e-wide]

It was down for a while...but now it's back up and runnin'
like Ricky....thanks though.

[mtbray]

I'm very glad to hear this. I have high expectations for Chizik!

[wide-e-wide]

We live to fight another day my Longhorn brothers.....
I'm out....my wife is trippin'.

[mtbray]

We live to fight another day my Longhorn brothers.....
I'm out....my wife is trippin'.

haha come on just say she needs some lovin and you have to tend to her!! http://vdubaddiction.com/forums/images/smilies/naughty.gif

[Exporter]

I just found this site. Lots of fine posts here. I am making my first post now.

I am a Texas Grad. and I thought it was funny that someone referred to Texas as THE EVIL EMPIRE. Must have been Ronald Reagan FAN. :cool:

[GTown02]

Welcome to the boards.... Were more of a Texas HS fan board but, there are some interesting conversations on some other sports :D

[Favpack]

I hope Eric Foreman has come to his senses and is back at lb - sorry, but playing qb at Corrigan-Camden is a bit of a leap to big time college ball. Go play lb Eric - and be the next DJ.

[jtk1519]

I hope Eric Foreman has come to his senses and is back at lb - sorry, but playing qb at Corrigan-Camden is a bit of a leap to big time college ball. Go play lb Eric - and be the next DJ.

Foreman is back at LB and should show up in the two deep somewhere. I dont think he'll start, but he should see quite a bit of playing time.

[wide-e-wide]

I just found this site. Lots of fine posts here. I am making my first post now.

I am a Texas Grad. and I thought it was funny that someone referred to Texas as THE EVIL EMPIRE. Must have been Ronald Reagan FAN. :cool:

The local sports shows here in Waco refer to UT as "the evil empire" at least once a day. And at least once a day I get a huge laugh.

[Favpack]

What do they call OU?

[wide-e-wide]

Just OU i guess...
I call them the oklahoma of university...that's what it stands for
right?...

[garlandowl08]

that was really complimentary of your intellignece...j/k i thought most sips called them the "Land thieves" which isnt entirely fair (however it is funny)

[wide-e-wide]

The actually say OU backwards because that's what the Indians said....
Oh-you-bunchofA..wipesjuststoleourland...So it's short for that.

[dragons08]

Just OU i guess...
I call them the oklahoma of university...that's what it stands for
right?...
illinois does it right UofI...wide you do make sense..what does the A & M stand for in texas am?

[wide-e-wide]

Agriculture and Mechanics
I could have come up with a billion jokes on that one...
but I decided even aggy deserves a break every now and then.

[dragons08]

Agriculture and Mechanics
I could have come up with a billion jokes on that one...
but I decided even aggy deserves a break every now and then.
i need a chuckle, just one joke..a good one..

[wide-e-wide]

Okay....what do a UT grad and an aggy grad have in common?












Well, they both applied to UT.

[dragons08]

Okay....what do a UT grad and an aggy grad have in common?












Well, they both applied to UT.

sorry man, wasnt to funny, you let me down there..

[wide-e-wide]

Think about it Dragon....they both applied to go to UT.
One was smart enough...the other wasn't....so he went to aggy...
Let it sink in for a second.

Okay you're right it's not that funny.
Hey I just blurted one out...

[dragons08]

Think about it Dragon....they both applied to go to UT.
One was smart enough...the other wasn't....so he went to aggy...
Let it sink in for a second.
no i got it right away, but like it was funny, but not up to the standards i hold you to man, you let me down

[dragons08]

wide told your lil aggy joke to my friend, she thought it was funny..

[jtk1519]

That was damn funny wide.

You know, I never understood those old Big 8 teams. The University of Kansas is KU... The University of Colorado is CU... The University of Oklahoma is OU... etc. Doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me, but then I dont expect a whole lot of sense from the likes of Mobilhoma.

[dragons08]

That was damn funny wide.

You know, I never understood those old Big 8 teams. The University of Kansas is KU... The University of Colorado is CU... The University of Oklahoma is OU... etc. Doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me, but then I dont expect a whole lot of sense from the likes of Mobilhoma.
i wonder if they do it to be diffrent?

[mtbray]

I got a little joke...


95% of the Longhorns will admit that the Sooners have beaten them in the recent years, but the Longhorns won't admit 95% of Sooners.

:D

This is my paraphrase of the original joke I saw on thefacebook, but I've forgotten how it went verbatim.

[wide-e-wide]

That one was pretty good mtbray...pretty good..

[mtbray]

Thanks wide, let's see how the M&A fans like it though....

[wide-e-wide]

Do you know where O.J. should have hid from the cops?













Bryan/College Station....that would be the last place on earth the cops would look for a football player...much less a Heisman trophy winner.

[jtk1519]

Do you know where O.J. should have hid from the cops?













Bryan/College Station....that would be the last place on earth the cops would look for a football player...much less a Heisman trophy winner.


Now THAT was damn funny. :D :D

[KT2000]

There was a signature on a Longhorns board a few years back...can't remember which one...that read...

"Oklahoma: Where farting is considered a competitive sport."

Here is my try at a joke (UT, A&M)...

A UT and A&M student are in a bathroom during halftime of the big game. They each use the stalls. As the UT student is about to walk out, the A&M student stops him saying..."Aren't you going to wash your hands?"...the UT student responds..."No, why do you care?"....A&M student says "At A&M they teach us to wash our hands after we go to the bathroom." The UT student replies, as he's opening the door to leave, "Well, at UT they teach us not to piss on our hands."

As for UT LBs this year...

I look for Bobino, Harris and Kelson to start. I like Kelson over Killebrew because he can play high speed and under control. He's an extremely intelligent player. Also, Kelson's coverage abilities are very good and his speed is better than Killebrew. Killebrew should still get big time PT, and be a key man on special teams kick coverage. Chizik will want to keep fresh legs in the game, so I believe any player in the LB two-deep will get significant time. I like the fact he's really applying pressure with blitzes and other things in practice. That's good for the offense to see, and a good confidence booster for the D as they install more of the system.

[wide-e-wide]

That's pretty funny KT. I heard it once using Marine/Sailor...there's a
million of those too.

[dragons08]

Do you know where O.J. should have hid from the cops?













Bryan/College Station....that would be the last place on earth the cops would look for a football player...much less a Heisman trophy winner.
hahahaha nice wide nice, you could probally right a book, or books on making fun of aggy..

[wide-e-wide]

And who could forget the funniest aggy joke of all time....ready?



Baylor!!!!
Bwaahahahahahahahahah....that one never gets old.

[dragons08]

And who could forget the funniest aggy joke of all time....ready?



Baylor!!!!
Bwaahahahahahahahahah....that one never gets old.
hmm...dont get it, im not a native texan though, so i have an excuse

[wide-e-wide]

aggy lost to Baylor last year.
Imagine if SLC lost to Laredo United South...
that would be pretty dang funny...not that
aggy is anything like SLC...but Baylor is an awful
lot like Laredo United South.

[dragons08]

aggy lost to Baylor last year.
Imagine if SLC lost to Laredo United South...
that would be pretty dang funny...not that
aggy is anything like SLC...but Baylor is an awful
lot like Laredo United South.
oh haha, im a little slow, once school starts i may pick up on that next time..

[Exporter]

Harris enters senior season as leader of what should be tough UT defense
Web Posted: 08/17/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer

AUSTIN — Texas linebacker Aaron Harris has his philosophy of life tattooed onto his right biceps.

"Play the hand I'm dealt," it reads, a permanent self-help mantra etched in Old English script.

The words accompany the images of four playing cards — two of spades, ace of hearts, three of clubs and nine of diamonds.

Not exactly the makings of a winning hand, Harris notes.

"But you've still got to play the hand you're dealt," he said.

Harris branded those words onto his arm and into his psyche little more than a year ago, at a time when the only luck he'd known at UT had been bad.

His hand is looking much better now.

Harris enters his senior season as the literal centerpiece of what could be the Longhorns' best defense in years. He is a 6-foot, 230-pound wrecking ball at middle linebacker, perhaps the best in the Big 12 at that position.

He is UT's leading returning tackler and, now that Derrick Johnson is off to the NFL, the team's unquestioned defensive leader.

Harris won't be taking over Johnson's position at outside linebacker. And he harbors no delusions about filling Johnson's shoes as an otherworldly playmaker.

"Nobody can do what DJ can do," he said. But Harris was just 10 tackles behind the All-American Johnson last season.

UT coaches, however, are convinced Harris can fill Johnson's role as the defense's inspirational touchstone.

"He's stepping up to the plate to be a leader," co-defensive coordinator Gene Chizik said. "When he talks, people are going to listen."

There was a time not long ago when the Longhorns had reason to wonder if this Harris would ever arrive.

[Exporter]

The first Aggie joke was this one.

"And who could forget the funniest aggy joke of all time....ready?

An Aggie was crossed with an Ape. What was the result? It was a ******** Ape.

[mtbray]

The first Aggie joke was this one.

"And who could forget the funniest aggy joke of all time....ready?

An Aggie was crossed with an Ape. What was the result? It was a ******** Ape.

hahaha good one

[dragons08]

i wish i had some funny jokes, hmm, oh wlel dont need, them thats what wideman's for

[wide-e-wide]

I can't think of one today. I'm busy with this job stuff.
My brain is fried.

[dragons08]

I can't think of one today. I'm busy with this job stuff.
My brain is fried.
saying aggy is pretty funny though i must say..

[mtbray]

Na saying M&A is funnier. Please spread my M&A and the aggies will soon realize that it's not offensive and ********.

[dragons08]

Na saying M&A is funnier. Please spread my M&A and the aggies will soon realize that it's not offensive and ********.
m and a is hard to say..

[mtbray]

don't be a .......idk.......just say it!


and cmon its not hard to type either!

[dragons08]

don't be a .......idk.......just say it!


and cmon its not hard to type either!
haha, its hard to say with a fudgeicole in your mouth my friend, and to type with one hand hahahaha

[wide-e-wide]

aggy knows all about typing with one hand. Surfing through all of those beastiality sites...

[mtbray]

aggy knows all about typing with one hand. Surfing through all of those beastiality sites...

HAHAHA thats the best joke on this whole thread!!!



not to mention the truest! :D :D :D

[dragons08]

aggy knows all about typing with one hand. Surfing through all of those beastiality sites...
haha wideman, you went to UT didnt you? or just in love with UT?

[wide-e-wide]

Unfortunately no I did not. I went to Sam Houston St. and then Old Dominion in Virginia when I was in the Navy. But I come from a long line of burnt orange blood. I have been a fan since...well since 1974.

[Reaganrattler07]

Hehe, I got an Aggie joke:

What do you call an Aggie ten years after he graduates?


Boss.

Yeah....its more of a pro-Aggie joke. I'll get burned for that but y'all already burn me enough about the Skins.

[wide-e-wide]

How do you get aggy off your porch?




Pay for the pizza...

[Reaganrattler07]

Did you hear about the Longhorn terrorist who tried to blow up an Aggie bus?

He burned his lips on the tailpipe!

[Reaganrattler07]

And I've got a few more in reserve.....don't think I'm running from you, Wideman!.....I just gotta go to sleep for tomorrow.

[jtk1519]

The GREATEST joke ever associated with aggy...

http://s91843893.onlinehome.us/Hornfans/Basketball/sheep.jpg

Of course, this is a close second...

http://badblocks.biz/~jcdenton/Bayloraggy04(WM9).avi

[wide-e-wide]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa...hehehehehehehehhheeeeee....ahhaha hahah...whoooooo
That one kills me every time...
What about the guy dressed in the Baylor Bear suit at T+1 last year.

[jtk1519]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa...hehehehehehehehhheeeeee....ahhaha hahah...whoooooo
That one kills me every time...
What about the guy dressed in the Baylor Bear suit at T+1 last year.

That dude is my freakin' hero. aggy walked out and saw that lone bear in a sea of burnt orange and they were instantly overcome with fear.

:D :D

[wide-e-wide]

When I first saw that picture...I choked on beer for like 5 minutes seriously...My wife thinks I am ******** for laughing at stuff like that.
To me....it's damn funny.

[jtk1519]

When I first saw that picture...I choked on beer for like 5 minutes seriously...My wife thinks I am ******** for laughing at stuff like that.
To me....it's damn funny.

I laughed so hard that I cried. One of those 10 minute laughs that leaves you stomach in agonizing pain. I felt like I had just done 10,000 sit ups, but it was well worth it.

[wide-e-wide]

We had a thread where people analyzed the whole picture on hornfans.com
OMG dude...it was like 5 pages of pure comic genius. Even found a chick
booger-drillin' in the background...and ONE lone aggy standing in disbelief...ahahahaha

[mtbray]

We had a thread where people analyzed the whole picture on hornfans.com
OMG dude...it was like 5 pages of pure comic genius. Even found a chick
booger-drillin' in the background...and ONE lone aggy standing in disbelief...ahahahaha

link it up!